• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.212-219
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• 2010

Selectable marker gene systems are vital for the development of transgenic plants, but the presence of selectable marker genes encoding antibiotic or herbicide resistance in genetically modified plants poses a number of problems. A lot of research results and various techniques have been developed to produce marker-free GM plants. The aim of this review is to describe the principal methods used for eliminating selectable marker genes to generate marker-free GM plants, concentrating on the three significant methods(co-transformation, site-specific recombinase-mediated excision, non-selected transformation) in several marker-free techniques.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the mortality of heart disease (HD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) through an age-period-cohort (APC) analysis. Methods: We used data on mortality due to cardiovascular disease from 1995 to 2018 in Japan, as determined by Vital Statistics. Age groups from 0 years to 99 years were defined by 5-year increments, and cohorts were defined for each age group of each year with a 1-year shift. We used Bayesian APC analysis to decompose the changes in the diseases' mortality rates into age, period, and cohort effects. Results: The period effects for all diseases decreased during the analyzed periods for both men and women. The cohort effects for men increased substantially in cohorts born from around 1940 to the 1970s for all types of cardiovascular diseases. The cohort effects of HD decreased in the cohorts born in the 1970s or later for both men and women. Regarding IHD and CeVD, either a non-increase or decrease of cohort effects was confirmed for cohorts born in the 1970s or later for men, but the effects for women showed a continuously increasing trend in the cohorts born in the 1960s or later. Conclusions: The cohort effects for IHD and CeVD showed increasing trends in younger generations of women. This suggests that preventive approaches against cardiovascular diseases are needed, particularly for women.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.51-55
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• 2006

Since 1970, China has become the biggest cocoon producer in the world, and made the highest historical record of cocoon output for 759,800 tons in 1995. However, in 1996 cocoon production reduced sharply to 470,900 tons. After a ten-year adjustment and reform, sericultural areas have shifted from developed regions to developing regions and from the east to the west. From 2000, the cocoon output has started to increase restoringly. By 2004 it recovered to 547,091 tons. With the development of market economy, sericulture management has been changed, including mulberry fields concentrated to the specializated households and cooperatives, cocoons produced in larger scale instead of individuals, Silkworm egg producing enterprises gradually changed into non-governmental joint-stock ones. The mechanism of market cocoon price has been gradually established. The management model of combination of trade, industry and agriculture is pushing and improving. It is the fruit of modern science and technology, especially sericultural basic research, that provides China's sericulture with the opportunity and vital force. China's sericulture, therefore, will continue to develop steadily in future.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.5
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• pp.585-595
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• 2019

Foundations are a vital part of structures. Over time, the foundations can deteriorate due to unforeseen overloads and/or settlements, resulting in the appearance of cracks in the concrete. These cracks produce changes in the static and dynamic behavior of the affected foundation, which alter its load carrying capacity. In this work, non-destructive techniques of relative simplicity of application are presented for the detection, location, and quantification of damage, using numerical models, solved with the finite element method and Power Series. For this, two types of parameters are used: static (displacement and elastic curvature) and dynamics (natural frequencies). In the static analysis, the damage detection is done by means of a finite elements model representing a beam supported on an elastic foundation with a discrete crack that varies in length and location. With regard to dynamic analysis, the governing equations of the model are presented and a method based on Power Series is used to obtain the solution for a data set, which could be the Winkler coefficient, the location of the crack or the frequency. In order to validate the proposed methodologies, these techniques are applied to data obtained from laboratory tests.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 1998

The human pulse wave is a vital biosignal that includes the diagnostic data related with the heart and the cardiovascular system of human body. Based on the mechanical transducing method, a pulse detection transducer using optical fiber was developed to acquire the pulses non-invasively. To improve the detection efficiency, we proposed a new design that consists of two combinational parts; detecting part, which is in contact with the pulsating skin and transmits the displacement motion of the pulsating skin to the sensing part, and sensing part, which converts the physical quantity transmitted from the detecting part to electronic signal. By using the new method, we confirmed that the proposed transducer can detect the C point(incisura) and the T wave(tidal wave) which is not easily detected by existing transducers.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2003

The purpose of the present study were to evaluate microleakage of a fourth generation dentin-bonding agent following a walking bleaching treatment, to determine the effect of temporary postbleaching dressing with calcium hydroxide on microleakage and to investigate the effect of delayed intracoronal restoration on microleakage. The results of this study were as follows : 1. Bleached groups showed more microleakage than unbleached group 2. Immediately restored group following bleaching procedure showed the highest microleakage score. 3. One-week delayed restorations showed less microleakage but there were no statistically significant difference between group II and III. 4. Provisional dressing with calcium hydroxide had no influence on microleakage. It is necessary to know the time that has elapsed from the bleaching treatment to the restoration procedure to achieve optimal seal, as well as to reduce the risk of microleakage in adhesive restoration.

• Agribusiness and Information Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

Cameroon, with her numerous resources, still depends on foreign aid while the rate of poverty remains high. Thus, even though historical evidence gives impetus to the impasse over role of developmental aid, from the top down approach through to development as a springboard raising states from the doldrums of poverty, it is still very difficult to draw a substantial relationship between developmental aid and poverty reduction. Against this backdrop of controversy, I find it apt to put Cameroon on a balance scale. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to critically assess the implications of developmental aid on poverty reduction and agro-rural development in Cameroon, using the RUMPI Area Development Project in the South West region of Cameroon as a case study. The study will situate and contextualize the top-down and bottom-up approaches to development within the basis of a Cameroonian perspective, using the Sachs-Easterly debate. The RUMPI Project was introduced with the objective of improving agriculture and empowering the rural woman; thereby fighting poverty within the South West region of Cameroon. Despite its criticism of the barriers to development created by corruption, political pressure and limited use of local and grass-root partnerships, the study, in assessing these failures also tries to outline vital ways in which the project can be improved upon.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.11 no.5 s.43
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

Network measurement is a vital part of network traffic engineering. In a network, the metric 'capacity' characterizes the maximum throughput the path can provide when there is no traffic load, or the minimum transmission rate among all links in a path. Pathrate is one of the most widely used network capacity measurement tools nowadays. It's famous for its accurate estimation result and non restriction of the temporal network traffic condition. After several years of development, its performance becomes more stable and reliable. Extant local modes detection algorithm in pathrate is based on statistic methodology histogram. This paper suggests a new algorithm for local modes detection based on ASH (Averaged Shifted Histogram). We have implemented this algorithm and will prove it can accomplish the same task as the original one with a better result.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.711-717
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• 2007

Sleep is a vital, highly organized process regulated by complex systems of neuronal networks and neurotransmitters. Normal sleep comprises non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM periods that alternate through the night. Sleep usually begins in NREM and progresses through deeper NREM stages (2, 3, and 4 stages), but newborns enter REM sleep (active sleep) first before NREM (quiet sleep). A period of NREM and REM sleep cycle is approximately 90 minutes, but newborn have a shorter sleep cycle (50 minutes). As children mature, sleep changes as an adult pattern: shorter sleep duration, longer sleep cycles and less daytime sleep. REM sleep is approximately 50% of total sleep in newborn and dramatically decreases over the first 2 years into adulthood (20% to 25%). An initial predominant of slow wave sleep (stage 3 and 4) that peaks in early childhood, drops off abruptly after adolescence by 40% from preteen years, and then declines over the life span. The hypothalamus is recognized as a key area of brain involved in regulation of sleep and wakefulness. The basic function of sleep largely remains elusive, but it is clear that sleep plays an important role in the regulation of CNS and body physiologic processes. Understanding of the architecture of sleep and basic mechanisms that regulate sleep and wake cycle are essential to evaluate normal or abnormal development of sleep pattern changes with age. Reduction or disruption of sleep can have a significant impact on daytime functioning and development, including learning, growth, behavior, and emotional regulation.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.15-24
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• 2016

Purpose - Key account management is a supplier company initiated relational approach that has received great attention from both academics and practitioners manifested in the business-to-business relationship literatures. However, there is widespread debate and contention on what should be the underlying theoretical base for defining this vital part of relationship marketing. With the insights from the social exchange theory, present paper explores how social exchange affects the dynamic nature of key account management relationship at the organizational level. Research design, data, and methodology - The paper follows a comprehensive review approach to examine the relationship between social exchange theory and key account management approach. Conceptual arguments and findings are assessed across studies with the main objective of showing how social exchange theory develops the governance mechanism in maintaining the key account relationship. Results - Since relational norm is considered as a glue for the maintenance of buyer-seller relationship in social exchange theory, factors develop the non-contractual governance mechanism 'relationship' in business-to-business relationship and this norm replaces or supplements more formal governance mechanisms such as contracts are explored. Conclusions - This paper advances central relational norm to manage the company's most important key customers and demonstrates how this norm can be developed in buyer-seller key account relationship. Implications from this new perspective are forwarded.