Purpose
The dynamics of economic growth in India continues to engage economists and still remains much debated. The trends and patterns of growth observed in India have seen acceleration in growth in Indian economy in the period following macroeconomic reforms and policy changes in investment and trade regimes. However, when and how did India transform itself from Hindu rate of growth to the present growth regime continues to be debated.

Design/methodology/approach
Using INDIA KLEMS data set, this study provides a distinctive perspective on India's economic growth. A unique data set comprising 27 sectors of Indian economy at a disaggregate industry level for a period of 30 years, beginning 1980s, attempts to understand the dynamics of India's growth from the contribution of industries that comprise the Indian economy.

Findings
This productivity data set offers a new way of analyzing the dynamics of growth including the sources of growth. The growth empirics allow evaluation of the relative significance of total factor productivity growth vis-a-vis input accumulation in accounting for output growth. In addition, the authors were able to document the industry contributions to aggregate growth. In this way, they were able to analyze the importance of the constituent industries within the different sectors of the economy − agriculture, manufacturing, construction and market, as well as non-market services in accounting for the observed growth in India. In conclusion, the industry perspective offers a new and analytical way of discerning new aspects of India's march to higher growth regimes in post-1990s era.

Originality/value
A unique data set comprising 27 sectors of Indian economy at a disaggregate industry level for a period of 30 years, beginning 1980s, attempts to understand the dynamics of India's growth from the contribution of industries that comprise the Indian economy.


Current‐voltage, capacitance‐voltage, and internal photoemission measurements of back‐to‐back Schottky diodes of buried metal (Al,Ga)As/NiAl/(Al,Ga)As double heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy are reported. By using a selective etch process to access the buried layers and fabricate three‐terminal devices, independent measurements of the barrier height on both sides of the buried metal double heterostructure were performed. Schottky diode behavior was observed for both upper and lower diodes and the barrier height was measured to be 1.1 eV for both diodes using internal photoemission. Electrical measurements showed a lower effective barrier height for the upper metal‐semiconductor interface as compared to the lower interface in agreement with the different defect densities in these heterostructures.


Objective: To investigate the preventive knowledge coverage and infected rate of syphilis among different people in Nantong.Methods: A self-made questionnaire investigation was carried out through face to face interview among female sex workers,STD clinic visitors,transient population and normall residents.Blood specimen from these cases were taken to examine antibody of syphilis.Results: The awareness and infected rate of syphilis in female sex workers and STD clinic visitors was higher than that in the transient population and normall residents."Syphilis is transmitted through sex" was widely known by people(91.57%),while awareness of "casual contact does not transmit syphilis" was the lowest.Syphilis latent was 30.95% in the first stage,and 44.05% in the second stage,while recessive syphilis 25.00%.Conclusion: Health education of syphilis in Nantong should be strengthened in future prevention.Good job of intervention to the high—risk group was necessary,and the syphilis screening ought to be strengthened in Nantong city.


Summary Plasmin triggers a strong metabolic activation in human platelets, leading to shape change and granule exocytosis. However, its capacity to induce cell aggregation remains discussed and, when observed, this aggregation is preceded by a remarkable lag phase. We have thus investigated the effect of plasmin on the adhesive proteins which can be secreted by isolated platelets and mediate cell-to-cell interactions, but are also substrates for the enzyme. Immunoblot analysis of fibrinogen (Fg), thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), fibronectin (Fn) and von Willebrand factor (vWf) was performed on extracts of platelets exposed under stirring to increasing concentrations of plasmin for up to 10 min at 37° C. Under conditions leading to formation of large aggregates, Fg, Fn and TSP-1 are extensively degraded concomitantly with their secretion, and readily lost from the surface of aggregated cells. Part of the monomers in the platelet vWf are cleaved during secretion into two main fragments with M r ≈180,000 and ≈145,000. However, multimer distribution analysis shows only a slight decrease in the very high molecular weight multimers, and most of the fragmented as well as intact vWf remains associated with the platelet surface when aggregation is maximal. That indeed vWf largely supports plasmin-induced aggregation is suggested by the observation that platelets from a patient with type 3 von Willebrand's disease, who totally lacks vWf, show little aggregation in response to the enzyme. Finally, plasmin-induced aggregation can be totally inhibited by antagonists of the αIIbβ3 integrin. The present study thus indicates a major role for secreted vWf in platelet aggregation induced by plasmin, through its likely interaction with the multifunctional receptor αIIbβ3. Presented in part at the European Platelet Group Meeting, Erfurt, Germany, May 1996


This chapter highlights the contributions of the EPICA project in reducing the skills gap of graduate students in sub-Saharan Africa. It presents the solution designed and implemented to improve the quality of employability skills development and visibility to prospective employers. The first part of this chapter provides an overview of the skills gap between higher education institutions and the workplace in sub-Saharan Africa. It includes the description of the specific eAssessment pedagogical framework and methodology supported by the EPICA ePortfolio as a transition tool designed to address this gap. The second part of the chapter outlines the challenges that could hinder the solution's implementation and the full exploitation of its benefits. Solutions and recommendations are also discussed with the aim to increase the impact in the EPICA stakeholder community and encourage the implementation of the proposed solution in other universities, especially those adopting blended and online learning models.


There has been a volume of work on the role of fish, shellfish and seafood in the dissemination of cholera, since Doniz observed it more than 80 years ago in Japan. The present authors have compared the anti-vibrio effect of various drugs and come to the following conclusions: 1. Seawater containing 0.2mcg per ml of Panfuran-S can kill vibrio El Tor at room temperature (28-30℃) within 4 hours whether it is sensitive or resistant to TC, CP, KM, SM and other chemotherapeutic agents. 2. Seawater containing 1 mcg per ml of Merthiolate can kill vibrio El Tor at room temperature within 4 hours whether it is sensitive or resistant to other antibioties. 3. Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol have good vibriostatic action. Most vibrios are sensitive to a concentration of 1-5 mcg per ml, but 1.3% of vibrios are resistantto this concentration. 4. Anti-vibrio effect of Kanamycin is slightly inferior to TC and CP. Namely, its MIC is located at 1-10mcg per ml, and the resistant ratio of vibrio is only 0.7%. 5. Streptomycin has an even more inferior anti-vibrio effect than Kanamycin. Namely, most vibrios are inhibited at 10mcg per ml, and the resistant ratio of vibrios is15.2%. 6. Agricultural pesticides, such as Phosvel 34% E.C., Abate 500-E, Dithan M-22, Dowicide A, Hexamine (pH 12.0) etc have no anti-vibrio effect at a concentration of 1 mcg per ml The authors concluded that Panfuran-S and Merthiolate are the most suitable drugs to eradicate vibrio at a very low concentration in seawater at room temperature. However, the toxic effect of these drugs upon fishes and the validity of these drugs acting on vibriosin vivo of fish and shellfish remain to be investigated.


This study investigated methods to strengthen existing non-composite steel bridge girders by the development of composite action between the steel girder and concrete slab. More specifically, the objective of this study was to identify structurally efficient and practical ways to post-install shear connectors in existing bridges. Various types of post-installed shear connection methods were tested under static, high-cycle fatigue, and low-cycle fatigue loads using a direct-shear test setup. Based on the results of single-shear connector tests, full-scale beam tests were performed under static load to evaluate system performance of the beams retrofitted for partial composite action with post-installed shear connectors. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that the strength and stiffness of existing non-composite steel bridge girders can be increased significantly by post-installing shear connectors. Development of composite action between the existing steel girder and concrete slab through the installation of post-installed shear connectors appears to be a structurally efficient and cost-effective approach to retrofit existing bridges. The addition of post-installed shear connectors can increase the load capacity of existing steel girders on the order of 40 to 50%. Preliminary guidelines are provided.


The obvious method in Ideological and political education has the operating characteristics of specialties, directness, publicity and criterion, and has the contemporary value of transmitting the dominant ideology and value of the Socialism, leading the social consciousness, forming the ambience of political mobilization, appeasing the radical motion and keeping the social stabilization. Whereas the deflection of restraining the obvious method and advancing the latent ones in improving and developing the methods of ideological and political, the obvious method should have more developments in keeping the predominant position, improving the ability of accepting, reinforcing the harmonizing the whole and combining closely with the latent method.


The research study aimed to determine what possible intervention development program can be initiated for Maritime cadets in relation to their decisions to pursue the maritime profession. The research study utilized random sampling and interviewed TIP Maritime cadets who were about to finish their academic requirements. Also, graduates from various maritime schools from different parts of the country who have completed their prescribed apprenticeship on board foreign ships and graduates who were ready to take the board examinations and those who had taken the required OIC Board Examinations were likewise interviewed. The results of the qualifying examinations given by various shipping companies revealed that 44 out 160 Marine Transportation graduates and 45 out of 132 Marine Engineering graduates passed the examinations. Also, 202 out of 667 Marine Transportation graduates and 79 out of 250 Marine Engineering graduates have undergone apprenticeship. However, the board examination results revealed that institutional passing percentages varied from year to year, and the highest passing percentage was 75%. In their last year of academic studies, marine students are required to undergo rigid competency trainings such as seminars and on-the job trainings to increase their knowledge and develop their skills to prepare them for the qualifying and entrance examinations. Cadets are also oriented on the requirements of the different local and international shipping companies. However, the percentage of passers of these examinations was not so bad as the below average passers was 17.3% while the average passers was 21%. Most shipping companies accept cadets who are 21-24 years of age and have graduated or completed their academic requirements and have passed the entrance or qualifying exams for their cadetship or apprenticeship program. About 80% of international shipping companies accept cadets who are 21-22 years of age. The waiting period of more than one year before the cadets are allowed to go on boardship greatly affects their career decisions because they mature fast and could not cope with the regular age requirement. Moreover, the long period of waiting entails more expenses and sometimes causes frustrations to some, preventing them to pursue further. The percentage of passing in the qualifying and entrance exams for the apprenticeship program were below average of 5% and 14% respectively which are considered low and which greatly affects the decisions of those who failed which are 95% and 86% respectively. The result of board examinations is averaging about 15% to 20%, which is of acceptable level as compared to earlier years in the 20th century, which averaged 11% to 15% only. The influence of adult or experienced marine officers who are mostly influential people and who are master mariners, senior marine officers, port captains, port engineers, superintendents deans or marine officers, faculty members or marine officers holding high positions is extremely essential in helping and recommending our marine cadets to be employed in the local and international shipping companies thus positively influencing or motivating them to pursue the maritime profession.


Sesbania rustrata applied @ 12.5 t.ha as basal for main crop of rice increased the growth parameters, grain yield and straw yield of ratoon crop. Glucose 2% spray on 5th day after harvest of plant crop (DAHP) plus 2% DAP (diammonium Phosphate) spray on 30 DAHP increased the growth parameters and yield of ratoon rice.


The solution is applied in Website architecture,it directly determines the Website of the availability,load capacity and concurrency.Starting from the Website evolution,by studying the related technology required in developing Website,gives a high performance Website framework from the application point of view on solving the high load and high concurrency problems,the site development faces.


Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder. PCOS women are at a high risk for insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome (MS). Adiponectin is positively related to insulin sensitivity. It has a preventive role in atherogenesis and MS. The present work was conducted to study the correlation between serum adiponectin levels and clinical characteristics and biochemical parameters in PCOS patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective study in 49 newly diagnosed (as per Rotterdam criteria) Indian PCOS women was conducted. PCOS women were clinically examined and investigated for biochemical parameters. Results: The mean serum adiponectin was 12 ± 9.4 μg/mL (range 0.47-45). Hypoadiponectinemia (serum adiponectin <4 μg/mL) was present in 22% patients. Age and adiponectin correlated significantly and inversely (r = −0.42, P = 0.027). Overweight/obese patients had lower mean adiponectin levels than normal weight (11.62 ± 9.5 vs 13.58 ± 9.5, P = 0.56). It was significantly lower in patients with acanthosis nigricans (AN) as compared with those without AN (8.4 ± 5.9 vs 15 ± 11, P = 0.038). Hirsute patients showed lower mean adiponectin levels than nonhirsute (10 ± 7.3 vs 13 ± 10, P = 0.57). A positive, insignificant correlation was observed between serum adiponectin and cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid stimulating hormone, levels. A negative insignificant correlation existed between serum adiponectin and luteinizing hormone (LH), LH: FSH ratio, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and Homeostasis Model Assessment. Conclusion: Hypoadiponectinemia is present in one-fifth of women with PCOS. Adiponectin levels decrease as age advances. Low levels of adiponectin possibly contributes to the development of dermal manifestation (AN) of insulin resistance.


Currently, more than two and a half years passed since Russian Federation had become a fully-fledged member of the World Trade Organization. Neither alarmist fears, no rainbow hopes regarding the accession came true. At the same time, leaving these clearly extreme forecasts aside and assuming that the period since August 2012 provided certain amount of relevant empirical evidences, one might be really surprised by remarkable diversity of existing opinions with respect to the impact of the WTO accession and membership on Russian economy. More than that, similar serious disagreements due to various objective reasons will most probably continue for at least several years ahead. Under the circumstances one of the main challenges for the researchers would be to separate specific impact of Russia's the WTO accession/membership on national economy in general, its foreign trade component in particular, from the influence of the other factors. As one possible way to meet abovementioned challenge the authors of a present paper suggested to take a broader look at the problem and to investigate international experience. A number of presumably accession-dependent macroeconomic indicators are analyzed for all 29 non-GATT member-countries (including Russia) that acceded to the WTO between 1995 and 2012. The results of this constitute a basis for certain conclusions. The study was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) by the Ministry of ducation,Technology, Science and Culture of Japan (#26245034) and The Heiwa Nakajima Foundation. Professor, the WTO chair-holder, World Economy Department Head, St.Petersburg State University, Russian Federation; email@example.com. Associate Professor, Economic Cybernetics Department Head, St.Petersburg State University, Russian Federation firstname.lastname@example.com.


Abstract A fundamental approach to quantitative ultrasonics must be based on mathematical modeling of ultrasonic wave phenomena. Measurement models must be developed to predict from first principles a measurement system's response to specific anomalies in a given material or structure. Once a mathematical model has been verified by comparison with a sufficiently wide range of experimental data, reliable synthetic data can be generated with little effort. The modeling approach aids in the design of efficient testing configurations and in the interpretation of experimental results and field data. Measurement models can be used to optimize the operation of NDE systems. Synthetic data can play an important role in the training of a neural network or to establish a knowledge base for an expert system. Quantitative modeling of the interaction of ultrasound with internal, surface breaking and near-surface cracks is discussed in some detail. As an example a measurement model is described for the line-focus acoust...


The invention relates to a locating technology, and aims at providing an underground pipeline locating method and a device. The underground pipeline locating method comprises: setting a burial position of an electronic tag firstly; and then obtaining longitude and latitude coordinates of the electronic tag through a detector and transmitting the longitude and latitude coordinates of the electronic tag to a background computer management system to set up electronic tag information, and forming a pipeline geographic information system (GIS) on an electronic map of the background computer management system along with engineering information; during pipeline maintenance and locating in later period, firstly using global position system (GPS) to locate roughly according to the longitude and latitude coordinates of the electronic tag in the GIS, and then using the detector to locate accurately and amending burial depth. The underground pipeline locating method and the device are capable of intuitively and accurately displaying information of a geographic position of the underground pipeline, pipeline trend, pipeline key point information and pipeline ambient condition and the like through a hand-held terminal and a GIS map, and therefore working efficiency is greatly improved.


Being restricted by resources and demands and confronting new challenge from foreign competition, some new policies and innovation of system must be carried out in order to promote the agricultural growth in our country, including as follows: development of urbanization and industralization; changing the division pattern between town and village; promoting the rural democratization and increasing the opportunities for peasants to participate in the administration and dicussion of state affairs etc.


The results of experimental studies of sparking in the soil at boundary between grounded electrode and soil are presented. Dependence of transient resistance on duration and amplitude of impulse voltage is determined. Measurements are carried out for two values of soil moisture 10 and 20%. Optical analyses of sparking in the soil at electrode soil boundary were carried out. The obtained results have phenomenological character and later will be studied theoretically.


The article analyses the various ways of depicting the dead body and its functions in the literary works of Eliza Orzeszkowa. Due to the ambiguity of the very concept of a dead body (corpse, cadaver) and the special approach to this issue in Polish positivism (with all its dimensions and complexity), many of the author's works contain interesting perspectives and opportunities to interpret the problem. The analysis of individual cases (the corpses of a young man, a young woman, an old woman, an insurgent, and an animal), using the tools of anthropology and ecocriticism, offers new conclusions about the issue of the dead body and death in Orzeszkowa's On the Niemen.


CINEMATOGRAPHIC roentgenography of the human heart has been accomplished by two principal methods. Photographing with cinema films the image on the fluorescent screen was first accomplished (1) and recently brought to a high degree of perfection (2) by Lomon and Commandon. Full-size roentgenograms of the human heart, taken at fixed instants in the cardiac cycle (3, 4) or in rapid succession (5, 6) have not been of great value until Ruggles (7), with the assistance of Mr. E. P. Fletcher, designed and operated a machine taking fifteen 8×10 in. instantaneous roentgenograms per second. The cinematographic positive prepared by them left nothing to be desired in the sharpness of projection of the motions of the heart, but it is questionable if such a method has any advantage over that of Lomon and Commandon for demonstration or preservation of fluoroscopic findings. Its disadvantage, for such work, is the greater cost and difficulty of operation. For the more important purpose of analyzing the action of the nor...


Monolithic breakwaters are preferred to other types of structures in terms of economical and environmental aspects. Nevertheless, they are more vulnerable to foundation failures, especially to stepwise failures. Due to the highly complex processes involved in wave-structure-foundation interaction, no reliable model yet exists for this failure mechanism. Therefore, a semi-coupled CFD-CSD model system and a simplified model are developed in OpenFOAM to describe wave-structure-foundation interaction for monolithic breakwaters, and particularly stepwise failures.
The CFD model is an extension of the incompressible multiphase Eulerian solver of OpenFOAM by introducing different seepage laws and a simplified fluid compressibility model. The CFD model is successful in reproducing breaking wave impact including effect of entrapped air. A new CSD model is developed to solve the fully dynamic, coupled Biot equations with a new approach taking advantage of the PISO algorithm to resolve pore fluid velocity-pressure coupling. Soil-structure interaction is introduced via a frictional contact model and for soil behaviour, a multi-surface plasticity model is implemented. The model is validated against analytical models and physical tests. The model succeeds to reproduce wave-induced residual pore pressure buildup and soil densification followed by pore pressure dissipation. A one-way coupling of both models is achieved by transforming the CFD model output into input for the CSD model. The semi-coupled model system is applied successfully to reproduce selected results of a caisson breakwater subject to breaking wave impact in the Large Wave Flume (GWK). The model system is applied to expand the range of conditions tested in GWK for response of the soil foundation.
A new load eccentricity concept, is proposed to classify response of the foundation in four load eccentricity regimes. Load eccentricity carries all significant information related to wave loads (horizontal and uplift) and to properties of the structure (mass and geometry). Using this concept, recommendations are drawn for design of monolithic breakwaters, and a new simplified nonlinear 3-DOF model is developed with elastoplastic springs. Model parameters are calibrated using results from the CFD-CSD model for different sand relative densities and different load eccentricities. The simplified model can simulate the stepwise failure (sliding, settlement and tilt) as well as the overall failure (overturning).


Sustainability is a global mandate and has set agendas for regions, nations, sectors, and corporations. Because of the globalized nature of the economy, the pursuit of sustainability in one place has implications for others. The aim of this paper is to describe how a sector—the Guatemalan Sugarcane Agro‐industry (GSAI)—can make progress toward sustainability and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the country in which it operates. The methodology used was a case study description, based largely on data reported by the GSAI. The main findings of the study show that the contributions of the industry to water and sanitation in its area of operations have been important, but limited, due to several factors that include issues such as: lack of political will, lack of technical capacity, financing, and appropriate legislation. On the other hand, the contributions of the GSAI to energy have been remarkable for the Guatemalan energy matrix, highlighting that cogeneration from sugarcane bagasse represents up to 30% of the electricity demand in the country during the 6‐month harvest season. Building on social corporate responsibility theory, the actions related to the goals on water and energy are explained. What was found is that the contributions of a sector, though important, are possibly not outstanding at the national scale, and that the conditions of the country limit the reach or pace of progress of the sector. An exception is the contributions toward sustainable energy and associated emissions, which are noteworthy. The interplay of actors at different scales needs to be understood if globally we are to achieve the goals. This understanding is key to put in place policies and enabling conditions for sectors to make progress faster, helping their country advance as well as contributing to sustainability of buyers in other countries or regions.


This learning session has been designed taking into account the pedagogical processes in the area of Science and Technology, in students of third grade of primary school.
In this professional qualification report the learning session has been developed: we know the life cycle of plants and animals, in order to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes in the students of the third grade of primary reeducation.
To achieve this goal, the planning, implementation and evaluation instruments have been carried out, and the corresponding scientific and pedagogical support has been reviewed.
Finally, the conclusions of the revised scientific and pedagogical livelihoods have been prepared and the revised bibliographic references cited


As the advent of nearly ubiquitous information infrastructures, such as Internet, promotes the development of electronic commerce applications, new market intermediaries are emerging which bring significant changes in the economics of marketing and distribution channels by interposing themselves between suppliers and consumers in electronic marketplaces. These new market intermediaries provide IT infrastructure, such as user interface, electronic product catalogues and search mechanisms, to enable buyers and sellers to realize commercial transaction over computer networks. The central claim of this paper is that the provision of IT alone is not likely to create trustworthy electronic marketplaces, and that institutional policies and processes must be an important part of electronic intermediary services far wholesale markets. The institutional policies and processes regulate responsibilities and duties of market participants and terms of settlements, and legitimate all transactions made over computer networks, thus reducing new transaction risks involved with electronic commerce. By using an in-depth case study of AUCNET, this paper highlights the importance of the institutional policies and processes for electronic intermediary services in wholesale markets, and suggests various implications relevant to the analysis, design and implementation of successful electronic intermediaries.


In this paper, we propose two supply chain inventory models with controllable lead time, the first is proposed under centralized decision mode and the other is proposed under decentralized decision mode. The solution procedures are also suggested to get the optimal solutions. In addition, taking individual rationality into consideration, Shapely value method and MCRS method are used to coordinate the benefits of the vendor and the buyer. Numerical example is given to illustrate the results of the proposed models.


A theoretical model was derived for the steady state one-dimensional velocity distribution and two-dimensional temperature distributions in annular laminar liquid films falling down on the wall outside a vertical tube with heat and mass transferring from the interface to counter-current gas flow.Based on the model,liquid film thickness and interfacial heat flux could be predicted if shear stress was obtained.From the good agreement of experimental data and predicted values of the interfacial heat fluxes within the range of gas flow Reynolds number Reg1200,the method of using interfacial friction factor to solve the model was reliable under laminar conditions of the two phases.The model simulation results revealed the nonlinear characteristics of velocity and temperature distributions in the film.The sharp temperature gradient close to the gas-liquid interface indicated that it was an effective way to enhance heat and mass transfer by reducing film thickness.


Making accurate wind measurements in difficult site conditions is a challenge for the meteorological community. Wind energy development has especially increased the importance of high quality wind data. Multi-million investment decisions are being based on bankable datasets. Over the years mechanical anemometers have become the industry standard for wind speed measurement despite their non-ideal performance in difficult conditions. In this paper, we provide a better understanding of the state-of-the-art ultrasonic wind sensor functionality, trade-offs, and advantages in demanding wind measurement campaigns like wind energy resource assessment. Results are shared from MEASNET wind tunnel tests to characterize performance against traditional mechanical anemometers and older generation ultrasonic wind sensors. Experiences from Vaisala deployed meteorological towers in Europe with heated mechanical and ultrasonic wind sensors will also be presented, along with recommendations for best practices to maximize data availability and quality in the most demanding conditions.


A method for the design of controllers for closed-loop converter-controlled dc drives is given. Popov's stability criterion has been applied for analyzing stability in the large of the drive system. The paper includes experimental and digital simulation results of a dc drive.


Confidence in the exceptional resilience of American democracy is particularly misplaced in the face of today's illiberal populist movements, whose leaders are constantly learning from each other. Trump has a wide variety of tried and tested techniques on which to draw; already, he has vowed to take pages out of Putin's playbook. Defenders of liberal democracy, too, must learn from each other's victories and defeats. Below are some hard-earned lessons from countries that have been overrun by the contemporary wave of illiberal democracy. They could be essential for preserving the American republic in the dark years to come.


We investigate the γ-ray and X-ray properties of the flat spectrum radio quasar PKS 2149−306 at redshift z = 2.345. A strong γ-ray flare from this source was detected by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope satellite in 2013 January, reaching on January 20 a daily peak flux of (301 ± 36) × 10^(−8) ph cm^(−2) s^(−1) in the 0.1–100 GeV energy range. This flux corresponds to an apparent isotropic luminosity of (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10^(50) erg s^(−1), comparable to the highest values observed by a blazar so far. During the flare the increase of flux was accompanied by a significant change of the spectral properties. Moreover significant flux variations on a 6-h time-scale were observed, compatible with the light crossing time of the event horizon of the central black hole. The broad-band X-ray spectra of PKS 2149−306 observed by Swift-XRT and NuSTAR are well described by a broken power-law model, with a very hard spectrum (Γ_1 ∼ 1) below the break energy, at E_(break) = 2.5–3.0 keV, and Γ_2 ∼ 1.4–1.5 above the break energy. The steepening of the spectrum below ∼3 keV may indicate that the soft X-ray emission is produced by the low-energy relativistic electrons. This is in agreement with the small variability amplitude and the lack of spectral changes in that part of the X-ray spectrum observed between the two NuSTAR and Swift joint observations. As for the other high-redshift FSRQ detected by both Fermi-LAT and Swift-BAT, the photon index of PKS 2149−306 in hard X-ray is 1.6 or lower and the average γ-ray luminosity higher than 2 × 10^(48) erg s^(−1).


While cross-border acquisitions by emerging economies are increasing over time, a significant percentage of deals are withdrawn before completion. By integrating the 'organizational learning lens perspective' with the 'signalling lens perspective', this study aims to investigate deal-specific, firm-specific and country-specific factors that can increase the likelihood of deal completion. The analysis is based on 16 years of data from a prominent emerging economy: India, from 2005 to 2021. A binary logistic regression model is used to understand the determinants of deal completion. Additionally, standard event study methodology is deployed for a particular firm-specific determinant (market reaction to deal announcement) to develop a proxy for the variable. Our findings indicate that factors which enhance learning during the acquisition process and communicate strong and positive signals to build trust between the acquirer and target positively impact the completion of announced acquisitions. Specifically, we report that acquisitions using cash as the payment method and those that receive positive market reactions at the time of acquisition announcement exhibit a higher likelihood of completion. In contrast, the prior failure experience of the acquirer has a detrimental impact on the likelihood of deal completion. The empirical results have important implications for improving the success of cross-border deals from emerging nations.


A genomic clone, 536, located at the 44CD region of polytene chromosomes of Drosophila rnelanogaster, has been characterized for its neurobiological impor-tance. We found that this clone contains a gene which produces 2.6-, 1.3- and 1.1-kilobase (kb) RNAs. While the 2.6-kb RNA is expressed only in the head, the 1.3-kb RNA is present exclusively in the body. The 1.1-kb RNA, however, is found in both the head and body, but in much higher concentration in the head. DNA sequence analysis of a 2.6-kb RNA-specific cDNA showed that this gene encodes a 70-amino acid polypeptide which is the putative Drosophila homologue to the y subunit of the bovine G-protein. The Drosophila protein, named D-Grl, shares 46, 43, and 28% iden- tity, and 59, 62, and 60% similarity, with the 72,73, and yt proteins of bovine G proteins, respectively. Sequencing of the 1.1-kb RNA-specific cDNA clone revealed that the 1.1-kb RNA is produced from the 2.6-kb transcription unit by usage of an alternative polyadenylation site, and has a coding region identical to that of the 2.6-kb RNA. Genomic Southern blot hybridization indicated that the Drosophila genome has only one D-Wl gene. Throughout development the 1.1-kb RNA is found to be the most prevalent species; its level peaks between 9 and 12 h of embryogenesis.


Public space is a scarce good in cities. There are many concurrent usages, which makes an adequate allocation of space both difficult and highly attractive. A lot of space is allocated by parking cars even if the parking spaces are not occupied by cars all the time. In this work, we analyze space demand and usage by parking cars, in order to evaluate, when this space could be used for other purposes. The analysis is based on 3D point clouds acquired at several times during a day. We propose a processing pipeline to extract car bounding boxes from a given 3D point cloud. For the car extraction we utilize a label transfer technique for transfers from semantically segmented 2D RGB images to 3D point cloud data. This semantically segmented 3D data allows us to identify car instances. Subsequently, we aggregate and analyze information about parking cars. We present an exemplary analysis of the urban area where we extracted 15.000 cars at five different points in time. Based on this aggregated we present analytical results for time dependent parking behavior, parking space availability and utilization.


Several research groups including us had reported that catalytic particles with asymmetric composition or morphology exhibit autonomous motions in a homogeneous solution containing reactant. In this study, we provide asymmetric environment where unsteady or quasi-steady gradient of a reactant (ethanol) is formed, although we use spherical catalytic particles made of single metal (Pt). As a result, we found that even spherical particles exhibit specific motility, chemotaxis that objects move along concentration gradient of specific chemical species. In our system, Pt catalytic particles show translation toward the area with higher concentrated reactant (ethanol). Such a new phenomenon is expected to apply to chemical systems such as power source of micromotors and catalytic reaction systems with high reaction efficiency, due to particles' motility.


The main focus of the study is to identify the most suitable & appropriate data mining classification algorithms being used or implemented in medical decision support systems and also to analyze, evaluate the performance of the algorithms. According to the previous studies mainly six algorithms were found to be appropriate these were J48 decision tree, Naive Bayes, IBK, Support Vector Machine, ZeroR & VFI. The different datasets were chosen for assessment; these five UCI datasets were hepatitis, dermatology, heart-statlog, liver-disorders & lung-cancer dataset. The performance measures used in this study were percent of correct classifications instances or accuracy, absolute mean error, precision, recall, and F-measure values. The experiment was being conducted using the WEKA tool and the classification algorithm analysis was done using cross validation of 10 folds. The results reveals that for dataset hepatitis the accuracy measure for the classifier Support Vector Machine & VFI was found to be highest with values 85.16% correctly classified instances each, second appropriate classification algorithm Naive Bayes with 84.51% accuracy. When considering the heart-statlog dataset the accuracy measure value of Support Vector Machine was found to be best as compared with other classifiers with value 84.07% also the mean absolute error value of 0.1593 was being the lowest. The result concludes that identification of appropriate algorithm for the use in medical decision support system is a challenging task. According to the overall performance based on average and correlation it can be concluded that for the above mentioned medical datasets the most appropriate algorithms are VFI, J48 Decision Tree & Naive Bayes with accuracy values 80.52%, 80.27% and 79.79% respectively.


Single-phase heat transfer as well as pressure drop characteristics for microfin tubes with a nominal diameter of 9.52 mm are reported in the present investigations. Experiments were conducted in a double-pipe heat exchanger with water as the working medium. In the present experiments, two commercially available microfin tubes and a smooth tube were tested. The heat transfer coefficients were obtained using the Wilson plot technique. It was found that the microfin tube exhibits a rough tube`s characteristics. In the low and medium Reynolds number range (Re < 15,000), the roughness Reynolds number lies in the transition range (e{sup +} < 23). As a result, the Dittus-Doelter-type Wilson plot function cannot correlate the heat transfer data well in this range. It was found that by using a heat momentum analogy, a better correlation of the present microfin heat transfer data is achieved.


In order to select proper turfgrasses for urban green space,44 cultivars of 6 turfgrasses species turfgrasses introduction were conducted in Xi'an from 2001 to 2003.An evaluation system on turfgrass quality was established,and turfgrasses qualities were evaluted by color,coverage,density and unity values.The excelent cultivars were found for urban green space in Xi'an.


the effect of industrialization process cannot be apart from the presence of the problems tending to lead the social jealously, both materialistic in nature and due to the presence of the inharmonious relationship or called conflict within industrial society. the conflict approach proposed by coser as conflict functionalism means that in the presence og conflict, consensus, integration and dissension in an intact unity in understaking a fundamental process, despite different content of each portion of each correlated social system. the conflict theory proposed by ralf dahrendorf is the struggle of class existing in industrial society, not emphasizing on the thingking of production infrastructure but power holding, encompassing the legitimate right to dominate others


1 List of Tables 111 List of Figure V Abbreviation VII CHAPTER-1:INTRODUCTION ............................................................1-12 1.1 Potato and potato plant ..........................................................................1 1.2 Varieties ........................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Local varieties .................................................................................2 1.2.2 High yielding varieties (HYV) ............................................................... 3 1.3 Cultivation ........................................................................................ 1.4 Production of seed potato .....................................................................4 1.5 Use ................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Pests ................................................................................ ..............5 1.7 Diseases ..........................................................................................5 1.8 Prevention ........................................................................................ 6 1.9 Alternative way of potato production ........................................................7 1.10 Objective .....................................................................................11 CHAPTER-2: MATERIALS AND METHODS .......................................13-23 2. Materials ........................................................................................13 2.1 Plant materials .................................................................................13 13 2.2 Sterilizing agents ...................................................................... ............. 2.3 Different culture media 13 2.3.1 Shoot initiation and differentiation media ................................................13 2.3.2 Root induction medium ....................................................................13 2.4 Plant growth regulators ......................................................................14 2.5 Methods ........................................................................................14 2.5.1 Explants preparation .......................................................................1 4 2.5.2 Preparation of PROP stock solution ..................................................... 14 2.5.3 Preparation of stock solution ............................................................. 14 22.214.171.124 Macronutrients (MS-I Stock solution) ................................................. 15 184.108.40.206 Micronutrients (MS-II Stock solution ) .................................................15 220.127.116.11 Iron EDTA (MS-III Stock solution) ....................................................15 126.96.36.199 Myo inositol (MS-IV Stock solution) 15 188.8.131.52 MS Stock C 16 22.214.171.124 MS Stock D 16 220.127.116.11 PROP Vitamins ............................................................................16 2.6 Preparation of growth regulators .......................................................... 16 2.7 Steps followed for the preparation of culture media ......................................17 2.8 Stock solution of sterilizing agent ........................................................... 17 2.9 Sterilization technique ........................................................................18 2.9.1 Glassware sterilization .....................................................................1 8 2.9.2 Sterilization of plant materials ............................................................ 18 2.9.3 Sterilization of culture media ............................................................. 18 2.9.4 Sterilizing of working area ................................................................ 18 2.9.5 Precautions to ensure aseptic conditions ................................................18 2.10 Culture condition ............................................................................19 2.11 Excision and inoculation of explants .....................................................19 2.12 Maintenance of sub culture .................................................................19 2.13 Root induction ................................................................................1 9 2.14 Transplantation of in vitro derived plantlets ............................................19 2.15 Experiments ..................................................................................20 2.16 Details of experimental methodology ....................................................20 2.1 6.1 Treatments .................................................................................20 2.16.2 Explant preparation , excision and inoculation of explants ...........................21 2.16.3 Design of the experiment ................................................................21 2.16.4 Data collection ............................................................................. 21 2.16.5 Statistical analysis ..................................................... ....................23 CHAPTER-3: RESULTS ........................................................................24-74 3.1. Effect of different concentration of BAP and Kn on in vitro regeneration form shoot apex explant of potato .........................................................................24 3.1.1. Survival percentage of explant ............................................................24 3.1.2 Day requirement for shoot initiation ......................................................28 3.1.3 Shoot length (cm) per plantlet 28 3.1.4 Number of nodes per plantlet .............................................................29 3.1.5 Number of leaves per plantlet ............................................................30 3.1.6 Fresh weight (mg) of shoot per plantlet ..................................................31 3.2 Effect of different concentrations of BAP and Kn on in vitro regeneration from nodal segment of potato ....................................................................37 3.2.1. Survival percentage of explant ...........................................................37 3.2.2 Day requirement for shoot initiation .....................................................37 3.2.3 Shoot length (cm) per plantlet .............................................................41 3.2.4 Number of nodes per plantlet .............................................................42 3.2.5 Number of leaves per plantlet ............................................................42 3.2.6 Fresh weight (mg) of shoot per plantlet .................................................43 3.2.7 Decision from above experiments ........................................................44 3.3 Effect of BAP and Kn along with auxins (GA3 and IAA) on direct regeneration from internode explant of potato ........................................................49 3.3.1 Day requirement for shoot initiation ...................................................... 49 3.3.2 Percentage of explants producing shoots .................................. .............53 3.3.3 Percentage of explants producing roots .......................................... ......54 3.3.4 Percentage of explants producing both shoots and roots .............................54 3.3.5 Number of multiple shoots per explant .................................................55 3.4 Effect of BAP and Kn along with auxins (GA3 and IAA) on direct regeneration from leaf explant of potato ................................................................59 3.4.1 Day requirement for shoot initiation ......................................................59 3.4.2 Percentage of explants producing shoots ...............................................63 3.4.3 Percentage of explants producing roots ....................................... ..........64 3.4.4 Percentage of explants producing both shoots and roots .............................64 3.4.5 Number of multiple shoots per explant ..................................................65 3.4.6. Decision from above two experiments .................................................69 3.5 Effects of basal media and different concentrations of IBA on rooting of in vitro regenerated shoots .......................................................................... 70 3.5.1 Days requirement for root initiation .....................................................70 3.5.2 Number of roots per plantlet ..............................................................70 3.5.3 Root length (cm) per plant ................................................................70 3.5.4 Growth of root ..............................................................................72 3.5.5 Days required for well developed roots .................................................72 3.6 Transplantation ................................................................................72 CHAPTER-4: DISCUSSION ..............................................................75-78 CHAPTER-5: REFERENCS ................................................................................ 79-87 APPENDIX ..................................................................88-98


Self-Tracking stress at work is an important aspect of stress management and is often the first step to improving mental health and personal well-being. We introduce StressShoe, a DIY toolkit for self-tracking stress and just-in-time stress interventions for office workers performing sedentary tasks. Informed by a focus group study and a pilot study, we designed and tested a toolkit that consists of a single, off-the-shelf, shoe-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU), a machine learning model that estimates acute stress, and a companion mobile app. The mobile app allows for user-defined just-in-time interventions on the estimated stress level. To demonstrate the benefits of our system we evaluated StressShoe with 10 users over 4 weeks. We identified several effective just-in-time personalised intervention users created and found that StressShoe is easy to use and helped them reflect on their daily stressful experiences.


This chapter presents a methodology to understand and assess the Sustainability (ecological, social, physical and financial) linkages of various livelihoods in a rural community in an integrated manner to strengthen the scoping stage for projects in rural areas. The methodology relies on local knowledge and perception and employs cognitive mapping to understand the linkages and derive a detailed list of indicators. Indicators derived from linkages are then developed into a questionnaire to record information regarding indicator status/ trend (positive/ negative) and its spatial property (where is it found?). The utility of the methodology in preparing the Sustainability linkage document is illustrated with the example of an Indian village.


In March, the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) published a manuscript entitled Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity: Evolution of Race and Ethnicity Considerations for the Cardiology Workforce in the United States of America From 1969 to 2019 (J Am Heart Assoc. 2020;9:e015959. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.015959) authored by Norman C. Wang, MD, MS, from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).


Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), the deviation from the normal symmetrical condition of a morphological trait having specific morphological symmetry, increases in response to environmental and genetic stress, is related to phenotypic plasticity and is considered a tool for monitoring a species conservation status. However, FA–stress relations are dependent on measured traits or species-specific characteristics such as mating system and habitat. This study investigates the relationships between FA, genetic diversity, population size, density and individual fitness traits (plant height, fruit and seed set), in the endemic Aquilegia thalictrifolia, a mixed breeder that is declining, but maintaining high levels of heterozygosity. Leaf and flower FA and other traits were investigated in 10 populations of A. thalictrifolia, the whole species range. As a result, we found similar patterns of FA in leaves and flowers between populations, indicating a homogenous level of stress between populations that differed for other traits. FA and the other traits were not related, including heterozygosity. Heterozygosity was not related to individual fitness traits with the exception of plant height. In accordance with other studies, we found that the role of FA as a tool for assessing the conservation status of a species or population should be reconsidered. However, we conclude that a low level of FA should not automatically be considered an indicator of good conservation status or low level of stress, because in species that evolved in highly stable environments it may indicate a scarce ability to plastically respond to environmental changes, as a consequence of environmental and genetic canalization. Further investigation of this point is needed.


Lead-free K1−xNaxNbO3 ceramics with x=0.48–0.54 were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method to investigate the influence of the K/Na ratio on phase structures and electrical properties. The results suggest that a typical morphotropic phase boundary exists at x=0.52–0.525, separating the monoclinic and orthorhombic phases. The sample with the composition near x=0.52 shows the maximum values of the piezoelectric constant (d33=160 pC/N) and the electromechanical coupling coefficient (kt=47%). The results provide a helpful guidance to consider the optimal ratio of K to Na for designing and developing new (K,Na)NbO3-based ceramics.


The effect of Maleated Styrene/Ethylene-Butylene/Styrene (SEBS-g-MA) and organoclay contents on the constituting balance between stiffness/strength versus toughness/ductility by melt blending with Polypropylene (PP) in an internal mixer has been investigated. In this direction, 9 different formulations varying in montmorillonite (MMT) and SEBS-g-MA contents were made. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to evaluate the effects of the Org-MMT and SEBS-g-MA additions on the structure of nanocomposites. XRD traces showed that the characteristic (001) peak of the nanocomposites shifted to the lower angle region. On the other hand, XRD and TEM results showed simultaneous existence exfoliated and intercalated structure in produced nanocomposites. The tensile properties and impact strength of these toughened nanocomposites are discussed in terms of the MMT and rubber contents and morphology. Adding of nanoclay enhanced and improved the stiffness properties (modulus and strength) of produced nanocomposites but reduced their toughness properties (impact strength). On the other hand, adding of SEBS-g-MA reduced stiffness properties but increase toughness properties. Hardness results analyzed and SEM micrograph considered in this project. As a main result, we gain access a best, optimum composition that which, there is a clear trade-off between stiffness/strength versus toughness/ductility, in this work.


Feasibility of using oxidant vortex reverse flow in designing jet burners for prospective combustion chambers fueled with synthesis gas. A complex of experimental studies of the reverse flow burner module fueled with methane with addition of synthesis gas is carried out; steady combustion concentration range is defined.


In 1891 Professor F. W. Putnam engaged Lieutenant R. E. Peary to collect ethnographic museum specimens from the west coast of Greenland for exhibit in the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Correspondence thus begun between these two men, and which continued during a nineteen-year collaboration, is presented here for the light it throws on a little-known aspect of the history of American anthropology. Early in 1891 Frederic Ward Putnam (1839-1915), Curator of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University, conceived a grand idea of assembling the largest anthropological collection ever exhibited at a world's fair for the World's Columbian Exposition being planned for Chicago. After presenting his proposal to the officials, who received his suggestion with enthusiasm, he was appointed Chief of the Department of Ethnology and Archaeology and given authority to proceed at once to convert his great dream into reality. His basic plan was to send out field parties all over the world, but especially in the western hemisphere, to collect objects, photographs, measurements, and data concerning native peoples representing many different cultures. Whenever it was not possible to bring back some of the living natives with their paraphernalia, models could be made from photographs and measurements, and with the material culture collected, a faithful reconstruction of the peoples and their mode of life could be prepared. Arrangements were made at once to send out trained field assistants to many parts of the Americas for the collection of suitable specimens with full data to illustrate in a realistic way the life of native peoples essentially as they were at


Apparatus for generating combined compressional and shear wave signals in the earth which employs a seismic source, such as a cylindrical gas exploder, having a free-moving wedge shaped base which tapers symmetrically downwardly to a thin blade. When the exploder is fired at an angle inclined to the vertical, a force is generated along its longitudinal axis which drives the base downwardly in the same direction so as to propagate seismic signals having a compressional component and a shear component. The blade is disposed transversely to the direction of the horizontal component of this applied force. The penetration achieved by the thin blade portion of the base insures sufficient earth coupling to generate high energy shear seismic signals and minimizes horizontal translation of the exploder under a wide range of soil conditions. The axial symmetry of the base permits the exploder to be rotated in place about a horizontal axis and fired a second time to generate seismic waves of equal magnitude and of opposite phase at the same point on the earth's surface.


In this paper, we propose the first comprehensive mathematical performance model for product networks where fully adaptive routing is applied. Besides the generality of this model which makes it suitable to be used for any product graph, our analysis shows that the proposed model exhibits high accuracy. Simulation results show the validity and accuracy of the model even in heavy traffic and saturation region, where other models have severe problems for prediction.


This article explores the use of literature, film, and other nontraditional materials in the business curriculum to establish a complementary humanities perspective in management education. Borrowing from the rich tradition of literary criticism, the authors introduce the concept of coduction to provide a different model of the critical thought processes required to develop necessary business judgment—how we apprehend instances of "real" life and manufacture from them the lessons that inform action. The authors demonstrate that fiction—literature and film, in particular—provides the best medium for engaging and examining these thought processes in the classroom.


By employing modern detection technology, variations of the main physical and chemical indexes of the crust and core of Songhe distiller's yeast in the cultivation process are tracked and analyzed, and the variation trends of room temperature, yeast core temperature and yeast bank humidity in the yeast cultivation process are also recorded in detail. And, the systematic study of the physical and chemical indexes of yeast during the storage process reveals some variation rules of those indexes. The research thus provides a theoretical basis for yeast cultivation, storage and use, and is of great significance for cultivating high- quality yeast, formulating a reasonable storage period and utilizing yeast scientifically.


A duplexer for an ultrasound imaging-system capable of selectively coupling a transducer element to either a transmitter or a receiver, depending on whether the imaging system is in the transmit mode or receive mode, contains a variable capacitance diode which is connected in a direction opposite that of transmit pulses emitted by the transmitter between the transducer element and the receiver. In this manner, one obtains an improved duplexer that operates with virtually no power loss, without drive circuits, without leakage currents, and with low noise.


According to new research accepted for publication in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Chinese herbal medicines are well recognized for their medicinal properties and have been used in traditional medicine for millennia. The medicinal effects attributed to herbal medicines, based mainly on uncharacterized substances or extracts, include depression management, cerebrovascular disease management, Alzheimer's disease management, and antianxiety, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic or antihypercholesterolemic, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects.

4-Hydroxychalcone (4HCH) is an alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone with the core structure of chalcone and one hydroxyl-substituent on the 4-position of the A ring. It belongs to the largest class of plant secondary metabolites and is considered to be precursor of flavonoids and isoflavonoids serving plant defense mechanisms to counteract reactive oxygen species in order to survive and prevent molecular damage and damage by microorganisms, insects, and animals. F. Zhang investigated the preventive effects of 4-hydroxychalcone (4HCH) on resistant hypertension. The cryptochrome-null mice, which received high-salt treatment, were treated orally with 4HCH 10 mg/kg, 4HCH 20 mg/kg, and 4HCH 40 mg/kg, respectively. The salt administration in cryptochrome-null mice is able to induce an increase in systolic pressure which is associated with hyperaldosteronism, inflammation, and kidney injury. Treatment with 40 mg/kg 4HCH reduced systolic hypertension, serum IL-1β, and TNF-α levels and suppressed the activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and renal injury. The impact of 4HCH on the hyperaldosteronism, inflammation, and kidney injury provides new insights for future development of therapeutic strategies in resistant hypertension.

Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM), an edible mushroom is native to Brazil, which is widely used for nonprescribed and medicinal purposes. C. Han investigated the medium composition of ABM that was optimized using response surface methodology for maximum mycelial biomass and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production. The model predicts to gain a maximal mycelial biomass and extracellular polysaccharide at 1.047 g/100 mL and 0.367 g/100 mL, respectively, when the potato is 29.88 g/100 mL, the glucose is 1.01 g/100 mL, and the bran is 1.02 g/100 mL. The verified experiments showed that the model was significantly consistent with the model prediction and that the trends of mycelial biomass and extracellular polysaccharide were predicted by artificial neural network. After that, the optimized medium was used for the submerged culture of ABM. Then, alcohol-induced liver injury in mice model was used to examine the protective effect of ABM cultured using the optimized medium on the liver. And the hepatic histopathological observations showed that ABM had a relatively significant role in mice model, which had alcoholic liver damage. Y. Gao investigated the effect of Agaricus brasiliensis extract (ABE) on phenylhydrazine-induced neonatal jaundice in rats. Administration of ABE dose-dependently reduced the elevated bilirubin level induced by phenylhydrazine. It can be somewhat supported from the results of in vitro bilirubin degradation experiment. ABE treatment also reduced the total antioxidant status (TAOS), cascade O2−/SOD, level of NF-κB protein, and adrenomedullin (AM). Overall, the results of this study demonstrated that Agaricus brasiliensis extract may be beneficial to reducing bilirubin level without causing hepatotoxicity in neonatal jaundice.

Crocetin (C20H24O4) is one of the major active constituents of saffron, which is derived from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus L., belonging to the Iridaceae family. C.-D. Li investigated the effect of crocetin (C20H24O4) on methylcholanthrene- (MCA-) induced uterine cervical cancer in mice. After the mice were treated orally with crocetin, maleic dialdehyde (MDA), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were examined by ELISA or immunohistochemistry. The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activation in Hela cells was analyzed using fluorescence microscopy for light microscopic examination. The MCA-mice showed a significant increase in plasma MDA, PMN, IL-1β, TNF-α, and nitrates levels. At the same time, the mRNA level of COX-2 in Hela cells was also significantly increased. These changes were attenuated by crocetin supplementation in the MCA mice. Crocetin supplementation in the MCA mice also showed the protection against cervical cancer. These results suggest that crocetin may act as a chemopreventive and an anti-inflammatory agent.

Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) is a well-known invigorator in Chinese materia medica with the effects of hepatoprotective effect, anticancer activity, antioxidant activity, and so on. C. Han reviewed the pharmacological effects of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi. It contains a number of bioactive components. Moreover, FLL has been known to have hepatoprotective effect, anticancer activity, antioxidant activity, immunomodulating effect, antiviral activity, and antiosteoporosis activity and other pharmacodynamic effects have been demonstrated as well, such as the treatment of coronary heart disease. The chemical constituents of FLL include polysaccharides, triterpenes, secoiridoids, and flavonoids, which maybe contributed to the pharmacological activities of FLL. Therefore, the pharmacological effects and health function of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi are more and more focused on in the world.

Breviscapine is an active ingredient of flavonoids extracted from dried Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz. Z. Zhou reviewed combined therapy of diabetic peripheral neuropathy with breviscapine and mecobalamine. A meta-analysis on combined therapy of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) with breviscapine and mecobalamine was performed to evaluate the efficacy of this therapy. A total of 17 articles including 1398 DPN patients were identified. Homogeneity was observed among different studies (P = 0.74). The efficacy of combined therapy with breviscapine and mecobalamine was significantly better than that in control group (P < 0.0001 (OR = 5.01, 95% CI: 3.70–6.78)). Available findings suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of breviscapine combined with mecobalamine is superior to mecobalamine alone, and this strategy is required to be popularized in clinical practice.

Cordyceps is a genus of the family Clavicipitaceae that has been used in traditional oriental medicine for centuries. Recent studies have demonstrated that the bioactive components isolated from this genus have various pharmacological actions. Among them, cordycepin, also known as 3-deoxyadenosine, has been shown to possess multiple pharmacological activities such as inhibition of tumour growth, modulation of the immune response, and suppression of reactive oxygen species. G.-Y. Zhao reported that cordycepin can act as anti-inflammatory agent in magnesium silicate-induced inflammation in osteoporosis. The beneficial effects of cordycepin on improvement of osteoporosis in rats were attributable mainly to decrease ALP activity, TRAP activity, and CTX level. At the same time, cordycepin also increases the OC level in ovariectomized osteopenic rats. The histological examination clearly showed that dietary cordycepin can prevent bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency. These experimental results suggest that complement cordycepin is protective after ovariectomized osteopenic in specific way.

Yizhou Xin

Ying Zhang

Chunchao Han


This paper studies marketing theories in the coal enterprises,focusing on the use of product strategy.Based on the current coal market research,the market is broken down by industry segments,consumer segments and user-scale.On a series of consumption data analysis,we advance for four specific product strategies: 1)The second industry as the marketing emphasis,and actively expand consumption,agriculture and tertiary industry of the potential market;2)optimize product quality,increase with the gap between the alternative products;3)listing and financing-through the capital market to enlarge and strengthen the products to ensure cost leadership;4)product development strategy.


VALACH MICHAL, MARECEK JAN, HLAVACOVA ZUZANA, TRAVNICEK PETR, GLOS JOSEF: Determination of impurities in biofuels with use of particle size analyzer. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2013, LXI, No. 3, pp. 813–817 One of the qualitative parameter of biofuel is purity. Measurement of purity of biofuels is very important. The reason is that the number and size of particles infl uence an engine life. However number and size of various particles have infl uence on the hydrodynamics and rheologic properties. In the fi rst part of the paper is introduced the description of tested fuels, the method of measuring of number particles and size particles with use particle size analyzer Laser-Net Fines-C (LNF-C). In the second part of this paper results of measurements are stated. The results are compared and evaluated. Two kinds of fuels was tested – biofuels and traditional fuels. Pure rapeseed methyl ester and various mixtures of traditional diesels and rapeseed methyl ester represented Biofuels. Bioethanol was the next tested biofuels. Traditional diesels were the second group of tested fuels.


Active nematics are dense systems of rodlike particles that consume energy to drive motion at the level of the individual particles. They are found in a variety of natural systems, such as biological tissues, and artificial materials such as suspensions of self-propelled colloidal particles or synthetic microswimmers. Active nematics have attracted significant attention in recent years because of their spectacular nonequilibrium collective spatiotemporal dynamics, which may enable applications in fields such as robotics, drug delivery, and materials science. The orientation field, which measures the direction and degree of alignment of the local nematic director, is a crucial characteristic of an active nematic and is essential for detecting and studying topological defects. However, determining the orientation field is a significant challenge in many experimental systems. Although orientation fields can be derived from images of active nematics using traditional imaging processing methods, the results and accuracy of such methods are highly sensitive to the settings of the algorithm. These settings must be tuned from image-to-image due to experimental noise, intrinsic noise of the imaging technology, and perturbations caused by changes in experimental conditions. This sensitivity currently limits the automatic analysis of active nematics. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a machine learning model for extracting reliable orientation fields from raw experimental images, which enables accurate automatic analysis of topological defects. Application of the algorithm to experimental data demonstrates that the approach is robust and highly generalizable to experimental settings that were unseen in the training data. These results suggest that it will be a useful tool for investigating active nematics, and the approach may be generalized to other active matter systems.


In the cascade realization of fixed-point digital filters under dynamic range constraints, the output noise due to accumulation of roundoff errors is highly dependent upon the order of the sections. For recursive filters it also depends on the pole-zero pairing that forms the individual second-order sections. The output noise may vary over several orders of magnitude for different cascade realizations of high-order filters. Therefore an optimization procedure to find a good ordering and pairing is very desirable. We propose a heuristic optimization procedure for finding a "near optimal" solution. The procedure is completely automatic and does not require any knowledgeable judgment. The number of function evaluations required for a filter of N-cascaded sections is proportional to N2. By using this procedure, "near optimal" solutions have been found for a 22nd-order recursive filter in 23 s, and for a 55th-order nonrecursive filter in 37.5 s, on an IBM 360-91 computer.


The traction frame illustrated was devised for a dispensary patient with acute hip-joint disease whose treatment it was necessary to conduct in a dirty and ill-ventilated home. The child needed traction and fresh air, and by use of the frame was enabled to have both. The effectiveness of the apparatus was so well demonstrated in this case that I have used it in several ward cases at the Post-Graduate Hospital with entire satisfaction and believe it to be more efficient than the ordinary form of bed traction, with the added advantage that patients may be carried into the fresh air when desired. This traction device is added to the end of an ordinary gaspipe frame (Fig. 1). It is made of stock fittings which are inexpensive and readily obtainable. In assembling the parts the only caution necessary is the insertion of pins (indicated by white points in Fig. 1) to


A DAC-based polar transmitter (TX) for wireline applications efficiently implements jitter-robust multicarrier signaling with arbitrary modulation formats. 50Gb/s total data rate is supported by three parallel 5GS/s output drivers operating with baseband PAM-4 and mid-band (MB) and highband (HB) 16-state complex modulation on 5 and 10GHz orthogonal carriers. DAC amplitude resolution is 7b plus 2b predistortion for all drivers, while the polar MB and HB drivers also have 7b phase resolution. The TX DSP implements 8-tap FIR filtering on all bands. Fabricated in 22nm FinFET, the TX has 1.2$\mathrm{V}_{\mathrm{p}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{d}}$ swing and achieves 50Gb/sBER<$10^{-4}$ with both QAM-16 and APSK-4+12 modulations at 1. 68pJ/b.


Spiders are important bio-control agents. They limit insect pests due to their entomophagous nature. Inspite of the beneficial role they play most farmers are unaware of the spider's role in agro-ecosystems. The traditional farming practices were helpful in maintaining the population of bio-control agents like spiders but the current farming practices, which use a wide range of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers have affected the bio-control agents besides deteriorating the yield of the farming lands. Hence the main objective of the present research work is to study the effect of pesticides on the spider diversity, in the cotton agro-system in and around Vadodara (Gujarat). Spider population was assessed before and after the pesticide spray in cotton fields. Their population was sampled using visual and pitfall sampling method. Sampling was done 24 hours before and 24 hours after the spraying of pesticide in the cotton fields. The assessment of pre and post sprayed fields revealed that the practice of pesticide spray have reduced the spider diversity and density in the cotton fields. These results indicate that the use of pesticide is detrimental to the spider population and diversity. Assemblage of spider species is more effective in reducing a wide range of insect pests than a single species. Practices such as organic farming, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are recommended to the farmers for maintaining and conserving the density and diversity of spiders in agro-ecosystems as well as to improve the crop productivity.


The article attempts to indicate that in the mind of Confucianism the religious etiquette is also regarded as the state law and vice verse from the analysis of 《The Kingdom Government》,《Brief Analysis of the Law of Tang Dynasty》and《The Law and Rules of Qing Dynasty》.This viewpoint corresponds with ideologies represented in other influential lawful works such as《On Manu Law》of Indian religion,《The Old Christianity》of Jewish law,ancient Greek law and ancient Rome law in the word.So《The Kingdom Government》discloses the fact that the characteristics of Confucianism is more or less the same with that of other state laws in the world.


Fever from the Zika virus is poorly known, with only 18% of human infections having clinical manifestations. In recent months, the number of cases of neonatal microcephaly, possibly related to the Zika virus, grew significantly in Brazil, emerging as a global health problem. The aim of this study was to seek evidences in the literature to gather and synthesize the knowledge produced on the relationship between the infection from the Zika virus during pregnancy and the neonatal consequences through an integrative literature review. The search for references was carried out in the databases of BVS, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science , in government sites (Ministry of Health and FIOCRUZ), and the World Health Organization , identifying four articles and four protocols that complied with the criteria established. The articles had a low level of evidence, but helped determine evidence of transplacental transmission of the Zika virus; however, there is still no evidence that the Zika virus triggers microcephaly.


Spread of ties and familiarity of people with new elements led to the emergence of special thoughts. This process resulted in the emergence of intellectuals and their efforts to find a place for meeting and discussing different issues was followed by the establishment of various intellectual hangouts. Hangouts may be assumed independent of location and the location ascribed to the hangout. In fact, it is not the hangout talks that are attributed to a specific location but a specific place can be attributed to a particular group. When there is no interest or meaning as well as it is in the community, mental conditions of people gathered in a place inevitably pulls them toward accepting each other. One of the major tasks of humans in cities is to understand leisure time and how to use it. In addition to human growth and excellence, leisure time has an undeniable role in improving social relations in a society. General use of urban spaces is to create a place for relaxation, entertainment, jaunt, communication, socialization, and traffic. Hangout is a new issue and event and belongs to the modern world; worlds in which free individuals are present in free gatherings and take action to socialize without any specific plan. These components build a new social life. Outdoor urban spaces and public gathering places for social communications are considered as hangouts in the present paper. [Vahid Bali Chalandar, Nahid Shangool Niya. Hangouts in Iranian neighborhoods. J Am Sci 2013;9(1):97-104]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 18


The Caucasus is distinguished by an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems and includes up to 40% of the landscape type of the Earth. There are 6000 plant species here. In this regard, there is a need to ensure the environmental safety of the ecosystems of the Caucasus and the protection of biological diversity at all levels. The flora of Azerbaijan is the richest corner of the Caucasus and includes 4500 species, of which 200 are national and 950 are endemic to the Caucasus. Many changes occurring in the environment, including the impact of man-made factors, acute consequences occurring in the environment, changes observed in finishing conditions, etc. factors lead to the loss of the local varietal base and the wild heritage of many plant species, including fruits and berries. Numerous berry plants, common in the forests of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, allow the population to use them both for food and for breeding purposes. We tried to study the taxonomic spectrum, range and effective ways of using wild berry plants growing wild in these areas, less common in cultivation and non-traditional wild berry plants. In addition to strawberries, red currants, black currants, raspberries, blackberries, which are many berry plants widely cultivated by the population on farms in the forests of the region and included in the group of traditional plants, other berry plants that occur wild in forests, but are known only to the local population - there are also varieties of Gooseberries, Blueberries, Blueberries. As can be seen from the above, the forests of the Lesser Caucasus of Azerbaijan, along with other types of fruit plants, are also rich in berry plants, which are used only to a limited extent, in local conditions, and which are new to many and non-traditional to most.


Background: Perfusion index (PI) can be used to assess peripheral perfusion dynamics as it depicts the changes in peripheral vascular tone. Increased risk of fall in blood pressure following subarachnoid block (SAB) has been reported in pregnant patients with raised PI value due to their decreased peripheral vascular resistance. This study aimed to evaluate PI as a noninvasive tool for predicting incidence and severity of maternal hypotension following SAB in parturients undergoing lower segment cesarean section (LSCS). Materials and Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted on 120 American Society of Anesthesiologists-II parturients undergoing LSCS under SAB. Noninvasive blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and PI were recorded at baseline and at 1-min interval till delivery of baby. Episodes of hypotension, bradycardia, total amount of vasopressor consumption, intraoperative nausea, vomiting (IONV), and APGAR scores were observed. Results: Receiver operator characteristics curve determined the optimal cutoff point for PI to predict intraoperative hypotension and IONV was 3.82 with a sensitivity of 79.07% and specificity of 72.73%. Incidence of hypotension in subjects with a higher baseline PI (≥3.82) was 79.1% compared with 20.9% with low baseline PI (<3.82). Amount of vasopressor used and incidence of IONV was significantly higher in subjects with high baseline PI (P < 0.001). Conclusions: There is a significant correlation between PI and SAB-induced hypotension in parturients undergoing LSCS. Pregnant patients with higher baseline PI (>3.82) are at a greater risk of developing hypotension.


In recent years, technology in the form of digital applications (apps) has emerged as a fundamental aspect of everyday life as well as a practical, convenient, and inexpensive tool for artistic self-expression, most notably amongst children and adolescents. Ninety-eight percent of U.S. households currently possess some form of mobile device (Rideout, 2017), with an estimated 95% of U.S. teenagers ages 13 to 17 owning a Smartphone (Anderson & Jiang, 2018). As digital natives, children and adolescents are more likely to identify with and connect to these arts-based methods. Clinician perspective concerning digital integration varies across a wide spectrum. Through a critical review of the existing literature, this research investigated the current state of digital app technology within the field of Expressive Arts Therapies, as well as potential benefits and drawbacks to the integration of this artistic media. Expressive Arts Therapy is predicated on the multimodal nature of artistic forms. Modality-specific apps within art, music, and dance therapy disciplines have garnered encouraging findings; however, no authentic multimodal digital app currently exists. This research explored the intermodal possibilities of both singular modality apps as well as those quantitatively examined in other mental-health related fields. Additionally, recommendations and considerations are made surrounding future research and app development within an Expressive Arts Therapies framework.


Although few studies have reported fertility outcomes, no study has reported risk factors that might predict sperm retrieval and pregnancy in azoospermic men with a history of cryptorchidism in a large series.


Many bacterial infections possess multi-drug resistance. Among the most significant of these bacteria is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA or "the superbug." This bacterium is resistant to standard antibiotics, including penicillin. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, MRSA is responsible for nearly 20,000 hospital-stay-related deaths annually in the United States.


A new mathematical model of the chaotic frequency modulation(CFM) signal is studied.The model is applied to imaging radars,and point target imaging is simulated.Compared with the classical one,this model is much more suited in the actual instance,and the range migration can be described.Modulation series are derived from r-Way Bernoulli chaotic map,and an ideal auto-correlation signal could be achieved by using skipping techniques.To solve the jamming in SAR,the theory of the deception jamming is expatiated,and the capabilities of anti-deceptive jamming of linear FM and CFM signals are also analyzed and simulated.The simulation results indicate that the ideal point target image can be achieved using CFM signals,and it has a property of anti-deception jamming.


Vacuum spacetimes admitting a non-twisting multiple WAND are analyzed in arbitrary dimension using recently developed higher-dimensional Newman-Penrose (NP) formalism. We determine dependence of the metric and of the Weyl tensor on the affine parameter r along null geodesics generated by the WAND for type III and N spacetimes and for a special class of type II and D spacetimes, containing e.g. Schwarzschild-Tangherlini black holes and black strings and branes. For types III and N, all metric components are at most quadratic polynomials in r while for types II and D the r-dependence of the metric as well as of the Weyl tensor is determined by an integer m corresponding to the rank of the expansion matrix S ij. It is shown that for non-vanishing expansion, all these spacetimes contain a curvature singularity. In the Appendix, as an illustrative example, a shearing expanding type N five-dimensional vacuum solution is re-derived using higher-dimensional NP formalism. This solution can be however identified with a direct product of a known four-dimensional type N metric with an extra dimension.


Based on the new concept shown in our previous reports of this series, the tritium cleanup system have been developed. A laboratory scale cleanup system, as well, designed to demonstrate its practical validity. Tritium is one of radio-nuclides and wilJ be generated through a D-D fusion reaction in the large helical device(LHD) in the future experiments. The tritium cleanup system is a processing device employed to remove the tritium from exhaust gas generated in LHD. Before the end of the last fiscal year, a part of the laboratory scale cleanup system was assembled. And using this system, various performance tests have been started. The tritium cleanup system is shown in Fig.l, consisting of a buffer tank, a palladium-hydrogen separator, a decomposition process vessel stuffed with nonvolatile getter material, dual hydrogen absorbing alloy vessels and others. This system has two distinctive features. One is that hydrogen isotopes including tritium in the exhaust gas are directly fixed to the hydrogen absorbing alloy, and the other, impurities such as methane and water in the exhaust gas are decomposed into their respective elemental forms, as hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, then hydrogen is finally absorbed in the hydrogen absorbing alloy, whereas the other elements remain tightly on the getter material in the decomposition process vessel. The partly assembled laboratory scale system is shown in Fig.2, which is composed of a buffer tank, a decomposition process vessel and a vacuum chamber integrated with exhausters(combination of a rotary pump and a molecular turbo pump). In the future, the palladiumseparator and the hydrogen absorbing alloy vessels will be appended to complete the laboratory scale system. Stuffing granular ZrNi alloy of some 5g as the nonvolatile getter material into the decomposition process vessel, performance tests of methane decomposition has been carried out with helium gas containing 1.26% methane under the experimental conditions of 873K and 30cc/min in gas flow rate. In the experiment, changes of concentration of methane and hydrogen at the inlet and outlet of the decomposition process vessel were observed using a gas chromatograph. As shown in Fig.3, the present result says that


In this paper a computational analysis is carried out on a two train model to probe the velocity and pressure change in the nose and tail region of the train when they depart each other. A sliding mesh technic is implemented to calculate the moving boundary analysis, and the flow field of the train/tunnel systems was elucidate by a two-dimensional, compressible, RNG K-e turbulence model. The computational analysis results are compared and verified with the filed study. The simulation results in a huge pressure change when two trains intersects each other and also the formation of swirl/vortex flow in between. So from the results it show that the formation of vortices increase the drag co-efficient and it reaches maximum when the trains intersect at the mid-point of the tunnel


One of the main concerns in Wireless Sensor Networks is the efficient energy management of the nodes. Hierarchical techniques such as clustering have been developed in an effort to solve this problem. In this paper we present a smart evolution of a distributed clustering method that uses a turn-based scheduling cluster head selection process based on an interval Type-2 fuzzy system. The method we propose offers four main improvements. First, the setup process guided by the Base Station is adapted to tune the skip parameter during the network lifetime, which controls how many rounds the clusters are not updated. Second, the normalization of the fuzzy system input variables is carefully performed based on a statistical analysis to reduce the effect of fluctuations in edge values. Third, the value of the coefficient applied to the output of the inner Type-2 fuzzy system is updated to balance the number of cluster heads at early stages. Finally, only the strongest candidate nodes, those with the highest probability, are selected to become cluster heads. The proposed design and scheduling aim to achieve low-energy processing in the nodes. When our proposed techniques are applied, they give better results compared with other similar approaches.


There are a number of reports in the literature1 -7 that deal with the problem of osseous defects by the removal and recontouring of parts of the remaining osseous support. These procedures, although of undeniable value, are limited by the size and topography of the defects. In cases of isolated one- or two-walled severe vertical osseous defects, removal and recontouring of bone to eliminate the defect would seriously weaken the proximal teeth and jeopardize their prog nosis. In the presence of generalized severe horizontal destruction, removal and recontouring of any remaining osseous support is also normally contraindicated. It cannot be denied that the elimination of osseous defects by deposition of new bone, periodontal ligament fibers and cementum, would give a more desirable result. There are a number of reports in the literature describing the treatment of osseous defects (intrabony or infrabony pockets) to secure new attachment. Williams8 and Goldman9 recognized the intrabony pocket as a distinct entity which could be eliminated by thorough subgingival curettage. Prichard10 has reported that the presence of three remaining bony walls is a prerequisite to securing a filling in of the defect. He has shown remarkable results in treatment of defects having these characteristics. Goldman and Cohen11 classified infrabony defects according to the number of osseous walls. They stated that the most favorable type of defect in which to try for new attachment was one having three remaining walls of bone. They stated further, that when two walls remain, a slanting fill in repair of bone may be obtained and if only the proximal wall remains, no fill in of bone may be expected.


For young people to be fully vested in society, they must be given the resources to become empowered for productivity. A model for engagement based on an analysis of a selection of youth agricultural programs with emphasis on those living in developing nations is presented. The model takes into account the social, cultural, ethnic, and resource diversity in the Caribbean region and argues that a flexible, rather than a fixed model is more contextually appropriate. After a review of select youth programs in the Caribbean and Africa, we offer a model with components that compliments particular circumstances within a country and would allow for flexible implementation. From this perspective, the face and, more importantly, the engagement of youth in Caribbean society can be significantly enhanced if these young people are supported by appropriate interventions that allow them to fully engage in the agricultural sector.


The paper analyzes the factors influencing the safety of freight loading scheme, selects each of the indexes that are used to evaluate the safety factors and treats the indexes with non-dimensional-normalization. The non-dimensional-normalized indexes which can't reach the loading requirements are defined as negative infinity in order to guarantee the feasibility of loading scheme, and the linear weighted average evaluation model is established. Finally, the feasible scheme was got after the analysis with actual examples.


The effects of the chemical activation agent and the chemical/nutshell ratio (ranging from 15–500 mass%) on the pore-size distribution (PSD) of macadamia nutshell-based activated carbons have been investigated in this study. The adsorption isotherm data of two series of activated carbons prepared from macadamia nutshell by chemical activation with potassium hydroxide and zinc chloride were used. The three widely used models of Dubinin–Stoeckli, Stoeckli and Horvath–Kawazoe were applied for characterizing these porous solids. Although the results showed some differences amongst these models arising from the fundamental assumptions on which they are based, in general they were comparable. Thus, at the same chemical ratio, samples activated by ZnCl2 showed more adsorption capacity than those from KOH. Moreover, the pore volumes increased as the impregnation ratio in each series increased. In addition, with increasing impregnation ratio (up to 100%) in the ZnCl2 series, the micropores were widened and a further increase in ZnCl2 content caused the micropores to change to mesopores. In the KOH series, increasing KOH created more micropores in the carbon structure over the whole range of chemical/nutshell ratio studied.