Electrochemical Determination of L-Dopa in Mucuna pruriens Seeds, Leaves and Commercial Siddha Product Using Gold Modified Pencil Graphite Electrode

In the present work a gold modified pencil graphite electrode (GPGE) was used for the determination of L-dopa present in the aqueous extracts of Mucuna pruriens seeds (MPS), Mucuna pruriens leaves (MPL) and Commercial Siddha Product (CSP). The GPGE shows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of both L-dopa and ascorbic acid (AA), with the separation of peak potential of 98 mV. The differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) results indicated that the detection limit for L-dopa was 1.54 mu M (S/N=3). This method can be successfully applied for the determination of L-dopa in real samples.

A strategy-proof and budget-balanced mechanism for carbon footprint reduction by global companies

The problem addressed in this paper is concerned with an important issue faced by any green aware global company to keep its emissions within a prescribed cap. The specific problem is to allocate carbon reductions to its different divisions and supply chain partners in achieving a required target of reductions in its carbon reduction program. The problem becomes a challenging one since the divisions and supply chain partners, being autonomous, may exhibit strategic behavior. We use a standard mechanism design approach to solve this problem. While designing a mechanism for the emission reduction allocation problem, the key properties that need to be satisfied are dominant strategy incentive compatibility (DSIC) (also called strategy-proofness), strict budget balance (SBB), and allocative efficiency (AE). Mechanism design theory has shown that it is not possible to achieve the above three properties simultaneously. In the literature, a mechanism that satisfies DSIC and AE has recently been proposed in this context, keeping the budget imbalance minimal. Motivated by the observation that SBB is an important requirement, in this paper, we propose a mechanism that satisfies DSIC and SBB with slight compromise in allocative efficiency. Our experimentation with a stylized case study shows that the proposed mechanism performs satisfactorily and provides an attractive alternative mechanism for carbon footprint reduction by global companies.

A Perspective on Computer Assisted Assessment Techniques for Short Free-Text Answers

Computer Assisted Assessment (CAA) has been existing for several years now. While some forms of CAA do not require sophisticated text understanding (e.g., multiple choice questions), there are also student answers that consist of free text and require analysis of text in the answer. Research towards the latter till date has concentrated on two main sub-tasks: (i) grading of essays, which is done mainly by checking the style, correctness of grammar, and coherence of the essay and (ii) assessment of short free-text answers. In this paper, we present a structured view of relevant research in automated assessment techniques for short free-text answers. We review papers spanning the last 15 years of research with emphasis on recent papers. Our main objectives are two folds. First we present the survey in a structured way by segregating information on dataset, problem formulation, techniques, and evaluation measures. Second we present a discussion on some of the potential future directions in this domain which we hope would be helpful for researchers.

Network integration for international mergers and Acquisitions

Business activities are increasingly taking place across geographical and ownership boundaries. Post-Merger & Acquisition Integration (PMI) processes are more challenging in network organisations due to the extra complexity and interdependency associated with networks. However, network integration issues are not well addressed in the traditional M&A literature or the network organisation literature. Based on ten in-depth case studies across key industry sectors, this research identifies the essential network integration issues for international M&As with a configuration concept, and demonstrates different network integration patterns according to M&A objectives for growth and efficiency. This paper extends the theoretical understanding of PMI for network organisations. It can also provide practical guidance for managers to assess the feasibility of an M&A transition or to go through the PMI process successfully. Copyright �� 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Susceptibilidad de especies nobles a diferentes herbicidas, en diferentes dosis en caf�� (Coffea arabica L.)

Con el prop��sito de evaluar la susceptibilidad de especies nobles a diferentes dosis de herbicidas en cafetales, se condujo el presente trabajo que se llev�� a cabo en el Centro Experimental de Caf�� del Pacifico "Mauricio L��pez Mungu��a", ubicado en Municipio de Masatepe, departamento de Masaya y en la Finca "El doble" Municipio del Crucero, departamento de Managua, a partir de Mayo de1991a Enero de 1992. Las especies nobles estudiadas fueron Commelina d��ffusa, Panicun trichoides y Desmodium ovalifolium sembradas en las calles del cafeto. Commelina diffusa y Oplismenus burmannii, establecidas de forma natural en las calles del cafeto. Se probaron tres herbicidas: Paraquat (Gramoxone), Glifosato (Round up) y 2.4-D evalu��ndose en cada uno tres dosis que se escogieron partiendo de las dosis comerciales utilizadas por los caficultores. Se us�� dise��o de bloques completos al azar con arreglo en parcelas subdivididas con 4 repeticiones, 108 tratamientos para el experimento de coberturas sembradas y arreglo en parcelas divididas con 3 repeticiones, 27 tratamientos para Oplismenus burmannii y 3 repeticiones, 18 tratamientos para Commelina diffusa.Se evalu�� porcentaje de susceptibilidad a los 8,15,30,45 y 60 d��as despu��s de aplicaci��n y porcentaje de recuperaci��n a los 45 y 60 d��as despu��s de aplicaci��n para el experimento de coberturas sembradas. En los otros dos experimentos se tom�� porcentaje de susceptibilidad a los 15,30 y 45 d��as despu��s de aplicaci��n y porcentaje de recuperaci��n a los 45 d��as despu��s de aplicaci��n. Las diferentes dosis ensayadas no mostraron diferencias significativas. Oplismenus burmannii present�� el menor grado de susceptibilidad y el mayor porcentaje de recuperaci��n a los herbicidas. Commelina diffusa present�� el mayor grado de susceptibilidad a los herbicidas ensayados. 2,4-D no ejerci�� ning��n efecto sobre Oplismenus burmatmii y Panicum trichoides. De forma general en donde se aplic�� Paraquat se observ�� el mayor porcentaje de recuperaci��n de las especies nobles.

Letras, 1981, n�� 1 (n��mero completo)

Contenido: Editorial ��� Encuentro en el idioma / ��ngel J. Battistessa ��� Dos interpretaciones de Quevedo / Arturo Berenguer Carisomo ��� El milagro del ladr��n devoto, de Gonzalo de Berceo y su relaci��n con la fuente latina: ���De fure suspenso quem beata virgo liberavit��� / Adriana Cecilia Cid ��� Humanidades cl��sicas / Vicente Cichitti ��� El sentido trascendente de la Vida Retirada de Fray Luis de Le��n / Celina Sabor de Cortazar ��� La b��squeda de la luz en ���Sombra del Para��so��� de Vicente Aleixandre / Teresa Iris Giovacchini ��� Catulo: una presencia en el gongorismo / Ra��l Daniel Lavalle ��� Poes��a y m��sica en Cernuda y B��cquer / Luis Mart��nez Cuiti��o ��� Actualizaci��n y actualidad de la literatura caballeresca / Lilia E. F. de Orduna ��� El arte pl��stico frente a los nuevos esquemas de la ciencia / Blanca Pastor ��� Jorge Manrique en la cr��tica espa��ola contempor��nea / Erwin F��lix Rubens ��� El desenga��o del mundo en las Coplas de Manrique / L��a Noem�� Uriarte Rebaudi ��� Rese��as bibliogr��ficas

Domains beyond the grain boundary

Thin films of inorganic materials are used in diverse applications, typically in polycrystalline form due to their relatively simple production. We have used enhanced piezoresponse force microscopy to investigate the domain distribution within neighbouring grains in thin polycrystalline films of the ferroelectric-ferroelastic system lead zirconate titanate (PZT). We demonstrate that domains are organized into areas with a correlated alignment of the ferroelastic and ferroelectric domains, spanning multiple grain boundaries. We present five typical arrangements of such structures: azimuthal, radial, gradient, and short- and long- range linear domain organizations. Moreover, we discuss the mechanical and electrical constraints that dictate these structures. Copyright �� 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Teolog��a, 2007, Tomo XLIV n�� 092 (n��mero completo)

Nota del Director Hacia Aparecida -- La Iglesia entre la inculturaci��n y la globalizaci��n / M��rio de Fran��a Miranda -- Hacia un anuncio evangelizador narrativo y dialogal / Luis O. Liberti SVD -- Otra mediaci��n: la belleza, otro lenguaje: la imagen / Mar��a Josefina Llach ACI -- La Biblias completas. Un panorama hist��rico (Primera parte) / Jorge Card. Mej��a -- La novedad y unidad del amor de Dios (DCE 1,9-11) / Ricardo Ferrara -- El principio de treatralidad en Hans Urs von Baltasar / Alois Haas -- Los pobres y la teolog��a en la notificaci��n sobre las obras del P. Jon Sobrino -- ���El cuerpo de Cristo���. Referente y especificativos de una expresi��n ��� El camino de la hermen��utica anal��gica / Luis Bali��a -- Cr��nica de la Facultad 2006 -- Notas bibliogr��ficas -- Instrucciones para los colaboradores

A field model interpretation of crack initiation and growth behavior in ferroelectric ceramics: change of poling direction and boundary condition

Strain energy density expressions are obtained from a field model that can qualitatively exhibit how the electrical and mechanical disturbances would affect the crack growth behavior in ferroelectric ceramics. Simplification is achieved by considering only three material constants to account for elastic, piezoelectric and dielectric effects. Cross interaction of electric field (or displacement) with mechanical stress (or strain) is identified with the piezoelectric effect; it occurs only when the pole is aligned normal to the crack. Switching of the pole axis by 90degrees and 180degrees is examined for possible connection with domain switching. Opposing crack growth behavior can be obtained when the specification of mechanical stress sigma(infinity) and electric field E-infinity or (sigma(infinity), E-infinity) is replaced by strain e and electric displacement D-infinity or (epsilon(infinity), D-infinity). Mixed conditions (sigma(infinity),D-infinity) and (epsilon(infinity),E-infinity) are also considered. In general, crack growth is found to be larger when compared to that without the application of electric disturbances. This includes both the electric field and displacement. For the eight possible boundary conditions, crack growth retardation is identified only with (E-y(infinity),sigma(y)(infinity)) for negative E-y(infinity) and (D-y(infinity), epsilon(y)(infinity)) for positive D-y(infinity) while the mechanical conditions sigma(y)(infinity) or epsilon(y)infinity are not changed. Suitable combinations of the elastic, piezoelectric and dielectric material constants could also be made to suppress crack growth. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

Prueba de cuatro herbicidas en el cultivo del arroz (Oryza sativa L.) de secano

El presente trabajo se efectu�� entre los meses de julio a octubre de 1965, en terrenos del Centro Experimental Agropecuario "La Calera". El objetivo principal de este trabajo consisti�� en determinar la eficiencia de ciertos herbicidas, en el control de las malezas prevalecentes en el cultivo de arroz de secano de esta zona. Se emplearon los herbicidas Gesagard-50 como pre post-emergente, R-3652 como pre-emergente; STAM F-34 y 2,4-D como post-emergente. La variedad usada fue 14 B-3, originaria de El Salvador. El dise��o experimental que se uso fue el de bloques al azar con tres repeticiones, con 17 tratamientos cada uno. El an��lisis estad��stico se hizo con los rendimientos de arroz en granza de cada tratamiento, los cuales fueron relacionados con los diferentes notas de campo (Cuadro 1) que se tomaron durante el periodo de duraci��n del ensayo, Este an��lisis no mostr�� diferencias significativas entre repeticiones, pero entre tratamientos las diferencias fueron altamente significativas. En esta prueba los mejores rendimientos se obtuvieron al aplicar STAM F-34 y 2,4-D como post-emergente; Gesagard-50 post-emergente causo da��os al arroz y controlo deficientemente las malezas. La parcela testigo sin control de malezas y las tratadas con el herbicida R-3552 pre-emergente no controlaron las malezas eficientemente y no dieron rendimientos satisfactorios.

Memorias de Ruiz de Aguirre tituladas "Mi salida de Bilbao".

Fecha: 21/26-5-1973 / Unidad de instalaci��n: Carpeta 48 - Expediente 7-19-1 / N�� de p��g.: 7 (mecanografiadas)

El g��nero epistolar en la Antig��edad tard��a: las Cartas de San Jer��nimo

[ES] Este trabajo ofrece una introducci��n a uno de los m��s ricos epistolarios latinos conservados de la Antig��edad. San Jer��nimo revitaliza el g��nero epistolar en poco m��s de 150 cartas, algunas de ellas muy extensas, escritas entre los a��os 374 y 419/20 d.C., con una constante y abierta predilecci��n por un despliegue de su profunda formaci��n intelectual y exeg��tica.