Genetic algorithm (GA) is one of the most widely used metaheuristics in finding the approximate soltions of complex problems in a variety of domains. As such, many researchers have focused their attention on enhancing the performance of GA—in terms of either the speed or the quality but rarely in terms of both. This paper presents an erricient hybrid metaheuristic to resolve these two seemingly conflicting goals. That is, the proposed method can not just reduce the running time of GA and its variants, but it can also make the loss of quality small, called High Performance Hybrid Metaheuristic (or HPHM for short). The underlying idea of the proposed algorithm is to leverage the strengths of GA, Tabu Search, and the notion of Pattern Reduction. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, we use it to solve the traveling salesman problem. Our experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm can significantly enhance the performance of GA and its variants⁁especially the speed.


and 11% reported pain limited their activities. The items most frequently ranked as #1 were Personal independence (18%), Absence of pain (14%), and Romantic Relationships (17%; Table 1). Good Health had the lowest mean (4.7), indicating this was among the respondents top priorities. Employment (p = 0.012), education (p = 0.012), and how often pain limited participation (p = 0.006) differed significantly based on GMFCS Level [Employed at least part time: I&II(83%); III(38%); IV&V(50%); graduated HS: I&II(97%); III(85%); IV&V(68%); Pain frequently/always limited participation: I&II(0%); III(42%); IV&V(11%);]. Individuals who graduated HS were more 8.6 times more likely to be employed at least part time (p = 0.003) and 10.6 times more likely to be in a relationship (p = 0.031) than those who did not graduate HS. Pain frequency (p = 0.000) and pain limiting participation (p = 0.000) differed by pain intensity group (none/mild, moderate, severe) but employment status and education level did not. Conclusions/Significance: Personal independence, romantic relationships, absence of pain, and good health were identified as important factors contributing to very good/excellent quality of life by adults with CP. Severity of gross motor limitations seems to be associated with education and employment status. Pain is reported as a problem but does not seem to limit participation. The study sample contains more females and is more educated than in previous studies. Further research is needed to determine if these findings represent the larger population of adults with CP.


The Colombian narcos that dominated the cocaine market from the Seventies to the early Nineties and the Mexican bosses who later took control of it have often distinguished themselves for their conspicuous and ostentatious consumptions. The consumption stories elaborated by powerful drug lords can have social and criminal significance. In some cases, narcos' desire to show social success through luxury homes, private zoos, and big cars is clear. In others cases, guns laminated in gold or ferocious animals have socio-criminal importance because these goods are used to affirm a contorted form of power and machismo with other leaders of the cartels. In order to understand if conspicuous consumptions of Latin American bosses are a peculiarity of this geographical area or there exist similarities in other criminal scenarios, it is worthwhile taking into account the behaviors of Camorra's bosses, the Italian mafiosi who mostly distinguish themselves for their tendency to display their consumptions. Keywords : Narcos, Conspicuous Consumption, Luxury, Drug Trafficking, Camorra


As university educators, we need to prepare students for the transition from the information age to what Daniel H. Pink (2005) calls the conceptual age, which is governed by artistry, empathy and emotion, by including in the curricula activities that stimulate both hemispheres of the brain. This can be done by promoting activities that energize what Daniel Goleman (1995) refers to as emotional intelligence, and it further maintains that, as Paul Ekman (2003) suggests, the ability to detect feelings improves communication. Recognizing the need to include in the curricula procedures that help develop students' right brain aptitudes and enhance their communication skills, I have endeavoured to introduce dramatic scene study as a sustained activity in my English for Specific Purposes courses at the Universidad de Valencia. My aim was to energize the students' creative and emotional aptitudes, as well as to dynamize effective teamwork. This article sustains that dramatic role-play, based on scripted scene study and related improvisational activities, is one way of achieving this.


This paper studies the nonlinear responses of a coupled transmission towerline system on a heterogeneous site subjected to multi-component spatially varying ground motions. The three-dimensional finite element model of the transmission tower-line system is established with consideration of the geometric nonlinearity of the transmission lines. The spatial variation of ground motions associated with the wave passage, coherency loss and local site effects are considered. The spatial ground motions on ground surface are derived by modelling the base rock motion propagating through the local soil sites. The base rock motions are assumed consisting of out-of-plane and in-plane waves and are simulated stochastically based on an empirical coherency loss function and the filtered Tajimi-Kanai power spectral density function. The effects of multi-component, spatial variations of ground motions and varying site conditions at multiple tower foundations on seismic response of the transmission tower-line system are analysed. The study reveals that for a reliable seismic response analysis and safe and economic seismic resistance design of transmission tower-line systems, the multi-support and multi-component earthquake excitations with consideration of the effects of local site conditions on ground motion spatial variations should be considered.


Novel peptides of the formula: where A through G, X and Y are various amino acids and substituents; having long lasting LHRH agonist and antagonist activity; useful in promoting fertility, reducing fertility, respectively.


Keggin-type heteropolyacids have been used as catalyst for high-yielding oxidation reactions in multiphase conditions. This simple and efficient procedure promoted the conversion of anilines to the corresponding nitroso and nitro derivatives. In comparison with homogeneous system the oxidation from anilines to nitroso compounds and nitro compounds were more effective and the solvents used were not toxic.


This study is concerned with residential stability in an inner urban area erf Liverpool. It is a re-study after i8 years, by the same researdi worker, ctf a group (rf Council flats and houses. In 1957, the aim of the research was to invesdgate the atdtudes of a group of City Council tenants re-housed from demolished pn^ r ty . The chief objecdves of the 1957 project were to examine the tenants' patterns of neighbouring, their understanding of the social changes that had been caused by re-housing, and their expectadon of the quality of life in their new home. The survey covered 36 hous^olds in an arrangement of 24 thtee-storey flats and 12 small houses, all within the same block of streets. The general aims in 1975 were to interview the people who were sdll in their tenancy in order to atten^t to discover why they had remained there, and to examine die changes which had occurred, pardcularly in their atdtude to the neighbourhood, as demonstrated by opinions on the use of local amenides, on asp>ect»-of neighbouring and on the repuKtdon of the neighbourhood itself. The specific aim of the study was to exatnine the concept of residential stability.


Ultrasound contrast-agent gas bodies can be taken up from the circulation by phagocytic cells, which make these cells likely targets for bioeffects of diagnostic ultrasound. A mouse macrophage cell line was cultured in monolayer on the inside of one window of a disc-shaped exposure chamber. After incubation with contrast agent for 15 min, the monolayer was rinsed to remove un-attached gas bodies. The chamber was filled with saline plus fluorescent Dextran and closed with a second window. A clinical scanner provided ultrasound exposure of the chamber in a water bath. Exposures were made in B scan mode, color Doppler imaging mode and power Doppler mode for 1 min. After exposure the chamber was opened, rinsed and stained with trypan blue. A field of view of a fluorescence microscope was scored for sonoporation (fluorescent cells) and cell lysis (blue stained cells). No significant effect was seen for exposure without contrast agent. With contrast agent, statistically significant sonoporation was induced by all the modes either for transmission through a water path or through a tissue-mimicking phantom. Cell lysis was significant for all modes for the water path, but not for the phantom. These results suggest that a risk of cell membrane bioeffects in phagocytic cells may exist for contrast-aided diagnostic ultrasound.


Provides for a multi-user - multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) wireless communication system and method for controlling the information providing apparatus, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of resource elements including downlink control information (DCI) of (RE ), the use of the DCI, determining a plurality of downlink reference signal (DRS) can be mapped to the set of RE, RE determines that the remaining data is mapped to an RE, and the use of the MS corresponding to the pre-DRS demodulation vector encoding the data.


The coastal focus and beach culture of Australia's population in general, and the people of New South Wales in particular, mean that coastal systems are both highly prized and subjected to great pressures. The vast majority of the wastewater generated by the 7.3 million people of New South Wales is discharged directly to the ocean. The dispersion and fate of waterborne pollutants and their potential to impact coastal ecosystems are fundamentally determined by the dynamics of the coastal boundary layer (CBL). This turbulent interface between the coastline and the deep oceans is defined and classified for the first time in this thesis. Coastal morphologies and changes in the orientation of the coastline promote turbulence and strong gradients with extreme variability and heterogeneity over a broad range of scales. Conceptual models are presented to characterise New South Wales coastal boundary layer processes.

The broad aims of this thesis are to investigate the coastal boundary layer processes that affect dispersal and advection of pollutants, and to develop conceptual models and tools to facilitate coastal management.

Remote sensed ocean colour and sea surface temperature observations define meso-scale CBL phenomena, and this study demonstrates their application to support management decisions in relation to marine algal (phytoplankton) blooms. However, considerable scope exists to improve regional algorithms to deliver better ocean colour products for the optically complex (Case 2) waters of the inner coastal boundary layer.

Past failures to consider the CBL (morphological) settings of pollutant discharges to coastal waters have led to inefficient pollutant discharge systems and potential environmental impacts. Two case studies, investigate the principal forcing mechanisms and demonstrate the importance of morphology in controlling the dispersion and retention times of pollutants.

The first case study is focused on Sydney coastal waters where pollutant loadings are greater in magnitude and different in character than elsewhere in New South Wales. Here population pressures generate large wastewater loadings but the distances to offshore discharge locations are large compared to the scale of coastal roughness (headlands and bays) and the water is deep, thus reducing the risk of local retention of pollutants and increasing the potential for rapid dilution. By considering simulations of near field effluent plume behaviour in relation to long term ambient nutrient patterns specific periods of the year and depth intervals have been identified when outfalls would have an increased opportunity to influence bloom development, especially the upper half of the water column during late summer. However, algal blooms appear to be principally driven by seasonal oceanic nutrient enrichment. The research presented in this thesis, together with companion research previously published by the author and routine ongoing monitoring, indicate the viability of disposal of the Sydney's excess sewage effluent (after source…


Hengduan Mountains is a hotspot of global biodiversity and serves as an important part of the national ecological barrier. The new Sichuan–Tibet Railway (Ya'an to Changdu section) crosses the core area of the Hengduan Mountains. The transportation network formed by the railway connects the biodiversity hotspots along the route to the outside world, leading to an increased risk for biological invasions. In order to obtain information on the composition and distributional characteristics of the invasive alien plants in this region and provide references for upcoming railway construction, ecological protection, and ecological restoration, we selected 43 representative sites (1 km × 0.02 km) in the area to conduct surveys. A total of 58 invasive alien species were identified, belonging to 18 families and 42 genera. The three most frequently occurring species were Galinsoga parviflora, Cosmos bipinnatus, and Bidens pilosa. Ten species were considered to be the malignant invasive species, 16 serious invasions, 8 local invasions, and 15 general invasions. The damage of the remaining 9 species needs further observation. The Americas are the primary •研究报告• © 生 物多 样性 Bio d ve rsity Sci enc 第 10 期 邓亨宁等: 新建川藏铁路(雅安–昌都段)沿线外来入侵植物种类及分布特征 1175 研 究 报 告 geographical origin of invasive alien plant species in this region. A comparative study based on altitude and major rivers found that with increasing altitude and geographic extension, the number of invasive alien plants decreased significantly, and the distributional pattern was the result of the combined effects of environmental factors and human activities. Based on the status and habitat characteristics of the invasions along the railway, this study analyzed the risk of alien plant invasion caused by railway construction, and we make corresponding suggestions to prevent further invasion.


For study on detonation wave characteristics of charge under off-axis multi-spot initiation,the orthogonal slits scanning technology was used to observe propagation process of detonation wave on the surface of charge. Multiple scanning traces were recorded for both orthogonal directions. The propagation speed and direction of detonation wave in the intersection points of the slits was obtained by analyzing the traces,and evolution program diagram of waveform in aimed direction was drawn. The obtained results indicate that the orthogonal slits scanning technology can record the information of detonation wave process under off-axis multi-spots initiation more thoroughly. Furthermore,the technology can provide adequate evidence for analyzing the propagation characteristics and waveform evolution of detonation wave.


The ultrafast photochemical ring opening reaction of 1,3-cyclohexadiene is investigated theoretically. To allow for a quantum mechanical treatment of this high-dimensional problem we introduce reactive coordinates which contain the modes active on the femtosecond time scale. A reduced Hamiltonian is derived in the corresponding subspace and two-dimensional potential energy surfaces are interpolated using ab initio data points. The quantum dynamics in the S1 state toward two conical intersections with the ground state is monitored. We find a bifurcation of the wave packet already in the excited state so that both conical intersections are reached but by different parts of the wave packet. By manipulating the initial conditions the branching ratio can be influenced.


This paper discusses effectiveness of the various NO{sub x} control technologies for coal-fired boilers and gas/oil-fired turbines. Each technology is evaluated based on its NO{sub x} reduction capability, limitations, and side effects. Both new and retrofit applications are covered. Impact of the current U.S.A. regulatory trends are also discussed. Finally, capital and operating cost impacts are provided for a variety of applications on recent projects.


Wireless devices such as hand phones and broadband modems rely heavily on forward error correction techniques for their proper functioning, thus sending and receiving information with minimal or no error, while utilizing the available bandwidth. Major requirements for modern digital wireless communication systems include high throughput, low power consumption and physical size. This research focused on the speed. The design of a four state convolutional encoder and Viterbi decoder has been studied and implemented. In order to solve the Viterbi decoding of lower speed problem, a Viterbi decode method has been parallelized. Message passing interface (MPI) with dual core personal computer (PC) and with cluster is selected as the environments to parallelize VA by distributing the states on the cluster and then by using block based technique. It is found that parallel Viterbi code when the states have been distributed on a number of computers provide poor performance; due to the communication overhead. So, in order to obtain better performance; it is suggested that to replace the multicomputer system (LAN with 100Mbps) with multiprocessor system (its speed tenth of Gbps). Block based parallelism can reach a maximum efficiency of 94.25 % and speed-up of 1.88497 when 2 PCs are used on a cluster with message length of 3000 bits. On 3 PCs, maximum efficiency of 95% and speedup of 2.85 have been obtained with message length of 9000 bits. However; on 4 PCs; the system reaches maximum efficiency of 58.333, maximum speed-up of 2.33 with message length of 3000 bits.


Polyurethane rigid foam shows substantial changes in its photoacoustic absorption spectra (PAS) on heating in the presence of air. These spectral changes are due to conjugated structures and quinone–imide formation, formed during degradation. The mechanism of degradation appears to be free radical in nature.


In the automotive industry requirements are often still composed of natural language text, spreadsheets, drawings, and formal models. Models are often used to describe partial aspects from the whole set of requirements. Hence, ???aws and vagueness in requirements are common and hard to discover. Upcoming standards like ISO 26262 request the automotive industry to be more strict and formal on the requirements. Formal notation and unambiguitiy is explicitely stated. In the field of system and acceptance testing requirements are the basis for all activities. Although, requirements are often not close to testing. To overcome this we introduced the Timed Usage Model (TUM) as a formal representation of requirements specification. During the creation of the model the requirements are analyzed and brought into an unambiguous and formal representation. Traceability is achieved, as each path in the model must be based upon a requirement. The formulation of the requirements in form of an unambiguous model clarifies the requirements and helps to detect design errors. During the creation of the model omissions and ???aws in the requirements are discovered. The model serves as a communication medium when functionality responsibles are involved to clarify these aspects. Timed Usage Models were created for power train functionality and the energy management. Moreover, the model as a formalized representation of the requirements served as the basis for the whole testing process, including test planning, test case generation, and test campaign analysis.


The Peperi-Guaçu river, border between Brazil and Argentina, in the extreme West of Santa Catarina State, had its first records by Ignatian priests who developed catechetical work in the Rio de La Plata Basin, during the XVII and XVIII centuries. The river was a natural route between the basins of the rivers Iguaçu, to the North, and Uruguay, to the South and, acquired strategic importance in the development of the jesuit from Guayra (Paraná State) and Sete Povos (Rio Grande do Sul State). The main objective was to characterize the Peperi-Guaçu River based on the maps Paraquaria Vulgo Paraguay Cum Adjacentibus, printed in 1670, o Paraquaria Provinciae cum adiacentibo novíssima descriptio, from 1732, both of Ignatian production, as well as the Mapa dos confins do Brasil, com as terras da Coroa de Espanha na America Meridional, from 1749 and the Mappa da demarcação que por ordem de S. M. F. e C. fez no anno de 1759. The Ignatian cartography of the region, would be the source for the execution of the Maps of Cortes, on which drew the border between the Spanish and Portuguese domains in the Plata Basin. Only in the year 1759, the Peperi-Guaçu River was effectively mapped by the Segunda Partida group according to the requirements established in the Tratado de Madrid in 1750.


F ast response with highprecision motion control (on the levels of force, torque, velocity, and/or position) is an indispensable technique. This technique is used in a wide variety of highperformance mechatronic systems including microand/or nanoscale motion (such as data storage devices, machine tools, manufacturing tools for electronics components, and industrial robots) from the standpoints of high productivity, high quality of products, and total cost reduction. In these applications, the required specifications in motion performance, e.g., response/settling time and trajectory/settling accuracy, should be sufficiently achieved. In addition, robustness against disturbances and/or uncertainties, mechanical vibration suppression, and adaptation capability against variations in mechanisms should be the essential properties provided for performance. In this article, the state of the art on high-precision motion control techniques is surveyed by referring to recent publications, mainly in the transactions and conferences of the IEEE Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MIE.2012.2182859 Date of publication: 23 March 2012 IMAGE COURTESY OF HTTP://WWW.PUBLICDOMAINPHOTOS.NET/PETR KRATOCHVIL


1 Mixture of gases • Particles do not interact – Gases do not interact with each other – But the gas molecules will collide – Constituent gases will be at same temperature (empirical) • Partial pressure – Each type of gas applies force on the walls of container – These forces add – The per-gas forces are partial pressures – Their sum is total pressure • Relationship between KE and P is still valid per type of gas • What about the relationship between KE and T ? – Scenerio I * Box, divided in two by a membrane, same gas on each side, same temperature * Result: gas at same temperature, homogeneous, no loss of KE – Scenerio II * Box, divided in two by a membrane, different gas on each side, same temperature * Result: gas at same temperature, mixed, no loss of KE – Relationship between KE and T is the same for single gas and mixture • Ideal gas law holds per component gas 1


Summary Nitrogen (N) plays critical role in plant growth; manipulating N assimilation could be a target to increase grain yield and N use. Here, we show that ABRE‐binding factor (ABF)‐like leucine zipper transcription factor TabZIP60 mediates N use and growth in wheat. The expression of TabZIP60 is repressed when the N‐deprived wheat plants is exposed to nitrate. Knock down of TabZIP60 through RNA interference (RNAi) increases NADH‐dependent glutamate synthase (NADH‐GOGAT) activity, lateral root branching, N uptake and spike number, and improves grain yield more than 25% under field conditions, while overexpression of TabZIP60‐6D had the opposite effects. Further investigation shows TabZIP60 binds to ABRE‐containing fragment in the promoter of TaNADH‐GOGAT‐3B and negatively regulates its expression. Genetic analysis reveals that TaNADH‐GOGAT‐3B overexpression overcomes the spike number and yield reduction caused by overexpressing TabZIP60‐6D. As such, TabZIP60‐mediated wheat growth and N use is associated with its negative regulation on TaNADH‐GOGAT expression. These findings indicate that TabZIP60 and TaNADH‐GOGAT interaction plays important roles in mediating N use and wheat growth, and provides valuable information for engineering N use efficiency and yield in wheat.


We present the first measurements of ion flows in three dimensions (3Ds) using laser-induced fluorescence in the plasma boundary region. Measurements are performed upstream from a grounded stainless steel limiter plate at various angles ( ψ=16° to 80°) to the background magnetic field in two argon helicon experiments (MARIA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and HELIX at West Virginia University). The Chodura magnetic presheath model for collisionless plasmas [R. Chodura, Phys. Fluids 25, 1628 (1982)] is shown to be inaccurate for systems with sufficient ion-neutral collisions and ionization such as tokamak scrape off layers. A 3D ion fluid model that accounts for ionization and charge-exchange collisions is found to accurately describe the measured ion flows in regions where the ion flux tubes do not intersect the boundary. Ion acceleration in the E→×B→ direction is observed within a few ion Larmor radii of the grounded plate for ψ=80°. We argue that fully 3D ion and neutral acceleration in the plasm...


The crux of targeted therapy is the inhibition, enhancement, correction, reversal, or negation of events to overcome pathological processes, by targeting features or entities specific to the pathology. Genomics has been a critical component of target identification, and has greatly amplified the impact and potential of targeted therapy. Incredibly, genomics has only scratched the surface of this endeavor. Today, progress is driven by pan-omics, integrating genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics data using bioinformatics and system biology approaches. The advent of advanced "-omics" has provided the molecular foundation for the development of new-targeted therapeutics, including small molecules, biologicals, tools for genomic editing, and more. Targeted therapy is used to treat an array of diverse diseases, ranging from cancer and HIV to atherosclerosis and malaria. In this chapter, the essential aspects of targeted therapy are discussed, including many of the remarkable successes as well as some of the shortcomings. How "-omics" approaches have contributed to the evolution of targeted therapy and what can be expected in the future is also described.

Keywords:

targeted therapy;
precision medicine;
genomics;
epigenomics;
transcriptomics;
metabolomics;
proteomics;
metagenomics;
bioinformatics


In order to produce aluminide coatings with an excellent oxidation resistance, aluminizing of titanium substrate was conducted utilizing a high power infrared laser fusion reaction. Titanium substrate painted with aluminum powder was laser fused in argon gas atmosphere. Three types of titanium aluminide coatings of 150 ƒÊm thickness, i.e., single phase of Ti3Al, TiAl and composite phase of TiAl3+Al, could easily be produced with a high reproducibility. The chemical composition of these coatings could be controlled by choosing both the laser irradiation conditions and the amount of painted aluminum powder. Corrosion resistance of these coatings was evaluated at 1073, 1173 and 1273 K in the stagnant air. Changes of the com-


A method for modeling the time varying magnetic geometry in a low aspect ratio tokamak is developed. The model includes mutual inductance effects of an arbitrarily shaped (toroidally symmetric) conducting shell, poloidal field coils, a saddle coil with finite gap resistance, and a single element, distributed plasma current. The plasma current distribution is specified using EFIT results, and remains unchanged during the simulation, while the magnitude of the plasma current is ramped up linearly over time. The resulting simulation code is used to predict power supply requirements and tracking capabilities of an arbitrarily chosen feedback mechanism employed to operate the poloidal field coils of the tokamak.


: Objective: To learn about students' needs for English for nursing purposes (ENP) and study how to better improve the current situation of ENP teaching in medical schools. Method: A voluntary service questionnaire was used to evaluate nursing students from three medical colleges in Yunnan province, Hebei province, and Anhui province by random sampling. Results: 1. Most nursing students are willing to acquire ENP but deem that the present ENP teaching cannot meet their needs. 2. Owing to the lacking of professional medical knowledge, current ENP teachers have been considered less than perfect. 3. A large number of students pay more attention to the teaching method, which combines improving practical ability and acquiring professional knowledge. 4. Students request the teaching materials relevant to nursing majors. Conclusion: In order to increase the training of professional nursing knowledge for some ENP teachers who have graduated from normal colleges, it is suggested to design an engaging education model that blends teaching content with practical work and compile the ENP material that suits nursing characteristics and is consistent with the actual English level of nursing students.


The main aim of the article is to present multifunctional development of rural areas in the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship The area covered by protected areas in Poland amounts to 33.1%; the region with the highest percentage of areas covered by them is in the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship – 62 %. There are 72 municipalities (communes) in the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship among which 49 protected areas cover more than the half of the Swietokrzyskie area. These areas are usually landscape parks and protected landscape areas. in the opinion of its inhabitants after 9-10 years of the integration with the EU. The results of the inhabitants' opinions who expressed their views in the questionnaires after the integration with the EU are presented in this paper. The results of their opinions regard the communes in the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship in Poland. The poll was conducted among 32-102 inhabitants who expressed their opinions in the questionnaires after the EU integration. This paper presents the multifunctional development preferred by the inhabitants of 2 communes in the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship in the opinion of its inhabitants after the integration with the EU. The research was based on the inhabitants' opinions concerning particular courses of development, i.e. tourism, services, handicraft, industry, agriculture, food processing, and environmental protection. The results show that industry and tourism, and later agriculture, after the integration with the EU are the most preferred courses of multifunctional development in the rural areas of municipalities. The direct courses of development depend on specific conditions in every commune.


The WRF model configurative with high resolution and NCEP 1°×1° reanalysis data were used to simulate the development of a tropical deep convection on the Tiwi Islands, north Australia, and to investigate the sensitivity of model results to model resolutions and microphysical parameterization schemes. The simulation results were compared with available measurements. The results show that the model can reproduce the most important characteristics of the observed diurnal evolution of the convection, including the initiation of convection along the sea breeze front, which is then reinforced by downdraft outflows, merging of cells and the formation of a deep convective system. However, improvement needs to be made to simulate more accurately the location and time for the initiation of deep convective systems. Sensitivity tests show that double-nesting schemes are more accurate than the non-nesting schemes in predicting the distribution and intensity of precipitation as far as this particular case is concerned. Additionally, microphysical schemes also have some impacts on the simulation of precipitation. Better agreement is reached between the simulation results and observations when the Purdue Lin scheme is used.


Despite their recent establishment, tribal colleges play a unique community role and have grown in importance as providers of educational access for American Indians.


Donovanosis is a sexually transmitted disease that is caused by Klebsiella granulomatis. These are intracellular organisms that form inclusion bodies inside macrophages known as Donovan bodies. The disease is characterized by four different stages. First, nodular lesions develop, which then ulcerate. Plaques form in the third stage and hypertrophic lesions that look like genital warts are seen in the fourth stage. Treatment of donovanosis is azithromycin given for at least three weeks.


Brazilian Portuguese possesses two forms used as 1st person plural pronouns: nós and a gente, both meaning 'we'. The form nós has always been pronominal, whereas a gente is derived diachronically from the noun phrase a gente 'the people'. In accord with this historical evolution, the standard language prefers the use of the 1st plural verb desinence -mos with nós, as in nós falamos 'we speak' or 'we spoke'. The 3rd person desinence 0 is reserved for a gente, giving a gente fala 'we speak' as the preferred form. In popular speech both nós fala and a gente falamos are used frequently. We examine the use of these variable forms across four generations in Rio de Janeiro. In the older generations, phonic salience is the principal controlling factor for both nós and a gente. Since preterit desinences are stressed more frequently than present desinences, this induces a biased surface distribution, with -mos occurring more frequently with past tense reference. Nonetheless, for older speakers tense does not play a statistically significant role. In younger speakers, tense becomes statistically significant as a determining factor in the use of the desinences, with preterit favoring -mos for both subject forms. So far, there has been no change in the grammar itself, but the locus of determination of the use of -mos seems to have shifted from saliency to tense across the generations. One can speculate that some time in the future -mos may become a preterit marker.


A fundamental aspect of computer systems is that displaying and signing a digital document are separate and unlinked processes. In addition, the same digital document can be displayed differently on different systems. As a consequence it is difficult to determine what exactly has been signed, both from the signer's and the verifier's point of view. This paper discusses how confusion about the meaning of digitally signed documents can occur, and proposes some mitigation strategies


Signaling System 7 (SS7) is vital to signaling and control in America's public telephone networks. This paper describes a class of attacks on SS7 networks involving the insertion of malicious signaling messages via compromised SS7 network components. Three attacks are discussed in detail: IAM flood attacks, redirection attacks and point code spoofing attacks. Depending on their scale of execution, these attacks can produce effects ranging from network congestion to service disruption. Methods for detecting these denial-of-service attacks and mitigating their effects are also presented.


The coal shortage in the stockpile of the coal-fired power plant will possibly stop the power plant operation, which leads to negative impact to the company's operational performance as well as the interconnected electrical power system. Coal inventory is usually stored in the stockpile with an excess amounts to maintain service level. But the excessive level of coal would make a financial burden in terms of storage and maintenance costs. The objective of this study is to plan the optimum coal safety stock level in XYZ coal-fired power plant so it could serve the system with the low cost of inventory without affecting the operation reliability. The results showed that continuous review policy was more suitable to calculate coal inventory than periodic review policy because it stored less coal and limited stockpile capacity in the power plant. This scenario could reduce the cost of coal inventory planning up to ~ 14%.


Abstract Humble leadership can be described as a positive psychological feature that allows leaders to admit their limitations, be open to new ideas, and give a voice to others while also recognizing their merits. The present study (n = 268 participants) explored the persuasive effects of a female politician communicating a humble stance by considering the role emotional displays at play (joy, calmness, sadness, and anger) when discussing a moral issue (hosting immigrants). The results revealed that the politician elicited positive emotions and evaluations of her competence and benevolence, especially when exhibiting a sad facial display, by contributing to the intention to accept the moral gist of her persuasive message. Overall, these 'gendered' effects are discussed in relation to the 'political authenticity', which can be perceived as high especially when the humble message is connected with several social reasons, as is the case with gender or social status.


In view of the defects of recognition value of the existing high precision pointer meter, we developed a set of system of automatic reading based on automatic alignment control for pointer meter. We transformed the existing operating table, added to a set of system of camera automatic alignment, and accomplished the camera aimed automatically based on machine vision. Regarding recognition value, we improved the traditional distance method, meanwhile, expanded the scale mark and pointer through converting polar coordinate, and transformed angle method in original image into the distance method in polar coordinate plane, so it is more accurate for recognition value as per the position relationship between pointer and adjacent scale marks. This system indicates much higher accuracy and flexibility, while ensuring reliability, reduced the manual intervention and avoided misreading.


The mobile agent technology is introduced into the cluster system. An agent-based parallel computer cluster system model based on master/slave pattern is established. The questions such as communication between the agents, fault-tolerance and load-balance based on this model are discussed.


Dry mouth has a negative impact on patient comfort and dental health. A home medicines review can detect and resolve this condition.


Objective: Leptin has been previously shown to play an important role in maintaining insulin sensitivity and energy balance via catecholamine and cAMP dependent pathways. Since inhibition of phosph...


With the help of a complex simulation mathematical model of a motor grader developed in the Matlab environment, including subsystems of vibration-protective cab supports, a vibration-protective mechanism of the operator's seat, setting stochastic effects on the elements of running equipment when moving along a microrelief, a computational experiment is carried out, when processing the results of which, the influence of a number of system parameters on the root-mean-square seat acceleration deviation in the vertical direction. The variable parameters are the root mean square deviation of the vertical coordinates of the microprofile of the supporting surface, the speed of motion of the motor grader, the size of the zone of quasi-zero stiffness of the vibration protection mechanism of the operator's seat, the value of the increase in the spring stiffness coefficient of the vibration protection mechanism, which sets the slope of the average section of the static power characteristic of the vibration protection mechanism. An increase in the size of the zone of quasi-zero stiffness allows several times to reduce the average value of the root-mean-square deviation of the seat acceleration for a set of movements at various profile heights and speeds. Giving the middle part of the static characteristic a small slope also allows a slight decrease in the average value of the standard deviation of the seat.


This paper introduces the performance characteristic of permanent magnet materials, and the influence of the performance of the two kind of commonly used permanent magnet materials. The ferrites permanent magnet material should be selected by the small farm generator on the stability and efficiency of the small farm generator.


Covers design, technology and placement of residential windows, giving step-by-step procedures for assessing the energy performance of windows. The book is aimed at architects, builders, homeowners and those seeking energy-efficient housing, to help them choose from a range of window technologies.


Virtual power plants (VPPs) play an increasingly important role in power systems as they provide flexibility and efficiency for active distribution networks and serve as a great tool of energy management for the power grid penetrated with plenty of distributed energy resources (DERs) in the future. This article aims to propose a novel optimal dispatch method for VPP to realize real-time autonomous optimization. The proposed method combines the advantage of model-based method and data-driven method to provide instant optimal points trajectory based on system feedback, i.e., measurements. Firstly, the approximated mapping from control variables to state variables is established. Then a zeroth order optimization method is presented to calculate real-time command of DERs. The proposed strategy is adaptively compatible with the sudden change of the system and provide effective voltage support verified by the simulation in the unbalanced distribution networks.


The VET college should use psychology,pedagogy and the career guidance in employment guidance,and scientifically carry on the employment psychology teaching and employment psychology counsel to the student,and the key point is to understand graduates.So how to carry on various psychological investigation to the graduates is an important issue in VET college.Through psychology investigation in Chongqing College of Electronics Technology,the article carries on data analysis.and expounds how to deal with this issue.


The research aims to describe and diagnose the most important competitive priorities for tourism services in chosen companies for pilgrimage and "omrah" in Mosul City, and since competitive priorities represent strong points possessed by the organization only and not by it`s competitors, and these competitive priorities are basically dependant on the expertise of staff in the induction of the environmental conditions of organizations and competitors and knowing customers in order to attain the competitive advantage for the organization and to strengthen it`s power in dealing with the organizational chances so to stay within the framework of competition, so the researchers attempt to include this dimension in the research. In general the research attempts to give an answer to the inquiry which is confined to classifying the order of the competitive priorities which are adopted by the organizations under research and through which the organization can attain the competitive advantage and at the same time indicating not to suppose the availability of the presence of classified competitive order of the priorities which are usually adopted by organizations under research in order to attain the competitive advantage and these were tested by statistical methods so to analyse the collected data in order to get information through the questionnaire which was distributed to (35) persons represented by managers and employees of the organizations under research. The research concludes to some conclusions the most important of which what was clear from the results that described and diagnosed competitive priorities that the accuracy of the time of delivery of service attained the first rank in attracting customers to deal with tourist organizations, then the cost followed by quality, in addition to reputation and finally elasticity as the customer always search for the accuracy of time of delivery of service and a reasonable cost as the basis upon which suggestions for the research were set.


The classic chapter in Newman's Idea of a University on "University Preaching" remains at many points as timely and convincing as when it was written, in 1855. Its discrimination of real from spurious earnestness—"I do not mean that a preacher should aim at earnestness, but that he must aim at his object … which will at once make him earnest"; its warning against the recondite, remote, and abstract—"The most obvious truths are often the most profitable"; its advice that sermons should be prepared in writing, but spoken without notes—"While then a preacher will find it becoming and admirable to put into writing any important discourse beforehand, he will find it equally a point of propriety and expedience not to read it in the pulpit"—all these counsels and principles, though Newman throughout his preaching at St. Mary's violated the last of them, are as applicable as ever. Yet, on the other hand, the force of Newman's teaching is for many readers limited by his reiterated reference to ecclesiastical authority. What St. Francis de Sales, or St. Charles, or St. Antoninus, may have said about sermons is assumed to be of more significance than the judgments of the not less saintly Newman. The preacher whom Newman has in mind is a Roman priest, who "has before his mental eye the Four Last Things," and feels "the horror and the rapture of one who witnesses a conflagration."


Determinant is a most useful tool in every branch of mathematics, especially in linear mathematics. What kind of quantities do take a similar universal important role as determinant, in advanced branches of mathematics? In the present articles, showing the usefulness of semi-invariants in the classical invariant theory, we shall give a partial answer of the above question.


An operon is a functioning unit of genomic DNA containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter. Gene regulation is achieved by the control of an operon through induction or repression. Operons are of two types: inducible operons and repressible operons. Inducible operon is a type of operon which gets switched on by a substrate chemical, i.e., an inducer. In a repressible operon, the regulation is done by a chemical substance known as a co-repressor which is normally the end product of that particular metabolic pathway. This is the key difference between inducible and repressible operons.


We study the implications of a growth model including social capital and habit formation concerning the post World War II economic experience of European economies. Habits exhibit very low persistence and depend only on last period's consumption as suggested by empirical evidence. In addition to physical capital, agents invest in social capital which generates both market (production) and non-market (utility) returns. We study an infinite horizon model and compare its implications to a model with habit formation but without social capital. Our framework is more efficient in generating dynamic patterns that replicate the behavior of the main economic variables during the European post-war period. High investment in social capital at the end of the conflict is a key element of our results.


Objective:To explore the influence of psychological care on the elder cancer inpatients with anxiety state.Methods:60 elder cancer in patients with anxiety were randomly divided into experiment group and contrast group(30 cases for each group).Conventional cure and nursing care are given to the two groups,and the experiment group are given psychological care in addition.Anxiety Scale(SAS)was used to mark scores and compare the results before intervention and after intervention for 3 weeks.Results:The difference of the scores of SAS were significantly lower than those in the experiment group after intervention for 3 weeks(P0.05).Conclusion:Psychological care can effectively ease the elder inpatients'anxiety.


This paper focuses on a thermal study of a thermal energy harvester based on the coupling of a bimetallic strip heat engine with a piezoelectric membrane for wasted heat scavenging. Such a harvester is dedicated to power autonomous systems such as wireless sensor nodes. For a better understanding of the working principle of the system, it is compulsory to have a good understanding of the thermal specificities and phenomenon taking place inside the harvester. Attention is consequently focused on the thermal modeling of the harvester in static mode using the equivalence between the electrical and thermal quantities. This first modeling step allowed the improvement of the thermal properties inside the system by increasing the thermal gradient across it. However, the bimetal being the active part of the system has not been taken into account in this model and shadow zones persisted regarding the bimetal operation windows as a function of its snapping temperatures and hysteresis. To overcome this, a dynamic model is proposed in this paper taking into account the bimetal as a switched capacitance alternatively in contact with the hot source and the cold surface. This last model completed the static one by predicting the bimetal's operation windows in function of its intrinsic properties and the operation range evolution in function of the snapping temperature first and then in function of the bimetal thermal hysteresis. Moreover, experimental measurements enable to validate the proposed model and to point out the most powerful bimetals for scavenging higher amounts of power.


Painful to look at, impossible to look away - the Holy Land of half humanity holds us all in an agonising grip. The distraction of Iraq has barely slowed our daily dose of torn-up roadmaps, bombs, bullets and bulldozers, shrill charge and countercharge. What is the curse on that small corner of the world, where three closely related faiths endlessly invoke peace? Was there a fork in the road, and if so, where was it and when? The stakes go far beyond the Middle East - threatening us all with militant fundamentalism, an end to the toleration that has long kept religion and reason away from each other's throats and has thus preserved our fragile civilisation. In five wars there, months of travel and a mountain of reading, I have wrestled with these questions, hoping at least to glimpse a way forward. This is an account of that long search.


Pamphlets are an important part of any large microform collection. They are included as part of the large imprint collections (e.g. Early American Imprints), in manuscript collections (Earl Browder Papers, 1891-1975), and as separate collections. One micropublisher, the Microfilming Corporation of America, has an on-going pamphlet series Pamphlets in American History, which each year offers new sets of pamphlets on specific topics. In addition, numerous collections of pamphlets on various social and political groups are available. Pamphlets are important research materials for the study of social and political history. Unfortunately, they are often not available in most American libraries for a number of reasons. 1.) Social protest groups are interested in creating social change and not in documenting a history of their activities. 2.) Pamphlets are frequently printed on poor quality, high-acid paper, and disintegrate after a few years. 3.) Many libraries do not acquire or catalog pamphlets in a systematic fashion. Happily, though, a few libraries have extensive collections of pamphlets on either a particular subject or those published by a particular group. In many instances, they have been given or have purchased pamphlets collected by private collectors, often present or former members of the group. Such collections are very good candidates for microfilming. The next question is one of access. As has been mentioned, a large microform collection may include many collections containing pamphlets. A detailed subject guide such as the one described previously can suggest subjects or time periods of coverage. Most separately published pamphlet collections have reel guides and not catalog cards. These reel guides will vary greatly in quality, but usually provide author, date, and


Optimal therapy of growth disorders depends on accurate diagnosis and clear goals for therapy. Understanding normal patterns of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor secretion are necessary to appreciate the different hormone pattern induced by therapy. Finally, monitoring efficacy and safety, identifying interfering factors, and adjusting doses, are all part of optimizing GH therapy in childhood GH deficiency (GHD). Prevention of development of GHD would avoid the need for therapy. Options for optimizing GH therapy in childhood GHD include initiating treatment as young as possible, facilitating adherence to therapy plan, and adjusting GH dose on an individual basis to achieve 'target' results. In addition, there can be consideration of regulating timing of puberty, use of higher GH doses, and improving the process of transition from pediatric to adult care. Future prospects include improved depot GH preparations or alternative delivery systems. Development of depot GH-releasing hormone/peptide therapy could allow a more physiologic pattern of GH secretion. GH therapy should be targeted to yield the best growth response, best safety profile, and the best psychosocial adjustment.


Nowadays,soil pollution by Ni2 +is getting more severe in some place of China. Nickel( Ni) is an essential microelement of plants,however,large Ni2 +accumulation in crops leads to necrosis of plant leaf,lignification of stem and growth inhibition of root. The mechanisms of the Ni2 +toxicity are not well understood for nitrogen metabolism of higher plants. In this study,pot culture was conducted to investigate the effects of Ni2 +on the growth of roots and shoots,biomass,the uptake and accumulation of Ni2 +,the contents of nitrate nitrogen,ammonium nitrogen,free proline and soluble proteins,the nitrogen metabolism key enzymatic activities including nitrate reductase( NR),glutamine synthase( GS),glutamate synthase( GOGAT),glutamate dehydrogenase( GDH) in four genotypes( 13-36,B-7,Jingu 51,Jingu52) of foxtail millet( Setaria italica( L.) Beauv) seedlings from Shanxi,China. The foxtail millet seeds were cultured in incubators at 26℃ for germination with no light,then planted in the pots spiked with five different Ni2 +concentration,namely 25,50,100,150,200( mg / kg). The experimental results showed that with the rise of Ni2 +concentration the root length,shoot length and biomass declined and the accumulation of Ni2 +increased gradually,which formed a sharp contrast with the control group( P 0. 05). In the range of test Ni2 +concentration,the content of nitrate nitrogen,the activities ofNR,GS,GOGAT of four genotypes of foxtail millet characterized by increasing at low concentration( 25—50mg / kg) and declining at high concentration( 50—200 mg / kg). The activities of NR,GS,GOGAT reached the peak values when exposed to 50 mg / kg Ni2 +. The nitrate nitrogen contents and NR activities in 13-36 were higher than other three genotypes( P 0. 05). The activities of GS and GOGAT in 13-36,B-7,Jingu51 were 1. 69,1. 47,1. 19 and 2. 84,1. 03,3. 17 times than those of control group in 50 mg / kg Ni2 +exposure. However,The GDH activities decreased when the Ni2 +concentration higher than 100 mg / kg. Ni2 +treatments increased the accumulation of ammonium nitrogen in range of 50to150 mg / kg in the leaves of four foxtail millet and were 1. 14 to 3. 02 times than control group. Besides these,with the increasing of Ni2 +concentration,the content of free proline increased,the soluble protein decreased. Synthesize the above results,we found that Ni2 +treatments impaired N assimilation in foxtail millet seedlings by restraining the absorption of nitrate nitrogen and inhibiting the activities of NR,GS and GOGAT,which lead to nitrogen metabolism disturbance. And the toxicity effect was different among different genotypes of foxtail millet. Further,Ni2 +stress inhibited the growth of foxtail millet. The tolerance order of four foxtail millets to Ni2 +was 13-36 B-7 Jingu51 Jingu52.


Linked data and Semantic web are based on highly structured metadata that allow machines to recognize relationships among entities (including FRBR family entities. Linked data offer solutions to many questions that interest cultural heritage institutions (GLAM, i.e. Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums), by means of a efficient availability of their data on the semantic web, of authority control, and organization and interoperability of data. These slides realized for a professional course present main features of linked data and their opend and hidden relationships with cataloguing principles, models, rules, and user interfaces.


Serbia is facing a tremendous challenge with respect of development of appropriate waste management infrastructure to modern European standards. The priorities are: Stop dumping - Increase collection coverage - Move to controlled disposal, - Build sanitary landfills - Dumpsite remediation, identification, prioritization Improve reuse and recycling - Segregated collection - Stimulate development of recycling facilities Improve hazardous waste management - Segregation of industrial hazardous waste - Segregation of healthcare wastes - Development of treatment and disposal facilities; Integrated/strategic/cooperative approach - There is no single solution.


4-(Iminomethyl)phenol and 4-(iminomethyl)benzoic acid terminated aliphatic polyethers were obtained by conversion of Jeffamines with respective aromatic aldehydes. Mixtures of these polymers with polyamidines showed improved compatibility or even complete miscibility because of ionic complexes formed between the end groups of the modified polyethers and the basic amidine groups. Depending on composition and molecular weight of the components, blends with two or one glass transitions were obtained. In the case of 4-(iminomethyl)phenol terminated polyethers, deprotonation of the end groups resulted in a distinct change of the UV/vis absorption spectrum. This spectral alteration is discussed with respect to quantification of interactions in polymer blends.


important characters and works, many of whom would be largely unknown to readers outside Wales. Yet this is not a bland, objective treatment, the joy of the book is the occasional sentence where Morgan nails his colours to the mast, e.g., by critiquing mid-century Welsh Nonconformism for its inherent conservatism which led to a failure to 'develop a rigorous and biblically orthodox social gospel' that would have given the movement impetus for the future and for its continued flourishing (p. 196). This book will be vital for all who are interested in Wales and its history. However, it is also a model in how to write historical theology as well as an introduction to the key religious thinkers, movements and writings in the Welsh language of the long nineteenth century. In this it is an important contribution to Western historical theology.


Radar research has been synonymous with the University of Kansas (KU) for over half a century. As part of this special session organized to highlight significant radar programs in academia, this paper surveys recent and ongoing work at KU. This work encompasses a wide breadth of sensing applications including the remote sensing of ice sheets, autonomous navigation methods for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), novel laser radar capabilities, detection of highenergy cosmic rays using bistatic radar, different forms of waveform diversity such as MIMO radar and pulse agility, and various radar-embedded communication methods. The results of these efforts impact our understanding of the changing nature of the environment, address the proliferation of unmanned systems in the US airspace, realize new sensing modalities enabled by the joint consideration of electromagnetics and signal processing, and greater facilitate radar operation in an increasingly congested and contested spectrum.


"Management Informational System" is one comprehensive and border course offered by many majors in colleges and universities,proper arrangement of both the teaching content and the experiment is a guarantee for the improved quality of education.In order to improve the teaching of "Management Informational System",it is necessary to reform its teaching and practice,revising the syllabus,improving its understanding,rationally arranging experiments and stressing the teaching of its preparatory course.


Privacy fencing which is typically 6 to 8 feet in height is a lightweight, non-engineered installation which is not designed to provide noise mitigation. In keeping with NJDOTs Good Neighbor Program, for locations where noise barriers are not required or feasible, privacy fencing can provide a visual screen between the homeowner and the highway. This visual and physical screening has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for people living adjacent to highways. Commercially available privacy fencing made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or thin precast concrete panels can provide an aesthetically pleasing visual screen for both the property owner and the highway user. These fences typically are made as "good neighbor fences" where both sides are visually the same with no front or back. With minor component modifications both PVC and concrete fences are low maintenance installations with an expected life of 25 to 50 years. The installed cost on NJDOT projects of 6 feet high privacy fencing is estimated at $60 per feet for PVC and $125 per feet for concrete. It is envisioned that for the majority of installations, PVC will be the fence material of choice. For locations where the fencing is set close to the roadway and where a high volume of traffic is present, thin panel concrete fencing should be considered.


The invention discloses a treponema pallidum specific antibody chemical light emitting detection kit and a preparation method thereof, and relates to treponema pallidum. The kit comprises an outer package box, an alkaline phosphatase marked recombinant antigen bottle, a light emitting substrate bottle, a treponema pallidum specific antibody negative control bottle, a treponema pallidum specific antibody positive control bottle, a washing liquid bottle and a recombinant antigen coated micropore plate. The preparation method comprises the following steps: firstly, preparing reponema pallidum specific recombinant antigen and the recombinant antigen coated micropore plate, marking alkaline phosphatase of the recombinant antigen, further preparing a light emitting substrate, a washing liquid and a control group, and finally assembling the treponema pallidum specific antibody chemical light emitting detection kit. The treponema pallidum specific antibody chemical light emitting detection kit can be used for detecting syphilis specificity specific antibodies in clinical specimens, specific solid phase is adopted, immunity and light emitting reaction can be rapidly completed within a short time, the light emitting signals are greatly intensified, the sensitivity is improved, the detection time can be shortened, and the precision is improved.


In this paper, we investigate the stability and convergence of the indirect adaptive LQG feedforward controller, designed in order to precompensate the effect of the measurable disturbances, for a general S1SO non-minimum-phase stable plant. We study the equilibrium set of the associated ODE and obtain a necessary condition and some sufficient conditions on the parameters of the original plant structure, such that the limit set contains only the true parameter vector. As shown by some examples, the limit set, in general, contains points which do not correspond to the true parameter vector nor yield an optimal controller design. Simulation results show that in certain cases, when no extra excitation is present, the parameter estimates can indeed converge to such limit points, meaning that the adaptive system is not self-tuning. Finally, the global stability and convergence of the adaptive controller, based on the stochastic gradient algorithm, are established and it is shown that if the exogenous input is ...


Paraorthacodus conicus (Davis, 1890) of the family Palaeospinacidae, but previously believed to be a mako shark (family Lamnidae), and P. andersoni (Case, 1978), until now reported only from the Judith River Formation of Montana, are both described from the Late Cretaceous of the Kristianstad Basin, southern Sweden. The name Synechodus nerviensis Leriche, 1929, is a junior synonym of P. conicus and Synechodus striatus Case, 1978, is likewise a junior synonym of P. andersoni.


Abstract : LONG-TERM GOALS. The overall goals of this research are: 1. To define and characterize the variabilities and uncertainties in the components and linkages of the general physical-geo-acoustical system relevant to the support of naval operations. 2. To transfer quantitatively the spatial-temporal environmental variabilities and uncertainties through the interdisciplinary system, including coupled interactions, in order to determine uncertainty measures, sensitivities and feedback needed to improve operational predictions and parameters. OBJECTIVES. This effort is part of a multi-institutional team effort, which started in the second half of 2001, to capture uncertainty in the common tactical picture. The team s name is UNITES, which stands for UNcertainties and Interdisciplinary Transfers through the End-to-End System. Led by Abbot, OASIS, Inc., and Robinson, Harvard University (HU), the UNITES team, with expertise spanning the ocean environment, underwater acoustics and tactical sonar systems, consists of a total of twelve principal investigators from nine different organizations including the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and University of North Carolina (UNC). The NPS component in the UNITES team s paradigm to solve the interdisciplinary, end-to-end problem has two objectives: 1. To characterize acoustic prediction uncertainties, including their connections to the uncertainties in the ocean and geo-acoustic parameter estimates. 2. To forecast and improve acoustic baselines and their uncertainties in a data-assimilation framework involving coupled ocean and acoustic state variables.


The relationship between children's reflection-impulsivity styles and their human figure drawings was examined for a sample of Mexican children of middle (n = 97) and low (n = 110) socioeconomic status. Drawings were scored for Developmental, Emotional, and Impulsiviry indicators. As in previous research with American preschoolers, the drawings of 23 Mexican preschoolers did not correlate with the styles; however, significant relationships between the styles and Impulsivity scores of older children of low status (n = 87) were also found, suggesting that, when a higher-level of impulsivity is present in a population, a relationship between styles and drawings may be observed. The findings for low-status preschoolers, even their higher Impulsivity scores, support the notion that Kagan's measure of impulsivity is not appropriate for use with younger children.


Global warming is the greatest test for environment now a days and cloud computing is one of the main motivation for an unnatural weather change as global warming. After numerous years of examination in systems administration, virtualization and distributed computing field Cloud Computing was assembled. Cloud Computing is one of the best innovation in IT field. The fundamental standard of Cloud Computing is to process on distributed PCs instead of figuring on stand alone or remote servers. The thought behind Cloud Computing is to give secured, quick and appropriate data storage and figuring administrations. As there is a positive side of any innovation there is likewise a negative side of it, so do could computing has its negative side. There is huge measure of energy wastage furthermore huge carbon dioxide discharge in cloud computing which is the most compelling motivation for a dangerous atmospheric deviation. Hence there ought to be an approach to decrease the energy utilization furthermore diminishes the discharge of perils components like carbon dioxide. Giving a green solution for cloud computing is important to diminish contamination and utilization of energy. For this we should examine the power utilization in cloud computing and examination should be done in both private and public cloud. Green Cloud Computing Solution decreases energy utilization and consequently lessens the operational coasts in cloud computing furthermore spares energy, henceforth, diminishes the negative impacts on environment. This work tries to actualize the task combination (consolidation) comalgorithm coordinated with job submission and scheduling algorithm and also trying to save energy by sending the unused servers to rest and migration of virtual machines in cloud computing.


Abstract : Now more than ever every facet of society relies on the NII to facilitate critical information related activities. Entities around the world have not ignored this transformation and seek to steal, disrupt, and interdict the U.S.'s key information processes. It is this reliance on the NII and the security threats it faces that force policy makers to answer the question who should protect the NII? Seemingly, the DoD is well positioned to take the lead role in protecting the NII. However, authorizing DoD control over NII protection ignores many issues. Analyzing vulnerabilities to the DII illustrates the gravity of the problem the entire NII faces. The NII faces an increasing threat from hackers, and rogue agents bent on damaging the DoD's information based processes. Countering these threats requires developing a comprehensive NII protection strategy. Correspondingly, developing a strategy for protecting the NII requires defining several strategic concepts of Centers of Gravity, objective, end state, and key tasks. Along with strategic concepts, several critical environmental paradigms such as changing mediums of warfare and the source of future power also effect decisions of who should protect the NII. In light of environmental paradigms and strategic concepts, the issue of whether the DoD can serve as lead agent in NII protection begins to take shape. While arguments such as experience in matters related national security appear to point toward the DoD playing the central role in NII protection, the underlying rationale is limiting and shortsighted. The NII's distributed nature, constitutionally mandated rights, and the needs of a pluralistic society, all argue against the DoD playing a lead role in protecting the NII. While the DoD should not play the lead role, it does have the capacity to take leadership in several key sub-task areas. First, the DoD should be the lead agent facilitating discussion about national incident and consequence management plans.


According neuropathological research limbic changes occur in Parkinson's disease with and without dementia. Structural MRI have reported atrophy of limbic structures including amygadala and hippocampus, in both demented and non-demented PD patients; and a progression of limbic atrophy over time. In addition, atrophy of paralimbic areas (i.e. paracingulate gyrus) and limbic association cortex (i.e orbitofrontal cortex) has also been reported in PD. Functional studies have also reported limbic dysfunctions in Parkinson's disease. PET studies reported that orbitofrontal and amygdalar presynaptic dopaminergic functions are altered in early PD and a significant decrease in the metabolism of the medial OFC in a follow-up study of patients with early PD. fMRI studies showed an abnormal amygdalar response in PD while recognizing fearful faces and lack of activation in the right hippocampus and amygdala while perceiving odorant stimuli inside the scanner. Neuropsychological studies pointed out that the functions that are known to depend on the integrity of limbic system are impaired in Parkinson's disease even in the early stages of the disease. Specifically, it has been reported and impairment in verbal memory, recognition of facial expressions of emotions, decision-making and olfactory function. However, the neuroanatomical and neurofunctional correlates of these dysfunctions are not known or are poorly investigated. For memory functions, hippocampal and amygdalar volumes have been reported to correlate with memory impairment. For decision making and recognition of emotions there are no studies of its correlates; and for olfactory dysfunctions one study reported a correlations between this impairment and a reduced fractional anisotropy in the cerebellum.The general aim of this thesis is to investigate the neuroanatomical and neurofunctional correlates of declarative memory, decision-making, recognition of emotions and olfactory dysfunctions in PD. We hypothesized that all these dysfunctions are due to the limbic degenerative changes associated with PD. We used structural MRI (T1-weighted MRI and DTI), functional MRI (fMRI) and neuropsychological testing to assess declarative memory, emotional processing and decision-making, and olfactory function. Firstly, we focused on the hippocampal atrophy putatively related to declarative memory dysfunctions and PD, and a possible neuroradiological marker for the evolution to dementia. This issue was investigated in papers I and II. Secondly, we aimed to investigate structural correlates of deficits in the recognition of emotions, decision-making and olfactory dysfunction reported early in the disease course by means of VBM and DTI (paper III and IV). Finally in paper V the functional correlates of recognition memory were assessed using fMRI.The main conclusions of this thesis, derived from the five studies, can be summarized as follows:1) The pattern of atrophy in non-demented PD patients affects the anterior region of the hippocampus and progresses to the posterior part in demented patients but preserves the middle part of this structure. This pattern and evolution is similar to that seen in Mild Cognitive Impairment of amnestic type and Alzheimer's disease.2) Declarative memory dysfunctions in PD depend on the atrophy of the head of the hippocampus. 3) Patients with visual hallucinations present progressive hippocampal atrophy and also show widespread atrophy involving the limbic, paralimbic and neocortical areas in agreement with the evolution towards dementia. In contrast, patients without VH only show gray matter loss in the motor regions and their cognitive functions remain spared.4) Early PD patients present gray matter loss in some limbic regions. We observed gray matter loss in the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex but not in the anterior cingulate, enthorrinal cortex and accumbes nuclei. These results only partially support the stages proposed by Braak.5) Impairment in decision-making and recognition of facial expressions of emotions occurs at early stages of PD. These neuropsychological deficits are accompanied by degeneration of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and amygdala. Bilateral OFC reductions are associated with impaired recognition of emotions, and gray matter volume loss in left lateral OFC is related to decision-making impairment in PD.6) PD patients presented abnormal white matter microstructural changes in several brain regions including cortical and subcortical areas early in the disease course. However, only reduction of fractional anisotropy in the white matter of the central olfactory areas, specifically the white matter adjacent to the gyrus rectus, is associated with olfactory dysfunction in PD patients.7) There is a disruption of functional networks involved in memory and default mode in early PD.


Consideration of galaxies of the types described by Seyfert, Zwicky, Markarian and others. Quasars are discussed in terms of their similarities to the nuclei of peculiar galaxies. The data discussed were obtained almost exclusively with photoelectric spectrometers. Peculiar galaxies have a wide range of properties insofar as their spectra are concerned. Many have very strong emission lines. Sources of continuous radiation, and distance scale problems and selection effects are discussed. Data are presented which are representative of spectrophotometric observational results for 12 Markarian galaxies, 14 Zwicky compact objects, and 16 radio galaxies. The general properties of spectral energy distributions of peculiar galaxies and quasars are discussed.


People are using social media to a greater extent, particularly in emergency situations. However, approaches for processing and analyzing the vast quantities of data produced currently lag far behind. In this paper we discuss important steps, and the associated challenges, for processing and analyzing social media in emergencies. In our research project EmerGent, a huge volume of low-quality messages will be continuously gathered from a variety of social media services such as Facebook or Twitter. Our aim is to design a software system that will process and analyze social media data, transforming the high volume of noisy data into a low volume of rich content that is useful to emergency personnel. Therefore, suitable techniques are needed to extract and condense key information from raw social media data, allowing detection of relevant events and generation of alerts pertinent to emergency personnel.


Aiming at the problem that the risk early warning effect of traditional power enterprise supply chain is not good, a power enterprise supply chain risk evaluation and early warning model based on semantic clustering is constructed. Firstly, SAT word vector model and K-means clustering algorithm were used to obtain risk word vector and semantic clustering respectively. Then, on the basis of TextRank word graph model, semantic clustering information is introduced to extract power supply chain risk evaluation indexes. Finally, the risk indexes are input into the gray prediction model for risk evaluation and early warning. The example analysis shows that the model can accurately warn capital risk and customer satisfaction reduction risk, and the risk warning values are 92.3% and 86.2 %, respectively. The risk warning accuracy of this model is up to 99.65%, which is higher than that of traditional risk warning model. It shows that the model can realize power enterprise supply chain risk evaluation and early warning, and meet the system design requirements.


The present paper deals with the problem of a simple prey predator diffusive model. The main thrust of this article is to achieve spatial pattern (patchiness) in the presence of cross diffusion. We have investigated the global stability of the uniform steady state in two dimensional geometry by constructing a suitable Lyapunov function.


Research situation together with standards and prescriptions of longitudinal ventilation critical wind speed for depressing the tunnel fire smoke back flow were concluded.FDS and small scale model experiments were compared to analyze the relationship of critical wind speed and tunnel slope.Results showed that the results of FDS and experiments were mostly the same;when the slope was the same,the longitudinal ventilation speed was linearly related with return length;when the slope was 0,critical wind speed needed to depress the smoke back flow should be bigger.


Breast cancer is one of the most frequently occurring cancers among women throughout the world. In breast cancer prognosis, grading plays an important role. In this paper, we apply a novel method based on type-II fuzzy logic to Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy based breast cancer spectral data for the classification of breast cancer grade. A FTIR spectral data set consisting of 14 cases of breast cancer has been used. A zSlices based type-II fuzzy logic approach has been used to create prototype models for the classification of unseen breast cancer cases. The prototype models are used with a similarity measure to classify unseen cases of cancer. We have shown that the T-II similarity based model is a promising methodology for classification.


We have completed the fabrication of a 40 T class hybrid magnet system including a 15 MW dc power supply, a 15 MW water-cooling system, a helium liquefier/refrigerator, and a hybrid magnet composed of an outer superconducting magnet and an inner water-cooled magnet. We are now beginning to test the system; this paper describes the first results. The outer superconducting magnet is designed to be cryogenically stable at 4.2 K and to generate background fields up to 15 T in a room temperature bore of 400 mm. The maximum operating current and the maximum stored energy are 1476 /spl Aring/ and 63.3 MJ, respectively. So far, we have tested the superconducting magnet to 14.2 T without quenching. We have fabricated two kinds of inner water-cooled magnets (Insert A and Insert B), which are designed to generate additional fields up to 25 T and 20 T in clear bores of 30 mm and 50 mm, respectively, in a background field of 15 T. We have tested the hybrid magnet system to 32.1 T using Insert B, and to 35.7 T using Insert A.


Presentation of Case A 13-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital because of amenorrhea and hirsutism. Her previous medical history was unremarkable. At the age of 10 years the menarche occurred, with generally regular cycles; each menstrual period was associated with cramps for one or two days and moderate flow for four or five days. During the year before entry she had a weight gain of 9 kg and noticed increasing hair growth on her face and nipples. Six months before entry a typical menstrual period occurred and lasted for five days; thereafter she was amenorrheic. Six weeks before admission . . .


Dynamic update capabilities allow a system to change some of its components without stopping execution, so as to cater for versioning and self-optimisation. In this paper, we propose FREJA to support transparent dynamic updates of classes of a distributed Java system. In doing so, FREJA purports to (i) ensure the consistency of the execution flow, and (ii) avoid that faults typical of a distributed environment interfere with the updating operations. FREJA's operations are transparent with respect to the system to be updated, thanks to appropriate selective bytecode rewriting of classes, performed at load-time. Consistency of the execution flow, for any state of the system to be updated and even in the face of network faults, is ensured by an ad-hoc protocol which checks the validity of changes and, should a fault manifest itself, falls back to a previous configuration. Dynamic updates, executed while safeguarding consistency, foster systems properties such as availability, maintainability and fault-tolerance, since by changing some parts of a running system bugs fixes and fault recovery can be performed. Hence, the proposed solution provides developers with valuable mechanisms which are paramount to obtain dependable systems.


【 Objective 】 Fall dormancy of alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.) is an adaptive strategy in response to change of temperature and lighting in the growth environment in late autumn. Roots, as the main functional organ of alfalfa, play a vital role in surviving the winter. Although previous studies have shown that there are significant correlations between fall dormancy and coldresistance, the overwintering characteristics of alfalfa roots on cold resistance are not clearly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the role of fall dormancy on winter hardiness in consideration of aspects of root traits.【Method】 Eleven alfalfa standard check cultivars were chosen and grown in semi-arid temperate regions, which is an appropriate area for alfalfa cultivation in China.Using the standardized major axis(SMA) method, the allometric scaling of different root traits in response to fall dormancy in the process of overwintering was studied. Furthermore, using partial least square regression(PLSR) and other methods, the master regulators of the effects of alfalfa with different fall dormancy types on cold resistance in root phenotypic traits were analyzed.【Result】The results showed that with increasing fall dormancy rating, from one to 11, the collar diameter and lateral root number of wintering alfalfa significantly decreased(P 0.05). More dormant alfalfa was accompanied with enhanced storage phenotypic characteristics. However, taproot diameter and lateral root diameter significantly increased(P 0.05) as alfalfa became more non-dormant. Tradeoffs were found between lateral root number and other lateral root traits(P 0.05). Affected by fall dormancy ratings, root traits performed notable allometric scaling of different parts, mainly in collar depth, lateral root position, and lateral root number. Significant differences(P0.05) existed between allometric scopes and one(P0.05). Therefore, different root traits had differentiation strategies during the overwintering process. There were significantly negative correlations between the alfalfa winter survival rate and fall dormancy rating. The negative correlation could be fitted by logistic curve but not by a linear equation. Alfalfa cultivars with a fall dormancy(FD) rating of 1-5 tended to have a higher winter survival rate( 95%), 6-8 FD tended to have a sharply decreased winter survival rate(50%-70%), and 9-11 rarely survived in winter( 5%). Collar diameter and lateral root number were positive contribution factors in the alfalfa winter survival rate(P 0.05), but the taproot diameter and lateral root diameter, negative contribution factors, were not main factors that decided the winter hardiness in alfalfa(P0.05). 【Conclusion】Root traits of alfalfa with different fall dormancy ratings performed differentiation strategies in response to low-temperature stress in winter, followed by allometric relationships among different traits. Alfalfa enhanced its winter survival rate mainly through increasing collar diameter and lateral root number, and did not depend on the absolute size of other root phenotypic traits. Overall,during wintering, adaptive changes of root traits of alfalfa with different fall dormancy ratings are a primary pathway to improve winter survival.


Results are presented from a new mathematical model on the mixing of fuel and air. The model is derived from the ideal gas law and the equation of continuity. The equivalence ratio measured within an infinitesimal fluid element of mixture and the time rate of the equivalence ratio are used to quantify the degree and time rate of mixing. The model shows that in addition to the fuel molecular weight, the mixing rate depends on pressure, temperature, density, and their rates. The density rate depends on velocity gradients. The mixing between methane and air is described since the gaseous reactants delineate the droplet heat-up and evaporation for liquid fuels. Results presented here provide the isolated effect of each parameter involved in mixing. Implication of the results on mixing of other fuels and air is discussed. These results are intended to provide important design guidelines for developing high intensity and high efficiency combustors with special focus on low levels of pollutants emission.


Upon reading Esther Greenglass's article on "Burnout and Gender", I found it impossible to evaluate the research from only an academic perspective. Personal biases and experiences have inadvertantly influenced these comments. I am reminded of Logan Wright's (1988) review of the relationship between Type A behaviour pattern and coronary heart disease. After receiving a diagnosis of a significant blockage in a major coronary artery, he was motivated to understand the possible predictors of his problem. Since the major risk factors did not characterize him, he was led to behavioural explanations and ultimately to the components of Type A behaviour pattern that could explain his deteriorated heart condition. In taking the opportunity to evaluate his own behaviour pattern he was able to offer a number of hypothetical relationships. The research was evaluated in terms of general scientific relationships identified and the ability of the studies to explain his personal experiences — in other words, the ability to predict an individual's risk level. These dual evaluation criteria are stringent because of the demands for consistent findings and a high degree of explained variance in the outcome. As an individual in a dual-career marriage with young children, I found the research reviewed by Greenglass to have particular relevance to me. As a result, the review was read with three primary questions in mind: How much variance in burnout does gender really explain; or, alternatively, how well can we separate gender influences from other variables associated with gender (e.g. other individual difference factors)? What are the implications of the gender differences in predictors, burnout levels and outcomes? How well can we predict individual burnout rates through knowledge of gender? Greenglass approaches the burnout issue with a fundamental question, how is gender related to the predictors, components and consequences of burnout. She was able to identify some stable patterns but was not able to derive many generalizations. As identified by Greenglass, the early literature pointed to simplistic but consistent relationships: Females experienced more burnout than males. Explanations for the higher levels of burnout in employed women included high levels of responsibilit ies in both the work and home environments, and work is an "add-on" responsibility for females while for males work is an integral part of the male role. Greenglass pursues the traditional explanations by providing a closer examination of the literature and pointing to potential problems in interpretation of much of the current research. Many studies have included separate male and female samples that were simply not comparable. Associated with the separate samples were a number of factors confounded with gender, such as bio-demograph ic differences, occupational differences, and organizational hierarchial differences. Each of the differences could provide plausible alternative explanations for the gender differences in burnout.


Data of the ( (cid:112) (cid:49) , (cid:112) (cid:50) ) reaction on 128 Te and 130 Te at T (cid:112) (cid:53) 48 MeV are presented, which constitute also the first observation of pionic double charge exchange (cid:126) DCX (cid:33) on heavy nuclei at energies below the (cid:126) 3,3 (cid:33) resonance. For the ground state transitions in these isotopes we find very small cross sections of about 15 nb/sr only at 30° and a ratio of (cid:115) ( 130 Te)/ (cid:115) ( 128 Te) (cid:53) 1.5 (cid:50) 0.8 (cid:49) 1.8 . The experimental results and their impact on the understanding of the (cid:98)(cid:98) decay of the Te isotopes are discussed within the framework of recent proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation calculations. For the transitions to the double isobaric analog states in 128 Xe and 130 Xe we obtain cross sections in the range 1 (cid:109) b/sr


In November, 1904, I needed a device to stretch the flexion and adduction deformity resulting in a case of hip disease which had been treated by a long traction-splint, and in which the patient had been well for three or four years. There was present a fair range of motion at the joint. A cutting operation into a healed tuberculous joint is attended with considerable risk, and in my opinion is a thing that ought not to be done except from extreme necessity. A subtrochanteric osteotomy for the correction of the deformity is a perfectly safe procedure, and the operation of choice to correct hip deformities when the joint is ankylosed; but when done on a patient with any considerable range of joint motion, it is usually unsatisfactory because much of the previous deformity usually returns after the operation. The problem, then, was to devise an apparatus which would make


Characterization of heavy fuel oil (HFO) is highly important to ensure technically, economically, and environmentally proper operation of the engines and power plants that use this source of energy. This applies in particular to the shipping industry. Here, we demonstrate that the combination of standard 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis can be employed for quick and accurate extraction of parameters pertaining to the physical and chemical properties of complex suspensions, such as HFO. For 82 HFO samples of known origin, good prediction models were obtained for a large number of characterization parameters, including the calculated aromaticity index, the density, gross and net calorific values, and water and sulfur contents, as well as micro-carbon residue.


Overexpression of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) has been identified by a variety of methods in NK cells and NK malignancies. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significance of P‐gp in previously untreated extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type. Tumor specimens from 30 patients initially treated with CHOP or CHOP‐based chemotherapy were examined by immunohistochemistry using JSB‐1, a monoclonal antibody recognizing the intracellular epitope of P‐gp molecule. Twenty cases (67%) were positive for P‐gp expression. The complete response rate achieved in P‐gp positive patients was significantly lower than in P‐gp negative ones (20% vs. 60%, P = 0.045). With a median follow‐up of 25 months, the 2‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates for all patients were 66 and 69%, respectively. Compared with both PFS and OS rates of P‐gp positive patients, those of P‐gp negative patients showed a trend of benefit that did not reach statistical significance for borderline P values (PFS: 90% vs. 54%, P = 0.1057; OS: 90% vs. 61%, P = 0.2028). Our results suggest that P‐gp expression is related with poor treatment outcomes of extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type. Am. J. Hematol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


It is shown how, using clocked delay systems, it is possible to translate the frequency of an applied periodic voltage. The translation can represent an increase or a decrease in frequency. Moreover, the amount of the translation can itself be made to change with time. A clocked delay system is constructed in a straight-forward manner using shift registers. The theory is tested using clock rates that change linearly with time and using clock rates that provide a linear time variation of delay. The resulting frequency translation is measured for sinusoidal, triangular and square wave inputs. The results are in good agreement with the theory. >


This research was aimed at improving students' speaking skills using replicas. The implementation of replica in teaching speaking was conducted through a CAR. It was conducted for a month in October 2012. The CAR was done based on Kemmis and Mc.Taggart model design. The writer took two cycles with six actions (three actions each cycle). Based on the observation, the writer found three problems: (1) many students assumed that speaking was a difficult and scary thing, (2) some students had problems with their fluency, (3) some students had problem with their accuracy.
The data were collected through observation, test, interview and questionnaire. There were two kinds of data that were collected, quantitative and qualitative. In analysing qualitative data the writer used four stages; collecting data, reducing data, presenting data and making conclusion. The quantitative data were counted by using mean and score standard. It was to measure whether there was an improvement in CAR or not.
From the data analysis, it was found that the students' speaking skills improved after the teacher taught speaking using replicas. It could be seen from the pre-test result (5.59), and post-test one (7.27). It increased 2.32 and the result of post-test cycle two was 7.93. There was an improvement 0.66 point from post-test in cycle one. The use of replicas also improved the students' motivation and activities in learning English. The students were more interested in learning English, working in group discussion and doing assignment and most of students actively involved in the activities.


Inflammation that occurs in the tumor microenvironment and in the systemic circulation correlates with disease progression and prognosis in a number of tumors. One way to assess the systemic immune response is to determine the cells/their ratio associated with inflammation, which can easily be measured with complete blood count. IL-21 has a variety of regulatory effects on both normal and tumor cells, leading to their proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.The aim of our study was to determine the level of IL-21 in patients with lymphoma-leukemia and to correlate it with the biomarkers of systemic inflammation involved in carcinogenesis - NLR, PLR, PMR, HLR, SII, dNLR.The study included patients with hematologic tumors who underwent splenectomy for therapeutic indications. The control group consisted of patients who also underwent splenectomy but not due to malignant tumor or autoimmune disease.According to our study analysis interleukin-21 levels did not differ significantly between the study and control groups. Serum levels of interleukin-21 in patients with malignant hematologic tumors are negatively correlated with dNLR.