We present a novel stereo‐to‐multiview video conversion method for glasses‐free multiview displays. Different from previous stereo‐to‐multiview approaches, our mapping algorithm utilizes the limited depth range of autostereoscopic displays optimally and strives to preserve the scene's artistic composition and perceived depth even under strong depth compression. We first present an investigation of how perceived image quality relates to spatial frequency and disparity. The outcome of this study is utilized in a two‐step mapping algorithm, where we (i) compress the scene depth using a non‐linear global function to the depth range of an autostereoscopic display and (ii) enhance the depth gradients of salient objects to restore the perceived depth and salient scene structure. Finally, an adapted image domain warping algorithm is proposed to generate the multiview output, which enables overall disparity range extension.


The tfdB gene encoding chlorophenol hydroxylase and its homolog were found in 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-degrading strain RD5-C2, which belongs to Bradyrhizobium sp. of α-Proteobacteria. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence identities of the two genes, designated tfdBa and tfdBb, were 60% and 57% respectively. Their nucleotide sequences most closely matched those of previously reported tfdB, which consisted of those from 2,4-D-degrading β- and γ-Proteobacteria and Sphingomonas sp. in α-Proteobacteria, with 61–67% identity. The TfdBa expressed in Escherichia coli showed the highest activity for 2,4-dichlorophenol but a narrower range of activity for the other chlorophenols than previously reported TfdBs. In the case of TfdBb, however, no observable activity for any chlorophenols or phenol was detected, although production of a protein with an appropriate molecular size was observed. Based on codon usage patterns and the GC content of the genes, it probable that the tfdBa genes in the 2,4-D-degrading Bradyrhizobium sp. were obtained through horizontal gene transfer.


Abstract : Over the two years of the ASSERT grant and the 3 years of the parent grant, the students supported by the grants performed studies that greatly extended our knowledge about the importance of working memory capacity in the performance of cognitive tasks and clarified the nature of the causes of individual differences in working memory capacity. One set of studies showed that working memory capacity was important in the suppression of distracting information. Individuals with greater working memory resources are better able to block and inhibit both distract ing events from the environment and thoughts that interfere with ongoing processing. This places even greater importance on the evaluation of individual differences in working memory for jobs in which distractions could impede performance. The final project on the grants was a large factor analysis of working memory tasks, short-term memory tasks, general fluid intelligence tests and Verbal and Quantitative Scholastic Aptitude Tests. The analysis clearly demonstrated that a wide variety of so-called working memory tasks reflect a common latent trait and that the trait is very closely related to both general fluid intelligence and to aptitude as measured by the SAT's. If the renewal of these grants is funded, my lab will pursue the role of attention switching and task switching in working memory capacity and the relationship between many findings from my lab over the years and findings with patients with damage to the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This would suggest that individual differences in working memory capacity reflects differences in functioning of the central attentional system in general and the prefrontal cortex in particular.


Network teaching platform for the construction and application of teaching quality is an important part of the project. Construction of network teaching platform to carry out online teaching activities, can promote the school curriculum, and deepen the reform of teaching content, teaching resources to achieve educational and networking infrastructure efficient use of resources, promote the quality of project implementation. In this paper, the construction of university teaching platform specific objectives, content and details of the platform selection and implementation of programs related to the deployment platform for college has some reference value.


We consider the class of dissipative reaction-diffusion-convection systems on the circle and obtain conditions under which the final (at large times) phase dynamics of a system can be described by an ODE with Lipschitz vector field in $ \mathbb{R}^{N} $. Precisely in this class, the first example of a parabolic problem of mathematical physics without the indicated property was recently constructed.


Seventy years after Lord Macmillan observed in Donoghue v Stevenson that 'the categories of negligence are never closed',1 it is clear that the categories have not only increased exponentially, but have supplanted or encroached upon other traditional torts.2 Apart from its reach across the legal landscape of obligations, the content of the duty of care in negligence has also placed a heavier burden on potential defendants. For example, the duty to inform, since Rogers v Whitaker,3 has become an almost permanent feature in all medical negligence cases. A corollary duty to warn is also apparent in the broader context, whether it is failure to inform of the risks of, for example, diving into a shallow pool,4 walking along hidden cliffedges,5 or batting while playing cricket.6 An expectation has been created that the tort of negligence may be called upon in virtually any situation, and that people and organizations should be obliged to take positive steps to prevent harm. In recognition of this, the Australian government recently appointed a panel of experts to review the law of negligence and make recommendations to limit the extent of liability.7 The High Court of Australia has in the last two decades played a very active role in reshaping the tort of negligence, and continues to do so. There is now a more   Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal 81


This paper presents a novel scalable parallel algorithm for cutting tetrahedral meshes for surgery simulation. Built upon the finite element method (FEM), it focusses on accurate incremental collision detection and efficient topology modification on GPU systems. The overall simulation comprises a small sequence of steps, and each is well parallelized using lock-free data structures. The only synchronization necessary are the few barriers between steps. Our experiments show that the entire simulation runs in real-time for large meshes (of sizes exceeding 1.5 million tetrahedra) and retains mesh quality during the simulation. We compare favorably with the state-of-the-art.


In the preface to this book, the authors point out that present-day emergency departments care for many nonurgent medical and surgical "emergencies," and that a large proportion of the children are less hurt or ill than their parents are frightened. The manual, therefore, aims to synopsize the diagnosis and treatment of all acute medical and surgical problems of childhood, from the minor common cold to the serious gastric perforation. Robert Reece, a pediatrician who is Chief of the Pediatric Walk-In Clinic at Boston City Hospital, collaborated with a distinguished pediatric surgeon (now dead), Dr John Winslow Chamberlain, to produce this three-part manual. A very short introductory section discusses administrative policies, probably of the author's own emergency department, and contains some brief but pertinent medicolegal advice. The main section outlines the work-up and treatment of acutely ill or injured children. Instructions are presented in structured or "cookbook" format in some sections


Bypass cement dust was supplied from Alkufa cement factory, which has been used in preparing glass ceramic material. The percentage of bypass cement dust which is included in the overall batch is about 30 wt%. The bypass cement dust composition has been modified by adding other materials like marble, granite, and silica, to prepare glass ceramic material by powder technology. The prepared samples with different ratios ingredients were pressed under a load of 15 tons/cm2 for 90 sec, in a steel mold of 30 mm in diameter, liquid phase sintering is carried out by using High-Temperature Furnace at 100 – 1250 º C and 208/ 240 VAC. Techniques including SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) tests were then  used to evaluate the produced material. The obtained glass ceramic material have high bulk and apparent density, low apparent porosity , high compression strength and hardness , low electrical and thermal conductivity. The XRD and SEM results showed that glass ceramic materials are formed. The phase transformation has happened and the titanite, wollastonite, diopside, periclase, and silica condense clusters phase are formed, which are the important phases of glass ceramic. Tests show that the sample A5 contains 38% bypass cement dust, 30%granite, and 32% silica  , the sample C5 contains 28% bypass, granite 30%, marble 10%, and silica 32% and the sample B4 contains 59% bypass , 25% marble, and 16% silica . Showing properties A5 and C5 which conform to that of glass ceramic properties  better than B4. The research is considered a pioneer work in the field of investment of dust of bypass cement for producing glass ceramic materials. It represents an important step and could be the basis for future researches leading to the achievement of glass ceramic production in Iraq.


-The objective of the present investigation is to determine to what extent the Analytical Accounting influences the control of the budgetary management of a Municipality. In previous studies, there are investigations that consider, to a lesser or greater degree, government accounting as a control factor of budget management in government institutions, which has not been widely developed in a municipality. The research was of an application type. The level of research was correlational, the influence relationship between the independent variable (X) versus the dependent variable (Y) was measured and evaluated. The method and design used for this study was correlational. The population of the present investigation includes the 50 most representative officials of the Municipality. The sample is the same as the population, that is, 50 officials, and the variables were evaluated through an applied survey using Spearman's correlation coefficient to determine the type of association, from which an acceptable correlation coefficient was obtained. According to the results obtained, there is a direct and significant relationship between analytical accounting and the budget management of a Municipality; evidenced by a correlation coefficient of Spearman's Rho =0.824 that indicates a good significant correlation at the bilateral 0.05 level, with ρ = 0.000 (ρ< 0.05), therefore, the main conclusion ind icates that Analytical Accounting significantly influences in the Budgetary Management of a Municipality.


The current research and development situation of PVC/clay nanocomposite are des cribed.The surface treatment methods for clay,such as ion exchange,treatment by coupling agent and graft modification,are summarized as well as the methods f or the preparation of PVC/clay nanocomposite,such as direct melt intercalation,in-s itu intercalation polymerization and blending.The properties and development pro spects of PVC/clay nanocomposite are also analyzed.


Reject metal matrix composites parts reclaimed from industrial market were re-melted in a medium frequency induction furnace. A composites recycled roller used for cold-rolled wire mill was fabricated by centrifugal casting. The properties, microstructures and application of the recycled roller were investigated. The results show that the recycled roller is a composite structure consisting of outer recycled composite layer reinforced with remaining carbide particle containing W in re-melting and inner matrix. The carbide particle was evenly distributed in the composite layer of 15-18mm in thickness and volume fraction is approximately 65-70 vol. %; hardness attained to HRA81-84 in the composite layer, and HRA74-76 in inner matrix where the toughness was over 6.0 J/cm 2 ; the wear resistance and service life of the recycled roller and the original composites roller are almost same when same carbide volume fraction were obtained, but the production cost of the recycled roller decreased by 25%.


This paper illustrates the economic benefit for utilizing high speed electric motor drives for pipeline gas compressors and for a multitude of petroleum refining compressor applications. Available electronic and motor technology is discussed.<<ETX>>


We introduce the problem of constructing explicit variety evasive subspace families. Given a family F of sub varieties of a projective or affine space, a collection H of projective or affine k-subspaces is (F, ϵ)-evasive if for every V ∈ F, all but at most ϵ-fraction of W ∈ H intersect every irreducible component of V with (at most) the expected dimension. The problem of constructing such an explicit subspace family generalizes both deterministic black-box polynomial identity testing (PIT) and the problem of constructing explicit (weak) lossless rank condensers. Using Chow forms, we construct explicit k-subspace families of polynomial size that are evasive for all varieties of bounded degree in a projective or affine n-space. As one application, we obtain a complete derandomization of Noether's normalization lemma for varieties of bounded degree in a projective or affine n-space. In another application, we obtain a simple polynomial-time black-box PIT algorithm for depth-4 arithmetic circuits with bounded top fan-in and bottom fan-in that are not in the Sylvester-Gallai configuration, improving and simplifying a result of Gupta (ECCC TR 14-130). As a complement of our explicit construction, we prove a lower bound for the size of k-subspace families that are evasive for degree-d varieties in a projective n-space. When n − k = nΩ(1), the lower bound is superpolynomial unless d is bounded. The proof uses a dimension-counting argument on Chow varieties that parametrize projective subvarieties.


also found that daily massage treatment for 7 days increased the score of the scalp mobility by the hand. This procedure for scalp massage could be feasible for investigating the physiological effects of blood flow promotion and hair growth by continuous application for a long period.


Real time filtering and alarm system used for filtering bad information on internet plays an important role in the alarm and dis-posal platform of information network.As a front monitoring and controlling system,its main function is to shield ill websites,filter bad information on internet,trace users'surfing actions and send the information of breaking the rule to data disposal center in time.The capability and efficiency of the system must be considered seriously in the design of real system.The key techniques affecting performance of the system,such as capture and filtering of network data,protocol analysis,Chinese information filtering,match of multiple Keywords and remote communication,are analyzed in detail and some means of realization are given.


................................................................................................................................. vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................1 1.1 Objective ........................................................................................................................1 1.2 Motivation ......................................................................................................................1 1.3 Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 1.4 Overview ........................................................................................................................2 CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................4 2.1 Compliant Mechanisms .................................................................................................4 2.2 The Elastica ....................................................................................................................8 2.3 The Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model ...................................................................................11 2.3.1 Parameterized Kinematics ............................................................................12 2.3.2 Parameterized Load-Deflection Relationships .............................................15 2.4 Cantilever Beam Differential Equations ......................................................................17 CHAPTER 3: NON-DIMENSIONAL FORM OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS ...................20 CHAPTER 4: PHASE SPACE AND INITIAL VALIDATIONS .................................................24 CHAPTER 5: THE CONTOUR METHOD ..................................................................................32 5.1 The Data Structure .......................................................................................................32 5.2 Finding (, μ) .............................................................................................................35 5.3 Finding cθ (, μ) ...........................................................................................................47 5.4 Finding KΘ (, μ) .........................................................................................................51 5.5 Non-dimensional Strain Energy ...................................................................................52 5.6 Correction Factors ........................................................................................................59 CHAPTER 6: RESULTS ...............................................................................................................73 6.1 Error Evaluations for μ = 1 and μ = 0 ..........................................................................74 6.2 Example Problem .........................................................................................................80 6.3 Error Analysis of Intermediate μ Values .....................................................................83 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................87


With the rise of the interdisciplinary Frontier such as system medicine and bioinformatics, a new generation of pharmaceutical research paradigm characterized by network and system has attracted more and more attention in the era of biomedical big data and artificial intelligence. Network pharmacology is a Frontier research field that systematically illustrates mechanisms of drugs and guides the research and development of drugs into clinical diagnosis and treatment. It is an original interdisciplinary subject of pharmacology, system biology, bioinformatics, network science, and other related disciplines. Network pharmacology emphasizes the overall perspective of the biological networks by analyzing the molecular association between drugs and their treatment objects. Traditional medicine (TM) has accumulated ample treatments from long-term clinical practice. It is worth noting that TM is characterized by holistic, personalized, multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway therapy. To systematically reveal the biological basis of the overall diagnosis and treatment of TM, a key concept derived from the multi-target nature of traditional medicine has been proposed, termed as "network target", shifting away from the current "single target" research paradigm (Li, 1999; Li et al., 2011; Li and Zhang, 2013). The network target refers OPEN ACCESS


We have all read mystery stories in which the hero is kidnapped, blindfolded, and led off to an unknown destination. He is utterly helpless. There is nothing he can do. Because it's only a story we know that he will be rescued. But in real life can we be so sure ? One thing is clear : we cannot guarantee our own safety. We are indeed helpless. Death surrounds us on every side and sooner or later claims each one of us. The gospel message of trust in God has been thought to be a religion for children, weaklings, and aged persons who stand on the brink of the grave. That is a mistake. It is a gospel for us all. It is the only religion for men and women who are wise enough to know that we are all hemmed in by eternity and that in an hour when we think not the Son of Man


Consumers are increasingly on the lookout for products that contain no preservatives or that are preserved naturally, so manufacturers are increasingly in search of materials that will do just that. Muhammed Majeed and Lakshmi Prakash discuss natural antimicrobials that fit the bill.


SCOPE
Excessive consumption of processed meat has been linked to an increasing risk of gut diseases. We investigated how pork meat proteins affect colon homeostasis between normal and immune-compromised mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Immune-deficient mice (Rag1-/- ) and wild-type mice were fed a diet that contained 20% casein or protein isolated from cooked pork or dry-cured pork for 3 months. Rag1-/- mice showed greater variations in transcriptome responses and higher microbial diversity than wild-type mice after consumption of the pork meat protein diets. Intake of pork meat protein diets also increased body weight and induced colonic oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation and gene expression involved in immune function and cell cycle and migration. Key genes like Hmox1, Ppara, and Pparg were highly upregulated by pork meat protein. These changes were associated with decreased abundances of Blautia, Bifidobacterium and Alistipes and increased abundances of Akkermansia muciniphila and Ruminococcaceae.

CONCLUSION
Pork meat proteins affect colon health in both wild-type and Rag1-/- mice by altering the microbiome profile under the complex interaction with adaptive immunity. Our findings give a new insight into the understanding of meat intake, immunity and gut health. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


A statistical analysis of research theses on periodical management automation in 1981-1998 show that: research in this field has reached a fast developing stage; theses are mainly published in periodicals on book information; cooperative thesis writing is obviously on the increase; there is a shortage of productive writers and comprehensive research papers are dominant.


Three laboratory strains of boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, produced more pheromone than the standard laboratory strain. Soxhlet extraction of the frass provided a rapid method of analyzing for the pheromone.


ABSTRACT It has been well documented that northern Indigenous communities in Canada have disproportionately high rates of food insecurity which is contributing to chronic health conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Indigenous communities face complex challenges getting regular access to healthy food, whether through traditional food harvesting practices or through imported market food items. In response, many Indigenous communities are seeking ways to develop locally derived solutions that increase local food procurement capacity and rebuild local food systems. The purpose of this paper is to further understand local food initiatives in Moose Cree First Nation, a remote northern community at the base of James Bay, Ontario, Canada. This paper builds on the Indigenous Health Research Group's focus on understanding and documenting the steps taken in support of building local food capacity, more specifically through a community garden project. With a deepened understanding of the challenges and opportunities the community faces in regaining greater autonomy over their food system, the findings presented here build on community-based participatory action approaches when learning and working with communities in support of local food efforts.


A study in which five methods for estimating isometric recruitment curves of electrically stimulated muscle were tested on the quadriceps muscles of able-bodied human subjects is discussed. Two discrete methods, steady-state step response and peak impulse response, and three continuous methods were examined. The continuous methods were ramp deconvolution via an idealized impulse response, ramp deconvolution via a measured impulse response and ramp response shifted via correlation. The results showed that variation in estimates of recruitment curves were dependent on the method of measurement and means of post-processing. The step response method is the traditional procedure for estimating recruitment curves; however, the ramp methods all appeared to offer acceptable accuracy. The correlation method was simplest and fastest to process. The peak impulse method was less repeatable and often differed from the other methods in predicting the stimulation threshold.<<ETX>>


The 433 MHz radio works in the Industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) frequency and gains popularity for various applications as it has low signal attenuation and insensitive transmission characteristics. This paper examines the radio for periodic monitoring image application. The assessment results shows that the radio link is able to deliver image with losses lower than 6% and period of image 40 s for 100 kbps bit rate.


The behaviour of cells on surfaces is complex and dependent on the surface chemistry, surface topography, the age and type of cell as well as the number of population doublings and the culture conditions. It has been shown that almost any result can be obtained in terms of assessing biocompatibility through cell attachment to a surface by adjusting these variables.

In this report we describe methods of manufacturing surfaces with micrometre or nanometre features in metal, plastic and an inorganic material and describe some of the techniques that can be used to characterise them. These surfaces can be used to investigate adhesion of cells to surfaces or for measurements of protein adsorption.


After having proposed, in a previous paper, a coelioscopy examination card that can be computerized, the authors have devised here a similar trial applicable to carcinoma of the uterine cervix. It appeared necessary to establish three different cards, namely: identification and previous history; colpocytology; invasive carcinoma... in order to cover up the totality of data required for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of such patients.


For the first time, this special issue has collated the increasing knowledge on social cognitive functioning in personality disorders, namely in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Psychopathy (PP). The concept of social cognition subsumes more or less complex processes of emotion recognition, theory of mind, and empathy, that contribute to an individual's ability to understand and respond adequately to the thoughts and feelings of others. Social cognitive functioning is also related to the concept of mentalizing as "a way to see ourselves from the outside and see others from the inside" (Oldham, 2009). No doubt, the capability to take the perspectives of others is a necessary precondition to form satisfying social interactions and reliable intimate relationships. While the majority of research in the field of personality disorders (PDs) has dealt with affect dysregulation, impulsivity as well as diminished pain sensitivity in BPD, up to now, social cognitive functions have gained in significance in PDs within the last years. Increasing interest in psychological, psychopathological, and neurobiological underpinnings of social cognitive functioning nowadays is not restricted to the field of PDs but may be particularly important in disorders with interpersonal dysfunctions being their prominent characteristic. Analyzing the roots of poor social cognitive functioning in PDs may crucially deepen our future understanding of the bio-psycho-social etiology of these disorders as the development of intact social cognitive functioning is closely related to the quality of interaction to early significant others and at the same time is modulated by genetics and epigenetics. Some fundamental insights have already been gained with regard to the development of emotion recognition capacities in supportive and adverse early social environments. Early traumata might result in a lifelong enhanced perception of threat (e.g., in the faces of others) with oxytocin probably being one of the most potent biological mediators of how human perceive the faces of their conspecies (di Simplicio, Massey-Chase, Cowen, & Harmer, 2009;


A general equation for calculating crude oil viscosity is established by using statistic theory according to 44 viscosity-temperature curves from 22 typical heavy oil blocks of 6 oil fields in Liaohe oil province,hence to calculate the viscosity of degassed crude at arbitrary temperature.The maximum relative error of the method is 9.9%,average relative error is 3.3%.This equation can provide reference to heavy oil classification,fluid evaluation and heavy oil reservoir development.


If Farrer can be considered a father of wheat-breeding as a science, then Guthrie, his co-worker, was a pioneer of the sister science of cereal chemistry. Both shared a common concern for the Australian wheat industry. Both agreed that improvement could only come through developing wheat cultivars suited to Australian rather than English conditions. Both were persuaded that their goal could only be achieved by systematic cross-breeding and by selection for drought tolerance, rust resistance, high milling quality, and good dough strength. Neither had text book, training, or experience by which to set about his task. Farrer devised methods for cross-pollinating promising wheat parents and for testing the progeny in experimental plots. Guthrie's important contributions included establishing methods for testing wheat quality characteristics using such small samples as are produced in the early stages of a wheat-breeding programme. The combined application of these tests and Farrer's breeding skills laid a foundation of quality wheats for Australia in a day when, in other countries, improvement was mainly based on selection, and quality evaluation depended on little more than the breeder having 'a good set of teeth' with which he tested grain hardness and applied the 'chewing test' to determine gluten strength (Buller, 1919). This combination of breeder and chemist appears to have been unique in the 1890s and, though since emulated in other countries, it did not reappear in Australia for many years.


Abstract (-)-Hexahydrocannabinol 7 was synthesized enantioselectively under mild conditions through the ortho quinone methide mediated cyclization of the adduct of R-(+)-citronellal and the bisethoxyethyl ether of olivetol. The conditions enabled the ene product, 1, 2-dihydrocannabidiol 6, to be isolated as well.


The aim of this paper is to present an algorithm for the determination of co-ordinates of inertia tensors of manipulator links and objects manipulated, which employs homogeneous transformations. A division of a manipulator link (an object manipulated) and local systems of reference, which correspond to this division, have been introduced. An introduction of additional local systems of reference allows for their most advantageous orientation in order to calculate the co-ordinates of inertia tensors of parts and elements, whose forms and shapes often cause serious problems during the calculation of inertia tensors with the traditional method. In order to transform geometrical dimensions of solid bodies and moments of inertia, an application of matrices of homogenous transformations, typical of the description of manipulator kinematics, has been suggested. Owing to the employment of homogenous transformations and their mappings, the proposed algorithm makes the determination of co-ordinates of inertia tensors much easier, especially in the case their shape is complex.


In this paper we examine cloud computing as a solution to a company's IT infrastructure, and thus we perform base cost analysis for CC products and services for a typical Greek company using Matlab and the present value method. Firstly, we describe the various cloud deployment and service models. Furthermore we list the main cloud products offered by hosting companies, and state some of the general advantages of CC. Moreover we establish our assumptions for our hypothetical company for both the server and cloud options. Finally we present our results and analysis graphically and offer some insights on the processed data.


Abstract Purpose: To investigate the correlation between baseline cardiovascular fitness and functional status, and whether baseline cardiovascular fitness is of predictive value in terms of functional recovery after rehabilitation in subacute stroke patients. Method: This study was a descriptive, observational cohort study. Fifty-five subacute stroke patients (37 males and 18 females; average age, 62.2 years) were enrolled for this study, and all subjects underwent symptom-limited low-velocity graded treadmill testing. Baseline assessments included cardiovascular fitness, 6-min walk test (6MWT), Korean-Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) and Motricity Index (MI). Four weeks after rehabilitation, K-MBI was measured repeatedly. Results: Mean peak oxygen consumption (Vo2 peak) was 19.7 ± 6.7 mL/kg/min. Baseline K-MBI correlated significantly with Vo2 peak, peak heart rate (HR), 6MWT and MI, and in regression analysis, Vo2 peak and MI were significant independent predictors of baseline K-MBI. Follow-up K-MBI correlated significantly with Vo2 peak, peak HR, peak rate pressure product, 6MWT, baseline K-MBI and MI, and in linear regression analysis, Vo2 peak and baseline K-MBI were significant independent predictors of follow-up K-MBI. Conclusion: These results indicate that baseline cardiovascular fitness correlates significantly with the baseline functional status, in addition to being an important prognostic factor regarding the functional recovery of subacute stroke patients. Implications for Rehabilitation Reduced cardiovascular fitness is a well-studied physical impairment in stroke patients. Baseline cardiovascular fitness correlates significantly with the baseline functional status, in addition to being an important prognostic factor regarding the functional recovery of subacute stroke patients. Early intensive aerobic exercise training could be considered in subacute stroke patients not only to enhance their cardiovascular fitness but also to maximize their functional recovery.


This review discusses the natural history, diagnosis and treatment of stones in the bile ducts. A rational plan of management is outlined.


For the first time, this paper reports a tunable liquid lens array that can be individually controlled by electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) and pneumatic pressure. Flexible and transparent graphene electrodes are fabricated on a highly deformable membrane made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and parylene. The design has many advantages for compound eye applications, including a large field of view (FOV), a compact size and fast responses. Potassium chloride (KCl) and ionic liquid have been tested as liquid lenses with the tunable ranges of focal length between 3 and 8mm. Their optical performancees including, enlargement of FOV and the tuning of focal length of individual lens have been demonstrated.


Environmental practices in manufacturing performance receive increasing scrutiny from researchers and practitioners because of the great uncertainty involved in the study. This research integrates the effort of management, engineering and social science and investigates the integrated environmental practice framework in order to reach a level of certainty in manufacturing performance. The proposed research method preliminary identifies and structures the strategic and operational elements into a framework that helps management in evaluating alternatives under uncertainty. The result indicates that delivery is the most important alternative in lower uncertainty whereas lower cost in higher uncertainty.


Introduction: among the oral pathologies afflicting children with HIV/AIDS is dental caries, a preventable disease if detected and controlled in its early stages to avoid further complications. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of caries in children and youths with vertically-transmitted HIV/AIDS from the Pediatric HIV Clinic in Cali, Colombia, in 2013, and to explore relationships with biological factors. Methods: descriptive prevalence study in 101 clinical records of children and youths aged 1 to 17 years with vertically-transmitted HIV/AIDS from the Pediatric HIV Clinic in Cali. The ICDAS and DMF/def classification systems were used. Multivariate analysis and confounding variable adjustment were included to explore relationships with demographic, paraclinical, nutritional, and dental factors. The institutional ethics committees endorsed the study. Results: the prevalence of caries experience in children with HIV was 34.65% DMF/deft (5-6) 3.29 ± 3.06. This prevalence increases 83.17% with the ICDAS 2-6 system. The point prevalence of active caries was 74.26% DMFT 5.68 ± 5.48. No statistically significant association was found with any socioeconomic or immunologic variables. Patients with moderate to severe immunosuppression had OR 1.13 CI95% (0.33-3.81) p = 0.84. A probable association was found with plaque index OR 4.58 CI95% (1.44-14.55) p = 0.006 and caries experience OR 4.21 CI95% (1,09-16.13) Conclusion: HIV patients from the Pediatric Clinic show high caries prevalence when pre-cavitated lesions are assessed. No probable association was found between caries and immunological or clinical status, and therefore this aspect is not an additional risk factor.


Telemedicine uses telecommunications todeliver healthcare, oftenover great distances, withthepossibilityof cost savings particularly inremoteandrural areas. Telemedicinehas important benefits toproviders andusers alike. It contributes toeconomicandsocial development. It is a multidisciplinaryundertakingrequiringexpertise fromthe telecommunications, health-careandinformationtechnologysectors. Therehasbeensignificant interest inthepossibilitiesofusingtelemedicinetohelpovercomesomeofthedifficulties inprovidinghealthcare inremote andrural areas of developingcountries. As requestedby the International TelecommunicationUnion(ITU)-DWorldTelecommunicationDevelopment Conference inBuenos Aires inMarch 1994, theITUDevelopmentSectorhasproducedaReportonTelemedicineandDevelopingCountrieswhichwasadoptedby the ITU-DStudyGroup2inOctober 1997. This Report has beenpreparedfor people froma wide range of backgrounds, including those inthe telecommunication, informationtechnologyandhealth-care sectors interestedintelemedicine, particularly in developingcountries. It provides informationonmanydifferent aspects of telemedicineandis intendedtohelpthose undertaking telemedicine projects intheemergingmarkets of developingcountries. Our StudyGroup2gave its members anopportunity toprovideadditional informationbefore the Report was finalizedfor printinganddistribution. TheReport has benefitedfromthoseandother amendments madeby the Rapporteur's GroupledbyDavidWright of Inmarsat. I ampleasedtopresent it here. The BDThas undertakenother activities inthetelemedicinedomain. It convenedthe first WorldTelemedicine Symposiumfor DevelopingCountries inPortugal inJuly 1997, the conclusions andrecommendations of whichare reflectedintheReport. It is alsoservingas acatalyst inbringing together expertise fromthe different sectors in telemedicine pilot projects indevelopingcountries. The Rapporteur's Grouphas produceda newquestionnaire (seepages 87–88) tohelpcarry out the tasks ina new Questionwhichwas adoptedbyStudyGroup2inOctober. Please sendresponses tothe Rapporteur. AhmedLaouyane Director TelecommunicationDevelopment Bureau (BDT) Geneva, December 1997


Preview Step 3/4 print version Topic: 11. Nursing / Psychosocial Issues Title: My quality of life or yours? The discrepancies between parent and child reported quality of life scores Author(s): H. Douglas1,2, M. Bryon2, S. Ledger1, E. Main1 Institute(s): 1University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom, 2Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom Text: Objectives: Understanding how an individual perceives their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is vital in both clinical care and health-related research. A parent or carer (P/C) of a child or young person (CYP) with CF often acts as advocate. It is important to measure perceptions in both the P/C and CYP. This study compared CFQ-R scores reported by CYP with those of their P/C. Methods: The CFQ-R was completed by 71 children (6-17yrs) and their P/Cs at baseline, 12 and 24-months as part of the INSPIRE-CF trial. Scores from CYP and P/C in CFQ-R domains common to all versions were compared (Physical, Emotional, Eating, Body image, Treatment burden, Respiratory and Digestion). Results: 205/213 data sets were analysed (4 CYP withdrew before 2nd test). Magnitude and direction of differences between P/C and CYP CFQ-R scores in each domain were consistent at each time point, so were analysed together. Scores from CYP and P/C were within 5 points of each other in different domains between 15-41% of the time, with agreement being least likely for Treatment Burden and Emotion. Average differences were high in Treatment burden (P/C:59, CYP:71 (mean difference±SD) 12±24.5), Emotion (P/C:82, CYP:75, -6.4 ±17.6), Eating (P/C:83, CYP:88, 5.2±20.2) and Body image (P/C:77, CYP:86, 10±23) domains, with P/C's scoring more than CYP for Emotion only. Paired scores differed by >25 points between 20-24% of the time. Differences for Physical (P/C:89, CYP:86, -3.2 ±14), Respiratory (P/C:83, CYP:81, -1.8±13.7) and Digestion (P/C:87, CYP:87, 0.5±22) domains were small, with paired scores differing by >25 points 9%, 9% and 19% respectively . Conclusion: HRQoL perceptions from P/C ́s and CYP were discrepant overall but more likely to be similar for domains relating to symptoms and physical fitness. Larger and more frequent differences occurred in psychological domains such as body image and emotion. The significant disparity must be taken into consideration when assessing CFQ-R scores. Preferred Presentation Type: No Preference Conference: 40th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference · Abstract: A-850-0011-00435 · Status: Submitted 40th European Cystic Fibrosis Conference Abstract Submission System https://www.abstractserver.com/ecfs2017/absmgm/printpreview.php? 1 of 1 20/01/2017 20:10


Abstract Dispersed negatively charged silica nanoparticles segregate inside microfluidic water‐in‐oil (W/O) droplets that are coated with a positively charged lipid shell. We report a methodology for the quantitative analysis of this self‐assembly process. By using real‐time fluorescence microscopy and automated analysis of the recorded images, kinetic data are obtained that characterize the electrostatically‐driven self‐assembly. We demonstrate that the segregation rates can be controlled by the installment of functional moieties on the nanoparticle's surface, such as nucleic acid and protein molecules. We anticipate that our method enables the quantitative and systematic investigation of the segregation of (bio)functionalized nanoparticles in microfluidic droplets. This could lead to complex supramolecular architectures on the inner surface of micrometer‐sized hollow spheres, which might be used, for example, as cell containers for applications in the life sciences.


We derive the element of spatial distance in terms of the time coordinate and a new tensor related to the Kronecker delta.


Proposed subsystem of tungsten/inert-gas (TIG) welding system measures length of welding arc optically. Viewed by video camera, in one of three alternative optical configurations. Length of arc measured instead of inferred from voltage.


The high-valent ruthenium-containing [{PW11O39}2{(HO)RuIV–O–RuIV(OH)}]10– anion (1) has been synthesized by hydrothermal reaction and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR, multinuclear (31P and 183W) NMR spectroscopy andelectrochemistry. Single-crystal analysis was carried outon Rb10[{PW11O39}2{(HO)RuIV–O–RuIV(OH)}]·21H2O, which crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n, with a = 11.1912(14), b = 21.9257(12), c = 38.7310(96) A, β = 94.682(19)°, V = 9472(3) A3, Z = 4. Polyanion 1 consists of two lacunary [α-PW11O39]7– anions connected by a linear {(HO)Ru–O–Ru(OH)}4+ unit. Each ruthenium ion achieves six-coordination through interaction with two terminal oxo ligands from the lacuna of each [PW11O39]7– anion.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)


Carbon Dioxide is an industrial byproduct that has been proposed as an alternative metalworking fluid (MWF) carrier with lower environmental impacts and better cooling potential than existing MWFs. This paper investigates the heat removal and tool life effects of rapidly expanding supercritical CO2 (scCO2 )-based MWFs relative to MWFs delivered as a flood of semi-synthetic emulsion or as minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) sprays. When cutting both compacted graphite iron (CGI) and titanium, tool wear was most effectively controlled using the scCO2 -based MWF compared with the other MWFs. Analysis in this paper suggests that the performance benefit imparted by rapidly expanding scCO2 appears to be related to both the cooling potential and penetration of the sprays into the cutting zone. High-pressure gas sprays have lower viscosity and higher velocity than conventional MWFs. An experiment in which the spray direction was varied clearly demonstrated the importance of spray penetration in tool wear suppression. The type of gas spray is also a significant factor in tool wear suppression. For instance, a spray of N2 delivered under similar conditions to CO2 effectively reduced tool wear relative to water based fluids, but not as much as CO2 . This result is particularly relevant for MQL sprays which are shown to not cool nearly as effectively as scCO2 MWFs. These results inform development of scCO2 -based MWFs in other machining operations, and provide insight into the optimization of scCO2 MWF delivery.© 2009 ASME


Intensive development of the steppe communities of Kulunda, located in the southern part of the West Siberian lowland in the XX century led to a significant anthropogenic transformation of all steppe ecosystems. Representatives of the legume family, which is the most important component of steppe grasses, have almost disappeared from the grasslands. The research was conducted on the territory of the Mikhailovsky district of the Altai territory, on the lands of LLC KKH «Partner» in the environs of Poluyamki village scince 2013-till present days climatic conditions of dry steppe zone of Western Kulunda. The aim of the work was to evaluate representatives of the legume family for ecological reclamation of Kulunda steppe pastures. The experiment was performed on 2 degraded fenced steppe areas (10 x 10 m) corresponding to the third stage of pasture digression. Winter sowing of legumes was carried out: cicer milk vetch (Astragalus cicer L.), sainfoin milk vetch (A. onobrychis L.), furrowed milk vetch (A. sulcatus L.), bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), sickle alfalfa (Medicago falcata L.), hop alfalfa (M. lupulina L.) and late spring sowing: cicer milk vetch and sainfoin, bird's foot trefoil by tapping into the sod. Monthly growth dynamics of sown plants (number of shoots per m2, height, phenology) was recorded, and the feed value of aboveground biomass was established. It was found that the drought-resistant species of alfalfa sickle has a significant biomass, is short-lived in the grass stand and requires re-sowing every 4 years. Hop alfalfa is recommended for improving degraded pastures, but due to its short ontogeny, it needs to be re-sown every three years. Among milk vetches, sainfoil milk vetch is the most promising – a long-rooted, rod-rooted polycarpic that increases its area due to numerous underground rhizomes. The greatest nutritional and energy value was possessed by the phytomass of bird's foot trefoil and sickle alfalfa.


The invention provides a monitor for a video camera capable of lightening a label light in the condition that the video camera has no an output terminal of a label signal. The monitor for the video camera in the invention comprises a video input portion of the video camera receiving input of video signals of the video camera containing record operation time codes and a control portion of label display controlling label display, wherein the control portion of label display controls label display based on the operation condition of record operation time codes.


Several concepts about family businesses have emerged throughout history. That is why the aim of this article is to define the concepts that govern or should govern this type of organizations in Colombia and its role in the legal system, in order to identify regulatory gaps for providing a social change proposal. The methodology is descriptive within a critical analysis of the legal framework of the country, aimed at interpreting and raising the need for a transformation given by the taxpayer or user of the system and the same authors. Among the results obtained, there are categorized concepts provided by accountants, lawyers, and businessmen on non- legal concept and rules of their companies. The conclusion is the need for Colombia to have the term Family Company legally defined, as a principle of a stable and competitive economy to the world.


The salt fog tests for silicone rubbers (SiR) were performed under DC or AC voltage application. During a test, intensive discharges occurred around an earth electrode when positive DC voltage was applied. In the case of negative DC voltage application, intensive discharges occurred around an electrode which the voltage was applied. In other words, the intensive discharge concentrated around a cathode electrode, which caused heavy erosion around the electrode. In contrast, for the case of AC voltage application, the intensive discharge and heavy erosion did not occur.


The article presents a dissertation abstract titled "The New Managerial Elite in Egypt: A Study of Their Backgrounds and Careers with Significant International Comparisons," by Mahmoud Sami Kassem, Ph.D.


It is well known that most of the common clustering objectives are NP-hard to optimize. In practice, however, clustering is being routinely carried out. One approach for providing theoretical understanding of this seeming discrepancy is to come up with notions of clusterability that distinguish realistically interesting input data from worst-case data sets. The hope is that there will be clustering algorithms that are provably efficient on such 'clusterable' instances. In other words, hope that "Clustering is difficult only when it does not matter" (CDNM thesis, for short).
We believe that to some extent this may indeed be the case. This paper provides a survey of recent papers along this line of research and a critical evaluation their results. Our bottom line conclusion is that that CDNM thesis is still far from being formally substantiated. We start by discussing which requirements should be met in order to provide formal support the validity of the CDNM thesis. In particular, we list some implied requirements for notions of clusterability. We then examine existing results in view of those requirements and outline some research challenges and open questions.


It is important to design an appropriate cost function to improve the quality of speech produced by a corpus‐based text‐to‐speech (TTS) synthesis. Although the final product of the TTS system is evaluated perceptually, the definition of cost functions has to be based on the physical parameters of speech signal. And a cost function will become inappropriate if the discrepancy between the physical and the perceptual measures becomes critically large. The discrepancy could be caused by two main factors, i.e., (1) inappropriate selection of parameters, and (2) inappropriate scaling. One may judge that the selection of physical parameters is inappropriate if changes in a single physical parameter result in changes in multiple perceptual attributes. One may also judge that the scaling of physical dimension is inappropriate if the mapping function of the physical space to the perceptual space appears to be critically nonlinear. Aiming at a better definition of cost functions, a signal analysis based on the stand...


ABSTRACT Analyses of political, economic, and social actors' discourses in favour or against gender quotas are extensive but, to date, only a handful of opinion studies have examined support for such a controversial policy whose enactment does not necessarily dissolve opposition. This is particularly the case of citizens holding modern sexism attitudes who dismiss or resent quotas using the language of equality. This article examines how support for this policy can be shaped through legitimacy cues and question wording. The empirical analysis builds on two framing experiments embedded in a representative survey fielded in Catalonia (Spain), where gender quotas in politics and private businesses were introduced over a decade ago. Our results show that, even among respondents holding modern sexism attitudes, priming the legal framework yields positive effects on support for electoral quotas, whilst the endorsement of gender balance in corporate boards increases when the question does not mention the word quotas.


. 71ie main wholesale electricity spot market charaeteristics and apprqpriate otigopoly microeconomic models ofstrategic interactions ofproducers in such a market are discussed in the paper. Equilibrium Cournot Supply Fle{netion equilibrium and Price LeadL]rship models obtained Conjeetured supply junetion approach that generalizes ail these mociels is discussed bilevel model ofproduceFiy' strategic interaction with nenvork constraints is discussed and the most practicady attractive approaches to its solution based on review ofavailable pub- lications are presented


THE following are brief notes upon some new material which came to hand only after the second article on Locrian topography had gone to press.-M. L. Cayeux, Revue Scientifique, May 9, 1914, p. 585, adduces the "quais" at Larymna as evidence that the sea level in Greece has not changed materially from antiquity to the present. While there is a superficial resemblance to quays in the walls at Larymna owing to the fact that the debris behind them has been levelled up for the most part to the top of the still standing courses, the extent of the construction, the existence of several towers, and the continuity with what are undoubtedly fortifications, especially the polygonal section beside the inner harbor, make it quite certain that we have here nothing but city walls.-Ph. N6gris, Roches cristallophylliens et tectonique de la Grace, Athens 1915, pp. 105 ff., expresses the expert opinion that the stone used in the walls is identical with that of the strata in the immediate vicinity, from which one might conclude that the similar material employed at Halae was transported thither from the quarries at Larymna, no doubt by sea. In that case it would appear that the fortification of these two sites was the outcome of a general concerted policy, and my suggestion that this was due to the naval policy of Epaminondas would be thereby supported. Regarding the comparatively insignificant depth of erosion (15 to 20 cm.) on the lower courses of the wall, which are now lapped by the water, M. Negris believes that, had the sea always been at this level, such soft stone would have been much more deeply eroded. While this is no doubt true, and in so far substantiates my view about the change of level, it must be remembered that the falling outward of the upper courses, many blocks of which can still be seen in the water, has doubtless greatly retarded the erosion of the standing wall. M. Negris has also discovered an ancient, now submerged, quarry on the opposite side of the bay, about 200 m. southwest of the landing


The state of a single particle injected onto the surface of the Fermi sea is a pure state if the temperature is zero and is a mixed state if the temperature is finite. Moreover, the state of an injected particle is orthogonal to the state of the Fermi sea at zero temperature, while it is not orthogonal at non-zero temperature. These changes in the quantum state of the injected particles can be detected using the temperature dependence of the shot noise that is generated when the particles one by one pass through a semitransparent quantum point contact. Namely, the shot noise produced by the mixed state is suppressed in comparison with the noise of the pure state. In addition, the correlations between the injected particles and the underlying Fermi sea, present at non-zero temperature, do enhance the shot noise. Furthermore, antibunching of injected particles with possible thermal excitations coming from another input channel of a quantum point contact does suppress shot noise. Here I analyze in detail these three effects, which are responsible for the temperature dependence of the shot noise, and discuss how to distinguish them experimentally.


A theoretical concept for setting up 1D magnetic interactions between organic radicals aligned into chains within channels of inclusion compounds is presented by calculating collinear intermolecular binding energies using ab initio methods, followed by a Markov model to predict the characteristic length of chains. Experimentally, inclusion crystals providing radicals in channels of perhydrotriphenylene (PHTP) and tris(o-phenylenedioxy)cyclotriphosphazene (TPP) were obtained by co-crystallisation or in-diffusion of the 1,3,5-trithia-2,4,6-triazapentalenyl radical (TTTA).


Multipass torsion tests were used to investigate the warm-rolling behavior of three interstitial free (IF) steels containing Ti and/or Nb. All the tests were carried out at a strain rate of 2 s -l , and the samples were water-quenched immediately after particular passes. Whereas the finishing passes were always executed in the single-phase ferrite region, the roughing passes were applied either in the austenite phase (hot/warm-rolling) or in the ferrite region (warm/warm-rolling). In the former case, the temperature of the first roughing pass was 1260 ~ while it was 850 ~ for the warm/warm method. It is shown that dynamic recrystallization occurs to a degree that depends on the composition of the steel and the finishing temperature. Although the finishrolling loads for warm-rolling (in the ferrite region) are no higher than for conventional striprolling in the austenite region, the ultrafine ferrite grain sizes of 1 to 2 / z m that are produced by warm-rolling are an order of magnitude finer than those resulting from conventional processing.


Corrosion is the characteristic degradation of materials by interaction with the operating environment. One of the important and widely adopted method to prevent corrosion is coatings on the materials. The intention of the present study is to understand the corrosion behaviour of Ni-Ag and Ni-Cu coatings using DC/RF magnetron co-sputtering technique onto stainless steel (Grade 304) substrates. Thin film X-ray Diffraction method to decide the crystalline structure and provide information on unit cell dimensions. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopic method (FESEM) to produce a magnified image with high resolution. Atomic Force Microscopic method (AFM) to study the surface properties of the coated material. Electrochemical corrosion test to analyse the corrosion pattern of the coated materials. The results suggest that the surface modified SS304 exhibits better corrosion protection as compared with uncoated samples.


The generating principle of howls in the course of reinforcing sound is introduced. The method of suppress-ing howls is put forward. Several kinds of equipment used to suppress the howls are compared. The adjusting method to suppress howls is explaned.


Extensive qualitative research shows that, even at its best, media coverage of women athletes tends to be ambivalent, meaning that it juxtaposes positive descriptions and images with descriptions and images that undermine and trivialize women's efforts and successes. However, researchers have rarely explored the implications of nationalism — in particular during global sports events — for coverage of women's sport. This analysis of media coverage of Cathy Freeman during the Sydney 2000 Olympics points to an instance in which gender lost its place as the primary media framing device because of Freeman's importance as a symbol of national reconciliation.


In JHS XLIX, 265 ff. Beazley and Payne, in their important publication of Attic b.f. fragments from Naucratis, put together a number of pieces from Little Master cups of the same special form as that in Berlin from Gordion, with the names of Ergotimos and Kleitias as potter and painter. In JHS LII, 186, Beazley included these fragments in his list of 'Gordion Cups'. Working over the pottery from Naucratis in the British Museum and the Fitzwilliam I have identified other fragments of the same class. Altogether there are now over thirty separate fragments, which I have tentatively grouped as belonging to fourteen cups. Not all the associations are certain, but all are I think probable. Some of those suggested by Beazley and Payne appear to me impossible, and I have noted where I differ from them; but this paper is only an elaboration of a theme from their larger work—τέμαχος τῶν Ὁμήρου μεγάλων δείπνων. I have divided the material into three groups: I. Cups of exceptionally small and delicate make, some bearing the names of Ergotimos and Kleitias. II. Slightly sturdier cups, some bearing the name of Sondros. III. Miscellaneous fragments which cannot be closely associated with either of the other groups.


The vertical density profile (VDP) is an important panel property that describes the change in density through the panel thickness. The panel industry has effectively used press closure rate to manipulate the VDP to alter product performance. Using a slow press closure rate to manipulate the density profile has some obvious limitations related to resin precure, density profile symmetry, and total press cycle time. Traditional press schedules consist of a single closing step until the press reaches final board thickness or position. In this research, OSB mats were pressed using both two- and three-step closing schedules. Mats were pressed to 110, 105, or 95 percent of target panel thickness and held at that position for times ranging from 20 to 120 seconds before closing to final thickness. For the three-step schedules, the mat was compressed to an additional intermediate position before final closure. The step closure schedules significantly changed the traditional shape of the vertical density profile of the laboratory-made OSB panels. The step schedules resulted in multiple surface densification peaks ofthe VDP rather than the traditional two density peaks ofthe VDP associated with conventional pressing. Step pressing schedules are one processing method that can be used to alter the densification process in the panel and subsequently influence panel physical properties. Results are unique in that both in-situ density profiles and density profiles measured after pressing are shown for different step-closure conditions and a comparison is made to traditional closing schedules. The physical properties for panels produced from each step-closure schedule are also shown. The step-closure procedure is one method that can be used to balance the structure of the panel density within the mat and in the resulting panel.


To the Editor:— In reply to Dr. Knapp, I can only point out that much of the clinical evidence accumulated in medicine about the toxic effects of a drug is based emperically upon guilt by association. Incriminating a single factor, such as disturbed cardiovascular function, intravenously administered lidocaine hydrochloride, other drugs used in treatment, or a combination of these influences is unsatisfactory in the analysis of a single case. Despite overwhelming evidence of the neurotoxicity of lidocaine in patients with infarction and arrhythmias and in normal volunteers, there is no absolute proof that lidocaine caused the neurological disturbances observed in this case. Nevertheless, it is hard to ignore the association in this case between the infusion of lidocaine and the progressive appearance of undesirable neurological symptoms and signs closely resembling observations reported by others. Obviously, it is fortunate that Dr. Knapp's patient did not convulse during the infusion of procainamide.


Big data research and application has become a hot spot in the information technology field, but how to use big data research customer behavior characteristics, to establishment of the era of big data customer insight and precision marketing system, this area is very small. Based on the reviewed of big data and precision marketing, and Based on the general process of marketing, from customer information collection and processing, customer segmentation and positioning, marketing strategy development, marketing, design, marketing, feedback results in five areas to explore big data applications in Precision Marketing.


Fractional dimensions have wide applications in fault diagnosis fields as a nonlinear signal processing method. Especially, there are more correlation between the generalized fractal dimensions of bearings signals and fault activities. Generalized fractal dimensions spectrum is different with different bearings condition and faults. To solve the problems of detection rate decreasing due to the noise influence within certain fractal dimensions, factor of linear discrimination ability is employed as the indicator for optimizing fractal dimensions. The results indicate that the proposed approach can effectively remove the noise and improve the performance. Furthermore, In order to solve the problems of traditional classification's overfitting due to data unbalanced, the model based on HMM is proposed in this paper. HMM-based single fault detection, HMM-based single fault diagnosis models are also presented. More especially, we focus on analysis of the HMM-based single bearings fault diagnosis model in this paper. This proposed approach is compared against other approaches such as MLP detection techniques. The results show the relative effectiveness of the investigated classifiers in detection and diagnosis of the bearing condition with some concluding remarks.


Proliferative fasciitis (PF) is a benign, discrete proliferation of fibroblasts or myofibroblasts in soft tissue. Proliferative fasciitis mostly occurs in adults and is often confused with a sarcoma because of its rapid growth and peculiar histological features. We report a case of PF mimicking a sarcoma which developed in a 13‐year‐old boy, who noticed a painful tumor, with gradual enlargement, in his right lower leg. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the tumor measured 34 mm × 20 mm × 41 mm and was located in the subcutaneous tissue. The tumor was surgically resected. Pathologically, the tumor was composed of a proliferation of atypical spindle cells, admixed with larger ganglion‐like cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, cytokeratin, smooth muscle actin, HHF‐35 and Fli‐1. The tumor was subsequently diagnosed as a PF, although it was difficult to differentiate from a sarcoma. Five years after surgery, the postoperative course has been uneventful with no recurrence or metastasis.


Firstly,the two-dimensional elastic deformation behaviour of composite ground under the influence of excess pore water pressure is analyzed.Analytical solutions are obtained for the volumetric strain,stress and displacement within the column and surrounding soil,respectively.Based on the results of the two-dimensional deformation analysis,solutions are developed for the consolidation of composite ground by comprehensively considering an instantly applied load,the combined flows along both the radial and vertical directions and three possible variable patterns of horizontal permeability of soil in distributed area.Finally,the consolidation behaviour of composite ground with two-dimensional deformation is investigated.The analysis results show as follows:(1) The degree of consolidation of composite ground predicted by the present solution with two-dimensional deformation is less than that calculated by the previous solution with only the vertical deformation under the same calculation conditions.(2) The column-soil stress ratio predicted by the present solution increases gradually during the consolidation process;but unlike the results predicted by the previous solution with one-dimensional deformation,it will not go up to the column-soil compressive modulus ratio but cease increasing at a smaller value.(3) Unlike the traditional solutions with one-dimensional deformation,the column-soil stress ratio at the initial moment predicted by the present solution with two-dimensional deformation is not equal to zero.


ABSTRACT In this paper, we show that proportions of observations that fall into a random region determined by a given Borel set and a central order statistic converge almost surely, provided that the corresponding population quantile is unique. We also describe three types of possible asymptotic behaviour of these proportions in the case of non-unique population quantile. As an application of our findings we establish limiting properties of numbers of ties with a central order statistics in a discrete sample. Our results are derived not only for independent and identically distributed observations but more generally for strictly stationary and ergodic sequences of random variables.


Caryocar brasiliense Camb., popularly known as pequi, is a native tree specie from Cerrado, and cause of its versatility, it has highly importance to socia...


The invention proposes a synchronizing ring (24) for a synchronous clutch (12), having an annular base body (90) on whose outer periphery is formed a locking toothing (25) and on which is provided a friction lining (60), wherein the base body (90) also has provided on it means (94) for mounting the synchronizing ring (24) so as to be moveable to a limited extent in the peripheral direction relative to an associated guide sleeve (18). Here, at least one spring element (26) is fixed to the synchronizing ring (24), which spring element (26) is designed to transmit an axial pre-synchronizing force (54).


Eighteen months after successfully completing one of six Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) courses, e-mail questionnaires assessing post-course research output were returned by 63 participants (100% response rate). Thirty-two (51%) participants had completed new research projects, 24 (38%) had published papers, 28 (44%) had presented abstracts at conferences, 15 (24%) had facilitated at further OR courses, and 21 (33%) had reviewed scientific papers. Seven (11%) had secured further research funding and 22 (35%) stated that their institutions were involved in implementation or capacity building in operational research. Significant research output continues beyond course completion, further endorsing the value of the SORT IT model.


Along with the Estate and institutionalized religion, we consider the Museum as a key institution of Modernity. Following this perspective, the present paper...


IT students must be trained to work efficiently as teamwork. One of the techniques that can be used to train them is through Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach. The PBL implementation can be influenced by various factors depending on the ultimate goal of the study. This study is focusing on the IT students' perception of the PBL implementation. The student's perception is important to ensure the successfulness of the PBL implementation. Therefore, it is important to identify the factors that might influence the implementation of PBL of IT courses. This study aims to identify some catalyst factors that may influence the PBL implementation of IT courses. The study involved three (3) main phases: identifying PBL implementation factors, constructing a PBL model, and PBL model validation using statistical analysis. Four main factors are identified: PBL Characteristics, PBL Course Assessment, PBL Practices, and PBL Perception. Based on these four factors, a PBL model is constructed. Then, based on the propos...


Tae spin-lattice relaxation of deuterated methyl groups, which is exponential at high temperatures, becomes non-exponential at low temperatures as evidence of the coupling between the Zeeman and tunneling systems. The dominant relaxation is considered to be the quadrupole interaction. Experimental results at liquid nitrogen and liquid helium temperatures support the theoretical model.


ABSTRACT In the present study, magnetic nanoparticles (NP, nickel ferrite) in different concentrations into ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mixture have been prepared and studied. The effect of nickel ferrite concentration on the electro-optic, dielectric and optical properties of FLC mixture has been studied and discussed. An improvement in spontaneous polarization, response time in nickel ferrite-FLC-doped samples compared to FLC is observed and explained on the basis of dipole moment and anchoring phenomena. The Goldstone mode (GM) is detected in all samples and follows a Debye-type relaxation behaviour. A twofold increase in relaxation frequency for the doped sample rather than the pure sample has been observed. The band gap was found more or less independent of doping concentration. The activation energy (Ea) also decreases on increasing the doping amount. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


This mixed methods study examined the impact of two design strategies on interactional processes in a collaborative tangible-tabletop land-use planning simulation. Twenty pairs of fifth grade children used the simulation to create a world they would want to live in. To investigate the impact of positive interdependence half the pairs were assigned one of two roles, each with an associated set of tangible 'land-use' stamp tools. All pairs were given access to pause and reflect tools. Quantitative results showed that children in the positive interdependence condition gave more one-way explanations to their partners than control pairs. They also had fewer but longer instances of bilaterally resolved conflict. Qualitative findings indicated the importance of pause and reflect tools for provoking explanations and resolving conflict. This study has revealed important considerations for the instantiation of positive interdependence and reflective pauses in collaborative tabletop learning systems, showing both quantitative and qualitative differences in the interactional processes that result from these design strategies.
 CCS CONCEPTS.
 Human-centered computing → Empirical studies in collaborative and social computing.


BACKGROUND
The risk of progression to tuberculosis (TB) disease is greatest soon after infection, yet disease may occur many years or decades later. However, rates of TB reactivation long after infection remain poorly quantified. Australia is a low-TB incidence setting and most cases occur among migrants. We explored how TB rates in Australian migrants varied with time from migration, age and gender.

METHODS
We combined TB notifications in census years 2006, 2011 and 2016 with time and country-specific estimates oflatent TB prevalence in migrant cohorts to quantifypost-migration reactivation rates.

RESULTS
During the census years 3,246 TB cases occurred among an estimated 2,084,000 migrants with latent-TB. There were consistent trends in post-migration reactivation rates, which appeared to be dependent on both time from migration and age. Rates were lower in cohorts with increasing time until at least twenty years from migration, and on this background there also appeared to be increasing rates during youth (15-24 years of age), and in those aged 70 years and above. Within five years of migration, annual reactivation rates were approximately 400 per 100,000 (uncertainty interval [UI]: 320-480), dropping to 170 (UI: 130-220) and 110 (UI: 70-160) from five-to-ten and ten-to-twenty, then sustaining at 60-70 per 100,000 up to sixty years from migration. Rates varied depending on age at migration.

CONCLUSIONS
Post-migration reactivation rates appeared to show dependency on both time from migration and age. This approach to quantifying reactivation risk will enable evaluation of the potential impact of TB control and elimination strategies.


Undoped, phosphorus‐, and boron‐doped microcrystalline silicon films were prepared by rf reactive sputtering, and their properties were investigated through structural, optical, and transport measurements. The merits of microcrystalline films for the p and n contacts in photovoltaic devices were demonstrated through the fabrication of single and tandem p‐i‐n solar‐cell structures with best efficiencies between 5 and 6%.


This monograph provides a detailed description and analysis of the existing possibilities of establishing civil liability for gross human rights violations at the regional and international scale and concludes with the recommendation that only a merged system of the existing means of human rights protection will ensure effective human rights protection at a global scale.


ABSTRACT This review critically examines the recent developments in the use of carbon-based nanofillers as additional reinforcement to enhance the interlaminar properties of FRP composites. The low interlaminar strength of FRP composites results in delamination failure. The various nanoreinforcement strategies and their effect on fracture toughness, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and interlaminar fatigue are discussed in detail to prevent this delamination failure. Important findings on various factors that influence the interlaminar properties of multi-scale composites are presented by discussing various intrinsic and extrinsic toughening processes. Moreover, an overview of simulation techniques is provided to predict the delamination onset and propagation. Graphical Abstract


Reserve Officer Training Unit (ROTU) is a unit, training volunteer student which undergoes studies at undergraduate level to become a reserve officer. They will be commissioned as second lieutenants after completing the training. Thus, student committee known as Jawatankuasa Kolej Mahasiswa (JKM) is an association under residential college had been set up to conduct co-curricular activities outside the classroom for students. Besides, they are also intermediaries between students and campus management besides helping to manage students' welfare. More than half of JKM at Kolej Tun Dr. Ismail (KTDI) consisted with ROTU student. Active involvement outside the classroom has shown that apart of playing a critical role on student's soft skills, it also contributes huge impact toward academic performance. This study is conducted to determine the significance of ROTU student in JKM KTDI. The study conducted using questionnaire which involved 182 respondents of ROTU members, consisting of young officers and cadet. The set of questionnaire forms covered the respondents' backgrounds and questions regarding the importance of ROTU in the JKM association also included. The result produced the advantages for ROTU in JKM KTDI but there is several importance should be improved by both parties.


The explosion of new knowledge and technologies stimulated by the Human Genome Project has ushered in the "genomic age," where genetic components of diseases and disorders, their links, and processes are increasingly being revealed and understood at the molecular level. The genomic age coupled with the Internet, which offers quick access and circulation of information as well as numerous sites in which "knowledge" can be recreated or disputed, is changing the contexts and experiences of early childhood disability. This article examines this transformation using data from an ethnographic, longitudinal study of parents of young children with suspected or known genetic disorders. Here we describe how genetic information and the Internet affect parents' search for and understandings of genetic diagnoses, and how these 2 cultural forces may be changing medical, early intervention, and special education practices.


To evaluate the role of patient characteristics, ultrasound findings, and molecular testing in predicting risk of malignancy in Bethesda III, IV, and V thyroid nodules.


This paper derives closed-form formulas for two integrals involving the generalized Marcum Q-function with linear arguments Q/sub m/(a/spl radic/x,b/spl radic/x). These integrals are known to arise in the analysis of multichannel diversity reception of differentially coherent and noncoherent digital communications in Rayleigh and Nakagami-m channels. Applications of the results for efficient performance evaluation of the average bit error rates of dual branch selection diversity combining and postdetection equal gain combining over independent and correlated fading channels are also presented.


This paper firstly reviews the rural condition, especially the channels of communication. Next, it examines the advantages of applying wireless technologies in rural areas. It presents two scenarios of wireless networking, with examples of implementation in Bario. In the first scenario, a wireless local area network (LAN) is set up and connected to a wired LAN using an access point. In the second scenario, a point-to-point wireless network is set up using two wireless bridges to connect two wired LANs. Both scenarios are viable to be implemented in rural areas.


UNLABELLED
AUTHORS: Mesotten K, Naert I, van Steenberghe D, Willems G.

OBJECTIVES
Orthodontic correction of bilateral maxillary canine impaction with agenesis of the lower second premolars and extraction of the lower first molars in an adult patient.

METHODS
After surgical exposure, the canines were relocated in the arch by means of immediate orthodontic traction. Endosseous Branemark system implants were inserted in the lower jaw with a double purpose: stabilization of orthodontic anchorage and prosthetic tooth replacement.

RESULTS
Closure of the edentulous space in the lower arch was accomplished by a multidisciplinary approach while orthodontic correction of the initial malocclusion was achieved.

CONCLUSION
Implants provided anchorage control for tooth movement and created the possibility of prosthetic rehabilitation through a multidisciplinary treatment approach.


How does one find something fresh to write about the 26th edition of an established text? The reviewer of the 25th edition felt that this book was unsuitable for junior doctors and medical students working in the United Kingdom because it made no allowance for transatlantic differences in therapeutics. The current edition reveals fewer contrasts than its predecessor, although a complete understanding still requires the reader to be bilingual in relation to the approved names of certain drugs. To the UK prescriber, the recommendations are, in some instances, old-fashioned (buprenorphine not included amongst analgesics; spironolactone used in essential hypertension; castor oil and cascara recommended as cathartics), and in others, avant-garde (diltiazem licensed as an anti-hypertensive agent; ACE inhibitors recommended as 'first-step' agents for essential hypertension; esmolol available as an ultra-short acting beta-blocker for use in dysrhythmias). The approach to systolic hypertension is more aggressive than British doctors would adopt and it is unnerving to find no mention of cost when reading about the use of tissue plasminogen activator as a thrombolytic. Apart from a few examples of differing medical practice, however, the accuracy of the information is outstanding; the advice is unambiguous and supported, where appropriate and never obtrusively by selected references. All common conditions are covered and there are appendices containing laboratory normal values, infusion tables for drugs such as lignocaine, nitroglycerine and nitroprusside, advice on dose adjustment in renal failure, and immunisation schedules. This book is a multum in parvo that deserves to sell and be read widely. It would not take much to adapt it for the UK market. All that divides us is a common language. Perhaps the authors would like to collaborate?


Molecules can crystallise either in the presence or absence of the solvent used to crystallise them with a range of intermolecular interactions between both the molecule and the solvent occurring to sustain and propagate the crystal structure. Molecules that crystallise as solvates or clathrates could be considered as host-guest materials, but it is often unclear whether a guest-free material can be obtained by heating the solvated material. If the solvent can be removed this can, in turn, lead to vacant void spaces or a partially closed material that can be used to store a secondary guest (either a gas or secondary solvent). Understanding how these materials behave upon removal of the solvent contained within them is crucial in assessing their potential applications. With the CSD recently reaching 1 million deposited crystal structures [1] there is a large resource of untested solvate structures, which may provide inspiration for new guest-uptake materials.[2] This work presents an attempt to further understand a previously reported family of halogen-functionalised organic molecules which has been reported in 3 distinct phases (two inclusion phases and one solvent-excluded phase)[3]. The two inclusion phases adopt a 2D halogen-bonding network propagated through a halogen-halogen bonded trimer. The work presented here, initially focusing on the bromine-functionalised host molecule, used liquid-assisted grinding to screen a series of solvents to identify desirable inclusion phases. The grinding experiments also identified a previously unreported inclusion phase. Thermal stability studies demonstrated that these inclusion phases transformed to the solvent-excluded phase upon heating. Further work has involved altering the halogen functionality (using fluorine, chlorine or iodine) to see how this affects the propensity to form the desired inclusion phases and the thermal stability of these phases, as well as exploring whether phase transformation can be observed when samples are exposed to a


Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is commonly used to treat acute promyelocytic leukemia and solid tumors. However, the clinical application of the agent is limited by its cyto‐ and genotoxic effects on normal cells. Thus, relief of As2O3 toxicity in normal cells is essentially necessary for improvement of As2O3‐mediated chemotherapy. In this study, we have identified a series of protective effects of resveratrol against As2O3‐induced oxidative damage in normal human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. We showed that treatment of HBE cells with resveratrol significantly reduced cellular levels of DNA damage, chromosomal breakage, and apoptosis induced by As2O3. The effect of resveratrol against DNA damage was associated with a decreased level of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation in cells treated by As2O3, suggesting that resveratrol protects against As2O3 toxicity via a cellular anti‐oxidative stress pathway. Further analysis of the roles of resveratrol demonstrated that it modulated biosynthesis, recycling, and consumption of glutathione (GSH), thereby promoting GSH homeostasis in HBE cells treated by As2O3. This was further supported by results showing that resveratrol prevented an increase in the activities and levels of caspases, Fas, Fas‐L, and cytochrome c proteins induced by As2O3. Our study indicates that resveratrol relieves As2O3‐induced oxidative damage in normal human lung cells via maintenance of GSH homeostasis and suppression of apoptosis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 56:333–346, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Economic analysis of public policy invariably requires the valuation of non-market goods. The methods conventionally relied on by economists to estimate these values are, however, subject to a number of limitations, both methodological and philosophical. Given these concerns, economists have identified alternative valuation methods, such as the use of subjective well-being (SWB) measures. SWB measures hold much promise, but face a number of challenges before they can generate policy relevant outcomes. This article illustrates these challenges by applying the SWB approach to the valuation of engagement in culture. An analysis of the British Household Panel Survey is undertaken to estimate the value of going to the cinema and attending concerts. The approach was divided into two steps. First, the SWB impact of engaging in culture was estimated. Both fixed effects and random effects models were employed, and an instrumental variable was used to control for the endogeneity of income. Second, the value of engagement was estimated as the income compensation (IC) that would generate an SWB impact equivalent to engaging in culture. Both the impact of engagement in culture on SWB and the corresponding IC are thought to be overestimates. Possible explanations for this are considered to illustrate the research that is required before the SWB approach can generate rigorous estimates of value that are useful to policy makers. First, further research is required on the relationship between income and SWB, including methods for dealing with the direct and indirect impact of income on SWB. Second, further work is required to develop reliable instrumental. Third, work is required to understand the temporal relationship between policy outcomes and SWB.


The basic purpose of this paper is to distinguish between the motor characteristics of students (male-female) and 12-year-old age groups of SHFMU "Selami Hallaci" in Gjilan.The sample of this research includes a total of 100 (50 female and 50 male) students who undergo regular physical education and sports two hours a week.6 basic motor variables were applied in the research, and based on it, significant differences were obtained.To confirm the differences between students in the basic motor variables, the T-test method was used. Based on the results obtained through this method, valid changes were realized in some of the basic motor variables of. Significant values were obtained in estimating the correlation in some of the motor variables.All these important differences between the mean values in favor of men confirm and confirm that students (men) are more active and agile than the girls tested.


Memory isolation is an important property ensured by many security systems, e.g., shielding systems, for programs, e.g., the untrusted OS and security critical applications, executed on the systems. The property states that each of the programs cannot intentionally or unintentionally read or write memory allocated for other programs. In this paper, we propose a general framework to formally model and verify systems that ensure memory isolation based on ARM processors. Specifically, first, we propose a general model for the systems in the framework. The model shows how to change configurations on ARM processors, e.g., extended page tables or configurations used for specifying memory in the secure world, without of violating the isolation. Then, we propose a general refinement strategy to model the memory management of the systems through the general model. If the memory management can be modeled by using the strategy, the memory management ensures memory isolation. We have used the framework to model and verify memory management of a security system, which is called as OSP and utilizes both of virtualization extensions on ARM processors and ARM TrustZone to isolate memory of programs. Our result shows that the system actually ensures the isolation for the programs executed on the system.


Objective The PHB porous scaffold was fabricated by particulate leaching-freeze drying process using ice particulates as porogen. Methods With chloroform as the solvent, the ice particulates-PHB composite was made by PHB solution infiltrating into the spaces of arranged ice particulates. The PHB porous scaffold was fabricated by particulate leaching-freeze drying process using ice particulates as porogen after the composite was frozen in liquid nitrogen. The morphology of the porous scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscope(SEM). Results The three dimensions block scaffolds prepared by this technology possess the pores which size can be easily changed, good porous structure and high. Conclusions Scaffolds prepared by technology have no porogen remains, high porosity and interconnected pores. There is no harmful effect of the process on the biocompatibility of the material and can be used to fabricate the biodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering safely.


The Savannah River National Laboratory performed measurements of the rheology of suspensions and settled layers of treated material applicable to the Savannah River Site Salt Waste Processing Facility. Suspended solids mixtures included monosodium titanate (MST) or modified MST (mMST) at various solid concentrations and soluble ion concentrations with and without the inclusion of kaolin clay or simulated sludge. Layers of settled solids were MST/sludge or mMST/sludge mixtures, either with or without sorbed strontium, over a range of initial solids concentrations, soluble ion concentrations, and settling times.


O growth in demand of iron ore and the need for improve the terminal ports have forced the ports to think about the capacity improvement. Thinking and create concepts which involve improvement for all the production system means an innovative viewpoint and offer solution that allow the capacity increase using resources existent. Thereunto, a simulation model for discrete events was used in this work, testing sceneries of increasing capacity replacing a product mix for a single one product.


ABSTRACT This paper details the nature of the equity holdings of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and estimates its carbon footprint. By analysing SNB holdings in the 100 most polluting companies in the world, I find that the share of assets owned by the SNB is responsible for at least a quarter of Switzerland's domestic CO2 emissions. This represents as much as the greenhouse gas emissions of all Swiss households combined or 0.05% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Using two different estimation methods, I find that the SNB's portfolio generates between 12 and 20 million metric tons of CO2 per year. This could be reduced by 99.7% with an investment reallocation of just 2% of the equity portfolio of the SNB.


AbstractA considerable range of equipment exists for particle characterization. The author restricts his survey to recent developments in methods of particle size measurement in the areas of sieving, sedimentation equipment, centrifugal techniques, and light scattering and light attenuation methods. Further sources of information are suggested for aspects of the subject which, for reasons of time and space, could not be considered in the present paper. PM/0225


Owners' equity is the main content of assessing the preservation and appreciation of the value of scientific institution's state-owned assets. The changes of fund items and assets items decide whether the target of the value preservation and appreciation of state-owned assets can be achieved finally. The all the items that affecting the preservation and increase of the assets value are analyzed,and it is brought forward that the value adding of the net assets is the final objective for financial supervision and assets management.


Objective\ To investigate the alternation and mechanism of the change in plasma somatostatin octapeptide (SS OP) level during biliary pancreatitis induced by bile pancreatic ligation. Methods\ The contents of plasma SS OP, blood amylase and the changes of pancreatic morphology of the rats in group A ( n =18, ligating bile pancreatic duct), B ( n =18, ligating bile duct), C [ n =18, infusing cholecystokinin (CCK) OP intravenously 3 times with 30 μg/kg each time] and the changes of pancreatic morphology of rats in groups A, B, C and D ( n =18, sham operation, dissection bile pancreatic duct, no ligation). Results\ The contents of plasma SS OP and blood amylase were increased rapidly in groups A and C 3 h after experiment. At 6th h and 24th h, plasma SS OP level returned to normal,blood amylase levels in groups A and C were still higher than in the groups B and D ( P 0.05). Three h after duct ligation, plasma SS OP content in the group B was obviously higher than in the group D ( P 0.05), but significantly lower than in the groups A and C. Morphological changes of acute pancreatitis in the groups A and C were found at 3, 6 h and 24 h, but pancreases were normal in the groups C and D. Conclusion\ It was suggested that the changes in plasma SS OP during biliary pancreatitis induced by pancreatic bile duct ligation were related with the changes of CCK OP.\;


The impact of aerially applied 1080 poison on a Western weka (Gallirallus australis australis) population was assessed at Tennyson Inlet, Marlborough Sounds, between September 2010 and June 2016. We estimated mortality and the incidence of sublethal poisoning as a direct consequence of two aerial 1080 operations and examined the differences in nest success, chick survivorship and adult survivorship. Most weka in the treated block appear to have been sublethally poisoned but only one of 58 (1.8%) radio-tagged weka died as a direct consequence of 1080 application. Both adult and chick survivorship were higher in the treated block, but nest success was unaffected by the observed reduction in rat and stoat abundances following the 1080 operation. The net effect of aerial 1080 application on this weka population was positive when the operation followed a beech (Nothofagaceae) mast and stoat (Mustela erminea) irruption, as adult and chick survivorship after the operation exceeded adult mortality during the operation. However, 1080 operations carried out when stoats are uncommon may have a minor negative impact on weka populations due to the risk of primary poisoning without compensatory increases in survivorship.