ZnO nanorods assembled in flower shaped morphology have been successfully synthesized using low power microwave irradiation in a very short duration. The diameter and length of the rods were within 150–190 nm (tip diameter ~15 nm) and 2 μm, respectively, with an aspect ratio of 20–22. The synthesized nanorods were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) and magnetization measurements. The XRD and FT-IR results indicate that ZnO nanorods have the pure wurtzite structure with lattice parameters a and c of 3.254 and 5.197 A, respectively. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern reveals that the ZnO nanorods are single crystal in nature and grow along [001] plane. Room-temperature PL spectrum of the as-grown ZnO nanorods shows a near-band-edge (NBE) emission peak and defect induced emissions. Magnetization measurements indicate that ZnO nanorods exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism with remanent magnetization (Mr) and coercivity (Hc) about 2.92 × 10-4 (emu/g) and 29.75 Oe, respectively, which may be due to the presence of defects in the ZnO nanorods.


It is shown that the simple theory of incompressible flow through a sudden enlargement may be extended to describe fully the compressible flow of a perfect gas. The generalized theory has useful be...


Socio-economic and health inequality are strongly linked, and are increasingly perpetuated by discourses of individual responsibility. However, little research from a critical discursive perspective has addressed how people affected may themselves account for this relationship. This research examined the ways in which people who are in debt, unemployed, or in insecure, minimum-wage employment construct health and negotiate identities around it. Data from semi-structured interviews with six participants were analysed and three main interpretative repertoires were identified: a medical repertoire of health as a lack of illness; health as adopting the 'right' behaviours and attitudes; and health as being heavily influenced by external factors, such as income and life circumstances. The analysis focuses on how participants managed the tension between these latter two repertoires by adopting various subject positions around health: that it is 'slipping' away from them; that it requires motivation; and that it is unattainable. Underpinning this is a 'common-sense' idea of health as something that is worked towards through culturally approved actions and attitudes.


The design of asymptotic stabilising controllers for slowly varying nonlinear systems is considered in this paper. The designed control law is based on finding a slowly varying control Lyapunov function. Also, consideration of the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation showed that the proposed controller is a suboptimal controller and the response of the system may be very close to its optimal solution. The maximum admissible rate of changes of the system dynamic is also evaluated. This technique is first applied to a created example and then to a practical example (optimal autopilot design for an air vehicle). The air vehicle is modelled as a nonlinear slowly varying system and the efficiency of the designed autopilot in terms of transient responses, control signals and the values of cost function are shown by numerical simulations.


Objective To examine the relation between coins ingested by children and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Design Observational study. Main outcome measures Total value of coins ingested and number of incidents of coins versus other objects swallowed, measured before and after the stock market crash of October 2008. Results Eighteen objects, including 11 coins, were ingested (NASDAQ (numismatic and sundry detritus acquired) composite of 18). The total value of the 11 coins swallowed was $1.03 (FTSE 100 (fraction of the US$ or 100 cents) index of 103). The pecuniary extraction ratio (PE ratio) was 0.57 (9/16). Comparing values for a period before and after October 2008, the mean monthly NASDAQ composite (0.41 (SD 0.67) v 0.5 (0.85), P=0.75), FTSE 100 index in cents (2.3 (6.8) v 3.1 (7.8), P=0.77), and PE ratio (0.54 (0.52) v 0.66 (0.29), P=0.50) did not change. The mean end-of-month closing value of the Dow Jones, however, decreased significantly (12 537 (841.4) v 8388 (699.8), P<0.001) Conclusion There was no detectable difference in the total value of coins ingested, or ratio of coins to other objects swallowed, before or after a massive stock market crash.


The Insight analyses the recent judgment of the Court of Justice in the Aleksei Petruhhin v. Latvijas Republikas Ģenerālprokuratūra case (judgment of 6 December 2016, case C-182/15). The preliminary ruling deals with the relationship between EU law and Member States' extradition agreements with third countries. The decision focuses on the compatibility of the nationality exception provided by an extradition agreement between Latvia and Russia with the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of nationality and with the freedom of movement of EU citizens. While the nationality exception can be considered as pursuing a legitimate objective under EU law, namely to prevent the risk of impunity, the Court of Justice identifies the existence of less restrictive measures within the internal criminal cooperation system. Member States are thus required to extend the protection of nationals to EU citizens that have exercised their freedom of movement and, according to the principle aut dedere aut judicare, to refuse the extradition and to surrender the requested person to the Member State having jurisdiction to prosecute the offender.


Mps one binder kinase activator 1 (MOB1) is a core component of the Hippo signaling pathway and has been implicated as a tumor suppressor. Here, we evaluated the possible relationship of MOB1 expression in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to prognosis.


Using recent observations of the kinematics of the disk stars the dynamical state of the disk of NGC488 is dis- cussed. The disk is shown to be dynamically 'cool', so that NGC488 cannot have experienced many { even minor { merg- ers in the past.


By dint of document research method,questionnaire method and specialist method,the security contents such as PE teacher system,distribution and salary covered by countryside physical education in Henan Province were investigated.Results indicated that the distribution of PE teacher in middle and high school in Henan Province was unreasonable.The artistic appreciation was low and so was salary.The introduction of high quality PE teacher was hard.Those factors were the main reasons that restricted the development of countryside PE teaching.Relevant countermeasures on improving and strengthening PE education in countryside area were proposed.


Nutrition factors are considered to be very important for incidence of
 foot-pad dermatitis through the effect on the quality of litter. Objective of
 this study was to investigate the effect of the use of two feeding programs
 for broilers available on the market and declared in the
 nutritional/economical sense as standard and economical, on quality of
 litter, incidence of leg dermatitis (foot-pad and hock burns) and production
 performance. Trial was carried out on 500 one day old chickens of Hubbard
 genotype, in two treatments and five replicates. Chopped straw was used as
 litter. During the trial, the mortality and food consumption were monitored,
 and at the end of trial the body mass was controlled, as well as the
 incidence of foot-pad and hock burns and their severity were evaluated and
 quality of litter analyzed. Research results indicate significant effect of
 the diets from the aspect of broiler welfare and productivity. Application of
 the feeding program declared in the nutritional/economical sense as
 economical resulted in higher content of litter moisture, significantly
 higher frequency of incidence of the most severe forms of foot-pad dermatitis
 and significantly lower broiler performance.


1-Hydroxy sugars were dehydratively coupled with a variety of alcohols including thiophenol in the presence of a catalytic amount of ytterbium(III) triflate [Yb(OTf) 3 ] and methoxyacetic acid to give the corresponding glycosides in good to excellent yields, and in some cases, with high stereoselectivities. The reaction proceeds through selective esterification of 1-hydroxy sugars with methoxyacetic acid in the presence of free alcohols as glycosyl acceptors. The mechanism of methoxyacetic acid-mediated tandem catalysis with Yb(OTf) 3 is discussed.


: The article deals with the morphogenesis of the through cave Pećina na Reci Zamni (meaning in Serbian: Cave on the Zamna River; in further text: the Zamna Cave). The Zamna Cave was the subject of several geomorphological studies, mostly aimed at explaining the cave genesis through the evolutionary concept from through caves to natural bridges. In order to get better insight into the morphogenesis of this cave, modern geomorphometrical methods were applied. The cave and the surface topography above it were scanned in high resolution using the instrument Leica Nova MS50 , applying the method of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). Data processing produced the model for the analysis of the relation between surface and underground forms of karst relief. The results point to the conclusion that the Zamna Cave is an example showing that in the process of natural bridges formation by cave roof collapse, it is not necessary that there is a dry valley above the cave, as previously thought.


Today, the design, use and distribution of standard application packages are changing due to the emergence of service orientation. In the private sector, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are extended to include IT services. In the public sector, standard application packages are integrated with IT services which are often referred to as e-Government. E-Government can be extended with mobile technology to add mobility to public processes, so called m-Government. The problem addressed in this thesis is how to improve organizational effectiveness through the use of standard application packages and IT services. The objectives are to: Develop a model for explaining the level of adoption of extended ERP among small and medium sized companies. Identify implications and design patterns of business models for service oriented ERP. Establish principles for the design of local government m-services. Develop a method for benefits evaluation of information systems with integrated services. The thesis contributes with theory for analyzing, explaining and predicting how the use of standard application packages as well as IT services affects organizational effectiveness. To practice, it provides new concepts that can change the perceptions and mental models that IS-professionals, such as management consultants, use in their professional lives. In particular, it provides implications, design principles, a model and a method for the use of services in conjunction with standard application packages in public and private sector organizations. For future research it is suggested to investigate how service orientation affects implementation methods for standard application packages and to investigate the requirements of completely integrated e-Government on e-services, business models and back-office systems.


The invention relates to a mulberry leaf functional food, aiming at providing a functional food taking the mulberry leaf as the basic element and reaching a better matching effect. The mulberry leaf functional food mainly includes the following components (by weight portion): 15 to 25 portions of mulberry lyophilized powder, 25 to 45 portions of mulberry leaf lyophilized powder, 10 to 20 portions of stachyose and 3 to 10 portions of date submicron powder. The components of the mulberry leaf functional food contain rich natural plant dietary fibers and soluble dietary fibers so as to realize the supplement required by the body micro-ecology functions and simultaneously the mulberry lyophilized powder without sugar contains GF, LS and stachyose and functional oligosaccharides of raffinose and the like are also added so as to form a perfect life-beneficial 'food functional component' which is the proper diet supplement for the body micro-ecology metabolism functions.


The problem of optimizing a dynamic system in the presence of uncertainty is typically tackled using measurements. The methods widely used in the literature are based on repetitive optimization of a process model. Recently, tracking of the Necessary Conditions of Optimality (NCO tracking) has been proposed as a computationally less expensive alternative, which is based on the derivation of a solution model. So far, the solution model, which contains information on the structure of the input profiles and the set of active constraints, has been derived manually based on physical insight and intuition. In this paper, based on the recent results on the numerical optimization of dynamic systems, we present a systematic and automated approach to come up with a solution model. This concept provides the first steps towards an entirely automated procedure for dynamic optimization under uncertainty via NCO tracking.


Protection of inhabited areas, cultural landscapes and prehistoric relics affects more and more the development of the road network. At the same time, the demands to the road corridor become greater regarding traffic safety and environment. This often leads to greater needs for space, as in connection with footpaths and cycle tracks, alignment and visibility conditions. The result often is that the road is pushed out into steep and/or other less road friendly terrain, down or under the surface. While most other development works are of a concentrated and local character, roads on the other hand cut through the country in an increasingly denser pattern. This places the road construction in a stronger public light, with demands to solutions which satisfy new attitudes to highway design. The question is how the roads shall interfere with the various types of landscape our country consists of. Especially in steep terrain and where the ground has poor stability with danger for landslides, different designs and construction methods will possibly lead to great variations in the interference. The article aims to indicate how knowledge on natural Norwegian types of landscape and new techniques for road construction can be turned to account for reducing interference and marking of the landscape.


Abstract : The article summarizes the solution of a problem on the elastic equilibrium of an isotropic plane weakened by a double periodic system of two identical circular openings in the case when elastic discs of a foreign material are welded into the openings. The results obtained are used to solve the problem of reducing the 'double-period grid--disc' system to an equivalent solid plane. In addition to the exact ratio specifying the reduction to the elastic parameters of the equivalent solid plane, some compact approximate ratios were also derived. (Author)


Where is the crux? Why the people's jury system declines? The essay tries to answer the questions from two aspects: One is the jury idea malposition; the other is the jury mode malposition. The former is the question in idea; the latter is in mode designing. The author considers that it's the two malositions that cause the declination of the people's jury system.


BACKGROUND
Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is commonly applied to avoid atelectasis and improve oxygenation in patients during general anesthesia but affects cardiac pressures, volumes and loading conditions through cardiorespiratory interactions. PEEP may therefore alter stroke work which is the area enclosed by the pressure-volume loop and corresponds to the external work performed by the ventricles to eject blood. The low-pressure right ventricle may be even more susceptible to PEEP than the left ventricle. We hypothesized that increasing levels of PEEP would reduce stroke work in both ventricles.

METHODS
This was a prospective, observational, experimental study. Six healthy female pigs of approximately 60 kg were used. PEEP was stepwise increased from zero to 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 20 cmH2O to cover the clinical spectrum of PEEP. Simultaneous, biventricular invasive pressure-volume loops, invasive blood pressures, and ventilator data were recorded.

RESULTS
Increasing PEEP resulted in stepwise reductions in left (5740±973 vs 2303±1154 mmHg*mL, p<0.001) and right (2064±769 vs 468±133 mmHg*mL, p<0.001) ventricular stroke work. The relative stroke work reduction was similar between the two ventricles. Left ventricular ejection fraction, afterload and coupling were preserved. On the contrary, PEEP increased right ventricular afterload and caused right ventriculo-arterial uncoupling (0.74±0.30 vs 0.19±0.13, p=0.01) with right ventricular ejection fraction reduction (64±8 vs 37±7 %, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
A stepwise increase in PEEP caused stepwise reduction in biventricular stroke work. However, there are important interventricular differences in response to increased PEEP levels. PEEP increased right ventricular afterload leading to uncoupling and right ventricular ejection fraction decline. These findings may support clinical decision-making to further optimize PEEP as a mean to balance between improving lung ventilation and preserving right ventricular function.


In recognition of the special educational needs of children of low-income families and the impact that concentrations of low-income families have on the ability of local educational agencies to support adequate educational programs, the Congress hereby declares it to be the policy of the United States to provide financial assistance to local educational agencies serving areas with concentrations of children from low-income families to expand and improve their educational programs by various means which contribute particularly to meeting the special educational needs of educationally deprived children.


v-src isaneffective carcinogen whenex- pressed fromRoussarcoma virus (RSV) invivo. Whereas RSV tumors require sustained oncogene expression, their growth is largely abalance between viral recruitment oftissues andhost immunedestruction ofinfected cells. We havetherefore ex- amined thetumorigenic potential ofv-src intheabsence ofviral recruitment andviral antigen expression. v-src wasintroduced withhighefficiency into chicken wingwebtissues using repli- cation-defective (rd) retroviral vectors. Clonal sarcomas were induced rapidly, and,furthermore, v-src potentiated meta- static progression in0.1%-i%oftumorclones withunex- pectedly short latency. rdvectors proved effective notonly in transducing v-src into tissues butalso asinsertional markers of tumorclonality. Therdvector present inmostprimary and metastatic tumors wasahighly truncated formofRSVderived byviral transmission ofspliced v-src mRNA;this vector should thusavoid viral recruitment andhost anti-viral immunereac- tion through its complete lack ofviral structural genes. Under suchconditions v-src maintains strong carcinogenicity invivo whenrestricted toclonal tumorgrowth andcanconfer rapid metastatic potential onadiscrete subset oftumorclones. Thediscovery ofactivated oncogenes transduced inanimal retroviruses hasprovided considerable support forthege- netic basis ofcancer (for review, seeref. 1). Anumber ofsuch oncogenes arenowalso implicated intheetiology ofhuman tumors(for review, seeref. 2).Thefirst oncogene tobe described, v-src, wasisolated intheavian retrovirus Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)andisaparticularly potent carcinogen inculture andinvivo(3-6). Although v-src actsapparently indominant fashion incultured cells, its carcinogenic poten- tial invivoismoredifficult tointerpret using replicating oncogenic retroviruses. Whereas v-src expression isapre- requisite forRSV-mediated tumorigenesis, thecontribution oftheoncogene towardrapid tumorgrowth isunclear; growth ofRSVtumors islargely dependent uponhorizontal spread ofthevirus andtheoncogene toneighboring tissues (7). Viral recruitment mayenhance themalignancy oftumors bythis process ofoncogene dissemination, andtheability of neighboring tissues tolimit orcontrol tumoroutgrowth may besubverted. Thisoncogenic virus model does notmirror the etiology ofmostnaturally occurring neoplasms whereclonal expansion isapparent. Another phenomenon peculiar to retroviral carcinogens suchasRSV isthecounteractive immunereaction ofthehost, thought tobedirected against viral structural antigens (8). Thecell-mediated immunere- sponse isimplicated inthecomplete regression ofcertain RSVtumors. There havebeenfewstudies ofv-src oncogenesis following its transduction into tissues without attendant viral recruit- ment.Inoculation ofbirds withlimiting dilutions ofBryan strain RSV(amixture ofanenv-defective transforming virus andhelper virus) wasshowntoproduce tumors containing no detectable replicating virus. Withhindsight itisplausible these tumors wereclonally derived fromcells infected only withdefective RSV(9). Itwasnoted, however, thatsuch "noninfective" tumors regressed athigh frequency andmany later evolved replication-competent viruses. Recentwork presented byFungetal. (10) demonstrated that tumors could beinitiated after direct injection ofv-src DNA into chicken tissues. Thesetumorshadaclonal component, butagain always regressed before progression wasseen. Thusithas remained unresolved whether v-src issufficient invivo, inthe absence ofviral recruitment, tosustain full malignant pro- gression orwhether additional factors suchassecondary oncogene activation arerequired. Inthis study weusedreplication-defective (rd) retroviral vectors tointroduce v-src directly andwithhighefficiency into tissues. Thesevectors weredesigned topreclude both viral recruitment andtheexpression ofantigenic structural genes, facilitating direct analysis ofv-src oncogenesis with- outthese addedcomplexities. Infectious rdviruses were obtained using anavian packaging cell line previously devel- opedinourlaboratory (11). v-srcexpression fromone specific rdvector gaverise notonlytoaggressive, clonal primary tumors butalso toselective, short-latency metasta- sis. Thisvector waspresent intumorDNA asa highly truncated formofRSV,derived byreverse transcription of v-srcmRNA. To ourknowledge, thehightransmission frequency andcarcinogenicity ofthis vector arehitherto unreported. Thedenovotransduction ofv-src into tissues wasthus achieved readily withrdvectors, demonstrating the potential ofthis oncogene toinduce progressing, clonal malignancy. METHODS rdVirus Assays andAnimal Inoculation. Theestablishment ofretroviral packaging cells, theconstruction oftheavian sarcoma andleukosis virus (ASLV)-based vector ASrcneo7, andthemethods forrdvirus production havebeendescribed (11). Virus titers wereassayed using theneomycin-resistant (neo9 QT6colony assay(11) andtheimmunocytochemical expression focus unit (efu) assay(ref. 12;anti-pp60`/sr an- tibody JB327wasused, agift ofJ.Brugge, Philadelphia). Virus titers werecomparable using bothassays within a 2-fold range. Virus wasinjected intramuscularly into thewing websofhatchling chickens (specific pathogen-free White leghorn; SPAFAS) in50or100,ul ofmedium199, using 25- or20-gauge sterile needles, respectively. Chickens were sacrificed bylethal injection ofT61euthanasia solution (Hoechst Pharmaceuticals), andtumortissues wereremoved


and back-solution for effective residual friction ( index property correlations from excessive pore pressures due to seasonably high groundwater Stability analyses using the back-solutioned rp performed to and position seepage cutoff drains for remediation. the drains performed well and the has remained stable


In our article, we described the overall increase in electrophysiology (EP) volumes over the 5-year period from 2014 to 2018 in New Zealand (NZ). However, EP procedure rates in the public sector stagnated. More importantly, there was considerable variation in EP procedure rates between the public EP centres. As noted by Swampillai et al., there has been an increase in referrals for EP procedures, but restrictions imposed by non-clinicians due to resource constraints in the public sector of the Midlands region have resulted in fewer EP procedures at Waikato Hospital in 2019, reversing the trend of the prior 5-year period. There has been increasing demand for the usage of limited catheter laboratory space in the four public EP centres due to expansion of the transcathether aortic valve implantation service, the increasing volume of percutaneous coronary intervention and increasing implant trends for cardiac implantable electronic devices. EP procedures, which are more commonly performed on outpatients, are perceived as less time critical and are generally the first to be deferred when pressure comes on available catheter laboratory time such as with planned refurbishment, high hospital bed occupancy or workforce industrial action. Consistent with the falling EP procedural volume at Waikato in 2019, two of the three remaining public EP centres (Auckland and Christchurch) had significant reductions in EP procedures due to the increasing resource constraints outlined earlier. Wellington faced similar issues but managed to secure funding for additional EP lists to address the mounting EP waitlist. Most of the EP referrals in the public sector in NZ satisfy Class I indications in international guidelines for electrophysiology study and catheter ablation. Yet, prioritisation thresholds have increased so that some patients with Class I indications are no longer placed on the waitlist for procedures in the public sector. In the case of Waikato Hospital, this has been from restrictions imposed by hospital management; in other district health boards (DHB) the effect of the mounting waitlist of 6 to 12 months has discouraged referrals. Given the inequity of access suggested by our article and corroborated by the local observations of Swampillai et al., we advocate for nationally standardised criteria for acceptance for EP procedures and for sufficient resourcing to provide standard treatments. We also advocate for the regular reporting of EP procedural volumes and waitlist times for all four regions that encompass the 20 DHBs in NZ, to identify and address these inequities.


RESOLVE is a Macintosh-based decision analysis program which utilizes a prototypical decision tree, permitting non-expert analysts to perform and understand clinical decision analyses. Users are prompted for appropriate data (probabilities, utilities, risks, benefits) using an interactive, mouse-driven interface. Analysis is performed in the background, and results are presented in an intuitive, graphic display. The user may compare therapeutic options by Life Expectancy (LE), Quality of Life (QOL), or Quality-adjusted Life Expectancy (QALE). On-line help screens explain unfamiliar terms and concepts and guide the user through the analysis. In addition to enabling more widespread use of decision analysis techniques, RESOLVE teaches users to look at problems in a comprehensive and analytic manner.


This article analyzes the effects of globalization on implicit tax rates (ITRs) on labor income, capital income, and consumption in the EU15 and Central and Eastern European New Member States (CEE NMS). We find supportive evidence for an increase in the ITR on labor income in the EU15, but no effect on the ITR on capital income. There is evidence of convergence in terms of the ITR on consumption, as countries with higher than average ITR on consumption respond to globalization by decreasing their tax rates. There are important differences among the welfare regimes within the EU15. Social-democratic countries have decreased the tax burden on capital, but increased that on labor due to globalization. Globalization exerts a pressure to increase taxes on labor income in the conservative and liberal regimes as well. Taxes on consumption decrease in response to globalization in the conservative and social-democratic regimes. In the CEE NMS, there is no effect of globalization on the ITR on labor and capital income, but we find a negative impact on the ITR on consumption in the CEE NMS with higher than average ITR on consumption. (JEL H23, H24, H25, F19, F21)


Based on the effectiveness evaluation of antiaircraft missile system in actual combat circumstance,as an important element of actual combat,the jamming environment confronted by antiaircraft missile is analyzed.Then the typical EW airplanes and jamming equipment abroad are briefly introduced.At last,the development trend of jamming environments and electronic warfare is presented in particular.


Damage to animals by atmospheric fluoride pollution involves only those animals who subsequently graze on contaminated forages. The chronic disease which results has been most extensively studied in cattle, where the general symptoms are: A n interference with normal dentition, development of osseous lesions, and a diminished appetite which may lead to weight loss or decreased milk production. Studies completed to date would indicate that depending on the conditions of exposure the tolerance level for dairy cattle is about 1.3 mg F/kg (40 ppm F in diet). Because the route of exposure is via the forage, it would seem unreasonable to base any control standard on atmospheric fluoride levels. The forage fluoride levels, analytical evidence from the animal, or even some early sign of fluoride ingestion on the animal might form a more logical basis for a standard.


A compact four element multi‐band multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) antenna system for 4G/5G and IoT applications is presented in this paper. The proposed antenna is developed using the theory of characteristic modes helping in systematic design of MIMO antenna system. It consists of four L‐shaped planar inverted‐F antenna (PIFA) elements each operating at 3.5, 12.5, and 17 GHz bands with the bandwidth of 359 MHz, 1 GHz, and more than 3.7 GHz, respectively. The proposed antenna system is suitable for both 4G/5G and internet of things devices as it shows the satisfactory MIMO system performance. Good isolation characteristics are observed by implementing complimentary Metamaterial structure on the ground plane resulting in isolation level lower than −21 dB between the antenna elements. The proposed antenna is fabricated and experimental results are also presented and discussed.


Introduction Prolonged unnecessary mechanical ventilation (MV) has a multitude of complications. The main goal after placing a critically ill patient on MV is to define the best time to begin the weaning process. The peak expiratory flow (PEF) and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) are measures of inspiratory and expiratory muscle efficiency and can be used as weaning predictors. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) can be used as a tool to prevent reintubation after weaning of MV. Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether prophylactic NIV would benefit patients with various cough strengths and various level of MIP to decrease the incidence of reintubation. Patients and methods In this prospective observational study, 80 mechanically ventilated patients were enrolled. At the time of their first spontaneous breathing trial, PEF and MIP were measured. Then, patients were randomly assigned to facemask and NIV groups. Results A total of 36 (90%) patients in NIV group were successfully weaned from MV, whereas four (10%) patients failed to be weaned. On the contrary, 29 (72.5%) patients in face mask group were successfully weaned from MV, whereas 11 (27.5%) patients failed to be weaned. Conclusion NIV has an important role to prevent reintubation after weaning of MV. Moreover, MIP and PEF have an excellent accuracy in prediction of NIV success after extubation.


Rapid in vitro culture with the lateral budplants of Maranta arundinacea.The result indicated that the suitable sterilization of explants disinfection was to be the first with 75% of the alcohol sterilization 5 s,and then 0.1% HgCl2for 10 min;Best subculture medium was MS+6-BA 6.0 mg/L+NAA 0.4 mg/L and the suitable root-promoting medium was 1/2MS+NAA 2.0 mg/L.


The article discusses the specific features of the time budget of modern students and analyzes the time spent on educational and extra-curricular activities. The author makes recommendations on the efficient distribution of budget time taking into account the psychophysiological peculiarities of the adolescent body.


In order to get the precise measurement results of large-amplitude high-bandwidth non-contact vibration,a new optical model and an algorithm for vibration measurement are put forward.Far-field interference fringe position is related with the phase of two beams of coherent light.The phase difference can be obtained through the position of maximum intensity fringe,which expresses the vibration displacement.Simulation results of cosine signal with the amplitude 10 ?m and sound signals with the frequency 44.1 kHz expresses that sub micron vibration and sound vibration can be obtained.


The Xianghai Natural Reserve is one of the most important natural reserves of China, and it is of great biological, economic, social and cultural significance. Wetland is a essential component of the reserve's landscape, and the Xianghai wetland is one of the 7 International-importance wetlands in China. The eco environmental and resources functions of the Xianghai Reserve wetland are analyzed. The eco environmental functions mainly include biodiversity maintaining functions, hydrological transition zones, pollutants filter and interception functions, and the resource functions mainly include water and soil resources, biological resources, recreational and educational values, and scientific and cultural fuctions.


Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime proposes that low self-control leads to engagement in deviant behaviors, parents must properly socialize self-control in their children, and self-control fully mediates the parenting-deviance association. A critical analysis of the empirical evidence generated suggests a number of unresolved issues regarding the theory that remain to be investigated. Some of the specific issues addressed include determining which aspects of parenting influence the etiology of self-control and to what extent self-control mediates the parenting-deviance association.


This article explained why the phase difference between two 10kV bus voltage phase angle of a 220kV transformer substation is 60° with vector analysis and on the spot experiment.


The progress in organic light-emitting devices is reviewed,including cathode and anode materials,electrode modification,light-emitting materials,luminescence efficiency,new device structure,as well as the research situation regarding drive circuit.The research hotspot problems at present are described.Furthermore,the trends and application prospects about OLEDs are also forecasted.


This paper studies the secure multiple-antenna transmission in slow fading channels for the cognitive radio network, where a multiple-input, single-output, multieavesdropper (MISOME) primary network coexisting with a multiple-input single-output secondary user (SU) pair. The SU can get the transmission opportunity to achieve its own data traffic by providing the secrecy guarantee for the PU with artificial noise. Different from the existing works, which adopt the instantaneous secrecy rate as the performance metric, with only the statistical channel state information (CSI) of the eavesdroppers, we maximize the secrecy throughput of the PU by designing and optimizing the beamforming, rate parameters of the wiretap code adopted by the PU, and power allocation between the information signal and the artificial noise of the SU, subjected to the secrecy outage constraint at the PU and a throughput constraint at the SU. We propose two design strategies: 1) nonadaptive secure transmission strategy (NASTS) and 2) adaptive secure transmission strategy, which are based on the statistical and instantaneous CSIs of the primary and secondary links, respectively. For both strategies, the exact rate parameters can be optimized through numerical methods. Moreover, we derive an explicit approximation for the optimal rate parameters of the NASTS at high SNR regime. Numerical results are illustrated to show the efficiency of the proposed schemes.


Human serum albumin (HSA), one of the most abundant proteins in the circulation system, con tains binding sites for a variety of drugs. The recent X-ray crystallographic data of HSA shows that the two major ligand binding sites, site I and site II, are located within specialized cavities in two separate sub domains, namely subdomain IIA and IIIA, respectively. Correctly folded single-residue mutants K199A, W214A, R218H and H242Q were overexpressed. The primary binding constant for warfarin was decreased 2 and 3-fold by mutating Trp-214 and Arg-218, respectively, but was increased 4 and 6-fold by replacing Lys-199 and His-242, respectively. The constants for W214A and R218H responded to the pH-changes in a quantitatively different manner from that of K199A and H242Q. Thus, this parameter also showed heter ogeneity in domain II in responding to the N to B transition. The single-mutants R41 OA, Y41 1A, Y411S and Y411F and the double-mutant R41OA/Y411A were produced. We investigated, by ultrafiltration and CD, the high affinity binding of two representative site II-ligands, namely ketoprofen and diazepam. According to the crystal structure of HSA, the Arg-410 and Tyr-411 residues protrude into the center of site II (in subdomain IIIA), and the binding results showed that the guanidino moiety of Arg-410, the phenolic oxygen and the aro matic ring of Tyr-411 are important for ketoprofen binding. The guanidino moiety probably interacts elec trostatically with the carboxyl group of ketoprofen, the phenolic oxygen could participate in hydrogen bond ing to the ketogroup of the ligand, and the aromatic ring may participate in a specific stacking interaction with one or both of the aromatic rings of ketoprofen. In contrast, Arg-410 is not important for diazepam binding. The two parts of Tyr-411 interact favourably with diazepam and probably do so in principally the same way as with ketoprofen. In addition to its unique ligand binding properties, HSA also possesses an esterase-like activity, and studies with p-nitrophenyl acetate as a substrate showed that although Arg-410 is important, the enzymatic activity of albumin is much more dependent on the presence of Tyr-411. Minor activity was detect ed when serine was introduced but not alanine or phenylalanine, in position 411.


Despite their progress and improvements, mobile devices are still regarded as restricted computer devices. Users are growing more discerning, expecting to be able to run computationally intensive applications on their smartphones or tablets. As a result, Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) integrates mobile computing and Cloud Computing in order to use offloading techniques to increase the capabilities of mobile devices. Although offloading programmes to the cloud might improve mobile device performance, it can also increase processing delay. Inevitably, the quality of user service (QoS) suffers as a result, particularly for specific applications (especially workflow applications). To address the problem of network latency, a new paradigm known as mobile edge computing (MEC) has been developed, which may be thought of as a subset of MCC. We also see deployment of Cloudlets, which are a form of edge server, to minimize latency and energy usage by offloading applications to the cloud, resulting in an efficient and cost-effective architecture as well as various decision-making techniques for offloading. And so, a literature survey regarding this will be presented which focuses on various methods of offloading and its decision-making techniques.


Acknowledgements Preface by James Der Derian Desert Screen I Foreword II August 1990: Desert Shield III January 1991: Desert Storm IV June 1991: Desert Screen V Virilio Looks Back and Sees the Future: Interview by James Der Derian (2000) Notes Index


Mathematics is the integrative science of rigor,logic,accuracy,creativity and imagination.Education for mathematics requires students can understand,comprehend and master it step by step during teaching activities or environment that teachers have proposed and provided.Computer is an effective tool for information processor.The experience of knowledge teaching made computers' technology played particular functions especially in education for mathematics.


A novel complex of Co(m-CPOAH)2(H2O)4 (m-CPOAH- = 3-carboxylphenoxyacetate) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, X-ray single-crystal diffraction. It belongs to the triclinic system, space group P?with a = 4.9701(10), b = 5.8701(12), c = 18.272(4) , a = 97.50(3), b = 94.76(3), g = 98.34(3), V = 520.11(18) 3, Z = 1, Mr = 521.29, Dc = 1.664 g/cm3, m = 0.901 mm-1, F(000) = 269, the final R = 0.0415 and wR = 0.0787. Two carboxylate oxygen atoms of different oxoaxetate ligands and four water molecules are coordinated to the cobalt atom, forming an approximate octahedral coordination sphere. The 3D supramolecular hydrogen bonding network is formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonds.


The authors conscientiously studied and compared the different notes of Mahuang Shengma Prescription in past dynasties,found that the prescription shouldn't be focused on Jueyin disease,the pathogenesis was wrong diarrhea treatment leading yin and yang hurt,yang qi invaginating,and compressing in Zhongjiao.Both yin and yang damage caused diarrhea,and Jueyin symptoms;Yang compressing Zhongjiao induced unfavorable throat,coughing,vomiting pus and blood.Meanwhile,the paper illustrated some cases to verify further,summarized thoughts that it might be useful to find new solutions on a few syndromes of mixed coldness and heat,or deficiency and excess,so long as reasonably applying Mahuang Shenma Decoction according to differentiation.


Since sensitivity training and encounter groups endorse certain cultural values, their suitability is confined, understandably to the country of their origin. Re cognising the difference in the existential dilemmas of the American and the Indian managers, a structured approach was tried on a set of senior executives. In a three-day programme, through structured sociometric, self-disclosure, and feedback exercises, twelve managers explored the nature and content of their perceptions and cognitions influencing their constructs about self and work. This exploratory programme suggested a potential usefulness of emphasising awareness of cognitive processes as much as, if not more than, emotional ones in managers. Those responsible for management education may do well to recognise the effectiveness of PMF programmes providing stimulation towards much needed professionalism in Indian managers, especially those employed in family-owned and government-run organisations.


Some properties of left quasi-morphic group rings were mainly considered in order to do further research on left quasi-morphic rings.The following results were mainly shown.If RG is a left quasi-morphic ring,then R is a left quasi-morphic ring and G is a locally finite group;If G is a locally finite group,RG is a left quasi-morphic ring if and only if for any element x∈RG there exists a finite subgroup H of G such that x is left quasi-morphic in RH.If G=HK is the semidirect product of finite normal subgroup H by finite subgroup K of G,RG is a left quasi-morphic ring implies that PK is also.


From point of view of environment control system in cabin, the impact of high temperature on flight safety of helicopter was analyzed. The necessity to install cooling system on helicopter was stated. By comparing the performance of steam cycling cooling system with air cycling cooling system, the former system would be preferred as the main protocol in China in future. The prospect of research of this technique was described, which could be taken as the technical preparation for future study in China.


3D reconstruction from monocular images is an essential part of machine vision. The effective reconstruction of 3D models of objects or scenes has become a research focus in computer vision. In this article, we concentrate on restoring the 3D model through the depth information of a monocular image. First and foremost, we use deep learning to get the depth of a single image. Next, the point cloud is reconstructed from the depth map according to the camera parameters to achieve the purpose of the 3D reconstruction. Compared with traditional methods, our approach is faster and more relaxed, and the reconstructed three-dimensional information of scenes can be recovered efficiently, our reconstructed 3D models also have better authenticity.


AIM
To explore the perceptions and experiences of people with osteoarthrits (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) regarding the knowledge and skills they want nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) to have to manage their care needs.

METHOD
Two condition-specific focus groups were conducted in London with five people with OA and eight people with RA in January 2011. A semistructured interview guide was used. The focus groups were audiotaped and the transcripts analysed using content analysis.

RESULTS
Shared and condition-specific themes were identified. The shared themes were: living with pain; the need for self-management; and meaningful consultation. The condition-specific themes were: no experts in OA; and wanting to talk in the RA participants.

CONCLUSION
People with OA and RA wanted nurses and AHPs to listen, empathise and help them to manage their condition, especially the pain. Participants with RA would value psychological support. We need to ensure that nurses and AHPs have the knowledge and skills to address these needs.


THIS COLLECTION OF ARTICLES emerged from a series of panels devoted to Goethe's lyric poetry at the Thirty-first Conference of the German Studies Association in 2010. The organizers, including Regina Sachers, were motivated by the observation that this genre of Goethe's writings has been surprisingly understudied in recent years. On the one hand, scholars have tended to revisit very similar questions raised by a comparatively small number of individual poems; only rarely have new contexts or innovative theoretical approaches been brought into play. On the other hand, David Wellbery's magisterial study The Specular Moment: Goethe's Early Lyric and the Beginnings of Romanticism (1996) has been received with such appreciation that scholars seem to have been discouraged from pursuing new directions in this area of research. Our aim was to bring together a wide variety of established and emerging Goethe scholars and take stock of the current innovative approaches to Goethe's lyric poetry. We are hopeful that the following articles, which (with one exception) have their origin in this panel series, will open up new avenues of research and poetic insight as they examine Goethe's lyric through various discursive lenses and from different theoretical angles. The first three contributions propose new ways of reading Goethe's early poems that go beyond David Wellbery's methodology and assessments. Edgar Landgraf, meeting David Wellbery on his home turf, makes a strong argument that the discursive formation of Goethe's early poems is better understood if approached with a rigorous application of Luhmann's systems theory. Christian Weber delineates metapoetic strategies in Goethe's early poetry and argues that the arrangement of the "great hymns of genius" in the Erste Weimarer Gedichtsammlung constitutes a dimension of poetic meaning that cannot be captured by the common approach of reading poems as singular events. Joseph O'Neil's reading of Erklarung eines alten Holzschnittes vorstellend Hans Sachsens poetische Sendung reviews David Wellbery's notion of "specular romanticism." As O'Neil argues, in this poem of his first Weimar years Goethe proclaims an alternative version of "poetic vocation" based on distinction, mediation, and judgment instead of the imagined identity between the self and the cosmos that had been suggested as characteristic of his earlier poems. Other articles gain new ground by activating new contexts. Reading Mignon's "Kennst du das Land" both in its setting in Wilhelm Meisters


For the embedded Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (EGOE) of random matrices, the strength sums generated by a transition operator acting on an eigenstate vary with the excitation energy as the ratio of two Gaussians. This general result is compared to exact shell model calculations, with realistic interactions, of spherical orbit occupancies and Gamow-Teller strength sums in some $(ds)$ and $(fp)$ shell examples. In order to confirm that EGOE operates in the chaotic domain of the shell model spectrum, calculations are carried out using two different interpolating hamiltonians generating order-chaos transitions. Good agreement is obtained in the chaotic domain of the spectrum, and strong deviations are observed as nuclear motion approaches a regular regime (transition strength sums appear to follow the Dyson's $\Delta_3$ statistic). More importantly, they shed new light on the newly emerging understanding that in the chaotic domain of isolated finite interacting many particle systems smoothed densities (they include strength functions) define the statistical description of these systems and these densities follow from embedded random matrix ensembles; some EGOE calculations to this end are presented.


In recent years, the study of topological phases has been highlighted in condensed matter physics. Generally, the anisotropic electromagnetic media are topologically trivial because of broken the three-dimensional rotational symmetry. In this paper, by injecting the external current, we restore the rotational symmetry of the anisotropic electromagnetic media, so that the topological phases of these systems can emerge. This study will provide an alternative way to explore the topological phases of the anisotropic electromagnetic media.


We propose that a leadership identity is coconstructed in organizations when individuals claim and grant leader and follower identities in their social interactions. Through this claiming-granting process, individuals internalize an identity as leader or follower, and those identities become relationally recognized through reciprocal role adoption and collectively endorsed within the organizational context. We specify the dynamic nature of this process, antecedents to claiming and granting, and an agenda for research on leadership identity and development.


The Music Supervisors National Conference (MSNC) was a product of the Progressive period, a creation of music teachers who were typical Progressives--reform-minded, middle-class, and primarily Midwestern. (2) Public education was growing astronomically at all levels, and this, coupled with a national demand for higher levels of expertise and organization, (3) gave MSNC founders distinct advantages in creating a successful organization. Yet there were other, more subtle factors that contributed to its growth and success. Among early MSNC leaders there was a sense that something special was happening, a sense that theirs was a time of substantive change, of the dawning of a significant era for music in the schools and for music among the American people. The founders saw music education, to put it in the parlance of the period, as a "gospel"--something that should be available to all the children of the nation, at public expense in the public schools. (4) Conference publications and addresses were characterized by words of optimism and metaphors of evangelism about the cause of universal music instruction for children. (5) MSNC leaders saw the importance of an organization that could play a role in the musical and educational life of the United States, and work for the larger goal of universal music education. (6) There was peculiar earnestness, as Mark and Gary characterize it, in their efforts for the organization. (7) They viewed music itself in the loftiest terms. Music was more, much more, than a mere school subject. It had become sacralized, an important part of the cultural uplift of society and tied to political and economic improvement. (8) It had central social importance, a part of the "promise of America," as Progressive writer Herbert Croly so aptly described the Progressive cultural agenda. (9) The rise of the MSNC, the push for American musical independence and the rise of musical nationalism, and the need for democratic opportunity were all regarded as proceeding hand in hand. (10) The Founding and the Founders The first meeting of the MSNC was at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1907, organized by Philip Cady Hayden, who sent out the famous "call" to music supervisors in his School Music magazine. A hundred or so men and women met, liked the novelty of being together, and decided to develop a permanent organization. Sixty-nine became permanent members. Hayden had sensed the right moment, the right need, and chosen the right people. For decades he would be celebrated as the honored founder of the organization as he served as president, participated in its ongoing activities, and continued to report its achievements in his magazine. (11) The Keokuk meeting was important for the precedents it set. Early members worked to increase numbers, maintain working relationships, and organize activities that affected teaching, credit, and curricula. A sense of conviviality and unity were high priorities. (12) The person who stands out at the first meeting was Frances Elliott Clark. At Hayden's request, Clark, who was then vice president of the Music Department of the National Education Association (NEA), presided over the meeting in the absence of NEA Music Department President Hamlin E. Cogswell. As a former Iowan, Clark was well known to Hayden. (13) Both had participated religiously in the affairs of the NEA. (14) In the coming decades, Clark served the MSNC in several capacities; she was an ardent supporter and highly influential in the organization. Like Tolstoy's "Pierre," she seemed to be everywhere, but unlike Pierre she was not just an observer but a maker of the drama. In the 1920s she was nicknamed "Mother of the MENC." (15) The label is unfortunate, as it clouds Clark's central role in the development of music education and the MSNC. She could be considered the founder of this organization, not only for what she did at Keokuk, but for her vision and efforts in the years following the first meeting. …


A concentric coreshell hard sphere model is adopted ,in which particales possess a continuous variation in the core sizes but have constant shell thickness, thus giving rise to a distribution in the particle refractive indices.The dependence on scattering vector q of the average scattered intensity I(q) and the effective diffusion coefficient De(q) obtained from the first cumulant measured by dynamic light scattering in the case of the refractive index of the solvent and the refractive index of the shell are matched,i.e.,nm=ns. Under favorable conditions it should be possible to measure small polydispersities.


The rocksalt‐type ferromagnetic (FM) insulator EuS (bulk TC = 17 K) grown on Bi2Se3 with well‐matched (111) plane of the film and (0001) plane of the substrate is studied. The system may feature magnetic proximity effect breaking the time‐reversal symmetry and opening a bandgap in the metallic topologically protected surface state of Bi2Se3. The experimental X‐ray diffraction studies are combined with ab initio calculations to resolve contradictory results concerning the enhancement of the TC up to 300 K and the degree of induced magnetization in the system. It is concluded that previous studies relied on idealized and unconfirmed structure models. Herein, it is shown by surface X‐ray diffraction (SXRD) with ab initio calculations that a two double layer‐thick EuS film grows with a sharp interface and without chemical intermixing in a single domain state in an FCC‐type stacking on the Bi2Se3(0001) surface in which the topmost layer is metallic, thereby lifting polarity. A large pz‐orbital‐derived top‐layer sulfur magnetic moment of 0.6 μB is found, whereas for europium, μEu = 6.9 μB throughout the film is found. No magnetization within the first Bi2Se3 quintuple layer is found. The calculation of the exchange parameters Jij indicates a complex FM and antiferromagnetic ordering between europium and sulfur with a maximum Néel temperature of 226 K.


Non-linear techniques for denoising images and video are known to be superior to linear ones. In addition video denoising using spatio-temporal information is considered to be more efficient compared with the use of just temporal information in the presence of fast motion and low noise. Earlier, we introduced a 3-D extension of the K-nearest neighbor filter and have investigated its properties. In this paper we propose a new, motion- and detail-adaptive filter, which solves some of the potential drawbacks of the non-adaptive version: motion caused artifacts and the loss of fine details and texture. We also introduce a novel noise level estimation technique for automatic tuning of the noise-level dependent parameters. The results show that the adaptive K-nearest neighbor filter outperforms the none-adaptive one, as well as some other state-of-the-art spatio-temporal filters such as the 3D alpha-trimmed mean and the state-of-the-art rational filter by Ramponi from both a PSNR and visual quality point of view.


Abstract : The mutagenic potential of 4-nitrophenyl monochloromethyl (phenyl) phosphinate (CMP) was assessed by using the Ames Salmonella/Mammalian Microsome Mutagenicity assay. Tester strains TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, TA 1537 and TA 1538 were exposed to doses ranging from 1 mg/plate to 3.2 x 10 to the minus 4th power mg/plate. It was determined that the test substance did not have mutagenic potential. (Author)


- This research project focused on analyzing the perceived quality of service by patients at the Hospital Clínica, using the SERVQUAL model to study the five dimensions of service (reliability, responsibility, safety, empathy, and tangibles). Two questionnaires were developed for scheduled surgery and emergency areas. After conducting the respective study of the perceived quality of service by the hospital's patients, it was found that, overall, they were dissatisfied. The dimensions that had the greatest influence on the perceived quality of service were reliability, responsibility, and safety, while the tangible elements dimension had the least influence. The study identified opportunities for improvement in each dimension of service, and specific recommendations and suggestions were made to the Hospital Clínica to improve the quality of service provided. Overall, the study highlights the importance of paying attention to patient perceptions and using this information to improve the quality of service in the hospital.


This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact email@example.com. Recommended Citation Stauffer, Anita E., "An Examination of the Interrelationship Between Caregiver Behaviors, Infant Temperament and PerceptualCognitive Development" (1976). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 2412.


PURPOSE: A continuous microalgae harvesting system is provided to continuously harvest a part of microalgae during culture and to reduce culture problems. CONSTITUTION: A continuous microalgae harvesting system improved culture efficiency by connecting a culture bath and harvesting bath. An electrochemical method for the system comprises: a step of generating inorganic ion and oxygen bubble at an anode and hydrogen bubble at cathode by electrolysis; a step of forming metal hydroxide through hydrolysis of the inorganic ion; a step of aggregating the metal hydroxide and microalgae; a step of changing anode and cathode to stop the generation of the inorganic ion; a step of generating hydrogen bubble at the changed anode and oxygen bubble at the changed cathode; and a step of concentrating microalgae floated on the water. The anode and inorganic ion are aluminum and Al^3+.


In this paper a dynamical model for charge transport via intersubband
 resonant tunneling in a coupled three-quantum well structure is
 presented.


Investigated various aspects of eyewitness testimony in a simulated courtroom setting. 80 undergraduates were shown a filmed murder and then testified about their observations in one of several experimental conditions. Testimony was rated for accuracy and quantity. Significant main effects were foun


Main color space conversion methods in equipment characterization process were introduced.Two kinds of algorithms,prism interpolation and polynomial regression algorithm were discussed with example of color space conversion from RGB to Lab color space.The effects of the two algorithms were verified with experiments and results were analyzed.The results showed that the two algorithms can be further improved for application in color management field.


Random switching models have been widely used in areas of communication, physics and aerospace, to capture the random movement patterns of mobile agents. In this letter, we study the optimal decision-making problem for multi-agent systems governed by random switching dynamics. In particular, we develop a novel online optimal control solution that integrates the reinforcement learning (RL) with an effective uncertainty sampling method, called multivariate probabilistic collocation method (MPCM), to adaptively find the optimal policies for agents of randomly switching mobility. We also develop a novel estimator that integrates the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) and MPCM to provide online estimation solutions for these agents. Efficiency and accuracy of the proposed solutions are analyzed. A concrete communication and antenna control co-design problem for a multi-UAV network is studied in the end to illustrate and validate the results.


The assessment of comfort is reviewed from the points of view both of its importance and of its measurement. Its importance lies in its universal applicability to all human beings and in its tendency to govern survival prospects in limiting situations. In measuring the comfort level, objective and subjective techniques must be used correctly for the determination of psychological, physiological, and physical comfort-related factors, but no over-all quantitative assessment of this level can be obtained. The effects of the five senses, the environment, and the presence of textile products can all play a vital part in establishing comfort. Human beings are so individual in their needs, and the conditions to be met so variable, that it is difficult to establish precise needs for any one situation. Nevertheless, the properties of the textile products that are useful in enhancing comfort can be established with a fair degree of accuracy.


This paper introduces the present situation of river course engineering management in Shanxi Province,analyzes on the problems existing in the river course engineering management system,and probes into the developing direction of the river course engineering management,and puts forward some measures that should be taken in the engineering management.


A primary concern in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) is security. Secret sharing is an effective way to distribute a secret among n parties, where each party holds one piece of the secret. A number of ke y management schemes have been proposed for MANETs. However the secret sharing to control key hierarchy needs larger message transmission costs i n many techniques. Existing research in key management can only handle very limited number of nodes and are inefficient, insecure, or unreliable w hen the nodes increases. Here this study modifies Auton omous key management scheme is proposed to address both for security and efficiency for key management in Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET). It also reduces communication and computational cost in Ad-Hoc Network and works for large number of nodes.


The study of the problems of the formation of the conceptual ap para tus in the field of legal support of artificial intelligence to develop effective le gal solutions in order to regulate new digital technologies. The work is based on a set of general scientific and special legal methods, including analysis, description, ge ne ra li zation, com parative law. The formation of legal definitions of artificial intelligence and related concepts (ro bot, cyber-physical system, etc.) requires the identification of the main legal fe atures of artificial intelligence. The following key characteristics of artificial in tel li gence are identified: optional hardware implementation; the ability of the system to analyze the environment; autonomy in operation; the ability to accumulate experience, its assessment and implementation of the task of self-learning; the pre sence of "intelligence", described through the categories of "rationality", "rationality" or simply the ability to "think like a person" or "act like a person" in all or in narrowly defined circumstances. Future legal regimes of artificial intelligence should take into account the possibility of weak artificial intelligence as a kind of complex thing and strong artificial intelligence that will "require" new legal solutions. The formation of legal definitions in the field of artificial intelligence must meet the requirements of universality, system city and ethics, and also allow, based on the selected properties, to establish systemic hierarchical relationships between concepts used in the field of artificial intelligence. The study develops the theoretical and practice-oriented provisions of in for mation law in matters of legal support for artificial intelligence, and also creates the basis for the formation of legislation in this area. The work can be used in further research activities on the legal regulation of the development, functioning and use of artificial intelligence systems.


Two previous articles proposed and tested a theoretical model in which suppression of the rapid eye movement (REM) state and its daytime equivalent (basic-rest-activity cycle) would lead to significant improvement of patients with neurodermatitis. Phenelzine sulfate, 75 mg/day, was employed as the REM-suppressing agent, and diazepam, 25 mg/day, was the active control drug. A 5-week double blind study with 15 subjects yielded highly significant results. The purpose of the present study is to report: a) the clinical course of subjects who continued phenelzine therapy on a knowing basis after the 5-week experiment; b) the clinical course of the neurodermatitis once the phenelzine was discontinued; c) the types and implications of adverse reactions found with this high dosage of phenelzine. Seven of the eight subjects who continued phenelzine therapy experienced further improvement, four to the point of complete remission. The writers were also impressed by indications that some subjects seemed to need a minimal remnant of the disease, possibly because of its unconscious meanings elaborated over the years. Termination of phenelzine therapy was related to recurrence of neurodermatitis in varying ways but no subject had a return to its original extent and severity over a 4− to 8-month follow-up. Average severity of recurrence seemed to be about 25 per cent of the original pathology during this interval. Regarding adverse reactions, there were no hypertensive changes, probably due to the conscientious attitude toward diet and drugs. Two teenage subjects had severe orthostatic hypotension and phenelzine in this dosage probably should be limited to patients over 21 years of age. Mental alertness was somewhat impaired and four subjects developed hyperreflexia and tremor. Weight gain was very frequent. Subjects also developed a specific sexual dysfunction consisting of decreased libido, continued capacity to perform coitus, and anorgasmia. All adverse reactions disappeared within 1 to 3 weeks after termination of treatment. Finally, the risks in taking phenelzine sulfate, although quite variable, unpredictable, and considerable, can be partly controlled by dietary restriction and frequent medical observation. Under these circumstances, the results of this study indicate much potential value in treating moderate to severe cases of neurodermatitis, especially where alternate forms of therapy have been unsatisfactory.


A blunt cannula (10) includes a distal portion (12) and a proximal portion (14). The distal portion (14) has a non-uniform taper defined by a plurality, such as four, differently tapered segments (22, 24, 26, 28). The proximal portion (12) may additionally or alternatively have a non-circular, such as oval, cross-section. At least the major diameter (D MAJ ) of the proximal portion (12) may taper toward the distal portion (14).


Electrohydraulic servovalve comprising a sliding gate valve (30) disposed for reciprocating movement within a cylinder and movable in response to electrical signals applied to a driving motor (28) for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure between a fluid source and two cylinder ports to generate a movement of a load (42). The servovalve has an integrated accommodation function of the load movement, including means (58) for detecting the pressure difference occurring said cylinder ports, and generating a first electrical signal proportional to this difference in reaction pressure means (62) for detecting the position of the slide in the cylinder of the valve, and generating a second electrical signal proportional response to this position, means (52) coupling the first feedback signal to motor drive, and means (52) for coupling the second feedback signal to the drive motor.


In this paper, a way to solve users problem of license management is presented, which enhances the security of information in communication through adding PKI security agency.It also provides a specific online banking system to expound theorem and function of security agency. Furthermore it confers the key technique in the design.


Abstract At a time when heterosexual marriage rates are declining, many countries and localities are advocating for the rights of lesbians and gay men to enter legalized relationships, including marriage. This article reviews the legal status of same-sex relationships in the U.S. and other countries. Not only does the general public have mixed opinions about same-sex marriage, but so do lesbian and gay male communities. Some of the theories about pros and cons of same-sex marriage will be presented. The article reviews the very scant literature on same-sex legalized relationships and presents some ideas for future research.


Anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 family members are critical for the regulation of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) survival. Little is known about the role of their pro‐apoptotic antagonists, i.e. 'BH3‐only' proteins, in this cell compartment. Based on the analysis of cytokine deprivation‐induced changes in mRNA expression levels of Bcl‐2 family proteins, we determined the consequences of BH3‐only protein depletion on HSPC survival in culture and, for selected candidates, on engraftment in vivo. Thereby, we revealed a critical role for Bim and Bmf as regulators of HSPC dynamics both during early engraftment and long‐term reconstitution. HSPCs derived from wild‐type donors were readily displaced by Bim‐ or Bmf‐deficient or Bcl‐2‐overexpressing HSPCs as early as 10 days after engraftment. Moreover, in the absence of Bim, significantly lower numbers of transplanted HSPCs were able to fully engraft radio‐depleted recipients. Finally, we provide proof of principle that RNAi‐based reduction of BIM or BMF, or overexpression of BCL‐2 in human CD34+ cord blood cells may be an attractive therapeutic option to increase stem cell survival and transplantation efficacy.


Introduction: Brugada syndrome is a rare channelopathy, which is familial or sporadic in occurrence. Typical ECG findings of Brugada pattern consist of a pseudo-right bundle branch block and persis...


graphlic evidence should be considered together with, and in the lighlt of, the clinical aspect of the case. Some reference was then made to the opaque meal, its composition and metlhod of administration, and, following that, a description of the aniatomy and radiographic appearances of the normal stomach. It was made clear that there is more than one type of stomaclh, and tilat the normal varies witllin moderately wide limits, and to a large extent in conformity with the general type of the individual. Then various points were dealt with wlhicll lhave to be considered in estimating the normal or abnormal condition of any stomach: these are its position, form, size, outline, tone, mobility, peristalsis, and motility, and they were described and considered in detail, and reference was made to circumstances which influence them. Dr. Prowse then turned to the particular consideration of some abnormal conditions. He referred first to gastroptosis, and deprecated its being looked upon as a pathological entity. It was an abnormal condition, not necessarily of itself giving rise to definite symptoms, but generally associated with, or secondary to, other conditions-especially organic lesions of an obstructive kind, though a number of cases appeared to be of mechanical, or possibly developmental, origin-or secondarv to conditions of general health and chronic functional disturbance of the digestive organs. Gastric ulcer was then dealt with. He said that there were four classes: (1) superficial erosions, (2) penetratina ulcers, (3) perforating ulcers, (4) carcinomatous ulcers. The first were the most difficult to demonstrate, because they do not give rise to direct.signs. The direct signs of ulcer were the barium-filled ulcer crater, and its accessory pocket, wlhen perforating. The indirect signs included the various forms of spasm, from the incisura to hour-glass contraction, organic hour-glass, undue retention of food, alterations in peristalsis and tone (hlypotonus), lessened mobility, and other minor signs. Tllese were all considered in detail, togetlher witl their significance. Tlle indirect signs were,practically pathognomonic; the indirect required very careful interpretation and weiaging in conjunction with tlle clinical evidence. Dr. Prowse then spoke of gastric cancer. X-ray diagnosis of this disease was of prime importance; the majority ot gastric cancers gave radiological evidence of their presence, of tlleir situation, and very largely of their extent. The most imuportant sign of gastric cancer was alteration of contour, or filling, defect; this must be fixed and permanent. Otlher signs were alterations in capacity of tlle stomach, diminislhed fexibility of stomach wall, patency or obstruction of the pylorus, changes of peristalsis, and alterations in motility of gastric contents. Finally, duodenal ulcer was dealt witlh. After a brief description of the anatomy and radiograpllic appearances of the duodenum, the irregularities whichi might be present in abnormnal conditions were indicated. Thlese affected out. line, especially that of tlle first part of the duodenum, motility, and peristalsis. Tlle signs of duodenal ulcer, like those of gastric ulcer, were (1) direct and (2) indirect. The only direct sigu was deformity of outline; this was of various types, but tlle one essential characteristic of them all was persistence throuabout examination. Thie indirect signs of duodenal ulcer were found in the stomach, and were concerned witlh changes in tone, peristalsis, and motility; gastric spasm might also be present. All these sians were described and considered in detail and their significance indicated. One combination of indirect signs was almost pathognomonic of duodenal ulcer-namelv, hyperperistalsis associated with normal outline, though perhaps increased capacity of the stomach and undue retention of food. Thle paper was illustrated by lantern slides and reports of cases. Dr. DONALD HALL showed a lad, aged 19, suffering from general paralysis of the insane and locomotor ataxy. The patient was the fifth of nine children, seven of whom were alive, the last two having been born dead. His father had tabes dorsalis and lhad been blind for nine years. The only stigma of congenital syphilis in the patient was a sunken bridge to the nose. He had had difficulty in walking for several months, and more recently his motlher said he had becomne " nasty-tempered " and untidy in his habits. Clinically he slhowed gross ataxy of all four limbs, inactive pupils, absence of Aclhilles jerks, tlle knee-jerks still being present although diminished, double extensor response, tremor of face and tongue, characteristic speech, and mental enfeeblement. That day he had had a severe gastric crisis. Dr. H. M. GALT reported that thle WVassermnann test was ++++± bothl in blood and in cerebro-spinai fluid; thle gold test was positive, anld cells in thle cerebro-spinal fluid were 35 per cubic mnillimetre. RESPIRATION. UNDER the simple and inclusive title Respirationl Dr. J. S. HALDANE of Oxford lhas publislhed hlis Silliman Memorial Lectures at Yale University. Not only does the volutme contain an excellent exposition of the suibject of respiration by a worker who has lona been regarded as one of the greatest living autlhorities in this field, but it is stamped tlhroughou1k witlh the author's personality, and is one of the most peculiarly individual books that has ever been published on a purelv physiological tlheme. It is in the main a development of a smaller book also published by the Yale University Press in 1917 under the title, Organism and Environment as illU8trated by the Phy8iology of Breathing, in wlichl Haldane dealt witl the more general conclusions to which his life-long investigation of the problem lhad led hlim. Thle special merit of the volume now under review lies in the fact that it is no mere compilation and critical discussion of previous work, but is a fresh and original attack on a most interestina and, from a medical point of view, highly important problem. Thle whole atmosphere of the book carries one back to a previous generation when authors did not fear to discus3 their results and deductions in a broad philosophic way, not merely in relation to the organs and tissues examined, but to the organism as a whole and to its place in the selleme of Nature. To quote from the praface: " The time lhas come for a far more clear realization of wlhat life implies. Tihe bondage of bioloogy to the physical sciences has lasted more thlan half a century. It is now time for biology to take lher riglhtful place as an exact independent science: to speak her own langaage and not tlat of other sciences." But Dr. Haldane does not content himself with wlhat many may regard as mere quixotic tiltineg at a frigid meellhnistic conception of life, at the well-niglh ridiculous position taken up by many workers obsessed by thie so-called facts of clhemistry and pliysics; hie lhas inade a real and successful attempt to bring physiology and medicine into closer communion. He opens with an historical introduction in whicih, in tho space of four-teen pages, lie gives a succinct and most readable account of the development of the subject from the tim3 of Boyle and M-layow up to modern times. Room, however, miaht lhave boen found for raference lhere to the intere3ting and ingeniou3 work of Crawford, who claimed, witlh perlhaps a certain amount of justification, tllat lhe had anticipated thle discoveries of Lavoisier. Tihis is followed by a couple oc clhapters on the regulation of breathing, wlhere botlh the chemical and nervous control are fully dealt witlh. Thie discussion of the Hering-Breuer reflex in relation to " short. ness of breath " in many nervous cases is very interesting. It may surprise some readers to learn that the respiratory centre so often referred to lhas not be6n anatomically determined and thlat thie exact meaning to be attaclhed to thle term is still doubtful. Two chapters are devoted t0 thle blood as a carrier of oxyaen and of carbon dioxide. Altlhouall varying composition and concentration of the salts contaiued in the blood may account for varyina dissociation curve.s of thie oxyhaemoglobin in whole blood, the author maintains there can be no escape from the conclusion "tthat in different individuals of tlle same species as well as in different species the haemoalobin mo!ecules are differeut." In two suore clhapters Dr. Ha!dane discusses in detail the effects of oxyaen want and the causes of anoxaemia. Both of these chapters are full of material of first-class clinical value. He believes that auoxaemia is frequently present in disease, but is seldom recognized. A detailed account of the methods of treatment of the condition of anoxaemia is also given. He writes here, "1 If there were only one clinical lesson derived from a perusal of this book I lhope it would be that anoxaemia is a very serious condition." The important question of the relation of the reaction of the blood to respiration is discussed in Clhapter VIII. The general conclusion reached is that thle regulation of breathing in man during rest, under normal conditions, is regulation of the blood reaction. Thle actual chanaes involved are, of course, very small; so small indeed thlat, as tlle author says, " one mighlt as well try to Cult delicate hlistological sections with a blunt carving knife as try to demonstrate ordinary very minute chlanges in blood reaction


Pancreatic β‐cell dysfunction is central to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, and the loss of functional β‐cell mass in type 2 diabetes is at least in part secondary to increased β‐cell apoptosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is present in β‐cells in type 2 diabetes. Free fatty acids (FFAs) cause ER stress and are putative mediators of β‐cell dysfunction and death. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying ER stress induced by saturated and unsaturated FFAs. Oleate and palmitate trigger ER stress through ER Ca2+ depletion and build‐up of unfolded proteins in the secretory pathway. Saturated and unsaturated FFAs elicit a differential signal transduction in the three branches of the ER stress response, resulting in different survival/apoptosis outcomes. The protection of β‐cells against FFAs through the interference with ER stress signalling has opened novel therapeutic perspectives for type 2 diabetes. Chemical chaperones, salubrinal and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogues have been used to protect β‐cells from lipotoxic ER stress. Importantly, the pro‐ and antiapoptotic effects of these compounds are cell and context dependent.


This paper has surveyed the education evaluation method and technology both at home and abroad, and studied on the question of education evaluation information's mining and synthesis processing. In view of the evaluation index system of high and secondary vocational education, on the basis of gray clustering analysis method this paper had established gray clustering model and applied fuzzy evaluation method to solve the question of education evaluation information synthesis processing. It provided a vastitude future of education evaluation information's mining and synthesis processing.


Generally speaking,there is no direct relationship between the two characteristics of function,i.e.,the monotony and the continuousness. The monotony characteristics of function,however,displays some new fentures in continous function because of the speciality of continous function. The auther of this paper establishes two approaches to directly judge the monotonous chacteristics of continous functions,and analyses the problems arising in the study of functions.


Background: Classic Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is characterized by the presence of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells. CD99 downregulation produces HRS-like cells and morphological changes in B lymphoma. The NF-κB pathway protects HRS cells from apoptosis and is in part responsible for its unique functional characteristics in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Objective: To observe the changes in the morphological and immunophenotype characteristics of L428 cells following transformation with CD99 and explore the role of NF-κB in these changes. Methods: A mammalian expression vector driving CD99 was constructed and transfected into the L428 cell line (L428-MVC). L428, L428-EVC (empty vector) and L428-MVC were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis, and comparisons were made between the three cell lines with regards to the expression of CD2, CD3, CD15, CD20, CD30, CD79, CD99 and NF-κBp65. In addition, cell proliferation was monitored by MTT assay, while apoptosis and cell cycle status were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Transfection of L428 cells with CD99 altered the morphological and immunophenotypic characteristics of HRS cells. Expression of CD15, CD30, and NF-κBp65 disappeared, while CD2, CD3, CD20 and CD79 levels remained negative. In addition, the presence of CD99 led to cell cycle arrest at G2/M and a reduction in cell proliferation. More importantly, CD99 dramatically decreased cell viability and increased cellular apoptosis compared with naive L428 cells and the L428-EVC cell line. These results indicated that the upregulation of CD99 altered cell morphology and immunophenotype, while also decreasing viability in vitro. Conclusions: CD99 may play a key role in affecting cell morphology and immunophenotype characteristics via inactivation of NF-κBp65.


This article focuses particularly on two Laurent Cantet films, Ressources humaines (Human Resources, 2000) and Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang (2012). Its main thrust, however, is to use Cantet's work to pose more general questions about the functioning of a political cinema at the current moment. Firstly, it examines how the director hollows out his own voice to accommodate other, often disempowered or marginalized voices at a time when the radical or institutional left no longer provides a collective language of opposition. Secondly, drawing on Jean-Luc Nancy's understanding of 'being with', it looks at how the films stage the interplay between individuals, groups and broader social contexts and notes that, if characters cannot stand alone as isolated individuals, nor can they simply merge back into some broader collectivity. Again, it suggests that this uneasy position is expressive of the current moment. Thirdly, the article looks at the uncomfortable place the films open up for the spectator who is neither reassured about the acceptability of the status quo nor given some easy utopian alternative but is instead forced to work out his or her stance in a conflicted field. The article concludes by arguing that this obligation to work out where one stands pulls together the director, the characters and the audience. In deeply conflicted times, when not taking a position is not an option, and ready-made standpoints are no longer available, they must work out their stance, as must we.


Reducing physical activity is a phenomenon that not only affects the adult population, but also young people since the preschool age, resulting in a change in the evolution of motor patrimony and physical efficiency. The interest in international literature is centered on obesity and loss of aerobic performance, which are the main health risk factors, while surveys of motor capacity are still very limited. The present study investigated the evolutionary tendency of motor skills, trying to extract relevant information from a series of researches in different countries around the world for an interpretative analysis of theoretical and documental results. This trend is worrying as it seems to affect the natural development of motor performance during the evolutionary age. The results of these studies reflect on the importance of a broad set of physical and coordinative efficiency, developed optimally to ensure further growth in motor performance over time. This also implies a reflection on the opportunity of early learning of technical skills that, if not supported by a broad base of capabilities, could then cause performance stagnation. In the final part of the article, operational some suggestions are proposed to pursue the objective of developing a broad base of motor skills, integrating quantitative parameters, whose modulation has direct effects on physical efficiency, and the qualitative parameters, the modulation of which serves to enrich the baggage of motor skills useful to the solution of ever-new engine tasks.


Summary form only given. Optical phase conjugation is well known for its time reversal properties [1]. A phase conjugate mirror is formed when two laser beams of same frequency w meet from opposite directions in a transparent nonlinear medium. When a probe beam is retro-reflected by an optical phase conjugate mirror, wavefront distortions induced by a phase object are removed after re-crossing this object [2, 3]. In this presentation, we use two counter-propagating filaments to create a conjugate mirror with air as a non linear medium [4]. We demonstrate that it operates differently from a usual conjugate mirror. With a filament conjugate mirror, the reflected signal has essentially a perfect spatial mode independent of the initial probe beam profile.The principle of the experiment is represented on figure 1: two separate ultra-short pump laser pulses 1, 2 of equal peak power > 10 GW undergo filamentation in air and then meet from opposite directions to form a middle of the common two signal beams 4, 4', filament phase conjugate mirror (FCM). A weaker fs probe pulse 3 is focused onto the region ionized by the filaments and one co-propagating with the probe beam and amplifying it, the other counter-propagating. Figure 2(a) shows the fluence profile of the incident probe 3. After reflection on the FCM, the pulse 4 displays a high quality beam profile as shown in figure 2(b). Temporal characterizations of the conjugate beam have also been performed. The FCM acts as a plasma mirror and increases the temporal contrast of the pulse (ratio between the peak intensity and any precursor light). is time coincident with the pump pulses, generating In conclusion, filament conjugate mirrors display unusual properties. They should find applications in situations where femtosecond laser pulses with high quality beam are required, for instance in the stage amplifier femtosecond laser system. early stages of a multi-stage amplifier femtosecond laser system.


In 1981 Allison and Busby, in association with Picador, republished Crozem,Jeze~el by Trinidadian novelist Ralph de Boissière. The novel which depicts the working-class struggle in Trinidad during the late 1930s was first published by an Australian left-wing publishing house in 1952 and subsequently appeared in translation in several East-bloc countries, but was virtually unknown in the Caribbean, England and the United States. Allison and Busby announced the republication of Crown ,Jeze~el as &dquo;one of the lost masterpieces of world literature&dquo; while Picador advertised it as &dquo;a Caribbean classic and a major work of realist fiction which in the urgency of its narrative drive and the depth of its moral concerns can prompt parallels with Turgenev and Tolstoy&dquo;. Almost unanimously reviewers on both sides of the Atlantic seem to agree with the publishers' claims. The Observer Uune 14, 1981) set the tone: &dquo;Once in a blue moon a lost gem is unearthed from the general rubble of period fiction. Crown Jewel .. , is one such find&dquo;. Now Allison and Busby have also republished, in 1984, de Boissiere's s


The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, FL, USA has for several years provided low resolution NMR magnets to the condensed matter physics community. There are presently two magnets available, one that provides 24.5 T in a 32 mm bore with inhomogeneity of about 100 ppm over a 10 mm Diameter Spherical Volume (DSV) and another that provides 25 T in 52 mm bore with inhomogeneity of 12 ppm over a 1 cm DSV. The NHMFL is presently constructing the third magnet in this series that should provide field above 29 T with inhomogeneity less than 50 ppm over a 1 cm DSV. The NHMFL is also planning to build a series-connected hybrid to enable low resolution NMR in the 35 T range. History of the existing magnets and design of the 29 T magnet are presented along with analysis and conceptual design of magnets with uniformity in the 1 ppm range and fields in the 35 T range.


Objective: To assess the diagnostic error rate among echocardiograms undertaken by individuals other than paediatric cardiologists in our referral area.


The Body Mass Index (BMI) is an important anthropometric tool used in the determination of how much of the body is composed of fat. The BMI determines the caloric nutritional status of an individual by the consideration of the result of its ratio of weight in kilogram to the square of the height of in metres. The determination of the differences in nutritional status that exist between the Ogonis and Ikwerres using their body mass indices and Waist to Hip Ratio is the purpose of this research so as to inform us on the classification of the ethnic groups whether they are underweight, overweight, normal and/or obese. A sample size of 1000 was used for this study, 500 from each tribe. The sample collection was randomly selected from villages in Ogoni and Ikwerre respectively, all in Rivers State. The results obtained showed that the average mean value of BMI is 25.14 kg/m 2 for Ogoni females, 23.81 kg/m 2 for Ogoni males, 23.29 kg/m 2 for Ikwerre females and 21.51 kg/m 2 for Ikwerre males. Similarly, the average mean values of Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) obtained showed 1.19 for Ogoni females, 0.88 for Ogoni males, 0.83 for Ikwerre males. The study also showed that amongst the males, 6% were underweight, 27.6% were overweight, 58.4% were normal and 6.8% considered obese while amongst the Ogoni females, 8% were underweight, 29.6% overweight, 45.6% were normal and 15.6% were obese. The results obtained from the male Ikwerre population indicated that 3.2% were underweight, 11.2% were overweight, 88.4% were normal and no case of obesity in this group category while the results obtained from the Ikwerre females showed 4.8% underweight, 13.2% overweight, 76.4% normal and 2.8% obese. There is therefore a clear indication from the result and data obtained that the Ogoni population show a greater percentage of obesity than the Ikwerres. This is important in the analysis and possible health remedy recommendation.


Enantioselective Michael Additions Tao Miao,a Lei Wang,*a,b Pinhua Li,a Jincan Yana a Department of Chemistry, Huaibei Coal Teachers College, Huaibei, Anhui 235000, P. R. of China b State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, P. R. of China Fax +86(561)3090518; E-mail: email@example.com Received 24 July 2008; revised 1 August 2008


I report here on recent results from the three major TRISTAN experiments: VENUS, TOPAZ, and AMY. These include a neural network analysis of bb forward-backward asymmetry, a measurement of the running of s, evidence for color coherence, measurement of the photon structure function F2 up to Q 2 = 390 (GeV/c) , and a measurement of charm production in two-photon events.


The advent of personal digital assistants (PDAs) at the turn of this century opened new doors to functional independence for people with cognitive impairment. Pocket-sized electronic reminders help...


BACKGROUND/AIM
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant type of glioma. Alpha-bisabolol is an essential oil reported as a potent cell death agent. In the present work, we evaluated the effect of alpha-bisabolol on ecto-5'-nucleotidase/CD73, the most well-characterized enzymatic source of adenosine, present in lipid rafts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Glioma cells were treated with alpha-bisabolol and, in some experiments, pre-treated with an A3 antagonist. MTT assay (viability), malachite green method (ecto-5'-nucleotidase/CD73 activity) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (A3 mRNA) were carried out.

RESULTS
Alpha-bisabolol led to a decrease in C6 and U138-MG glioma cells viability, accompanied by an increase in ecto-5'-NT/CD73 activity. Pre-treatment with an A3 antagonist reverted the effect of α-bisabolol with an increase of mRNA expression of this receptor.

CONCLUSION
Our data indicated the participation of ecto-5'-nucleotidase/CD73 and A3 receptor in the anti-proliferative effect of α-bisabolol on glioma cells.


The reflectionless filter cell described in this article alleviates many system problems associated with excess out-of-band gain, impedance mismatches, and component interactions. The simplest filter cell exhibits a third-order Inverse Chebyshev response with 14.47 dB peak stopband attenuation, and several can be cascaded for additional attenuation as needed. They are simple to design and easy to use - for much like small fixed attenuators ("pads"), they can be placed anywhere in the signal path desired without fear of causing unwanted standing waves, and instead reducing them where they already exist beyond the intended frequency range. Compared to conventional filter topologies with similar cutoff frequencies, they exhibit an order of magnitude greater amplitude and phase stability, ensuring accurate and repeatable complex gain in calibrated systems. Finally, the component requirements are moderate in value and minimal in number, easing their implementation while improving design yield, and extending the applicability of a given component technology beyond the normal range, both above and below.