In this article, the author replies to the comments made by Van Dijk, Fairclough and Martin on 'The Language of Critical Discourse Analysis'. The author also discusses at greater length the background to his concerns with current styles of academic writing. The author suggests that the problems with 'nominalization' and 'passivization' are wider than particular cases of abuse as Van Dijk suggests. The author discusses how analysts typically use 'nominalization' imprecisely, employing this same word to denote linguistic entities as well as processes of very different kinds. In replying to Fairclough, the author also points out that some linguists use 'nominalization' to refer to supposed linguistic 'processes' which are not, in fact, processes at all. In consequence, the use of technical terminology, far from leading to greater precision, has led to imprecision and to analysts avoiding basic issues. The author argues that it is important to understand what speakers/writers do with language. Technical nominals, which turn actions into 'things', are often poorly equipped for this task, especially when analysts use technical nouns in place of examining precisely what sorts of actions speakers/writers are performing. The author discusses why the current economic conditions of academic life encourage jargon-filled, technical writing and why, for ideological reasons, academics should resist the pressure to use heavy, nominal-based jargon.


AIM
To report a study of the effects of protein-energy malnutrition on the functional recovery of older people with hip fracture who participated in an interdisciplinary intervention.

BACKGROUND
It is not clear whether protein-energy malnutrition is associated with worse functional outcomes or it affects the interdisciplinary intervention program on the functional recovery of older people with hip fracture.

DESIGN
A randomized experimental design.

METHODS
Data were collected between 2002-2006 from older people with hip fracture (N = 162) in Taiwan. The generalized estimating equations approach was used to evaluate the effect of malnutrition on the functional recovery of older people with hip fracture.

RESULTS
The majority of older patients with hip fracture were malnourished (48/80, 60% in the experimental group vs. 55/82, 67% in the control group) prior to hospital discharge. The results of the generalized estimating equations analysis demonstrated that subjects suffering from protein-energy malnutrition prior to hospital discharge appeared to have significantly worse performance trajectories for their activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and recovery of walking ability compared with those without protein-energy malnutrition. In addition, it was found that the intervention is more effective on the performance of activities of daily living and recovery of walking ability in malnourished patients than in non-malnourished patients.

CONCLUSION
Healthcare providers should develop a nutritional assessment/management system in their interdisciplinary intervention program to improve the functional recovery of older people with hip fracture.


This paper presents a new method of the phase design for the digital allpass network utilizing the eigenvalue problem. The proposed design method considers the phase error between the phase response of the allpass network to be realized and the ideal phase response. The design problem is formulated as an eigenvalue problem based on the Remez algorithm. By calculating the eigenvector corresponding to the maximum eigenvalue, the filter coefficients are determined and the optimal approximate solution is obtained by iterative calculation.

In the design method, the eigenvector corresponding to the maximum eigenvalue is calculated to determine the filter coefficients so that the phase error is minimized. Consequently, the convergence of the design algorithm is guaranteed. Usually, the optimal approximate solution is obtained by several times of iterations. The error-ratio of the phase characteristics can be set arbitrarily, and the stability of the filter is ensured.

Finally, the method is extended to the phase design for the digital allpass network with complex coefficients, several design examples are shown, and the usefulness of the proposed design method is demonstrated.


Abstract : A robust method for computing the bed shear stress in unstratified combined wave and current flows is presented. The present approach follows from existing theories describing the nonlinear wave and current interaction in the benthic boundary layer but is designed for arbitrary wave, current, and roughness conditions, including the limiting case of pure waves or pure currents. The stress model is intended as a stand-alone application or for coupling to three-dimensional shelf circulation models, where a broad range of flow conditions are encountered. High-quality data for combined flows and pure waves are used with the present stress formulation to better refine empirical model closure constants in the fully rough turbulent regime. Introducing a first-order correction to the definition of the wave boundary layer thickness produces accurate estimates of both the measured friction factor and wave boundary layer height. A speed of convergence test indicates that the present model is more efficient than previous models that use the same turbulent closure scheme. This is primarily due to an improved solution algorithm that avoids the nested iterations common to established combined wave and current bottom boundary layer models.


Objective:This study was designed to investigate the effects of HMG-CoA reductase i nhibitors on proliferation and growth of gastric cancer cells.Methods :MTT colorimetric assay and flow cyto metry were used to measure the proliferative activity and the cell cycle progression of gastric cancer MNK 450 cells.Results:Gastric cancer cells treated with Simvastatin had reductions in proliferative activity,S-phase fractio n and proliferative index in a dose dependent manner with statistical significance at the con centrations of more than 1μmol /L as compared with normal contro l.The inhibitory rate ranged from 8.0%to 51.5%when cells were tre ated with Simvastatin at the concent rations of 0.2-100μmol /L for 72hours.Inhibition induced by Simvastatin was reversed by simultaneous additio n of mevalonic acid at the concentati on of 10mmol /L.Gastric cancer cells were arrested b y Simvastafin in G 1 at the concentations of 1-20μmol /L.The fraction of S-phase cells was reduced from 32.1%to 15.0%after exp osure to 20μmol /L Simvastatin for 36hours.The a ddition of 10mmol /L mevalonic acid overcome G 1 arrest induced by 5μmol /L Simvastatin.Otherwise,the p ercentage of cells in G 2 plus M 2 remained rather constant throughou t the treatment.Meanwhile,Pravastatin had no significant effect on the proliferatiive activity of gastric cancer MNK 450 cells.Conclusion:Simvastatin could inhibit the proliferation and growth of gastric cancer cells,which suggests that Simvastatin has the effect of antitumor.


WILLIAM LEDGER, FACULTY OF MEDICINE, SCHOOL OF WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH, UNSW MEDICINE, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA .................................................................................................................................................................. There is little doubt that the appropriate use of pre-implantation genetic testing can be beneficial. The detection of a recessive mutation in an embryo can obviate transfer and thereby avoid a termination of pregnancy or the birth of a child with a severe disability. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) can reduce time to pregnancy and avoid the distress of repeated miscarriages or failed transfers in specific subgroups of patients (Rodrigo et al. Biomed Res Int 2014;2014:517125); however, the evidence suggests that the universal use of PGT-A is premature. We know that the technology is imperfect: PGT-A can erroneously call euploid embryos as aneuploidy (Tiegs et al. J Assist Reprod Genet 2016;33:893–7) and we do not know what to do with apparently mosaic embryos (Greco et al. N Engl J Med 2015;373:2089–90).


The expansion of democracy in the university cadre work involves the key links: expanding democracy in selecting cadres,improving the scientific level and reliability of recommendation of cadres;expanding democracy in inspecting the cadres,improving the truthfulness of cadre inspection;expanding democracy in decision making,really practicing the idea of combining the opinions of the masses and the leaders;expanding democracy in supervising cadres,giving the masses the right to monitor the cadres.


The recent survey got accomplished to figure out the incidence of malaria infection in human population of district Karak. The study was planned in 14 different union councils of district Karak from September 2015 to August 2016. The malarial blood parasites were traced in 3849 suspected patients. Total of 3849 suspected cases of malaria were gleaned-out of 3849 cases 1491 (38.7%) turned positive for malarial parasites-out of total +ve cases 1302 (87.3%) were traced for P-vivax and 189 (12.6%) were identified as P. Falciparum. This month wise study shows the highest of malaria from July to October. The infection remained higher in males (79.5%). The age based survey reflect the 168 (24%) in age group 1-10, 619 (41.7%) in age group 11-20 and 704 (42.1%) in age group 21-above. There was no single case of P. vivale and P. malaria was reported. There was found no link b/w malarial infection and age group.


[structure: see text] A simple and efficient method for monitoring and optimizing carbohydrate synthesis on polymeric support by using (19)F NMR spectroscopy is described. The method relies on the use of fluorinated variants of protective groups that are in common use in oligosaccharide synthesis.


This paper mainly introduces the application for the software of target simulator in airborne radar. This program is designed in windows platform. This program contains many module(control ?target? interference? target simulation). Discusses the net of communication with radar. The advantage of the program has been verified by testing experiment in airborne radar.


We consider dimer model on a hexagonal lattice. This model can be seen as a "pile of cubes in the box". The energy of configuration is given by the volume of the pile and the partition function is computed by the classical MacMahon formula or, more formally, by the determinant of Kasteleyn matrix. We use the expression for the partition function to derive the scaling behavior of free energy in the limit of lattice mesh tending to zero and temperature tending to infinity. We consider the cases of finite hexagonal domain, of infinite height box and coordinate-dependent Boltzmann weights. We obtain asymptotic expansion of free energy and discuss the universality and physical meaning of the expansion coefficients.


Since the pupil of the wavefront coding system with a cubic phase mask is not modulated in the form of rotational symmetric phase modulation and it is difficult to accurately demarcate the azimuth of the phase mask in an actual system,the subsequent image restoration is always not satisfied.So we design a Wiener filtering method by rotating the PSF by a regular increase in azimuth angle under the criterion of the vector norm sum of image gray gradation.We get the initial PSF of the wavefront coding system from the ZEMAX optical design and modify it according to its rotational character until we get the good result in the vector norm sum of gray gradation.Meanwhile we reduce the effect of boundary truncation with boundary cycle technology to improve the quality of image restoration.The results show that it is effect to adjust the PSF with the modified algorithm and the same consideration is quite applicable to image restoration of other actual wavefront coding system.


Polypropylene hybrid composites based on a mixture of graphite and clay were compounded by twin-screw extrusion and injection molded. In particular, the effect of reinforcement content and ratio of each particle was studied via morphological, mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties. The properties were evaluated in both solid and melt state to determine the mechanical performance of these materials. The results showed that these composites have excellent mechanical properties when compared to the neat polymer matrix. For example, the tensile moduli are 1607 and 1445 MPa for 30 wt% of clay and graphite respectively, while a 10:10 ratio of clay/graphite produced a value of 1500 MPa. Morphological analyses showed good adhesion/dispersion of both particles in the matrix, which was confirmed by good tensile strength results. Also, thermal stability was improved by adding clay and graphite particles, the results showing between 40℃ and 50℃ increased at 20 wt% content. Finally, a combination of graphite and clay is shown to produce hybrid composites with improved performances.


Introduction. The problem of the public health of Ukraine in our country is acute and requires a moderate rise. There are steady tendencies in the increased incidence and the disease dissemination in Ukraine. Currently, the particular scientific researches proved that the bad state of the environment, air, ground and water pollution and the influence of the other negative factors of environment on the human body can be the reasons of the increased incidence, cardiovascular disease in particular. Purpose. The main purpose of the research was to study the dependence of the parameters of the central blood flow and the type of body structure of the workers of the agro-industrial sector and industrial enterprises that undergo chronic effects of a complex of harmful environmental factors. Methods. In the lens of the experiment, 90 people were participants, male aged from 21 to 35 years old. For the purpose of the study all the participants were divided into 3 groups: 1) the population live at least in an ecologically pure zone; 2) the residents of the agrarian districts of the Volyn Region, which are seized in the agricultural area and positively correlated with fertilizers and pesticides; 3) people who work at the enterprises in Lutsk. Proportionality of development and structure of the body of the subjects were studied by calculating the Pignet (IP) index. The study of the central hemodynamic was carried out with the help of the "Askold" ("Kyiv", 1998), with the use of the method of tetrapolarity reographism by Kubicek. The reograms recording was carried out at the time of the spontaneous respiration and the duration of the inhomogeneous exhalation. Results. Correlation analysis of the indicators of central blood flow and anthropometric indicators showed that in the control group there is a high level of direct dependence of practically all of the studied parameters of the central blood flow from the Pignet index. Thus, in particular, the value of the minute volume of blood flow (r = 0.49), volume of ejection rate (r = 0.31), myocardial capacity (r = 0.34), shock index (r = 0.32) and cardiac index (r = 0.47) is directly proportional to the given index, and the index of the total peripheral resistance (r = -0.41) reveals an inverse relationship. The grounding of the division of the subjects studied into groups, taking into account the index of their constitution (Pignet index), was manifested in the fact that most of the studied parameters were characterized by a significant number of statistically significant correlation relations with this indicator. Such a feature of the obtained results made it possible to analyze the parameters of the cardio-respiratory system of people who have been exposed to harmful factors in the workplace for a long time, taking into account the groups allocated on graduations, which are based on the value of the Pignet index. Analysis of the central blood flow characteristics among the participants of the research, who have chronic effects of negative environmental factors in the workplace (both agro-industrial and industrial) revealed significant differences between the given groups and the group of people from relatively environmentally pure zones in terms of the impact volume of the bloodstream and the capacity of the myocardium . However, the lack of significant differences in the values of the minute volume of blood and energy consumption by the myocardium may indicate a certain compensatory change due to the strengthening of regulatory mechanisms that provide the necessary level of blood supply to the tissues of the body and the absence of organic lesions as the structures of the cardiovascular system, and regulatory circuits of the nervous and endocrine systems that provide a regulation link. Conclusion. People who exposed to negative environmental factors in the workplace, absolute anthropometric indices (age, height, weight, chest) and integral indices (Pignet index) did not differ from those in the control group. The largest number of statistically significant correlation relationships was found in the control group of the participants between functional parameters of the cardiovascular system and the Pignet index, while among people, who have adverse working conditions, such relationships are practically absent. People undergo chronic effects of negative environmental factors in the workplace (both agro-industrial and industrial), there were significant differences in comparison with the group of people from relatively environmentally pure regions in terms of the impact volume of blood flow and the capacity of the myocardium, but these changes have compensatory character. Taking into account the type of body structure of the participants showed that the greatest number of differences between the experimental groups and control was found among mesomorphic people: significant differences are noted in the indicators of myocardial capacity and specific peripheral resistance.


Electrochemical performance of Li-ion battery using lithium difluoro(axalato)borate(LiBC2O4F2)electrolyte was studied.Cyclic voltammetry curves and AC impedance plots showed that the battery had an excellent reversibility and a lower charge transfer resistance.Charge-discharge test showed that the battery had a high initial charge-discharge specific capacity and fine cycle performance.At 25 ℃,its 0.2 C initial charge and discharge specific capacities were 135.9 mAh/g and 125.4 mAh/g,respectively.At 25 ℃ and 60 ℃,its capacity retention ratios of the 50th 0.5 C cycle were 98.7% and 92.5%,respectively.


In this paper, we present a novel, machine learning-based approach for price prediction to portfolio construction in the context of multi-period trading. We use a combination of recurrent neural network (RNN) and a long short-term memory (LSTM) network for predicting the future prices and to perform constrained optimization on the portfolio update. Evaluation using a series of back-test on a number of datasets obtained from Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and National Association of Securities Deal Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) sources show that our proposed approach outperforms the most common conventional portfolio management technique, namely Robust Median Reversion strategy, on a number of different metrics. In back-test experiment, our proposed method offers an average of 148% returns over 360 trading periods with 100 stocks, compared to 124% returns using conventional technique, over the same period and number of stocks.


Aluminium(III) salt solutions hydrolysed by boiling with aluminium metal over extended periods of time have been examined by 27Al n.m.r. spectroscopy and, after drying and redissolution in acetone, by 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy, both at very high magnetic field. At low hydrolysis ratios, m⩽ 1.4(where m is defined by the stoicheiometric formula AlX3–m(OH)m, X being the coanion), the solutions contain the oligomer species observed in base hydrolysis. There are three minor components and one major one whose spectroscopic properties suggest it is the 3,8 trimeric species [Al3O2(OH)4(H2O)8]+. The fully hydrolysed solutions (m= 2.5) have complex proton spectra which differ between preparations and it is concluded that they contain a hierarchy of species whose structures are related to that of the tridecameric cation but many of which lack the tetrahedrally co-ordinated metal atom. It is not possible to suggest a structure for any individual species but it is made clear for the first time that a wide range of products are formed in these solutions.


In conventional monopulse radar, the bearing of a single target within the main lobe of the transmitted beam is estimated via a maximum likelihood (ML) procedure based in a 2-D beamspace defined by sum and difference beams. The authors show that if the sum and difference beams have all but a few nulls in common, the ML estimate of the target bearing may be determined via a simple trigonometric expression which is exact in the case of no noise. It is shown that sum and difference beams exhibiting both the common nulls property as well as low sidelobe levels can be synthesized via linear combinations of phase-only steered beams formed in the receive mode. For proper operation in the presence of interference, a procedure is developed for synthesizing adaptive-adaptive sum and difference beams for which the set of common nulls includes nulls aligned with the bearings of strong interferences. The procedure works to maintain low sidelobe levels as best as possible under the interference null constraints. Sample patterns demonstrating the efficacy of the method are presented. >


Innovation cannot be authentically achieved without the support of law. The existing research has demonstrated that venture capital is closely linked to innovation in society. Thus, a friendly legal environment for venture capital has the potential to enhance the innovative ability of a certain society. The current Chinese legal system has includes a series of hampers against the healthy development of venture capital. In order to promote innovation, Chinese authorities ought to take actions to remove these legal barriers.
Law, impediments, innovation, venture capital, cycle, fundraising, investment, exit, America, China


The series is said to be summable A to s if the power series converges to φ(x) for 0 ⋞ x < 1 and limx→1 φ(x) = s. If the function ⋞(x) is of bounded variation over the same interval, the series is said to be summable │A│. It is easy to prove │A│ ⊆ A, i.e. a series summable │A│ is necessarily summable A to the same sum.


In this paper, we examine several frameworks for NCS simulation: a MATLAB-based package called True Time, the Agent/Plant addition to the ns-2 network simulator, and other MATLAB -based frameworks. We analyze the accuracy, speed, and ease of use of two different methods of simulating system dynamics using the Agent/Plant extension to ns-2. We also introduce a hybrid system model, which we simulate in MATLAB, to verify the simulation of system dynamics in ns-2. We then proceed to use the ns-2 framework and Agent/Plant, using an Euler approximation for the continuous system dynamics, to simulate both the inverted pendulum and pitch control systems on the network topology described in Chapter 2. We examine the performance of these systems as the traffic on the network increases, due to both additional NCSs and non-NCS cross-traffic. We also examine the effects of non-random vs. random sample scheduling, and observe the periodicity of packet loss under both scheduling policies.


We study two different models of optomechanical systems where a temperature gradient between two radiation baths is exploited for inducing self-sustained coherent oscillations of a mechanical resonator. From a thermodynamic perspective, such systems represent quantum instances of self-contained thermal machines converting heat into a periodic mechanical motion and thus they can be interpreted as nano-scale analogues of macroscopic piston engines. Our models are potentially suitable for testing fundamental aspects of quantum thermodynamics in the laboratory and for applications in energy efficient nanotechnology.


The First World War broke out in 1914 and it continued till 1918. India being part of the British Empire automatically got involved in the war without any consent of its citizens. The war had its impact not only on socio-economic life of Indians but also on their political life. It would be interesting to learn about the major trends in Indian nationalist politics during the period of the First World War. We will first explain in this Unit the impact of the war on India and the response of Indians. Then we will discuss the initiatives taken by nationalist leaders to press for 'Home Rule'. You will also learn how during the course of the war the Muslim League and the divergent groups among the nationalists joined hands to put forward the demands for self-government for India. The signing of the Lucknow Pact in 1916 further strengthened the unity between Hindus and Muslims. Demands for more self-governing rights were raised by nationalists during the war period. This period in nationalist politics paved the ground for a more broad-based movement against the British.


This article describes a novel application of contrast‐enhanced MR microscopy to trace nerve cells and pathways through small invertebrate brains. Using the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Cephalopoda) as a model, the cells and pathways of one of the brain nerves were labeled with paramagnetic cobalt(II) ions by conventional centripetal cobalt iontophoresis. In MR microscopy, the cobalt‐labeled cell bodies and pathways became hypointense in 9.4 T spin echo images. Their course and distribution were identical with those seen with conventional histological techniques after cobalt sulphide precipitation (with or without subsequent silver intensification). Magn Reson Med 45:575–579, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


FIELD: medicine; oncology. SUBSTANCE: offered solid pharmaceutical compositions contain immunomodulatory compound namely 3-(4-amino-1-oxo-1,3-dihydroisoindole-2-yl)piperidine-2,6-dion. Compositions are characterised by varied modifications of crystal lattice of the given immunomodulatory compound. EFFECT: stability of crystal condition of immunomodulator contained in pharmaceutical compositions within production and storage of medicinal forms along with good solubility in aqueous environment. 34 cl, 2 tbl, 1 dwg


Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers with dielectric mirrors, A. Scherer et al multi-wavelength, 2D surface emitting laser arrays, C.J. Chang-Hasnain high-performance, reproducible, vertical-cavity lasers for optical interconnects, R. Morgan room temperature, CW operation of visible vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, R.P. Schneider et al thermal impedance of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, M. Osinski reliability of proton implanted vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, C.-C. Wu et al. (Part Contents).


The action of deltamethrin on the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM-Kinase II) and phosphatase system in the rat brain synapse was studied under various experimental conditions to optimize these enzyme activities and to facilitate the studies of the mechanism of interaction of this pesticide with several components of this enzyme system. To obtain a clear-cut inhibition of this enzyme by deltamethrin the following conditions must be met: (a) the enzyme system should be purified by precipitation with ammonium sulfate (450 g litre−1) prior to the addition of deltamethrin, (b) both Ca2+ and calmodulin (CaM) should be added to the incubated media before the addition of [y-32P]ATP, (c) deltamethrin should be incubated at least 10 min (but less than 30 min) with the enzyme system before [y-32P]ATP addition, (d) the incubation temperature should be above 20°C (optimum 30°C), (e) [y-32P]ATP concentration should be in the order of 10− M (concentration adjusted using cold ATP), and (f) the incubation time with [y−P]ATP for incorporation of 32P into the protein should be in the neighborhood of 60 s. Under these conditions, the inhibitory potency of various active and inactive isomers or analogs of pyrethroids and DDT was tested. The order of the inhibitory power of these active forms of pesticides was 1 R-deltamethrin > (S)(RS) fenvalerate ≥ p,p′-DDT. Other compounds were not active at the concentration tested, indicating the differential sensitivity of this enzyme and the existence of a correlation of inhibitory power to insecticidal activity.


The regular practices of human talent management have evolved in a rare way and especially in the recruitment and selection processes, employee reward systems and employee retention will be taken into account to permanently review the rotation of personnel according to customs of the department of human talent significantly affect this factor.


A composition for forming a printed circuit board is provided to improve mechanical property and thermal property in use as a material of a substrate, to ensure excellent heat resistance and reduced thermal expansion. A composition for forming a printed circuit board comprises a polyamic acid of chemical formula 1 which is introduced with a cross-linkable group to at least one of both ends of a main chain; a liquid crystalline polymer or a liquid crystal thermoset oligomer; and organic solvent. In chemical formula 1, A is represented by chemical formula 2; if n is 2 or more, A is identical or different; Each Z1 and Z2 may be identical or different and is a monovalent crosslinkable functional group having a carbon-carbon double bond; Y1 is divalent aliphatic or aromatic organic group; and n is an integer of 1-1,000.


The separation and purification of total flavonoids from Gnaphlium affine D.Don were carried out using AB-8 macroporous adsorption resin in this study.The effects of various factors on adsorption and desorption efficiency of the resin were investigated.The optimal adsorption conditions for sample loading velocity,pH value and concentration were 2 BV/h,4.5 and 1.7 mg/mL,respectively,and the optimal desorption conditions were achieved by using 1.8 BV of 60% ethanol as desorption solvent at a flow rate of 1 BV/h.Under these conditions,the quantityof flavonoids the final product was 35.42%.


ObjectiveThe status of the university students′ psychological health was investigated in Suzhou,so as to carry out the psychological health education effectively.MethodsThe 320 university students in Suzhou were investigated with SCL-90.ResultsAmong these students,there were 6.56% of the students with psychological problems.The psychological problems of female is obviously more serious than that of male,the seniors′ were remarkabley more serious than freshmen′,students majored in art were more serious than that in science.There was no difference between students′ from rural and urban area.ConclusionIt should be paid more attention to the psychological health status of university students.


Objeetive To investigate the changes of serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor -basic (bFGF) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods The serum concentrations of VEGF and bFGF were determined in 35 healthy adults and 42 patients with NPC by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).All of the patients accepted radiotherapy and the serum coricentration of VEGF and bFGF were examined in 33 patients after radiotherapy. Results The serum concentrations of VEGF and bFGF in the patients with NPC was significantly higher than that of the healthy adults (P0.01)(VEGF: 175.2±26.9pg/ml VS 102.8±12.7pg/ml; bFGF: 87.2±16.9pg/ml VS 60.8±8.3pg/ml). 0013.There was no correlation of VEGF and bFGF values with the types of pathology (P0.05).The serum concentrations of VEGF and bFGF decreased significantly after radiotherapy(P0.05).The serum concentrations of VEGF and bFGF increased significantly in the patients with relapse NPC (P0.05). Conclusion There was significant correlation between the levels of serum VEGF and bFGF with cancer load of the patients with NPC. The serum concentrations of VEGF and bFGF might be a important index in the therapeutic evaluation and follow-up of NPC after radiotherapy.


If investing in South Africa is a minefield, then, for the average South African investor, international investing must be a war zone. If the South African investment environment is already fraught with complexity and costs, conceivably the international investment arena is costlier and even more complex.


Tutorial 2 covers Topics 3 and 4 of the Learning Skills for Open and Distance Learners module. Topic 3 examines various reading techniques while Topic 4 looks into various types of note-making and note-taking strategies. This video lecture is accompanied by sign language.


A hydration stage is designed for the Siemens Elmiskop 1A with a minimal modification to the microscope. The stage is temperature controlled in the range of -10 degrees C to 50 degrees C, saturated hydration condition being automatically obtained at all temperatures. The stage is easy to operate. It is suitable for temperature and hydration dependent experiments on both biological and non-biological materials and for dynamically observing other mixed phase physical or chemical interactions.


This study developed an integrated disaster risk assessment framework (IDRAF) to measure disaster risk at the local administrative boundaries in Malaysia. The proposed framework can enhance government effort for disaster risk reduction by implementing an integrated disaster risk framework and guiding decision makers to properly evaluate and analyze risk for mitigation, preparedness, and planning. The framework was developed, expanding from the multi-hazard spatial overlapping and Methods for the Improvement of Vulnerability Assessment in Europe (MOVE) theoretical framework. There are five significant phases to develop this framework: problem formulation, data collection, multi-hazard characterization, multi-dimensional vulnerability characterization, and weightage determination. The IDRAF proposed for Malaysia consists of eight hazards and six vulnerability dimensions, which consist of 16 factors (or vulnerability group) and 54 indicators. The multi-hazard characterization has two components: frequency of occurrence and spatial interaction. The multidimensional vulnerability characterization reduces vulnerability indicators using principal component analysis (PCA). Measuring integrated risk is an effective strategy at the local level or national level to assess the potential disaster impacts in detail and accurately. This study will offer explicit knowledge and boost community competency, creating techniques and tools to analyze various risk factors and vulnerability indicators for decision makers and practitioners.


This manuscript examines how white women's, white men's, black women's, and black men's Democratic Party identification varies as a function of cohort effects, period effects, and life-cycle effects. A unique dataset of Gallup surveys between 1950 and 2012 composed of over 1,500 surveys and more than 2 million individuals is analyzed using a cross-classified random-effects model. The combination of this dataset and method offers a unique ability to understand the change and differences across political generations; with the first observations occurring only 30 years after the passage of the 19th Amendment a sizable proportion of the sample came of age politically before suffrage. I find that most of the difference between men's and women's partisanship is fairly stable for both life-cycle and cohort effects. Rather, most of the change in the difference between men's and women's partisanship occurs as a function of period effects. ∗ Results reported in this manuscript are preliminary and likely to change. Please contact the author for the most recent version of the manuscript if you would like to cite the findings.


Abstract : The goal of STRATAFORM is to link short-term biological and physical processes affecting sedimentation (event stratigraphy developed over hours to weeks) to the stratigraphic geometry and facies distribution of the upper 100 m of continental margin sediments representing 106 years of preserved record. This is to be realized through a coordinated program of acoustic imaging, water column and seafloor monitoring and modeling, and sub-seafloor sampling. The following summarizes efforts in 2001 to address this last goal.


In three-phase dc/ac inverter, the power device is one of the most prone links to failure. Once it fails, it will cause serious accidents. Therefore, it is of great significance to carry out more accurate condition monitoring. In this paper, a digital twin method for IGBT parameter identification of a three-phase dc/ac inverter is proposed. The state monitoring of IGBT is emphatically studied, and the digital twin model of the three-phase inverter circuit is established. A particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to iterate the characteristic data, so that the digital twin model is gradually approximated with the physical circuit parameters. It is worth noting that by calculating the output part and core part of the digital twin model in order, the number of characteristic quantities identified at the same time is reduced, and the collected output current and voltage waveforms are screened, and different frequency quantities are selected to build a suitable target function. Through this method, the saturation voltage of IGBT, the forward voltage of the reverse parallel diode and the inductance value are accurately identified. Finally, a three-phase dc/ac inverter is built. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of this method.


Different papers such as toilet and towel tissue, newsprint and copy paper made from reclaimed fibres were characterized using UV-VIS reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy. The emission properties of the extracts of the papers were also evaluated. Photochemical irradiation at ambient temperatures, and thermal aging of the copy papers at 105℃ and 150℃ were performed. Post-colour numbers (PC) were calculated from the reflectance values measured from the corresponding UV -VIS reflectance spectra. Light absorption coefficient spectra were calculated before and after irradiation, and the changes in absorption coefficient were related to the content of chromophores in the papers. Photochemical and thermal discolouration of the copy papers, similar to that of virgin fibres, was readily observed. The influence of changes in the concentrations of fluorescent brightening agents and dyes on the spectral properties was also assessed. Photostabilization studies of the copy papers were performed with the use of polymer additives polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF).


Аbstract: This report analyses the problems with air pollution in the transborder region Ruse Giurgiu. During the summer season fires occur on both sides of the Danube river, causing air pollution and release of foul-smelling gases in the two regions (from Bulgarian and Romanian side). There is a problem with air pollution during the autumn-winter season as well. The reason for this is domestic wood and coal heating, which leads to emitting of soot and ash. The report discusses the problems that arise in cases of accidents and fires. The following measures could be proposed as part of the solution for this problem joint teams to work on preventing of accidents with fires, taking prompt and adequate measures in case of their occurrence, creating a better communication between the teams for exchange of information in the event of fire.


The aim of the paper is an analysis and assessment of HPGR device effectiveness performance in relationship to the volume of recycled material into press. Analysis was carried out in industrial conditions for HPGR device operating in technological circuit of hard ore processing. Data was collected during six months of HPGR operation. There were determined base characteristics of HPGR crushing operations, as well as relationships between operational parameters of the press and feed properties. It was also determined a model that can be helpful in more effective control of HPGR press. Results of investigation show that too low and too extensive pressure volume results in higher mass of the oversize screening product of HPGR recycled to the press. In order to maintain volume of recycled material according to the plant design the operational pressure of the press should be kept within the range that can be calculated from the proposed model.


Is there a robust link between exports and output? If there is a relationship between them, what is the direction of the relationship? This paper attempts to examine Granger causal relationship between exports and output by vector autoregressive (VAR) and vector error-correction model (VECM) for five ASEAN countries, namely Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. We found that by using a consistent time series data for all countries, in contrast to previous studies, only Singapore shows short-run causal relationship from output to exports, although the cointegration relationship exists in some countries. For the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, there is no causality from either direction albeit researchers using different lag intervals.


The present invention for the mobile device (3) having a touch-sensitive surface (3a), relates tactile feedback module that is integrated with a motor vehicle, wherein the haptic feedback module, transmitting motion the the mobile device (3) has manner, it comprises at least one actuator (17). The present invention also relates to a control device for a motor vehicle comprising such tactile feedback module. .The


A high serum cholesterol has been increasingly acknowledged as being a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Several types of evidence support the cholesterol-CHD link; these encompass research in laboratory animals, epidemiological studies, findings of premature CHD in genetic forms of hypercholesterolemia, laboratory investigations, and clinical trials of cholesterol-lowering therapy. Most people with a high serum cholesterol also have elevated LDL because much of the serum cholesterol is transported in LDL. The concept therefore has emerged that LDL is the predominant atherogenic lipoprotein. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)1 specifically designated LDL cholesterol as the primary target of cholesterol-lowering therapy. This assignment of priority to LDL cholesterol seems to be fully vindicated by recent clinical trials.2 3 4 These trials tested HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), which mainly lower LDL, for effects on coronary morbidity and mortality. Statin therapy in these trials produced astonishing reductions in new coronary events; these reductions almost certainly were a result of concomitant decreases in LDL levels.

Among the different risk factors for CHD, a raised LDL level appears to be primary. Strong evidence indicates that high LDL concentrations initiate atherogenesis and promote atherosclerosis at every stage. The remarkable finding that LDL-lowering therapy reduces risk for subsequent coronary events even in patients with advanced atherosclerotic disease discloses a role for LDL in late stages of atherogenesis.2 3 4 Moreover, populations devoid of some elevations of LDL levels exhibit relatively low prevalence of CHD even when other coronary risk factors, eg, cigarette smoking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, are common.5 An elevated LDL thus is at the core of atherogenesis. Table 1⇓ classifies LDL-cholesterol levels according to NCEP guidelines; approximate corresponding values for total cholesterol also are listed. In the United States, most CHD occurs in patients who have borderline …


Using LaGrange multipliers an example is given wherein the optimum level of a fitted second order response function is obtained subject to a constraint provided by another fitted second order response function.


A !leI 0{ uperi...-cnlt arc detcribed who:~ lhoe runda~mal uniaxiat tcnsion and comprcssion praperlic:s of an asphaltic concrete compOSed of k1'1Ip lira, ,noshed beer boules. and asptlah well' delumined """" ~LaUI slrain rale tests. l11e a nalyses indl.ldo:d salist;';'1 cyalu;u;ons and approximations of the "",dull, compliances. and limes 10 failun: for OIher types of loadin" Over j decade! of sln;n n t" to~Sling. [he "ltimate l Ira, Yar~d belltoftn 7 Ind SJO P5i and lhe uUima!c strain varied bclltoftn 2.8 and 0.34 perCen t. where the romprcuion propenir. we,., a half·order a,ealCr Than rhe tension p~"ies. Optimiu lion of the: m ixlIlrc rqIOI"led and 111m fidd implementation by str«t ~onsn\lction would not only provide I potential mcans for m:ydina all wasle alass and $C1'ap lin::s, Ih~ woold also provide a mullS for cOMtruclina a superior pavement for rcs.s cost. ill(:rcascd elooplioll or strain in Ihe pavement could be achieved dL>C to Ihe rubber. and decreucd thermal stre~s due to environmental conditions would result because of the low coefficient or tllermal expansion ror ,tau.


School transport in Tocantins and be treated the prospect of access to citizenship experienced by public school students through the feasibility


Abstract When the microspores of B. umbellatus are released from the tetrad the developing wall consists only of muri and pilae (bacula). A basal layer is subsequently formed on unitmembrane-like strands. The latter appear to be formed de novo in association with the microspore cell membrane. As a basal layer develops an outer consolidated and an inner stranded layer are differentiated. These are considered ontogenetically equivalent and no terminological distinction appears justified. The basal layer and sexine are not differentiated by basic fuchsin or electron stains. Thus, the stranded (or nonhomogeneous) and amorphous-granular (or homogeneous) types of exine fine structure are histochemically indistinguishable in this species. Concomitant cytoplasmic activity, particularly in the peripheral region of the cell, may be related to substrate or enzyme synthesis, transport, and deposition. Several "unusual" vesicle types are tentatively related to other phases of morphogenetic activity in the protoplast.


We present the status of the measurement of the CKM CP-violating phase gamma (phi3) performed using B->D(*)K(*) decays. We review and compare the main experimental results.


There exist two physical constraints upon the motions of celestial systems. Constraint 1 reveals during collapse or explosion motion of celestial bodies that there would be an unattainability upper limit for their compact intensity (total mass M/scale size R), which arises from the Lorentz invariance of the time-like metric in local four-dimensional continuum in Einstein's theory of special relativity. Constraint 2 points that the average mass density of nucleon would be an unsurpassed upper limit for bulk normal matter in nature, which arises from Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. A very important effect is that the combination of these two physical constraints would prevent the formation of black holes.


Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) have enabled plethora of applications and are seen as future solutions to build large-scale infrastructure. Controller meeting design requirements and performance objectives are required for building CPS. This is non-trivial due to the interplay and temporal constraints among the physical, computing, communication, and control entities within CPS. This paper presents design contracts (an agreement) between software, network and control engineers to build CPS controllers. Jitter bounds are used to synthesize the design contract that are verified by solving multiobjective optimization problem (MOP) to specify temporal parameter (jitter bound) and also guarantee performance. To solve the MOP, NSGA-II is used (Nondominated sorting genetic algorithm) due to its ability to generate non-dominated solutions; a desirable feature for design involving tradeoff. The synthesis and verification procedure is illustrated using experiments with simple example.


The measurement of multipole moments of astrophysical objects through gravitational wave (GW) observations provides a novel way to distinguish black holes from other astrophysical objects. This paper studies the gravitational wave radiation from an extreme mass ratio inspiral (EMRI) system consisting of a supermassive Kerr black hole (the primary object) and a spinning stellar-mass compact object (the secondary object). The quadrupolar deformation induced by the spin of the secondary is different for different astrophysical objects. We compute the effect of the quadrupolar deformation on the GW phase and provide an order of magnitude estimate of whether LISA can distinguish different astrophysical objects through GW phase measurement. We find that although LISA can not distinguish between a black hole and a neutron star, it can distinguish black holes from a large variety of highly spinning astrophysical objects like superspinars and highly deformable exotic compact objects like boson stars for EMRI systems with relatively large mass ratio ( q ∼ 10 − 4 ). Furthermore, we show that the effect of spin-induced quadrupolar deformation on the GW phase for white dwarf and brown dwarf-EMRI systems can be quite significant even for small values of mass ratio ( q (cid:46) 10 − 6 ).


Author(s): Wright, Jennifer Alicia | Advisor(s): Atkinson, Peter W | Abstract: This thesis examines the mechanisms of class II DNA transposon activity and the genomic defense system against transposons in two Dipteran systems, Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti. The first half of the dissertation focuses on the affects specific amino acid changes have on target site specificity and transposition activity. Specifically it looks at AeBuster1 and piggyBac mutants. None of the Aebuster1 mutants were found to have increased transposition activity however several mutants had altered target site specificity. One piggyBac mutant hyPBase, which has been shown to have increased activity in HeLA cells, mouse somatic cells and yeast, was studied in-depth. My study determined that hyPBase does not maintain its increased activity in Dipteran systems and significantly increases sterility rates when compared to wild type piggyBac. The second half of the thesis focuses on investigating the piRNA system in the important disease vector Ae. aegypti. The piRNA pathway is a Dicer independent small RNA pathway believed to be responsible for transposon control. In this study I examined the expression of 7 PIWI proteins and studied three of them, AGO3, PIWI2 and PIWI7 using co-immunoprecipitation and RNAi knockdown. Together all of these studies provide insight into transposition mechanisms and transposon control in D. melanogaster and Ae. aegypti.


Environmental regulation is not only an effective method to control pollutants and wastes, but also a vital factor that can be used to influence industrial structure. This study applies the panel data of 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2004 to 2016 to verify spatial autocorrelation between industrial structure upgrading and regional environmental regulation and then uses dynamic spatial panel model (DSPM) to verify how regional environmental regulation both directly and indirectly influences industrial structure upgrading. There is a close spatial autocorrelation in Chinese cities between industrial structure upgrading and regional environmental regulation. The estimation results of DSPM show that regional environmental regulation only acts on that particular region's industrial structural upgrading but not on the upgrading in other regions. The heterogeneity results show that from economic development, human capital, and foreign direct investment perspectives, regional environmental regulation is also able to reduce the negative impacts of industrial structure upgrading. The strengthening of both infrastructure and government intervention promotes industrial structure upgrading. This study provides effective empirical support for adjustments to China's industrial structure and regional environmental regulation policy making.


Healthcare costs are continuously increasing due to longer life expectancy and providing global healthcare services through medical tourism is not a new trend anymore. Several countries have well established programs and infrastructure dedicated to medical tourism. South Korea is attempting to become a major player in this domain by undertaking broad initiatives. The success of medical tourism is greatly impacted by easy access to two types of information, namely, medical and travel information. The National Health Insurance System in Korea collects huge amount of clinical and financial information from all hospitals. However, this information does not get used effectively in health and travel information systems to support medical tourism. In this paper, we develop a medical tourism service system that will promote information exchange and service delivery.


The paper proposes statistical approach to the solution of problem of optimization problem in field of testing and development of an electronic chart. Multi factor analysis of variance method is applied to optimize type of visualization in the pilot support navigation system. Construction of quantity criteria for assessment and development of navigational chart and interface is one of the article deliverables.


OBJECTIVE
In this work we report the molecular characterization of beta-lactam antibiotics resistance conferred by genes contained in plasmids from enterobacteria producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Fourteen enterobacterial clinical isolates selected from a group of strains obtained from seven different hospitals in Mexico during 1990-1992 and 1996-1998 were analyzed at the Bacterial Resistance Laboratory (National Institute Public Health, Cuernavaca). Molecular characterization included PFGE, IEF of beta-lactamases, bacterial conjugation, PCR amplification and DNA sequencing, plasmid extraction and restriction.

RESULTS
Isolates were genetically unrelated. ESBL identified were SHV-2 (5/14) and SHV-5 (9/14) type. Cephalosporin-resistance was transferable in 9 of 14 (64%) clinical isolates with only one conjugative plasmid, DNA finger printing showed a similar band pattern in plasmids.

CONCLUSIONS
The dissemination of cephalosporin resistance was due to related plasmids carrying the ESBL genes.


A finite-element procedure is presented for the calculation of two-dimensional, viscous, incompressible flows of a recirculating nature. As in finite-difference procedures, velocity and pressure are uncoupled and the equations are solved one after the other. Velocity fields are determined by first calculating intermediate velocity values based on an estimated pressure distribution and then obtaining appropriate corrections to satisfy the continuity equation. Illustrative examples involving flow in the entrance region between parallel plates, lid-driven cavity flow, and flow around an obstacle demonstrate the accuracy and capabilities of the proposed technique.


. The aim of this study is to analyse the risk of exposure to wood dust on the respiratory system of workers in the chip and wood department. The study was conducted in March 2021 at PT. X South Sumatra. The research sampleconsisted of 100 workers in PT. X and 20 sampling sites. This study used quantitative methods with a cross-sectional design The American Thoracic Society (ATS) Standardised Respiratory Questionnaire was used for data collection and the IOM dust sampler was used to measure dust in the work area. Based on the NIOSH recommendation, the sampling point for measuring inhalable dust at each sampling point was 6m x 6m. The results showed that wood dust exposure ranged from 0.240 mg/m3 to 1,431 mg/m3, with an average of 0.62 mg/m3. The result of the statistical analysis using the chi-square test indicated a significant relationship between the duration of work and the impaired lung function of the workers (prevalence ratio = 1.2). Analysis of the age variable showed that older respondents had a 1.12-fold higher risk of impaired lung function. Dust exposure as a confounding variable influenced lung function impairment with a prevalence ratio of 1.893. In other words, exposure to wood dust was likely to cause lung function impairment. The most risky workplace in the chip and wood department was debarking.


Indonesia has vast solar energy potential, far more than needed to meet all its energy requirements without the use of fossil fuels. This remains true after per capita energy consumption rises to match developed countries, and most energy functions are electrified to minimize the use of fossil fuels. Because Indonesia has relatively small energy potential from hydro, wind, biomass, geothermal and ocean energy, it will rely mostly on solar for its sustainable energy needs. Thus, Indonesia will require large amounts of storage for overnight and longer periods. Pumped hydro comprises 99% of global energy storage for the electricity industry. In this paper, we demonstrate that Indonesia has vast practical potential for low-cost off-river pumped hydro energy storage with low environmental and social impact; far more than it needs to balance a solar-dominated energy system.


The outcome of recent studies has led to redefinition of concepts relating to the prevalence, pathogenesis and clinical significance of disordered gastric emptying in patients with diabetes mellitus. The use of scintigraphic techniques has established that gastric emptying is abnormally slow in approx. 30–50% of outpatients with long‐standing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, although the magnitude of this delay is modest in many cases. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms occur frequently and affect quality of life adversely in patients with diabetes, although the relationship between symptoms and the rate of gastric emptying is weak. Acute changes in blood glucose concentration affect both gastric motor function and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Gastric emptying is slower during hyperglycaemia when compared with euglycaemia and accelerated during hypoglycaemia. The blood glucose concentration may influence the response to prokinetic drugs. Conversely, the rate of gastric emptying is a major determinant of post‐prandial glycaemic excursions in healthy subjects, as well as in Type 1 and Type 2 patients. A number of therapies currently in development are designed to improve post‐prandial glycaemic control by modulating the rate of delivery of nutrients to the small intestine.


The organization of institutions of higher education has created a career structure that clusters women in pockets or tracks at the bottom of many career ladders.


FOR THESIS University of Oulu Faculty of Technology Degree Programme (Bachelor's Thesis, Master's Thesis) Major Subject (Licentiate Thesis) Department of Process Engineering Author Thesis Supervisor Muhonen Tiia Maaria Kess P, Professor Title of Thesis Standardization of Industrial internet and IoT (IoT – Internet of Things) – Perspective on condition-based maintenance Major Subject Type of Thesis Submission Date Number of Pages Production Technology Master's Thesis February 2015 100 + 4


The article on hypertension begins with the indication that " significant success in the fight against this common disease is not yet noticeable." Further, the authors emphasize that in the whole problem of hypertension, "the most significant and remarkable clinical fact is the undoubted connection of changes in chloride metabolism with the height of blood pressure: achloride and subchloride diets lead to a decrease in blood pressure, the addition of table salt to food, on the contrary, increases it."


Using periodic signals for underwater acoustic system identification enables signal averaging to be used to increase the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the received signal. The desired properties of such a signal are partially determined by the properties of the electroacoustic transducers used. This paper shows how to design signals to give the maximum receiver signal‐to‐noise ratio when the desired source signal is known but the source transducer has an ideal hard‐limiting characteristic. In such cases, it is almost always better to generate a signal different from the desired one and to correct for the difference (using linear signal processing) in the receiver. Examples of such designs and the improvements to be gained will be given.


This article discusses the interaction of personality with the contemporary information society, and arising from these difficulties of identity cards in the technological environment. This article summarizes and analyses various views of researchers on this problem.


Objective:To investigate the relationship between anticardiolipin antibodies(aCL)and fetal growth restriction(FGR).Methods:20 normal pregnant women,20 healthy women who are not pregnant and 20 women who were diagnosed as FGR during third trimester between June 2004 and February 2005 were included.in this study.The serum aCL were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results:The prevalence of aCL in cases of.women who were diagnosed as FGR was 35.0%(7/20),which was significantly higher than that in the group of healthy women who are not pregnant(0%)and the normal pregnant women(5.0%,1/20),P0.05.Conclusions:The prevalence of aCL of the FGR women was significantly higher,and it is concluded that aCL may play an important role in the pathogenesis of FGR.


Among other disclosed apparatus and method, the present invention discloses a termination in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation shocks purposes delay between the automatic external defibrillator (AED), and a method for reducing. In one embodiment, the ECG sensor AED comprising obtaining a patient's heart activity corresponding to the ECG signal and providing instructions regarding presentation device of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The AED also has a control system that includes a microprocessor programmed to run the instruction after the termination of CPR two rhythm analysis algorithm. The two fragments rhythm analysis algorithm analyzes the ECG signal to identify a shockable rhythm exists, wherein an algorithm having a delay relative to the other algorithms start. The AED therapy further comprises a generating circuit responsive to the control system determines a shockable rhythm exists and defibrillation pulses shockable rhythm with the processing.


Appropriate land scale of operation, is enlarged according to the changing circumstance. In this paper, the author proclaims to focus on consummating the market mechanism, which is the most critical task we must complete, and to reform the governmental functions. Thereafter the author discusses some of the innovative functions that need to be provided to the government in countryside to serve to approach the appropriate land scale of operation.


Hy drillo, verticillata (L.f.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae), a submersed aquatic macrophyte, is native to Asia, Australia, Europe, and Africa (Buckingham & Bennett 1996). This invasive species was first introduced to North America in the early 1950s in the Tampa Bay area (Schmitz et al. 1991) and dispersed rapidly to become one of the worst aquatic weeds in the US (Balciunas et al. 2002). Hydrilla is controlled mainly with chemical herbicides (Fox et al. 1996). However, both mechanical removal (Serafy et al. 1994) and biological control agents (Wheeler & Center 2001) play some role. Since the discovery of herbicide resistance in hydrilla populations in Florida (Michel et al. 2004), biological control has become a high priority. Foreign exploration for classical biological control agents of hydrilla was conducted in China between 1989 and 1995 and resulted in the discov-


We are interested in the following mesh refinement problem: given an input set of points P in R, we would like to produce a good-quality triangulation by adding new points in P . Algorithms for mesh refinement are typically incremental: they compute the Delaunay triangulation of the input, and insert points one by one. However, retriangulating after each insertion can take linear time. In this work we develop a query structure that maintains the mesh without paying the full cost of retriangulating. Assuming that the meshing algorithm processes bad-quality elements in increasing order of their size, our structure allows inserting new points and computing a restriction of the Voronoi cell of a point, both in constant time. We develop an example of such a meshing algorithm, and show that it produces a provably small mesh in time as fast as sorting the input plus writing the output.


We extend the work of Mello and al. based in Cabbibo and Ferrari concerning the description of electromagnetism with two gauge fields from a variational principle, i.e. an action. We provide a systematic independent derivation of the allowed actions which hold only one magnetic and one electric physical fields and are invariant under the discrete symmetries P and T . We conclude that neither the Lagrangean, neither the Hamiltonean, are invariant under the electromagnetic duality rotations. This agrees with the weak-strong coupling mixing characteristic of the duality due to the Dirac quantization condition providing a natural way to differenciate dual theories related by the rotations (the energy is not invariant). Also the electromagnetic rotations violate both P and T by inducing Hopf terms (theta terms) for each sector and a mixed Maxwell term. The canonical structure of the theory is briefly addressed and the magnetic gauge sector is interpreted as a ghost sector. work supported by SFRH/BPD/17683/2004 from FCT-MCT (Portugal); also at Centra


The stability of tinplate passivation film in baking process,acid and alkaline medium had been studied.Results showed that passivation film on the tin plate surface with the extension of time would be cracked.With further extension of the baking time,uniform dense oxide film was gradually formed on the tin plate surface.As passivation film on the tin plate surface was uniformly destroyed in acidic corrosive medium,thickness of the passivation film decreasesed gradually.Passivation film of the tin plate surface was uneven destroyed in alkaline corrosive medium.With the extension of time,tin ferroally under the tin plating layer was exposed.


Image-to-image translation models, such as StarGAN v2, have enabled the translation of diverse images over multiple domains in a single framework. However, StarGAN v2 is computationally expensive making it challenging to execute on resource-constrained environments. To reduce the computation requirement of StarGAN v2 while maintaining accuracy, we propose a novel cross distillation method that is specially de-signed for knowledge distillation (KD) of multiple networks in a single framework. By leveraging this new KD method, the knowledge of a multi-network large teacher StarGAN v2 can be effectively transferred to a small student TinyStarGAN v2 framework. Without losing the quality and diversity of generated images, we reduce the size of the original framework by more than 20 × and the computation requirement by more than 5 × . Experiments on CelebA-HQ and AFHQ datasets show the effectiveness of the proposed method.


Understanding animal movements across heterogeneous landscapes is of great interest because it helps explain the dynamic processes influencing the distribution of individuals in space. Research on how animals move relative to short-range environmental characteristics are scarce. Our objective was to determine the variables influencing movement of a large ungulate, the moose Alces alces, ranging across a boreal landscape, and to link movement behaviour with limiting factors at a fine scale. We assessed 7 candidate models composed of vegetation, solar energy, and topography variables using step selection functions (SSF) for male and female moose across daily and annual periods. We selected and weighted models using the Bayesian Information Criterion. Variables influencing small-scale movements of moose differed among periods and between sexes, likely in response to corresponding changes in the importance of limiting factors. Best models often combined many types of variables, although simpler models composed of only vegetation or topography variables explained male's movements during rut and early winter. Moose steps were observed in good feeding stands from summer to early winter for females and from spring to early winter for males, supporting other studies of moose habitat selection. From summer to early winter, females alternatively selected and avoided cover stands during day and night, respectively. Solar energy reaching the ground was important, particularly during late winter and spring, likely due to its effect on snow cover, air temperature, or plant phenology. Moose generally moved in gentle slopes and variable elevation, which may have increased their chances of finding high quality forage, or improved their search of suitable calving sites or mates. Our study revealed the great complexity and dynamic aspects of animal movements in a heterogeneous landscape. Analysis of animal movement provides complementary information to more static habitat selection analyses and helps understanding the spatial variations in the distribution of individuals through time.


The history of globalization is intertwined with the history of communication technologies. From a sociological perspective, innovations and developments of both mass media and symbolically generalized media shape the structure of social contacts. Concerning the nexus between globalization and communication, I distinguish three analytically distinct yet partially overlapping phases of globalization: In a first phase, communication became universal by incorporating the globe into networks of exchange, power and belief. In a second phase, communication became instantaneous by means of telecommunication. In a third phase, increasing differentiation within subsystems of society created incentives to communicate across the globe. In their combination, these processes have resulted in the fusion of horizons of meaningful action into a singular global frame of reference. However, that does not imply uniformity since that global frame of frame has also institutionalized a preference for continuous change and variation.


Statistical analysis of profile monitoring, a relatively new sub-area of statistical process control due to its applications in different industries, have urged researchers and practitioners to contribute to the developments of new monitoring methods. A statistical profile is a relationship between a quality characteristic (a response) and one or more independent variables to characterize quality of a process or a product. In this article, statistical profiles based on nominal responses are studied, where logistic regression is used to model the responses. Three approaches including likelihood ratio test (LRT), multivariate exponentially weighted moving average (MEWMA), and support vector machines (SVM) approaches are proposed to monitor quality of a process or product in Phase II. Performances of the proposed approaches are evaluated and compared using a case study. Moreover, the effect of two important factors on average run length (ARL) performance, number of levels and number of covariates, has been considered. Results indicate that performance of all approaches depends on the number of covariates and levels. As the number of these factors increases, SVM performance improves while performance of the other approaches deteriorates.


— A company strategy is to provide goods and services for consumers so that the consumers can accept the products and realize that the values of the products exceed their prices, i.e. value for money. However, the consumers may not only look at the product prices when they decide to buy the products but also several other factors, such as the product lead time. A research was conducted to determine the lead time required in a make-to-order company. The factors that influence the lead time for example the number of demand, stock on hand, and the batch size were used for calculation. In this paper, lead time calculations were performed by simulating the mathematical models. The simulation results were used as a basis to build the fuzzy membership functions. The results show that the lead time calculations using fuzzy logic approach are similar to the simulation results. Statistical tests show that there is no significant difference between the output of fuzzy logic and the output of the simulation, so that the fuzzy approach can be used for estimating the lead time without the need for simulation.


A propensity score–matched comparison of two phase II trials found that dasatinib and nilotinib offer similar responses and outcomes as first-line therapy for patients with chronic-phase CML.


Background: The use of the right learning model is an alternative to overcome the problem of students' low absorption of lessons, in order to improve the quality of teaching. In its implementation, an appropriate learning model is needed that is able to arouse students' motivation to learn. The use of the right learning model is to use Discovery Learning models and Problem Posing learning models.
Method: This study aims to determine the differences in student learning outcomes taught using Discovery Learning models and Problem Posing learning models on the concept of the digestive system in the food of class VIII students of YPKPM Christian Middle School Ambon.
Results: Based on the results of the study the use of the Discovery learning model the average value of cognitive aspects = 87.82, the affective aspect = 80.88, the psychomotor aspects = 90.4, the final value = 94.64, the final test value = 94. While the model Problem Posing learning the average value on cognitive aspects = 95.49, affective aspects = 93.76, psychomotor aspects = 93.32, final value = 93.90 and final test value = 96.17. With t count 2.04 and t table 2.01.
Conclusion: Student learning outcomes in the problem posing learning model class are higher than students in the class of discovery learning models.


Posterior sampling allows the exploitation of prior knowledge of the environment's transition dynamics to improve the sample efficiency of reinforcement learning. The prior is typically specified as a class of parametric distributions, a task that can be cumbersome in practice, often resulting in the choice of uninformative priors. In this work, we propose a novel posterior sampling approach in which the prior is given as a (partial) causal graph over the environment's variables. The latter is often more natural to design, such as listing known causal dependencies between biometric features in a medical treatment study. Specifically, we propose a hierarchical Bayesian procedure, called C-PSRL, simultaneously learning the full causal graph at the higher level and the parameters of the resulting factored dynamics at the lower level. For this procedure, we provide an analysis of its Bayesian regret, which explicitly connects the regret rate with the degree of prior knowledge. Our numerical evaluation conducted in illustrative domains confirms that C-PSRL strongly improves the efficiency of posterior sampling with an uninformative prior while performing close to posterior sampling with the full causal graph.


Part I: 1. 1830: a revolutionary symphony 2. 1834: Lamennais and Words of a Believer 3. 1848: revolutions and a Mass 4. Weimar: Liszt, the Church and Wagner 5. 1861: Rome, Cardinal Hohenlohe and Princess Wittgenstein 6. 1865: minor orders Part II: 7. Liszt and Palestrina: the plan to reform church music 8. The Masses 9. The psalms 10. The oratorios St Elizabeth and Christus 11. The shorter choral works 12. The late religious works and Les Morts Part III: 13. Liszt's programmatic use of fugue 14. Liszt's Cross motif and the Piano Sonata in B minor 15. Liszt's path as a composer.


This study considers the developments in international standardization over the last 20 years, particularly the status of public standardization as compared with consortium-based industrial standardization. The report shows that the radical reform of the global public standardization system in 2008, prompted by the loss of interest in public standardization on the part of large corporations and the sometimes less-than-satisfactory outcomes from consortium-based industrial standardization in terms of competition and antitrust considerations, has helped to compensate for the declining significance of national public standardization, particularly for national governments, and is to be regarded as a clearly positive development, from both the economic and the institutional and political points of view. Global public interests are now catered for by Internet-supported information markets; in particular, online documentation has also enhanced the transparency of the public standardization process and provided freedom of access for small- and medium-sized companies in particular, irrespective of geographical region. Finally, the study shows that the debate that took place in and around the year 2004 between Europe and the USA regarding the path towards the internationalization of public standardization processes was superfluous, incomplete and even counterproductive, owing to the hardening of the political divisions between the two sides.


1 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, S. K. Medical College, Muzaffarpur 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, S. K. Medical College, Muzaffarpur 3 Professor and HOD, Department of Pathology, S. K. Medical College, Muzaffarpur *Corresponding Author Dr Awadhesh Kumar Singh Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, S.K. Medical College, Muzaffarpur, India Abstract Objective: The aim of present study was to determine the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in diagnosis of Lungs tumor and its diagnostic accuracy as well as evaluate the incidence and prevalence of lung cancer in various age and sex group and in relation with smoking. Materials and Method: A total of 72 patients Referred to our department for USG guided FNAC with suspected Lung mass lesion admitted through medical, surgical OPD and emergency. After detailed medical and surgical history, clinical examination was done, Routine investigations (CBC, BT, CT, PT and aPTT) were done before the procedure. Recent Plain and contrast CT of chest made available prior to USG guided FNAC. Written consent was taken from each patient. FNAC was done and five to seven smears were prepared, fixed and stained with May-Grunewald Giemsa stain/papanicolaou, and H&E stain. Results: Out of 72 patients, 64 patients (88.89%) were male and 8(11.11%) patients were female. Male to female ratio was 8:1. The age of patients varies from 25-75 years most of the patient was in the age group of 50-70 years. The most common tumor was squamous cell carcinoma in 33(45.83%) patients followed by adenocarcinoma in 16 patients (22.22%), small cell carcinoma in 13 patients (18.05%) and large cell carcinoma in 5 patients (6.94%). 57 patients (79.16%) out of 72 patients had history of smoking. Conclusion: USG Guided Fine Needle Aspiration cytology is a simple, safe, highly sensitive and specific procedure with high diagnostic accuracy for diagnosis of Lungs mass lesions. Diagnostic accuracy of cytology with final histopathological report was established with accuracy rate of 94.44%.


The Yuehu is a small tidal inlet system located in the eastern Shandong Peninsula, China. In order to investigate the time-velocity asymmetric patterns of the system, hydrodynamic observations and bathymetric surveys were undertaken in the winter of 1998 and the summer of 1999. Based upon the measured tidal water levels and the calculated tidal currents, two types of additional time-velocity asymmetric patterns, other than the " flood-dominated" and "ebb-dominated"patterns, are identified: the duration of flood tide is longer (or shorter) than that of ebb tide, while the flood currents are stronger (or weaker) than the ebb currents. These patterns have been shown to be associated with the mixed and semi-diurnal dominated tides, the timing of the current velocity and water level at the entrance, the cross-section shape of the entrance channel, and the flow and circulation structures within the entrance channel. An understanding of such time-velocity asymmetric patterns is important in terms of the sediment dynamic behaviours and the artificial utilization of tidal inlets.


This conceptual paper aims at exploring the role of organizational unlearning in postacquisition integration. While M&A are frequently pursued for learning and knowledge acquisition motives, they often fall short of delivering on the initial promises due to failures in post-acquisition integration. Previous research unfolded that post-acquisition performance depends on the organizational fit between two organizations. Yet, we know relatively little about how the integration of the acquired firm has to be managed in order to overcome problems of organizational fit. Therefore, we investigate the role of organizational unlearning in reconciling organizational misfit in post-acquisition integration. Our arguments suggest that especially in cases of fundamental differences in belief systems organizational unlearning fosters postacquisition performance and knowledge transfer.


The research purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse how three basic types of logistics fi rms differ in terms of their core capabilities and network development as well as the effects of the difference. Based on the resource-based view and the industrial network approach, a conceptual framework is developed to differentiate logistics fi rms. Two case studies of logistics fi rms are used as examples to demonstrate how the framework can be used. Logistics fi rms have clear differences in capabilities and network focus. These fi rms follow different dominating logics of value creation that make them develop in different ways and think totally differently. This research enhances our understanding of the different logics of logistics fi rms and their interdependence. They are complementary and interacting in the logistics service supply chain. Moving between the basic types of logistics fi rms means changing the capabilities and network focus, which is costly and dif fi cult. The conceptual framework can be used as a tool to comprehend multiple types of logistics fi rms. It also helps us to analyze related strategic moves.


HEALTH CARE CHAPLAINCY TODAY is what sociologists Rue Bucher and Anselm Strauss called a "profession in process" or a professional group with many segments in transition. Much like the 2001 document, "Professional Chaplaincy: Its Role and Importance in Healthcare," the proposed standards of practice show leaders trying to articulate to each other, to other health care professionals and to the public who they are and what they do. This articulation is an important step in the development of chaplaincy as a profession though the standards are best read as what leaders think chaplains in acute care should do, rather than what they actually do. I support the development of these standards, but I see several challenges to putting them into practice based on my research about what chaplains actually do (and may do) in the health care institutions where they work.


This paper presents a control strategy for driving trucks on economically optimal speed trajectories over a-priori known road slope profiles. By considering the trip income and costs, the approach leads to an ecological and economic advantage by reducing the fuel consumption and maximizing the profit of transportation at the same time. The optimization task for a truck is formulated as an open-loop, finite-horizon optimal control problem, which is repetitively solved as part of a model predictive control framework. The truck dynamics is represented as a hybrid nonlinear model and a multi-point boundary-value problem (MPBVP) is obtained using Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions, the Pontryagin minimum principle for input constraints, interior boundary conditions for state constraints and interior point constraints for gear shifts. The MPBVP is solved numerically by a multiple shooting algorithm. Results are validated in simulations and compared to an ordinary speed controller.


I study the effects of product and labor market frictions in a dynamic general equilibrium model with a three-states representation of the labor market. Firms bargain with unions over wages and employment levels. This generates unemployment. Households take the associated unemployment risk as given in making participation and consumption-saving decisions. Unemployment harms output because it inserts a wedge between labor supply (participation) and employment. New firms make entry decisions based on expected future profitability as determined by macroeconomic conditions. The model produces dynamics consistent with the long-run trends exhibited by the US and EU15 economies over the last 40-50 years. It also features feedback mechanisms linking the two markets that amplify the adverse effects on output of labor and product market frictions. These multiplier effects have interesting policy implications.


This study aims to describe and explain 1) The implicatures on the utterances of 2019 Presidential election campaign on online billboard advertisements (2) The types of implicatures on the utterances of 2019 Presidential election campaign on online billboard advertisements (3) The function of those implicatures. The research method in this study is a qualitative approach that uses content analysis. This is intended to trace three formulation of problems related to the conversational implicature. Data is the utterances containing implicatures and data is taken from 2019 presidential election campaign ononline billboard advertisements. The results of the discussion showed that out of 11 online billboards, most speakers flouted Quality maxim as much as 6 online billboard advertisements and the speakers also flouted Quantity maxim as much as 3 online billboards advertisements. The rest, 1 online billboard advertisement includes the flouting of manner maxim and 1 online billboard advertisement includes the flouting of Relation maxim. The types of implicatures that occur are generalized implicatures and particularized implicatures. Implicature in this study has 2 functions, namely directive (asking, inviting and convincing) and commissive (promising).


The specific causes of cancer progression have long baffled scientists and physicians. Repositories are filled with historical tumor samples collected from patients over the years that might hold the answers. Unfortunately, while the process used to preserve tumor samples is successful in saving them for decades, it often introduces DNA analysis challenges. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples usually contain degraded DNA, which is difficult to amplify for next-generation sequencing (NGS).


Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the main determinants of urological profile of the patients hospitalized in the department of urology of Conakry. Patients and methods: This study was a retrospective, observational and descriptive about 491 patients hospitalized from January to December 2004. Results: The median age was 66 years, 13 % were over 80 years. Farmers with 43.6% were dominant among occupational categories. The literacy rate was 23.4%. On matrimonial status, 81.9 % of the patients were married. They came from all regions of the country: Middle Guinea led (31.8%), followed by the Lower Guinea (22.8%) and Conakry (25.3%). The main reasons for consultations were voiding disorders (83.9%). Common medical history was urethritis (42.2%). Cola (35.6 %) and tobacco (8%) were the major defects found. Benign prostatic hypertrophy (55%), urethral stricture (17.3%) and prostate cancer (8.8 %) were the main diseases identified. Despite the difficulties and delays care of some urological diseases, the hospital mortality rate was low (1%). Conclusion: This study showed a high incidence of prostate tumors and urethral stricture in urology. These pathologies affect elderly patients, growers and coming from inside the country. This first study could serve as a basis for discussion for the organization better accessibility urological care.


From the seventh century ce the Pontic region and the Aegean were the main sources of fish for Byzantium.

Keywords:

Byzantine history;
economic history;
Late Antiquity


Single layer low-dimensional materials are presently of emerging interest, including in the context of magnetism. In the present report, on-surface supramolecular architecturing was further developed and employed to create surface supported two-dimensional binary spin arrays on atomically clean non-magnetic Au(111). By chemical programming of the modules, different checkerboards were produced combining phthalocyanines containing metals of different oxidation and spin states, diamagnetic zinc, and a metal-free 'spacer'. In an in-depth, spectro-microscopy and theoretical account, we correlate the structure and the magnetic properties of these tunable systems and discuss the emergence of 2D Kondo magnetism from the spin-bearing components and via the physico-chemical bonding to the underlying substrate. The contributions of the individual elements, as well as the role of the electronic surface state in the bottom substrate, are discussed, also looking towards further in-depth investigations.


Background: Dysmenorrhea is seen in nearly 5% of women with regular menstruation. In this regard, different methods have been proposed for treatment of dysmenorrhea, and drugs with fewer side effects are preferred. Hence, this study was done to detect the effect of echinophora- platyloba on primary dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: In a single-blind clinical trial, 60 students with primary dysmenorrhea were evaluated at Shahr-e-Kord University of Medical Sciences. The students were randomly divided into two groups of 30 each: Echinophora-platyloba extract and placebo. Data collection was done through visual analogue scale for detecting the intensity of pain. At the end of first and second months after treatment, the intensity of pain was determined in the two groups and compared with that before the intervention. Eventually, the data were analyzed through Chi square, ttest and Mann-Whitney test. Results: The means of dysmenorrhea severity scores two months before administering the drug in echinophora-platyloba and placebo groups were 8.46±2.75 and 8.80±2.53, respectively. Here the difference was not significant; however, after administering the drug, the mean scores in intervention and non-intervention groups were 3.41±1.12 and 7.82±2.60, respectively, which indicated a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.001) . Conclusion: Both echinophora-platyloba extract and the placebo could reduce the severity of dysmenorrhea during the treatment, yet the effect of echinophora-platyloba was much greater than the placebo. Thus, the use of echinophora-platyloba extract is suggested in treatment of dysmenorrhea.


Earth Observation Data Cubes (EODC) have emerged as a promising solution to efficiently and effectively handle Big Earth Observation (EO) Data generated by satellites and made freely and openly available from different data repositories. The aim of this Special Issue, "Earth Observation Data Cube", in Data, is to present the latest advances in EODC development and implementation, including innovative approaches for the exploitation of satellite EO data using multi-dimensional (e.g., spatial, temporal, spectral) approaches. This Special Issue contains 14 articles covering a wide range of topics such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Analysis Ready Data (ARD), interoperability, thematic applications (e.g., land cover, snow cover mapping), capacity development, semantics, processing techniques, as well as national implementations and best practices. These papers made significant contributions to the advancement of a more Open and Reproducible Earth Observation Science, reducing the gap between users' expectations for decision-ready products and current Big Data analytical capabilities, and ultimately unlocking the information power of EO data by transforming them into actionable knowledge.


A colorimetric method for the determination of the stability of dilute emulsions (down to 1 ml litre−1) of emulsifiable concentrates (EC) has been subjected to a collaborative study with 27 participating laboratories, on behalf of the Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council (CIPAC).

A dye is added to the emulsifiable concentrate and an aliquot is poured into standard water to obtain an aqueous emulsion. After a specified time, the absorbance of an aliquot of the dyed emulsion is measured and compared to the absorbance measured after initial formation of the emulsion.

Collaborators were furnised with four emulsifiable concentrate formulations and the dye, and requested to make three replicate determinations on each dyed sample in CIPAC standard waters A and D.

The repeatability and reproducibility figures obtained in these trials indicate that the method permits a good estimation of the stability of dilute emulsions when it is followed exactly.


The biggest threat to junior doctors in training in this country comes from the royal colleges. Standards set by such organizations are always rising. Some years ago the F.R.C.S. was considered adequate to practise as a surgeon, but today it is regarded as being adequate only to start specialist training. I do not think this is a good thing-the royal colleges are trying to maintain their exclusiveness. When they realized that specialist registration in E.E.C. terms (measured by an approved course of training) would mean freedom of establishment as a specialist, and that the diplomas of the colleges might become irrelevant, they put forward their scheme of specialist accreditation. Clearly this will be limited to senior registrar establishment, which, in turn, is related to consultant establishment. The latter is regulated by the Department of Health. This places the colleges in the unfortunate position of endorsing a standard which is set by the employing authority, rather than an academic one. Mutual recognition of basic qualifications presents few difficulties.


Urban displacements are a major challenge for the economic and social development of the city and are a sign of quality of life. They are defined by less congestion, less pollution, congestion and urban sprawl. In Algeria, the new urban policies are seen as the beginning of a positive transformation of the city's situation, which degradation seems to have origin in a lack of coordination between planning, the deregulation of the transport sector and the urban planning of cities. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a transportation policy based on a logic of sustainable development of the urban area where the optimization of mobility is required. In Algiers, transport and urban planning have been the subject of many debates that have shown that the city suffers from several problems, in terms of transport, mobility, traffic and parking. This makes it a perfect example of a city affected by urban sprawl generating a series of other problems that come together to cause an imbalance in the layout of spaces. In attempting to address these problems in order, the first would be the increase in the various displacements due to the metropolisation and centralization of human activities. These displacements are not only in continuous increase but are experiencing a real imbalance where the quantity dominates on the quality, which leads to a remarkable saturation of the transport networks, and thus to a dense traffic notably during the peak hours. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the importance of developing the most adequate operating policies for the various modes of transport that are the most appropriate in the capital city of Algiers, and to implement an investment program in the management of mobility in order to transform the city. JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2019), 3(1), 144-155. https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2018.4711 www.ijcua.com Copyright © 2018 Journal Of Contemporary Urban Affairs. All rights reserved.


Although using professional interpreters is known to improve health outcomes for patients when language barriers are present, care providers often hesitate to use them. Training in how to use interpreters has been effective in increasing students' knowledge and self‐efficacy, but little is known about how students apply the competencies gained. We explored students' perspectives on how they dealt with language barriers during their clerkships.


Based on Thailand national policy to expand rubber plantations in northeastern and northern regions, the performance information under drought conditions need to be developed for this specie. Carbon exchange rate and plant water status of two popular commercial clones (RRIM 600 and RRIT 251) under non-water stress and water stress conditions were studied on 11/2 year-old of rubber plants. Under non-water stress condition plants, differences of photosynthetic traits, nitrogen and water status between clones were found. According to water stress condition, drought treatments provoked a strong stomatal closure and a decrease in xylem pressure. During one week after irrigation was stopped, stomatal conductance (gs) was more substantially reduced for both clones and it closed to zero at 3 weeks. Minimum xylem pressure in the petioles (Ppetiole) for control plants varied between -0.7 and -0.8 MPa.. At 4 weeks after the onset of the drought treatment, Ppetiole was reduced to -1.7 and -2 MPa for the RRIM 600 and RRIT 251 clones, respectively. The dependence of gs on Ppetiole was found for both clones. Maximum transpiration rate (Emax) was showed a constant value all experimental period time for control plant, while it was more substantially reduced after drought onset for stress plant. These results confirm the potential genotypic variability of some photosynthetic trait and water status under non-water stress conditions and stomatal behavior related with hydraulic properties during water stress in rubber tree. (Resume d'auteur)