Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) visit Emergency Departments (ED) due to both neurological and non-neurological symptoms. Objectives: Our main aim was to study some epidemiologic features of the ED visits of MS cases in a referral hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 22 September 2018 - 21 September 2019 in Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Admission causes were divided into two categories: patients admitted because of neurological complaints (MS true attacks and pseudo attacks) and patients admitted due to non-neurological reasons that may or may not be related to the disease. To compare the differences between the two categories, t and χ2 tests were used. Results: A total of 375 visits by 346 MS patients were reviewed. We observed that 239 (63.7%) visits were due to neurologic complaints, of which 213 (89.1%) were diagnosed with true MS relapses. Moreover, 136 visits were because of non-neurologic complaints, with urinary tract infection (UTI) being the most common complaint. The patients with MS visiting the ED were mostly female, though there was no significant difference between men and women diagnosed with true relapses (P = 0.154). Patients with neurologic symptoms were significantly younger than those with non-neurologic symptoms (P = 0.007). Our findings showed that 90% of patients with neurological symptoms underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the yield of MRI was about 50%. Furthermore, the duration of admission was significantly higher in patients with neurological symptoms (P < 0.001) Conclusions: MS relapse was the most frequent cause of ED visits by individuals with MS. There were also many ED visits by MS patients due to non-neurological causes, and the UTI was the most prevalent chief complaint.


Goal of this work is to create final assembly of the SimWebLink application, which consist of client part, server part and web interface for remote access. The application itself serves for remote control of Simulink software tasks and allows presentation of measured values in web interface. This text describes used technologies, structure of the application and the process of its installation and configuration.


A coaxial electron beam generator has been developed which produces current densities of 1–3 A cm−2 at the anode foil, is compact (Marx ∼0.2 m3) and yet utilizes an anode of 50 cm length and 250 cm3 volume. Carbon cathodes (carbon fibers and graphite felt) tested on this system have been found to be superior to metal foil blades for current risetime and peak current. Techniques for readily fabricating cylindrical anodes of arbitrarily large volume and length are also described. The use of this system in exciting Ar/5% N2 gas mixtures has resulted in intense laser emission (Emax∼2 mJ) on the (0,3) transition of the N2 (C→B) band at 405.9 nm. Also, coaxial photolytic experiments involving XeF2 and a buffer gas have yielded strong XeF emission on the B→X (ultraviolet) and C→A (blue‐green) bands.


Provided is a manufacturing method for a double container that allows easy manufacturing with a molding device not significantly different from conventional devices and that can, at a lower cost than the processing cost of conventional technology, very easily and reliably form, in a comparatively rigid outer container and in a double container that allows, inside the outer container, capacity to be varied with respect to the amount of content, an opening for allowing external air to enter. When a pair of partial molds are brought near each other in order to form a split mold, at least part of the mating faces of the pair of partial molds forms a projection by sandwiching a small outer diameter portion of a parison, a gap that passes between the double container is created by cutting off the projection, and the gap is opened and expanded by screwing on a cap.


Urban disaster prevention is an important part of a harmonious society.The causes,(influences,)types of urban disasters are discussed in this paper.Principal strategies for disaster prevention and reduction,methods for dealing with hazards and disaster countermeasures,reasonable city panning for instance,are put forward.


The dilepton mass spectrum in p{bar p}{r_arrow}l{sup +}l{sup {minus}}+X interactions is studied using dielectrons ({ital ee}) and dimuons ({mu}{mu}) in 110 pb{sup {minus}1} of data collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The data are consistent with standard model predictions. The mass spectrum, being a probe for new physics, is examined for new interactions of quarks and leptons from a common composite structure. Assuming a contact interaction with the conventional coupling g{sup 2}{sub 0}/4{pi}=1 , limits on chiral quark-electron and quark-muon compositeness scales in the range of 2.5 to 4.2TeV are obtained. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}


Abstract: Thalassemia intermedia encompasses a number of clinical conditions ranging in severity from β‐thalassemia carrier state to transfusion‐dependent thalassemia major. The molecular bases of thalassemia intermedia, only partially defined, are very heterogeneous, but in general any factor able to reduce the globin‐chain imbalance results in a milder form of thalassemia. These factors are the presence of a silent or mild β‐thalassemia allele, associated with a high residual β‐globin production, and the coinheritance of α‐thalassemia or of genetic determinants that increase the γ‐chain production. Less frequent mechanisms are double heterozygosity for β‐thalassemia and triplicated α genes, and the presence of a hyperunstable hemoglobin variant. However, for a consistent number of β0‐thalassemia homozygotes with a thalassemia intermedia phenotype the modifying factor has not been defined yet. In contrast, there are simple β‐thalassemia carriers who, for unknown reasons, have an unusually severe clinical phenotype.


This paper studies the structure preserving (second-order to second-order) model order reduction of second-order systems applying the projection onto the dominant eigenspace of the Gramians of the systems. The projectors which create the reduced order model are generated cheaply from the low-rank Gramian factors. The low-rank Gramian factors are computed efficiently by solving the corresponding Lyapunov equations of the system using the rational Krylov subspace method. The efficiency of the theoretical results are then illustrated by numerical experiments.


Summary. Variations in the membrane potential across model membranes made of Millipore filter paper and various single phospholipids were measured in response to salt, acid and distilled water. The phospholipids used were phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylserine (PS). Results were compared with those obtained with the model membrane made of the total lipids extracted from bovine tongue epithelium, which simulated well the receptor potential observed with intact taste organs. The membrane potential of PE- and PS-membranes increased monotonously with increase of the concentration of 1 : 1 type salts, while that of PC- and SM-membranes exhibited no appreciable change in 1 : 1 salt solutions. Application of CaCl~ to the membranes brought about a 'variety of responses depending on the species of lipids used. PE- and PSmembranes showed a larger change in the membrane potential than PC- and SM-membranes when pH of the solution was varied. Fe 3 + was strongly adsorbed on the surface of PCand SM-membranes, while Fe 3 § bound to PE- and PS-membranes was easily removed by an application of salt solution. A transient increase in the membrane potential was observed when distilled water was applied to the membrane adapted to an appropriate salt solution, which was similar to the water response observed in taste cells. PC- and SMmembranes responded to water when the membrane adapted to either NaC1 or CaC12, but PS-membrane responded only when the membrane was adapted to a solution containing CaCI2. PE-membrane did not respond to water in any cases examined. The membrane prepared with a mixture of two species of phospholipids responded neither to salt nor to water, while the membranes prepared with the total lipids or a mixture of three species of lipids in appropriate ratio responded to both. The water response of the total lipids membrane vanished in a high temperature medium, while the water response of PC-membrane retained in all temperature ranges examined, i.e. between 20 ~ and 62 ~ The results obtained suggest that a mosaic structure, where each domain has different functions against various chemical stimuli, is formed on the surface of the model membrane made of the total lipids.


This research aims to obtain information about the influence of leadership, working culture, and the working environment on organizational performance in Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucracy. The data used in this research are the primary data that is collected using questionnaire method and secondary data collected from the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucracy. The sampling method used is a saturated sample method with respondents of 96 people. The methods of analysis used in this study are multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS program version 25. The results showed that there were positive and significant influence of the leadership variables and the working culture on the organizational performance, while the working environment variables are of negative and insignificant influence.


In a study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers show that blood pressure changes during exercise can be an important predictor of future cardiovascular health.


Within the Circuits and Systems (CAS) Society, developments in computer-aided circuit analysis and circuit design commenced in the early 1950's using the earliest digital computers. Initially, computer-aided circuit analysis of linear circuits was used in design optimization, design centering, and in determining the effects of parasitics on circuit performance. Although this use of computer-aided circuit analysis has continued, computer-aided design (CAD) and circuit design automation within the CAS Society are now principally concerned with problems associated with the overall design and evaluation of very large circuits and systems.


approved: Current investigations into forced geoheat recovery are based on hydraulic fracturing of impermeable hot dry rock formations. Forced recovery using naturally occurring fluid conductors, viz. fault zones, basaltic dikes, and open formation contacts, presents an alternate approach that may circumvent some of the difficulties associated with the hydraulic fracturing method. The latter type of system is considered in terms of the system physical-economic feasibility. The heat transfer surface area required for an economically viable forced recovery system for direct contact heating applications is estimated based on various geologic and economic parameters. The heat transfer surface area reflects the required dimensions of the subsurface system and therefore serves as an indicator of the feasibility of the system. Heat extraction from a hot rock formation based on sheet-like flow involves a balance of the total heat transport of the heat extracting Redacted for Privacy fluid with the conductive heat transport within the rock. The heat recovery efficiency is considered in terms of an idealized flow model in order to estimate the required heat transfer surface area. Various flow characteristics adverse to heat recovery efficiency are likely to occur within the fluid conductors under consideration. These include primarily non-uniform flow within the conductor and fluid losses due to leakage from the conductor. The first order effects of these adverse flow conditions are considered in terms of the idealized flow model using analytic and semi-analytic methods. Furthermore, a significant change in fracture permeability can occur within the conductor due to the thermoelastic response of the rock formation upon cooling. This effect is estimated in terms of the idealized flow model under various flow conditions within the conductor. The results of this work indicate that, under current economic conditions and regional geothermal gradients of 50°C/km or more, the minimum heat transfer surface area per injection/production borehole pair required for an economically viable direct-contact heating system with a 10 to 20 year system lifetime is less than 1 km2. Under the same conditions, it is found that the minimum required heat transfer surface area for electrical power production systems is 2 to 4 times this figure. Heat Transfer Effects in Forced Geoheat Recovery Systems


Background GJA8 gene is known to cause autosomal dominant congenital cataract. Here we report a novel compound heterozygous variant of GJA8 gene in two siblings that mimics an autosomal recessive trait. Patients and methods Two siblings from a non-consanguineous Chinese family suffered from isolated congenital cataract. Whole exome sequencing was performed to identify disease-causing variants followed by a confirmatory Sanger sequencing. Results Whole exome sequencing revealed a novel compound heterozygous variant of GJA8 gene, c.855delG(p.Met286Trpfs*71)/c.1125delC(p.Gly376Glufs*33), in the proband. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the proband and his sister harboured this compound heterozygous variant, while the parents were heterozygous carriers, suggesting an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Both parents showed mildly impaired vision, but only the father had mild nuclear opacities, suggesting an autosomal dominant trait with reduced penetrance in one of the pathogenic alleles. Conclusions Our report shows compound heterozygous variant of GJA8 gene may mimic autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, and reminds clinicians to perform needful examination. The two novel pathogenic GJA8 variants expand the mutational spectrum of congenital cataract. This study also provides accurate genetic diagnosis for the family.


Sociologists have long been interested in understanding how our world is socially constructed. This perspective views the world as created (and recreated) through human interaction over time, and stands in contrast to essentialism. While it can be argued that our understanding and responses to health in general are, at least in part, socially constructed, mental illness provides an especially interesting window to understand the social construction of reality. Given the contested nature of what constitutes a "mental" illness, specifically whether it constitutes a real biological problem or a socially constructed cultural problem, much of the early writings on social construction in medical sociology, and even psychiatry, focused on the social construction of mental illness.

Keywords:

medicalization;
medicine;
mental health


The study demonstrates that in cattle the animals heterozygous at the MyD88 A625C polymorphic marker benefit of a five-fold reduced risk for active pulmonary tuberculosis (OR: 0.19; P: 6 x 10-12).
The reduced risk however does not extend to the animals with latent pulmonary tuberculosis (OR: 0.83; P: 0.40). Heterozygosity at the A625C SNP is associated with intermediate levels of TNF- α,IFN-γ, and NO compared to the levels observed in the AA or CC homozygous genotypes.
Deficiency as well as over-expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines favor tuberculosis. Thus, heterozygosity provides the animals with the optimal level of inflammation.


At the semiconductor and metal interface, a built-in electric field leading to electron enrichment can be applied in developing efficient nano-hybrid catalysts because the induced electron-rich and electron-poor counterparts can synergistically modulate the active sites and elementary reaction steps. To overcome the extra difficulty in alkaline water dissociation during the production of green hydrogen, it is expected that such a built-in electric field can be constructed to boost interfacial electron enrichment to increase the water dissociation and hydrogen evolution kinetics. Herein, an n-type BiPO4 semiconductor is integrated with metallic Ru clusters (Ru/BiPO4) to produce an intrinsically built-in electric field, which causes electron enrichment via unidirectional electron transfer from BiPO4 to Ru. The resultant Ru/BiPO4 nanocomposite demonstrates superior water splitting activity toward electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution to Ru/C without electron enrichment in alkaline solution, and even exhibits nine-fold mass activity of commercial Pt/C in a harsher medium (3 M KOH). DFT calculation demonstrates that the positively charged BiPO4 matrix significantly decreases the energy barrier of water dissociation, while the negatively charged Ru clusters with more active electronic states optimize the proton adsorption and combination kinetics. The Ru layer in close contact with the phosphate matrix accepts the greatest number of electrons and shows the optimal ΔGH*. This work sheds new light on the advantage of the physical effect for designing advanced electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage.


To solve the problems of the wheel-tracked compound robot used in anti-terrorism such as the wheel and track being separately designed,less compact structure,a new design scheme of anti-terrorism robot based on wheel-tracked variable structure is presented in this paper.Wheeled mobile and tacked mobile can be turned into each other,which makes its mechanism reconfigurable,less volume,more compact structure.It can't only move fast by wheel,but also navigate obstacles by track.RecurDyn is used to simulate the obstacle based on the kinematic analysis of the robot,so the climbing obstacle performance of the robot is verified,which also provides theoretical bases for the function expansion and prod of the robot.


Controlled atmosphere for the preservation of durable commodities has been proven effective in the control of insect infestation. This method involves the manipulation of the levels of nitrogen (N 2 ), carbon-dioxide (CO 2 ) and oxygen (O 2 ) gases in storage facilities to control insects and minimize their damage to the commodity. The sap beetle, Carpophilus dimidiatus at the egg, larval, pupal and adult stages was exposed to carbon dioxide atmosphere for 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours. Post ‐ treatment survival of the different life stages was monitored. All tests were carried out at 29±2 0 C and 90±5% rh. An initial acclimatization period of 6 hours was required before each test. Results showed that after exposure for 8 hours to carbon dioxide atmosphere, C. dimidiatus eggs, larvae and pupae had 13.3%, 50.0% and 33.3% mortality respectively while the adults had 100% mortality after 6 hours of exposure. Correlation analysis between the exposure periods and mortalities shows a significant positive relationship in the larval and adult stages at 0.01 levels. Hypercarbia atmosphere had no post-treatment effect on the larvae which eclosed from exposed eggs of C. dimidiatus, Also exposed larvae which subsequently pupated and eclosed showed no post-treatment effect.


We describe the discovery of a solar neighborhood (d = 468 pc) binary system with a main-sequence sunlike star and a massive noninteracting black hole candidate. The spectral energy distribution of the visible star is described by a single stellar model. We derive stellar parameters from a high signal-to-noise Magellan/MIKE spectrum, classifying the star as a main-sequence star with T eff = 5972 K, logg=4.54 , and M = 0.91 M ⊙. The spectrum shows no indication of a second luminous component. To determine the spectroscopic orbit of the binary, we measured the radial velocities of this system with the Automated Planet Finder, Magellan, and Keck over four months. We show that the velocity data are consistent with the Gaia astrometric orbit and provide independent evidence for a massive dark companion. From a combined fit of our spectroscopic data and the astrometry, we derive a companion mass of 11.39−1.31+1.51 M ⊙. We conclude that this binary system harbors a massive black hole on an eccentric (e = 0.46 ± 0.02), 185.4 ± 0.1 day orbit. These conclusions are independent of El-Badry et al., who recently reported the discovery of the same system. A joint fit to all available data yields a comparable period solution but a lower companion mass of 9.32−0.21+0.22M⊙ . Radial velocity fits to all available data produce a unimodal solution for the period that is not possible with either data set alone. The combination of both data sets yields the most accurate orbit currently available.


Chapter 2 defines a brief but informative neurologic examination that is necessary to determine if reduced consciousness has a structural cause (and therefore may require immediate imaging and perhaps surgical treatment) or a metabolic cause (in which case the diagnostic approach can be more lengthy and extensive). The authors stress that a coma or any alteration of consciousness is a medical emergency, and, as such, the physician must begin examination and treatment simultaneously. The examination must be thorough, but brief. The chapter also describes some of the physical findings that distinguish structural from nonstructural causes of stupor and coma.


We report on Tricolored Blackbirds (Agelaius tricolor) breeding in 2017 in grassland-dominated east side of the Central Valley and lower foothills of the western Sierra Nevada, California. We identified 1,553 km (600 mi) of suitable Tricolored Blackbird habitat in the 4,169 km (1,610 mi) study area and surveyed 25% of this area. Regionally, rainfall was nearly double that of both 2016 and the 20-year average. We identified 37 active Tricolored Blackbird colonies supporting 72,800 breeders. The number of breeders recorded in 2017 was 6.5% less than in 2016, likely attributable to a reduction in survey area by one third. The number of breeding birds increased by 26% from 2016 within the central foothills subregion, which supports over three fourths of the total breeding population in the foothill region. Breeders in the southern foothills declined by a third (to 15,030) from 2016. Nearly three-fourths of colonies and nesting birds regionwide nested in non-native Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), followed by


According to the construction of Quyang road station in Shanghai metro Yangpu ling(M8),this paper users theory of time-space effect,studies the key points of foundation pit supporting construction technology and foundation pit excavation in details,and provide references for similar works.


To investigate whether children and adolescents exhibiting an impaired glucose metabolism are more obese at treatment entry and less likely to reduce their degree of obesity during treatment.


Very often the methods for the internal modelling under the Risk-Based Capital framework make use of the data which are in the form of run-off triangle. The present research will instead extract from a group of n customers, the historical data for the sum insured si of the i-th customer together with the amount paid yij and the amount aij reported but not yet paid in the j-th development year for j = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. We model the future value (yij+1, aij+1) to be dependent on the present year value (yij, aij) and the sum insured si via a conditional distribution which is derived from a multivariate power-normal mixture distribution. For a group of given customers with different original purchase dates, the distribution of the aggregate claims liabilities may be obtained from the proposed model. The prediction interval based on the distribution for the aggregate claim liabilities is found to have good ability of covering the observed aggregate claim liabilities.


Construction roofing is much more hazardous than most other occupations. Typically construction workers underestimate the hazards in their own work. Fall protection harnesses have been a critical work practice control technology to reduce fall related injuries and fatalities among construction workers. As a system, fall arrest harnesses have several components, namely the harness, lanyard, and roof anchor, which are engineered to work together within context. The purpose of this study is to analyze harness efficiency and effectiveness using the fall arrest harness as a component of a sociotechnical system. Participants were observed using fall arrest harnesses and self-reported their opinions about perceived fit and interference while performing roofing tasks. Descriptive and interferential statistics were used to generate new requirements and specifications for fall arrest harness design. Next-generation (NextGen) harnesses will reduce the risk of worker injury resulting from poor fit, improper size selection, or failure to use the harness properly.


The possibility to use digital images of tea particles as a tool to monitor fermentation of black tea processing is studied in this project. Copper green color is the predicted color used to measure the degree of fermentation; therefore, determining the fermentation level by observing the copper green using naked eye is error prone and affects the complete product outcome. Tea particles of a certain batch after rolling step are categorized in to three difrent groups as dhool 1-3 based upon paricle size.Therefore, the duration of fermentation is varied by dhool number of a given batch due to varied sizes of tea particles. The method used in this project is divided into three main phases, image preprocessing, identification of the dhool number, and prediction of the fermentation level. Image processing techniques are used to extract features of tea leaves and Support Vector Machine (SVM) is used as the classifier to train the system and obtain accuracy in each stage. The results indicate higher accuracy in predicting the dhool 1 which is over 77% accurate while dhools 2 and 3 indicated accuracy levels of 69% and 73% respectively. The fermentation time can be predicted with average accuracy of 94% for dhool 1 and 92% and 91% for dhools 2 and 3 respectively. Therefore, results indicate that image processing techniques can be used to develop a methodology for quality control processing of black tea.


Abstract Whether the longer tenure of political agents leads to better public policies is a central question in political economy. Tenure security extends the time horizons of dictators, which may explain economic growth under extractive institutions. This study estimates the causal impact of longer time horizons of local dictators using sub-national data from 17th-century Japan. Local lords at that time faced the risk of transferring their domains by order of the central government. In 1651, the death of the executive leader of the central government caused a policy reform, and it disproportionally reduced the transfer risk faced by particular local lords (insiders) for plausibly exogenous reasons. By digitizing the historical dataset and using the difference-in-differences method, I find relatively greater agricultural investment in insiders' domains after 1651. Supplemental analyses indicate that this effect is driven by the longer time horizon channel rather than the career concern or local experience channel.


Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a major cause of morbidity and financial burden in hospitals around the world. Although adhesions account for more than 70% of SBO, they were thought to be less likely etiologies in a virgin abdomen. However, emerging evidence appears to challenge such a dogmatic approach. Here, we report a case of a 68 years old Maldivian man with a virgin abdomen who presented as small bowel obstruction secondary to de novo adhesions at terminal ileum. He was treated successfully with uneventful postoperative outcome in a government regional referral hospital.


Purpose – This study aims to develop a classification schema for strategic philanthropy as a framework for empirical investigation and managerial decision making. Additionally it aims to present experimental assessments of various types of philanthropy based on the classification schema.Design/methodology/approach – This study presents the results of two experiments examining the effects of different types and implementation strategies of philanthropy on consumer perceptions of brand equity variables.Findings – The experiments suggest that in a proactive condition corporate philanthropy does have an overall positive effect on consumer perceptions of corporate associations. However, the effects did not transfer to brand evaluations or patronage intentions. Additionally, philanthropy as a part of a recovery strategy has a consistent but non‐significant effect on consumer perceptions.Research limitations/implications – In the study manipulations respondents received the response at the same time as they read...


Electroporation is permeabilization of the cell membrane, caused by an external electric field. Because of minimal thermal effects and minimal disturbance caused to tissue vasculature, electroporation is becoming one of the methods of choice in tumor therapy. There has been no report indicating that reversible electroporation can be detected by ultrasound. In this work, a cellular model for monitoring the electroporation process by ultrasound RF signals is proposed. The density of aqueous pores with different sizes was found by applying the asymptotic model of electroporation and Smoluchowski equation. The cellular model was send to an ultrasound simulation program where pores were modeled by reducing the number of reflective mechanical scatterers in cell's membrane. Results are expected to be used as an indication of electroporation's effect on cells allowing for the real-time monitoring of this process. Ultimately, an experimental verification would then allow the validation and refinement of the model


Purpose. To report on the use of the Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) to enhance joint stability and functional outcome in proximal humeral endoprosthesis reconstruction. Methods. Two men and 5 women aged 16 to 66 (mean, 28) years underwent wide resection of tumour and endoprosthesis reconstruction of the proximal humerus using the LARS, as the rotator cuff and/or deltoid muscle could be preserved. The preserved muscles were reattached to anatomic positions to regain function. Shoulder range of motion and Musculoskeletal Tumour Society scores were evaluated. Results. The mean follow-up was 26 (range, 14–36) months. All the 7 patients were alive without disease. The mean active abduction was 77° (range, 60°–100°), and the mean active flexion was 74° (range, 50°–100°). The mean Musculoskeletal Tumour Society score was 86% (range, 80–93%). One patient had instability of the glenohumeral joint at one year. Conclusion. The LARS may enhance soft-tissue reattachment and improve shoulder stability after proximal humeral endoprosthetic reconstruction.


The article reveals a set of objective problems and contradictions that impede rapid development of engineering education in modern conditions; conditions for constructing a modern and efficient quality management system of training engineers are provided.


Kubo's formula relates bulk viscosity to the retarded Green's function of the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. Using low energy theorems of QCD for the latter we derive the formula which relates the bulk viscosity to the energy density and pressure of hot matter. We then employ the available lattice QCD data to extract the bulk viscosity as a function of temperature. We find that close to the deconfinement temperature bulk viscosity becomes large, with viscosity-to-entropy ratio ζ/s ~ 1.


Glabridin,as a kind of natural compound,has obvious antioxidant and whitening activity and other biological activities. Glabridin microcapsule was prepared in this study by complex coacervation method with gelatin and gum arabic as wall materials. The technological condition was studied through orthogonal experiment,and the optimal condition was confirmed as follows. The ratio of core to wall was 2∶1,concentration of solubilizer was 0.5 %,homogeneous time was 10 min and stirring rate was 750 r/min. The results showed that encapsulation of glabridin could reach to 40% of total and the grain size was uniform(average grain size was 3.91 μm). The powder of glabridin microcapsule after spray drying was faint yellow color with no irritant smell and soluble in propylene glycol as well as other organic solvents.


In line with advances in information technology, urban and regional planning area has been through several eras of change according to their needs and interests. Technology has evolved from the use of blue print to the implementation of Geographical Information System (GIS). The frequent problem faced is the difficulty to control, monitor or manage town planning in Malaysia. To overcome the problem, GIS application is used because of its ability to support the town planning process. This paper discusses the application of GIS in solving the problem faced in town planning. The results of this study found that the analysis performed from the results of GIS applications are the preparation of shaped spatial statistics and reports, digital information of map search and management of geographic information. This paper highlights the applications of GIS in town planning in Malaysia. It will focus on GIS applications by local government authorities and discuss the future direction in town planning in Malaysia.


In this letter, we introduce a metamaterial-inspired sensor that is capable of performing combined inductive–capacitive sensing, so that both detection and discrimination between metallic and dielectric objects are accomplished. Metals and dielectrics are distinguished based on their different responses to inductive and capacitive sensing. Both sensing modes are integrated into a single sensing unit, which is developed from an Ω-shaped metamaterial structure. Inductive and capacitive sensing are simultaneously realized when the sensor is operated at off-resonant frequencies. The proposed sensor is fabricated and experimented with metallic and dielectric objects. The measurement results demonstrate the proposed sensor's ability of conducting combined sensing with a range of 10 mm. The performance of proposed sensor is competitive among industrial state-of-the-art proximity sensors, yet with added functionality of differentiating metallic and dielectric objects.


Hydroxycinnamic acid compounds are an important source of antioxidants due to their ubiquitous occurrence in the plant kingdom and their characteristic activities. In this study, we compared the antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities of caffeic acid (CA), caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), ferulic acid (FA), ferulic acid phenethyl ester (FAPE), rosmarinic acid (RA), and chlorogenic acid (CHA) with those of α-tocopherol and BHT. In the Rancimat test, the addition of test compounds in lard significantly extended the induction time of lipid oxidation, and the activities in decreasing order were CA ∼ α-tocopherol > CAPE ∼ RA > CHA ≫ BHT > FA ∼ FAPE. When the lipid substrate was changed to corn oil, the effectiveness of antioxidants on the induction time was obviously decreased, and the potency order of antioxidants was changed to RA > CA ∼ CAPE ∼ CHA > α-tocopherol > BHT; FA and FAPE had no significant antioxidative effect in the corn oil system. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH...


Studies on intercropping cowpea in maize (2:1) as a tool of habitat manipulation for management of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) in maize was conducted during Kharif, 2010 and 2011 at the farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Five plant protection measures viz., seed treatment with imidacloprid @ 7ml/kg seed; foliar spray with endosulfan @ 2ml/litre of water at 10 and 20 DAG; cabaryl @ 2.5g/l and NSKE @ 12.5 g/l were evaluated and compared with intercropping of cowpea. During 2010, the least plant infestation (2.08 percent) was observed in maize intercropped system. The percent plant infestation was highest (1.51) in seed treatment plot while the plants were found free of Chilo infestation where cowpea was intercropped alongwith the seed treatment during kharif-2011. The intercropped maize recorded less LIR (1.09) than that of maize plants protected with NSKE (1.12) during 2011. Similarly LIR (1.20) recorded in maize cowpea system was less than LIR in seed treatment (1.58) and endosulfan spray (1.36) during 2010. The severity of plant injury in terms of LIR and dead hearts was recorded least in cowpea treatments in both the years. The yield of maize was maximum (4.73t/ha) in case of seed treatment +cowpea intercropping system in 2011. More yield (1.88 t/ha) obtained with seed treatment than 1.75 t/ha obtained from intercropped maize during kharif, 2010 may be because of the phytotonic effects of imidacloprid, but the yield was adequately compensated with the yield of cowpea pods.


A novel hybrid filter architecture is proposed that incorporates an adaptive multistage nonlinear filter (AMNF) and a tree-structured wavelet transform (TSWT) specifically designed for image enhancement in medical imaging using different sensors. The AMNF is used for noise suppression and image enhancement. The TSWT is used for multiresolution decomposition and reconstruction of the medical images where selective reconstruction of subimages is used to perform further enhancement of specific clinical features. The AMNF-TSWT filter produced enhanced images for different modalities namely, digital mammography, chest, skin cancer and retinal images, that provided improved visualization of specific clinical features compared to the raw digital images. The AMNF-TSWT filter should prove to be useful for the use of neural networks for feature classification using different sensors and imaging protocols.<<ETX>>


Central exclusive production (CEP) processes in high‐energy hadron collisions offer a very promising framework for studying both novel aspects of QCD and new physics signals. We report on the results of a theoretical study of the CEP of heavy quarkonia (χ and η) at the Tevatron, RHIC and LHC (see for details [1]–[3]). These processes provide important information on the physics of bound states and can probe the current ideas and methods of QCD, such as effective field theories and lattice QCD.


At first the preparation techniques of activated carbon fiber (ACFs) are summarized. There are many preparation techniques of ACFs. The preparation techniques of ACFs are introduced through the preparation of poly-acrylonitrile (PAN) ACFs and pitch ACFs. As adsorbent,ACFs have excellent performances such as big surface area,well-developed micropore structure,small pore diameter and narrow extention of pore diameter. Then the adsorption mechanisms of ACFs over SO2 and NOx are discussed. After catalysis or activated treatment,the adsorption ability for many kinds of pollutants can be greatly improved,especially on the SOx、NOx and other pollutants in the flue gas.The water or steam can regenerate ACFs with the pollutants desorption. After regeneration,ACFs can be used for hundreds and thousands of times.


After the aqueous extraction of oil from small walnut,the slurry which was separated from the top oil layer contain a great deal of protein.To make use of the protein,the properties and milk processing of small walnut protein during aqueous oil extraction were studied in this article.The optimum conditions were:pH 8.5 temperature 70℃,solid-to-water ratio 1:8(g:mL),extraction time 3 h, times of reextractions 3,the mass concentration of sodium pyrophosphate 0.5g/L,and the extraction yield of protein was 63.78%.The yield can be improved to 72.16% by grinding secondly.The concoction made small walnut protein milk have good stability,and its sense and physicochemical index could reach the national standards of walnut milk.


SOCIAL WORK Wicker, Alexia Laverne B.S.W. GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, 1996 A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY; THE EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION AND ADAPTATION AMONG ELDERLY


The bilingual teaching of genetic engineering is of great necessity for undergraduates,because it facilitates students to better understand the basic concept,improve their English level,increase their expertise,and promote their ability to solve problems in their studies.To achieve this goal,it is advised that the strategies such as selection of good textbook,the preparation of high quality teaching materials,the increase in teaching capability for teachers,class discussion and course examination in English are rather effective.


For many instructors of the basic public speaking course deciding when and how to treat students with communication apprehension (CA) is a problem they must deal with each semester. A national survey was conducted to determine what methods instructors of the basic public speaking course are using to treat CA. The results indicated that instructors are treating apprehensive students during their regular class time by concentrating on a skills training approach to teach the necessary speaking skills, by creating a supportive and positive classroom environment, by recognizing students' CA as normal, and by teaching techniques that help students handle feelings of apprehension.


Using a research strategy analogous to modern sediment trap studies, sediment accumulation patterns on submarine rises can be interpreted in terms of past ocean chemistry and circulation. We have followed this research strategy to reconstruct the history of surface water productivity and deep-water chemistry and circulation in the eastern equatorial Atlantic (Sierra Leone Rise) and western equatorial Atlantic (Ceara Rise) during the last glacial maximum (∼18,000 B.P.). On shallow sections of these rises, at depths with little carbonate particle degradation, we assume that the accumulation of skeletal carbonate approximates the carbonate production rate in surface water. During the last glacial maximum, the rate of carbonate productivity was lower in the eastern Atlantic than it is today, while the western Atlantic exhibited no glacial-interglacial difference in carbonate productivity. Based on the difference in carbonate accumulation rates between shallow and deep cores on the rises, we observed greater dissolution in both basins during the last glaciation. The eastern Atlantic always had a lower rate of dissolution than the western Atlantic, despite having deep water with a lower δ13C during the last glacial maximum. Organic carbon accumulation in the eastern Atlantic increased with depth in the water column during the last glaciation, suggesting that there was a bathymetric decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration at that time. These observations are consistent with a glacial decrease in the production rate of northern source deep water during the last glaciation. At that time, the mixing zone between northern source and southern source deep water migrated to the north in the Atlantic, resulting in a greater proportion of corrosive, southern source deep water in the western Atlantic, and entering the eastern Atlantic through low-latitude fracture zones. Today the ratio of northern and southern components entering the eastern Atlantic is about 4:1. Based on δ13C and carbonate accumulation, our best estimate of this ratio during the last glaciation is 1:1.


Objective:To explore the clinical application value of maternal serum markers in screening of birth defects at second trimester of pregnancy.Methods:10 263 pregnant women at 14~22 gestational weeks who visited the hospital from January 2006 to December 2009 were selected,immunochemistry luminescence method was used to detect the levels of maternal serum markers including alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin(Fβ-HCG) and unconjugated estriol(uE3).Results:Among 10 263 pregnant women,718 pregnant women were found with high risk of Down's syndrome,accounting for 7.0%;51 pregnant women were found with high risk of neural tube defect,accounting for 0.5%;7 cases,2 cases,16 cases and 4 cases were definitely diagnosed as Down's syndrome,trisomy 18,other chromosome abnormalities and neural tube defect,respectively;among the high risk pregnant women who did not receive prenatal diagnosis,one case were found with Down's syndrome,2 cases were found with Down's syndrome during follow-up among the low risk pregnant women.Conclusion:Triple biomarkers of maternal serum at second trimester of pregnancy are effective in noninvasive prenatal screening in order to reduce the incidences of birth defects,combining with other prenatal screening techniques may improve the clinical efficacy of prenatal screening.


Like many languages of the world, the Oceanic language Daakaka (Vanuatu) uses idiomatic combinations of body-part terms and verbs to express emotions, medical conditions and related concepts. However, languages differ in how they express the same concepts nominally. I will contrast the nominalization strategy found in Daakaka with other languages and discuss the differences. I will argue that the nominalization strategy in Daakaka is less transparent than its alternatives but that it allows for the formation of a paradigm that also includes meteorological expressions. This phenomenon highlights the need to look beyond individual lexemes when comparing lexical classes and derivational processes cross-linguistically.


In this paper, we define some non-Riemannian curvature properties for Cartan spaces. We consider Cartan space with the m-th root metric. We prove that every m-th root Cartan space of isotropic Landsberg curvature, or isotropic mean Landsberg curvature, or isotropic mean Berwald curvature reduces to a Landsberg, weakly Landsberg and weakly Berwald space, respectively. Then we show that m-th root Cartan space of almost vanishing H-curvature satisfies H = 0.


This article presents and compares the reflections and conclusions of the prominent Russian sociologists, economists, and political scientists. Having analyzed the transit of Russian sociality, they come to quite disappointing conclusions. Unfortunately, Russia did failed to take its rightful place among the European (Western in a broad sense) states and societies, did not build legal society and institutions, and the established market and private property have significantly deformed, since the authorities and law enforcement agencies of different levels rigidly controlled business for the purpose of share profit, or even seizure and appropriation of the property of others. This indicates not just a crisis, but disintegration and negative transformation of the Russian social system. The author believes that the modern sociality experiences transformation associated with the completion of the culture of modernity and the establishment of futureculture, the structure of which is yet obscure. Such transformation generates sociality that differs from the previous one; however, in many its pioneers and "initiators of discursiveness" continue to largely adhere to the principles of liberalism, although modified, and often unrecognizable. In this regard, the author discusses not only the state of social institutions, but also the ways for overcoming the prevalent situation sought by separate individuals.


This paper describes a procedure that allows the rapid generation of elastomeric masters for microcontact printing (μCP) and for a new variant of this technique:  controlled sagging microcontact printing (CSμCP). Using a low-power laser (10 mW) operating at 532 nm, the desired pattern is ablated in a thin poly(methyl methacrylate) film doped with a dye (rhodamine B base). Subsequent pattern transfer into poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) produces an elastomeric stamp for either μCP or CSμCP. Printing on the surface of gold gives patterns (wires or trenches) with feature sizes as small as 5 μm (μCP) and trenches (but not wires) as smalll as 1 μm (CSμCP). The ability of this technique to generate functional systems was demonstrated with an array of gold minielectrodes printed on a silicon wafer and an array of chemical microreactors molded in PDMS. The performance of the electrode array was characterized using cyclic voltammetry with Ru(III)(NH3)6Cl3, as the substrate. Microreactors were used as vessels to grow...


Forward Links to Citing Articles Retraction. Modern Law Review 67: 6, 1046-1046. Online publication date: 1-Oct-2004.

Although the House of Lords decision in Leyland Daf was primarily concerned with the order for distribution of assets in a winding-up, it has several other far-reaching ramifications and repercussions. The reasoning of their Lordships in the case alters our understanding of the very nature and operation of a charge over a company's assets. This reasoning strikes at the heart of the law of security interests, bringing into question the fundamental distinction between a charge and a mortgage. Furthermore the decision has given a whole new complexion to the concept of a floating charge which will have tremendous consequences for its application in commercial practice. This paper analyses the decision firstly on the basis of its legal principle and then on the basis of its policy considerations and concludes that its reasoning is neither sound nor justifiable on either ground.


Temperature strongly influences growth and development in most ectotherms. The thermal integral, or growing degree day (GDD) metric (°C d), has been widely used to characterize plant, insect, and more recently fish growth and development variation. However, the GDD has not been widely examined among molluscan species. We examined 42 different sets of data drawn from the literature representing temperature-dependent growth and development variation among a variety of bivalve, cephalopod and gastropod species. We demonstrate that thermal time (GDD) is better able to explain temperature-dependent variation in size-at-age and size-at-stage compared to calendar time (d) and conclude that thermal time is the appropriate metric to use when assessing variation in growth and development among molluscs. We also address how thermal time may lead to more accurate comparisons among populations and how it may help diagnose other factors influencing growth variation.


The functional relationship between CstF64 and CstF64τ, two paralogous mammalian mRNA 3′ processing factors, is not well understood. Our comprehensive characterization revealed that these two factors are widely expressed in mammalian tissues, have highly similar RNA-binding specificities, but they have overlapping and distinct protein interactomes as well as roles in regulating mRNA alternative polyadenylation.


In allusion to the premature convergence phenomena and insufficient local searching ability of the basic genetic algorithm(GA), an improved GA, namely the sequential quadratic programming-genetic algorithm(SQP-GA), is proposed. In SQP-GA the sequential quadratic programming(SQP) algorithm is led into the basic GA, and as a child operator the classic algorithm SQP can effectively improve the local searching ability of the basic GA and the premature convergence phenomenon is overcome. Test results of function simulation show that in both aspects of convergence speed and searching accuracy the SQP-GA hybrid algorithm is superior to the basic GA, so it is shown that the proposed algorithm is effective. Meanwhile, using the proposed SQP-GA hybrid algorithm to solve the ultrasonic localization of partial discharge(PD) inside the power transformer and comparing the obtained localization results with those obtained by GA and non-intelligent algorithm, the comparison results show that the ultrasonic localization method of PD inside the power transformer based on the SQP-GA can effectively prevent the measured results falling into the local optimum, and the localization results by the proposed method are satisfactory.


transparent glass exhibiting excellent resistance to attack by detergents, having a softening point exceeding 770 DEG C and an expansion coefficient of 20-300 degrees C between about 65 and 75 x 10 ** - 7 / degrees C. It is essentially formed by of weight percent on the oxide reported and calculated from the batch, of:


This paper proposes a method to minimize the cogging torque and torque ripple of an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor by adopting asymmetric barrier design and inverting lamination method. The analysis method for cogging torque and torque ripple is suggested using finite-element method. An asymmetric barrier in a permanent magnet rotor is optimally designed without permanent magnet skew. This proposed design for low cogging torque and torque ripple has an advantage over skew design from a manufacturing point of view. The proposed model is compared with the skew model and nonskew model by calculating torque characteristics to determine the more effective method to reduce torque distortion.


Acid catalysed bridge cleavage reaction of two doubly bridged trinucIear complex ions [Ru)(NH) IJ(SCN)X1J"', (X= Cl-, B,) have been investigated at 59" in perchloric and nitric acid media respectively. Both the complexes show Iwo stages of reaction. Plots of k nt>< versus [acid] are linear for both the complexes in the two stages of reactions. Only the plots for first stage have intercept on rate axis. The rate constants for the chloro and the bromo complexes for acid dependent path are as follows : tirst stage 5.15 x 10-' & 2.43 xl 0'" dm) molI S-I and second stage 7.35 x 10-) & 4.02 xl Q-4 dm) mol -1s-1 respectively. An associative mechanism has been invoked for the reactions in which bond formation by the incoming solvent (water) molecule with the middle ruthenium atom leads to


We report on the development of a miniaturized HPGe gamma-spectrometer for space applications. The instrument is designed around a 158 cm3 intrinsically pure Ge crystal in the closed-end coaxial configuration, cooled by a Thales RM3 miniature Stirling cycle electric cooler. To compensate the noise induced by the mechanical cooler the digital procession of the spectrometric signals with low frequency reject filter (LFR) is applied. The complete spectrometer assembly has a mass of 3.1 kg and consumes less than 10 W under working operation. The spectrometer was tested under a number of operating conditions in a specially designed chamber, which simulates the space environment. With the mechanical cooler switched off, FWHM energy resolutions of 1.5 keV and 2.2 keV were obtained at 122 keV and 1333 keV, respectively, at the nominal operating temperature of 90 K. When the cooler was switched on the energy resolutions degraded to 2.5 keV and 4 keV respectively. However, with the LFR filter switched in, the resolutions improved significantly to 1.8 keV and 2.4 keV.


Objetive: To compare the clinical behavior of two types of Bulk Fill composite resins and a nanohybrid resin at 18 months in occlusal restorations. Material and Methods: Three occlusal restorations were performed in each one of the 55 participants. They were randomly distributed into three groups, TN: Tetric-N-Ceram Bulk-Fill, FK: Filtek Bulk-Fill, and Z350: Filtek Z350XT. Adhesive techniques and restorative procedures were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions for each restorative material used. In TN and FK an increment of 4mm was applied, and in Z350 increments of ≤2mm depth were applied. Two calibrated operators evaluated the restorations at baseline and at 18 months using the FDI World Dental Federations system (1: excellent, 2: good, 3: satisfactory, 4: unsatisfactory, 5: poor) for clinical marginal staining (MS) properties, fracture-retention (FR), superficial texture (ST), marginal integrity (MI), postoperative sensitivity (PS) and caries (C). Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon were used to compare the 3 groups at 18 months (5% significance). Results: 38 patients with a total of 114 restorations were assessed, being evaluated with excellent clinical behavior; MI, 78.9% in Z350, 89.51% in TN and 81.6% in FK; ST 73.5% in Z350, 86.8% in TN, and 84.2% in FK; MS 84.2% in Z350, 84.2% in TN, and 91.2% in FK; PS 100% in Z350 and 97.3% in TN and FK; in C and FR, 100% in the 3 groups. There were no significant differences between the three groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The three resins studied presented a good clinical performance at 18 months without showing significant differences in the clinical properties evaluated.


The ingestion of foreign bodies intentionally or accidentally is found worldwide especially in paediatric age group (8) , elderly, mentally subnormal individuals, alcoholic and drug abusers proving to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality (7) . The ingestion of foreign bodies is rarely associated with intestinal perforation, even if a sharp object is swallowed. About 80-90% of ingested foreign bodies are passed spontaneously (5) . The consequences may range from un-noticed passage per rectum to severe peritonitis following bowel perforation although less than 1% causes perforation (6) and there may be acute bowel obstruction. Method: This is a 21 year old male patient who presented with abdominal pain. This patient states that the abdominal pain started after the ingestion of liquid. On physical examination the abdomen was firm, flat, no surgical scars, with generalized tenderness and guarding principally in the epigastric to suprapubic region. The investigations which were done had essentially contributed no additional information suggestive of the definitive pathology. Result: This patient was resuscitated with intravenous fluid therapy, analgesia, prophylactic antibiotic along with deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis and booked for exploratory laparotomy. The findings at laparotomy are that of a perforated proximal loop of jejunum with a piece of chicken bone. Conclusion: The vague symptoms that can be found on physical examination as well as the lack of patients ability to recall whether or not they had ingested a foreign body is the main difficulty in the diagnosis of this entity.


Many of the processes known to take place in biological cells are analyzed in the form of different types of network. The complexity of these networks increases along with our knowledge of these processes, making their analysis more difficult. Network visualization is a powerful analysis method that will have to be developed further to deal with this complexity. This survey provides a brief overview of network visualization in general, followed by an in-depth discussion of its application to three network types specific to cell biology, namely gene regulatory, protein interaction, and metabolic networks. Finally, we discuss the difficulty of visually integrating these network types and trying to compare networks of cells that belong to different organisms.


This special issue is a result of recent cooperation among philosophers of science in Asian countries, especially Japan, Korea and Taiwan. As a participant of this activity, let me first summarize the recent interactions among East Asian philosophers of science. To my knowledge, this international cooperation was fostered by Korean philosophers of science. Korean Society for Philosophy of Science (KSPS) is a relatively young organization established in 1995, but (or probably because of that) it has been very active in fostering international relationship among neighboring countries. Its fifth president, In-Rae Cho gave a presentation at the annual meeting of PSSJ (Philosophy of Science Society, Japan) in 2006. He invited back professor Nobuharu Tanji (the president of PSSJ at that time) in 2007. This exchange was developed into regular invitations from Korea; professor Fu Dawie of National Tsing-Hua University (2008) from Taiwan and professor Soshichi Uchii (2009) and myself (2010) from Japan were successively invited to annual meetings of KSPS. The next step in the international interaction was joint conferences. A preliminary bilateral conference between Japanese and Korean philosophers of science was held in Kyoto in February 2011, organized by myself and sponsored by Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Kyoto University. As is mentioned I was invited to give a talk at KSPS annual meeting in 2010, and found that there are many philosophers of science in Korea who share similar interests as Japanese colleagues. That is why I decided to invite five philosophers each from Korea and Japan to begin collective interactions. The idea of multinational workshop on philosophy of science was taken up by professor Sang Wook Yi, who was the host of my talk at KSPS and an invited speaker of the Kyoto workshop. He decided to make it a conference series and also decided to expand it to include Taiwanese colleagues. The result was the first East Asian Philosophy of Science Workshop (EAPSW), held as a satellite event to the KSPS annual meeting in July 2011. Professor Szu-Ting Chen, one of the contributors of current issue, was the participant of the first EAPSW and has been an active participant


Based on the latest Objectively Analyzed Air-Sea Heat Fluxes(OAFlux) data,the temporal and spatial variability of monthly-mean evaporation(EVP) over the South of China Sea(SCS) from 1958 to 2006 are analyzed.The EVP in winter and autumn is stronger than that in spring and summer.By the EOF analysis,the variation of the EVP of the first mode depicts an in-phase mode,while the second EOF mode describes an oscillation between northern and southern parts of the SCS.These two modes can explain over 60% of the variance.The interannual change of the EVP over the SCS is closely associated with the Nio 3.4 sea-surface temperature anomaly(SSTA) during December-February.The spatial pattern of composite EVP anomalies shows that the southern SCS is out-of-phase with the northern area during La Nia years,while there is a monopole mode(with the same EVP anomaly sign) during the El Nio years.The research on the periodic variation of spatial structure of seasonal EVP reflects that there is interannual and interdecadal variability in each season.The outcome of wavelet analysis shows that the periods of 2-5 yr and 10-14 yr are the leading cycles of seasonal EVP over the SCS,and the significance of these oscillation periods is different at various stages.Finally,by Mann-Kendall and trend methods,it is considered that the EVP was gradually strengthened on the interannual and seasonal scale in the area in 1997 and after the 1980s.


Based on the research of the transmission line model of microstrip power splitter, based on the traditional T-type microstrip power splitter, a new symmetric T-type four-way microstrip power splitter is proposed, in which the front-end power split port. The phase difference is 180 degree, and the power distribution characteristics are good. By loading a rectangular patch microstrip antenna at each port of the power splitter and etching the metamaterial structure on the floor. A miniaturized 2*2 antenna array operating at 2.45 GHz was designed. The antenna size is 40*40mm, placed on a metal reflector, and its forward gain is about 8dB in the wide range of 2.1-2.7GHz.


We have demonstrated the self-pumped phase Conjugate mirrors of Cu-doped KNSBN crystals. The phase conjugate reflectivity reaches as high as 65% for the crystal with Cu-doped 0.04wt%. The phase conjugate reflectivity and its response time were also measured as a function of the Argon-ion laser wavelengths.


Abstract Potassium- and sodium-doped titanium (magnesium) oxides have been prepared from the starting powders of K2O–8TiO2–0.2MgO and a small amount of Na2O. An interesting crystal structure has been discovered, namely the pseudo-one-dimensional periodic domain boundary structure with the average periodic value of M=3.3. The domains show layered structures consisting of corrugated layers of Ti(Mg)O6 octahedra, which could be either Csx(Ti2−x/2Mgx/2)O4-type or Kx(Ti2−x/2Mgx/2)O4- type orthorhombic crystal structure by different lattice displacement. These two phases employ disordered intergrowth rather than ordered intergrowth like in Na2Ti7O15 which has a periodicity of 3+4=7. Coherent domain boundaries were formed neglecting the crystal structures of domains. The formation of this periodic structure is believed to be related to the presence of a small amount of Mg and Na in the starting powders. Moreover, the accommodation of small Na cations caused the transformation of the crystal structure to be monoclinic with the space group P2/m.


INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:A comprehensive kidney stone center should be able to offer all treatment options to patients presenting with complex renal calculi. This video presents the management st...


Q-switched lasers are prevalent in applications that require high intensity laser in ultra short pulses. For many medical applications of Q-switched lasers, it is crucial to have smooth and controlled pulse shapes [1, 2]. In dermatological applications, for instance, an irregular shape or duration of a laser pulse during pigmentation removal can cause serious damage to the surrounding healthy tissues [2]. In optical communication applications it is essential to produce reliable and clean pulse shapes. Q-switched fiber lasers are ideal candidates for optical signal generations for optical communication since light is already coupled into the fiber. However when fiber lasers are Q-switched, one often obtains complicated pulse shapes with multiple peaks. Thus, precise regulation of the output pulse shape would be a truly enabling technology for the application of fiber lasers in optical communications.


The present research examined the role of written corrective feedback (WCF) in enhancing writing accuracy of Iranian Intermediate learners. The present study is quantitative and experimental survey that measured the accuracy of using two functions of English article system, namely definite article "the" and indefinite article "a" and "an" during eight weeks using pre-test and post-test. Sixty students including (20 control group, 20 experimental group,20 experimental group) participated in the study to determine which kind of teacher written corrective feedback affects writing accuracy more. (1) Control group did not receive WCF on specific grammar errors; group (2) received direct WCF; group (3) received indirect WCF. The results of the study demonstrated that direct (WCF) affected students' performance more.


A method for simultaneous determination of trace iodine, bromine,selenium and arsenic in geological samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with semi melting sample pretreatment has been developed. The semi melting sample pretreatment conditions were studied. The detection limits(10 σ ) for Br, I, Se and As of the method are 0.15, 0.028, 0.004 and 0.04 μg/g, respectively. The method has been applied to the determination of trace Br, I, Se and As in standard reference soil and sediment materials with precision of 0.8%~2.8% RSD( n =10). It has been shown that the method has great potential for the determination of total iodine, bromine, selenium and arsenic in geological samples.


This article presents a critical analysis of middle school advisor-advisee programs. The history of and rationale for these programs are reviewed, and a typology is offered for distinguishing different advisory programs. A conceptual framework is provided for identifying potential barriers to advisories at the inception as well as the implementation and maintenance phases, and suggestions for addressing these barriers are discussed. Existing research on advisory programs is reviewed and evaluated, and guidelines for improving future research are presented. Finally, alternative educational practices for achieving the goals of advisory programs are considered.


This paper presents the results of measuring the frequency-dependent refractive index, the extinction coefficient, and the absorption coefficient of polar solutes (nitrobenzene, benzonitrile, and chlorobenzene) in non-polar solvents by using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) at room temperature. The intensities of the difference absorption spectra of the solution and the pure solvent show a specific peak for each particular solution. This finding demonstrates the potential application of THz-TDS in studying the microscopic details of a particular solute in solution. The low frequency spectra were analysed by using a model function for the time correlation function of the total dipole moment in order to understand the dynamics and the interactions in the systems. The picosecond exponential component was found to be less sensitive to the viscosity of the bulk solvent, and it is proposed that this component can be regarded as the result of structural relaxation in the solution. It was also found that the spectra of the benzonitrile solutions receive a large contribution from the Gaussian component, which is attributed to the librational motion. This suggests that the formation of dimers or oligomers might take place in the case of the benzonitrile solution.


The paper presents the results of a comprehensive assessment of the current ecological state of the important recreational object, i.e. Lake Manzherokskoye (Maiminsky region of the Altai Republic, the Russian Federation). The investigation was conducted in August 2018, just 2 weeks after the dredging works implemented in the framework of the environmental rehabilitation project. The studied morphometric, hydro/physical and hydro/chemical parameters of the reservoir are evidence of an increase in lake depth (with its maximum more than 2 m, up to 5.66 m) and water volume (more than 2 times, up to 1,16 million m3) that in the future will lead to the improved oxygen regime and the decreased inflow of biogenic matter. Bottom sediments are still represented by soils with a high content of organic carbon (up to 56,2±2.9 mg/dm3) and organic matter (up to 112.3±10,2 mg/dm3); detritus and organic silt (sapropel) dominate in the sediments. In all studied sites and depths of Lake Manzherokskoye, the water was polluted by roiled organic silts. The concentration of suspended solids reached 4.6 g/dm3, whereas transparency (by Secchi disk) dropped up to 0,5 cm. Vertical distribution of suspended substances points to the process of their deposition. Water quality of the lake is estimated as unsatisfactory because of the performed dredging works. Major pollutants of the lake water are phosphates (up to 0,417±0,042 mg/dm3), petroleum products (up to 0,4±0,1 mg/dm3) and organic substances (up to 342,2±35,8 mg O/dm3 by unfiltered water COD); their concentrations exceed MAC significantly. Water quality does not meet the requirements imposed upon the water bodies used for recreational purposes.


We have performed density functional theory calculations to study the effect of adsorption of a set of organic electron donor molecules on single layer MoS2 to find the optimum condition to tune the charge transfer, as well as to find how it changes the electronic properties of single layer MoS2. We have performed our calculations for three sets of organic Lewis bases. We have found that all the molecules are physisorbed on MoS2. Our calculations show that the charge transfer from the molecules to the MoS2 layer is highly dependent upon the inductive effect and HOMO–LUMO gap of the molecules. Furthermore, we show that the charge transfer interaction tunes the electronic and optical property of MoS2 to a significant amount: for example, the band-gap of the system can be changed from 1.8 eV to even a low value of 0.2 eV, making it interesting for different optoelectronic device applications.


The crosswind on highway has great influence on the safety of vehicle driving and usually leads to major malignant traffic accidents, especially for large or medium-sized passenger cars such as van, because of its suddenness and concealment. At present, there are no complete warning and control intelligent systems on the crosswind-prone sections in China. Drivers can only be warned by setting crosswind signs that can't meet the safety of vehicle in crosswind weather. This research is based on the speed limit model of vehicle safety on crosswind highway. In this system, we set up sensors to acquire data by real-time measuring and transmit them to ARM to get further analysis by ZigBee. Then, the authors display the results of the analysis on a deployment module consists of variable message signs. By applying this system, the authors can achieve greater safety when driving on highways in crosswind condition.


In this paper, we seek to identify an effective management policy that could reduce supply-demand gaps at taxi queues serving high-density locations where demand surges frequently happen. Unlike current industry practice, which relies on broadcasting to attract taxis to come and serve the queue, we propose more proactive and adaptive approaches to handle demand surges. Our design objective is to reduce the cumulative supply-demand gaps as much as we could by sending notifications to individual taxis. To address this problem, we first propose a highly effective passenger demand prediction system that is based on the real-time flight arrival information. By monitoring cumulative passenger arrivals, and control for factors such as the flight's departure cities, we demonstrate that a simple linear regression model can accurately predict the number of passengers joining taxi queues. We then propose an optimal control strategy based on a Markov Decision Process to model the decisions of notifying individual taxis that are at different distances away from the airport. By using a real-world dataset, we demonstrate that an accurate passenger demand prediction system is crucial to the effectiveness of taxi queue management. In our numerical studies based on the real-world data, we observe that our proposed approach of optimal control with demand predictions outperforms the same control strategy, yet with Poisson demand assumption, by 43%. Against the status quo, which has no external control, we could reduce the gap by 23%. These results demonstrate that our proposed methodology has strong real-world potential.


Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and side effects of Aripiprazole in the treatment of schizophrenia.Methods:90 patients with schizophrenia by CCMD-3 were randomly allocated to two groups,treated with Aripiprazole or Risperidone for 12 weeks.The positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS) and treatment emergent symptoms scale(TESS) were used to evaluate efficacy and adverse effects respectively before and at the ends of 2,4,8,12 weeks of treatment.Results:The therapeutic efficacy in Aripiprazole group was similar to that in Risperidone group(P0.05);There was no significant difference between the two groups(P0.05).Incidence of adverse effects in the Aripiprazole group was lower than that in the Risperidone group,but the difference was not significant(P0.05).The rates of extra-pyramidal symptoms and endocrine changes in the risperidone group were significantly higher than those in the Aripiprazole group.Conclusion:Aripiprazole is as effective as Risperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia,but these side effects are different.


Remote plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RPECVD) has been used to form highly reliable ultrathin, stacked SiO2–Si3N4‐SiO2 (O–N–O) structures at low temperatures (300 °C). The key elements of the processing: substrate surface cleaning, oxide deposition, and the nitride deposition are all performed in situ and sequentially at 300 °C in a single‐chamber, ultraclean RPECVD reactor. The remote plasma process has produced thin oxide films with excellent interfaces (tox=8 nm, Dit=1–3×1010 cm−2 eV−1) and thin reliable nitride films (tnit=9 nm, charge‐to‐breakdown=1400 C cm−2). The stacked O–N–O structures exploit the respective advantages of the oxide and the nitride layers. Time‐dependent breakdown testing of these structures (tequi=7 nm) utilizing aluminum gate electrodes show total charge‐to‐breakdown values of up to 180 C cm−2, as against less than 1 C cm−2 typically measured with an oxide film alone. Compared with capacitors based on the SiO2 dielectric alone, the stacked insulator‐metal‐semiconduct...


Ammonium acrylate was first used as a comonomer to copolymerize with acrylonitrile. The viscosity behavior of dimethyl formamide solutions of acrylonitrile/ammonium acrylate copolymer was studied, and the rheological kinetics of the solutions were studied for comparison. It was shown that the solutions behaved the same as a Newtonian flow as the rotor speed increased beyond 12 rpm. With an increase in temperature, the apparent viscosity of acrylonitrile/ammonium acrylate copolymer solutions showed a trend of decreasing. The changes in the apparent flow-activation energy of solutions (Eη) calculated by the Arrhenius equation became less prominent along with the changes in the molecular weight of the acrylonitrile/ammonium acrylate copolymers. Eη increased continuously with an increase in copolymer concentration. The viscosity of copolymer solutions decreased continuously as the concentrations of KCl and NaCl increased up to 0.015 mol/L, and then it increased. The Eη showed an obvious trend of decreasing with the addition of alkali salts, and the changes in the Eη containing NaCl were more prominent than those of solutions containing KCl. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2320–2324, 2007


Objective: To explore the value of CT enhanced scanning in diagnosing thrombosis in the left cardiac atrium. Methods: We selected 103 patients who suffered from rheumatic mitral stenosis, each of whom was examined with CT enhanced scanning, esophageal echocardiography and body surface two dimensional echocardiography in order to test whether there were thrombi adhering to the endocardium of the left atrium. Results: Twenty-eight cases were found to be suffered from thrombosis in the left atrium with CT enhancement, and the checkout rate was 27.2%, which was the same as the findings with esophageal echocardiography. Meanwhile, 16 cases were found with body surface two-dimensional echocardiography, and the checkout rate was 15.5%. The difference between them showed statistical significance(P0.05). Conclusions: The accuracy of CT enhancement in diagnosing thrombosis in the left atrium is equal to that of esophageal echocardiography, and is evidently higher than that of body surface two dimensional echocardiography.


If the second conductive molding of a first conductivity shaping electrode 6 and the wiring sheet 10, the first conductive shaping wire (12) between, and a back electrode-type solar battery cell (8) of the electrode-type solar battery cell (8) electrode 7 and the second and of the molding between the conductive wiring 13 is at least between one side are electrically connected by a conductive material 20, conductive material 20 of the wiring sheet 10 are electrodes (6, 7 ) and wiring (12, 13) of at least one metal and not the metal of the solar cell, the wiring sheet are attached, including contact without bonding it comprises producing a solar cell module and the solar cells that the wiring sheet is attached to be.


In consideration of commercial interest,the critical technology of commercial CA is not usually disclosed at present,it also fails to well known so far that the process of key generate of CA,cryptology algorithm,and secret intensity of the course of algorithm,etc..In order to have more practicability common CA,this paper provides an open-source CA EJBCA.Since EJBCA should apply to the E-government practice,the paper has introduced EJBCA,then done analysis and studied about the operation,management,frame model of EJBCA,it also has put up and realize it according to necessary software its,then made a research and discussion to EJBCA involved cryptology algorithm and its security finally.


Measuring the temperature distribution in a complex and important engine part, such as a turbocharger, is essential for improving engine performance and efficiency. Heat transfer from the turbine to the compressor can strongly influence the turbocharger performance. One of the main measurement methods involves the installation of multiple K-type sensors. However, the location as well as the maximum and minimum temperatures of the turbocharger and the subsequent critical points may not be obtained by using sensors. In the current study, thermocouples, as well as an infra-red camera, are used to study the temperature distribution of the turbocharger housing in a spark ignition engine. A new method is introduced to determine the thermal radiation coefficient of the turbocharger housing by using a laboratory furnace and an infra-red camera. Together with experiments, the finite element method is used to find the temperature distribution in the turbocharger for all thicknesses. Comparing the temperature distribution obtained from simulation with experimental data, an acceptable level of agreement is observed. The location and temperature of the hottest area in experimental and numerical investigations are close to the waste gate. Temperatures using the finite element method for bearings exhibit maximum and minimum errors of 4.9% and 2.3%, respectively, indicating reasonable accuracy for the simulation.


Ptolemy s Theorem Cyclic Quadrilateral nogwon blogspot com April 29th, 2019 Kimberling 1998 p 223 Cyclic Quadrilateral A cyclic quadrilateral is a quadrilateral for which a circle can be circumscribed so that it touches each polygon vertex A quadrilateral that can be both inscribed and circumscribed on some pair of circles is known as a bicentric quadrilateral The area of a cyclic quadrilateral is the maximum possible for any quadrilateral with the given side


This paper introduces the principle of distributed acoustic fiber sensing and acoustic sensitivity of optical fiber and cable. Structure and material of sensitivity-enhanced fiber and cable are also presented. In the end, suggestions on improving the performance of acoustic sensitive optical cable are given.


In this paper, an off-line voltage-fed single-switch zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) inverter is analyzed and designed for the filament power supply of cooker magnetrons. Due to the low resistance of cathode filament, an isolation transformer with large turn ratio is used. To obtain the ZVS operation, a parallel-resonant capacitor is connected to the primary of transformer. The capacitor, transformer and filament constitute a parallel resonant tank. Both the transformer leakage inductance and the transistor output capacitance are merged into the resonant tank. The resonant energy provides the ZVS operation of the inverter switch, and the secondary voltage drives the cathode filament. To verify the analysis, a prototype inverter is built and tested. Experimental results validate the circuit design.


Floodplain wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems available to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. However, regulation of lowland rivers can disrupt ecological processes occurring in the river–floodplain ecosystems, and environmental water can be delivered to affected wetlands to maintain productivity. It is not well understood at what stage following inundation there would be sufficient invertebrate biomass and large-sized individuals to support production and reproduction of secondary consumers. In this study we follow changes in the abundances of invertebrates after wetting in three mesocosm trials using soil from two wetlands from the north of the Murray–Darling Basin over 6-week periods. Peak abundances generally occurred in either the fifth or sixth weeks, but abundances were high after 2–3 weeks. Our results suggest that inundation of wetlands using environmental watering can achieve high productivity within a short time frame, within weeks. However, how quickly the high productivity is passed on to second-order consumers remains unclear and should be an area of future research.


In this paper the fundamental parameters of high-Tc superconductivity are shown to be connected to the statistics of pairons (hole pairs in their antiferromagnetic (AF) environment) on a square lattice. In particular, we study the density fluctuations and the distribution of the area surrounding each pairon on the scale of the AF correlation length ξAF , for the complete range of hole concentration. We show that the key parameters of the phase diagram, the Tc dome, and the pseudogap (PG) temperature T∗ , emerge from the statistical properties of the pairon disordered state. In this approach, the superconducting and the PG states appear as inseparable phenomena. The condensation energy, which fixes the critical temperature, is directly proportional to the correlation energy between pairons and not to the energy gap, contrary to conventional superconductors. When the correlation energy between pairons is suppressed by fluctuations, either thermally, by disorder, or in the vortex core, the PG state of disordered pairons is obtained. We attribute the unique features of cuprate superconductivity to this order–disorder transition in real space, which clearly differs from the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer mechanism. Our predictions are in quantitative agreement with low-temperature tunneling and photoemission spectroscopy experiments.


White brined cheese is a white cheese of high quality, manufactured from cow's milk according to a specifi c technology, which is matured and stored in brine. It has a salty, slightly acid taste, and pleasant sensory properties that nowadays have a worldwide acceptance. It had been made three variants of white brined cheese: (K) variant in which was applied current technological process and was used yogurt as starter – culture gained along processing of previous day. At (В1) and (В2) variants it was used freeze dried culture of Lаctobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus 3:1; F-DVS YF-3331 Yo-Flex version: 2 PI-EU-EN and processing of curd was applied 5 minute earlier from current and the temperature of curdling at (B1) variant was 370C while at (В2) variant was 390C. A study showed that the sensory characteristics of white brined cheese change dramatically with maturation, and it becomes hard in texture, and salty and acidic in taste. The major diff erences between variants of cheeses observed with maturation were shown between (B2) variant and others, were the same variant earned considerable number of points.


It is easy to identify the changes in the UK's energy profile over the last several years that have prompted intensified, and sometimes heated, debate on the issue of the nation's energy security. First, there is no more 'coal-from-Newcastle,' as cheaper imports into the UK are available from countries as far away as Australia and South Africa. Second, the UK is the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the EU. However, after years of being a net exporter of both fuels, the UK became a net importer of natural gas in 2004. Government estimates also predict that the country will become a net importer of oil in the near-to-mid-term future. Third, as far back as 2006, then Secretary of State for Energy Malcolm Wicks warned that the UK was on a course to lose 30% of its generating capacity from coal and nuclear over the next 15 years as these plants close down. It is no wonder then why energy and security of energy supply, understood largely as electric power in the UK, has risen to the top of the agenda across political, economic, energy and national defense agendas.


In order to find the factors affecting seed vitality in Carya Nutt,the change rule of Carya Nutt seed germination rate with storage time prolongation under different storage conditions was researched.The factors affecting seed vitality were discussed from the aspects of water content in seed,catalase content in seed,relative conductivity of lixivium from seed,and so on.The results show that the factors of seed germination rate,water and catalase contents in seed,are decreased with storage time prolongation.Relative conductivity of lixivium from seed is increased with storage time prolongation.Seed germination rate has very significantly positive correlation with water and catalase contents in seed,and has very significantly negative correlation with relative conductivity of lixivium from seed.


Objective To explore relationship between cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and resting pulmonary function test(resting PFT),in order to provide a scientific basis for applying CPET for assessment of impairment secondary to pneumoconiosis. Methods Two hundred and nineteen subjects, divided into two groups,(64 cases of patients with pneumoconiosis, 155 cases of control subjects unexposed to dust) were determined with CPET and resting PFT. Correlation analysis and consistence analysis and regression analysis was performed. Result in the pneumoconiosis group,after age,height and weight controlled, partial correlation analysis showed that only forced vital capacity (FVC) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) showed correlation, the coefficient of partial correlation being 0.285. The indices of other resting PFT correlated not significantly with VO2max.When using 6 terms resting PFT as independent variable and VO2max as dependent variable, the combination of 6 terms of indices of resting PFT could account for the 25.6% of the variance of VO2max. The consistence coefficient in judging pulmonary impairment between resting PFT and VO2max was 0.065~0.255. The consistence coefficient in judging pulmonary impairment between resting PFT and ventilation equivalent for CO2 (VE/VCO2AT,VE/VCO2max)was 0.158~0.329. Conclusion The degree of correlation,consistence and association between CPET and resting PFT is weak.There is significant difference in judging pulmonary impairment for same degree pulmonary impairment. The resting PFT cannot precisely predict maximal physical capacity.


Post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction (PRMD) is the most severe myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) and is characterized by difficult treatment and poor prognosis. Research has shown the protective effects of the rational use of ivabradine (IVA) against PRMD; however, the molecular mechanisms of IVA remain unknown. In this study, an ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) model was established using hypoxic chambers. The results demonstrated that pretreatment with IVA reduced IRI-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. IVA attenuated mitochondrial damage, eliminated excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), suppressed IRI-induced ATP and NAD, and increased the AMP/ATP ratio. We further found that IVA increased the mRNA levels of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and upregulated the expression levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK)/AMPK, SIRT1, and PGC-1α proteins. Interestingly, no change in AMPK mRNA levels was observed. Cardiomyocyte energy metabolism significantly changed after IRI. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the cardioprotective effect of Ivabradine via the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury-induced in H9c2 cell.


Based on the work of Owen (1997a,b) who studied the variance of quadra- ture under a scrambled net with sample size n = λb m , this paper investigates scram- bled sequences with sample sizes other than λb m . First, the variance of quadrature under a scrambled sequence which is a union of two nets in base b is found. The scrambling schemes applied to the two nets can be independent or simultaneous. The results can be extended to the union of more than two nets. For finite sample sizes, the scrambled net-union variance is bounded by a small constant multiple of the Monte Carlo variance. Second, it is shown that for any Lipschitz integrand on (0,1), the variance is O(n −3 ) for a scrambled net, and O(n −3+α ) for a union of two


The invention relates to a nonwoven fabric membrane for topical use on the skin, which comprises polymeric nanofibres and an active agent in an amount from 25 to 80%by weight with respect to the total weight of the nonwoven fabric membrane, wherein the active agent is soluble in a suitable biocompatible solvent system, and wherein the membrane is capable of releasing the active agent immediately when the membrane is contacted with an appropriate amount of the suitable solvent biocompatible system in which the active agent is completely solubilised. It also relates to a process for the preparation of the nonwoven fabric membrane, to a cosmetic or sanitary product and a kit comprising them and to their therapeutic and cosmetic uses.


More general forms of the paper by O. Kazanci and S. Yamak (General- ized fuzzy bi-ideals of semigroups, Soft Comput. 12, 1119-1124, 2008) are discussed. The notion of (∈,∈∨qk)-fuzzy bi-ideals in a semigroup S is introduced, and several properties are investigated. Characteriza- tions of an (∈,∈∨qk)-fuzzy bi-ideal in a semigroup S are discussed.


with an astonishing output – a philosophical Christian writer. What brought about this development? No doubt this will be discussed by BeDuhn in the second and third volumes of his study. In the meantime, we have every reason to remember the legacy of Manichaeism on Augustine's mind, not least the veneration for the name of Christ, which was a mark of that religion, often overlooked in the bewildering mélange of fantastic mythology which so easily overshadows the essence of that sect. Its thought remains bizarre and indeed, in Puech's words, even puerile. Nevertheless, it held Augustine's allegiance for nine years and fascinated him for the rest of his life, down to writing the De haeresibus in 428/9. We may be grateful to BeDuhn and the many other scholars who have investigated it, and its effect on the mind of its most distinguished convert.


To investigate the inter-specific genetic marker of Parabronema skrjabini,the genomic DNA of P.skrjabini collected from the infected camels in Inner Mongolia were extracted.The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1(CO1) gene was amplified by PCR using universal primers,and then the PCR product was cloned into pMD19-T vectors.The insert was sequenced successfully and compared with other nematode sequences by DNAStar 5.0 and MEGA 4.0.The results showed that the PCR product was 689 bp in length.Compared with other CO1 gene sequences of related nematode,the homology among P.skrjabini,Habronema microstoma,and H.muscae is 86.7% and the nucleotide pairwise distance is 0.143.Conversely,the homology between P.skrjabini and Litomosoides galizai is 80.1% and the nucleotide pairwise distance is 0.229.It suggested that the CO1 gene of P.skrjabini can be not only used as a genetic marker,but also used for further study in molecular classification.


From the international laws,the essence of the cross-strait political relation is government succession.But the specificity of this relation is that this government succession has not completed.In fact government succession can be further divided into the succession on the legal capacity and the succession on the disposing capacity.After 1949,PRC fulfilled the succession on the legal capacity,while does not complete on the disposing capacity.So there are three levels on the cross-strait political relations:the level of state,of government legal capacity,and of government disposing capacity.


The properties of org. electronic materials in the solid-state are detd. not only by those of individual mols. but also by those of ensembles of mols. The ability to control the architectures of these ensembles is thus essential for optimizing the properties of conjugated materials for use in electronic devices (light emitting diodes, field effect transistors, solar cells, ...) and is primordial for potential technol. applications in nanoelectronics. Here, we report on the observation by at. force microscopy (AFM) of 1D and 2D nanoscale architectures obtained in the solid-state from solns. of molecularly-dissolved conjugated block copolymers or oligomers, and demonstrate that the conjugated mols. can organize onto a surface over lengthscales from nanometers to several microns, forming semiconducting fibrils by p-stacking processes


This paper describes the design of a system that has been developed to improve the creativity skills and knowledge of tertiary-level students. The system was built using an open source social network engine as its core. This engine was then integrated with process-based creativity theories which is used to guide students to hone their creativity skills while completing assignments for a particular course. This paper outlines the architecture of the system and how it was evaluated. It also gives a brief scenario of the use of the system. The system provides an effective tool for teaching and supporting creativity in tertiary students without adding additional components to current course curricula.


Proprotein convertase (PC) 6 is a member of the serine protease family processing molecules from precursors to bioactive forms. PC6 expression has been identified in mouse endometrium (1). It is upregulated during decidualization at the site of implantation. We hypothesized that the expression of PC6 in decidualizing cells is critical for implantation through activating regulatory molecules including cytokines important for the event. The present work aimed to establish the spatial and temporal cellular expression of both PC6 mRNA and protein in human and rhesus monkey endometria across the menstrual/oestrous cycles respectively and at the implantation sites during early pregnancy. In situ hybridisation was performed using a digoxygenin (DIG)-labelled cDNA probe against human PC6. For immunohistochemistry, a polyclonal rabbit anti-mouse PC6 antibody (Alexis US) was applied to sections and binding was visualized using the Strept ABC HRP kit (Dako Denmark). Both PC6 mRNA and protein were localized in the same cells predominantly in luminal and glandular epithelia during the proliferative phase of the cycle. During the secretory phase and in early pregnancy, PC6 expression was predominantly localized in decidualizing cells or in the decidua adjacent to implantation sites. The staining patterns were consistent between human and monkey tissues. It is proposed that PC6 plays a role in decidualization and implantation in human and rhesus monkey as in the mouse. It will be important to establish the functional role of PC6 in the uterus. Its manipulation may provide a mechanism for regulating fertility in infertile women or, in post-coital contraception. (1) Nie et al. (2003) Biol. Reprod. 68: 439–447.


Incretin receptor agonists are now standard of care in treating obesity. Their efficacy and tolerability might be further improved by combining them with compounds that offer orthogonal mechanisms of action. The cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) is a clinically validated therapeutic target in obesity, and several experimental CB1R inverse agonists have been shown to induce weight loss.