An Exploratory Survey of Employer Perceptions of the Technology Etiquette Displayed by New Hires: Implications for Post-Secondary Policy and Curriculum Content Mobile telephone technology is pervasive. The literature details increasing concerns about poor technology etiquette in both the college classroom and the business environment. However, there is limited research to determine what constitutes appropriate etiquette in either environment. While use within the classroom could serve to educate students in appropriate etiquette, adherence to policy guidelines for student use of mobile technology in college varies by instructor and program. This research study examines the views of employers on whether technology etiquette in business is an issue and investigates their expectations for appropriate behaviors in the workplace. A sample of six local Edmonton business representatives were interviewed using a semi-structured, in-person interview methodology. Findings are examined within the context of social learning theory to provide guidance for application within classroom policy and course curriculum. The study finds that the ways new employees use their mobile telephones in the workplace impacts how they are perceived professionally. Mobile telephone etiquette is in flux: while the benefits of enhanced speed of communication and connectivity, and opportunities afforded by new methods of communication are acknowledged, potential for distraction and invasiveness, and increasing informality in communication style concern employers. The research uncovers a singular theme: contradiction. Mobile telephone etiquette is defined and experienced differently by employers, employees, educators, and students. Recommendations are provided for students and for colleges to better meet the expectations of industry. MOBILE TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE: IS IT AN ISSUE FOR BUSINESS EMPLOYERS? 1


Gastroparesis (69%) and syncope (12%) are frequent presenting complaints. Spinal fluid protein levels are often (75%) elevated in pandysautonomic subtypes. Prolonged and incomplete recovery is the rule (60%), with persistent gastroparesis and orthostatic hypotension. Other specific diseases that occasionally mimic acute autonomic neuropathy include botulism, porphyria, amyloidosis, and paracarcinomatous neuropathies. Acute autonomic neuropathy shares several clinical features with acute idiopathic polyneuropathy (Guillain-Barr\l=e'\syndrome), suggesting an immune-mediated pathogenesis. (Arch Intern Med. 1990;150:2373-2376)


Which strategies are used in stories about the inexpressible world of mental illness? Voices of the ill or marginalized psyches are in equal measure victim to continued doubt and repression as well as symptomized as no more than the result of a chemical imbalance. Though, by examining certain marginalized voices within art, it is possible to address questions regarding narratives of illness, their worth and wisdom as fictional testimonies. It may be possible within fiction to create a meaningful language for the chaos of illness, but what happens if and when the storyteller's voice is in so much agony that the story no longer has meaning? By engaging in an analysis of Sarah Kane's play 4:48 Psychosis (2000) and other relevant texts from art and popular culture, the author investigates whether it is possible to outline different features of the marginalized voice. In Kane's case, specifically, an argument can be made that this voice comes from within the depth of a devastating illness. This is done, in part, by challenging and fragmenting the very language used, but also by the technical use of silence within the play.


Large river valleys are usually characterized by high level of biodiversity, avian diversity. In Namibia, two towns are located in such valleys: Rundu on Okavango and Katima Malilo on Zambezi. To date, no quantitative studies on any components of biodiversity have been conducted in those towns. In January-May 2013, a total of 36 days were spent on quantitative studies of birds in Katima Mulilo town. The line transect and territory mapping methods were used in this study. A total of 122 resident (breeding), 9 visitors and 9 Palearctic migrants were recorded. The group of dominant species was composed of the following four species: Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-eyed Bulbul, Laughing Dove, and Blue Waxbill. They comprised together 42.5% of all birds. The group of subdominant species included: Rock Dove, Pied Crow, Cape Turtle-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Southern Masked Weaver, Burchell's Starling and Mourning Dove. Together they comprised 18.7%. The remaining 112 species comprised 38.8%. The most numerous feeding guilds were granivores (51.3%), frugivores and insectivores (each with c. 20%). Most birds (61.3%) nested in trees and shrubs. Katima Mulilo is probably the only town in whole southern Africa, where all four Streptopelia-doves are common species: Laughing, Cape Turtle, Red-eyed, and Mourning Dove. The only sparrow, which occurs in Katima Mulilo, is the Grey-headed Sparrow. Of special interest is the occurrence of dozen or so species which do not occur in other towns in Namibia, such as African Fish Eagle, Broad-billed Roller, Schalow's Lorie, Trumpeter Hornbill, among others.


The description screw and worm pumps is resulted, their merits and demerits are specified. The comparative analysis of the given pump installations are provided and are revealed, in what areas expediently to use them.


An 1 1 y/o Japanese boy, weighing 3000 gm at birth, was born sponteneously at full term, and no abnormalities were noted at birth. He has no episodes of major disease, nor injuries, except for measles since birth. No family history of renal hypertension nor hereditary trouble. The patient was admitted to our service on 25th, Aug. 1963, with complaints of abdominal pain, and headache, radiated to left back. He had been essentially in good health until the beginning of August when he had a sudden onset of abdominal pain, urinary frequency and serious headache, however which were well controled by medication, prescribed by home doctor who saw him first and had a diagnostic impression of acute Glomerulonephritis, because of high blood pressure and albuminuria. Physical examination on admission revealed he was rather small for his age, underweight and anemic with lethalgic countenance. He was semiconscious and reaction to A & L were slightly prolonged. Marked hemorrhage on eye ground noted bibterally. Neck was supple and no lixhitation in motion. Examination of the heart revealed slight chamber enlargement with systolic murmur. The lungs were


Immune algorithms can improve the self-adaptability for network traffic detection. Classical immune algorithms dynamically evolve and match the whole content of immune elements. However, most features of network traffic are isomeric to each other. The general matching and evolution for the whole immune elements slow down the process of self-adaptability to an extent and reduce the accuracy of immune elements' evolution. In this paper, available network data features are analysed for the network traffic detection. The section simulation method in the immune system is studied by creating a math method for part matching of immune elements which can evolve in parts. The process of section evolution for immune elements is inferred. A detection method for recognizing anomaly network traffic is proposed. Simulation experiments show that the self-adaptability of the proposed method to the real network environment is superior to that of traditional immune algorithms.


Droplet controllable manipulation over a wide temperature range has promising applications in microelectronic heat dissipation, inkjet printing, and high temperature microfluidic system. However, the fabrication of a platform for controllable droplet manipulation using the methods commonly used in industry remains a tremendously challenge. The popular method of controlling droplets is highly dependent on external energy input and has relatively poor controllability in terms of droplet motion behaviors and manipulation environment, such as distance, velocity, direction and a wide temperature range. Here, we report a facile and industrially applicable method for preparing Al superhydrophobic (S-phobic) surfaces, which enables controlled droplet bouncing, evaporation, and transport over a wide temperature range. Systematic mechanistic studies are also investigated. Extreme wettability surfaces were prepared on Al substrate by a composite process of electrochemical mask etching and micro-milling. To investigate the evaporation process and thermal coupling characteristics, controlled evaporation and controlled bouncing of droplet in a wide temperature range were conducted. Based on the evaporation regulation and bouncing mechanism of droplets on an extreme wettability surface, by using Laplace pressure gradients and temperature gradients, we realized controlled transport of droplets with confluence, split-flow, and gravity-resistant transport over a wide temperature range, offering a potential platform for a series of applications, such as new drug candidates and water collection.


Methane gas hydrate which is considered energy source for the next generation has an urgent need to develop reliable numerical simulator for coupled THM phenomena in the porous media, to minimize problems arising during the production and optimize production procedures. International collaborations to improve previous numerical codes are in progress, but they still have mismatch in the predicted value and unstable convergence. In this paper, FEM code for fully coupled THM phenomena is developed to analyze methane hydrate dissociation in the porous media. Coupled partial differential equations are derived from four mass balance equations (methane hydrate, soil, water, and hydrate gas), energy balance equation, and force equilibrium equation. Five main variables (displacement, gas saturation, fluid pressure, temperature, and hydrate saturation) are chosen to give higher numerical convergence through trial combinations of variables, and they can analyze the whole region of a phase change in hydrate bearing porous media. The kinetic model is used to predict dissociation of methane hydrate. Developed THM FEM code is applied to the comparative study on a Masuda's laboratory experiment for the hydrate production, and verified for the stability and convergence.


Abstract In a Tertiary ring complex at Carlingford, Eire, a large mass of eucrite is cut by porphyritic cone-sheets. A major granophyre intrusion later than the cone-sheets alters the clinopyroxene of the sheets to hornblende whilst the clinopyroxene of the adjacent eucrite remains unaltered. By elimination of several possibilities it is shown that the different behaviour of the two pyroxenes reflects their thermal stabilities. It is argued that the two pyroxenes represent a pyroxene trend of crystallization and that thermal metamorphism attacked them in the reverse order of their magmatic crystallization. Importance is attached to extensive replacement of Ca′ by Fe′ in the cone-sheet pyroxene as a factor of instability.


In addition to the known Valeriana-Meanalkaloid, four 7,9':7'9-Diepoxylignans were isolated from the roots of Valeriana officinalis L. They were tested in different radioreceptorassays at the 5-HT1A-, GABAA-, benzodiazepin and mu-opiate-receptor.


Abstract: Various health care providers offer patients medical credit cards that charge high rates of deferred interest. As the cost of medical care and patient responsibility for out-of-pocket costs continue to rise, patients have turned to medical credit cards for help footing the bill. Unfortunately, because they fail to pay off their balances before the end of the promotional period, many patients find themselves unexpectedly responsible for deferred interest charges at rates well above those associated with general-purpose credit cards. Medical credit cards fall outside the protection of many federal credit laws regulating consumer credit. This Note argues that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) should ban deferred interest medical credit cards through the exercise of its rulemaking power. Short of a total ban on deferred interest medical credit cards, the CFPB should use its rulemaking power to expand the reforms it recently levied on GE CareCredit to the entire medical credit card industry.INTRODUCTIONSixty-eight-year-old Alice Diltz, a part-time hospital aide, needed five dental implants.1 The Hillside Dental Care clinic in Queens, New York quoted her a price of $7450 in October 2005.2 Diltz's insurance would only pay $200 towards the bill.3 Diltz and her retired husband lived on $18,000 each year from her part-time job and social security benefits.4 Diltz managed to pay $250 up front for her implants, and signed up for what she thought was a payment plan administered by the clinic.5 Instead, Diltz had signed an application for a GE CareCredit deferred interest medical credit card.6 Although the paper was labeled as a credit card application, the print was so small that Diltz never saw it.7 Clinic employees never told her she was applying for a credit card.8After having her teeth pulled in preparation for the implants, Diltz experienced heavy bleeding.9 Frightened, she left the office and cancelled the implants four days later.10 To her surprise, she received a $7000 bill from GE CareCredit several weeks later.11 Even though Diltz's implants were never completed, GE CareCredit had paid the dental clinic upfront, and wanted to be repaid.12 The bills kept arriving from GE CareCredit, even after Diltz disputed the charge.13 As interest accrued, her debt grew to over $10,000.14 GE CareCredit sued Diltz in state court to recover what it claimed she owed.15 Only after BusinessWeek, a major national publication, inquired into her case did GE CareCredit agree to forgive Diltz's debt and remove it from her credit report.16Diltz's medical credit card experience is replicated in medical, dental, ophthalmology, and audiology clinics across the country.17 Patients who cannot afford necessary treatment are steered by office staff toward deferred interest medical credit cards available right in their health care providers' offices.18 Often, patients do not realize that they are applying for a credit card.19 Even if they do understand what they are applying for, patients are often not sufficiently informed about the terms and conditions of the cards.20 Specifically, they are frequently unaware that the full cost of their treatment will be charged to the card up front or that they will be responsible for interest charges going back to the first day of treatment if their entire balance is not paid in full before the end of the promotional "no interest" period.21 Interest rates of up to thirty percent may then attach to patients' balances; before they realize the gravity of the commitment, these patients are in significant debt with little hope of being able to repay what is owed.22Deferred interest medical credit cards were first introduced to the marketplace in the early 2000s as a way to finance elective and often cosmetic surgery.23 Yet, as patients' out-of-pocket medical expenses for non-elective medical care skyrocketed, deferred interest medical credit cards were marketed to patients and medical providers alike as an easy solution to these out-of-control costs. …


Although opinion polls have consistently demonstrated Canadian support of their country's peacekeeping missions, recent surveys have demonstrated decreasing public support for Canada's involvement in military combat interventions in other parts of the world. However, awareness and understanding of nonviolent alternatives to military intervention and conventional peacekeeping appear to be lacking. This survey examines Canadian public's awareness and understanding of unarmed civilian peacekeeping as an alternative to sending armed troops, and whether the public would support Canada in utilizing unarmed civilian peacekeepers (focusing on reducing direct violence through protective accompaniment, building capacity of local civil society organizations, mediation and other nonviolent communication strategies) as part of its response to violent global conflicts. The results reveal that Canadians believe unarmed civilian peacekeeping would be more effective in tasks such as reducing human rights abuses, preventing further armed conflict and promoting lasting peace. Respondents also believe the practice would benefit Canada's reputation as a peacemaker and leader. This paper concludes with recommendations for proponents of the incorporation of unarmed civilian peacekeeping into the official policy of the Canadian government.


Sir, Since the early 1990s, most developed countries have experienced a rapid and substantial increase in erythromycin resistance among isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae, probably related to the increased prescribing of this antibiotic or its novel semisynthetic derivatives. Until recently, the unique mechanism of macrolide resistance recognized in streptococci was target modification by 23S rRNA methylases encoded by erm genes, which convey cross-resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and the streptogramin B compounds (MLSB phenotype). With the increase of erythromycin resistance, a new phenotype designated M, consisting of resistance to 14and 15-membered macrolides, but susceptibility to 16-membered macrolides, lincosamides and type-B streptogramins, has emerged. The mechanism of this resistance is a proton-dependent efflux system encoded by mef genes: mefA in S. pyogenes, and mefE in S. pneumoniae. S. pyo genes and S. pneumoniae with an M phenotype and/or mef genes have been reported in a number of countries, where their prevalence among erythromycin-resistant isolates has reached very high rates; for S. pyogenes, mainly in Europe (38–97%) and for S. pneumoniae, principally in North America (41–85%). Subsequently, mef genes have been detected in Group C streptococci in Finland, where they represented 95% of the erythromycin-resistant isolates. In France, such an increase in erythromycin resistance has not been observed, at least in our geographical area. The current rate of erythromycin resistance in the South West of France appears to be stabilized around 10% of S. pyogenes and Group C streptococci, 15% of Streptococcus agalactiae and Group G streptococci, and 45% of S. pneu moniae, with high local and temporal variations. Between 1993 and 1998, we collected 18 isolates of S. agalactiae ( 1%) with an M phenotype, which have been demonstrated to possess either an mefA or an mefE gene. Over the same period, we have recovered only two S. pyogenes isolates, one Group C streptococcus and two pneumococci with an M phenotype ( 0.1%). By the disc diffusion method, these five isolates exhibited a reduced zone of inhibition (diameter 10–20 mm) around the erythromycin disc (15 IU), with neither blunting zones around the discs of spiramycin (100 g), lincomyin (15 g) or pristinamycin (15 g) placed nearby, nor zonal lincomycin resistance, even after prolonged incubation (72 h). MICs of 12 MLS drugs, determined by a agar dilution method in Mueller– H i n t o n medium supplemented with 5% horse blood, confirmed that these isolates were low-level resistant to erythromycin (2–8 mg/L) and other 14and 15-membered macrolides, although the intrinsically more active new ketolide HMR3647 retained a significant activity; in contrast, they remained fully susceptible to 16-membered macrolides, lincosamides, and A (pristinamycin II) and B (pristinamycin I) streptogramin components (Table). The DNA of the five isolates was amplified using primers specific to the mefA or mefE gene as previously described. All isolates except for one (S. pneumoniae No. 4) yielded a PCR product of the expected size (1.2 kb), whereas no amplification was obtained with the DNA of negative control isolates (sensitive or MLSB phenotype isolates). The amplicons were analysed by enzymatic restriction using four endonucleases designed to differentiate mefA and mefE: the ClaI and HindIII enzymes cleave only the mefA gene in two fragments (0.701 and 0.517 kbp for ClaI, and 0.89 and 0.328 kbp for H i ndIII), whereas A c cI and H h aI enzymes cleave only the mefE gene in two fragments (0.651 and 0.567 kbp for AccI, and 0.8 and 0.418 kbp for HhaI). The results showed that four isolates carried an mefE gene, whereas the remaining one (S. pyogenes No. 2) possessed an mefA gene (Table). Thus, there is no species-specific distribution of the mefA or mefE gene, and mefE appears to be predominant among streptococci with an M phenotype as previously observed for S. agalactiae and pneumococci. The S. pneumoniae No. 4 isolate carried neither an mef gene nor an erm gene, using PCR with primers specific for ermA (erm1, 5 -TCTAAAAAGCATGTAAAAGAA-3 ; erm2, 5 -CTTCGATAGTTTATTAATATTAGT-3 ), ermB (erm3, 5 -GAAAAGRTACTCAACCAAATA-3 ; erm4, 5 -AGTAACGGTACTTAAATTGTTTAC-3 ), ermC (erm5, 5 -TCAAAACATAATATAGATAAA-3 ; erm6, 5 -GCTAATATTGTTTAAATCGTCAAT-3 ) and


Antenna diversity techniques can be used to improve the performance of a wireless communication system. Three new antenna diversity schemes, namely, multi-selection diversity, inverted multi-selection diversity, and extended inverted multi-selection diversity are proposed in this paper. These schemes only require a minimal RF hardware complexity. Simulation results showed that a significant signal to noise ratio (SNR) gain could be achieved by using these schemes compared to using traditional selection diversity techniques in certain cases.


Wind velocity can be obtained using a laser radar system by measuring the Doppler shifted backscatter from aerosols and particulates in the atmosphere. Doppler lidar systems for wind velocity measurements can be classified into two categories: coherent detection and incoherent detection. The ultimate goal for both types is to measure a frequency shift between the transmitted laser pulse and the return laser pulse. This frequency shift is proportional to some component of the wind velocity, depending on the system configuration. How accurately these systems can measure the frequency shift, and thus the velocity, is dependent upon the system's characteristics. Existing Doppler lidar systems employ monostatic configurations which require scanning a volume to obtain wind velocity and direction. Range resolution in these systems is normally obtained by using a pulsed laser system. This places a fundamental limit on the range-velocity resolution product. The purpose of this research is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing a multistatic configuration for measuring 3-dimensional vector winds. In the multistatic configuration, horizontal and vertical resolution are determined by the telescope field-of-view, laser divergence, and baseline separation distance between the laser and the telescope. This enables the use of a continuous-wave or long pulse laser transmitter (narrow spectral width) and eliminates the dependence between range and velocity resolution. The results of this research have shown that a multistatic Doppler lidar system will provide accurate estimates of wind velocity within the tropospheric boundary layer (up to about 5 km) with high spatial resolution.


A HE U.S. current-account deficit increased to $30.0 billion in the first quarter from $25.5 billion in the fourth. The increase was more than accounted for by an increase in the merchandise trade deficit; exports decreased slightly and imports rebounded from a sharp decrease. Net service receipts decreased slightly, largely because falling interest rates reduced receipts of income on portfolio investment more than payments; net receipts of income on direct investment also decreased. Unilateral transfers decreased due to a reduction in grants to developing countries. Among bank-reported capital flows, claims on private foreigners increased little, while liabilities to private foreigners increased strongly. Record foreign purchases of U.S. corporate bonds newly issued abroad and moderate purchases of U.S. Treasury securities were only partly offset by the continuing net sales of U.S. stocks by foreigners and by record net U.S. purchases of foreign stocks. Exchange market intervention by foreign monetary authorities was reflected in a large decrease in foreign official assets in the United States. The statistical discrepancy (errors and omissions in reported transactions) was an inflow of $16.7 billion.


The main objective of this paper is to investigate the direct relationship between formal and informal protection methods and firms' productivity and financial performance. This study used Chilean firms' level data. The principal findings are that micro, small and medium‐sized enterprises (MSMEs) with informal protection methods positively influence productivity and financial performance. Moreover, the results show that formal and informal protection methods are interconnected. Their joint effect accelerates firms' productivity and makes financial performance stronger as compared to using a single protection method. This outcome is robust across SMEs and large firms. Thus, this finding suggests that using a combination of formal and informal protection method benefits firms' productivity and financial performance. The managerial implications of this study suggest that business managers/owners could use multiple protection methods (a mix of formal and informal) to increase their firms' productivity and profitability. In addition, to support innovation in Chilean firms, economic policies must encourage innovation in small businesses through subsidies (tax credits) and R&D grants, as well as awareness of the use of protection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]


Objective To investigate the changes and pathogenicity of the main pathogen of deep fungus infection in patients with malignant tumor in cell biology. Methods Total DNA per cell, PI and cell cycle of the main pathogen of deep fungus infection in patients with maligant tumor were analyzed with FCM. Results Histograms of stationary-growth-phase Candida albicans isolates demonstrated that the majority of population was in the G0/G1 phase of the DNA synthetic cycle in clinic strains and controls. The cell proportion of G0/G1, G2M phase and the total DNA content per cell of two-group strains had no statistical significance. The cell proportion of S phase and the PI of clinic strains were higher than controls and had statistical significance. Conclusions The cell proportion of DNA composition phase of the main pathogen-Candida albicans of deep fungus infection in patients with malignant tumor had increased. The proliferation activity of clinic strains had strengthened and the pathogenicity had changed.


[Objective] Analysis on species distribution and susceptibility to Fluconazole of Candida in Anzhen hospital. [Methods] The culture positive specimen collected from Jan 2001 to Dec 2003 were 433. Study was carried on species distribution from origin of specimen and susceptibility to Fluconazole of Candida spp. [Results] The number of positive culture increased from 124 in 01 to 157 in 03. Candida parapsilosis increased from 3 in 01 to 18 in 03 of urine, from 2 in 01 to 7 in 03 of blood. The percent of positive culture of ICU (78.3±11.1) % is higher than the normal ward's (P 0.05). Fluconazole susceptibility to C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. is 91.5%, 84.2%, 62.5%, respectively. [Conclusions] The number of positive fungal culture was increasing. It is the most significant of the increase of Candida parapsilosis. Fluconazole remained highly susceptible.


Observations of gamma-ray bursts by the Fermi satellite, ca pable of detecting photons in a very broad energy band: 8keV to>300GeV, have opened a new window for the study of these enigmatic explosions. It is wid ely assumed that photons of energy larger than 100 MeV are produced by the same source that generated lower energy photons – at least whenever the shape of the spectrum is a Band function. We report here a surprising discovery – the Fermi data for a bright burst, GRB 080916C, unambiguously shows that the high energy photons (∼ 10MeV) were generated in the external shock via the synchrotro n process, and the lower energy photons had a distinctly diffe r nt source. The magnetic field in the region where high energy photons were pr oduced (and also the late time afterglow emission region) is found to be c onsistent with shock compressed magnetic field of the circum-stellar mediu m. This result sheds light on the important question of the origin of magnet ic fields required for gamma-ray burst afterglows. The external shock model for high energy radiation makes a firm prediction that can be tested with existing and future observations.


In this paper, results of an evaluation of an innovative strategy for minimizing bus bunching are presented. The strategy involves continuous monitoring of bus positions along their route and controlling bus spacing when necessary by employing signal priority and bus holding actions. The evaluation exercise aims to establish traffic and bus operating conditions when the strategy performs best. A simulation model of a hypothetical bus route developed using a PARAMICS (Parallel Microscopic Simulator) is used for this purpose. Bus bunching, measured in terms of disruptions to headways, is found to increase with decreases in design headway, increases in route length, and increases in traffic congestion. When bus spacing is controlled, a significant improvement is seen in cases of shorter design headways of 5 and 10 min, resulting in 80% of cases having more than 10% reduction in excess waiting time and 60% of the cases having more than 20% reduction in excess waiting time.


The growth of Clinic of Dental Health Service is currently increasing rapidly in the City of Makassar South Sulawesi Province. Quality is a dynamic condition associated with products, services, human resources, processes, and environments that meet or exceed expectations, where the relationship between products and services or services provided to consumers can meet their expectations and satisfaction. The purpose of this research is to analyze the dimension of service quality that consist of reliability, assurance, tangible, empathy, and responsiveness, fequently abbreviated as RATER, to patient's satisfaction level in Natural Esthetic Clinic (NEC) Makassar. This research is a survey of cross sectional study approach with the number of samples as many as 74 visiting patients. The result shows that the total value of patient satisfaction (gap) obtained in the analysis is-0.44 on the average and belongs to Medium category, It means that the quality of services in NEC Makassar is ordinary classified.and has not yet met patient's satisfaction. The result of statistical analysis shows that the dimensions of reliability (0.000) assurance (0.004), tangibel (0.001), and responsivenes (0.000) have significant effect on patient satisfaction, except emphaty (0.060) which does not give significant difference to influence patient satisfaction level. The possible advices are the need for increasing attention and communication; giving a high sense of care; and establishing a clinical management information system (CMIS) to provide efficient, effective, and accurate services.


One of my earliest memories is sitting at the table in our rented house in Masterton with Dad and my brothers and hearing our mother crying in the loo. It was an unusual and frightening sound which is why I remember it vividly 67 years later – also Dad had cooked dinner which wasn't his forte.


In this paper, we present the second version of our system which is dedicated to Visible Light Communication (VLC) for automotive applications. It exhibits improved performances compared to the first version regarding the distance for which data are transmitted. It also includes real time variable gain adjustment in order to increase robustness against environmental conditions. The system is detailed and experimental results are provided.


We present the progress performed in the development of a digital fully programmable emulator of radiation detectors and front-end electronics of image acquisition systems. The instrument has 64 independent channels with the capability of growing an image that has been a-priori programmed. The growth faithfully emulates the real-time behavior of an acquisition array constituted by 64 detectors, also based on photomultipliers, that are exposed to a source spatially distributed. The emulation process achieves the performance of 3□106 counts per second, i.e. emulated samples of generated charge. The instrument has also the features of adding spatial and temporal pile-up and noise with fully programmable characteristics. The presence of DACs clocked at 140 MSPS makes available the output stream also in analog format.


This work presents the integration of two robust controllers such as back-stepping and sliding mode controller, which is designed for nonlinear system with external disturbance injected to its actuator. Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) is applied to the designed controller to optimize the control and reaching law parameters for the system. The dynamics of the system is developed by consider the external force as system's nonlinearities. The tracking output and tracking error produced by combination of these two controllers is compared with the performance of classical sliding mode controller. Based on the results obtained, integration of these two controllers generates better performance than classical sliding mode controller based on its output and error.


On High throughput screening method for fixing a compound that binds to a target species. The method, isothermal denaturation at least one test comprising compound and at least one target species, a large number of test mixture, effective to cause at least a portion of denaturation of the target species to the extent that can be measured It encompasses incubated under conditions. The method may further wherein detecting the individual target species denaturation signal in the presence of at least one test compound; and then at least one of the modified signal of each target species in the presence of the test compound, wherein at least one One of the same target species denaturation signal in the absence of test compound encompasses comprising comparing the same isothermal denaturing conditions.


The snowplow and thin shell models that have the analytical solutions in zero dimensions are linked with the ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and radiation MHD codes to calculate the radiation yield from the imploding wire array loads at 1MA Zebra generator. Radiation MHD simulations show that the strong radiation cooling affects plasma dynamics at all stages of the implosion and drives plasma into the radiative collapse at the final stage of the implosion. Being applied to the implosion of an Al wire array with the mass per unit length 3.82μg∕mm, these simulations show that the thermalization of the kinetic energy can be essentially completed when the radius of the imploding pinch shrinks below ∼10μm. If we assume such a perfect compression, then the plasma energy gain will be 10kJ with total radiation yield of about 5kJ, while the emitted radiation spectrum will be blackbody-like with an equilibrium temperature of 200eV. The only effective mechanism of energy coupling for the imploding plasma, driven by ...


From the establishment of differential equation on steady flow in gas well tubes and with four thoughts to deal with six actual flow conditions in gas well tubes, this study obtained 6 expressions of density in which flow characteristics were implied. By substituting the above six densities into equation of steady flow in gas well tubes, it derived six formulas to calculate the well flow pressure gradient. At the same time, by using the tubing pressure flowing gradient, it calculated the density of every flow type, ρ=f(H); in addition, according to the energy equation of steady flow in gas well tubes under the condition of fixed production, it obtained the varying information of well flow density along tubes. By comparing the values, ρ=f(H), calculated by these two methods, this study showed that both results could be used for the production performance analysis of gas wells.


First, the author tries to irritate all the researchers and professionals coming from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience (UX), Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE), and Cognitive Infocommunications (CogInfoCom) areas, showing up the problems of differentiation of these terms. Then, he tries to pacify most of them, flashing the potential synergies of real values coming from the simultaneous existence of differences and common ground.


The equivalence of all-optical image processing using local and nonlocal optical nonlinearities of nematic liquid crystal to neural net-like processing operations is demonstrated. Recently discovered supra-nonlinear liquid crystalline films allow such processing with practical power threshold; the photosensitivity and transparency of film allow integration of the sensor/processor and image display function to be integrated on a single film.


The Attachment Theory, as developed by John Bowlby, offers a broad conceptual base on the formation, maintenance and transformation of existing affectional bonds. In Brazil, there has not yet been any study based on this framework from the perspective of psychology of religion. Considering the impact of Bowlby attachment theory in various areas of psychology, the purpose of this article is to describe the main concepts of the attachment theory and its application to the studies in the area of Psychology of Religion. The aim is to present the primary findings on the relationship between the subjective constitution and religious behavior in the light of the attachment theory, in order to stimulate the research in psychology of religion, theology and sciences of religion using this theoretical framework. Some


first publication of the Gypsy Luke, and there is some echo of this in Borrow's letter of 28 June 1839 to Mr Brandrarrr": "Those who decry the Vulgate should please to remember that, though adopted by the Popish Church, its foundation was laid before Popery existed ..." Even if Brandram realised that Borrow's translation was based on the Vulgate text, he would probably not have been unduly alarmed in 1838. As for the motivation of Borrow himself, the nature of his religious principles is often hard to define, and the element of deception involved originally in presenting a Gospel version as if translated from the Greek when it was not, and as if produced wholly at Badajoz when this was untrue, verges uncomfortably on sacrilege. Borrow elected to close his 1837 translation with the words


Many teachers have seen children behaving peculiarly for scientific materials and events, and believed that a child might have "good sense" as the greatest scientists might have in their childhood. This study was designed to explore factors that disposed peculiarly-behaving children (PBC) for their own activities. Seventy-seven PBC, from grades 3 to 6, were chosen as "peculiar but anything good" from thirty-nine elementary classes and were asked to rate their motivation for each of the fifty-seven behavioral episodes collected from many school informants of other PBC in scientific classrooms. Factor analysis suggested five behavioral factors ; expectative and imaginative exploration, impulsive trying action, assimilating to creatures, focusing and concentration, and task creation. Further analysis revealed that these factors were not recognized plainly and teachers would not evaluate them as such.


Abstract Dimethyl 2-arylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylates on heating with GaCl 3 undergo dimerization to afford arylnaphthalenes or phenanthrenes. A possible reaction mechanism including elimination of two dimethyl malonate molecules was proposed, dimethyl malonate gallium complex Ga 3+ [H 2 C(CO 2 Me) 2 ] 3 (GaCl – ) was isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.


circulated in Canada and many foreign countries and has attracted considerable critical 1 comment. For many years the Association has taken a lead in arranging for citizens' groups to study the programming and control of radio and films in Canada. Results of these studies have been placed before various parliamentary committees. One year ago assistance was given to nearly thirty organizations in the preparation of briefs on film and radio before a &dquo;royal commission&dquo;. A national citizens committee on television is now being established with the purpose of studying what is needed and thereupon making recommendations to government and interested organizations. Television programs will not start in Canada until the fall of 1951. Externally the CAAE represents Canadian adult education, maintaining regular liaison with UNESCO, and with adult movements in the United States, Britain, Commonwealth and Scandinavian countries.


Although scandium is commonly concentrated to economic levels by magmatic processes, hydrothermal fluids also play an important role in its concentration. Indeed, the most important source of scandium is currently the Bayan Obo deposit in China, where scandium is extracted from hydrothermally produced aegirine. To know how and why scandium is concentrated by hydrothermal fluids, it is necessary to understand the speciation of scandium in hydrothermal fluids. In a recently published study, we showed that scandium forms stable species with fluoride ions and proposed that such species may have been responsible for the hydrothermal transport of scandium in deposits like Bayan Obo. Chloride ions, which have been shown to form stable complexes with the other rare earth elements (REE), however, are much more abundant in most hydrothermal fluids than fluoride ions, as are hydroxide ions, particularly at high pH. We, therefore, conducted solubility experiments designed to investigate the stability of scandium chloride and hydroxide complexes in hydrothermal fluids. The experiments investigating the role of chloride species considered the solubility of Sc2O3(s) in the H2O-NaCl-HCl system at 100°, 150°, 300°, and 350°C and saturated water vapor pressure. These experiments showed that scandium concentration is independent of chloride concentration over the range of chlorinity investigated, i.e., up to 3.6 mol Cl– and that scandium, therefore, does not form stable complexes with chloride ions. To evaluate the role of hydroxide species in scandium transport and avoid the effect of chloride ions in the complexation, a second set of experiments was conducted that determined the solubility of Sc2O3(s) in H2O-NaClO4-HClO4 solutions at 100°, 150°, 200°, and 250°C, and saturated water vapor pressure. The results of these experiments showed that the solubility of Sc2O3(s) depends on pH and temperature. Based on the former dependence, two scandium hydroxide complexes, Sc(OH)2+ and Sc(OH)3°, were identified at low and higher pH, respectively. The formation constant (log β) determined for Sc(OH)2+ is 10.29 ± 0.07, 10.32 ± 0.07, 10.35 ± 0.19, and 10.91 ± 0.20 at 100°, 150°, 200°, and 250°C, respectively. That of Sc(OH)3° is 27.22 ± 0.68, 26.66 ± 1.35, 27.04 ± 0.13, and 28.02 ± 0.14 at the same temperatures, respectively. These results demonstrate that, unlike the case for the other rare earth elements, chloride plays a negligible role in transporting scandium in hydrothermal fluids. Instead, they show that scandium hydroxide complexes can be important in the transport of scandium and could have contributed significantly to the formation of deposits like those at Bayan Obo.


A class of the generalized product-limit estimators is introduced for regression analysis in the presence of both left-truncation and right-censoring on the response variable. The weak convergence of the generalized product-limit estimators is established. These generalized product-limit estimators are used to define some minimum distance estimator of the parameter vector in the regression analysis. The consistent and asymptotic normality of the minimum distance estimators are obtained under certain assumptions.


Heavy metal pollution is even more harmful to human health. This paper studies the application of artificial intelligence technology in the removal of heavy metals from water by iron oxides. PBTCA and th-904 molecules are adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles to form a layer of polymer protective film, which surrounds the nanoparticles, effectively preventing the formation of nano zerovalent iron aggregates. nZVI-Fe3O4/ACF composites were prepared. The experimental results show that the adsorption kinetic model of the composite material conforms to the pseudosecond-order reaction adsorption rate model. With the increase of pH value, the adsorption percentage of Cd(II) and Pb(II) increases, and the adsorption percentage of Cd(II) tends to balance within 120 min, reaching 99.25%, 0037 mg/L, meeting the World Health Organization (WTO) standard for Cd(II) in drinking water (0.005 mg/L).


A series of 2‐pyrimidinyl‐piperazinyl‐alkyl derivatives of 1H‐imidazo[2,1‐f]purine‐2,4(3H,8H)‐dione has been synthesized in an attempt to discover a new class of psychotropic agents. Compounds were evaluated for their in vitro affinity for serotonin 5‐HT1A, 5‐HT7, and phosphodiesterases PDE4 and PDE10. The most potent compound 2‐pyrimidinyl‐1‐piperazinyl‐butyl‐imidazo[2,1‐f]purine‐2,4‐dione (4b) behaved as strong and selective antagonist of 5‐HT1A. Molecular modeling studies revealed differences in binding mode between compound 4b and buspirone, which might reflect variation of the ligands' affinity and potency in the 5‐HT1A receptor. Compound 4b in silico models demonstrated drug‐likeness properties and, contrary to buspirone, showed a metabolic stability in mouse liver microsomes system. Experimentally obtained value of apparent permeability coefficient Papp for 4b in parallel artificial permeability assay indicates the possibility of binding weakly to plasma proteins and high intestinal absorption fraction. Evaluation of the antidepressant‐ and anxiolytic‐like activities of 4b revealed both activities at the same dose of 1.25 mg/kg and seemed to be specific. The antidepressant and/or anxiolytic properties of 4b may be related to its first‐pass effect.


Pleural effusion in lymphoma is usually, but not invariably, a poor prognostic sign. The presence of underlying parenchymal lung involvement or a chylous type of effusion does not further alter the prognosis, but the presence of malignant cells in the fluid probably shortens survival. Obstruction of lymphatic drainage of the lung and pleura by enlarged mediastinal nodes, with resulting lymphedema of the pleural space, is probably the most common cause of nonchylous pleural effusion. In contrast to patients with metastatic carcinoma, pleural involvement by lymphoma is uncommonly the major factor in fluid formation. Radiation therapy to the mediastinum or to the affected hemithorax is more likely to relieve lymphomatous effusions than is intrapleural therapy or systemic chemotherapy alone.


Sixty‐nine strains of Agrobacterium vitis, the causal agent of grape crown gall, originating from different geographical regions of the USA and Europe, were characterized by fingerprint analysis of the 5′‐end of the 23S rRNA gene and by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. For 5′‐end 23S fingerprinting, amplicons were digested with TaqI, RsaI, AvaI, CfoI and AluI. For RAPD analysis, three 10‐mer primers were used to generate PCR products. There was a high degree of correlation between strain groupings generated by the two methods. However, more diversity was identified when groupings were based on RAPDs. For example, 28 of 29 strains having nopaline type Ti plasmids generated identical 5′‐end 23S patterns but formed two distinct RAPD groups that separated strains originating from the USA and Hungary. Similarly by RAPDs, one cluster of strains carrying vitopine‐type Ti plasmids could be separated into those originating in the USA and Europe. The composition of strain groups generated by 5′‐end 23S and RAPDs were highly correlated with a previous fingerprint analysis of the intergenic spacer region (located between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes) and with RFLP analysis for characterizing Ti plasmids. These findings show that among Ag. vitis strains there is a high level of correlation between two regions of the rRNA operon, total genomic DNA (as determined by RAPDs) and the type of Ti plasmid they carry.


Sun photometric measurements are an important method of measuring the column amount and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols and are frequently used to better understand the impact of aerosols on the Earth's radiative budget. This paper assesses two calibration techniques used for multifilter rotating shadowband radiometers (MFRSRs) and presents the results obtained at Long Island, NY, during the July 2011 Aerosol Life Cycle Intensive Operational Period (IOP) campaign. The instrument calibration constants are validated internally against each other and against an independent quantitative technique based on the solar irradiance at the top of the atmosphere, convolved with the MFRSR filter response. In addition, the aerosol optical parameters obtained from the MFRSR are assessed against the same parameters retrieved with a recently calibrated CIMEL sun/sky radiometer collocated with the MFRSR instrument. These comparisons indicate generally good agreement between the two instruments for both calibration techniques. The advantages and disadvantages of the two techniques are presented. Additionally, an analysis of the optical and physical properties of aerosols from the MFRSR and their chemical compositions obtained by an in situ high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer, together with back trajectories, indicate that the principal source of high concentrations of fine aerosols observed during July 18-24 was forest fires in western Canada.


Remote sensing image captioning has been widely applied to traffic management, geographic research, etc. Although the neural network approach has been successfully improving the performance of the Remote sensing image captioning system, Remote sensing image captioning is still facing object identification challenges due to the small size of objects, uneven distribution, and high coupling with the surrounding image background. In this paper, we propose a novel remote sensing image captioning encoder-decoder model Hierarchical rearrangement-Multi-Layer Perceptron (HMLP) whose encoder adapts hierarchical rearrangement-multi-layer perceptron to improve the capability of objection recognition. Extensive experiments have been conducted to testify HMLP by three datasets RSCID, UCM-caption, and NWPU-caption. Results show that HMLP outperforms many image captioning systems in the evaluation metrics BLEU4, METEOR, ROUGE-L, and CIDEr.


In this paper we develop a computer code which uses the Method of Characteristics and the Stream Function to define the traditional aerospike nozzle contour for isentropic, inviscid, irrotational supersonic flows of any working fluid for any user-defined exit Mach number. The contour obtained is compared to theoretical isentropic area ratios for the selected fluid and desired exit Mach number. The accuracy of the nozzle to produce the desired exit Mach number is also checked. The flow field of the nozzle created by the code is independently checked with the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code ANSYS-FLUENT. ANSYSFLUENT predictions are used to verify the isentropic flow assumption and that the working fluid reached the user-defined desired exit Mach number. Good agreement in area ratio and exit Mach number is going to be achieved, verifying that the code is accurate.


Objective To evaluate the reliability, validity and sensibility of the Chinese Barthel Index (BI) in a Chinese stroke population.Methods A total of 537 patients with moderate to severe ischemic stroke, who were accorded with the inclusive criteria from 22 medical centers in China, were randomly allocated into groups A (n=274) and B (n=263). They were treated with different therapeutic programmes for 21 days. The activity of daily living of patients with stroke were assessed by the unify-trained invesitgators with the Chinese BI at 3 time points (21, 30 and 90 days after inclusion). The reliability, validity and sensibility of the effective Chinese BI were evaluated with SPSS 13.0, in which the reliability test was evaluated with Cronbach's α coefficient, Guttman split-half and Spearson correlation coefficient. The content validity was evaluated with the method of subjective reasoning and judging; the construction validity of the scales was assessed with factor analysis method; and the criterion validity of the scales was assessed with the correlation analysis. The sensitivity in all domains were assessed with the paired-samples T test.Results A total 537 patients were treated after the subject was completed. At day 21, 30 and 90 after inclusion, the effective BI scales were 529 (Group A 269 and Group B 260), 526 (Group A 269 and Group B 257) and 525 (Group A 269 and Group B 256), respectively. The Chinese BI showed favorable reliability in Cronbach's α coefficient of internal consistent reliability (0.92), in Guttman split-half coefficient of internal consistent reliability (0.86 to 0.89), and in retest reliability coefficient of every domain (0.82). The Chinese BI were moderately correlated with "the quasi-gold standard" [(NIHSS and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) ] (r=0.71 to 0.75, P0.001). The cumulative contribution rate of the Chinese BI at different time points ranged from 75.03% to 76.49%, which showed better validity. The Chinese BI showed ideal sensitivity in all domains at different time points (P0.05) except for "controllable bowel" (P=0.347) at day 21 and 60 in group A, "controllable bowel" (P=0.095) , "controllable bladder" (P=0.399) in group B, and "controllable bowel" (P=0.209) at day 21 and 90 in group B.Conclusion The Chinese BI has favorable reliability, validity and sensibility in patients with moderate and severe stroke, and it can be used as an evaluation index for prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke.


We report a direct electrochemical deposition process to produce ZnO nanorods or a ZnO thin film on an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate. The ZnO film was etched by an agarose stamp containing HCl as the etchant to form different patterns. The structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties of the ZnO thin films on the ITO substrate were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM).


The relationship between yield loss rate (Y) of the Chinese onion caused by Liriomyza chinesnsis (Kato) and leaf mine number per100 plants (X) were demonstrated. The regression equation was Y=-22.8397+ 0.03048X. When the yield of the Chinese onion was 3*!000~6*!000 kg/667m 2, the economic tolerant loss rate was 1.47% ~2.94% and the tolerant mine number per 100 plants was 141.4~189.6. The control criteria was considered to be 150 mines per 100 plants. The advisable control time was from the peak of adult emergence to the early of larva hatching. The control practice in the middle and late period of onion development time was of significance to reduce loss of the onion yield. The control efficacy of avamectin and chlopyrifod was better that that of other tested insecticides.


With the development of social market economy system and the rapid development of commodity economy in our country, it is necessary to accelerate the development of sports. Researching on how to improve the economic benefit of sport investment is the core of economic activities. Both sports theory workers and leaders should pay attention to an important question of improving the economic benefit of sport investment. We should plan how to invest to produce more economic benefit.


Changing and modifying the thinking mode of the Korean ethnic minority group is necessary for practices of modernization.In the 1990s,the Korean ethnic people finished the transformation from tending to depend on others to self-depending,from striving to remain stable to venturing to join competition,and from following others to developing their own features.This means their 'practice awareness' has been raised.With the further development of opening and reform,the Korean people change their thinking mode catch up with the time,to be opener,to be more creative,to be more systematic,and to allow for different perspectives.


OBJECTIVE: The thymus‐derived peptides, thymosin α1 and thymosin (β4, are believed to contribute to the maintenance of immune homeostasis. They are also associated with the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal‐gonadal axis and may play a role in reproduction. STUDY DESIGN: Patients were recruited from a university hospital setting. Eligible candidates were 24 to 38 years old who were being seen in an ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization program. Serial maternal serum thymosin α1 and β4 levels were assayed preconceptual and then twice in the first trimester by ELISA in 28 women with known ovulation dates who successfully conceived as demonstrated by positive serum β human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Thymosin α1 and β4 serum levels for viable pregnancies (group I; N = 19) were compared to pregnancies that aborted (group II; N = 9) using repeated measures of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Periconceptional (preovulatory and early pregnancy) thymosin α1 and β4 values between groups I and II were compared using repeated measure one‐way ANOVA.


One of the most famous and long-living Portuguese 'popular' newspapers of the 19th century
was 'O Antonio Maria', which was founded, written and illustrated by Rafael Bordalo
Pinheiro,
an extraordinarily multifaceted Portuguese artist.
The 'Antonio Maria' had two series (1879-1885 and 1891-1898), which account for a total of
fifteen years of intense journalistic activity, where its mentor undertakes a systematic, shrewd,
incisive and often aggressive analysis of the different sectors of the Portuguese society. It
strove to maintain its independence from the political powers, debating ideas and expressing
opinions in a most original form, where text, illustration and cartoon est
ablished complex
dialogic relationships, simultaneously conveying the factuality required of news items and
stimulating laughter that provided a comment on what was being reported.
This play on multimodality – neither image nor text can function in isolat
ion, and full meaning
stems from their combined effects – is also a characteristic of a possible British counterpart of
this Portuguese popular newspaper: in fact, in 'The Punch, or the London Charivari', we can
find a very similar use of cartoons with satirical aims.
It is the purpose of this paper to undertake a linguistic analysis of the interweaving of voices
pertaining to different modes in the above publications and the increased possibilities for
satire and parody on the political situation both in
Portugal and England provided by their
masterly use of text and image in such close juxtaposition. It is clearly a situation where the
message, i.e. the corrosive political comment, cannot be dissociated from the medium (the
satirical cartoon and, ultimately, the very specific kind of newspaper where they are
published). Their criticism could be conveyed otherwise, but it would not be as meaningful and
striking as it always was in these two newspapers. Perhaps even more importantly, if their
messages were only conveyed in words, it would be more difficult for these popular
publications to remain unscathed or downright banned by the political parties in government
for such long periods, as was the case.


Introduction: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a method of diagnosing and treating pancreaticobiliary diseases. ERCP differs from other endoscopic procedures with a greater risk of developing complications. The study aims to share experiences in diagnosing and managing complications in 15000 ERCP cases performed by two general surgeons in two separate general surgery ERCP units in 13 years and to determine appropriate diagnosis and treatment approaches in patients with complications.
Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated the data of 15000 patients who underwent ERCP with various diagnoses between June 2009 and June 2022 in General Surgery Clinics in two different centers. Age, sex, ERCP indications, comorbidity, and clinical findings of the patients were recorded.
Results: All patients who underwent ERCP were divided into two groups according to the incidence of complications. The patients who developed complications had higher ages, hospitalization days, and intensive care unit admission rates. Comorbidity increased the rate of complication development: amylasemia and acute pancreatitis were the most developed complications, respectively. Women developed more post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP). Pre-incision, the number of ERCPs applied was not found to affect PEP development. Choledochal stone was the most important indication for ERCP in patients who developed PEP.
Conclusion: ERCP is an invasive procedure, and complications such as acute pancreatitis, hemorrhage, perforation, cholangitis, and cholecystitis develop after this procedure. Determining these complications and related risk factors will be beneficial in terms of patient satisfaction and health expenditures.


The purpose of this investigation is to develop an algorithm which can successfully map an observed gradient signature into the basement rock structure giving rise to that signature. Equipped with such an algorithm we intend to compare neural network based inversion to a previous conventional inversion of real gravity gradiometry data (Vasco and Taylor, 1990). This data set was gathered along 7 north south tracks in south-central Oklahoma over the easterly striking Anadarko basin. Fault throws of several kilometers display a large gravity gradient signal with a magnitude of up to 58 Eotvos.


Basalt glasses erupted from the transverse spreading center within the Cayman Trough have higher contents of $$TiO_{2}, Na_{2}O, K_{2}O, P_{2}O_{5}$$, Zr, Y, Sr, and Ba than typical mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB). These compositional features are unique and the glasses appear to be transitional between fractionated MORB and incompatible-element enriched basalts from certain oceanic regions such as the mid-Atlantic Ridge near 43°N, the triple junction near Bouvet, and Fracture Zone B at the FAMOUS (MAR 37°N) spreading center. The major element compositional variation defines an apparent cotectic, in the normative plagioclase-pyroxene-olivine triangle, which is systematically offset into the plagioclase field compared to most other MORB trends. Model fits based on the assumption of simple, single-stage fractional crystallization are very good for both major and trace elements, with no apparent "decoupling" of the incompatible elements as observed in the FAMOUS (37°N) spreading center. These calculations indicate that, like typical MORB, three-phase crystallization is required to explain the major and trace element variations, although only plagioclase and olivine are observed as liquidus (phenocryst) phases. High-pressure crystallization of clinopyroxene is suggested by mineral assemblages in Cayman Trough gabbros and by analogy with experimental data, and may be favored by the special tectonic setting of the Cayman Trough. Other geochemical peculiarities of the glasses may be related in part to local characteristics of the mantle source beneath the equatorial Atlantic and/or Caribbean plate.


The ESR spectrum of vanadyl ion in solutions has the interesting feature that the linewidths of the individual hyperfine components depend on the nuclear spin orientation, mI. We have determined that the origin of the effect is the mechanism proposed by H. M. McConnell, namely, the existence of a ``microcrystal'' about the VO++ ion which gives rise to anisotropies in the g tensor and hyperfine interaction. By comparing the results of linewidth measurements made at 9.25 kMc and at 24.3 kMc with the results of calculations made by D. Kivelson, we were able to conclude the validity of the microcrystallite model.


Analyzes the wavelet electic current grounding line selection device and select methods,a new line selection methods are proposed based on waveletnalysis and transient zero sequence electric current amplitude and phase comparison.First denoising little wave,then get the amplitude and polarity of each transient zero current signal,finally selects the line according to the information.This method still can select fault line under electromagnetic inteference background.And also it cannot be influenced by compensation degree,fault point and phase angle.The calcuation is simple and reliable.The accuracy and reliability of this method is testified by Matlab simulation.


Paula Eerola-Pennanen Individual but not alone. Children's self-formation in day care. Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2013, 256 p. (Jyväskylä Studies in Education, Psychology and Social Research ISSN 0075-4625; 464) ISBN 978-951-39-5142-9 (nid.) ISBN 978-951-39-5143-6 (PDF) This study focuses on the relations between the modernisation process and childhood. As modernisation has progressed, a change has appeared in the way that people connect with one another and form their identities. At the same time, day care has become a central early childhood institution of the postmodern society. These starting points form the main research question of this study: how do children form their selves in day care? The theoretical starting point of the study lies in the sociological childhood research and theories explaining the modernisation. A central concept is individualisation, which the sociological theories present as a new feature, produced by modern society, in the human perception of self and the way that people connect and interact with one another. Childhood research has revealed how increased children's rights, reduced children's dependency on family, the media, and the increased significance of childhood institutions outside the home have changed and individualised childhood. The research is based on an ethnographic approach. The material was collected by observing children's activities and interviewing children between ages of four and six. Some of the interviews were one-on-one interviews and some were group interviews. Great attention was placed on the children's role as information producers. A analysis of the material was based an adaptive theory in which earlier theories are combined with concepts created in relation to the material. The results of the analysis were combined in a two-dimensional and four-fold typology. The main result of the study is seen in terms of four means that children use for self-formation in the context care: cohesion, conformation, self-elevation and separation. The tension between connecting with and separating from a group is central in day care. Another tension is created by the extent to which children want to be visible to other people, both children and adults. Children select, according to the situation, how they resolve these tensions for themselves in everyday life in daycare. Self-formation is done on one's own but it is not done alone. Day care is a diversified social community that offers an abundance of elements for children ́s self-formation. Connection with other people is essential; however, variation appears according to the significance that other people have for children ́s self-formation.


THE DISEASE IS NAMED AFTER ERNEST TYZZER, who, in 1917, initially described this condition as a fatal epizootic diarrheal disease of Japanese waltzing mice.1 The most obvious lesion noted at necropsy was a miliary focal necrosis of the liver. He saw bundles of a pleomorphic, gram-negative, spore-forming bacillus in apparently viable cells that bordered the areas of necrosis; he believed this was the causative agent and accordingly named it bacillus piliformis. He also observed the bacillus in epithelial cells associated with lesions in the lower intestinal tract. Though he was unable to culture the bacillus in any of a wide variety of cell-free media, he succeeded in transmitting the disease to other mice by injecting them intravenously with liver suspension prepared from mice that had died of the disease. Furthermore, he showed that bedding soiled by mice dying from the disease remained infectious for mice even after being stored at room temperature for 1 year. In light of present knowledge, Tyzzer's original detailed description of the disease, the causative agent and its transmission is, with minor exception, quite accurate. The occurrence of the disease in mice has been recorded subsequently in China,2 Sweden,3 England,4 Japan 5 and the United States.6 Tyzzer's disease has been recognized as one of the major infectious diseases of mice. However, it is only during the past decade that the disease received much attention. For example, six original articles on Tyzzer's disease appeared in the literature prior to 1959, while 35 have appeared since, and 23 of these since 1965. Prior to 1965, the spontaneous or naturally occurring disease had been recognized only in laboratory mice. In that year Allen, Ganaway, Moore and Kinard7 described a devastating epizootic of Tyzzer's disease that occurred in the rabbit colony at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Spontaneous Tyzzer's disease has since been described in the rhesus monkey,8 gerbil,9-11 rat 12-14 and hamster." Despite the repeated and determined efforts of numerous investiga-


Combining ability and inheritance of 6 inbred lines in super sweet corn,whose fresh ear yield and sugar content were evidently different,were studied and analysed by the incomplete dialle cross way of Griffing.The results indicated that fresh ear yield and sugar content of 4 parents had higher G.C.A and S.C.A,which T3,T17,T19,T24 could be easily combined with the crossing combinations of higher fresh ear yield and sugar content.Heritability in a narrow sense of fresh ear yield in super sweet corn was lower (17.83%) which was caused by interaction among non-allel genes and the character was controlled by more than 4 pairs of dominant genes which made main function.Inheritance effect of sugar content was mainly controlled by "additive-dominant" rule in which additive effect outweighed dominant effect.Heritability in a narrow sense of sugar content was 53% and the sugar content was controlled by at least 3 pairs of genes.


The vast majority of studies employing the isolated perfused rat heart model to study ischemic arrhythmias have used male rats only. The objective of this study was to determine the variation in susceptibility to ischemia‐induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) in isolated female rat hearts with the changing endogenous reproductive hormonal environment associated with the estrous cycle.


REVIEW ARTICLE Biological functions of Elabela, a novel endogenous ligand of APJ receptor† Running title: Elabela and Biological functions Jin Xu†1, Linxi Chen†1,Zhisheng Jiang2*, Lanfang Li 1* 1 Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Learning Key Laboratory for Pharmacoproteomics, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China 2 Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China


The background of this research was the important meaning of work for human being are believing that the employee have a commitment to their organization. Commitment is a complex matter, which not all commitment makes positive results for the organization. The objective (s) of this research was to focus to understand about the influence of attitude, role clarity, and role conflict to the commitment of employees. The design of this research was formulation are: 1). Does the attitude have an influence on the commitment of employees? 2). Does the role clarity influence on the commitment of employee? 3). Does the role conflict influence on the commitment of employee? 4.a). Does the commitment of employee influence toward conscientiousness? 4.b). Does the commitment of employee influence toward civic virtue? Data is analyzed used in this research was primer data and using simple random sampling to collect the data, data analysis method in this research is using a multiple regression method with SPSS program software version 12.0. Respondents in this research are the employee at PT. Indofood Plantation. Based on the result of this research conclude that the company should do to take strategic action in facing less behavior of employees who not agree with a possible new policy in generating effect of the experience on policy. Keywords: commitment, influence of attitude, role clarity, role conflic.


Lithium is a metal with a wide range of applications in very different industries. It is used in the metallic form or as several chemical compounds (carbonate, hydroxide, butyl) or even as different mineral concentrates. Due to its physic and chemical properties has such different applications as ceramics, glass, several types of lithium batteries, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, amongst others. The lithium consumption has been grown globally during the last decade and the demand has been specially driven by ceramics and glass industries. However, it is expected a quite significant growth in the demand, driven to the continuous growth of the electric and hybrid electric market vehicles, based on Li batteries technology, expected during the coming years. This forecast scenario in the global demand and consumption of lithium has been responsible for the development of mining projects worldwide, mainly in continental brines and pegmatite deposits. The lithium resources in Portugal are mainly related with pegmatitic and aplopegmatitic rocks and have been exploited together with feldspars to be used in the ceramic industry. Due to the mineral potential that Portugal has in this type of mineral resources, there is a need to put in place a new mining approach in the whole added value chain which may be able to maximize the value of the pegmatitic and aplopegmatitic resources and evaluate the feasibility to produce lithium carbonate.


The structure of local optima in multi-objective combinatorial optimization and their impact on algorithm performance are not yet properly understood. In this paper, we are interested in the representation of multi-objective landscapes and their multi-modality. More specifically, we revise and extend the network of Pareto local optimal solutions (PLOS-net), inspired by the well-established local optima network from single-objective optimization. We first define a compressed PLOS-net which allows us to enhance its perception while preserving the important notion of connectedness between local optima. We then study an alternative visualization of the (compressed) PLOS-net that focuses on good-quality solutions, improves the distinction between connected components in the network, and generalizes well to landscapes with more than 2 objectives. We finally define a number of network metrics that characterize the PLOS-net, some of them being strongly correlated with search performance. We visualize and experiment with small-size multiobjective nk-landscapes, and we disclose the effect of PLOS-net metrics against well-established multi-objective local search and evolutionary algorithms.


High pressure high temperature CO adsorption and coadsorption with ethylene and propylene on Pt(111) was monitored in situ with infrared-visible sum frequency generation (SFG). At high pressures and high temperatures, CO dissociates on a Pt(111) surface to form carbon. At 400 torr CO pressure and 673K, CO modifies the Pt(111) surface through a carbonyl intermediate, and dissociates to leave carbon on the surface. SFG was used to follow the CO peak evolution from monolayer adsorption in ultra high vacuum (UHV) to 400 torr CO pressure. At this high pressure, a temperature dependence study from room temperature to 823K was carried out. Auger electron spectroscopy was used to identify carbon on the surface CO coadsorption with ethylene and CO coadsorption with propylene studies were carried out with 2-IR 1-visible SFG. With this setup, two spectral ranges covering the C-H stretch range and the CO stretch range can be monitored simultaneously. The coadsorption study with ethylene reveals that after 5L ethylene exposure on a Pt(111) surface to form ethylidyne , CO at high pressures cannot completely displace the ethylidyne from the surface. Instead, CO first adsorbs on defect sites at low pressures and then competes with ethylidyne for terrace sites at high pressures. Propylene coadsorption with CO at similar conditions shows that propylidyne undergoes conformation changes with increased CO pressure and at 1 torr, is absent from the Pt(111) surface. Experiments on CO poisoning of ethylene hydrogenation was carried by 2-IR 1-visible SFG. At 1 torr CO,10 torr ethylene and 100 torr hydrogen, CO was found to block active sites necessary for ethylene hydrogenation, Above 425K, CO desorbs from the surface to allow ethylene hydrogenation to occur. The gas phase species were monitored by gas chromatography.


Based on the analysis of status of the domestic cultivation of fruit trees and the development of facility winter jujube industry, this article discusses the significance of developing facility winter jujube cultivation in East Hebei, and the main problems and the specific response measures are also deeply studied. So that, this paper points out a feasible development path, in which, the bottlenecks encountered in the development process would be broken, and the facilities winter jujube cultivation would be wildly developed.


The research paper presents the outcomes of an improved Electronic Control Unit (ECU) designed for automobiles equipped with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI). The primary objective was to find a sustainable solution for various issues caused by decayed Petrol fuel injectors recommended to be replaced, but not done due to reasonable justifications. The issues include emissions produced by improper fuel combustion, wastage of fuel and possible damage to engine since incomplete combustion leave residual matter inside the engine's combustion chamber. The ideology is to control the excess fuel released by decayed fuel injectors by modifying the control instructions produced by the ECU. Experimental results have proven that employment of the improved ECU could reduce the emissions up to 84.9 % with an average of 75.8% and most excitingly, the improved ECU is capable to renounce the fuel wastage caused by decayed injectors by a percentage over 70 %.


The Health Impacts of the Design of Hospital Facilities on Patient Recovery and Wellbeing, and Staff Wellbeing: A Review of Literature by Amanda Ampt, Patrick Harris and Michelle Maxwell (University of New South Wales) in 2008. This review of literature was commissioned by Population Health, Sydney South West Area Health Service (SSWAHS) to inform a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) on the redevelopment of Liverpool Hospital. The purpose of the HIA is to identify the potential positive and negative health impacts that may result from the completed redevelopment project. The scope of the review is confined to those impacts of hospital design on patient recovery and wellbeing, and on staff wellbeing, as identified in the international literature.


Introduction :Carcinoembryonic antigen is the most commonly used tumour associatedantigen in the management of patients with colorectal carcinoma. The test appearsuseful to determine prognosis and to monitor patients with colorectal carcinoma for earlyrecurrence, persistent elevation of CEA for a month after operation suggests thepresence of occult metastatic disease.
Objective: The study was done to compare pre and postoperative CEA level in colorectalcarcinoma patient and to analyze the relationship of CEA and different Dukes stage inpre operative period of colorectal carcinoma patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional and cohort study was performed to look at the change inCEA level among 97 colorectal carcinoma patients in pre and post operative state in thedepartment of surgical oncology, NICRH from January 2010 to June 2012.
Results :Statistically significant changes was found in pre and postoperative CEA levelin colorectal carcinoma patient (p <.001). Preoperative CEA level was raised in Dukes8(40%) and Dukes C(54%).
Conclusion :Postoperative CEA level was significantly reduced after resection of colorectalcarcinoma and neck neoplasm.
Journal of Surgical Sciences (2016) Vol. 20 (1) : 3-6


Background and Objective: Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive facultative intracellular non spore forming bacillus. The epidemiologic studies have shown that Listeria monocytogenes is the cause of abortion and abnormalities in human embryo. This study was done to determine the effect of listeria monocytogenes colonization on maternal and fetal liver and spleen in mice. Methods: In this experimental study, Inbred BALB/c dams allocated into case and control groups. Dams in interventional and control groups were received 200μL of 1.2 LogFCU/ml, Listeria monocytogenes and normal salin intraperitoneally, respectively. Few mice from each group were randomally selected and 5ml of blood collected, placenta, uterus liver and spleen were removed subsequently in 13 and 24 day of gestation and listeria monocytogenes colonization were determined. Liver and spleen of full term offsprings were stained for the histological studies. Results: L.monocytogenes strains were detected in different organs of mice damsup for 30 day of gestation. The higest and lowest of organ contamination were seen in liver and blood samples, respectively. The ratio of weight/volume of organ was higher in case than control groups. Hepatocytes degenration, hepatocyte size alteration, cell cord atrophy and sinusoid dilatation were seen in the liver. Disruption of red pulp, disorganization of lymphoid nodules and necrosis were noticed in the spleen. Conclusion: Contamination of BALB/c dams causes the histological alterations in the liver and spleen of offesprings.


Lighting is one of the most important building services in every building in particular, the modern commercial buildings. Without a proper lighting design, human beings cannot carry out their intended activities effectively, efficiently and comfortably. Conventionally, the horizontal illumination level, measured in lux, has been employed as the dominating factor within an overall lighting design package. However, it is the view of the authors that a lighting system not only provides adequate lumen intensity for the visual ability of occupants, but it also significantly affects the occupants' physiology and psychology. It is also felt that interior lighting design must always come with the design of the colour of wall finishes. In this paper, the relationship between lighting design criteria and human physiology and psychology is studied and a questionnaire has been prepared to investigate the psychological effects of light, in particular colour, on the activities of occupants. Here, colour refers to the c...


ABSTRACT A computer‐based automatic method for clinical visual acuity determinations is described. The procedure employs the staircase method of threshold determination using Landolt C's, and has been tested on 14 subjects representative of normal optometry clinic patients. Though more precise due to small step size, the results show fair agreement with manual determinations performed at the same time using the Snellen chart. The automatic method required more time because (1) subjects used 4 instead of 26 response alternatives, and (2) a mean step size of 1.15:1 instead of 1.5 or 2:1 was used. While most series of repeated automatic determinations were stable, a few subjects showed improvement or deterioration apparently due to practice or fatigue, respectively. Economic aspects of computer assistance for optometric examinations are briefly discussed and attention is drawn to the potential value of time‐sharing and remote operation.


In order to reduce the initial investments needed by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to acquire the necessary expertise, hardware and software to run proper Big Data Analytics, TOREADOR proposes a Big Data Analytics framework which supports users in devising their own Big Data solutions by keeping the inherent costs at a minimum. Among the objectives of the TOREADOR framework is supporting developers in parallelizing and deploying their algorithms, in order to develop they own analytics solutions. This paper describes the Code-Based approach, developed by CINI and adopted within the TOREADOR framework to parallelize users' algorithms and deploy them on distributed platforms, with a focus on its integration with the web services and resources offered by ATOS for the actual deployment of the solution.


Acknowledgments Note on Transliteration 1. Toward an Anthropology of Connections 2. Making Kids Modern: Agency and Identity in Arabic Children's Magazines 3. Pokemon Panics: Class Play in the Private Schools 4. Talk Like an Egyptian: Negotiating Identity at the American University in Cairo 5. Coffee Shops and Gender in Translocal Spaces 6. The Global and the Multilocal: Development, Enterprise, and Culture Brokers Epilogue Dramatis Personae Notes References Index


also in younger age groups.4,5 This investigation was therefore incorporated into an organised risk assessment clinic for osteoporosis in a general practice setting to determine whether it could be a useful aid to diagnosis. Five hundred women, mainly postmenopausal aged 50-70 years, were invited to attend the clinic for assessment. Women with known risk factors were identified from computerised records and opportunistically; women having a 60th or 65th birthday during the year were also invited. All women were assessed for personal and clinical risk factors for osteoporosis and received "bone-friendly" lifestyle advice. Women with low heel ultrasound readings and/or major risk factors were referred for DXA (174 women). Data analysis showed that age, BMI, years since menopause, HRT use, hysterectomy, steroids, previous fracture, rheumatoid arthritis and x-ray changes were predictive of QUI (quantitative ultrasound index). DXA scanning identified 62 (36%) women with osteoporosis and 81(47%) with osteopenia. There was a highly significant association between QUI and DXA results but the degree of variability made individual prediction unreliable. Preliminary analysis indicates that the combination of ultrasound and clinical risk factor assessment for DXA selection provided better sensitivity and specificity than either process alone. A simple formula combining these risks could be used as a cut-off to select women for DXA. This study provides support for the view that ultrasound densitometry is an easy primary care tool which can provide information complementary to risk factor assessment when selecting women for DXA scanning. Further work needs to be undertaken but it seems promising that the efficiency and cost effectiveness of identifying high risk individuals for osteoporosis could be improved using this technique and it raises the possibility of its use as a screening tool for all postmenopausal women.


Orbital propagation is a key element in many fields of space research. Over the decades, scientists have developed numerous orbit propagation algorithms, often tailored to specific use cases that vary in available input data, desired output as well as demands of execution speed and accuracy. Conjunction assessments, for example, require highly accurate propagations of a relatively small number of objects while statistical analyses of the (untracked) space debris population need a propagator that can process large numbers of objects in a short time with only medium accuracy. Especially in the latter case, a significant increase of computation speed can be achieved by using graphics processors, devices that are designed to process hundreds or thousands of calculations in parallel. In this paper, an analytical propagator is introduced that uses graphics processing to reduce the run time for propagating a large space debris population from several hours to minutes with only a minor loss of accuracy. A second performance analysis is conducted on a parallelised version of the popular SGP4 algorithm. It is discussed how these modifications can be applied to more accurate numerical propagators. Both programs are implemented using a generic, plugin-based software architecture designed for straightforward integration of propagators into other software tools. It is shown how this architecture can be used to easily integrate, compare and combine different orbital propagators, both CPUand GPU-based.


In this paper, a novel substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) filtenna with two controllable radiation nulls is proposed, which has the advantage of good radiation characteristics. Radiation nulls are generated by electric and magnetic mixed coupling structure and fundamental mode, respectively. And a quasi-elliptic characteristic can be obtained at the boresight gain direction. By changing the length of perturbation slot and the strength of electric coupling and magnetic coupling, the position of radiation nulls can be controlled independetly. Compared to conventional filtenna, the proposed SIW filtenna has no extra filtering circuit to increase the dimension and complexity. Two resonant modes in the passband can be excited through loading electric and magnetic mixed coupling structure in one SIW cavity. The measured results are in good agreement with simulated results. The good frequency selectivity and out-of–band rejection are achieved. The proposed antenna exhibits a maximum realized gain of 5.8 dBi at the operating bandwidth. The measured impedance bandwidth is from 9.44 GHz to 9.68 GHz and the cross-polarization levels are lower than -20 dB in both planes.


This paper presents a digital implementation of an out-of- plane target location system by means of a joint transform correlator (JTC). A sequence of images of the 3D scene is coded into a single performing an integration of each frame in the vertical sense. The coded sequence is used as the input plane of the JTC after binarization, Fourier transform is performed followed by removal of the DC term from joint power spectrum; finally correlation is evaluated.


Communication is, human beings - is an important issue in the robot interaction. Sign is used for interaction with the machine by providing the user instructions or command. One embodiment of the present invention, include human detection, human body parts detection, hand shape analysis, trajectory analysis, orientation determination, the gesture matching or the like. Many types of shapes and gestures are recognized in not intrusive manner based on computer vision. Many applications, remote control of home appliances, mouse-less (and touchless) operation of the computer controller, human for providing instructions to the gaming and other - can be realized by this sign understanding technology including the robot communication. Dynamic detection hardware is employed to obtain a stream of depth images at video rate, streams of depth images are sequentially analyzed for information extraction.


(1931) and Moran (1958) have been generalized by Karlin and McGregor (1965) and Chia and Watterson (1969). An alternative and simpler approach through the use of exchangeable random variables is demonstrated, which at the same time permits greater generality. Non-independent mutation, and interaction between birth events and death events can be introduced. The form of the latent roots obtained is extremely simple, e.g., for a generalization of Wright's model suppose the number of offspring of the N (constant) individuals at each time pointisgiven by ~1' ~2' ~3' ••• , eN with an appropriate distribution function so that the ~'s are exchangeable, then


Detection and localization of small leaks in pipelines were early developed using a nonlinear adaptive state observer and a special correlation technique, based on pressure and flow measurements at the pipeline inlet and outlet. Simulations and experiments show the results for a gas and a liquid pipeline. This paper x-ray pipeline leak Identification using a transient-based method on hydraulic transients of a brake system with oil at two different temperatures, Leak effects at different frequency response were Simulated, measured and leak detection experiment with MATLAB code were also highlighted. The result obtained show that in certain circumstances the brake response is slow due to the temperature and suggests an appropriate pipe diameter to overcome this problem of low flow rate, the transfer function obtained using the proposed method were able to measure the presence of a leak on the pipe system. Simulations, measurements and leak experiments have shown that the early detection and localization of small leaks in liquid and gas pipelines can be considerably improved using theoretically approximated model as the required computational effort is relatively small, as compare to microcomputers which can be used for leak detection including monitoring of the inner pipeline state.


Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are popular among learners for free or low cost access to education materials. It is estimated that millions are currently users of various courses offered through MOOCs. These courses are deployed on open source technologies. With the increasing data generated while interacting with users, many of the deployed platforms have already switched to NoSQL database platform. However, there is little discussion on the risks and threats that NoSQL related technologies pose to learners. This paper presents an in depth study of potential security vulnerabilities and challenges for databases. We provide detailed comparison between traditional SQL and NoSQL databases and identify a set of vulnerabilities inherent to representative database applications like MongoDB and Cassandra. We also provide examples of attacks. The discussion helps learners and application developers to increase the awareness of threats arise while interacting online with platforms deploying NoSQL databases.


The invention discloses a lateral force resisting performance degradation alarm method for a bridge stiffening girder based on a transverse wind load effect. The method comprises the steps of wind load effect data acquisition, transverse wind speed and transverse displacement calculation-method analysis, transverse wind speed and transverse displacement correlation analysis, residual error alarm-method analysis and the like. According to the method, the timely alarm on the lateral force resisting performance degradation of the stiffening girder can be realized through controlling time delay of alarming, meanwhile, the percentage of the lateral force resisting performance degradation of the stiffening girder during alarming is given, and the percentage has an important value in the further safety assessment on the lateral force resisting performance degradation of the stiffening girder.


Editor: Stanley F. Malamed Publisher: Elsevier, Mosby St. Louis, Missouri, Price: £62.99 ISBN: 978-0-323-17122-9 Pages: 550.

The seventh edition of Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office by Stanley F. Malamed provides an excellent comprehensive reference source to relevant medical emergencies for all members of the dental team and reflects the most up-to-date American Heart Association's Guidelines.

This book is divided into eight parts, comprising 31 chapters and 550 pages in total. Medical emergencies have been grouped into the different parts based on clinical signs and symptoms rather than a systems-orientated approach, making it more user-friendly. The eight parts included are the following: Prevention (including legal …


In this study, we analyzed emission characteristics and concentrations of hazardous pollutants generated in unit processes (casting, molding, core, welding and finishing) of a foundry industry, and assessed the excess rates of each process by using Bayesian model. In addition, we analyzed results of special health check of workers to assess the health protection and the working environment for them. Main pollutants generated in the foundry included mineral dust, crystalline silica and iron oxide dust and they were relatively higher than pollutants generated in general manufacturers. In particular, concentrations of mineral dust in the core process and levels of mineral dust and iron oxide dust in the finishing process were high. As the results of prediction analysis using Bayesian model, the excess rates of mineral dust, iron oxide dust and crystalline silica were 99.8 %, 94.8 % and 82.2 %, respectively. The excess rates of mineral dust in the core process and the molding process were 98.7 % and 87.4 %, respectively.


Many multi-axle applications use electro-hydraulic control systems with proportional valves. The proportional steering system can satisfy common engineering requirements, but it is likely to fail if the steering angle or load changes drastically because of poor dynamic characteristics, including dead zones, hysteresis, and frequency response. An electro-hydraulic servo steering system with servo solenoid valve is proposed to guarantee a precise dynamic response and good price–performance ratio of the closed-loop system. A co-simulation model based on ADAMS and AMESim was established to analyze the influence of the main parameters on steering performance. The mechanical model includes tire and ground parts, and the steering load can be simulated accurately. The simulation results show that dead zones, hysteresis, and frequency response of control valve have great influence on the steering performance, and the servo solenoid valve is proper for this system. The servo steering system was applied to the actual seven-axle all-terrain crane, and the system performance was extensively tested. The experiment results show that the system has good accuracy and tracking response performance in several real situations, including parking and high-speed transport.


The pyramidal horn exhibits a normal monotonically increasing gain versus frequency characteristic, only when its axial length is more than a certain minimum value for given aperture dimensions. In this letter, approximate equations are derived for estimating this minimum axial length.