Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to examine how the chronicity of stress affects psychological stress-responses, depressive symptoms, and in vivo immunocompetence in spouses of women with metastatic breast cancer. Methods: Participants were 34 spouses of breast cancer patients. Their wives had been living with a diagnosis of recurrence metastatic breast cancer for a mean of 2.3 (SD = 3.6) years. Stress chronicity was defined as the length of time since the partner's diagnosis with metastatic breast cancer. Self-reports of psychological stress responses (IES) and depression (CES-D) were taken, and in vivo immunocompetence was assessed by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to skin test antigens. Results: Clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms (CES-D > 16) were reported in 15% of participants. Suppression of the DTH response was greater in men who had been living longer with an ill spouse (Spearman r = −0.39, p = 0.011), those who reported more psychological stress...


This article mainly introduce the application of biology technique on pulp bleaching process and it's mechanism, emphasizing the application of white-rot fungi and xylanase in biobleaching.


The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the major source of molecules that directly interact with the cell's external environment. This occurs through the secretory pathway, which starts from the ER and regulates macromolecular traffic to the cell surface and inner hydrolytic compartments. It is thus no wonder that the ER functions as a major, very efficient station that integrates signaling from the environment and takes decisions on appropriate responses. The most promiscuous ER signaling mechanism is the unfolded protein response (UPR) (1). A major UPR sensing system appears to be conserved in all eukaryotes and monitors the workload of the ER in the folding and assembly of newly synthesized secretory proteins. This workload can be increased when environmental conditions negatively affect protein folding or when developmental response programs require higher synthesis of secretory proteins. In these situations, ER resident transmembrane sensors start a cascade of various events that eventually alters the expression of many genes, mainly stimulating the synthesis of ER folding helpers and at the same time repressing general synthesis of passenger secretory proteins (1). When the response is not sufficient, unresolved UPR induces programmed cell death (PCD). In PNAS, two studies (2, 3) now provide important progress in characterizing the activity of upstream and downstream players of plant UPR and their relationships with developmental programs as well as PCD.


p-Formycinnamic acid, which usually crystallizes in either the β-form or γ-form of packing, was converted into its diethyl acetal. The introduction of such bulky groups onto a benzene ring successfully provided us with the α-form of packing, from which the desired photodimer, 2,4-di(p-formyl)-α-truxillic acid (c-2, t-4-bis(p-formylphenyl)-r-1,t-3-cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid) was obtained with a yield of 85–90%.


Diffusive heat transfer problem within a non isotropic stratified structure, containing a plane defect of non uniform resistance, is solved analytically by the method of integral transforms. The idea consists in applying Fourier cosine transforms on the space variables and a Laplace transform on the time variable. The thermal quadrupole formalism allows to reduce the mathematical model to a product of matrices in the transformed space. The direct modeling, within the framework of a 2D geometry, has been followed by the construction of an inverse procedure that reconstitutes the variation of the thermal resistance from the measure of the surface temperature. But in the presence of noise, this solution becomes unstable because the problem is ill-posed. To avoid an unstable solution, a method of regularization is necessary. It consists in filtering the data to make our inverse problem well-posed The inversion can then be undertaken in an explicit way either in the transformed space, or in the real space. The...


There has been a significant decline in the number of female students who are interested in pursuing majors in the fields of Information Technology (IT). Additionally, the supply of students educated in IT is less than the current employment demand. The primary goal of the SPIRIT program is to increase high school students' interests in IT through direct interventions and through secondary contact via high school teachers and guidance counselors. Selected high school students were invited to attend a summer workshop in 2008. Multiple forms of assessment, including pre and post assessments, attitudes measures and self-report, were used to evaluate the impact that the summer workshops had on participants' IT attitudes and performances. The qualitative and quantitative measures used in this investigation indicate that both the students' attitudes and performances improved from beginning to end of the one week summer workshop.


Ultrasonic examinations have been carried out at room temperature to correlate the microstructural variation of Ti-6Al-4V alloy with that of ultrasonic parameters. Microstructural variation in terms of different volume fractions of primary alpha phase of Ti-6Al-4V alloy has been introduced as a result of solution annealing at different temperatures followed by thermal ageing. Attenuation coefficient has been found to decrease from the content of 10% primary alpha phase to 20% primary alpha phase and then the same is increasing from the content of 20% primary alpha phase to 30% primary alpha phase. Ultrasonic attenuation coefficient strongly depends on both beta grain size effect and alloy element partitioning effect; which has been found to be the lowest at the content of 20% primary alpha phase.


A recent article on the Texas case of Munoz v John Peter Smith Hospital, begs the question whether if the pregnant woman had been in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) the courts in South Africa would have ordered the withdrawal of life-support treatment because she had expressed her wish not to be treated under such conditions in an advance directive, and that keeping her alive against her wishes would violate her constitutional rights to equality, dignity, privacy and bodily integrity. The answer seems to be yes in both instances. This applies even if the withdrawal of such support is opposed by the persons legally capable of consenting on her behalf in terms of the National Health Act. Where there is no advance directive - provided the treating clinicians conclude that any further treatment will be futile or that the benefits of further treatment are outweighed by the burdens and risks involved – life-support treatment may be withdrawn even against the wishes of persons entitled to consent on her behalf in terms of the National Health Act. Such legally competent persons may, however, apply to court to prevent the implementation of the decision of the clinicians.


Speakers that utter a sentence like in (1) are usually understood to communicated that they didn't mean that all of Ann's friends shared her grim view of the world. In order to explain this scalar implicature, the scalar expression a handful is assumed to evoke a set of alternatives whose members are ordered in terms of informativeness along the lines of (2). A listener reasons that the speaker used the most informative expression, and so informationally-stronger alternatives like most or all don't hold (Horn 1972, Gazdar 1979, Levinson 2000, Geurts 2010, inter alia). (1) A handful of Ann's friends shared her view of the world as a dark place.


This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding sweet potato vines on the digestibility in seventy-two weaned rabbits comprising males and females between six and weeks old, with initial liveweight ranging from 600 1130 g. They were allocated to twelve treatment diets in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The factors were sweet potato vines (0, 15 and 30 %), methionine (0.07 and 0.1 kg supplemental levels) and lysine (0.12 and 0.15 kg supplemental levels).the study lasted ten days with three days adjustment to crates and seven days of fecal and urine collection. Dry matter, crude fibre, ether extract, ash, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre digestibility decreased significantly as level of sweet potato vine increased. Interaction between sweet potato vines and lysine showed significant difference in acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre. High level of methionine and lysine supplementation resulted in higher nutrients digestibility. It was concluded that supplementation of higher levels of methionine and lysine (0.1 and 0.15 kg) respectively in the diets of rabbits improved nutrient digestibility.


Contents Illustrations, Figures, and Tables Acknowledgments Introduction Part 1: Health 1. The Impact of Colonization on Aboriginal Health in British Columbia: Overview 2. 'My People Are Sick. My Young Men Are Angry': The Impact of Colonization on Aboriginal Diet and Nutrition 3. 'Running Out of Spaces': Sanitation and Environment in Aboriginal Habitations 4. A 'Scandalous Procession': Residential Schooling and the Reformation of Aboriginal Bodies 5. Aboriginal Conceptions of the Body, Disease, and Medicine Part 2: Healing 6. Acts of Humanity: Indian Health Services 7. Doctors, Hospitals, and Field Matrons: On the Ground with Indian Health Services 8. Medical Pluralism in Aboriginal Communities Conclusion Notes A Note on Sources Select Bibliography


The invention provides a chopped AC (alternating current) voltage regulator which comprises two mutually associated technical schemes of chopped AC voltage regulation and additional inductance naturally commutated circuit. The chopped AC voltage regulator provided by the invention can adopt the two technical schemes synchronously as required, and also can only adopt the first technical scheme. The chopped AC voltage regulator provided by the invention realizes the AC voltage regulation function of high sine degree and low harmonic, and the cost and control strategy of the chopped AC voltage regulator is remarkably superior to that of the AC/AC converter.


Abstract Using
equations governing the variation of the beam size and the curvature of wave front in the
logarithmically saturable nonlinear media, the Gaussian type breath mode of spatial soliton has
been described in detail. With the aid of a potential method, the positive and negative signs can
be assigned to the first order derivative of the beam size with respect to the propagation
distance. Thus, important parameters of the breath mode, such as the beam size, curvatwre
radius of the wave front, the period, etc., have been calculated.


Pheospiral is of high nutritional value. But fish smell heavy and colour fate affect a persons taste of yogurht. So in this experiment,pheosprial poder is as raw material and embed pelltizing and made into the drink of pheosprial yoghurt. Through the method of experimental analysis of three values in every factor for three factors,the best results are:the content of pheosprail 0.05%,the content of leavening 2.5%,the content of agar-agar 0.2%.


3′-Episeldomycin 5 (7) was synthesized from seldomycin 5. Reaction of hexa-N-ethoxycarbonylseldomycin 5 (2) with o-nitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride gave penta-N-ethoxycarbonylseldomycin 5-2′,3′-epicyclic carbamate (3) in one step. Hexa-N-ethoxycarbonyl-3′-O-tosylseldomycin 5 or hexa-N-ethoxycarbonyl-3′-O-mesylseldomycin 5, prepared from 2, was also converted into 3 by being heated in weakly basic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide or pyridine. Compound 3 was hydrolyzed to give 7. Structure of 7 was confirmed by PMR, CMR, MS, and Δ[M] values. Compound 7 was found to be active against resistant bacteria which carry 3′-O-phosphorylating enzymes. Δ[M] values for vicinal amino groups were shortly discussed.


Introduction Schooling continues to shortchange those students who need it most. Along with other most basic needs, opportunities to develop intellectual and social capitals at school elude vast numbers of young people around the globe. Where schools exist, they maintain an essentially modernist and universal form in a sea of shifting economic, political and social formations. Whilst this form produces educational discourses that are relatively stable and predictable, it also attests to the ability of schools to resist change. This paper discusses a recent attempt to disrupt some of the undesirable and persistent outcomes of schooling discourses for students from low income communities through an interagency collaboration in Sydney known as the Granville District Collaboration (GDC). Collaborations in education, such as various types of school-university partnerships and school-community partnerships, are not new and their tendency to be time consuming, complex and fragile is documented (see for example Yeatman and Sachs, 1995). In this paper, I focus on the potential of particular types of collaborations in education to build strategic coalitions for the purpose of disrupting the certainty with which schools deliver differential and inequitable outcomes for particular groups of students. I suggest that this purpose may be achieved through strategic coalitions aimed at producing knowledge about the local conditions of schooling.


A monitoring system based on Siemens S7-300 and InTouch was designed.In order to conveniently evaluate superiority of new control system based on wireless sensor network and traditional industrial network control system,FSGateWay was used to build OPC communication platform to get the data as two PCs communication required and to have historical data stored.The data analysis proves information transmission reliability of wireless sensor network in control system.


The project aimed at evaluating the effect of the application of strobilurins, boscalid and biostimulants on the development of tomato plants and the preand post-harvest conservation of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.), hybrid Giuliana, in protected environment. The work was divided in two experiments (2009 and 2010) where the effects of different substances on development, yield and post-harvest were evaluated. The experimental design for both experiments was in random blocks, with 7 treatments and 4 repetitions. The studied treatments were: control; pyraclostrobin; boscalid; pyraclostrobin + boscalid; IBA + GA3 + kinetin; GA4+7 + benzylaminopurine (BAP) and vegetal extract. The effect of the treatments on the development of the plants (experiment in 2009) was evaluated through chlorophyll content (SPAD value), evaluations of gas exchange, accumulation of carbohydrates throughout the cycle (leaves, stem and fruits), number of fruits/plant, fruit mass, fruit classification, fruit diameter and length, and yield per plant. The experiment in 2010 evaluated the measurements of gas exchange, chlorophyll content (SPAD value), number of fruits/plant, fruit mass, fruit classification, fruit diameter and length, yield per plant, activity of enzymes peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase (in 3 periods), as well as the post-harvest evaluation of the fruits, such as weight loss, texture, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids (SS), SS/TA relation, total sugar content, vitamin C, activity of enzymes pectin methyl esterase and polygalacturonase. From the obtained results it can be concluded that, disregarding climatic conditions, the treatment with the mixture pyraclostrobin + boscalid stood out among the other treatments, achieving higher yield of quality fruits.


The current thrust towards devolution of power to schools has altered and expanded the principal′s role. Principals are being made responsible for school review and planning, local selection of staff, school‐based staff development, performance appraisal, financial management, and the establishment of school councils. Principals need professional development to cope successfully with these new requirements. Reviews the immediate administrative training needs of school leaders, and then examines the dilemma universities face in providing appropriate administrative development. A new fee‐paying programme is proposed as a way for universities to fulfil academic responsibilities while providing school leaders with knowledge, skills and confidence for their emerging school self‐management responsibilities.


This is an improved version of the SSRN Working Paper untitled "Environment, Health and Labor Market" which can be found here: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2994662.

The paper re-examines the impact that an environmental tax has on people's health and on economic output in the presence of labor market imperfections. It develops an inter-temporal general equilibrium search model of unemployment with pollution and endogenous health status, consistent with empirical evidence that unemployment is detrimental to health. Both short- and long-term effects are investigated.

The model demonstrates that the matching process and wage bargaining introduce new channels of transmission of environmental taxation into the economy. To assume a perfect labor market may lead to overestimating the positive impact of environmental taxation on health in the long-term while underestimating it in the short-term. Numerical simulations in the paper suggest that the existence of a pollution externality on health may produce a "rebound effect", rendering environmental policy less efficient at reducing pollution in both the short- and long- term. The simulations also suggest that, with the parameters chosen here, for the most heavily polluting economies (those with great scope for health improvement), greater market frictions mean greater health dividends can be expected from the environmental policy.


Abstract : Three of the materials commonly used to insulate spacecraft from solar radiation are aluminized mylar, aluminized kapton, and silvered teflon. Damage to or deterioration of these materials would lead to large scale temperature excursions of the spacecraft. One possible mechanism for such deterioration would be the occurrence of high humidity prior to launch. A study was conducted to determine the vulnerability of these materials to humidity. It was found that aluminized mylar and aluminized kapton remain unaffected, but that silvered teflon is seriously damaged in a period of hours.


Today's electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops and other technology for communication and information sharing are relatively new WIFI. Security in data exchange is one of the main concerns of users. Companies to standardize their protocols and upgrades have been trying to solve this problem. The main research question to investigate this problem to examine the strengths and weaknesses of cryptographic protocols known as wpa and wpa2 encryption algorithms are known, respectively. Descriptive research method because of its theoretical approach - the library was determined and the results showed that the enhanced algorithm compared to their older wpa wpa2 security weaknesses more and wpa2 are also common in data exchange with wifi is a serious weakness.


This legislation, which amends an EU directive of 2003, will bring "direct benefit to all the beneficiaries of international protection who have been residing legally on the territory of the EU for more than 5 years, but currently have no entitlement to long-term resident status. It will bring an end to their differential treatment vis-a-vis other third country nationals, and will give them greater certainty about their situation in the EU", said Parliament's rapporteur Claude Moraes (S&D, UK), adding that it "benefits those who should have never been excluded from the Long Term Residence Directive". Under Council Directive 2003/109/EC, which governs the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents, refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are not currently entitled to long-term resident status. The amended directive would close this gap. The new rules would enable beneficiaries of international protection who become long-term residents to take up residence in a Member State other than that in which they are recognised. Under certain conditions, they would also be entitled to equal treatment with citizens of the EU Member State in which they reside in a wide range of economic and social areas, including education and access to the labour market and social security benefits. Furthermore, the new rules also strengthen safeguards against "refoulement" (expulsion). Transfer of responsibility for protection of beneficiaries of international protection is outside the scope of this directive. Member States will have two years to comply with the new rules. The UK, Ireland and Denmark are opting out of this directive.


The nasal polyp, a bulging lesion in the nasal cavity, is a frequently reported disease in the rhinopharyngeal field. The author attempts to elucidate the detailed structures of nasal polyp epithelium and the ciliary vesicles detected in some epithelial cells with electron microscopy.1. The nasal polyp was mainly covered with a pseudostratified ciliated epithelium as those of normal air tract epithelium, and in places with the stratified squamous or columnar epithelium. The pseudostratified ciliated epithelium gradually shifted to the stratified squamous epithelium through the stratified columnar epithelium.2. The ciliary vesicle was detected in a cell as a round or oval intracytoplasmic cavity provided with many ciliary apparatuses and microvilli. The ciliary vesicles were restrictedly appeared in the pseudostratified ciliated epithelium. On the ciliary vesicle formation in the cells, findings come to the conclusion as follows : (1) Initially duplicated centrioles and associated many tortuous or tubular smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticula appear and assemble in perinuclear region in some basally located cells. (2) Some of these vesicles migrate and locate at one end of respective centrioles as dome-like or curved vesicular structures. (3) Thereafter ciliary axis extends toward the curved vesicles which are designated as apical vesicles. (4), Some apical vesicles develop a tendency to join each other and to grow into a larger ciliary vesicle. (5) In rare cases, some large ciliary vesicles are protruded as dome-like bulging in the apicalcytoplasm and open into the lumen like those of emiocytotic procedures. This may be indicated a special type of ciliated cell formation in this epithelium. The author concluded that the ciliary vesicles arise from an erroneous process of ciliogcncsis in presumably ciliated cells due to some abnormal ciliogenetic processes including inflammations.


The invention discloses a message transmission method and device. The message transmission method comprises the following steps: judging whether the length of the message to be transmitted is more than the preset EAP Message MTU value, and transmitting the message to be transmitted by adopting the TCP (transmission control protocol) transmission form if the length of the message to be transmitted is more than the preset EAP Message MTU value. The message transmission method and device solve the problem in the prior that the UDp (user datagram protocol) connection authentication process can lead to low authentication success rate.


The present invention is concerned with a pharmaceutical composition Suitable as a depot formulation for administra tion via intramuscular or Subcutaneous injection, compris ing: (1) as an active ingredient a therapeutically effective amount of a 9-hydroxy-risperidone fatty acid ester or a Salt, or a Stereoisomer or a Stereoisomeric mixture thereof in Submicron form and (2) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is water and the active ingredient is Suspended therein: and with a proceSS of preparing Such a composition.


Border river treatment is to protect homeland,prevent water loss and safeguard sovereignty.Since border river treatment has a border issue,it requires high precision demand to the supervision and control net.The article gives introduction to applications of GPS technology to the similar projects.


A global university requires educational experiences that internationalize the curriculum and actively shift the pedagogy. Our university of technology is committed to building a 'global passport' for students and strategically developing the local (Melbourne, Australia) and international (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) campuses as twin hubs, linked and supported by high quality information and communication technologies.


The invention relates to a halogen-free flame-retardant anti-mildew composite which is prepared by jointly melting and mixing the following raw materials in parts by weight: 100 parts of polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride, 40-50 parts of bamboo fiber powder, 5-6 parts of camphor wood powder, 5-6 parts of compatibilizer, 5-6 parts of flexibilizer, 30-40 parts of flame retardant and synergist, 4-6 parts of heat stabilizer, 4-6 parts of lubricant, 4-5 parts of oxygen inhibitor, and 0-1 parts of antioxidant by three times, and finally extruding and forming. The bamboo-plastic composite has excellent mechanical performance and flame retardance and anti-mildew properties.


Some improvements have been proposed for the algorithm of Agathoklis such that 2D stability test can be realized by totally algebraic operations.


Private hospitals largely depend on competitive marketing strategy that determines their success and growth. The modalities of the health sector have changed a lot in the new millennium compared to the way they used to be in the years bygone. The profitability of a firm is a key concern, as is the ability to better with stand negative shocks and contribute to the stability of the sector. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of internal factors on the profitability of private hospitals in Kenya. A case study research design was adopted by this study. The population for this study was departmental heads and staff in the finance department of the Karen Hospital. Stratified random sampling was used to get the data sources with primary data collected using semi structured questionnaires. The researcher used drop and pick method of data collection. A sample size of 5 respondents was chosen to form the pilot study. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). Descriptive statistics were used with multiple regressions done using SPSS. Tables and other graphical presentations such as bar charts, histogram, and pie charts were used to present the data. The study established a positive relationship between profitability of private hospitals and firm size, volume of capital and tangibility of assets with leverage showing a negative relationship. The study concluded that firm size, leverage, volume of capital and tangibility of assets affect profitability of private hospitals in Kenya. The researcher recommends that private hospitals should expand in a controlled way with the aim of achieving an optimum size, avoid situations where they are highly leveraged, increasing the number of shareholders, and develop sound techniques of managing their assets. The researcher recommends a study on the external factors that may affect the performance of hospitals in Kenya.


Biodegradable polyesters,such as PLA and PLGA,have proven to be very useful protein delivery sustained release vehicle material and can provide prolonged protein release thanks to their good biocompatibility and biodegradability.This review provides an applicable summary of different formulation routes to forming polyesters and their derivatives for the purpose of(1) improving the hydrophilic property of PLGA through introducing molecule having ether bond,such as PEO,PEG, in PLGA and forming PLGA block copolymer;(2) enhancing the adhesion of vehicle and cell by immobilizing the cell-recognizable ligand moiety and/or peptide onto the surface of biodegradable polymer scaffolds and achieving targeted PLGA derivatives;and(3) developing novel branched polyesters PVA-g-PLGA and obtaining zero-order drug release kinetics through changing the acid microclimate in PLGA vehicle and improving the stability of protein inner the vehicle.All of the above PLGA and their derivatives can produce safe,qualified and efficacious vehicle for protein and peptide drug delivery system.


This paper aims to ensure the business continuity of ABC Group by proposing a concept for changing the business model based on uncertainty analysis. The study suggests making changes in technology security and environmental product research and development to support the success of new business model designs. To ensure business continuity, the project proposes the following changes: diversifying greener product offerings, strengthening cybersecurity measures, developing disaster recovery plans, monitoring and managing reputation, adapting to changing business environments, and more. A project plan is proposed to implement these changes, including phases such as scoping, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and completion. By implementing these changes, ABC Group will be able to become more resilient to external uncertainties and ensure long-term business continuity.


A simplified proof is given that the linear dispersion relation for gravity waves is converted into a nonlinear dispersion relation by making the replacement (ωk - k ·u0)→(ωk - k ·u0 - idw), where ωk is the wave frequency, k is the wave vector, u0 is the mean flow, and dw is a nonlinear damping rate explicitly determined by the rms wave velocity. This derivation differs from a previous one in its brevity as well as relative simplicity. The purpose is to present a derivation that does not require previous familiarity with the statistical theory of strong nonlinear interactions and to reveal more explicitly the underlying assumptions and approximations. A substance difference is that a spacetime average is used instead of an ensemble average, and the theory is no longer restricted to random phased waves. The physical significance of dw is then elucidated and related to recent experimental observations. Limitations of the derivation are to a quasi-stationary, homogeneous state in which u0 and other average quantities vary only slowly, to wavelengths satisfying 2kzH ≫ 1, and to wave amplitudes that are too large to be treated by weak mode-coupling theories.


Motor needs high efficiency, high power density and low pulsating torque in hybrid electric vehicle, traditional motors have their limits; Halbach motorpsilas magnetic field is one-sided and sinusoidal, which is caused by special distribution of permanent magnets. The field can increase air-gap flux while decrease rotor-yoke flux and air-gap harmonic, the results can improve power density and efficiency, reduce volume and pulsating torque of motor. Halbach motor design software based on MATLAB and finite element analysis software based on ANYAS reduce period of motor design greatly; Finite element analysis and experiment results prove Halbach motor has much more advantages than traditional permanent magnet motor.


An approach for the retrieval of long-term deformations from a set of differential interferograms is presented. The method consists in solving simultaneously in a least squares sense all the interferograms to determine the terrain deformations as a chronological sequence. With this approach, the temporal evolution of the subsidence in the neapolitan area of the Phlegrean Fields has been determined for the period 1993-1999.


By adopting the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation methods, the paper taking MapGIS as the operation platform,makes use of 1∶100 000 digital terrain and geologic map,classifying the hazardprone areas of geological disasters of Mian county in Shanxi province into four levels,including high level,medium,low and no-disaster level,and nine zones,and it is shown by the result that the classifying hazardprone areas of geological disasters can reflect the factual situations objectively.


here is one very consistent line of observations in the T back pain literature: Back pain is extremely common, it is the biggest cause of disability globally, it affects all age groups, and most people will experience at least one episode. Recently, the Lancet Low Back Pain Series Working Group published a series of three papers with a fervent plea to identify cost-effective and context-specific strategies for managing low back pain (LBP). The authors call for a strong and coordinated political action from international and national policy makers, including World Health Organization (WHO) and research funding agencies. They argue that these two avenues have the potential to substantially reduce the burden of LBP throughout the world. The Lancet articles attracted considerable media attention around the globe. The reason for this could be that they offer ''dramatic and disturbing messages about LBP and its management globally.'' A first (disturbing) message concerns the current situation in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Since influential book by Waddell ''The back pain revolution,'' there has been an prevailing view that LBP does not affect people or the society in LMIC as much as in the western world, as people were thought to continue their daily activities, despite LBP. Things have either changed or we now have more accurate LBP-figures. Years lived with disability caused by LBP have increased by more than 50% since 1990, especially in LMICs. Disability related to LBP is projected to increase most in LMICs where


In this paper, the problem of optimizing the performance of a free-space optical system with large field of view (FOV) focal plane array is addressed. A large FVO detector is desired when beam tilt, large pointing inaccuracies, or other impairments leading to uncertainties in the angle of arrival of the beam are present. For such an arrangement, when we consider a large aperture size, which results in a small diffraction-limited FOV, a large number of photo-detectors in the array are exposed to background radiation only. In addition, in adaptive optics system without a wave-front sensor (WFS), one has to contend with the same issue when large FOV system with small diffraction-limited FOV is considered. Hence, detection strategies to deal with the excess background noise in this scenario is of interest in this paper. We assume here that the receiver is utilizing a recently proposed technique to identify the presence and the location of the beam footprint in the focal plane, thereby reducing the "area" of consideration in the focal plane to a subset of the total photodetectors. It is shown here that, when the proposed receiver is utilized, one can expect an improvement in the overall bit error rate of several orders of magnitude as compared with the standard array detector.


Abstract Let X be a non-commutative monoid with term order; let R be a commutative, unital ring; let I be an ideal in the non-commutative polynomial ring R 〈 X 〉 and let ƒ ∈ R 〈 X 〉. In this setting the problem of determining whether ƒ ∈ I is studied. In a manner analogous to the commutative case, see Moller (1989), weak Grobner bases are defined and their basic properties are studied. We will see that in the non-commutative setting, when the coefficient ring is not a field, and when we enlarge the polynomial ring by adding more variables, weak Grobner bases may exhibit unpleasant behavior that has no analog in the commutative case. Quite in general for ƒ ∈ R 〈 X 〉, it is undecidable whether ƒ ∈ I . This follows from the fact that the word problem for free semigroups is undecidable. If I is generated by a recursively enumerable set, then we give a semi-decision procedure that halts if and only if ƒ∈ I . Finally we examine a class of nicely behaved ideals for which weak Grobner bases can be easly computed.


Mullerian duct malformations represent a miscellaneous group of congenital anomalies that result from the arrested development, abnormal formation or incomplete fusion of the paramesonephric ducts. Congenital Mullerian abnormalities usually present at adolescent age with menstrual irregulari¬ty, dysmenorrhea, infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. The Unicornuate uterus is a rare uterine malformation which usually features a rudimentary accessory horn with or without functioning endometrium. We are presenting a case of perimenopausal multiparous patient who had history of secondary dysmenorrhea diagnosed with endometrioma on imaging studies, but on laparotomy incidentally found to have Unicornuate uterus with functioning noncommunicating rudimentary horn leading to hematometra and hematosalpinx. The objective of this clinical case report is to highlight this rare Mullerian malformation as a differential diagnosis of secondary dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain or adnexal mass in perimenopausal age group females.


A review with 14 references is given on the diagnosis of childhood autism by analysis on elements content in hair of children including neurobiologic and neurochemical action of trace elements, the content disorder of trace elements in hair of autistic children, and the diagnosis on autism by trace elements in hair.


The purpose of this study was conducted to make a comparative biomechanical analysis of X-factor and X-factor stretch during driver and iron swing. The subjects were composed of 10 professional golfers with more than 10 years career. The result was as follows: First, the analysis of the back swing with driver and iron swing showed no differences statistically between both the timing in horizontal rotating of shoulder and hip, the time required for X-factor stretch also showed no differences statistically. Second, the back swing with a driver swing showed more maximum horizontal rotation of shoulder and hip joint than the back swing with an iron swing, but the twist of shoulder and hip that was X-factor stretch angle showed no difference. Third, the GRF of the max value for the left and right foot during shoulder and hip horizontal rotation of back swing showed no differences statistically in the movement of driver and iron swing during the back swing, and the GRF of X-factor stretch for the left and right foot showed no differences statistically in driver and iron swing. Therefore the result of this research showed that the operation of torso(X-factor stretch) and weight shifting were similar although the horizontal rotation of body was different during the driver and iron swing.


ANYANG,in northcrn Henan Province,is located in what has always been the heartland of China,For thousands of years the yellow carth of the plateau west from the Yellow carth of hthe Plaleau west from the Yellow River has mixed with the alluvial mud of the Central Plain to form the most fertile part of China.


To determine the accurate C/N ratio of compost, biodegradable carbon and nitrogen in compost must be analyzed. In biodegradable nitrogen analyzed by Kjeldahl Method, nitrate and nitrite which are available for microbes can not be detected at all. By means of Method, nitrate and nitrite can be detected. Therefore, various nitrogens in compost were analyzed by Kjeldahl and Method to investigate the seasonal changes of various C/N ratios of compost. C/N ratios in compost analyzed by Kjeldahl and Method were decreased rapidly within 2 weeks after composting, then were not changed to 6 weeks, and thereafter were decreased slowly with the lapse of composting time. C/N ratios analyzed by Kjeldahl Method were higher than those analyzed by Method. C/N ratios of total carbon/total nitrogen analyzed by Kjeldahl Method were higher(5 as C/N ratio or 36%) than those of biodegradable carbon/biodegradable nitrogen analyzed by Method. Highly positive correlations were observed among C/N ratios of total carbon/total nitrogen analyzed by Kjeldahl Method total carbon/total nitrogen analyzed by Method and biodegradable carbon/biodegradable nitrogen analyzed by Method one another.


TW>ENTY years ago the complexities of muscle chemistry seemed to be a far cry from clinical medicine. A few physicians were interested in the changes produced by athletic exercise, but usually as related to normal individuals. No diseases were definitely known to be linked with metabolic changes in the muscular tissues, and as a result important discoveries in the laboratory seemed inapplicable to the doctor's domain of the treatment and investigation of disease. With the remarkable advances made in the study of metabolic diseases during the past few years it has become increasingly evident that many of the chief manifestations of several important diseases are associated with profound disturbances in the muscles, and that the clinician can no longer look upon the study of muscle chemistry as an academic field. The part played by the muscles in diabetes mellitus and the r6le of insulin in altering their carbohydrate stores; the so-called " myxcedema heart;" the almost paramount alterations in the metabolism of cardiac and skeletal muscle in hyperthyroidism; the great muscular asthenia of Addison's disease and its cause; the curious phenomena of myasthenia gravis; the close relationships between phosphorus and calcium balance in tetany; a certain group of rare muscular dystrophies that are almost certainly the result of metabolic changes in the muscles -these are but a few of the conditions now known to be linked in one way or another to the chemical processes in muscle. Above all there is the huge and untilled field of investigation into the metabolism of the human heart in disease and health. The great masters have given us our clinical knowledge of murmurs and signs and symptoms; the anatomists, an accurate picture of the structure of the heart and its vessels, nodes and bundles; the pathologists have built a firm foundation for our knowledge of the gross and microscopic alterations in disease; and the electrocardiograph has determined for us the mechanism of the various irregularities and conduction defects -but still we do not know the one thing we have wanted to know all along; why the heart gets tired and why it stops. A knowledge of the chemical and metabolic processes in muscle is the tool with which the clinician, interested in this phase of the subject, must equip himself. The foundation of physiology and chemistry upon which the clinician must base his work has proved, however, to be a shifting one and the past few years have seen a revolution of extraordinary degree in our conceptions of muscle energetics. The new point of vantage, upon which there is fortunately almost universal agreement, has been recently outlined in the reviews of Meyerhof,' of Hill,2 and of Milroy.3 As a result of the brilliant investigations of A. V. Hill in London, and of Meyerhof, in Berlin-Dahlem and Heidelberg, an almost uncontrovertable case had been built up for the preeminent role of carbohydrate in the processes of muscular contraction. These workers showed that activity in a muscle was associated with a disintegration of glycogen and that this process could occur in the complete absence of oxygen. They further demonstrated that a certain portion of the resulting lactic acid (approximately fourfifths) was apparently resynthesized into glycogen in the presence of oxygen, and that the remaining one-fifth supplied the energy for this process by its combustion to carbon dioxide and water., This hypothesis became known as the " Meyerhof Cycle." Because of the closely-knit web of evidence in support of this view there has been a general tendency to look upon the problems of muscle chemistry as an open book and to consider the riddle solved. This is a bad attitude in any science and particularly bad in the biological sciences. During the past few years a -number of striking and important papers have appeared which have opened up the whole field anew, and bid fair to uncover many factors of muscle metabolism hitherto known. There has been nothing to cast doubt upoul the work of Hill and Meyerhof, but ample to cast doubt upon the conclusions drawn therefrom and to make a search for new mechanisms


Billed as the world's largest faceted gemstone, the American Golden has found a permanent home in the Gem Hall at the Smithsonian Institution.


On the basis of aspect-oriented software design method,this paper takes time characteristics of distributed system as a separate aspect to modeling,imports the idea of time sub-aspect into Unified Modeling Language(UML),extends constraint by SQTL and Fuzzy-timing Petri Net(FTN).Example proves that this modeling method can solve the semantic problem and make the model more accurate,it is also convenient for the code weaving,automatic generation and testing.


Summary The effects of tryptophan and its metabolites were studied to determine whether the known inhibiting effect of tryptophan on emptying was due to local or systemic effects or due to tryptophan metabolites. In five dogs with chronic gastric fistulas, instillation of 300 ml of dl-kynurenine (5 mM), 5-hydroxytryptophan (5 mM), or 5-hydroxytryptamine (20 mM) into the gut did not slow gastric emptying. Furthermore, iv infusion of l-tryptophan (5, 20, 50 mM), dl-kynurenine (2, 5, 10 mM), 5-hydroxytryptamine (2 mM, 10 mM), and 3-indolepyruvic acid (2, 5, 10 mM) also did not slow gastric emptying. These studies indicate that tryptophan slows gastric emptying by exciting a receptor in the gut and not by a direct effect on the stomach or brain or via its major metabolites. This work was supported by Grant AM 15886 from the National Institutes of Health and Veterans Administration Research Funds.


In keeping with the ideal of building a harmonious society and given the differences of history, condition, times, themes, and resources, the CPC is now striving to realize a new-type harmonious society. But the new characteristics and developmental trends of a new era should be carefully considered. This paper posits that three main dimensions should be taken into account. First, insofar as the philosophy and methodology are concerned, China has advanced from its "fighting philosophy" to "harmonious philosophy", from the idea of "being in revolution " to "being in rule" and "being in power and in service". Second, in terms of the goal and strategy, China has transformed from getting rich simultaneously with equalitarianism to the unbalanced strategy of development by following the principle of "efficiency first, fairness second", and to the "scientific view of development". Third, in terms of the institutional frame and its relevant work and based on the United Front, China has undergone the restructuring of economy from basic political structure to socialist market economy and the socialist harmonious society.


Two new alkaloids containing Nb-methyl-triptamine units linked to bis-quinoline moieties, N-8"-formyl-calycosidine and N-8"-methyl-N-1'-demethyl-iso-calycosidine, were isolated from the aerial part of Margaritopsis carrascoana, along with known calycosidine and hodgkinsine. The cytotoxicity of the isolated alkaloids has been evaluated against cancer cell lines. The first two compounds showed only weak activity against HL-60 cell line, while hodgkinsine was the most active compound against HCT-116, OVCAR-8, HL-60 and SF-295 cancer cell lines. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic and molecular mechanical methods.


A pilot phytoremediation project was conducted at the Mukluk site in Sprague, Connecticut, formerly a private skeet shooting range. A series of experiments was conducted to investigate if any plants can be effective lead phytoextractors for this site that has very high soil lead concentrations and low soil pH. Greenhouse screening of plants for lead resistance and accumulation using field soil was implemented as the initial step before the field installation. Herbaceous plant species with known lead phytoextraction capabilities included Indian mustard and blue fescue; a few willow clones with purported heavy metal resistance were also tested. Based on the results of the greenhouse experiments, blue fescue appeared to be sensitive to high lead concentration in soil, and only willows and Indian mustard along with various soil amendments were selected for the field installation. Indian mustard grew poorly in most of the treatments at the site except in the compost and lime treatment. Lead accumulation by this species was low in all treatments. In contrast, willows showed tolerance to very high lead concentrations present in the soil and were able to uptake and translocate lead into aboveground tissues. However, lead content in aerial tissues was low, and no change in soil lead concentration at the site was recorded post-harvest after one growing season. It appeared that highly unfavorable soil characteristics at the Mukluk site complicated the species selection, and no effective phytoextractors have been found for this location. These suggest that the feasibility of phytostabilization and possible production of biofuel from willow biomass on these types of sites should be further investigated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Educators have often attempted to motivate students' interest in science by demonstrating its connection to everyday life. This research focuses on whether exploring the topic of electricity within the context of common electrical devices would make learning more enjoyable and productive for introductory college students. In Phase I of the research, students were asked which electrical devices they found interesting and to explain the functioning of those devices. A wide variability in devices cited by the students was observed, with students focusing mainly on electronic devices and usability. In Phase II, students' conceptions of the functioning of a blender were investigated and hands-on interactive demonstrations were introduced to help students to construct a mental model of an electromagnetic motor used in a blender.


This study aims to analyze the effect of prices, product quality, service quality and word of mouth on culinary purchasing decisions in Galabo, Surakarta City. The population of this research is the people in the area of Surakarta and surrounding areas who have enjoyed culinary in Galabo, Surakarta City. The sample used in this study amounted to 100 respondents in the Surakarta City Galabo Culinary. This study uses primary data taken using structured interviews with the help of a questionnaire. The sampling technique is amethod non probability sampling. Data analysis techniques use multiple linear regression. The results of this study indicate that: price and word of mouth has a positive and significant influence on purchasing decisions in Galabo City Surakarta, while product quality and service quality have a positive but not significant effect on purchasing decisions in Galabo City Surakarta.


A shielded planar array of active slot antennas is proposed for applications in the microwave imaging of the breast. The frequency band is from 3 to 8 GHz, where reflection loss better than 10 dB and interelement mutual coupling less than −20 dB are achieved. The center-to-center element spacing is 12 $\times12$ mm. A low-noise amplifier (LNA) is integrated with each antenna element for use in a receiving configuration. A ground plane within the multilayer design separates the antenna array from the electronics array while providing shielding from the back and improving the power coupling into the tissue. The proposed structure resolves an outstanding problem in the design of large shielded antenna arrays for tissue imaging, namely, the interconnects between the array elements and the electronic circuits, which are separated by multiple dielectric layers and a grounded plane. The critical development is the new low-reflection triple-wire vertical transition that carries the signal from the antenna layer to the electronics layer while traversing through multiple layers of different permittivities and through openings in the ground plane. The design is verified by simulations and measurements. The passive and active designs are compared, illustrating the full utilization of the LNA gain. The performance of the proposed active array is also examined in imaging experiments with a compressed-breast phantom.


Background: Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in atherogenesis and thrombosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the IL-1β gene polymorphism (–511) and the risk of large vessel disease (LVD) stroke, small vessel disease (SVD) stroke and cardioembolic (CE) stroke. Methods: We genotyped 115 patients with LVD stroke and 194 matched controls, 122 patients with SVD stroke and 227 controls and 221 patients with CE stroke and 219 controls. The IL-1β polymorphism was analyzed by a polymerase chain reaction followed by a restriction enzyme digestion. Results: The allele T distribution did not change significantly between patients with LVD stroke and their controls nor between patients with CE stroke and their controls. The frequency of the T allele was higher in patients with SVD stroke than in the control group (37.7 vs. 30.4%, p = 0.05). After adjustment for vascular risk factor, the TT genotype was an independent risk factor for SVD stroke (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.17–4.94). Conclusions: The TT genotype of the IL-1β gene may be associated with an increased risk of SVD stroke.


We investigate the effect of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of firms on bank loans using bank -- firm matched data of Japanese listed firms. Previous findings suggest that climate risks priced in corporate bonds or syndicated loans are statistically significant but economically minor. We uncover bank lending behavior in terms of the loan amount, i.e., quantity of credit, considered to have a more direct effect on firm investment decisions. We show that banks significantly decrease loans to firms with higher GHG emissions. In addition, we find that banks with greater leverage and a lower return on assets are more likely to decrease loans to firms with high GHG emissions.


A fully coupled model is developed to simulate the slow transient phenomena (consolidation) involving flow of water and air in deforming porous media. The model is of the Biot type and incorporates the capillary pressure relationship. The finite element method is used for the discrete approximation of the partial differential equations governing the problem. The temporal discretization error, iteration error and stability error are evaluated. The model is validated with respect to a documented experiment on semisaturated soil behavior. Other examples involving an air storage problem in an aquifer and a flexible footing resting on a semisaturated soil are also presented.


In the production of semi-finished products for the production of microcomponents and the components themselves, the characterization of their physical properties is of particular importance. Due to the often oligocrystalline character of these semi-finished products and components, it is necessary to use a suitable testing technique for static and dynamic investigations, as the mechanical properties are not transferable from the macroscopic point of view. In addition, the micro semi-finished products and components often show inhomogeneities induced by the manufacturing process. On the one hand, these are directly reflected in the microstructure and on the other hand they have an effect on quantities such as hardness or residual stresses, which play a decisive role in the application. Mechanical testing, conventional metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), ultra-microhardness testing and X-ray residual stress analysis were used as measuring and analysis techniques suitable for the sub-millimeter range. In the following, the possibilities and limitations of two these methods are illustrated using the example of mechanical testing and EBSD. In this paper several examples for possible characterization techniques are given.


ABSTRACT Assessment is an essential element of social work practice. However, by trying to realize the so-called triple-mandate of social work, professionals and students on qualifying training sometimes struggle to consider simultaneously client and organizational aspects, and to embrace both outcome-orientation and process-orientation. Societal requirements focus on outcomes and standardized procedures whereas client's needs require individualized and situationally appropriate consideration. The tensions are more acute with demands for rigorous professional decision making based on evidence, with increased attention to risks. Multiprofessional working has many benefits for clients, but places new demands on social work assessment. Current models are limited in embracing these tensions, and more integrated models are required. Established frameworks together with practice and teaching experience are applied in this paper to extend the traditional Taylor and Devine model to address these contemporary challenges. Elements of a new model (ALOHA) have been trialled on professionals as well as students on qualifying social work training. Such robust assessment models synthesized from theory, research, and best practice are essential to meet contemporary practice challenges, maintain public credibility, and sustain social work internationally.


Abstract— The fine‐grained matrix of the Semarkona unequilibrated ordinary chondrite contains an assemblage of Fe carbides that are associated with oxides, sulfides, carbonates, and hydrated silicates. The carbides consist of fine‐scale epitactic intergrowths of cohenite (Fe3C) and Hägg carbide (Fe5C2) that formed as by‐products of gas‐solid reactions on the Semarkona parent body. The carbide intergrowths resulted from prograde reactions at moderate temperatures in the presence of a highly reducing carbon‐bearing gas. The carburization occurred prior to the aqueous alteration episode that produced the Fe‐rich phyllosilicates throughout the interchondrule matrix and the thin magnetite rims surrounding the carbide grains. The occurrence of the carbide intergrowths places an upper limit of <500 °C on the maximum postaccretional thermal processing that occurred on the Semarkona parent body.


Berry species are important sources of polyphenols with antioxidant properties, that can contribute to the prevention of several diseases. Enzymatic pathways leading to the synthesis of these phytochemicals are inducible by abiotic stress that can qualitatively and quantitatively change the cellular content of these bioactive compounds. The main focus of this study was to determine the in vitro conditions affecting anthocyanins synthesis in cell suspension cultures of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and strawberry-tree (Arbutus unedo L.). We used as elicitors: temperature, light (blue or red spectra) and changes of medium composition, i.e. increased nitrogen concentration.
Anthocyanin production was significantly increased only by elicitation with light, either blue or red spectra, in blackberry and strawberry-tree cultures, and particularly red light in strawberry. In red raspberry cultures anthocyanin accumulation was not affected by any elicitor.


Listeria monocytogenes grows in the cytosol of mammalian cells and spreads from cell to cell without exiting the intracellular milieu. During cell–cell spread, bacteria become transiently entrapped in double‐membrane vacuoles. Escape from these vacuoles is mediated in part by a bacterial phospholipase C (PC‐PLC), whose activation requires cleavage of an N‐terminal peptide. PC‐PLC activation occurs in the acidified vacuolar environment. In this study, the pH‐dependent mechanism of PC‐PLC activation was investigated by manipulating the intracellular pH of the host. PC‐PLC secreted into infected cells was immunoprecipitated, and both forms of the protein were identified by SDS–PAGE fluorography. PC‐PLC activation occurred at pH 7.0 and lower, but not at pH 7.3. Total amounts of PC‐PLC secreted into infected cells increased several‐fold over controls within 5 min of a decrease in intracellular pH, and the active form of PC‐PLC was the most abundant species detected. Bacterial release of active PC‐PLC was dependent on Mpl, a bacterial metalloprotease that processes the proform (proPC‐PLC), and did not require de novo protein synthesis. The amount of proPC‐PLC released in response to a decrease in pH was the same in wild‐type and Mpl‐minus‐infected cells. Immunofluorescence detection of PC‐PLC in infected cells was performed. When fixed and permeabilized infected cells were treated with a bacterial cell wall hydrolase, over 97% of wild‐type and Mpl‐minus bacteria stained positively for PC‐PLC, in contrast to less than 5% in untreated cells. These results indicate that intracellular bacteria carry pools of proPC‐PLC. Upon cell–cell spread, a decrease in vacuolar pH triggers Mpl activation of proPC‐PLC, resulting in bacterial release of active PC‐PLC.


Transport systems are capable of contributing to the economic robustness of a geographic area and the well-being of its inhabitants via the supply of the necessary assets for the mobility of people and goods. However, transport projects have the capacity to produce several negative externalities such as water pollution, air pollution, barrier effects, noise, and ecological impact, which affect the quality of people's life. Considering these facts, the main purpose of this study is to indicate methodologically how the negative externalities of transport are interlinked, so that to promote sustainable mobility development. This paper reveals via the method of structural analysis, the interrelations between the negative externalities of transport, firstly to organize them hierarchically and secondly to evaluate the potential of sustainable mobility strategies concerning the co-benefits generated by their implementation for society. The results show that the negative externalities of transport are not isolated phenomena; on the contrary, they are interlinked and can be organised hierarchically according to the relationships between them so that certain public policies can be prioritized and the negative impacts of transport can be tackled more effectively. The most critical negative externalities are the invasion of public space for the construction of more roads, along with road accidents, congestion, and local air pollution. On the other hand, the most important group of strategies for sustainable mobility are the ones oriented to urban design, and more specifically to transit-oriented development.


Objective: To investigate the carotid arterial elasticity in patients with high-normal blood pressure and hyperlipidemia by echo tracking technique.Methods: We selected 51 patients with highnormal blood pressure and hyperlipidemia,and 62 patients with high-normal blood pressure.Another 50 healthy cases were selected as normal control.Echo tracking technique was used to evaluate the carotid elastic modulus,including the stiffness parameter(β),pressure-strain elastic modulus(Ep),arterial compliance(AC),augment index(AI) and pulse wave conducting velocity(PWVβ).The intima-media thickness(IMT) was measured on routine ultrasonography.Carotid artery of the three groups showed no abnormalities on routine ultrasonography.Results: There was no difference in carotid elasticity between left and right side.Compared with the normal control group,β increased conspicuously in high-normal blood pressure and hyperlipidemia group and the high-normal blood pressure group,while AC was significantly lower.There was no difference in β and AC between the high-normal blood pressure and hyperlipidemia group and the high-normal blood pressure group.There was significant difference in Ep and PWVβ among the three groups,while there was no difference in AI and IMT.Conclusions: The elasticity of the carotid artery in high-normal blood pressure and hyperlipidemia group decreases obviously.Echo tracking technique may find the early change of the arterial elasticity,and it is superior than routine ultrasonography and may be helpful to prevent cardiac and cerebrovascular disease.


Ethnicity is a key element in the relationship between health and the individual. By nearly all measures of health, the health of the UK's minority ethnic populations is poorer than that of the majority white British population. The West Midlands is the second most ethnically diverse region in England. A large proportion of our ethnic minority populations live in the most deprived areas, suffer poorer health outcomes and tend to be over-represented when we examine inequalities in health. Tackling these inequalities is a major priority for public health and the NHS. There are differences in the level of health support available to black and minority ethnic groups, which can have serious effects on general health and well-being. Ethnicity must also be considered in relation to other structural factors as there are many underlying reasons for the disparity in the levels of health, including poverty, access to good housing, education, discrimination, environment and lifestyle behaviours.


The size of the signals, the photo scales and the accuracies of the cadastral survey are investigated with large scale aerial photographs from Bell KH-4 Helicopter. Investigated photo scales are 1/2, 000, 1/2, 500, 1/3, 000 and 1/4, 000.


Sets of azabicyclo[X.Y.0]alkanone amino acids have been effectively used to identify active conformers in peptide-based drug discovery, but they require usually multiple routes to synthesize. Employing a common method from the same 9-membered unsaturated lactam precursor, conditions for stereo- and regiochemical transannular cyclizations were developed to synthesize three different indolizidin-2- and 9-one amino acid (I2aa and I9aa) analogs. For example, (2S,5R,6R,9S)- and (2S,5S,6S,9S)-I2aa diastereomers were respectively prepared from hexahydro-1H-azonines using iodine in THF, and in MeCN with DIB as additive. The regioselectivity of the transannular cyclization was influenced by amine protection, such that I9aa could also be synthesized. Moreover, side chains were added onto the I2aa and I9aa ring systems by way of olefin intermediates that underwent Pd-catalyzed C-H bond activation and allylic oxidation.


THE "MY FAVORITE ASSIGNMENT" Session at the 2009 Association for Business Communication (ABC) annual convention in Portsmouth, Virginia, featured over a dozen teachers sharing pedagogical innovations in a fast-paced, 4-minute format designed by Dan Dietrich. The wide variety of ideas and techniques presented makes these sessions popular ABC convention events. This column, the third in a BCQ series begun in 2007 by Marie Flatley, catalogues 12 Favorite Assignments from the 2009 ABC convention (Flatley 2007; Whalen 2009). Each assignment is described including the following information:


Background: The relationship between depression and inflammation has been strengthened by different studies for which Immune Cytokine Mechanism has been proposed to explain pathogenesis of depression. Methods: The role of inflammation in major depressive disorder (MDD) has been evaluated in this study among 101 patients suffering from MDD along with 106 age and sex matched control subjects. Two well known acute phase reactant proteins namely hsCRP and Ferritin were assayed in all study subjects by Enzyme Immuno Assay method. Results: Concentration of hsCRP in serum was found to be significantly increased in all patients suffering from MDD whereas Ferritin level was found to be significantly decreased in male MDD subjects only (male: 70.6 ng/ml±53.54 ng/ml in MDD vs 100.16 ng/ml±39.93 in controls; female: 38.43 ng/ml±11.2 in MDD vs 39.93 ng/ml±15.0 in controls). There was no significant alteration of the parameters among different grades of MDD. The possibility of these two parameters to be used as biomarkers has also been evaluated by ROC curve. Conclusions: The significant change in hsCRP & Ferritin which is not associated with grade wise alteration suggests that probably inflammation is the early event which causes depression. Therefore no gradual change is observed with increase in severity of the disease. hsCRP can be used as a biomarker of Inflammation in MDD cases.


Body temperature is one of the parameters needed to assess the vital activity of the human body, one of the flexible constant of assessing a person's homeostasis. The article deals with the anatomical and physiological features of the thermoregulation center — the hypothalamus, which establishes a constant equilibrium of heat production and heat transfer, that allows maintaining body temperature in optimal for the life of the organism limits. Principal differences in the pathogenesis of conditions with an increase in body temperature are distinguished.


Abstract. Action recognition in realistic scenes is a challenging task in the field of computer vision. Although trajectory-based methods have demonstrated promising performance, background trajectories cannot be filtered out effectively, which leads to a reduction in the ratio of valid trajectories. To address this issue, we propose a saliency-based sampling strategy named foreground trajectories on multiscale hybrid masks (HM-FTs). First, the motion boundary images of each frame are calculated to derive the initial masks. According to the characteristics of action videos, image priors and the synchronous updating mechanism based on cellular automata are exploited to generate an optimized weak saliency map, which will be integrated with a strong saliency map obtained via the multiple kernels boosting algorithm. Then, multiscale hybrid masks are achieved through the collaborative optimization strategy and masks intersection. The compensation schemes are designed to extract a set of foreground trajectories that are closely related to human actions. Finally, a hybrid fusion framework for combining trajectory features and pose features is constructed to enhance the recognition performance. The experimental results on two benchmark datasets demonstrate that the proposed method is effective and improves upon most of the state-of-the-art algorithms.


The study was conducted to develop an efficient regeneration protocol in tomato through callus induction for subsequent plantlet regeneration. Seeds were inoculated on MS medium where the germination rate was 78.4%. The leaves were used as explants. Different concentration and combination of plant growth regulators (PGRs) were added with MS medium to observe their efficacy on callus induction, shoot initiation and root formation. Leaf explants cultured on MS medium fortified with 3 mg/L BAP gave the highest number of shoots (3.5) at 45 DAC. Among the concentrations of PGRs, 0.25 mg/L IAA produced the highest length (5.149 cm) of plantlets, number (5.5) of leaves and fresh weight (0.781 g) of plantlets with the leaf explants at 45 DAC. The concentration of 0.5 mg/L IAA produced the highest number (25.25) of roots/plantlet, length (8.785 cm) of roots at 45 DAC, from the same explants. The highest survival rate of in vitro regenerated plantlets in the pot was 70.00 % with the leaf explants.


Synopsis : Kawasaki Steel has developed Japan's first iron powder pre-mix "Clean Mix HW Series" specially designed for warm compaction by incorporating "KW-wax", a lubricant with high performance during warm compaction process. KW-wax realized the powder characteristics―flow rate and apparent density―stable in the wide temperature range from room temperature to 423K. Because of this stability, HW Series does not require the rigid control of the powder temperature in the compacting process of mass production. It was also found by the study about compacting process that KW-wax promoted particles rearrangement during compaction and gave green density higher than 7.3Mg/m3, having pore structures homogeneous in size and shape. The homogeneous structure of green compacts resulted in the improvement of mechanical strength of sintered and heat-treated compacts.


We compared the structural and optical properties of InAs∕GaAs quantum dots grown by migration enhanced epitaxy, with and without arsenic, during indium deposition. The uniformity and size of the quantum dots are enhanced in a sample without arsenic. As a result, narrower and longer wavelength photoluminescence is observed in this sample. Furthermore, the thickness of the wetting layers is reduced by ∼20% in the sample without arsenic, and this result agrees well with the speculation that metallic indium has a smaller driving force for corrugating the InAs wetting layers before they are transformed from two-dimensional to three-dimensional layers. Additionally, the photoluminescence linewidth of the sample without arsenic is insensitive to the cryostat temperature due to two major factors: the reduced thickness of the wetting layers and the enhanced uniformity. In the sample with arsenic, however, the photoluminescence linewidth shows typical anomalies.


It proposed that the work quota was the important base to complicate engineering construction quota.The problems of present work quota were analyzed from quota lacunars,construction method out of date and quota level low.The necessary to enhance work quota measurement was discussed so as to complete present work quota.


The term 'animation' derived from the Latin 'anima' meaning spirit, life, or vitality. Although its original meaning was somewhat related to creation of life or incorporation of vitality into an inanimate or nonexisting entity by providing mobility through artificial manipulation, it is now used in a rather narrow sense to define collectively the cartoon-based films or tape-recordings and specialists who are involved in animation production or related areas are called animators. The current worldwide market for animation production is progressing and expanding enormously. Although the domestic animation market is ranked as third in the world in terms of overall quantity, the reality is that there are few high quality products that can compete with foreign animation products in the global markets. This issue is further discussed in this paper along with the current status of the domestic animation technology and production. This investigation concerns the comparative analysis of literature data on foreign and domestic animation, which can be a basis for the production of internationally competitive animation work.


In northern Australia there grows a most remarkable group of 6 species of Utricularia with flesh-coloured flowers and an upper or lower corolla lip that has transformed into a pair of tall, erect antennae-like flower lobes. These characters are quite unusual for the genus, and there are numerous hypotheses as to the reasons for these adaptions, the most likely being sexual floral mimicry to attract a pollinator. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of this highly unusual complex, which includes a botanical history and summarised treatments of each species to provide the reader with the key characters necessary to identify these taxa in the field.


Even at high concentrations of formic acid solution high temperature reaction conditions, which an object to provide a catalyst capable of producing hydrogen by dehydrogenation of formic acid, the catalyst is represented by the formula (1) or (2) complexes with bidentate ligand that nitrogen atom includes an aromatic heterocyclic 5-membered ring that contains two or more, characterized in that it comprises the isomer or salt thereof as an active ingredient. Wherein, ]


This paper analyzed the working manner and principle of unvarying pressure anti-dripping valve, studied unvarying pressure mechanism, established mathematic model for quantitative analysis.


As promising as cloud computing is, this paradigm brings forth new security and privacy challenges when operating in the untrusted cloud scenarios. In this paper, we propose a new cryptographic primitive Proxy Reencryption with Private Searching (PRPS for short). The PRPS scheme enables the data users and owners efficiently query and access files storaged in untrusted cloud, while keeping query privacy and data privacy from the cloud providers. The concrete construction is based on proxy re-encryption, public key encryption with keyword search and the dual receiver cryptosystem. The scheme is semantically secure under the BDH assumption.


Data mining is the application of sophisticated analysis to large amounts of data in order to discover new knowledge in the form of patterns, trends, and associations. With the advent of the World Wide Web, the amount of data stored and accessible electronically has grown tremendously and the process of knowledge discovery (data mining) from this data has become very important for the business and scientific-research communities alike.
This doctoral thesis introduces Query Flocks, a general framework over relational data that enables the declarative formulation, systematic optimization, and efficient processing of a large class of mining queries. In Query Flocks, each mining problem is expressed as a datalog query with parameters and a filter condition. In the optimization phase, a query flock is transformed into a sequence of simpler queries that can be executed efficiently. As a proof of concept, Query Flocks have been integrated with a conventional database system and the thesis reports on the architectural issues and performance results.
While the Query-Flock framework is well suited for relational data, it has limited use for semistructured data, i.e., nested data with implicit and/or irregular structure, e.g. web pages. The lack of an explicit fixed schema makes semistructured data easy to generate or extract but hard to browse and query. This thesis presents methods for structure discovery in semistructured data that alleviate this problem. The discovered structure can be of varying precision and complexity. The thesis introduces an algorithm for deriving a schema-by-example and an algorithm for extracting an approximate schema in the form of a datalog program.


Hydrological processes are an important driving force of environmental pollutant variation that has aroused global concern. Land use and cover change (LUCC) strongly affects hydrological processes. Remote sensing technology has played an increasingly important role in studying the relationship between LUCC and hydrological processes. This study summarizes the progress of hydrological responses to LUCC. Overall, remote sensing can provide spatially continuous data of land cover and hydrological variables. With the aid of the retrieved data sets, the effects of LUCC on hydrological processes can be evaluated via correlation analysis, multiple regression method, experimental watershed approach and trajectory-based approaches. However, due to the high complexity of geographical systems, it is difficult to quantitatively separate the actual components of the influence of LUCC. The heterogeneous surface properties also lead to various results at different spatial and temporal scales. Future research should meet the challenges in data estimation, research methodology and analysis process.


The land that gave us Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei and Enrico Fermi does not regard science as part of culture, but it must do so if it is to avoid being left behind economically and intellectually. That is the message from a working group of 18 academics, sponsored by the Italian government, to find ways of improving the quantity, quality and public perception of science in the country. The group has now put forward a range of measures to combat what the group's chair, left-wing politician and Siena University law professor Luigi Berlinguer, describes as a "national emergency".


Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common tumor and the leading cause of cancer-related death among the female population worldwide. To evaluate the association between the ABCB1 C3435T single gene nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. Methods: This study included 32 female patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The polymorphisms were genotyped through real-time allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher's exact test or Pearson's chi-square test in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software. Results: The genotypes found for the C3435T polymorphism were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and their genotypic distributions were CC= 10 (31.1%), CT= 14 (43.8%), and TT= 08 (25.0%) with χ2: 0.86 and p-value > 0.05. Allele frequencies were C = 0.54 and T = 0.46. There were no significant statistical differences between genotypes considering the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunohistochemistry; the presence of the T allele was associated with worsen axillary status response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion: No definite association between the presence of C3435T polymorphism and the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was observed. Further studies in Brazil involving larger samples will contribute to validating the results of this study. Keywords: Breast cancer; Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy; Polymorphisms; Gene ABCB1


The problem of contamination in plant tissue culture was discussed, including cleaning inoculation room and culture room, contaminated explants and inaccuracies or operating mistakes in plant tissue culture, emphasizing asepsis regulation should be abided. At the same time, the sterilizing measure was discussed and preventive measure was presented.


Many researches have been conducted to improve fallow system, and the results disseminated to farmers. Notwithstanding these, farmers still use their Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) in fallow practices to achieve approximately the same result with scientific method. This is why this research examines the factors that are related to the use of indigenous knowledge on fallow practices by small-scale food crop farmers in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State. The findings show that majority of the farmers were above 40 years with no formal education and still practice indigenous fallow system despite their contact with extension agents. It was also found that the use of Indigenous Knowledge on fallow practices have strong relationship with fanner's age, educational level, social participation, contact with extension and sources of information. These variables however could explain 58 per cent of the variation in indigenous knowledge use on fallow practices adopted respectively by farmers. Significant determinants were age (t = 1.61), gender (t = 2.65), household size (t = 2.06), marital status (t = 1.65), social participation (t = 2.82), farm size (t = 1.89), farming experience (t = 2.65) and income (t = 1.73). (Oladele O. I. Socio economic determinants of use of indigenous fallow system for enhancing soil fertility among farmers in Oyo State Nigeria. Life Sci J 2012;9(3):2424-2428) (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 349


Information is unavailable on the Zn status of entisols and vertisols occupying a large area of the Chad Basin in North‐Eastern Nigeria. Therefore, this investigation was carried out with the above in view. Soil samples from 7 representative profiles were analysed for mechanical composition, pH, organic carbon, available P (0.5M NaHCO3‐extractable), and available Zn (0.1N HC1‐extractable). Eight bulk soil samples were also collected, analysed for physical/chemical characteristics, and used for Zn response studies. Three plants of corn (Zea mays L.) cv. '123 Samaru' per pot were grown for 7 weeks in 4 kg of soil at 0, 5 and 25 mg Zn kg‐1 soil. Dry matter yields were recorded. Available (0.1N HC1‐extractable) Zn ranged from 2.31 to 5.69 mg kg‐1 with a mean value of 3.83 mg kg‐1 soil. HC1 extractable Zn was positively correlated with organic carbon content, and had no relationship with other soil properties. There was no definitive depth distribution pattern in different soil profiles, but in clayey...


Objective: To analyze clinical data of nine patients suffering from tuberculosis infec- tion during postoperative management of Crohn 's disease( CD). Methods: All patients were treated with glucocorticoids( GCS),azathioprine( AZA),and infliximab( IFX) for a long time before operation and were administrated with AZA and IFX for maintenance therapy after operation. Once tuberculosis in- fection was diagnosed,AZA and IFX were drawn off,and enteral nutrition( EN) was given for mainte- nance therapy. Meanwhile,standard antitubercular drugs were administrated for tuberculosis infection. Results: Nine patients were pulmonary tuberculosis( PT). By antitubercular therapy,all patients with PT cured,and the incidence of side effects of drugs was 22. 2 percent. During antitubercular therapy,en- doscopic recurrence rate of CD was 22. 2 percent and there was no clinical recurrence. By exclusive enter- al nutrition( EEN) therapy,Rutgeerts scores were decreased obviously. Conclusion: During the main- tenance therapy of CD,we should have doubt about tuberculosis infection,especially PT. Once tubercu- losis infection was confirmed,AZA and IFX should be drawn off and EN should be given for maintenance therapy of CD,and antitubercular drugs were administrated.


Case based reasoning methodology has been used for improving electric load forecasting. Classical extrapolation computed by curve fitting algorithms is adjusted according to short term variations previously registered. Retrieved registers are adapted according to socioeconomic knowledge available related to the prevision point. This strategy has been integrated in a software framework, named FUTURA, in order to operate with real data bases for electric load forecasting in Peru. Improving results are contrasted with other strategies.


Here we describe a de novo tRNA acylation system consisting of artificial ribozymes. This system, the flexizyme (Fx) system, allows for the preparation of acyl-tRNAs with almost no limitation on the use of a variety of amino/hydroxy acids and tRNAs. To demonstrate its utility, we have carried out protein synthesis involving site-specific incorporation of nonnatural amino and hydroxy acids via amber or programmed frame-shift suppressions. We have also demonstrated peptide synthesis involving multiple nonnatural amino acids via sense codon suppression. The combination of the Fx system and appropriate cell-free translation is a powerful and flexible tool for mRNA-encoded synthesis of nonnatural polypeptides.


Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Catholic Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, History of Christianity Commons, History of Religions of Eastern Origins Commons, History of Religions of Western Origin Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons


abstract In this article, we report the convenient preparation of graphene/gold nanoparticle-decorating filter membrane, which could be directly used as electrode for H2O2 sensing. The graphene oxide and chloroauric acid are reduced by l-ascorbic acid before covering the paper substrate. The reduced graphene oxide/gold nanoparticle-paper material is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The paper composite could be cut into piece and directly used as electrochemical sensor. The electrochemical experimental results show that the paper sensor has satisfying performances in sensing H2O2 with the detection limit of 15 μM and the linear range is 8.53–17.35 mM. This work would propose a novel strategy for the applications of graphene in the fields of electroanalysis and sensing.


We have introduced a quantum component, "quantum high/low-pass filter", and analyzed its output characteristic. It has been shown that a quantum band-pass filter can be achieved by using passive linear optics and projection measurement. Recently, significant progress has been achieved by proposals for quantum gate using only passive linear optics and projection measurement [1]. These proposals show that strong nonlinear effects can be implemented by exploiting postselection strategies based on single photon technologies developed recently. For example, the nonlinear π -phase shift and controlled-not quantum gate are experimentally demonstrated by using linear optics components. In a similar way, entanglement concentration and entanglement purification can be achieved by using conditional measurements. In this paper, we introduce a quantum component, "quantum high/low-pass filter (Quantum HPF/LPF)", which consists of linear optics components. We analyze the output characteristic of the quantum filter and show that it is possible to achieve a quantum band-pass filter by assembling linear optics components. Figure 1 shows the optical circuit of a quantum filter. A similar setup has been used to demonstrate the QND measurement of the Fock states [2]. We analyzed the circuit for arbitrary input state and showed how it can work as a quantum filter [3]. The beam splitters A, B, and C shown in Fig.1 are assumed to be asymmetric in phase. Reflection off the "dash" surface of each beam splitter produces a sign change. The operator input-output relations between the two input modes and the corresponding output modes have the general form in i in i out b a a η η − + = 1 in i in i out b a b η η − − = 1 (1) where i η and i η − 1 are the intensity reflectivity and transmittivity. i=a,b,c corresponds to the beam splitters A, B and C, respectively. The crucial component in this interferometer is the beam splitter C which is used to achieve the nonlinear π -phase-shift operation. We now consider only cases where one of the detectors 2 b D and 2 c D counts one photon and only one photon (OPOOP) and another detector counts no photon. Provided the photons are indistinguishable, the occurrence of conditional interference depends on the input photon number. The phase of the single photon in beam t depends on the incident photon-number n and the reflectivity c η . For ) 1 /( c c n η η − < , no phase shift occurs and for ) 1 /( c c n η η − > it picks up a π -phase shift.


Evaluation of safety benefits is an essential part during design and development of pedestrian protection systems. Translating physics into human benefits for large-scale simulations of the benefit requires reliable and validated injury and fatality models. To this end, multivariate predictive models for pedestrian fatalities and different injury severities by means of the ISS as well as the MAIS scale are developed using the US Pedestrian Crash Data Study (PCDS). In addition to impact speed, significant multivariate predictors include physiological and vehicle characteristics. The in-sample as well as out-of-sample predictive quality is remarkably high. An approach to define a metric suitable for comparing active and passive safety is presented. As active safety is capable of influencing impact speed directly, the benefits of a reduction of impact speed regarding injury probability / mortality while controlling other influencing factors is computed. The relative reduction of injury probability / mortality with respect to exposure seems to be an appropriate metric to evaluate and compare safety benefits of measures considering both active and passive safety.


The present invention relates to a method of electroextracting lipids in a liquid medium stream by subjecting walled cells such as a microalgae, a macroalgae, a cyanobacterium, a yeast or a plant cell to electropulsation and recovering them. liberated lipids. The method consists of an electropulsation step followed by an incubation step, leaving a portion of the target cells structurally intact.


In most European countries, a medical, pharmaceutical or scientific university degree and a post-graduate specialist diploma earned after a residence period is mandatory to have legal competency to sign clinical laboratory reports or to manage a clinical laboratory. This Letter suggests that this procedure to enter a clinical laboratory is a waste of time for the students and a waste of money for the society. In addition, the different university backgrounds hinder free movement of laboratory directors in the European Union. One solution may be to create university degrees in clinical laboratory sciences at the same academic level as biology, chemistry, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, etc., ruling out the post-graduate education in clinical laboratory disciplines in the future. At the beginning of the last decade, Johannes Büttner raised the following question "Is clinical chemistry a professional field for physicians, for scientists or for both of them?"(1). His own answer was "both". At that time I agreed with Prof. Büttner, but not today. Now I think that the appropriate answer to the above is that clinical chemistry should be a professional field neither for physicians nor for scientists, but for university graduates in clinical laboratory sciences1) only. Clinical laboratory sciences should be an independent university degree at the same academic level as biology, chemistry, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, etc. In the following lines I expose the rationale for this opinion, mainly based on the concepts of effectiveness and efficiency (2) and free professional movement within the European Union. Some time ago W. G. Guder and J. Büttner published in this journal an excellent review describing the current status of clinical chemistry in Europe (3). This review demonstrated the different approaches to training of clinical chemists in Europe. In all European countries, except for Croatia, Lithuania and Yugoslavia, a specialist diploma is mandatory to have legal competency to sign clinical laboratory reports or to manage a public or private clinical laboratory. Depending on the country, this specialization is achieved after completing a 4–6 years course of study at the university to earn a degree in chemistry, medicine, etc., and a 3–5 years practice period of working in a hospital clinical laboratory (residence period), without final examinations in many countries (1). Let's call this model A. On the other hand, Croatia, Lithuania and Yugoslavia in Europe, and many countries in North America (4) and Latin America offer a university degree (master or doctorate level) specific for clinical laboratory (many university websites offering master degrees in clinical laboratory sciences may be accessed in Internet). These university degrees include 4 or 5 years at the university and 1 or 2 years of practical training in a hospital laboratory. Holders of such university degree have legal capacity to sign clinical laboratory reports and may be employed as laboratory directors. Let's call this model B. Comparing these two models, it may be concluded that model B is more effective and more efficient than model A. Model B is more effective than model A because it allows better to achieve the main objective: to prepare qualified professionals well suited for their future job. It should be kept in mind that in many countries which use model A, learning matters specific to clinical laboratory sciences are not ensured as well as in the university courses due to the lack of a final examination. Moreover, in model B, courses are taught at the university by the academic staff, whereas in model A the specialists of the hospital clinical laboratories are not necessarily teaching experts. It is true that model A offers more time for laboratory practice, but, generally, there is a lack of formal courses – with concluding examination – about matters necessary for the future professional activity, but not taught at the university. How many formal courses of analytical chemistry (with final examination) are attended by residents coming from medical schools? Also, how many formal courses of pathophysiology (with final examination) are attended by residents with a chemistry degree? Model B is more efficient than model A because it attains the expected level of education spending much less resources than model A. In terms of learning, model A requires at least 9 years, whereas model B only about 6 years. In the university course in chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, etc. students learn several *E-mail of the corresponding author: email@example.com 1) Bearing in mind the diversity of terms and contents of disciplines related to clinical laboratory in Europe, in the present article the term clinical laboratory science is used to refer to the general discipline (named in French biologie clinique) or to refer to clinical chemistry (synonym of clinical biochemistry). Letter to the Editor


Whether through choice, systematic exclusion, or norms of role allocation, women generally exhibit lower rates of political participation than men.' Yet, the unanimity with which this conclusion has been reached is weakened by the scant attention directed to subcultural variations, particularly in those subcultures thought to have unique patterns of expected behavior for men and women. In the United States, many scholars consider the black subculture (and the black lower-class community in particular) to possess such atypical expected behaviors for men and women.2 Higher rates of male absence from the family, with an increase in demands on the female, and the historical subjugation of the black male are alleged to have led to matrifocality among lower-class blacks.3 Matrifocality is that collection of norms and


In this paper a novel word-segmentation algorithm is presented to delimit words in CHinese natural language queries in NChiql system,a Chinese natural language query interface to databases.Although there are sizalbe literatures on Chinese segmentation.,they cannot satisfy particular requirements in this system,The novel word-segmentation algorithm is based on the database semantics,namely Semantic Conceptual Model(SCM) for specific domain Knowledge,Based namely Semantic COnceptual Model(SCM) for specific domain knowledge,Based on SCM,the segmenter labels the database semantics to words directly,which eases the disambiguation and translation(from natural language to database query)in NChiql.