In this paper, we introduce a method to construct ambient isotopy invariants for smooth imbeddings of closed surfaces into 4-space by using hyperbolic splittings of the imbedded surfaces and an arbitrary given isotopy or regular isotopy invariant of classical knots and links in 3-space. Using this construction, adopting the Kauffman bracket polynomial as an example, we produce some invariants.


A series of 46 charged-to-alanine mutations in the yellow fever virus NS2B-NS3 protease, previously characterized in cell-free and transient cellular expression systems, was tested for their effects on virus recovery. Four distinct plaque phenotypes were observed in cell culture: parental plaque-size (13 mutants), reduced plaque-size (17 mutants), small plaque-size (8 mutants) and no plaque-formation (8 mutants). No mutants displayed any temperature sensitivity based on recovery of virus after RNA transfection at 32 versus 37 degrees C. Most small plaque-mutants were defective in growth efficiency compared with parental virus. However not all small plaque-mutants had defective 2B/3 cleavage, with some showing selective defects at other non-structural protein cleavage sites. Revertant viruses were recovered for six mutations that caused reduced plaque sizes. Same-site and second-site mutations occurred in NS2B, and one second-site mutation occurred in the NS3 protease domain. Some reversion mutations ameliorated defects in cleavage activity and plaque size caused by the original mutation. These data indicate that certain mutations that reduce NS2B-NS3 protease cleavage activity cause growth restriction of yellow fever virus in cell culture. However, for at least two mutations, processing defects other than impaired cleavage activity at the 2B/3 site may account for the mutant phenotype. The existence of reversion mutations primarily in NS2B rather than NS3, suggests that the protease domain is less tolerant of structural perturbation compared with the NS2B protein.


In this issue of Blood Advances, the article by Masih et al presents a novel, multiomic approach to predict which patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) will not respond to CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. The authors defined primary nonresponse (PNR), which occurs in ~10% to 20% of cases, as patients who failed to achieve or maintain a measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative remission 63 days after CAR T-cell infusion in spite of CAR T-cell expansion and persistent leukemic expression of CD19. By identifying these patients before treatment with a high degree of specificity, it may be possible to spare them from the toxicities of CAR T-cell therapy, including its extraordinary cost, and pre-emptively select alternative therapies to overcome identified mechanisms of resistance.


We consider relay cooperation with imperfect channel state information (CSI) in the downlink of wireless networks. In particular, we consider a two-phase transmission where in the first phase the base station broadcasts information to the relays; the relays decode the data fully or partially depending on the transmission rate and the quality of their corresponding communication links. During the second phase, the relays cooperate by jointly beamforming information to multiple users given that channel mean and covariance are available at the transmitter side. The goal is to optimize the total network throughput (taking into account both transmission phases) by proper choice of the transmission rates, cooperation architecture and beamforming transmit vectors from the relays. The key contribution of this paper lies in the consideration of the impact of CSI imperfections in such a system. We first formulate the problem of finding the optimum throughput, which is not amenable to analytical solution. We therefore derive a suboptimum adaptive beamforming strategy that maximizes a derived upper bound on the average system throughput. Even though the relays have imperfect CSI, it is shown that relay cooperation can significantly improve the overall system throughput.


Objective: To explore the variation of between levodopa-induced dyskinesia(LID) and β-arrestin1 after treated with TCM(Traditional Chinese Medicine) in striatum.Methods: The hemi-parkinsonian rat model was produced by steretaxically injecting 6-OHDA to right medial forebrain bundle(MFB),and was randomly divided into five groups: PD control group(n=5,intraperitoneal injection with vitamin C),levodopa group(n=5,intraperitoneal injection with levodopa for 29 d),TCM-low,TCM-medium,TCM-high group(n=5 respectively,intraperitoneal injection with levodopa for 29 d after given TCM by gavage) and another 5 rats were served as control group(sham-operation group,n=5).The behaviors of LID rats treated with TCM of different doses were observed,and the expression of β-arrestin1 in the striate of rats was detected by Immunochemicalhistory and Western blotting.Results: After levodopa treatment,PD rats displayed ethological changes,which resembled LID in human.The study of Immunochemicalhistory study revealed that long-time use of levodopa reduced the expression of β-arrestin1.TCM could stop the decrease of β-arrestin1,of which TCM-medium group was(3.67±0.56)×104,which is higher than that in PD group(t=6.80,P0.01).Western blot showed that compared to levodopa group which was(65.44±6.68)%,the levels of β-arrestin1 were increased to(73.62±3.82)% and(72.56±6.66)% in TCM-medium and TCM-high groups(t=3.11,t=3.70,P0.05).There was no difference between TCM-medium and TCM-high groups.Conclusions: TCM can increase the expression of β-arrestin1 in rats,and reduce the occurrence of levodopa-induced dyskinesia.


The accuracy of CAD techniques for the design of non-linear microwave circuits is strongly dependent on the features of the models used for the characterization of electron devices (i.e. MESFET, bipolar transistors, diodes etc.,.). At present, empirical equivalent circuits are widely used. These models, which are in many cases sufficiently accurate, require, however, quite refined numerical and measurement techniques to extract from measured data the parameters of a model which is strongly dependent on the particular physical structure of each device.

Moreover, when using equivalent circuit models, the design of non-linear microwave circuits must be carried out by using numerical optimization techniques. In this respect a simple mathematical model described in the frequency domain in terms of explicit equations between the electrical variables, would be preferable for the designer. Mathematical models, in fact, allow quite easy, direct procedures for circuit design. This paper deals with the problem of mathematical modelling of electron devices operating under large-signal conditions at microwave frequencies. In particular, mathematical models based on the describing-function and Volterra-series approach are considered also taking into account their application to circuit design. The advantages of a recently proposed mathematical modelling approach based on mild assumptions valid for most types of electron devices, are also discussed in the paper.


A method for efficiently preparing a fluorinated alkoxysilane derivative is provided to increase the yield of a reaction of a chlorosilane compound and a fluorinated alcohol using a tertiary amine compound as a media with little formation of side products and recover the products very simply. A method for preparing a fluorinated alkoxysilane derivative represented by the formula(1) comprises a step of reacting a fluorinated alcohol of RfOH with a chlorosilane compound of R1R2R3Si-Cl in the presence of a tertiary amine compound represented by the formula(4b) or (4c) at a temperature of -20 to 50 deg.C, wherein each R1, R2, R3 and R4 is C1-6 hydrocarbonyl or phenyl, Rf is C1-6 fluorinated hydrocarbonyl having 1-8 fluorine atom(s). The reaction is performed under a non-solvent or a non-polar solvent condition.


Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a cryptogenic vascular disorder in the intracranial arteries. RING protein 213 (RNF213) is the susceptibility gene for MMD, and encodes a RING domain and a Walker motif. Herein, we identified UBC13 (UBE2N) as an E2 ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme for RNF213 E3 ubiquitin ligase by yeast two‐hybrid screening with a fragment containing RNF213 RING domain as bait, and the immunocomplex of RNF213‐UBC13 was detected in vivo. Analysis of the ubiquitin chain on RNF213 by monitoring autoubiquitination showed that RNF213 was autoubiquitinated in a K63 chain fashion, but not in a K48 chain fashion. Finally, this RNF213 ubiquitination in a UBC13‐dependent manner was required for cell mobility and invasion activity for HUVEC cells in UBC13 knock‐down and ubiquitination‐dead RNF213 mutant expressing experiments. These findings demonstrated that RNF213 is a K63‐linked E3 ubiquitin ligase, and UBC13 is responsible for RNF213 dependent ubiquitination. The RNF213‐UBC13 axis may be associated with angiogenic activity and MMD.


Abstract – Due to changing era of science & technology, there have been tremendous improvement in the Power electronic system. Different power converters have been available that helps in conversion of power from one form into another. Owing to this ac drives are also being used along with dc for several industrial applications. Conversion of power can be done according to the load requirement. An inverter is one such type of power converter that converts dc power into ac power. So it is used for driving ac loads in those areas where dc power is available. Pulse width modulation is a technique which helps in obtaining variable output from inverter. Sinusoidal PWM and Space vector PWM techniques are popular among the different techniques used. From the study of space vector modulation technique it has been found that space vector modulation technique utilizes DC bus voltage more efficiently and generates less harmonic distortion as compared to Sinusoidal PWM technique. In this paper the models for Sinusoidal PWM and Space vector PWM are made and simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK software. The comparison of their results of simulation is done on the basis of output voltage and total harmonic distortion for different modulation indexes.


Over the years historians of religion have shown surprisingly little interest in comparative religious ethics. Recently, however, the topic has begun to receive mention in writings produced by scholars in the field. For example, Ninian Smart, in a recent paper devoted to identifying research priorities for the future of the discipline, has singled out the area of comparative ethics for special mention.' Moreover, several historians of religion have begun to address themselves to some of the methodological and substantive issues that are involved in doing comparative ethical research. Within the past year a debate has developed between two groups of scholars interested in comparing different expressions of reli-


The role of nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic GMP (cGMP) pathway in regulating detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) function is still to be elucidated. We have investigated the effects of NO donors and phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE5) inhibition on spontaneous excitations in DSM.


Summary form only given. This report describes the project of developing the Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Center for Technology Management and Total Quality (TM/TQ) in Poland during 1995-1997. The goal of the project was to assist in making Polish industry more competitive in world markets by transferring TM/TQ skills to Polish managers and educators. The short-term objective, for the first two years, was to establish the Center and to "train the trainers", focusing on TM/TQ as applied to the Baltic industries in Poland. The long-term objective was to make the Center a self-sufficient training entity for disseminating TM/TQ skills to Polish industry, managers, students, and faculty.


Introduction: There has been an increase in interest in the peripheral blood eosinophil count as a biomarker in COPD. Few studies have examined the eosinophil count in patients attending the emergency department (ED) with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). We investigated the relationship between the blood eosinophil and other variables collected routinely at ED presentation and outcomes. Methods: Retrospective case note review of patients attending the ED with an AECOPD over 18 months. Demographic, clinical and pharmacological data were analyzed at the time of presentation, and clinical outcomes relating to hospital admission, length of hospital stay and mortality were investigated. Results: There were 743 AECOPD index events in 537 patients. Over half (57%) of all attendees were admitted to hospital. They were older, reported an increased number of exacerbations and higher levels of total leukocytes and neutrophils. Length of stay was shorter in patients with a blood eosinophil count ≥2% compared to <2% (median (IQR) 3 days (1–7) vs 4 days (2–8) respectively, p<0.05). Length of stay correlated with peripheral blood neutrophils (r=0.12, p=0.021), peripheral blood absolute and relative eosinophils (r=−0.12, p=0.024 and r=−0.11, p=0.035, respectively) and CRP (r=0.16, p=0.027). Non-eosinophilic AECOPD were associated with an increased risk of mortality during an exacerbation (χ2 5.9, OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.19–7.96, p=0.015). Conclusion: In exacerbations of COPD presenting to ED, a higher blood eosinophil count is associated with a shorter length of stay and reduced mortality.


Infrastructure development is massively done, but the current implementation of construction safety audit is not yet effective to prevent accident. Generally, the audit is limited to construction phase. Audit is rarely done in design phase, and if done, the audit result has never been used as reference for future audits. This research aims to formulate A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Management of Integrated Design and Construction Phase Audit Process on Infrastructure Project Based on Risk, Using WBS, BIM and Web to Enhance Construction Safety Performance. The method that uses in the research is qualitative and quantitative analysis to formulate the development. And the result targeted A Conceptual Framework for Knowledge Management of Integrated Design and Construction Phase Audit Process on Infrastructure Project Based on Risk, Using WBS, BIM and Web to Enhance Construction Safety Performance so construction safety audit can be optimized to improve construction safety as an effort to prevent construction accident and mitigate infrastructure calamity during accelerated development era in Indonesia.


One of the biggest threats to the world's fish stocks is trawling with indiscriminate capturing of non-target organisms, typically referred to as bycatch. Some species of seahorses are globally threatened and are often targets caught as bycatch. The aim of this work is to describe the magnitude of bycatch of the Patagonian seahorse Hippocampus patagonicus (Sygnathidae) in trawling fisheries in the Southeast and South Brazil. Between 2016 and 2018 we monitored the catch of five trawling vessels off the coast of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. A total of 2,041 individuals of H. patagonicus were captured, 1,183 males and 858 females. They were evaluated as for injuries suffered during dragging. The average rate of body damage was 33%. Based on the individuals captured and the analysis of on-board maps, an average CPUE of 3.36 with a standard deviation of 5.95/ind./day/vessel was estimated for the study area, extrapolating an incidental removal of 2,282,515 individuals per year, or 9,427 metric tons of seahorses, along the South and Southeast Brazil, where 3700 trawlers operate, an area recognized as the geographic distribution of H. patagonicus in Brazil


Research in the field of laser atmospheric propagation has been continued for many years. Due to the atmospheric turbulence, the actual systems are facing a lot of technical problems. It leads to the difficulty of large-scale civilian use of laser communication. In this paper, the parameters of a laser transmission experiment are analyzed. The study of laser atmospheric propagation is usually based on the first-order Rytov approximation. In this paper, we analyze the optical propagation parameters based on both of the first-order and second-order Rytov approximation.


This instrument is based on Chinese medicine theory and combines modern laser technology and computer technology. It diagnoses and cure illness with human body information. The instrument consists of semi-conduct laser and computer expert database, which not only overcomes the shortcomings of Chinese traditional acupuncture methods, and it also contains expert database system that can automation diagnoses illness.


Circular steel tube with tapered ends consists of three parts: the two end truncated cones and a middle straight tube.Under the combined action of bending,axial force and torsion,it has three kinds of failure patterns: the destroyed cross-section lies at the ends,the destroyed cross-section lies in the interface of truncated cone and straight tube,or the destroyed cross-section lies in the truncated cones.This paper presents the formulas for computing the location of destroyed cross-section and the load-carrying capacity of the section by use of Mises stress criterion.It is found that the destroyed cross-section is under the influence of the factors such as the cone taper i,and the location of the failure section can be adjusted by these factors so as to control the location of destroyed cross-section to variate the destruction behavior and thus to enhance the load-carrying capacity of the member.The design process includes two steps: first to determine the failure location and then to check the load-carrying capacity of the cross-section. The results obtained from this method are verified by FEA and experiment.


Current changes in legal regulation of financial control have caused society's interest in productive and constructive activity of the municipal financial control bodies, which means that this activity should bring actual contribution to Russian economy development and the economy of its regions, and the municipal financial control should to be an integral element of a legal field.


A methodology to extract networks from pore space images is used to make predictions of multiphase transport properties for subsurface carbonate samples. The extraction of the network model is based on the computation of the location and sizes of pores and throats to create a topological representation of the void space of three‐dimensional (3‐D) rock images, using the concept of maximal balls. In this work, we follow a multistaged workflow. We start with a 2‐D thin‐section image; convert it statistically into a 3‐D representation of the pore space; extract a network model from this image; and finally, simulate primary drainage, waterflooding, and secondary drainage flow processes using a pore‐scale simulator. We test this workflow for a reservoir carbonate rock. The network‐predicted absolute permeability is similar to the core plug measured value and the value computed on the 3‐D void space image using the lattice Boltzmann method. The predicted capillary pressure during primary drainage agrees well with a mercury‐air experiment on a core sample, indicating that we have an adequate representation of the rock's pore structure. We adjust the contact angles in the network to match the measured waterflood and secondary drainage capillary pressures. We infer a significant degree of contact angle hysteresis. We then predict relative permeabilities for primary drainage, waterflooding, and secondary drainage that agree well with laboratory measured values. This approach can be used to predict multiphase transport properties when wettability and pore structure vary in a reservoir, where experimental data is scant or missing. There are shortfalls to this approach, however. We compare results from three networks, one of which was derived from a section of the rock containing vugs. Our method fails to predict properties reliably when an unrepresentative image is processed to construct the 3‐D network model. This occurs when the image volume is not sufficient to represent the geological variations observed in a core plug sample.


Regulation of translation initiation through eIF2 alpha (eIF2a) phosphorylation plays a critical role in cellular homeostasis. eIF2 cycles between GTP‐bound active and GDP‐bound inactive forms. Phosphorylation of eIF2a on Ser51 blocks eIF2B catalyzed GDP‐GTP exchange, reduce the dissociation of eIF2 from eIF2B and inhibits global mRNA translation. Molecular modifiers and effectors of translational control by eIF2a phosphorylation are not fully understood. Global proteomic studies may be useful to elucidate molecular effectors and modifiers of eIF2a phopshorylation using diarylurea compound, BTdCPU, that induces eIF2a phosphorylation by activating heme regulated kinase. We utilized transgenic human prostate cancer (PC‐3) cell lines in which endogenous eIF2a is replaced by either a nonphosphorylatable eIF2a mutant (S51A) or a recombinant wild‐type eIF2a (WT) to identify differentially expressed proteins by treating PC‐3 cells (WT or S51A) with active (BTdCPU)or inactive compound. Two dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) was performed for each group and changes in protein expression in response to BTdCPU treatment were compared by PDQuest software.From 363 differentially expressed protein spots,56 were found to be statistically significant and were further analyzed by MALDI‐TOF MS using Mascot PMF analysis.17 proteins were identified from 12 differentially expressed protein spots. Data will be presented to show specific pathways activated or inhibited by eIF2a phosphorylation and their role in cellular processes.


"Impetigo contagiosa is breaking out on Baby C. in the nursery." To the hospital superintendent who has been through a previous epidemic of impetigo contagiosa, such an announcement brings immediate anxiety and fear, for she is confronted at that moment by the instant necessity for a change of routine in the nursery, a doubling or more in that part of the nursing personnel, and a ceaseless vigilance in the coming days, if this contagious disease is to be spared the other babies and even death warded off. And yet, in spite of the frequent occurrence of this important problem, the minutiae of treatment, so essential for the intelligent handling of these situations, are almost entirely lacking in the literature and the textbooks alike. Knowles and Munson1review the literature on epidemics in institutions, and add to the series the details of three small outbreaks of impetigo in two hospitals


Ariel Odyssey Enabled Location: Call #: Perkins/Bostock Library | Stacks IQA1 .L4386 Journal Title: Lecture notes in pure and applied mathematics. Volume: 176 Issue: Date: 1996 Pages: 79-91 Article Title: Stochastic perturbations of dynamical systems Article Author: Hirsch, Morris W. Imprint: New York, M. Dekker. 1971 ILL Number: 137043011 IWWWWWWWWWWI Duke University Libraries Perkins Library Document Delivery /// Document Delivery Article Trans. #2 944234 WMWMMWWMI Borrower: GZM Lending String: MNU,COD,*NDD,UMC,MUU,NOC,VA@,lAY,S0l Patron: DATE: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 Maxcost: 55.00lFM Shipping Address: ILL Borrowing-University of WI Madison Room B106F Memorial Library 728 State Street Madison Wisconsin 53706-1494 United Stat FAX: 608 262-4649 Ariel: arielgzm.Iibrary.wisc.edu Odyssey: 18.104.22.168 Perkins Library Duke University Document Delivery Services Box 90183 Durham, NC 27708-0183 If there are problems with this Ariel/Fax document: Missing Page(s): Edge(s) Cut Off: Unable/Difficult to Read: For replacement pages, please contact within 48 hours. NDD Phone: 919-660-5891 Fax: 919-660-5964 Ariel: ariel.lib.duke.edu NOTICE: THIS MATERIAL MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW (TITLE 17 U.S. CODE) THANK YOU FOR USING OUR SERVICES.


We report multi-Watt-level average power 3.28-3.45 μm difference frequency generation using two sychronous picosecond master oscillator power fiber amplifiers. Greater than 3.4 W of idler power is generated across the entire spectral tuning range.


: We should face up to the relationship between rural grass-roots ideological and political education and rural folk beliefs, explore ways of interaction and agreement between the two, actively guide folk beliefs to adapt to the socialist road, and correctly handle the relationship between "dominant law" and "multiple voices" This can not only further improve the effectiveness of ideological and political education in rural areas, but also provide an important reference basis for new rural construction and government grass-roots management, so that folk beliefs can better serve the socialist modernization. Taking the faith of Guandi in Xiali Township, Henan Province as an example, this paper uses the method of case study, combined with local archives, literature and history materials, field surveys, etc., through interviews, participation in observation, questionnaires and other ways and methods, to investigate the value of folk beliefs in rural ideological and political education.


The doctoral thesis focuses on bacterium Escherichia coli in food. The PhD thesis deals with the characterization using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Escherichia coli is found in various kinds of food, especially in food of animal origin. Currently, resistance to antimicrobial agents is a worldwide problem because of a large increasing of resistant bacteria of humans and animals. To determine the prevalence of resistant E. coli strains from foodstuffs, antibiotics sensitivity testing to selected antibiotics by discs diffusion method has been carried out. Furthermore, it has been tested the presence of resistance genes by the PCR method, especially to beta-lactam antibiotics. Since E. coli belongs among potentially pathogenic microorganisms, another objective of characterization was to determined selected virulence factors using classical and multiplex PCR. Classification of strains into phylogenetic groups by triplex PCR also contributed to determine the pathogenic potential of isolates. Another part of characterization was to found out the production of bacteriocins with subsequent genotyping by PCR to determine the exact type of colicin or microcin. Finally, it was determined biofilm formation ability by spectrofotometrically measuring of absorbance in microtiter plates. All these results bring new insights about virulence and antibiotic resistance in E. coli strains isolated from food and contribute to a deeper understanding about physiological characteristics of this bacterium. Based on the obtained results was evaluated importance and potential dangers of the occurrence of E. coli in food and environment.


In this paper, we propose a visual subspace clustering approach for data streams, allowing the user to visually track data stream behavior. Instead of detecting elements changes, the approach shows visually the variables impact on the stream evolution, by visualizing the subspace clustering at different levels in real time. First we apply a clustering on the variables set to obtain subspaces, each subspace consists of homogenous variables subset. Then we cluster the elements within each subspace. The visualization helps to show the approach originality and its usefulness in data streams processing.


Purpose: The role of vitamin D in traditional atopic disorders (i.e., asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis) is still uncertain. We have analyzed the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)-D3) levels and asthma in children. Methods: A total of 133 children were enrolled between April 2008 and December of 2008. Children were divided into 3 groups: the asthma group (n=80), bronchiolitis group (n=50), and normal group (n=35). Serum samples were collected and checked for 25(OH)-D3 levels. From the blood samples, we measured eosinophil counts, total IgE, specific IgE (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, milk, egg, cat, dog, cockroach) (Uni-CAP FEIA system). Results: The mean age of the patients was 4.6 years. The mean 25(OH)-D3 levels of the asthma, bronchiolitis, and normal groups were 17.2±8.9, 22.5±9.3, and 27.8±10.2 ng/mL, respectively (P<0.01). There was no association between allergens and vitamin D levels. Mean 25(OH)-D3 levels were lower at acute state of asthma than at stable state. Conclusion: The mean level of 25(OH)-D3 was associated with asthma and acute state of asthma. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to establish a definite link between vitamin D levels and asthma.


A feminist vision of redemption in education is about claiming a vision. It sees education as being for self‐affirmation and about being empowered for taking responsibility. Knowledge itself must be 'redeemed' through 'connected knowing', which seeks to reclaim the silences beyond the barriers of language and culture.


Rotor/Fuselage Interaction remains as an important problem for engineers and scientists working on helicopter aerodynamics. A model rotor test stand (JAXA Multi-purpose Rotor Test Stand, JMRTS) is used to build an experimental database for CFD code validations. Four blades are connected to an articulated rotor hub. Feathering, flapping and lead-lag angles at the hinges are measured using Hall-sensors which give high accuracy. Miniature Kulite pressure sensors are installed on the cowling surface which simulate a type of helicopter fuselages. Time-averaged and ensemble-averaged periodic data are obtained. Good correlations were obtained in the measured results between the blade angles and six-component forces and moments as well as the pressure fluctuations on the fuselage and blade surfaces. Datasets of several selected test cases are presented together with geometric descriptions of the blade and the fuselage to enable CFD validations by other parties.


Aims: This study is aimed at testing the acute melatonin administration (oral; 6 mg) on aerobic tolerance at cycloergometer and analyzing the consequences on biochemical and hematological parameters. Methods: The maximal aerobic capacity intensity (iMAC) at cycloergometer of eleven male healthy men (24.18±3.92 years-old; 87.07±12.48 kg; 1.82±0.05 m; 26.18±3.63 kg/m2; and 16.28±5.77 % of fat) was individually determined and used to perform a time to exhaustion (tlim) trial of 30 minutes after melatonin or placebo administration. We observed 4872h interval between tests, performed in a double-blind experiment design. In order to determine hematological and biochemical parameters we collected venous blood samples before and after tlim. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: The intensity and the lactatemia corresponding to the maximal aerobic capacity were 120.88±18.78 W and 3.32±1.03 mmol.L-1, respectively. The tlim with placebo (33.94±15.26 min, confidence interval = 24.92 42.95) was significantly lower than the tlim with melatonin (41.94±17.22 min; CI = 31.76 52.12; p = 0.03; 19.06%; effect size = 0.49). All of the 21 analyzed blood physiological variables resulted in no significant variation after tlim when placebo was compared to melatonin, except for total sera cholesterol (lower after exercise with melatonin). Conclusion: Acute melatonin administration enhanced aerobic tolerance at iMAC in 19% at cycloergometer; however, the biochemical and hematological variables assessed were not significantly modulated.


Reducing the marginal tax rate on dividend income was not the optimal modification of the tax code. The U.S. corporate tax code continues to favor debt over equity because corporate interest payments are tax deductible whereas dividend payments are not. The recommendation in this article is that dividend payments be deductible at the corporate level and fully taxable to investors at their marginal income tax rates. The benefits should be a decline in debt financing and bankruptcy risk, substantial increases in dividend payouts, fewer stock option grants to managers, a decline in the equity risk premium, and higher stock valuations. Reducing the marginal U.S. tax rate on dividend income was a move in the right direction but not the optimal modification to the tax code. The intent of the legislation was to reduce the double taxation of dividends, which was accomplished. But the real problem is that the U.S. corporate tax code continues to favor debt issuance over equity issuance because corporate interest payments are tax deductible whereas dividend payments are not. We recommend that dividend payments, as well as interest payments, be deductible at the corporate level and be fully taxable to investors at their marginal income tax rates. Our proposed change in tax law would have numerous benefits: Debt financing should decline because debt's tax incentive will have been eliminated. Less debt would lead to lower bankruptcy risk. Dividend payout ratios should increase substantially. Failure to pay out dividends would give rise to corporate income taxes that otherwise could be avoided. Shareholders would receive more of their returns as dividends and less as capital appreciation. If capital appreciation is modest, then the value of incentive option grants diminishes, which should bring about a decline in the abuses associated with these options. If dividends increased substantially, corporate managers would be forced into the capital markets to raise equity capital to finance expansion. If investment bankers acted as underwriters, they would have to ensure that all is well at the issuing companies because the bankers would have their own capital at risk. Even with equal tax rates on capital gains and dividends, as now exist, companies may not increase dividends because investors can defer capital gains taxes whereas taxes on dividends have to be paid when the dividends are received. Our recommended modification to the tax code would force companies to increase dividends to increase stock value. Increased dividends would mean that managers would have less cash available for inefficient empire building. Investor confidence in companies that paid out the great majority of their earnings could increase because higher dividend payout ratios would assuage concerns about inflated earnings. Consequently, under our proposal, the required risk premium would decline for high-dividend-paying companies, which should increase stock valuations. Of course, our proposed change could have some drawbacks: Investors' ability to defer taxes would decline unless investors transferred their investments from mutual funds into high-cost variable annuities. Federal tax revenues would decline because employee benefit plans defer taxes and investors might do the same by shifting their investments into variable annuities. The tax revenue decline would be temporary, however, because the taxes would be payable when the investors withdrew funds for consumption. Because dividend payouts would have to increase, companies would need to enter the capital markets to fund their new projects or investments. Issuing equity can be costly, but if the number of equity deals available to bankers increases, the efficiencies of scale should reduce underwriting costs. If the costs of issuing equity are prohibitive, companies could "sweeten" dividend reinvestment plans by issuing new stocks to existing investors at modest discounts. The cost of the discount would be less than the tax savings generated by higher dividends. High-risk companies might want to retain earnings and pay taxes rather than issue new equity because of the high issue costs they would face. This scenario should happen only if the issue costs for these companies exceed the tax penalty because their tax rates are low. In conclusion, the benefits of our tax code change would be declines in debt financing and bankruptcy risk, substantial increases in dividends, fewer stock option grants, and a decline in the equity risk premium. We expect that such a policy shift would also increase stock valuations.


This paper presents the development and validation of hands free steering in a cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE) designed to make the reactions of pedestrians to guidance information measureable. The navigation uses the Microsoft Kinect to obtain information on the movement of the user. The user walks on the place to move forward in the virtual world and turns her shoulders to invoke rotations in the virtual world in order to make turns. After the implementation of the hands free steering the validity of the model has been explored using a case study involving parallel test groups exposing individuals to wayfinding exercises in the real world and the corresponding virtual world. The results show that the objective distances and times in the real and the virtual worlds as well as perceptions of distances, times and directions do not differ statistically significantly validating the model for steering.


Abstract. Social support is an important factor influencing the development of resilience across cultures and contexts. In this study, we explored the experiences of social support to the development of resilience among young Guatemalan women who were emancipated from system-based care. The study included 12 participants with an average age of 21 years who resided in the San Lucas Guatemala region. Thematic coding revealed the necessity of relational social support. Subthemes included social support identified and experienced through unconditional love, religiosity, and interpersonal relationships expressed within the realm of Guatemalan cultural values. Opportunities for social support varied considerably and were dependent upon the individual's ecological systems as well as the organizational and individual resources related to staffing and economic funds of the orphanages and group homes. Socioeconomic burdens are consistently present in Guatemala due to the marked inequality of wealth distribution. The disparities were greater among those facing significant life changes such as early separation from families of origin and those with access to fewer resources. This study demonstrates that social support serves as a strong protective factor in resiliency development, mitigating many of the risks present for Guatemalan women in their daily lives, workplaces, families, and communities.


to discuss the question of the possibility of a displacement of the of figure under the conditions indicated in a question (suggesting the possibility of a displacement of the axis of figure from the axis of rotation amounting to 15° or 20°) put to mathematicians in a passage of the Anniversary Address, delivered to the Geological Society, by its President, J. Evans, Esq., on the 18th February, 1876. The treatment of the question is kinematical; the forces by which the elevations and depressions might be effected do not come under discussion.


According to Doyle, the thermogravimetric curve of a decomposition reaction can be expressed by the equation log g(α)–log p(x) = B. The variable x depends on the temperature Tα, at which the fraction of the initial compound decomposed is α. Both g(α) and p(x) depend on temperature; however, B is independent of temperature. The trial-and-error method allows, for a given thermogravimetric curve, the determination of the g(α) and p(x) functions fitting the equation and thus an estimation of the probable mechanism of the reaction and of other kinetic parameters (activation energy and frequency factor). To facilitate the analysis of experimental data, a table of log g(α) values for various decomposition mechanisms and a plot of-log p(x) vs T for various activation energies are presented. The use of the table and the diagram is described.


Series editors' preface Preface Introduction Barbara Kroll Part I. Philosophical Underpinnings of Second Language Writing Instruction: 1. Second language composition instruction: developments, issues, and directions in ESL Tony Silva 2. L1 composition theories: implications for developing theories of L2 composition Ann M. Johns 3. An overview of second language writing process research Alexandra Rowe Krapels 4. Coaching from the margins: issues in written response Ilona Leki 5. Second language writing: assessment issues Liz Hamp-Lyons 6. Reading-writing connections: towards a description for second language learners Joan Carson Eisterhold Part II. Considerations for Writing Instruction: 7. Composing in English: effects of a first language on writing in English as a second language Alexander Friedlander 8. The teaching of topical structure analysis as a revision strategy for ESL writers Ulla Connor and Mary Farmer 9. What does time buy? ESL student performance on home bersus class compositions Barbara Kroll 10. Feedback on compositions: teacher and student verbal reports Andrew D. Cohen and Marilda C. Cavalcanti 11. Teacher response to student writing: focus on form versus content Ann K. Fathman and Elizabeth Whalley 12. Responding to different topic types: a quantitative analysis from a contrastive rhetoric perspective Joy Reid 13. Writing with others' words: using background reading text in academic compositions Cherry Campbell Index.


Recently, increasing competitive circumstances in telecommunication network of Iran market and accelerating private sector growth as well as providing more financial incentives for private sector led to increased need of companies to marketing and promotional activities, particularly TV advertising efforts. The influence of advertising on attitude toward brand is one of the critical issues in the area of advertising. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effect of emotional and rational TV advertising of Hamrah Aval Operator on attitude of customers towards its brand and advertising efforts. This study is applicable in terms of objective and is cause and effect in terms of implementation. To collect data, a self administrated questionnaire was employed. Population is user students of mobile in the area of Tehran. Using a convenience sample of 390 respondents, data was analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Results indicated that there is positive, direct and significant relationship between: 1) rational appeals and attitude toward advertising efforts, 2) rational appeals and attitude toward brand, 3) rational appeals and brand attitude, 4) attitude toward advertising efforts and brand attitude. However, the effect of emotional appeals on attitude toward advertising was not supported.


Social ills in Fiji have escalated since the country's first military coup in 1987. The rise in domestic violence, rape, child abuse, incest and suicide signal a major threat to social integrity in the country. This paper looks at the trends in these variables and suggests that these problems have now reached a stage where they show a moral decay in the country. The paper also suggests that militarism is a key factor leading to the moral decay in the country. This paper is an extract from a longer study on militarism in Fiji, found in the author's forthcoming book titled Militarism in Fiji (Fiji Institute of Applied Studies, 2003).


Objective To discuss effectiveness of adjustable suture strabismus surgery for the correction of concomitant(esotropia.) Methods 39 cases of esotropia(37 cases of concomitant esotropia,2 cases of traumatic fixed internal strabismus) received medial(rectu)s adjustable suture strabismus surgery and lateral rectus (resection.) Results The long-term effectiveness.35 cases(89.74%) (achieved) alignment.2 cases turned for the better.Total effective rate was 94.87%.1 case(2.56%) appeared to exotropia.Postopearative complication was not present in all patients. Conclusions Adjustable suture strabismus surgery for the correction of concomitant esotropia is a simple,safe,effective method.


Background: Coxiella burnetii that causes Q fever in humans is transmitted through contaminated aerosols or consumption of raw milk from infected animals. Ticks are known to be vectors of C. burnetii, but their role in human infection is still controversial. Method: In this study, an epidemiological investigation was conducted on a 60-year-old man hospitalized with fever. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were performed on the blood sample of the patient and the four ticks collected from the patient to diagnose vector-borne infectious diseases. Indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFAs) were performed on the serum sample to detect IgG and IgM antibodies specific to Q fever, spotted fever, Lyme disease, and anaplasmosis. Results: The ticks collected were identified as adult female Haemaphysalis longicornis. All PCRs performed on blood specimens yielded negative results, except for the Coxiella sp.-specific 16S rRNA nested PCR (N-PCR). Coxiella 16S rRNA N-PCR and sequencing results confirmed the presence of C. burnetii. IFA results indicated that the serum sample showed ≥ 4-fold increase in both IgM and IgG antibody titers against Q fever. PCR results were positive only for three ticks and showed the presence of C. endosymbiont. The phylogenetic tree showed that ticks had Coxiella-like bacteria and the patient had C. burnetii. The ticks carrying Coxiella-like bacteria were Haemaphysalis symbionts. Conclusions: Even though the patient and ticks were all positive to Coxiella sp.-specific 16S rRNA N-PCR, since different bacterial species were isolated from the patient and the ticks, we concluded that he was not infected with C. burnetii through tick bites.


The trial was carried out in order to study the rabbit meat quality of 85 day-old subjects in relation to genotype and temperatura. New Zealand White {NZW), Grimaud (G) and Provisal (P) rabbits and rearing temperaturas of 20 (Tñennoneutrality=TN) and 28•c (Heat stress=HS) were comparad. The pH of muscles of the intermediate and hind parta of the carcass did not changed either in relation to genotype or temperatura, but the colour was affected (P<0.01) both by bread and environment. Genotype and experimental temperaturas did not influenced the meafs water, protein and lipid content and cholesterol, sodium and potassium levels. P lipids presentad higher (P<0.01) monounsaturated fatty acids (36.88 vs 35.02%) than NZW and G ones. The rearing at 28•c increased (P<0.01) e 14:0 (3.99 vs 3.59%), e 16:0 (33.38 vs 31.43%) and decreased (P<0.01) C 18:2 {16.99 vs 18.82%). The stressed rabbits presentad intramuscular lipids with a higher (P<0.01) content of saturated fatty acids (47.11 vs 44.37%) anda lower (P<0.01) polyunsaturated fatty acid content (18.05 vs 20.22%) and lodine value {63.41 vs 69.33); the PCLIPCE ratio was higher (P<0.01) in TN rabbit meat (1.07 VS 0.95).


The invention discloses a connection assembly for elevator guide rails and a connection fixing method for the elevator guide rails. By means of the T-shaped seal type hollow guide rails, structural strength is correspondingly increased compared with traditional hollow guide rails. The connection assembly is arranged between two adjacent sections of the guide rails, and the connection assembly is arranged on the inner sides of the guide rails to guarantee glancing flatness between the guide rails. The connection assembly is of a U-shaped structure, compressive strength on two sides of each guide rail is effectively enhanced, deformation of each guide rail is reduced, and service life of each guide rail is prolonged. In addition, the guide rails are formed in a cold roll forming joint automatic oxy-arc welding and water cooling mode, labor intensity of workers is lowered compared with manual electric welding, and production efficiency is improved. Water cooling and automatic shaping are conducted, forming quality of the guide rails is guaranteed, the strength is better than that of common opening seal hollow rails, a galvanized sheet technology is utilized, follow-up galvanization is omitted, and more environment-friendly use of a product is achieved. Compared with the traditional opening type hollow rails, the connection assembly is characterized in that guide surfaces of the guide rails are wider, an elevator operates more stably, and noise is lower.


The fact that for any nite set S of points in the Euclidean plane E2 one can de ne an oriented matroid in terms of how spheres partition it is well-known and easy to proof via the lifting property of Delaunay triangulations (cf. [1] and [2]) . Here we give a new de nition of these oriented matroids (that we call Delaunay oriented matroids) which trivially generalizes to arbitrary dimension and explicitly show the precise relation of Delaunay oriented matroids with not only the usual Voronoi diagrams and Delaunay triangulations, but with Voronoi diagrams of arbitrary order k. Moreover we show that the existence of these Delaunay oriented matroids is not really dependent on the lifting property of Delaunay triangulations but on some nice properties of Euclidean spheres. In fact, we generalize the de nition to smooth, strictly convex distances in the plane (cf. x2) which have not the lifting property as we also show and to any metrics whose \spheres" have some nice properties (cf. x3). The di erence is that, in these cases, the resulting oriented matroids can be non-realizable.


This poem explores the depths of the black experience. It expresses the connection between all things and how we have ultimate control if we understand the powers we possess; as above, so below. We are inherently fighters, warriors and creators. Thee creators. In the same breath it talks, satirically, about the arrogance of hope; the hope of possibly changing these things we face without first looking to the source... within.


FIELD: chemistry. SUBSTANCE: invention refers to makeup preparations for hair dyeing. The preparation for dyeing keratin fibres, particularly human hair, contains 2,4-bis-[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-6-methylanisole in cosmetically acceptable carrier as a chromogenic component. The preparation can contain, at least, one additional developing component, one additional chromogenic component, one direct dye being cationic. EFFECT: high-intensive hair dyeing with steady characteristics in red and violet region. 6 cl, 5 ex


Using the principal component procedure of SAS, 10 variables; body weight (BW), body length (BL), breast girth (BG), shank length (SL), thigh length (TL), comb length (CL), comb height (CH), wing length (WL), wattle length (WAL) and wattle thickness (WT) obtained from three dual-purpose chicken breeds (Shika, Kuroiler, and Sasso), variables were separated. Similarly, stepwise discriminant analsis procedure of the SAS software was employed to evaluate variables that contribute to the overall differences in breeds. Results showed three principal components (PC1, PC2 and PC3) were extracted for all the breeds and pooled data. 45.60% of total variance was accounted for by PC1, 28.17% by PC2 and 16.22% by PC3. The principal components partitioning of total variance were 50.80, 15.10 and 9.70%, 50.82, 19.90 and 14.90%, and 48.63, 14.00 and 12.67% for Shika, Kuroiler, and Sasso breeds respectively, with different factor loadings. Communalities ranged from 0.43-0.97, 0.45-0.83, 0.45-0.88 and 0.45-0.90, indicating that a good amount of variance was accounted for. Stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that seven morphometric traits, TL, SL, WAL, WL, CL, CH and BL, contributed significantly (P<0.001) to the separation of the birds into breeds. TL and SL, however, indicated higher discriminating power compared to others. The principal component analysis allowed for better understanding of the complex correlations among traits and reduced the number of traits along with high communalities, using only PC1, PC2 and PC3the first three PCs, without loss of information. Summary of stepwise discriminant analysis shows that lengthwise measures of long bones of the body of chickens, such as thigh and shank, are viable metrics for phenotypic differentiation of birds in the studied population. Keywords: Principal Component, Stepwise discriminant Analysis, Morphometric traits, chickens


The Environmental Sciences Section (ESS) of the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) established a quarterly monitoring program of the Fourmile Branch (FMB) stream and its associated seepline down gradient from the F- and H-Area seepage basins. The program surveys and tracks changes in tritium, specific conductivity, and pH primarily for seepline water; however, a few stream locations have been added. Measurements from the eighth quarterly survey (March 1994) showed similar to slightly lower tritium and conductivity measurements and similar pH values compared to previous studies. Decreased tritium concentrations and conductivity values, as compared to the previous survey, are attributed to the seasonal rise in the water table since the December 1993 sampling event. However, overall results of the tritium survey and stream monitoring data suggest that the tritium plume resulting from the operation of the seepage basins is flushing from the FMB system.


Moderate spatial confinement enhances the heat transfer in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard (RB) convection (Chong K. L. et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 115 (2015) 264503). Here, by performing direct numerical simulations, we answer the question how the shape of the RB cell affects this enhancement. We compare three different geometries: a box with rectangular base (i.e., stronger confined in one horizontal direction), a box with square base (i.e., equally confined in both horizontal directions), and a cylinder (i.e., symmetrically confined in the radial direction). In all cases the confinement can be described by the same confinement parameter , given as height-over-width aspect ratio. The explored parameter range is , for the Rayleigh number, and a Prandtl number of . We find that both the optimal confinement parameter for maximal heat transfer and the actual heat transfer enhancement strongly depend on the cell geometry. The differences can be explained by the formation of different vertically coherent flow structures within the specific geometries. The enhancement is largest in the cylindrical cell, owing to the formation of a domain-spanning flow structure at the optimal confinement parameter .


The government evaluates the feasibility of higher education institutions in the implementation of education to see the quality of education in Indonesia through the accreditation of higher education institutions and their education programs. Accreditation of higher education institutions, especially private universities in Surakarta, is a necessity and an important thing in maintaining the quality of higher education. This study aims to determine the relationship between quality work of life, job satisfaction and social support on employee engagement of private university lecturers in Surakarta. This study uses quantitative methods and descriptive analysis. Sampling in this study is probability sampling with the type of simple random sampling, the number of respondents is 50 lecturers of private universities in Surakarta. The data analysis method used in this study is multiple linear regression analysis with data processing performed with the SPSS 22 for Windows program. The results of this study indicate that the quality of work of life has an effect on employee engagement, job satisfaction has no effect on employee engagement, and social support has an influence on employee engagement.Keywords: quality work of life, job satisfaction, social support, dan employee engagement


High-performance low-divergence angled laser diodes are proposed and fabricated at a wavelength of 910 nm. Light is reflected both inward to the waveguide and downward to the lower cladding layer by the 2-D tilted sidewalls along its zigzag path in the waveguide, and thus the mode field is extended and the transverse divergence angle is greatly reduced. Experimentally, reduced transverse divergence angles by over 20° are demonstrated in both pulse and continuous wave modes, and stable and narrow lateral divergence angles are simultaneously achieved. This device shows a promising future for improving the transverse far-field pattern by surface structure with easy fabrication.


A simulation model is used to compare measures for future management identified in the American lobster fishery management plan; specifically, increases in the minimum legal size and a modest reduction in aggregate fishing mortality are evaluated. The analysis diners from previous work in that the distributional aspects of the alternative management regulations are quantified. The results indicate that (1) both an increased minimum size and a reduction in fishing mortality are economically justified in the sense that net benefits are positive; (2) increasing the minimum size without an adjunct regulation to prohibit entry will cause present fishermen to suffer an initial short-term reduction in revenues for which there will be no long-term gain; (3) because increased minimum size can be justified on the basis of consumer benefits alone, arguments favoring its increase to prevent recruitment failure are moot as far as a test of national economic efficiency is concerned; and (4) a program of effort reduction which reduces by 20% the fraction of available lobsters captured annually is projected to generate $1 of producer benefits for every pound of lobster landed. Reducing the annual harvest fraction by 20% results in a level of fishery benefits greater than increasing the minimum size to 89 mm (3½-in.), and increases the coincidence of short-run costs and long-term benefits among those impacted by fishery management.


The aim of the study was to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) near gene IL28B on locus rs12979860 (С>T) and locus rs8099917 (T>G), which are prognostically significant for standard dual therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C of Russian (Europian) and Tyvinian (Mongoloid) ethnicity. The SNP were discovered by real-time PCA. The Tyvinian patients more frequency showed the C-allele, and Russian patients more frequency displayed Т-allele (p=0.0466). There were no differences in T- and G-alleles on locus rs8099917. The Tyvinian patients more often showed genotype C/C (p=0.0231) and Russian patients more frequency displayed genotype C/Т (p=0.0425) on locus rs1297960. Genotype T/T on locus rs8099917 significantly often detected in Tyvinian patients (p=0.0259) and genotype T/G more frequently detected in Russian patients (p=0.0188). When take in account two polymorphic loci, genotype С/С (rs12979860) - Т/Т (rs8099917) significantly often detected in Tyvinian patients (p=0.0203), this genotype is associated with more ability to get sustained virologic response.


The purpose of this paper is to suggest a generalized formulation of one set of generic conditions that strongly motivate a scientist to participate in the goal-reward pattern of science. These conditions are the differential associations of the scientist with colleagues who guide his induction into science, colleagues who continually make known to the scientist that it is his job to advance knowledge. The impact of these differential associations on generating degree and firmness of motivation to advance knowledge varies according to their diversity of scope but not to the duration of the associations. Barney G. Glaser is research sociologist at the University of California Medical Center, San Francisco.


By analyzing the traffic flow of urban intersection,a four-phase traffic signal control model,taking the average traffic delay as the performance index,was proposed,and an improved genetic algorithm was applied to this model.Matlab 7.0 simulation was made on slight traffic flow model,medium traffic flow model and severe traffic flow model,which are all under the comparatively complicated four-phase control in actual intersection.The result shows that the improved genetic algorithm outgoes the simple genetic algorithm and the traditional fixedtime control approach.


The waxy corn starch were processed by slowly and rapidly freeze-thawing methods, and the granule morphology, particle size, mean diameter, polarization cross and crystallinity properties of waxy corn starch were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, polarized light microscope and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that the micro-pores increased, particle size and mean diameter decreased, polarization cross weakened, moreover, the slowly freeze-thawing could significantly change the granule structure properties, and more than 20 times freeze-thawing cycles could destroy the granule structure. However, freeze-thawing temperature and cycle times have little effects on the crystallinity patterns and intensity. Therefore, the slowly freeze-thawing method could apply in starch modification, we can change the starch granule structure and modification degree by controlling the freeze-thawing temperature and cycle times.


Provided is an all-solid-state battery containing a nano-Solid electrolyte which has excellent stability and enhanced battery performance and can be manufactured without changing an existing process. Due to Substantially improved battery per formance, as well as having excellent safety, the all-solid state battery containing a nano-Solid electrolyte may be widely used and further contribute to industrial development Such as electric Vehicles in which medium and large lithium ion rechargeable batteries are used.


Supply chain, as an effective mode participating in the intense business competition, has been accepted by scores of enterprises, but there still exists great risks in supply chain, because of the characteristics of its special chain structure. This paper investigates the sources of supply chain risk, and the factors of supply chain risk assessment. Based on this, a fuzzy assessment model used to assess supply chain risk is established by applying the fuzzy factor analysis method. Cases on the application of fuzzy theory to supply chain risk assessment are available in this paper.


The study aimed at identifying role of civil society organizations in confronting poverty phenomenon in the Egyptian society and effectiveness extent of this role through identifying nature of followed mechanisms and strategies in the organizations and unveiling presented program nature by civil society organizations for targeted categories to limit poverty problem, the researcher applied (meeting)tool on a sample consisting of (50) subjects of managers and employees of sectors and units in Masr El-Kheir institutions in addition to coordinators of field work and volunteers in the institution, the descriptive methodology and social survey by sample methodology were used. Study results concluded that civil society organizations play an active developmental role in the society through the diversity of their programs offered to poor groups in many life fields "social solidarity field – health field – education field and offered services for those with special needs and the elderly, integrated development programs and other projects and the programs that aim at achieving sustainable development objectives in the society particularly local societies.the study suggested activating


This paper describes the system we built for the Chinese to English track of the IWSLT 2004 evaluation campaign. A one month effort was devoted to this exercise, starting from scratch and making use as much as possible of freely available packages. We show that a decent phrase-based translation engine can be built within this short time frame.


The equipment for preservation processing of food, including root herbs such as ginseng, comprises: a food loading part that is used to load said food in said preservation processing equipment to carry out preservation processing of said food; a washing device that washes food fed by said food loading part with sterile water at a normal temperature; a spray washing device that conducts spray washing with sterile water for the food that has passed through said washing device over said food loading part; an ultrasonic washing device using low temperature water that immerses the food that has passed through said spray washing device in sterile water and applies ultrasonic waves for washing; a sterilization washing device based on ultrasonic waves that immerses the food that has passed through said ultrasonic washing device based on low temperature water in a sterilized solution and applies ultrasonic waves for sterilization; an antioxidation processing device that allows an antioxidant to penetrate into the skin of the food that has passed through said sterilization washing device using ultrasonic waves to prevent its deterioration; a first sterilization and drying device that irradiates ultraviolet rays onto the top and bottom of the food that has passed through said antioxidation processing device together with drying based on sterile cold wind; a surface coating device that applies edible wax or paraffin over the food that has passed through said first sterilizing and drying device; a second sterilization and drying device that irradiates ultraviolet rays over the food that has passed through said surface coating device and also performs cold wind drying to conduct sterilization as well; and a food processing outlet that discharges the food that has been processed by said second sterilization and drying device.


As surface micro structuring turned out to be capable of improving various tribological systems laser technology got into focus as the prime manufacturing technique for many applications. Besides the design and development of micro structure geometries manufacturing strategies and production systems are required for industry. A comprehensive solution for the hydraulic system market is obtained within a research project called "Stokes", funded by the EU in the program "Research for SMEs".


I read with great interest the article by Vidigal et al. This work shows that hyperbaric oxygen markedly suppresses neutrophil infiltration compared with a placebo. I would like to complete the discussion of Vidigal et al. by introducing a major route through which hyperbaric oxygen could suppress the activity of neutrophils. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a common surgical event in orthopedics, with tourniquet use being a recognized cause. Reperfusion of the acutely injured limb is a commonly occurring event associated with local and systemic proinflammatory responses, which may account for significant morbidity and mortality. Transendothelial migration of neutrophils, with release of reactive oxygen species and cytokines, causes further damage to the injured tissue. However, a key component in the pathogenesis of reperfusion syndrome is the upregulation of surface adhesion molecules on the vascular endothelium and their subsequent interaction with the activated neutrophils. The most important adhesion protein identified on neutrophils is the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1; CD11a/CD18), which is the ligand for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expressed on the endothelium. The LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction is crucial for the ingress of neutrophils into the inflammatory sites. Hyperbaric oxygen downregulate the expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1, and through binding to LFA-1, they interfere with ICAM-1–LFA-1 interaction. This important mechanism should be borne in mind as the major mechanism for hyperbaric oxygen—induced inhibition of neutrophil activity.


The concept of social capital has been popularized by various academics and has found application in a diversity of fields in social sciences. This paper describes a leading international NGO's attempt to apply it in fighting poverty in rural China. By incorporating the concept of social capital into various components of its community development program, social capital was built up as the community moved out of poverty.


The invention provides a manufacturing method for a pressurizer surge line of a nuclear power plant. The manufacturing method comprises the following steps: a hollow steel blank is provided and subjected to heating, periodic rolling, cooling, rough machining, bending forming, solution treatment and finish machining sequentially.


The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) sponsor and administer the National GME Census through GME Track, an internet-based AAMC product, and jointly maintain a database of information on training programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and of the residents and fellows in those programs. From May until December 2016, all directors of programs accredited by the ACGME were asked to complete the program survey component of the Census on GME Track. Information on the educational characteristics of the training programs was added to FREIDA Online, the AMA Residency & Fellowship Database, a public information source on GME programs that is available to medical students, residents, and fellows. Beginning in late July 2016, program directors were surveyed about their active, transferred, and graduated residents and fellows for academic year 2016-2017. Program directors were provided with lists of residents and fellows from the current database and were asked to (1) confirm or modify the training status of trainees who were present in their programs the prior year; (2) add new physicians to their program whowerenotalreadyinthedatabase;and(3)confirm,edit,oradd demographic information on all trainees. This demographic information includes sex, birthdate, country of birth, citizenship status, race, and Hispanic ethnicity. Information on race and Hispanic ethnicity for residents and fellows who had provided such information through various AAMC applications (eg, the Electronic Residency Application Service) was carried forward from those applications and included in the Census. We surveyed 10 343 active programs, of which 9899 (95.7%) completed the program survey and 9005 (87.1%) confirmed the status of all their active physicians-in-training, accounting for 120 410 (97.0%) active trainees. An additional 21 programs (0.2%) confirmed some but not all of their trainees (n = 153 individuals, 0.1%), 377 confirmed that they did not have any trainees (3.6%), 492 programs (4.8%) confirmed the status of nonactive trainees (graduates and transfers) but did not have any currently active trainees, and 448 programs (4.3%) did not confirm the status of any physician training in the program (including 243 programs that apparently did not have any active trainees). A total of 96.7% of all physicians in our database had their status confirmed (eg, active, graduated, transferred, or withdrawn). Physicians whose status was not confirmed were "advanced" into the next year of training (n = 3533 [2.8% of active residents]) or "graduated" based on expected graduation date (n = 1223 [2.9% of graduated residents and fellows]). In total, we estimate that there were 124 096 active residents in ACGMEaccredited programs during the 2016-2017 academic year. The following tables include data from these surveys.


The recent developments in the study of elliptic curve public-key algorithms have shown that they could play a major factor in the design of cryptosystems of the future. This thesis describes e cient algorithms for two important aspects of such systems. The rst part describes a structured approach for nding cryptographically secure curves. A comprehensive lists of elliptic curves over sub elds GF (2n), n = 8; 9; : : : 18, was generated, which are cryptographically secure over GF ((2n)m), n m = 150; : : : ; 200. The second part describes e cient algorithms for fast software implementations of elliptic curve computations which can be used in a variety of public-key protocols. These algorithms, which perform group operations over nonsupersingular elliptic curves, are optimized through the use of composite Galois elds of the form GF ((2n)m). An elliptic curve key-exchange protocol over the composite eld GF ((216)11) was implemented using optimized algorithms. It is shown how the use of elliptic curves can outperform the traditional Di e-Hellman key-exchange protocol over nite elds which requires a considerably larger key size (512 1024 bits) in order to maintain the same level of security.


Isotopically enriched nuclear targets are prepared directly in electromagnetic mass separators by allowing the resolved ion species to impinge on a suitable substrate. The calutron, a multi-milliampere mass separator, has been successful in producing ion-implanted targets for nuclear research and in the doping of semiconductors. By using flat magnetic shims, a rotating target holder, and a sliding indexing shutter, multiple targets with uniform implantation have been achieved. The typical accelerating energy for this method is 40 keV, although this can be increased by using multiply charged ions. For production of highly enriched targets from materials in which the desired isotope is of low natural abundance, the 180° Oak Ridge Sector Isotope Separator (ORSIS) has proven particularly successful. This machine, which is an exceptionally high-resolution separator, is interfaced with an on-line computer for surveillance and control. Isotopic enhancement factors of 4 × 105 have been achieved for targets prepared in this machine. Targets are prepared by placing the host material (typically carbon, aluminum, or nickel foils) at the receiver, 1 cm above the normal straight-line beam path. The desired ion species is steered onto the target through an electrostatic beam deflection system, thereby minimizing neutral particle contamination. The energy of an ion at impact, and hence the deposition depth, is controlled by applying a suitable potential (-40 to +40 kV) at the collector. Ion deposition energies from a few electron volts to several hundred kiloelectron volts have been achieved.


Cranberry bioactives have been studied for their bacterial antiadhesion effect, which may prevent uropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) from entering epithelial cells in the bladder. In this study, we compared the ex vivo urinary anti‐adhesion activity of a lowcalorie cranberry powder beverage (CPB) to a low‐calorie cranberry juice cocktail (LCJC) in healthy adults. The CPB was standardized to be equivalent to LCJC on a proanthocyanidin basis. Fifty‐nine volunteers participated in a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over study. Clean‐catch urine samples collected at baseline and 0–6 h were tested for anti‐adhesion activity utilizing a mannose‐resistant human red blood cell hemagglutination assay specific for P‐fimbriated E. coli. Compared to placebo, 0–6 h post‐consumption urines from the CPB and LCJC groups had significantly higher (p<0.05) antiadhesion activity compared to baseline. Although the CPB beverage demonstrated a greater anti‐adhesion activity post‐consumption compared to LCJC, there were no significant differences between these treatments (p=0.14), indicating a similar effect. Acute cranberry beverage consumption increased urinary anti‐adhesion activity ex vivo. This research was supported by Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.


A multi-week laboratory project has been developed to incorporate elements of student investigation, chemotactic behavior of protists, and genetic effects on chemotactic activity of Tetrahymena. The chemotaxis assay is based on spectrophotometric detection of protist-induced light scattering as cells migrate into a density gradient containing a known attractant. The three-week project consists of an introductory chemotaxis assay, investigation of dose-response effects, and culminates with the exploration of a Tetrahymena genetic mutant with known defects in motility. Additionally, this project incorporates a microscopic investigation of cellular structure and swimming behavior of mutant and wild-type cells. Students have responded well to the nature of the project, displaying clear understanding of the mechanism of the assay as well as the response of the protists to environmental manipulation and the molecular defects in the mutant cells.


Pharmaceutical colleges should integrate its teaching with pharmaceutical enterprises and serve the pharmaceutical economy. The colleges should communicate with the pharmaceutical enterprises to learn their production and talents need by adopting some effective teaching measures. The colleges can explore some new approaches to create their characteristics and popularity


A stability monitor for a boiling reactor is implemented and evaluated with the Penn State Hybrid Reactor System. The stability monitor is based on an extended Kalman filter which employs a reduced-order BWR reactor model. The filter uses measured power signal and estimates the void reactivity feedback gain and the decay ratio. The hybrid reactor system is a system combining a simulation module of BWR thermal hydraulics and the Penn State TRIGA reactor. A description of the hybrid system is also presented. (authors)


The Hartley transform is first extended to a space of Boehmians where its properties are established. Having all its desired properties, the extended Hartley transform of a Boehmian is well defined in the space of continuous functions satisfying continuity conditions with respect to δ and Δconvergence. To the context of ultradistributions the complex Hartley transform is obtained as an adjoint operator. Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary 54C40, 14E20; Secondary 46E25, 20C20


Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) denotes cancer cases where metastatic spread is histologically confirmed, but no respective primary tumor can be identified. The challenging diagnosis of CUP is further complicated in cases with previously identified malignancies or with dubious clonal relationship between metastatic sites due to ambiguous histology. Our study aims at elucidating clonal relationships by comparing the respective mutational spectra. Targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) employing formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue was performed on 174 consecutive CUP patients. Among these, 43/174 (24.7%) patients had a documented prior malignancy. Data on pairwise targeted NGS testing to address clonal relationships between the previous malignancy and the presumed CUP (n = 11) or between different CUP metastatic sites (n = 7) was available in 18 patients. NGS could clarify clonal relationships in 16/18 cases. Among the 11 CUP patients with antecedent malignancies, four cases were clonally independent of the previous malignancy but harbored deleterious germline mutations in BRCA/BAP1/ATM genes. Seven CUP cases were clonally related to the antecedent malignancy, changing the CUP diagnosis to relapse of the prior malignancy. In the seven CUP cases, with doubtfully related metastatic sites, NGS confirmed clonal relationship in five cases and was inconclusive in two. In conclusion, NGS proved an efficient tool to elucidate clonal relationships in clinically challenging CUP cases. Our study cautions against a premature diagnosis of CUP. Relapses of antecedent malignancies should be carefully considered. CUPs clonally independent from the antecedent malignancy should raise a red flag of a potential cancer‐predisposing germline mutation.


poured into the veins of society at large. But where indifference and scepticism flourish, there faith and fervor are kindled anew. Hence the imperishable benefit of religious reforms. Therefore the debates between Luther and Zwingli and all the differences between the Protestant sects have not been without influence on their life and vigor. Christianity, in contrast to Paganism and Hebraism, has brought about the regeneration and the life of society solely in this way: by means of Christ, it has opened, in a manner at once explicit and dialectical, the most intense of conflicts that have ever arisen-the inextinguishable conflict between matter and spirit, between the human and the divine. RAFFAELE MARIANO. UNIVERSITY OF NAPLES.


This article presents an optical module with a holographic optical element (HOE) for the small-form-factor (SFF) pickup head. Because of its dual-stage mechanical characteristics can perform the focusing action smoother and more precise for better fault and error tolerance, the servo system to control such a dual-stage system tends to be more effective than a conventional single-stage ODD system. However, it is not enough to restrain the unwanted outside disturbance. Therefore, the zero phase error tracking controller (ZPETC), which is very sensitive to improve the modeling error in motion control is used for this dual-stage miniaturized actuator. Experimental assessment of the holographic module and actuator reveals that the HOE module ensures the optical performance and stability of the system, together with a performance superior to a classic hinge type swing arm actuator, as attributed to enhanced durability and higher robustness.


Objective To investigate the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) and gastric carcinomas.Methods The 185 specimens of gastric carcinoma tissues and 185 specimens of corres-ponding tissues adjacent to the gastric carcinoma were tested for EBV DNA genome by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-Southern blotting.The presence of EBV was further confirmed by in-situ hybridization(ISH) in paraffin-embedded sections for EBV-encoded small RNA1(EBER1) among the positive specimens of PCR. Results EBER1 was detected in 13(7.03%) gastric carcinomas,but absent in the corresponding adjacent tissues of gastric carcinomas. The difference between the two groups was sig-nificant(χ2=11.077,P0.005). Conclusion EBV infection is associated with the pathogenesis of gastric carcinomas.


Britain's Association of University Teachers (AUT) recently embarked on - and successfully delivered - what has been the most extensive and well supported industrial dispute in its history. The origins of the dispute lay in two directly opposing views of the future of Higher Education in the UK. AUT's Brian Everett reports.


This data article investigates the prevalence of journal articles related to online business and CSR strategy. Using lens.org, a total of 4,929 documents were initially identified, which were further refined to 203 documents related to the law subject. The analysis reveals the most active institutions, authors, countries, and publishers in the field. The findings underscore the importance of business ethics and corporate social responsibility in the context of online businesses, providing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and educators.Highlights:

The study identified 203 law-related journal articles focused on online business and CSR strategy.
The University of Nottingham emerged as the top institution in the field, contributing significantly to business ethics and corporate social responsibility research.
The analysis highlights the growing importance of business ethics and corporate social responsibility in the context of online businesses.


The present invention relates to a method of producing a three Leaf Mustard with green tea crab broth, and more particularly, place pour soy After cleaning the fresh crab placing soaked for about 3 hours; Placing out in accordance with the soy sauce poured on the crab into the sauce to cool down again after the boil again pour the crab to crab soaked in soy sauce; Steps to the process of re-pouring the cooled boiled crab after taking along the soy poured in crab repeated two or three times soaked soy crab preparing crab soy broth, and to clean to clean the three jeolyineun to anchovy; After step to clean the freshly pickled for 35 minutes ~ 50 minutes a coarse salt wash water subtracting the water; Mince the garlic and ginger steps to be used as a seasoning, transfer to the ecliptic, pears and apples on a steel plate ready seasoning additives; A certain amount of water by mixing green tea powder and flour stage cooling pool after the Sun Yat; The section excitation three and pickled after prepared freshly pulled dry on the liver crab broth made during the manufacturing process, the soy crab seasoning additives, green tea powder and flour mixed into a predetermined amount to create full mixing beomurin after room temperature for 18 ~ 20 ℃ maintains the the fermentation step of the fermentation 7-9 hours at room temperature, that is; A kimchi fermentation at room temperature in the refrigerator is 4 ~ 5 ℃ maintain a low temperature aging step of 7-10 days aging; comprises a.


The parapharyngeal space is an anatomically complex region in which a variety of neoplasms can arise. Metastasis of a thyroid carcinoma to the parapharyngeal space is very rare. We recently treated two cases of this disease. The first case was a 66 year-old male with recurrent thyroid carcinoma presenting as a parapharyngeal mass, who had previously undergone a hemi-thyroidectomy and modified neck dissection. The second case was a 61 year-old male with accidental thyroid carcinoma metastasis to the parapharyngeal space during surgery for the treatment of hypopharyngeal and esophageal carcinoma. The possibility of metastatis to this region should be considered in the treatment of thyroid carcinoma.


kHz SLR data contains unique information about the measured targets; this information allows e.g. determination of spin parameters (spin period, spin direction, spin axis orientation) of various satellites, using various methods for different spin periods / satellites: Spectral analysis for spin periods of 2 s (AJISAI (Kirchner et al, 2007)), simulations for spin periods of 77.5 s (GP-B), and comparing simulation results with kHz data for very long spin periods like LAGEOS-1 (about 5000 s). For the long LAGEOS-1 spin periods, we developed a method to calculate spin axis orientation and spin period from Graz kHz SLR data. This method is based on simulation of returns from each retro reflector, with spin period and spin axis orientation as input parameters. Varying these parameters, the simulation generates retro tracks similar to those seen in the kHz SLR data; comparing simulated and measured tracks, allows determination of spin period, and spin axis orientation. Applying this method to a set of LAGEOS-1 passes covering a period of 178 days – shows also the slow change of the LAGEOS-1 spin axis direction with time.


Recent studies reveal that midlatitude ionospheric irregularities are less understood due to lack of models and observations that can explain the characteristics of the observed wave structures. In this paper, the Temperature Gradient Instability (TGI) and the Gradient Drift Instability (GDI) are analyzed as the cause of the midlatitude irregularities. Based on co-located experimental observations by the Blackstone SuperDARN radar and the Millstone Hill Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR), a time series for the growth rate of both TGI and GDI is calculated for observations in the sub-auroral ionosphere. Multiple GPS data sets are recorded and analyzed to monitor the amplitude scintillations and to obtain the spectral characteristics of irregularities producing ionospheric scintillations. The GPS spectral indices of the spectra observed on the ground are computed and found to be consistent with both TGI and GDI simulations and previous in-situ satellite measurements during disturbed periods. The alignment between experimental, theoretical, and computational results of this study suggests that turbulent cascade processes of TGI and GDI may cause the midlatitude GPS scintillations during disturbed times.


Flash-based SSD draws a considerable interest in big data platforms due to its performance and reliability. However, it still has limited usage as a result of its high cost and limited capacity.Control SSD provisioning on big data platforms reduce storage cost and guarantees performance. The workload is an essential SSD provisioning sources, thus analyzing the characteristics of the workloads would help optimize SSD management design. There is a significant correlation between the workload's IO patterns and the SSD cost and performance.Big data platforms with multi-stage architecture bring challenges into modeling IO patterns where each stage has it is unique IO patterns. Also, big data platforms run on a distributed environment where the workloads are interacting with local and remote storage during the execution. The designed HMM-based IO patterns model considers IO patterns for MapReduce workloads at different stages and different SSD locations.In this paper, we proposed a platform-level SSD, cost-efficiency controller. The controller is responsible for maximizing the SSD lifespan on the Hadoop platform through two phases. First, modeling MapReduce workload's IO patterns by employing the Hidden Markov Model (HMM). Then, defining platform-level SSD allocation policies. The designed allocation policies reduce SSD utilization and improve SSD lifespan on Hadoop by up to %40 compared to static allocation policies.


We introduce a technique for inferring a photospheric velocity from a sequence of vector magnetograms. The technique, called the minimum energy fit, demands that the photospheric flow agree with the observed photospheric field evolution according to the magnetic induction equation. It selects from all consistent flows the one with the smallest overall flow speed by demanding that it minimize an energy functional. Partial or imperfect velocity information, obtained independently, can be incorporated by demanding a velocity consistent with the induction equation that minimizes the squared difference with flow components otherwise known. The combination of low velocity and consistency with the induction equation are desirable when using the magnetogram data and associated flow as boundary conditions of a numerical simulation. The technique is tested on synthetic magnetograms generated by specified flow fields and is shown to yield reasonable agreement. It also yields believable flows from magnetograms of NOAA Active Region 8210 made with the Imaging Vector Magnetogram at the Mees Solar Observatory.


The purpose of this paper is to compare radiological changes after cervical laminoplasty and laminectomy. The subjects were 78 patients with myelopathy caused by the cervical spondylosis or the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine. 61 cases were treated using Z-shaped laminoplasty (Hattori's Method) and 16 using laminectomy. The average age at the time of surgery was 57, and the average follow-up period was 11 years and 2 months. The functional results were evaluated according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association's scoring system. At the time of follow-up, the average recovery rate was 63% in the laminoplasty group, and 32% in the laminectomy group. In the laminoplasty group, the abnormality of alignment was greatly reduced in frequency and degree compared with the laminectomy group. The recovery rate was poor in patients with postoperative changes in the type of cervical spine curvature developed. Laminoplasty is considered to be superior to laminectomy in maintaining cervical alignment and preventing postoperative spinal deformities.


The functions of the urban water systems to deliver drinking water to the population and relieve it of wastewater, need to meet the demands of sustainable development to be ensured over time. Sustainable development indicators (SDIs) are generally recommended to support decision-making at different levels. There are, however, few examples of successful implementation of SDIs. This is also true for SDI projects applied specifically to the water industry. The goal of this study was to analyse the existing information flows and information needs in a German water company in order to enable the formulation of a specification of requirements for effective and efficient SDIs. The case study shows that the company considers sustainability issues to be of high importance and that it has succeeded well in finding general acceptance for the values of sustainable development among its employees. There are indicators for measuring aspects of all three dimensions of sustainability, although these indicators are not termed SDIs. Employees are generally positive to "sustainability", although their understanding of the concept, as defined by WCED, is often incomplete. The combination of a bottom-up and top-down approach applied at BWV in their present indicator programs appears to be useful in the construction of SDIs and the information system they form an integral part of (whether termed SDIs or not).


Aim: This study aims to correlate the association of serum Adenosine deaminase activity (ADA) with fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels.
Patients and Methods: Serum FBS levels and serum ADA activity were measured in 71 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and 24 controls.
Results: Serum ADA activity and FBS levels were elevated in type 2 DM group in comparison to control group significantly (p


Background. Limited laboratory capacity is a significant bottleneck in meeting global targets for the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTD). Laboratories are essential for providing clinical data and monitoring data about the status and changes in NTD prevalence, and for detecting early drug resistance. Currently NTD laboratory networks are informal and specialist laboratory expertise is not well publicised, making it difficult to share global expertise and provide training, supervision, and quality assurance for NTD diagnosis and research. This study aimed to identify laboratories within five World Health Organisation regions (South-East Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, Americas, Western Pacific and Europe) that provide NTD services and could be regarded as national or regional reference laboratories, and to conduct a survey to document their networks and capacity to support NTD programmes. Methods. Potential NTD reference laboratories were identified through systematic searches, snowball sampling and key informants. Results. Thirty-two laboratories responded to the survey. The laboratories covered 25 different NTDs and their main regional and national roles were to provide technical support and training, research, test validation and standard setting. Two thirds of the laboratories were based in academic institutions and almost half had less than 11 staff. Although greater than 90 per cent of the laboratories had adequate technical skills to function as an NTD reference laboratory, almost all laboratories lacked systems for external verification that their results met international standards. Open Peer Review


This article suggests a way of using past records of absenteeism to select members of a labour force who are suitable for special treatment because they are likely to be absence‐offenders in the future. The problem is a practical one and is so treated, and the argument is not difficult as statistical arguments go. Details of the method are the province of the statistician and are dealt with in an appendix, and in other papers to which reference is given.


Introduction ......................................................................................175 A. Legal Background..............................................................176 B. The Paragraph IV Certification and 180 days of Generic Exclusivity ........................................179 C. Paragraph IV Approval Without Infringement Action........181 D. Augmentin as a Case Study................................................181 E. The Augmentin Story..........................................................182 F. Generic Response to District Court Invalidation ..............183 G. Glaxo's Response to Generic Entry: July to October........185 H. Who Benefits Most From the 180 Days of Exclusivity? .....189 I. More Generic Entry: How Many Generic Firms Are Needed to Bring Down Prices?...................................192 Conclusion..........................................................................................195


Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major malignancies associated with high mortality rates. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) alone, or in combination with conventional therapies (CT), has been widely used for patients with HCC in China. This study aims to explore how integrative therapy (IT) through the combination of CHM and CT affects the survival of patients with intermediate-advanced HCC. Methods. A retrospective cohort study was performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China. Data of consecutive patients diagnosed with intermediate-advanced HCC and a specific traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic pattern between January 2006 and December 2013 were retrieved from the electronic medical record system at the hospital. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the therapies used, that is, IT, CHM alone, and CT alone, and the survival times of these patients was compared. Results. A total of 328 patients were included in this study. Median follow-up period was 26.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] = 22.7-38.9). Median overall survival was 11.0 months for IT, 8.6 months for CHM, and 9.4 months for CT groups (P < .001). The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of death for the IT group was 0.55 (95% CI = 0.38-0.79, P = .001) relative to the CT group and 0.68 (95% CI = 0.52-0.90, P = .007) relative to the CHM group, after adjusting for the factors that impact prognosis. Stratified analysis shows that IT can significantly lower the risk of death, especially for patients with good performance status (PS) and Child-Pugh class A. Conclusions. It was indicated that the integrative approach with combination of CHM and CT might improve survival for patients with intermediate-advanced HCC, especially for patients with good PS and Child-Pugh class A. However, a randomized controlled trial is warranted for a conclusive statement.


The invention provides a diode and a manufacturing method thereof. The diode comprises metal plates and one or more semiconductor diode chips. Each semiconductor diode chip is clamped between every two adjacent metal plates. Each semiconductor diode chip comprises a semiconductor substrate, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. Each semiconductor chip comprises an N doped layer and a P doped layer on the N doped layer, and PN junctions are formed between the P doped layers and the N doped layers. The first electrode layers cover the upper surfaces of the semiconductor substrates, the second electrode layers cover the lower surfaces of the semiconductor substrates, each first electrode layer makes contact with two metal plates adjacent to the corresponding first electrode layer, and each second electrode layer makes contact with two metal plates adjacent to the corresponding second electrode layer.