The challenge of automatic moderation of harmful comments online has been the subject of a lot of research recently, but the focus has been mostly on detecting it in individual messages after they have been posted. Some authors have tried to predict if a conversation will derail into harmfulness using the features of the first few messages. In this paper, we combine that approach with previous work on harmful message detection using sentiment information, and show how the sentiments expressed in the first messages of a conversation can help predict upcoming harmful messages. Our results show that adding sentiment features does help improve the accuracy of harmful message prediction, and allow us to make important observations on the general task of preemptive harmfulness detection.


The full‐range orthogonality theorem concerning the elementary solutions of the equation of transfer is used to develop a solution of the inverse problem for a finite plane‐parallel slab.


Present study examined the factors which are considered vital for a firm while deciding about the distribution of dividend of the companies. The study is beneficial for the potential investors in the equity market as they can compare the performance of firms paying with that of companies not paying dividend. With this study investors also understand about the pattern of dividend payment of the Indian listed companies belonging to various sectors. The research can provide a better understanding of the factors that contribute in determining the dividend payout and would give an insight into what kind of ownership structure is beneficial for the wealth of shareholders.


Diabetes has been known to man for several thousands of years. The understanding of different forms of diabetes was recognized late last century. After the discovery of insulin in 1921 it took an additional 30 years until two major forms of diabetes were discernible. The classification used since the 1970s suggests that there are two major forms of diabetes. The most prevalent form is non-insulindependent diabetes (NIDDM) which represents 80-90% of all patients with diabetes. The less common form of diabetes is IDDM which primarily develops in children or teenagers (one out of three patients develop the disease before 15 years of age). The next risk group is between 15 and 34 years of age (one out of three patients). The remaining group of patients develop IDDM at an older age. In a high-risk population such as that of the Scandinavian countries, about 1 % of newborns will develop IDDM during their life-time [l]. The aetiology and pathogenesis of IDDM needs to be identified. Recent understanding of islet cell autoimmunity and IDDM based on epidemiological, molecular and immunological studies will be briefly reviewed.


The digital multi-motor control platform based on the C8051F020 MCU was introducted.The hardware was simple and reliable.MOSFET was used for power circuits,which was more universal.The software can be directly used for other low-power motor-driven control system through rewriting.


Simulation analysis of electromagnetic response of infinite 2D arrays of dielectric ceramic resonators and of parallel 2D arrays comprising 3D metamaterial blocks is presented. Modeling of the arrays has been performed by applying periodic boundary conditions to various unit cells. It was revealed that coupling between elementary magnetic resonances in infinite 2D arrays can affect both the resonance frequency and the resonance Q-factor. Defects in array periodicity were found to cause partial splitting of the resonance modes. It was shown that coupling between parallel 2D arrays stacked in the direction of wave propagation produced a drastic splitting of the resonance modes and led to the formation of the resonance band. The observed effects demonstrate that the uniform medium concept can be not applicable to the description of 3D metamaterial structures.


This review summarizes new findings concerning the sources and characteristics of various natural products that can be extracted from mangrove-associated microbes over the past three years (January 2011–December 2013). The natural products are discussed with a focus on bioactivity, highlighting the unique chemical diversity of these metabolic products.


© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Reuse permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ. INTRODUCTION Bias, perhaps best described as 'any process at any stage of inference which tends to produce results or conclusions that differ systematically from the truth,' can pollute the entire spectrum of research, including its design, analysis, interpretation and reporting. It can taint entire bodies of research as much as it can individual studies. 3 Given this extensive detrimental impact, effective efforts to combat bias are critically important to biomedical research's goal of improving healthcare. Champions for such efforts can currently be found among individual investigators, journals, research sponsors and research regulators. The central focus of this essay is assessing the effectiveness of some of the efforts currently being championed and proposing new ones. Current efforts fall mainly into two domains, one meant to prevent bias and one meant to detect it. Much like a proverbial chain, efforts in either domain are hampered by their weakest components. Hence, it behoves us to constantly probe antibias tools so that we can identify weak components and seek ways to compensate for them. Further, given the high stakes— conclusions that align with rather than diverge from truth—it further behoves the biomedical research community to prioritise to the extent possible bias prevention over bias detection. The less likely any given study is to be tainted by bias, the fewer research publications reporting biased results there will be. The value of detected bias pales in comparison, for it extends only as far as those who are aware of that detection after the fact, meaning that biased conclusions at variance with the truth can mislead those unaware of the bias that taints them for as long as the affected publications endure. With these preliminary considerations about bias in mind, let us first examine some current antibias efforts and probe their weaknesses. Doing so will show why we need to develop additional strategies for preventing bias in the first place, and space is set aside at the end to examine two related candidate strategies for how we could attempt to do that. CURRENT BIAS COUNTERMEASURES Table 1 reflects some current countermeasures being employed to combat various kinds of biases. Though the table is far from comprehensive, (dozens of biases have been catalogued) it does include major biases of concern, representative countermeasures to combat them, whether those countermeasures prevent or detect bias, and their likely relative strength.


Cervus elaphus populations are spreading and growing in many parts of Europe. This growth can have detrimental effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Successful strategies to manage large herbivores require reliable information on density and population trends. This paper presents a methodology to achieve a sustainable distribution of red deer by age and sex classes over time. Instead of traditional algebraic methods, the method consists of a simple iterative process that uses convergence to obtain the dominant eigenvalue and eigenvector of the biological matrix from an initial population. This eigenvalue represents the annual growth rate of the population, and the eigenvector represents the ideal age and sex class distribution of the population. The method has been applied to a fenced preserve in the province of Toledo, Spain. An annual population growth rate of 1.63 (dominant eigenvalue of the biological matrix) was obtained from an initial population and the biological matrix of the deer on the preserve. The convergence of this rate occurred in year 14, but the carrying capacity allows for a population close to the population in year 17 according to the prediction, which is therefore considered to be the year when the ideal population distribution is achieved. This methodology allows managers to numerically justify how to control population growth to preserve biodiversity and sustainability.


SUMMARY During the 11-year period from 1997 to 2007, 321 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes from sporadic cases of invasive listeriosis were reported to the national reference laboratory in Israel. Of these isolates, 113 (35%) were identified from perinatal cases, and 208 (65%) from non-perinatal cases. The prevalent serovars were 4b, 1/2b, 1/2a and 4c. Serovar 4b was identified in 80·5% of the perinatal isolates (P=0·0162), while the number of 1/2b and 1/2a strains increased in the ⩾60 years old group (P=0·0285). Resistance to tetracycline was found in eight 4b isolates. The seasonal distribution showed that 206 isolates (64·2%) were submitted during the hot season (May–October). The estimated morbidity for the study period was 4·4 per million. The incidence of invasive listeriosis was higher in the perinatal group (5·6/100 000), than in individuals aged ⩾60 years (1·5/100 000).


The emerging field of Immersive Analytics investigates how novel display and interaction technologies can enable people to visualise and analyse data and complex information. In this paper, we present ContextuWall, a system for interactive local and remote collaboration using touch and mobile devices as well as displays of various sizes. The system enables groups of users located on different sites to share content to a jointly used virtual desktop which is accessible over a secured network. This virtual desktop can be shown on different large displays simultaneously, taking advantage of their high resolution. To enable users to intuitively share, arrange as well as annotate image content, a purpose-built client software has been built and can easily be adapted with plug-ins for existing data analytics software. We show exemplary use cases and describe the system architecture and its implementation.


The article discusses the experimental method of determining the transfer coefficient of the transport belt tension force "k" according to EN12195-1: 2003 using the cargo lashing holders.


As a result of oil mixed with air, the system bulk modulus and the leakage coefficient is no longer a constant during the process of pump-control-motor running.The conventional PID controller can't meet the requirement of the dynamic characteristics of the system. In view of above characteristics, the use of self-tuning fuzzy PID in improving the situation has been risen up. The paper analyzed the influencing factor of bulk modulus and leakage coefficient, it also described the method of self-tuning fuzzy PID design. The simulation results show that compared to conventional PID, self-tuning fuzzy PID has faster response and better control performance. Self-tuning fuzzy PID has better adaptability and higher robustness while the mathematic model changing or the system load disturbance.


The responsiveness of ventricular tachycardia (VT) to propafenone, a new antiarrhythmic agent, was evaluated in the conscious dog during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). AMI was produced in the anesthetized closed‐chest dogs with an intracoronary catheter system by permanent occlusion in eight dogs and by 2‐hour occlusion followed by reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in eight others. Twenty‐four hours after surgery, all dogs in both groups had VTwith similar characteristics (rates of 130‐220 beats/min) in the conscious, nonsedated state. Administration of propafenone, 4 mg/kg i.v. over 2 minutes, immediately and completely suppressed VT in seven of the permanently occluded and in all eight dogs in the reperfused group. The duration of propafenone-induced normal sinus rhythm (NSR) was inversely related to the rate of VT. Intravenous infusion of propafenone, 0.2 mg/kg/min, after a 4-mg/kg i.v. bolus maintained NSR for the duration of infusion. Propafenone did not change the mean blood pressure. Lidocaine, as much as 5 mg/kg i.v., was ineffective when the VT rate was greater than 160 beats/min and restored NSR only transiently (3-6 minutes) when the VT rate was less than 160 beats/min in either group (p < 0.001 compared with propafenone). Propafenone, unlike lidocaine, significantly (p < 0.05) increased both cathodal and bipolar diastolic excitability threshold and shifted upward the tail portion of the strength-interval relation of the right ventricle. Propafenone had no effect on the effective refractory period of the right ventricle. Plasma propafenone levels during propafenone-induced NSR and myocardial excitability measurements were 3.2 1.6 gg/ml in the reperfused group and 3.0 1.68, tg/ml in the permanently occluded group (mean ± SD) (p > 0.1). We conclude that propafenone is very effective against VTduring AMI in the dog, and it may be effective in lidocaine-resistant VT during acute ischemia.


The results of the research of peculiarities of formation of the personality constructing his/her social-psychological space in different educational systems (environments) are presented. Personal social-psychological space is considered as chosen by the personality influence rendering by the significant other ones on its properties, qualities or sub-structures, that, changing itself, leads to these or those personal changes.


Foster and Hope1 describe '… considerable confusion over the status of "do not attempt resuscitation" (DNAR) orders'. Their analysis of the legal status of these orders is clear but does not explain why there is confusion; they may also underestimate some practical difficulties.

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) provides measured and nuanced rules, but those who draft statutes do not always have to consider practical implementation. They might assume that all clinical staff can be meticulously trained in every implication and can comply with complex rules in the, often chaotic, circumstances of arrests.

Elective assessment of capacity must be measured and nuanced, but the person witnessing a cardiac arrest has to act more pragmatically. The authors note that this is often a nurse, but he or she might not conduct assessments of capacity and might not receive such detailed training as medical staff in the implications of the MCA and DNAR orders. Patients often move between wards, but accurate information and knowledge often do not follow. The authors 'hope' that DNAR reviews have occurred and 'should' be in handovers may be overoptimistic.

They state that the first decision at an arrest must be whether or not to call the resuscitation team; actually, it is whether to start basic life support. It is this decision that could result in the nurse risking a charge of battery, as the authors warn, or of accusation of not attempting resuscitation later thought to have been indicated. They further state that the first decision must legally be made at the time of the arrest, either on the basis of an order's validity and applicability or of the patient's best interests, as assessed at that time. The authors might try to estimate a minimum time needed for such an assessment, particularly with inadequate notes. I suspect that it exceeds the short window of opportunity to secure even the small chance of successful resuscitation.

None of this negates the authors' helpful analysis, or the need for correct implementation, but some clinical circumstances can confound the best legal and ethical intentions. I wonder how many nurses will read the essay.


SUMMARY

Colony development of Erysiphe graminis f.sp. avenae race 2 was studied on detached leaf segments of a range of Avena hosts with different levels of resistance, none of which possesses known specific gene resistance to this race. Resistance affected the length attained by mature primary haustoria, and also colony size as assessed by numbers of haustoria and conidiophores produced per colony 5 days after inoculation. A more accurate assessment of the size of mature haustoria was provided by the total length of their digitate processes. At the primary haustorium stage resistance affected not only haustorial size, but also haustorial efficiency measured as colony growth per unit size. Adult plant resistance of some hosts decreased haustorial size and/or efficiency in colonies on the fifth in comparison with the first formed leaf.


The invention relates to a high-temperature grease and a preparation method thereof, which are widely applied to equipment bearings of production lines in steel mills and steel works. The high-temperature grease contains the following components in weight parts: 45 to 81.5 parts of high-viscosity mineral oil, 4 to 10 parts of polyurea, 10 to 30 parts of high-base number calcium petrolem sulfonate, 1 to 3 parts of transforming agent, 1 to 3 parts of anti-rust agent, 1 to 3 parts of extreme-pressure additive, 0.5 to 1 part of antioxidant, and 1 to 5 parts of thickening agent. The high-viscosity mineral oil is 150BS. The high-temperature grease has higher dropping point, does not turn thin or has lower thinning degree after meeting water; the antirust performance is as good as the new grease after meeting water; and the extreme-pressure performance thereof is reduced by a lower degree or does not reduce after meeting water.


The different polarization phase angle (orientation) low-resolution images of the same scene have much redundant and complementary information which can be used to construct a high-resolution image. In this paper, we propose a super-resolution (SR) algorithm via sparse and redundant representation with considering the non-local self-similarity in different polarization orientation images. As the redundant over-complete dictionary has many irrelevant atoms which not only reduce the computational efficiency in sparse coding but also reduce the representation accuracy, we learn a local dictionary by applying the principal component analysis (PCA) technique. For an image patch to be coded, the best fitted sub-dictionary is adaptively selected by an adaptive sparse domain selection strategy. To improve the stability and accuracy of sparse coding, the centralized sparse coding algorithm is used. The extensive experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method can effectively reconstruct the polarization image with edge structure preserved and detailed information obtained in terms of PSNR, SSIM and visual perception.


Abstract This research developed a Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) method for simulating hydrogen diffusion in tungsten bulk. The KMC inputs such as diffusion paths and energy barriers are based on the first principle calculations in the literatures. In this simulation model, stable hydrogen interstitial sites in tungsten are the tetrahedral sites on each surface of the bcc lattice, and each site has four tetrahedral neighboring sites. A numerical program has been developed to perform the diffusion simulation for any hydrogen concentration and tungsten temperature combination. The KMC calculated diffusion coefficients fitted to the Arrhenius equation is D [m 2 /s] = 8.45 × 10 −7 exp(−0.440/ k B T ), which match the experiment data very well. The pre-exponential factor D 0 is found to be proportional to the hydrogen concentration, and a more general diffusion coefficient equation is derived for other concentrations. At last, the neighbor condition as a function of the concentration is analyzed.


Perimenopausal bleeding is one of the common conditions for which patients seek advice in the gynecology outpatient department. Histopathological characteristics of endometrial biopsy material for patients with perimenopausal bleeding, by light microscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of endometrial pathology. A total of 200 endometrial curetting samples received during a 2 year period in Department of Pathology, Tirunelveli Medical College, Tamilnadu, India were assessed for the histopathological pattern and Estrogen and Progesterone receptor status on those samples showing endometrial hyperplasias. The different patterns reported were proliferative endometrium (49.50%), 48 cases (24%) of hyperplasia in which simple hyperplasia without atypia was higher 42 cases (87.50%). Simple hyperplasia without atypia showed a mean percentage of positive cells, 75% for ER and PR whereas complex atypical hyperplasia showed the mean percentage of positive cells 60% for ER and 70% for PR. Thus, for every morphological pattern of the endometrium analyzed in this study, the average values for PR were higher compared with average values of ER for similar lesions. Estrogen and Progesterone receptors study allows specific determination of the ER, PR receptor content of the cell and hence can be an accurate prediction marker of patient response to endocrine therapy.


AIM:To investigate the effect of CdCl2 and tea phlyphenols(TP) on the action potential in rat myocardial cells.METHODS:Action potentials were recorded using standard microelectrode technique.RESULTS:CdCl2 of different concentrations decreased the amplitude of action potential(APA) and the maximum rate of depolarization(Vmax),and shortened the action potential duration of repolarization(APD).CdCl2/L at 0.005 mmol decreased APA from 74.9±4.8 to 66.5±6.7 and Vmax from 15.3±2.3 to 16.1±2.5,CdCl2/L at 0.01 mmol decreased APA to 50.3±2.4 and Vmax to 9.3±0.9 and CdCl2/L at 0.015 mmol decreased APA to 46.2±3.1 and Vmax to 3.7±0.6.TP decreased the effects of CdCl2 on the action potential in rat myocardium.CONCLUSION:CdCl2 inhibits the action in rat myocardial cells and TP decreases the effects of CdCl2 on the action potential in rat myocardium.


Social media (SM), a platform where people can share, exchange, and communicate their ideas and knowledge, has been the part of human's life and has become the new trend in communication and learning. Technology has profoundly changed education and its delivery mode. This study aims to explore the usage of SM by the students, and to discover the most common resources used in teacher education. Furthermore, it aims to illustrate students' belief about the influence of SM on their learning. This study administered validated questionnaires to students of B.Ed./M.Ed. from School of Education (SoE) of Bangladesh Open University. A non-probability sampling technique was utilized with a sample size of 195 students (females, n=117; males, n=78). The most common website used by both genders was Facebook. With regard to utilizing SM for learning, the students believed that it was beneficial. SoE needs to improve the utilization of SM by its faculty, tutors and students by developing activities and encouraging the usage of SM in blended program of teacher education program.


Polyethylene(PE) membrane and PE/TiO2 blend membrane were prepared by thermally induced phase separation(TIPS) method.The polymer used in this study was polyethylene with molecular weight of 130 000,the diluent was diisodecyl phthalate(DIDP),and the additive was TiO2 with mean diameter of 180 nm.The effects of blended composition and cooling speed on the structures of membranes were investigated.All the membranes have sponge-like pores,the greater the cooling rate,the smaller the pore size.When the mass ratio of PE to TiO2 is greater than 1.0,the distribution of TiO2 particles in the membrane is not homogeneous under the PE mass fraction of 0.15,while the mass ratio of PE to TiO2 is 0.5,the distribution of TiO2 particles in the membrane is almost homogeneous in the membrane.The hydrophilicity of PE/TiO2 blended membrane can increase remarkably by immersing the membrane in water under the irradiation of UV-radiation.


Many philosophers argue that the face-value of moral practice provides presumptive support to moral realism. This paper analyses such arguments into three steps. (1) Moral practice has a certain face-value, (2) only realism can vindicate this face value, and (3) the face-value needs vindicating. Two potential problems with such arguments are discussed. The first is taking the relevant face-value to involve explicitly realist commitments; the second is underestimating the power of non-realist strategies to vindicate that face-value. Case studies of each of these errors are presented, drawn from the writings of Shafer-Landau, Brink and McNaughton, and from recent work experimental metaethics. The paper then considers weak presumptive arguments, according to which both realist and non-realist vindications of moral practice are possible, but the realist vindications are more natural. It is argued that there is no sense of ̳natural' available that can make these arguments work. The conclusion is that all extant presumptive arguments for moral realism fail. In closing remarks, the paper presents some further reason to be pessimistic about all possible presumptive arguments in metaethics and considers the effect on the shape of the meta-ethical dialectic were this conclusion to be accepted. This paper adopts the conservative aim of exposing a mistake that is increasingly prevalent in the metaethical literature. The mistake is supposing the ̳face-value', ̳appearance' or ̳pretensions' of moral practice to generate a dialectical presumption in favor of moral realism. I will argue that, as usually understood, the face-value fails to provide even defeasible evidence in favor of any metaethical theory, realist or otherwise. 1 Recognizing this point leads to a radical rethink of the focus of metaethical debate and entails that many existing defences of realism (and its rivals) are inadequate. 1. Realism and Presumptive Arguments 1 In a recent paper, Finlay writes: ―Recently, however, some expressivists appear to be shifting to a more aggressive and less apologetic posture, maintaining that the appearances don't favour realist over antirealist views at all‖ (Finlay 2010 p.341). My arguments are in this tradition. ̳The Pretensions of Moral Realism' Neil Sinclair 2 Moral realism is the view that moral judgments express mental states that represent the world as realizing distinctively moral states of affairs ( ̳cognitivism') and that there exists a moral reality that these states sometimes correctly represent. For realists, the constituents of the world include distinctively moral states of affairs (or facts or properties or events, depending on one's preferred ontology): in Mackie's famous phrase (1977 p.15), values are part of the fabric of the world. Realists differ amongst themselves regarding the precise nature of this moral reality, for example concerning its independence from the attitudes of actual or hypothetical agents, its reducibility to other aspects of reality and its relation to the natural world. Some characterizations of realism also include the claim that moral judgments are truth-apt and that some of them are true. These characterizations of realism are secondary to the one employed here, given that truth-aptness and truth can be understood via the notions of belief and accurate representation. As understood here, therefore, realism is not the view that moral judgments are truth-apt and sometimes true, but a particular theory of the semantic functioning of moral judgments that allows us to explain in what sense they are truth-apt and sometimes true. Opposed to realism are two kinds of antirealism. The first – error-theory – accepts cognitivism but denies the realists' metaphysical claim. Consequently all positive moral judgments are false, though they may be practically valuable in ways unconnected to their truth. The second – expressivism – denies that moral judgments express moral beliefs ( ̳non-cognitivism'). Instead the primary role of moral judgments is to express affective attitudes whose contents and expression play a distinctive role in the interpersonal co-ordination of attitude and action. According to expressivists, the distinctive import of moral judgments arises from such a cocoordinating role, not from expressing states that offer representations of the way the world might (morally) be. So understood, expressivism is prima facie consistent with moral judgments being truth-apt and sometimes true. At least, this possibility cannot be ruled out independently of a consideration of the debate concerning the nature of truth-aptness and truth. In what follows, therefore, the debate between realists and expressivists is assumed to to concern not the truth-aptness or truth of moral judgments, but the distinctive semantic and psychological function of those judgments. ̳The Pretensions of Moral Realism' Neil Sinclair 3 According to presumptive arguments for moral realism our moral practice possesses certain features which provide defeasible evidence for realism, since only realism can vindicate those features. Here ̳moral practice' refers to the use of a distinctive moral terminology – such as ̳morally good', ̳morally right', ̳just' and ̳cruel' – in public discourse, personal deliberation and any subsequent determination of or influence on action. Precisely what makes moral terminology (or the moral use of terminology) distinctive is beyond the scope of the present paper: for now it is sufficient that both realists and their opponents accept the existence of a distinctive moral practice defined by a distinctive moral vocabulary (or vacabulary in a distinntive moral use). Presumptive arguments can be further analysed into three distinct stages. (a) The first is a claim about the face-value of moral practice. The proponent of the argument claims that moral practice possesses certain experiential, linguistic or discursive forms and that those who engage in that practice make certain assumptions when doing so. (I shall refer to these forms and assumptions collectively as ̳features' of the practice.) Typical experiential forms include: the immediacy of moral experience and the apparent worldliness of such experience (that value-asexperienced is ̳out there' in the world, not a feature of ourselves). Typical linguistic and discursive forms include: the subject-predicate form of some moral sentences; their embedding in logical contexts such as negation; their embedding in other contexts such as those of explanation, propositional attitude attribution and truth attribution; their featuring in standard infererence patters, such as modus ponens. Typical assumptions include: that some actions are right, others wrong; that the rightness or wrongness of actions is not dependent on the responses of those judging them right or wrong; that the truth or falsity moral judgments is not dependent on the responses of those making the judgments; that there are correct answers to moral questions; that any given moral judgment may turn out to be false; that moral disagreement is possible; that moral discussion is sometimes a fruitful way of resolving moral disagreement; that moral claims can be supported by reasons. Some presumptive arguments focus exclusively on the experiential forms of moral practice and thus as a whole such arguments are sometimes labeled ̳arguments from phenomenology' (see Kirchin 2003 and Loeb 2007). Yet many of the features of moral practice are not easily described as phenomenological, so this label is only appropriate if ̳phenomenology' is broadly construed. Note also that each feature ̳The Pretensions of Moral Realism' Neil Sinclair 4 generates a distinct presumptive argument. Most realists employ a cluster of structurally identical presumptive arguments. (b) The second stage is to claim that only moral realism can take moral practice at face-value. That is, only realism can vindicate the forms and assumptions in question. To vindicate a form or assumption is to justify the continued engagement in a practice that exhibits that form or which makes that assumption. Any theory that fails to vindicate a form or assumption is ̳revisionary' and to that extent implausible. The precise content of the claim made at this second stage is often unclear. Sometimes it is that only realism can vindicate the features in question, so antirealism is necessarily revisionary. Sometimes it is the weaker claim that only realism can naturally vindicate these features, so antirealism offers an unnatural or substandard vindication. Sometimes it is the still weaker claim that only realism has so far vindicated the relevant features, so we cannot say for certain that antirealism is revisionary or unnatural, but we know that it is incomplete. This paper will not discuss arguments that employ this weakest claim, since they are necessarily hostage to further developments in our understanding of antirealism. Arguments that employ the first claim may be called ̳strong presumptive arguments', those that employ the second ̳weak presumptive arguments'. (c) The third stage of any presumptive argument is typically implicit but is necessary to secure validity. It is the claim that the face-value of moral practice requires saving. More precisely, it is the claim that the actual features of moral discourse are in need of vindication. 2 Without this assumption, the fact (if it is a fact) that only realism can (naturally) vindicate these features would not support realism, since it would not be a desideratum on any metaethical theory to do so. With this desideratum in place the fact (if it is a fact) that only realism can vindicate these features provides defeasible evidence in favor of realism. We have then, instructions for the presumptive argument three-step: (1) Moral practice has a certain face-value (2) Only realism can save that face-value (3) The 2 See Timmons 1999 p.12 and McNaughton 1988 pp.16, 64. Note that McNaughton and Timmons exp


Urbanisation has been recognized as a symbol of dev elopment as well as a burden over resources. The latter dimension is particularly so in developing countries since the process of urbanisation is very rapid. Rapid urbanisation rais es many issues which might have both positive and negative impacts on environment. The f ast tempo of urban population growth caused by migration from rural to urban area and sm all cities to large cities, ones are creating problems, like urban congestion, poor hous ing, crowded transportation, lack of basic services, ill health, low educational status and unemployment. Such problems in the developed countries may become acute from its curre nt state of being chronic. The observing urbanisation is vital role of planner, management, governmental and non-governmental organizations for implementing policies to optimize the use of natural resources and accommodate development at the same time minimizing the impact on the environment. The present research work is an attempt to understand t he level, trends and spatial patterns of urbanisation in India during 1991-2011.


Drilling rates continue to slow in the Permian basin in the United States, but fracking is even slower. This is bad news for frac sand sellers in the short term, but leaves a backlog of unfracked wells, which will need sand in the future.


The converter gas evaporative cooling system is mainly used for absorbing heat in the high temperature exhaust gas which produced by the oxygen blowing reaction. Vaporization cooling steam pressure control system of converter is a nonlinear, time-varying, lagging behind, close coupling of multivariable control object. This article based on the analysis of converter operation characteristics of evaporation cooling system, of vaporization in a production run of pipe pressure variation and disturbance factors.For the dynamic characteristics of the controlled objects,we have improved the conventional PID control scheme.In Oxygen blowing process, we make intelligent control by using fuzzy-PID cascade control method and adjusting the Lance,that it can realize the optimization of the boiler steam pressure control.By design simulation, results show that the design has a good control not only ensures drum steam pressure in the context of security, enabling efficient conversion of waste heat.And the converter of 1800 flue gas through pipes and cool and dust removal also can be cooled to about 800. Therefore the converter haze evaporative cooling system has achieved to the converter haze temperature decrease effect and enhanced to the coal gas returns-ratio.


Tourism is a development alternative for many localities. When the local is integrated by tourism products and a defined geographical area, there is a tourist destination. This destination goes through many stages from birth up to and decline or rejuvenation. The aim of this work is to identify in which stage of the life cycle of tourism destinations, as proposed by Butler (1980), is the municipality of Vila Flores, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. For this, an exploratory case study of qualitative and quantitative approach was carried out through semi-structured interviews with public and private initiatives. Subsequently, we used the statistical program SPSS Statistics 21, so that the same treat the data, and thus it was possible to verify most prominent phase at the destination in question. With this information it was possible to infer that the destination is the closest to the stage 1 Tauana Macedo de Paula – Mestranda no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Turismo e Hospitalidade da Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil. Currículo: http://lattes.cnpq.br/8351215569200694. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com 2 Gabriella Veridiana Stein – Mestranda no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Turismo e Hospitalidade da Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil. Currículo: http://lattes.cnpq.br/3521165247336783. Email: email@example.com 3 Marlei Salete Mecca – Doutor. Professor, pesquisador e orientador no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Turismo e Hospitalidade da Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil Currículo: http://lattes.cnpq.br/7671104429839034 E-mail: email@example.com


I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that the situations that gave rise to the declaration of a national emergency in Executive Order 13194 of January 18, 2001, with respect to Sierra Leone and the expansion of the scope of that emergency in Executive Order 13213 of May 22, 2001, with respect to Liberia, have been significantly altered given that in January 2002 the Government of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leonean rebel group Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone declared the war in Sierra Leone to have ended; the parties to the Liberian civil war entered into a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in August 2003; the RUF no longer exists as a military organization; Charles Taylor, who was the prime instigator of violence both in Sierra Leone and in Liberia, has resigned from the Liberian presidency and gone into exile; the Government of Sierra Leone has established a rough diamond certification regime that meets the minimum standards of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; and the United States has implemented the Clean Diamond Trade Act (Public Law 108-19), prohibiting the importation into the United States of rough diamonds that are not controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, currently including rough diamonds from Liberia. Accordingly, I hereby terminate the national emergency declared and expanded in scope in those two prior orders, revoke those orders, and further order:


The Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) are a small class of pulsars with spin periods in the 6–12 s range, very soft X–ray spectra, secular spin down on time scales of ∼ 10 3 − 10 5 years, and lack of bright optical counterparts. Two, possibly three, of them are close to the centre of shell-like supernova remnants. AXPs are one of the most enigmatic classes of galactic high-energy sources. Isolated neutron stars powered by the loss of rotational energy can be excluded on energetic grounds. The models based on neutron stars involve either accretion (perhaps from a fossil disk around an isolated neutron star) or the decay of a very strong magnetic field (10 14 − 10 15 G). We review the models and the observational properties of AXPs, including recent XMM-Newton and Chandra observations. We also present some unpublished ASCA data.


In the Dinarides ophiolites occur in two belts. The western belt, called Central Dinaric Ophiolite Belt (CDOB), is dominated by lherzolites and shows poorly developed igneous suites. The eastern belt corresponds to the Inner Dinaric Ophiolite Belt (IDOB), being better known as the Vardar Ophiolite Zone. This belt is characterized by harzburgite and dunite and has well developed igneous suites. The IDOB is segmented in two zones: the W zone stretches toward WNW meeting the CDOB in the Sava Zone. The E zone extends to the N and continues to the Apuseni ophiolites. The Krivaja-Konjuh ophiolite complex is 2 km thick, covers 250 km2 and represents the largest ophiolite complex in the CDOB. The complex is thrusted onto the Middle-Upper Jurassic ophiolite melange and is oversteped by Berriasian basinal Pogari Formation. It is segmented in two structural subunits: the western one consists of amalgamed blocks (Krivaja subunit) and the eastern represents the coherent synform (Konjuh subunit). The mantle peridotite, underlain by granulite to grenschist facies metamorphic sole, is predominant lithology. K-Ar data on amphiboles from the metamorphic sole amphibolites yielded age of 157 Ma. Mafic isotropic rocks and ultramafic cumulates are poorly developed. In the SE part of Konjuh subunit, pillow lavas are thrusted onto the unit which comprises massive dolerite, isotropic gabbroic rocks, ultramafic cumulates and tectonite peridotites in the top-bottom sequence. The lower part of the unit is occasionally intersected by thin mafic dikes. This rock pile was interpreted as completely preserved MORB-type ophiolite complex. However, our new field and geochemical data on the ophiolitic rocks from the SE part of Konjuh subunit, combined with the data for its N part, brought in different geotectonic interpretation of this rock association. In the pillow lavas and massive dolerites, clinopyroxene composition reveals MORB-like signatures whereas in the intersecting dikes it shows the composition akin to the clinopyroxene from volcanic arc settings. The intersecting dikes are composed of plagioclase (An73.0-22.3), tschermakite-magnesiohornblende, olivine (Fo58.1-59.8), orthopyroxene (Mg# = 55.5-69.6) which is typical assmblage of mafic rocks from the suprasubduction settings. In the mantle peridotites spinel shows composition [Mg# = 47.2-64.9 ; Cr# = 34.7-53.2] similar to the spinel compositions in the transitional harzburgites from the recent arc– basin systems represented by the South Sendwichs and Mariana Trough. However, plagioclase (An86.1-96.8) and/or pargasite metasomatism has introduced apparently lherzolitic major element compositions to the Konjuh massif transitional harzburgites. This could be the reason for classification of majority of Konjuh peridotites as lherzolites in the past. All minerals from the Konjuh transitional metasomatized harzburgites show significantly more depleted compositions when compared to the composition of equivalent minerals from the Krivaja-Konjuh lherzolites repoted in existing literature. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of referent rocks from the SE Konjuh ophiolite complex reveal diverse geochemical signatures. Pillow lava is LREE-enriched [(La/Yb)cn = 9.7] and shows OIB-like primitive mantle-normalized multi-element pattern [(Nb/Y)mn = 9.3] with high negative Pb- and Sr-anomalies These features are typical of ridge basalts erupted close to ocean islands. Massive dolerites have N-MORB REE patterns [(La/Yb)cn = 0.54-0.58] but show slight negative anomaly of all HFS elements suggesting formation in the back-arc ridge setting. Intersecting dikes show slightly LREE depleted to flat REE patterns [(La/Yb)cn = 0.61-0.95], significant negative Ta-Nb anomaly and slight negative anomaly of other all HFS elements. Boninite dike displays rather flat REE pattern at the 2-4 times chondrite concentration. The sample is typically high Mg (Mg# = 85.7) and low Ti and Zr (0.21 wt.% TiO2, wt.%, 5.3 ppm Zr) with other HFSE concentrations under the detection limit. The geochemical signatures clearly decipher that dike rocks intersecting the Konjuh ophiolite complex were generated in a suprasubduction setting. Mantle peridotite shows U-shaped REE pattern at normalized concentration level typical for metasomatized transitional harzburgite. Strong positive Eu-anomaly is consistent with plagioclase metasomatism which caused lherzolitic major element composition (2.4-2.5 wt.% Al2O3, 2.3-2.6 wt.% CaO). MORB-type ophiolite complex of the SE Konjuh was exclusively generated at the ridge, most likely in a back arc setting. The exact age of beginning of steady state crust production is not known yet. Near ridge lithospheric detachment, with the production of metamorphic sole, took place around 157 Ma ago (Oxfordian) indicating the incipient shortening in the Krivaja-Konjuh oceanic domain. Thereupon, the Konjuh lithospheric segment has been overridden by Krivaja segment forming a kind of primitive submerged intraoceanic arc existed till the Late Tithonian when the Krivaja-Konjuh unit was finally obducted onto Adriatic platform. During the Oxfordian-Tithonian period the overriden MORB-lithospheric plate, i.e. Konjuh ophiolite complex, was modified by extensive metasomatism of its mantle wedge. Minor build in of crust by IAT- and boninite-type dikes occurred concomitantly. Berriasian Pogari overstep complex containing fragments of the Jurassic ophiolitic rocks and Late Variscan granites clearly indicates Late Jurassic extinction of the Krivaja-Konjuh oceanic domain. Some oceanic segments of the Central Dinarides, like for the instance the Kozara domain, produced oceanic crust younger than 156 Ma. Those domains finally closed during the Late Cretaceous/Paleocene.


Ab initio multiconfiguration Hartree–Fock (MCHF) wave functions have been used to describe the electronic structure of vinoxy radical CH2CHO. The energy difference between the ground 2A\ state and the first excited 2A\ state is found to be 3.22 eV using a double zeta quality basis set, in good agreement with the observed transition at 3.57 eV. In addition, the calculations predict a near infrared electronic transition.


In this paper a lossless compression scheme is presented. In this scheme we have compared our newly proposed model with lossless predictive code (LPC) and differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) and we have shown how our model is more advantageous than LPC and DPCM. This newly proposed scheme for Huffman coding will achieve higher compression as we have reduced the mean value of the pixel in the error image tremendously as compared to LPC and DPCM. In other words the newly proposed algorithm proves a good means for lossless image compression.


Progress in nano-organic polymer materials were reviewed.The main characteristics of nano-materials,synthesis and applications were described.The development and application prospects of the nano-organic polymer material were prospected.


The California ribbed mussel Mytilus californianus (Conrad 1837) is a dominant intertidal species that ranges from Alaska (USA) to Baja California (Mexico) along the west coast of North America. Despite its broad latitudinal range, which results in populations living at widely different temperatures, multiple studies have concluded that this species is genetically homogenous. This may be due to high gene flow, which would inhibit local adaptation, and lack of strong post-settlement selection pressure, which would not favor shifts in allelic frequencies among sites. We investigated several physiological traits that show temperature-adaptive variation in other Mytilus species. We sampled populations of M. californianus at 7 sites across 33° of latitude to test for the possibility of local adaptation or phenotypic plasticity. Individuals acclimated to common conditions were examined for possible differences in whole-organism thermal tolerance. The most northern population (Tatoosh Island) had a significantly lower survival rate following an acute heat stress event than the other populations. Additional physiological processes were examined that affect thermal optima and limits: critical thermal maximum (Hcrit) of cardiac function and metabolic capacity (as indexed by tissue activity of an indicator enzyme, malate dehydrogenase). Tatoosh mussels had a significantly lower Hcrit than other sites, indicating that this population may be adapted to cooler conditions compared to other populations. Metabolic activity did not correlate with latitude of collection. Phenotypic plasticity at the adult stage did not explain differences in thermal tolerance. Thus, genetic differences (local adaptation or balanced polymorphism), developmental plasticity, maternal effects, or within-site thermal heterogeneity may be responsible for the observed variation among populations.


Objective To explore the impact of monocytes(MOs) stimulated by FⅫ on the invasion potential of EOC.Methods Monocytes isolated from female healthy donors were culture and stimulated with Factor Ⅻ for 12 h.Tumor associated macrophage(TAM) were derived from ascites of EOC.India ink engulfing test was used to detect phagocytic capacity of MOs stimulated by FⅫ.Invasive potential of EOC,including ES-2,SKOV-3,HO-8910 cells were investigated by Matrigel invasion assay.The signaling pathway involved in MOs activated by FⅫ were measured by Transfactor family Kits,including AP-1,STAT,Inflammation 1 and Oncogene 3.Results (1) The percentage of engulfing Indian ink were 0.66±0.04 in TAM and 0.36±0.03 in monocytes stimulated by FⅫ,which were significantly higher than that monocytes from healthy donors(0.27±0.018)(P0.01 and P=0.033).(2) ES-2 cells were shown more invasive cell number when the supernatant from MOs+Ⅻ was used as chemo-attractant(110.9±5.046),fewer than that of ascites group(157.5±14.86),but significantly more than that of negative control group in which cells were cultured with usual medium(39.14±10.91).When adding Centuximab into supernatants,decreased invasive cell numbers(42.43±9.097) were observed. Conclusion FⅫmight educate MOs differentiation toward TAM like cells,thus accelerated metastasis and invasion of EOC in the peritoneum.


Southeast Sulawesi is known to have a wide varieties of local cultivars of upland rice. Unfortunately, resistance of those local cultivars of upland rice to Curvularia oryzae , one of the most important pathogen in upland rice cultivation, has not been reported. Resistance evaluation conducted in the field showed that local cultivars (Pae Kori, Pae Endokadia, and Pae Enggalaru) have high level of resistance, developing lines B10580E and B11580E have moderate resistance, whereas B11577E and TB368B lines were susceptible to C. oryzae infection. Key words: Curvularia oryzae , disease resistance, upland rice


• In this paper, we propose Bayes estimators of the parameter of the exponentiated gamma distribution and associated reliability function under General Entropy loss function for a censored sample. The proposed estimators have been compared with the corresponding Bayes estimators obtained under squared error loss function and maximum likelihood estimators through their simulated risks (average loss over sample space). Key-Words: • exponentiated gamma distribution; General Entropy loss function; censored samples; Bayes estimators; simulated risks. AMS Subject Classification: • 62F15, 62F10. 248 Sanjay Kumar Singh, Umesh Singh and Dinesh Kumar Bayesian Estimation... under Asymmetric Loss Function 249


The main aim of this paper is to establish the sufficient conditions for the attraction of stochastic differential delay equations with Markovian switching by the It formula and local martingale convergence theorem;on the other hand,in order to get more beautiful results we add the more conditions,which product a new criteria on the boundedness of solution for these equations.


Objective. Comparison of the surgical treatment results in patients with SUI with the use of loop operations with prolen nets.


This paper examines and compares the security of ballot receipts in three end-to-end auditable (E2E) voting systems: Prêtà Voter, Punchscan, and Three-Ballot. Ballot receipts should have two properties: from a privacy perspective, they should provide no information as to how the ballot was cast, and from an integrity perspective, they should provide no information that would assist an adversary in tampering with the tallying process. We find that Prêtà Voter and Punchscan have similar security properties with respect to ballot receipts, and provide no non-negligible information on the receipt itself that could compromise privacy or security (assuming the underlying cryptography is secure). However we show that ThreeBal-lot receipts leak partial information that is useful for compromising voter privacy and the integrity of the tally.


In this paper, we present the performance of a multitone code division multiple access (MT-CDMA) system by analyzing the effect of coding. We use convolutionally coded substreams rather than serial-to-parallel converted data to modulate different subcarriers. The bit error rate bound for the decoding metric is derived. The coded and uncoded performance bounds are compared with respect to equal bandwidth, bit rate and other communication resources. We also present the performance trade-off for different coded modulation schemes. Our results indicate that the performance of an MT-CDMA is significantly improved when channel coding is applied.


The invention provides a concrete mixing truck adopting mixing drum and feed/discharge opening rotary sealing technology, which is characterized in that a rotation end (11) which synchronously rotates along a mixing drum (16) and has a feed/discharge hole is arranged at the feed/discharge end of the mixing drum (16); a fixing frame (2) is installed on a truck body (1), near the feed/discharge end of the mixing drum; a fixed end (10) with a feed/discharge hole is installed on the fixing frame (2) by way of floating connection; the rotation end (11) is connected with a feed/discharge mechanism (9) by the fixed end (10); and the feed/discharge hole of the fixed end (10), the feed/discharge hole of the rotation end (11) and a feed/discharge cavity of the feed/discharge mechanism (9) are communicated. Through reliable rotary sealing, the truck realizes rotary connection between the mixing drum and the feed/discharge end, satisfies the condition that the mixing drum is always in the rotating state during charging and finally realizes small-angle or horizontal arrangement of the mixing drum.


A low power, wideband transmitter architecture utilizing ΔΣ direct digital modulation of an RF carrier is presented. Spurious signals associated with direct digital-RF conversion are eliminated through integration of a self-tuned passive LC bandpass filter. The digital-RF modulator is intended for OFDM systems and can provide data rates greater than 1 Gb/s using a bandwidth of 200 MHz centered at 5.25 GHz. Measured results show that the largest modulator spur is -44 dBc. The transmitter, including LO quadrature generator, quadrature digital-RF converter, and filter circuitry, consumes 50 mW and occupies a die area of 0.56 mm2 in a 0.13μm SiGe BiCMOS process.


In order to investigate the effects of community structure on cascading invulnerability, in the frame of a community structure network, the initial load of the node was defined by its betweenness, and the load on the broken node was redistributed to its neighboring nodes according to the preferential probability. When the node with the largest load being intentionally attacked in the network, the relation of load exponent, coupling-strength in a community, coupling-strength between communities, modularity function and the network's invulnerability were studied. The results show that the network's cascading invulnerability is positively related with coupling-strength in a community, coupling-strength between communities and modularity function, negatively related with load exponent. With comparison to BA( Barabasi-Albert) scale-free network and WS( Watts-Strogatz) small-world networks, the result indicates that community structure lowers the network's cascading invulnerability, thus the more homogeneous betweenness distribution is, the stronger network's cascading invulnerability is.


In this chapter, we introduce an architecture framework called APOC (for "ActivatingProcessing-Observing-Components") for the analysis, evaluation, and design of complex agents. APOC provides a unified framework for the specification of agent architectures at different levels of abstraction. As such it permits intermediary levels of architectural specification between high-level functional descriptions and low-level mechanistic descriptions that can be used to connect these two levels in a systematic way.


The coordinated control of vehicle actuators is gaining more importance as new platforms are becoming available, with chassis endowed with many different actuators that may help controlling the vehicle motion. Further, in-wheel motors (IWMs) allow using a single system to apply both positive and negative torques at the wheels, which can be actuated independently one from the other. In electric vehicles (EVs), moreover, such a freedom in the actuation mechanisms opens the way to the combined optimization of performance and energy consumption issues. In this paper, the problem of torque allocation for maximizing the vehicle performance in EVs is addressed. The proposed strategy is compared against a benchmark, a-causal optimal solution showing that only a negligible loss of performance is experienced.


This study examines the phenomenon of work/family backlash by comparing attitudes between employees who have used and those who have not used an organization's work/family benefits. Exploring this phenomenon is important because organizations do not want to offer benefits that create negative reactions in those excluded from using them or those choosing not to use them. Findings indicate no significant differences in attitudes between users and nonusers toward turnover intention, affective, continuance and normative commitment, recruitment and retention benefits, work/family fairness and attitudes toward male and female users of work/family benefits. Nonusers were more likely to be younger and without children, indicating they might have little use for work/family benefits. The findings suggest work/family backlash might be more a case of media hype and provide support for a needs-based allocation perspective being used by nonusers of work/family benefits.


The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh has launched career guidance groups for surgeons. The "professional excellence groups" will provide guidance for surgeons on career progression and …


1. THE RENT-MINIMIZING SPATIAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL WITH POLLUTION TAXES ON COAL C. W. Yang, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania, USA Tony R. Johns, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania, USA M. J. Hwang, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA Ken Hung, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, TAIWAN ABSTRACT Since the sulfur emission tax is a critical environmental issue, the impact of such a tax plays an important role in implementing a socially desirable policy especially in the presence of the North American Free Trade Agreement. A rent-minimization spatial equilibrium model is implemented to the U.S. coal market with an assessed 20% and 50% pollution tax to all the coal-producing regions. It is found that the U.S. coal market would be disintegrated into four independent submarkets. The significant decrease in interregional trade would lead to an increased level of autarky in the U.S. coal market. In addition, it would give rise to the lower efficiency level due to such pollution taxes.


This paper solves the acoustic wave equation for a pressure field generated by acceleration of a train in a circular tunnel of infinite length. The motion of the train is taken into account through the source term of the equation in the form of a pair of positive and negative monopoles, moving along a center axis of the tunnel, whose velocity is given by a step function of time. The solution is presented in the form of the eigenfunction-expansion and is evaluated asymptotically. The pressure field consists of the steady part due to the train moving constantly and of the transient part due to the impulsive acceleration by the step function. The former is simply the subsonic flow field around the train, while the latter is characterized by propagation of singular surfaces which are generated by the initial acceleration in the form of spherical wavefront and are reflected repeatedly at the cylindrical tunnel wall. The singularity is classified into two types, one being the type of a delta function and the other of a cotangent function. Intersections of the singular surfaces with a plane containing the axis exhibit a "diamond pattern". It is shown that this pattern disappears eventually and a distant field settles down to the one-dimensional field calculated simply by the wave equation averaged over the tunnel's cross-section.


The uncloseness of a spiral electric current is analysed in a very long spiral tube,and the equivalent current in its axis and the magnetic fieid are computed further.


2552 Background: We previously demonstrated the safety and efficacy of HLA-haploidentical blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) administered in the absence of preparative therapy to patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (J Clin Oncol 21:3785-91.2003). The efficacy of this therapy is evaluated further in patients with advanced malignancies.

METHODS
Patients with advanced malignancies who had HLA- haploidentical donors were enrolled. Donors underwent 12-15 L leukapheresis. MNCs were processed by irradiation (25 Gy) and immediately infused. Disease evaluation was undertaken every 8 weeks. Repeat infusions were given every 8 weeks until disease progression.

RESULTS
30 patients with diverse diagnoses, including 9 patients with a hematological malignancy were treated. Three of 13 patients with RCC had disease response, and 1 of 2 patients with melanoma had a mixed response. A patient with imatinib mesylate-refractory chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) had a transient response. A patient with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) had disease response in conjunction with therapy. Treatment was associated with minimal toxicity and radiographic responses in patients with RCC did not occur until after 2-3 treatments. Host CD8+ cells reactive with the Pr-1 peptide of proteinase 3 were induced in association with disease response in a patient with AML. Additional studies identifying disease targets and mechanisms by which infusion of irradiated HLA-haploidentical cells are associated with disease response are ongoing.

CONCLUSIONS
Disease response is seen with irradiated allogeneic MNCs administered outside the context of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Evidence for anti-tumor activity is seen in isolated patients with RCC, melanoma, CML and AML. The temporal nature of the response in RCC in combination with the very limited survival of the infused cells raises the possibility of induction of a host-mediated anti-tumor effect. This hypothesis is supported by induction of host CD8+ T cells reactive with a tumor-associated peptide in a patient with AML. Given the lack of toxicity, broad availability of related haploidentical donors and the relative low financial cost, this form of cellular therapy should be developed further. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


This paper outlines the data that is required from various sources and methods to quantify the safety level of road traffic in establishing a road safety assessment system. The system measures visibility range road conditions, wind speeds and other meteorological parameters.


Abstract This article presents a description and interim evaluation of an experimental accelerated master's degree program. The program is designed for students whose undergraduate preparation, work experience, and performance on a qualifying examination suggest that they can benefit from a curriculum that builds directly upon their previous educational and work experience.


We consider convex, stochastic programs involving no sequential decision making. It is shown that constraint qualifications of standard type ensure the existence of exact penalty functions. If data are also concave with respect to random parameters whose joint distribution majorities a scaled version of the uniform measure, then a particular penalty function is brought to the fore which is likely to be of practical interest,Its attraction comes mainly from the relative ease with which one can determine the size of an appropriate penalty parameter.


The objective is to detect Novel Social Distancing using Local Binary Pattern (LBP) in comparison with Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Social Distance deduction is performed using Local Binary Pattern(N=20) and Principal Component Analysis(N=20) algorithms. Google AI open Images dataset is used for image detection. Dataset contains more than 10,000 images. Accuracy of Principal Component Analysis is 89.8% and Local Binary Pattern is 93.9%. There exists a statistical significant difference between LBP and PCA with (p<0.05). Local Binary Pattern appears to perform significantly better than Principal Component Analysis for Social Distancing Detection. © 2023 Author(s).


This thesis maps and describes the transformation of architecture of financial institutions
buildings in Northern Bohemia during the period 1880–1948. Within the research the
elaborated catalog presents a selection of the most interesting North Bohemian buildings and
their creators. Attention is also focused on how nationalism was reflected in the artistic
iconography of financial institutions.


Myelin is a membrane structure enabling saltatory conduction of action potential and is formed by oligodendrocytes in the CNS. In chronic demyelinating lesions in the multiple sclerosis (MS) patient brain, oligodendrocyte precursor cells are found abundantly, and moreover pre-myelinating oligodendrocytes are also found, but they somehow fail to achieve terminal differentiation into myelinforming oligodendrocytes. We have been searching for molecules that inhibit maturation/survival of oligodendrocytes in chronic demyelinated lesions.We found that cystatin F (CysF), a cysteine protease inhibitor, is expressed in microglia during remyelinating stage and the expression level decreased when chronic demyelinated lesions appeared. CysF mRNA expression was induced when microglia phagocytosed myelin debris. Interestingly, CysF mRNA expression was not induced during normal developmental stages or hypoglossal nerve injury, which results in the Wallerian degeneration. CysF is expressed in some immune cells but not in infiltrating T cells in the demyelinating lesions of MOG induced EAE model. In addition, the expression pattern of cathepsin C (CatC) which is the target of CysF was similar to that of CysF in remyelinating regions but we found CatC+/CysFregions in chronic demyelinated lesions. Additionally, we found that CatC is expressed in microglia and CatC co-localized with that of CysF in primary cultured microglia. It is reported that CatC is involved in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Together, we propose that CysF, which is expressed in microglia, dominates the activity of CatC that directs the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the re-myelinating phase of demyelinating lesions. Journal of Neurochemistry (2012), 123 (Suppl. 1), 3–16 doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2012.07902.x


The Research on Collegian Pioneering Competency Model is based on scientific analysis of document database and interview.Statistical questionnaires are designed to do sampling survey.Conducted by project analysis and factor analysis and reliability test,this model is constructed with weighted value ranked in high-low order: ①managerial and administrative expertise;②service attitude and quality;③leadership;④achievement orientation;⑤capability of controlling the market;⑥focus on customer and performance level;⑦skill of cultivating good relationship.


LIU Zongyuan , a widely accepted litterateur and politician by Chinese academics , has contributed both intellectually and practically to human settlements in ancient China.Between the year of 805 and 815 in particular , when he was banished to Yongzhou , LIU Tzu participated in many human settlement projects and was known to plan and design his own places.During that period of time , he also disclosed and named quite a few rarely known sceneries and described them in his articles , and even redeveloped and reconstructed some of them.Owing to such rich experience , LIU Tzu could give an insightful reflection on the building of artificial and natural environment in terms of definition , significance , features and approaches. Comprehensive ideas of Human Settlements were therefore formed and introduced by agreat number of his narratives in this period.Based on analysis and interpretation of those historical documents as well as field research in Yongzhou , the author here attempts to outline LIU Tzu'sideas of human settlements and to represent his main viewpoints and design approaches.The main objective of this exploration is to discover those profoundintellectual pioneers who have made significant contribution to the construction of human settlements , to renew the essences of their thoughts , and to provide historical reference and inherited insights for thecontemporary human settlements planning and design.


In this paper the mixing of a sample in the curved microchannel with heterogeneous surface potentials is analysed numerically by using the control-volume-based finite difference method. The rigorous models for describing the wall potential and external potential are solved to get the distribution of wall potential and external potential, then momentum equation is solved to get the fully developed flow field. Finally the mass transport equation is solved to get the concentration field. The results show that the curved microchannel has an optimized capability of sample mixing and transport when the heterogeneous surface is located at the left conjunction between the curved part and straight part. The variation of heterogeneous surface potential ψn has more influence on the capability of sample mixing than on that of sample transport. The ratio of the curved microchannel's radius to width has a comparable effect on the capability of sample mixing and transport. The conclusions above are helpful to the optimization of the design of microfluidic devices for the improvement of the efficiency of sample mixing.


Exploring of hydrogen source from renewable biomass, such as glucose in alkaline solution, for hydrogenation reactions had been studied since 1860s. According to proposed pathway, only small part of hydrogen source in glucose was utilized. Herein, the utilization of a hydrogen source from renewable lignocellulosic biomass, one of the most abundant renewable sources in nature, for a hydrogenation reaction is described. The hydrogenation is demonstrated by reduction of nitroarenes to arylamines in up to 95 % yields. Mechanism studies suggest that the hydrogenation occurs via a hydrogen transformation pathway.


The dynamic time domain response of the converse magnetoelectric effect in a multiferroic Metglas®/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) heterostructure, under the application of a square waveform electric field excitation of 8 kV/cm at a frequency of 0.4 Hz, is reported. The relaxation behavior followed a stretched power-law function allowing the calculation of an intrinsic time constant. Aging behavior of magnetoelectric coupling was observed after polarization switching of 1000 cycles. These phenomena are predominantly attributed to the temporal response of polarization within the PMN-PT crystal. Results elucidate the dynamic properties of relaxor-based multiferroic heterostructures and importantly define operational constraints for low frequency device operation.


Single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) reactions are discussed as a specific case of solid-state reactions. Some shortcomings in the contemporary use of the term are revealed, and directions for research and interpretation of results are suggested.


This paper presents an interactive educative tool for the antennas design. Since time ago, new methods for bringing near the theory to the student and make it understandable had been searched at universities. The proposed tool is an innovative electronic book for antenna theory which gets it by two differential characteristics: Interactivity and animations. The interactivity consists on set up a "prove bank" where the student, incited by some guide commentaries, can make modifications and see what is its effect on the results, which are showed and plotted in different formats. Animations bring the opportunity to the student of watching the evolution of some parameters with time or any other variable. The present paper shows the book structure as well as some examples of the working document.


Observations acquired from space contribute significantly to scientific understanding of the Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere alters electromagnetic radiation, propagating through it in such a way that atmospheric properties can be gleaned from the interaction. Observations are broadly characterized into "active" and "passive" types, according to the source of the radiant energy.


Cryoglobulinemia is a condition characterized by the presence of serum proteins that reversibly precipitate in the cold. Cryoglobulins are classified into three types: Type I consists of single monoclonal immunoglobulins without rheumatoid factor (RF) activity that are predominantly associated with malignant conditions of the immunesystems; Type II and Type III are mixed cryoglobulins (1). Type II consists of polyclonal immunoglobulins and monoclonal immunoglobulins (usually, IgG and monoclonal IgM RF), and Type III consists of two or more polyclonal immunoglobulins. Clinically, mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) has been made up of the essential MC,which is idiopathic, and secondary to various diseases, such as infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and malignant conditions. The finding of a significantly high frequency of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in essential MCwas first reported in 1990 (2). Since then, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies has reportedly been estimated at 42 to 100%in patients with essential MC,and the percentage of HCV-RNApositive patients has been 63 to 100%in those patients (3). On the other hand, in 37 to 54% of patients with HCVinfection, cryoglobulins were detected (4, 5). It has been found recently that peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes, especially B lymphocytes, can be the site for extrahepatic viral replication of HCV(6). Therefore, it has been suggested that in patients with chronic HCVinfection, direct active viral replication in B lymphocytes may induce the activation of clones of B cells and abnormal production of polyclonal RFs. In addition, unidentified factors might induce the switch to the production of monoclonal IgM RFs. Monoclonal IgM RFs binding to circulating polyclonal IgG or anti-HCV antibodies may play a role in the vascular and/or renal lesions (7). Recently, a high prevalence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies in MCwith HCVinfection was reported, and it suggested that these antibodies might be one of the causes of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (8). MCis a systemic disorder characterized by a typical triad: purpura, asthenia and arthralgia, and by severe vasculitis with involvement of kidneys, liver, nerves, and brain. Renal symptoms are usually a late manifestation of type II MC. Proteinuria with microscopic hematuria is the most frequent presenting renal syndrome, and is sometimes associated with signs of moderate chronic renal insufficiency (9). The histological finding is of a membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), with monocytes and neutrophil infiltration, and sometimes with a lobular pattern. Glomerular capillary thrombi or pseudothrombi, which consist of cryoglobulins or subendothelial deposits, are sometimes seen. Immunofluorescence examinatioin shows subendothelial deposits of IgM, IgG, and C3, sometimes segmental (10). On the other hand, it was reported that HCV-infected patients with or without cryoglobulinemia showed MPGN,but IgM-RFs was detected in all of those patients (1 1). In the experimental mouse model recently developed, MPGNcould be induced by intravenous injection of solublized cryoglobulins from patients with MPGNand HCV infection; still, intravenous injection of IgM-K isolated from these cryoglobulins could lead to MPGN( 1 2). Therefore, HCV, anti-HCV antibodies, and monoclonal IgM RFs may relate to the vascular and/or renal lesions. Peripheral neuropathy associated MChas been widely reported since the first description (13). On histological examination, peripheral neuropathy has been classified into three types: axonopathy (axonal degeneration), myelinopathy (segmental demyelination), and interstitial neuropathy. MCpatients clinically present as polyneuropathies, sometimes as multifocal mononeuropathies, while axonopathy pattern is predominant on the electrophysiological and/or the histological examination (14). This axonal degeneration is thought to be due to ischemia following endoneural microangiopathy and vasculitis of epineural arteries (15). In MCpatients with HCVinfection, polyneuropathies or multifocal mononeuropathiescaused by sensory axonopathies were observed as the same as essential MC(16). However, compared with MCpatients without anti-HCVantibodies, neuropathies were more severe, because of motor involvement, and in addition, vasculitis and alterations of endoneural microvessels were more frequently observed (16). On the other hand, a rare case of cryoglobulinemic neuropathy, presenting myelinopathy, with HCVinfection was reported in this journal (17).


Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) is one of the methods of hydroponic system which use a circulated water containing nutrient as a growing media of plant. The important parameter in NFT that affect the plant growth are electrical conductivity (EC) and pH that should be maintain in prescribed range that depend on plant types. In this study, we implement the fuzzy logic to control the EC and pH condition of the NFT-based hydroponic system in Internet of Things (IoT) system environment. By using IoT consist of wireless sensor network, data logger, machine-to-machine and actuator (pump), we can remotely controlling and monitoring all parameters through internet network, that can be applied to scattered area. The experiment based on proportional small scale process which consist of four controlled tanks (nutrient A, nutrient B, acid solution, and alkaline solution) and one mixing tank with adjustable flow pump by using 12 rules fuzzy logic. Parameter EC and pH are maintained in range defined according to the input range given. The required time to recover the EC and pH from outside range to within the defined range is about 15 minutes.


The effect of enamel matrix proteins on the seeded growth of enamel apatite crystals was studied in stable supersaturated solutions at pH 7.4 and 37°C. Of the two major protein classes in the enamel matrix, the enamelins were considerably more effective than the amelogenins in retarding seeded growth. However, the amelogenin species that did show significant inhibitory activity are those known to be lost first from the enamel matrix during the rapid mineralization stage of enamel maturation.


This paper describes the concept and the design features of a new, oilfree, reciprocating high pressure compressor for technical gases. The compressor is unique in concept and design, and introduces various new design elements. A magnetic coupling makes the compressor hermetic and allows inlet pressures of up to 16 bar. A new kind of clearance seal in the high-pressure stages allows reliable oilfree compression up to 310 bar. Due to the mass balanced scotch yoke drive the compressor operates very smooth and almost vibrationless.


The growth of regional TFP is always an important subject of the regional economy research in China.Previous studies focused mainly on the influences caused by institutional changes and RD input.Few attentions are paid to spatial neighbor effect,that is,the effect caused by the development of adjacent regions.By constructing spatial neighbor variables,this paper analyzes spatiall neighbor effect of Provinces' TFP in China,which bases on panel data of 28 provinces/cities from 1989 to 2007.The result shows that 16.7% of the growth of regional TFP can be attributed to the adjacent regions.The result provides a reasonable account for the coordination on adjacent regions' economic plans and policies.


Since the concept of ''structural efficiency'' first appeared in Farrell [Farrell, M.J., 1957. The measurement of productive efficiency. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, Part III 120, 253–281], attempts have been made to derive measures for the performance of a group of production units (often referred to an industry with many firms). Many empirical studies used the technical efficiency of an average unit to measure the structural efficiency of a group, but researchers have been puzzled by the discrepancies between the average of individual efficiency scores and the performance of the group as a whole. In this paper, we point out that the ''shadow price model'' provides a useful framework for understanding the economic meaning of the structural efficiency as well as its components. By recognizing these components, the puzzles related to the inconsistencies between the individual and group performance can be solved readily. 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


Estimating the position of people in an indoor WLAN environment poses a fundamental challenge in ubiquitous computing. By using Wi-Fi, it is possible to determine the position of people or assets with good accuracy. K Nearest Neighbors (KNN) is one of the most popular deterministic location fingerprinting algorithms generally used for WLAN-based indoor positioning. As KNN takes only the K nearest neighbors for estimating a position, in some cases it may not obtain satisfied accuracy because of the indoor environment factors such as reflections, diffraction, and scattering of the radio waves. In this paper, we propose a novel method named Predicted K Nearest Neighbors (PKNN) which estimates the current position of a mobile user not only by using K found neighbors but also by utilizing its previous positions and speed. With experiments, we found that PKNN does outperform KNN by 33% or at mean 1.3 meter improvement in error.


A 52‐year old patient presented with lymphedema, protein loosing enteropathy, and sclerosing cholangitis and was diagnosed with lymphedema cholestasis syndrome (LCS). Cholangioscopy revealed dilated lymphatic vessels obstructing the bile duct and compound heterozygosity for collagen and calcium‐binding epidermal growth factor domain‐containing protein 1 (CCBE1) mutations was identified defining a novel type of LCS. (Hepatology 2017;66:286–288).


We present a new method for spatial harmonic analysis of EEG data using the eigenspace of the Laplace-Beltrami operator of the meshed surface of electrode positions. Several approaches to discretize the Laplace-Beltrami operator are examined. We apply the proposed method to data sets from EEG experiment addressing cortical activation related to somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP). The experiment employed an electrical stimulus of the nervus medianus according to IFCN standards using 256 EEG channels. The recorded EEG data are decomposed by projection in the space of the spatial harmonic basis functions.


The distinct era when Nalan Xingde lived, coupled with his idiographic process of mentalities and temperaments, rendered his CI unique in that they were devoid of unconstrained and energetic genre in the traditional CI of describing frontier life, and instead, were fraught with gentle, soft, and lovely elegances. The amazing juxtaposition of masculine landscape of the frontier and the writer's haunting pathos, and the subtle combination of subject matter for the frontier and graceful writing style, demonstrated his transcendent and unconventional CI style. The junction lied in that his understanding and expression of feelings were affected by the outlook on feelings in the late Ming Dynasty-set store by feelings, deepen feelings, and unfetter feelings. Therefore, he consciously sublimated significance of CI style and placed the description of boudoir-related feelings in the center of his CI,which suggested what concerned him was full expression of feelings rather than retention of frontier scenery, which was only viewed as a broad setting to utter feelings.


A new design of a Fabry-Perot etalon for reducing temperature dependence is proposed and demonstrated. An experiment using a 60-/spl mu/m-thick etalon with a 13-nm free-spectral range at 1550-nm wavelength showed that the wavelength at resonance observed in the transmission spectrum was very stable and stayed within a range of 0.02 nm over a temperature range from 5/spl deg/C to 85/spl deg/C.


The switching power supply device is provided with a high-withstand voltage first transistor, a first electrode of which being connected to a first node; a low-withstand voltage second transistor, a first electrode of which being connected to a second electrode of the first transistor, and a second electrode of which being connected to a second node; and a drive circuit. Each of the first and second transistors has a parasitic diode connected in the forward direction between the second and first electrodes. The drive circuit, in a case where electrical current is to flow from the first node to the second node, turns on the first and second transistors, and, in a case where electrical current is to flow from the second node to the first node, turns on the first transistor, and turns off the second transistor.


Podcasts are available in a broad range of formats and content, and by a variety of producers. There are unique challenges with podcast recommendations that make it hard for users to distinguish between podcast episodes, and choose the right podcast to listen to. We see an opportunity to explain recommendations to users in order to help them make decisions about what to listen to. In this work, we study the characteristics of podcasts that make them different from each other. Based on a formative study with podcast experts, we find that host/guest information, format, length, and "vibe" are dimensions that constitute differences among podcasts. In a user study, we tested how highlighting such dimensions with explanatory labels impact users in a podcast selection task.


The majority of animals that hear sound do so by detecting the minute fluctuations in the velocity of the medium. They do this by sensing the deflection of thin hairs that are driven by viscous forces in the acoustic medium. This is in contrast to the detection of sound pressure, as is used in some animals, including humans. Nearly all microphones respond to sound through the use of a thin diaphragm or membrane designed to experience a net fluctuating pressure in a sound field. Here, we explore technologies for achieving precise detection of sound using a mechanical structure that is driven by viscous forces associated with the fluctuating velocity of the medium. In one example, this has been shown to result in a directional microphone with flat response from 1 Hz to 50 kHz [Zhou et al., "Sensing fluctuating airflow with spider silk," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 201710559(2017)]. Methods of creating extremely compliant, viscous-driven velocity sensors are discussed along with a new technique for capacitive transduction to achieve an electronic output.The majority of animals that hear sound do so by detecting the minute fluctuations in the velocity of the medium. They do this by sensing the deflection of thin hairs that are driven by viscous forces in the acoustic medium. This is in contrast to the detection of sound pressure, as is used in some animals, including humans. Nearly all microphones respond to sound through the use of a thin diaphragm or membrane designed to experience a net fluctuating pressure in a sound field. Here, we explore technologies for achieving precise detection of sound using a mechanical structure that is driven by viscous forces associated with the fluctuating velocity of the medium. In one example, this has been shown to result in a directional microphone with flat response from 1 Hz to 50 kHz [Zhou et al., "Sensing fluctuating airflow with spider silk," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 201710559(2017)]. Methods of creating extremely compliant, viscous-driven velocity sensors are discussed along with a new technique for capacitive tr...


Discovering the Vision in Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" Message: Applying Bormann's Fantasy Theme Analysis to Evaluate the Message. Beth Moore, Christian speaker and author, has become a prominent figure in Christian circles. She ministers to over a million people a year with her messages. Breaking Free is her "life message." This project analyzes 6 of 11 messages from Breaking Free. Using Bormann's Fantasy Theme Analysis, seven fantasies emerged from the messages, which yielded a rhetorical vision that describes what Beth Moore believes a woman should be like after hearing her message. After that analysis, the fantasies where compared to evangelical Christian doctrine. That analysis determined that Moore's underlying message is valid and acceptable to the Christian audience she is trying to minister too.


For today's high volume production in the automotive industry, resistance spot welding and laser remote welding, while well established, present pro's and con's. For laser remote welding the main advantage is the significant cycle time reduction due to almost complete elimination of idle times and the advantages of laser welded seams. For resistance spot welding an advantage is the integrated clamping technology, which comes nearly for free. IPG Laser GmbH has combined these advantages in a new technology, offering the resistance spot welding process, featuring the simplicity of clamping tools and production facilities, used in combination with the advantages of laser welding.For today's high volume production in the automotive industry, resistance spot welding and laser remote welding, while well established, present pro's and con's. For laser remote welding the main advantage is the significant cycle time reduction due to almost complete elimination of idle times and the advantages of laser welded seams. For resistance spot welding an advantage is the integrated clamping technology, which comes nearly for free. IPG Laser GmbH has combined these advantages in a new technology, offering the resistance spot welding process, featuring the simplicity of clamping tools and production facilities, used in combination with the advantages of laser welding.


The inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus into the tibial marrow cavity of rabbits following tibial fracture and rod insertion, as well as into the rodded tibia without fracture, results in chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis in a high percentage of the animals. Staphylococci were easily recovered from the tibial marrow cavity for as long as eighteen months after onset of the infection. This model closely resembles the human disease in which chronic osteomyelitis develops as a complication of internal fixation devices, and provides a reliable method for evaluating various specific approaches to the treatment of this difficult problem in management.


Automated Enforcement System (AES) was finally implemented in Malaysia in September 2013. Currently the AES cameras are able to detect the violation of speeding and red light running. At the early stage, the cameras were installed at 14 locations; 10 locations for speeding violation and four locations for red light running. Four studies were carried out in order to assess the effectiveness of the programme. The studies were related to observation of compliance with speed limit and traffic light as well as the perception and acceptance of road users towards the AES implementation. The studies were carried out before and after the programme implementation. The studies reveal that before the AES cameras were installed, the compliance with speed limit was on average of 63% on weekdays and it increased to 91% after camera installation. Meanwhile the analysis on the weekends shows 60% speed limit compliance but increased to 90% after AES implementation. A statistical analysis was conducted and it proved that the increase in speed limit compliance is statistically significant at four locations on weekdays and five locations on weekends. The red light running violation was at 4.3% during the before period and decreased to 2.2% after the camera was installed. The survey studies among road users show a positive change among drivers in terms of the speed limit and traffic light compliance after the implementation of AES camera at the study locations. Before the AES implementation, a majority of respondents considered the likelihood of being summoned for speeding and red light running was less than 70%.


Relative to its size (65,230 km 2 ), Sri Lanka has a significantly richer freshwater crab diversity than other tropical Asian countries. Recent and on-going exploration and studies have shown that the island has 51 species of freshwater crabs of the family Parathelphusidae, all of which are endemic, and this number is expected to rise as exploration continues. Approximately 80% of crab species are restricted to the island's rain- forested south-western 'wet zone' quarter (which includes the central mountains) that, however, represents only a quarter of the territory. High human population density (~ 700 km -2 ); the survival of only a small extent (~ 800 km 2 ) of undisturbed habitat; extreme fragmentation; and poor sloping-land use practices are identified as the principal threats to Sri Lanka's carcinofauna, together with unregulated pesticide use regimes. The conservation status of each of the 51 species is assessed (based primarily on Extent of Occurrence) against the IUCN (2001) Red List criteria. We conclude that 23 species are Critically Endangered, 8 Endangered, 6 Vulnerable, 8 Near Threatened and 6 Least Concern. The present study is a first step toward developing a conservation strategy for this fauna; the results may be utilized by IUCN for future Red Lists; and for the purpose of developing a conservation strategy for Sri Lanka's threatened carcinofauna.


Landslides are one of the most important types of natural hazards during monsoon in the Himalayan mountainous region of India. These affect adversely both human and animal lives, cause enormous damage to properties, and blocks communication within and outside the region and lead to an additional financial burden on the state and national economy. The occurrence and intensity of landslides have increased enormously during the last two decades in Uttarakhand. Landslide hazard zonation mapping is, thus, one of the important issues for urban and rural development planning in the state in general and mountainous region, in particular. This paper presents the outcome of the study conducted along the Yamuna and Bhagirathi (Ganges) river valleys in Uttarkashi district that suffers frequent landslides every year. The main source of the data for this study consists of Survey of India Topographical sheet, geological map, Cartosat DEM and ground control points (GCPs) of previous landslide locations occurred in September 2010. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and MultiCriteria Evaluation (MCE) techniques have used to evaluate the stability of landslide disaster to produce landslide hazard zonation map. ArcGIS, Global Mapper, Google Earth pro, and Microsoft Excel software were used to generate various thematic layers and statistical analyses, respectively. Six parameters, i.e., land use land cover, road proximity, drainage, geology, slope and landslide locations were used for hazard zonation. The zonation designates into five categories, viz., "very low hazard", "low hazard", "moderate hazard", "high hazard" and "very high hazard". The generated thematic maps of these parameters were standardized using pairwise comparison matrix known as AHP. A weight for each criterion was generated by comparing them with each other according to their importance. The final hazard zonation analysis revealed that a large part (26.33%) area of these tehsil falls under very high to high hazard zone, 16.93% in moderate hazard zone, 8.58% in low hazard zone and 48.16% under very low hazard zones. Such hazard zonation maps provide guidelines to develop master plan for the town planning for its sustainable development. The very low hazard zone represents slope between 0-15°, land use either a wasteland with a scrub or without scrub, distance to road proximity is 50 m and drainage distance proximity 50m. This study evidences significance of the use of a GIS database created from existing digital map, satellite data, AHP, MCE technique and field investigations for the assessment of landslide hazard zones in disaster prone Himalayan mountainous region.