In this paper, we concentrate on a class of linear multi-objective decision making models with level-2 TFNwTFC coefficients. Firstly, we define a level-2 triangular fuzzy number with a triangular fuzzy centre(TFNwTFC) based on level-2 fuzzy set theory, and propose a theorem on how to transform it into an (α, β)-level trapezoidal fuzzy number(TrFN). Secondly, in order to deal with the linear multi-objective decision making model with TrFN coefficients, we present an expected multi-objective model with chance constraints, and discuss its equivalent model. Then the e-constraint method is employed to determine a solution to the crisp equivalent model. Finally, a supplier selection problem is used to illustrate the proposed models and approaches.


: Water scarcity is probably one of the greatest challenges imposed on modern societies and Alto São Marcos, a water planning unit located between the Federal District and the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais, represents well the conflicts that involve multisectoral water dispute as a resource. The conflict observed in this region is configured as a potential pilot case for the application of economic instruments for the management of the resource, being necessary, however, before, an adequate characterization of the economic environment, its dilemmas, and challenges. Thus, the objective of this work is to characterize the dispute between the irrigating and electric sectors, to present the history of the regulatory evolution of the instruments adopted, and to discuss the dilemmas and challenges imposed. To carry out this work, a contextualization of the basin was initially proposed regarding its main economic activities demanding the scarce resource; elaboration of a history of the main normative events tangent to the basin; and, finally, the identification of challenges to conflict resolution. Therefore, from the methodological execution, it was found that the complexity of the conflict crosses institutional limits and demands regulatory articulation between local and national priorities, in search of water security for the planning and expansion of uses. Situation that shows the importance of economic studies on the water and multisectoral remuneration dynamics in Alto São Marcos.


We show that quasiparticles in a magnetic field of arbitrary strength $H$ can be described by field dependent parameters. We illustrate this approach in the case of an Anderson impurity model and use the numerical renormalization group (NRG) to calculate the renormalized parameters for the levels with spin $\sigma$, $\tilde\epsilon_{\mathrm{d},\sigma}(H)$, resonance width $\tilde\Delta(H)$ and the effective local quasiparticle interaction $\tilde U(H)$. In the Kondo or strong correlation limit of the model the progressive de-renormalization of the quasiparticles can be followed as the magnetic field is increased. The low temperature behaviour, including the conductivity, in arbitrary magnetic field can be calculated in terms of the field dependent parameters using the renormalized perturbation expansion. Using the NRG the field dependence of the spectral density on higher scales is also calculated.


Why is it, after more than seven years of imaginative and innovative work by Hugh Burns, Helen Schwartz, Valerie Arms, Cynthia Selfe, William Wresch, and Dawn and Raymond Rodrigues, computer-supported writing instruction in labs and classrooms across the country remains dominated by grammar drill, text analysis, and word processing? Whatever the merits of such computer support, if they continue to signify in the popular imagination all that a computer can do, then the computer in writing instruction is doomed to being labeled superficial, remedial, and reductive. It will be relegated to the "catch-up" curriculum, or paraded in showcase research labs which produce data and case studies but do little of what the computer should be best at, providing powerful, self-paced writing instruction across the educational spectrum and at every ability level. There is, however, a type of software pioneered by Hugh Burns at the University of Texas in 1979 which can provide the student writer a powerful stimulation to creativity and originality, and if properly developed and applied, may demonstrate even to the hard-core skeptic that microcomputers can do much more than simply cosmeticize text or drill students in the avoidance of comma splices. But this type of software has remained in a prolonged "infancy," largely as a result of an attitude which I have termed the "UserFriendly Fallacy." The User-Friendly Fallacy stipulates that for a computer to provide truly significant help to the student writer, it must (1) produce the illusion of actual person-to-person interaction, and (2) evaluate the content and quality of student input. Without these capabilities, according to critics like Robert Hertz, computer-assisted instruction's role "seems limited to those facets of composition that are clearly delineated, such as sentence structure or the mechanics of grammar usage" (62-64). The day will come, of course, when computers will be able to employ natural language ability in order to replicate human behavior and judge to some degree the meaning and quality of inputted text. That day will not be soon,


There is a relationship between sensory and rheological properties of food.Texture analyzer and other apparatuses can determine some properties of condiment;however,it can not describe the overall properties.The sensory evaluation and food rheology mechanism can be combined to apply in the product development,process design and apparatus selection,which can improve the development of condiment industry.


Bayesian optimization schemes often rely on Gaussian processes (GP). GP models are very flexible, but are known to scale poorly with the number of training points. While several efficient sparse GP models are known, they have limitations when applied in optimization settings.

We propose a novel Bayesian optimization framework that uses sparse online Gaussian processes. We introduce a new updating scheme for the online GP that accounts for our preference during optimization for regions with better performance. We apply this method to optimize the performance of a free-electron laser, and demonstrate empirically that the weighted updating scheme leads to substantial improvements to performance in optimization.


recognize an oversized ETT. A ventilator having facilities for application of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) and measurement of PIP and inspiratory and expiratory tidal volume (ITV and ETV) is essential. If the ventilator has a leak compensation facility, it should be disabled. We use Datex-Ohmeda Aestiva/5 with smart vent (Datex-Ohmeda, Inc, Madison, WI) for ventilating a child. Method: 1) Intubate the child with an uncuffed ETT; the size is chosen on the basis of age of the patient (5). 2) Connect to the ventilator and ventilate with 10– 15 mL/kg tidal volume and an appropriate respiratory rate. 3) Note PIP, ITV, and ETV. 3) Apply PEEP of 4–5 cm and increase it gradually (1–2 cm H2O at a time) until the PIP reaches to 25 cm H2O; keep observing the ITV and ETV. Usually PEEP required for achieving the target PIP is less than 10 cm H2O. While PEEP is adjusted to achieve target PIP of 25 cm H2O, the hemodynamics of the patient are carefully monitored. We believe, a difference of ~10% tidal volume but not less than 5 mL between the ITV and ETV indicates suitability of the ETT, if the difference in the ITV and ETV is less than 5 mL, an increasing difference in the ITV and ETV with further increase in PEEP (2–5 cm H2O) also indicates suitability of the ETT; however, if there is no further increase in the difference between the ITV and ETV, the ETT is deemed an oversized one. In this situation, we replace the ETT with a one size small (0.5 mm) ETT and repeat the test sequence to ensure suitability of the replaced ETT. Application of PEEP increases intrathoracic pressure and PIP; these changes increases leak around ETT that is detected as difference in ITV and ETV. Finholt et al (2), in an experimental study found that leak pressure testing gives an excellent indication of fit between ETT and trachea. By ensuring minimal air leak around the ETT at 25 cm H2O, it is believed that the pressure-related tracheal injury can be avoided. In pediatric cardiac surgical practice, patients are often subjected to overnight ventilation; in these patients, PEEP is recommended for various reasons. Evaluation of appropriate size of ETT by application of PEEP further ensures that erratic ventilation would be unlikely in the postoperative period. However, changes in the lung compliance can still cause erratic ventilation (by raising PIP) with an ETT that was appropriate at the time of intubation. Similarly, an appropriate ETT can become oversized because of airway edema and may cause pressure-related airway injury. The method we have described allows an objective evaluation of leak around the ETT. PEEP is usually well tolerated by patients; however, it is desirable that the hemodynamics is monitored during its application. We have been practicing this method for the last 4 years and have never faced any complication related to the method or intubation with an oversized ETT.


Motion equations of spin stabilized rocket under thrust with jet damping, variable mass and momentum effects and all angular disturbances


The increasing complexity of modern SoCs and quality expectations are making the cost of test represent an significant fraction of the manufacturing cost. The main factors contributing to the cost of test are the required number of tester pins, the test application time, the tester memory requirements and the area overhead required by the test resources. These factors contribute with different weights, depending on the cost model of each product. Several methods have been proposed to optimize each of these factors, however none of them allows an objective function derived from the actual cost model of each product. In this paper, we propose a cost model-driven test resource allocation and scheduling method that minimizes the cost of test.


Replicates the Daft and Macintosh (1981) research that related the amount and equivocality of information processing to the variety and analysability of work unit activities. Conducted across 38 different work units in a single Fortune 500 firm, identifies some contradictions, but confirms Daft and Macintosh's unhypothesized findings and suggests that within an organizational context the amount of information processed by work units serves as an uncertainty reducing mechanism. Thus, more information intensive work units are able to clarify equivocal information and increase the precision and analysability of their task work.


Aims & Objectives: To evaluate verification criteria for reflex ordering of platelet scans for automated platelet counts generated by Beckman Coulter LH-780 Hematology Analyzer. Materials & Methods: The study uses automated platelet counts /=40x103/µL and within 20% for counts


This expedition both continued and extended the geological and geophysical work done from the Department of Geology over a number of years. The expedition, eventually comprising more than 28 members, mostly travelled to and from Spitsbergen in Lyngen, arriving at Longyearbyen in three parties between 18 June and 10 July, and leaving Longyearbyen on 28 August and Ny Alesund by Jacob Kjede on 19 September. Between 29 June and 28 August the expedition worked in eight independent parties on distinct geological projects, in each case led by a graduate member engaged in a longer-term investigation. Some re-grouping took place from time to time. Of these eight parties, two northern parties (A and B) were based on the Biskayerhuken peninsula, to and from which they were taken by Lyngen. The six southern parties (C-H) were based on Longyearbyen, transport beyond which was done by the support party H with an 8 m. motor-boat, Salterella; the motor-boat had a wireless telephone for communication with Isfjord Radio, but a regular schedule was not used. Otherwise parties were equipped with one or more small boats and outboard motors for coastal and emergency transport. Administrative responsibilities were shared between all the party leaders, under the direction of W. B. Harland. P. F. Friend was deputy leader and A. H. Neilson led the advance party and was responsible for all boats. Scientific assistants were graduate and undergraduate members of Cambridge University, and four engineers and surveyors were from Guildford County Technical College. The advance party of six travelled with the bulk of supplies and brought the eleven boats and motors into use before the main party arrived. Bay ice at the head of the fjords delayed the first attempts to land parties where planned and sea ice later drifted in to Isf jorden and modified several subsequent plans. However, after exceptional ice conditions during July, the weather in August around Isf jorden was very favourable. Unlike 1961, the weather in the north was very poor most of the summer. Party A, R. A. Gayer (leader), W. O'Beirne, J. E. Dixon, G. Hughes and R. J. Powell, made their way with three boats and outboard motors from Biskayerhuken, after some delay due to sea ice, to north-west Ny Friesland. The object was to consolidate the 1961 studies in that area, which were in direct continuation of the work of earlier expeditions throughout the whole peninsula on the structure and stratigraphy of the Hecla Hoek rock of Ny Friesland and Olav V Land. The area of metamorphosed rocks west of Asgardfonna was mapped to a scale of 1:20000, especially around Mosselbukta and Femmilsjoen. The rocks so studied extended stratigraphically downwards and westwards from the base of the Middle Hecla Hoek and included a suite of metamorphosed basic igneous dykes. Some 600 specimens were collected. Party B, D. G. Gee (leader), D. N. Constable, P. A. Kusel and R. Mason, based on the hut built by the 1961 expedition at Biskayerhuken, continued the survey on a scale of 1:5000 of the area from Rabotdalen to Biskayerhuken. A variety of metamorphic rocks, including mica schists, amphibolites, gneisses and eclogites,


. Theorems of large deviations, both in the Cramer zone and the Linnik power zones, for the normal approximationof the distributiondensityfunction of normalized sum S v = (cid:1) ∞ k = 0 v k X k , 0 < v < 1, of i.i.d. random variables(r.v.) X 0 ,X 1 ,... satisfying the generalizedBernstein'scondition are obtained.


Sir, while baseline coagulation screen can yield information on whether coagulopathy is present in a patient admitted with acute bleeding, it is not without pitfalls as previous studies have shown that routine coagulation testing is not always useful and tends to be over requested (Eisenberg & Goldfarb, 1976; Thaha et al., 2000; Chee & Greaves, 2003). Excessive unnecessary use of coagulation screen will no doubt result in the waste of limited resources of the National Health Service in the UK. We therefore audited our practise of coagulation screen orders on patients admitted to one of the acute medical wards in Hull Royal Infirmary. We retrospectively analysed the clinical notes of all acute admissions to our ward from the Acute Admission Unit (AAU) to establish the cause of admission, diagnosis and whether a coagulation screen has been ordered appropriately by the admitting doctor in AAU. The standards to assess suitability of requesting coagulation screens were taken from Best Practice Audit published by the Royal College of Pathologist (Mainwaring et al., 2007). In our hospital, coagulation screens consist of Prothrombin time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin time (APTT), while fibrinogen assay may be added if PT and/or APTT were abnormal or there is a specific clinical indication to it. The coagulation screens are carried out on the Instrumentation Laboratory ACL-TOP analyser. In brief, PT was measured by mixing 50 ll platelet-poor plasma with 100 ll Recombiplastin reagent (Instrumentation Laboratory) and timing clot formation via optical analysis. APTT was measured by mixing 50 ll platelet-poor plasma with 50 ll Synthasil reagent (Instrumentation Laboratory). After 3 min incubation, 50 ll CaCl2 was added and formation of the clot, via optical analysis, was timed. Fibrinogen was measured by mixing 100 ll platelet-poor plasma with 50 ll FIB-C reagent (Instrumentation Laboratory) and timing clot formation via optical analysis. The clot formation time is inversely proportional to the fibrinogen concentration and is calculated from a reference curve. We analysed the notes of 100 consecutive acute admissions from AAU to our ward. 35/100 had their coagulation screen assessed on the day of admission to AAU. Only three of 35 (9%) were indicated while the rest, 32 (91%), were not indicated. The three patients with indicated coagulation screen presented with melaena, paracetamol poisoning and haematemesis. Only the last two patients had raised PT; paracetamol poisoning had a PT of 13.9, while the patient with haematemsis had a PT of 20.3. The cause of the raised PT in the latter was not confirmed as the patient discharged themselves against medical advice. The coagulation screens were normal in all the remaining 32 patients without a clinical indication for the requests. In our hospital, the cost of one coagulation screen is £8.76. If we consider the average annual admission to our tertiary hospital AAU is 21 900 patients, with a daily admission of 60, then the estimated waste in performing unnecessary coagulation screen will be £61 390 annually. Our findings concur with previous studies and show that coagulation screens are unnecessarily requested (Eisenberg & Goldfarb, 1976; Thaha et al., 2000). In an attempt to avoid this, we recommend restricting the coagulation screens requests to doctors who are middle grade or higher. We also plan to include the indications for using coagulation screens in the induction programme for junior doctors and also incorporated a section of this in the Junior Doctors Induction Handbook. To complete the audit cycle, we aim to repeat this process in a year following the recommendation made above.


Abstract This note investigates the extension of Roberts' price-independent welfare prescriptions to alternatives in which population size and composition can vary. We show that ethically unsatisfactory orderings result. Suppose that a single person is to be added to a population that is unaffected in utility terms. Either all such additions must be regarded as bad or some expansions in which the added person's life is not worth living must be ranked as social improvements. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Number: D63.


To the Editor:

I read with interest the work by Hagensen et al1 and the accompanying editorial comment2 on the failure of endothelial progenitor cells to contribute to plaque endothelialization. The authors provide compelling evidence against the hypothesis that vascular progenitors from bone marrow (BM) may be involved in maintaining vascular homeostasis and repair. This elegant study leaves us with an unanswered question, ie, why the number …


Much has been written about the thyroid glands of amphibians, birds and mammals and differences as to facts and interpretations have been numerous. Some of these differences are no doubt species differences, others are due to differences of interpretation, while still others are due to errors, some of which have been corrected by the use of more refined techniques. The purpose of this paper is to add information obtained from a cytological study of the secretory activities of thyroid glands of fowl from 5 days to 10 years of age, in hypophysectomized, in gonadectomized, in thiouracil fed and in dwarf birds. For the study of interrelationships between the thyroid and other endocrine glands, observations have been made on the pituitaries, testes and adrenals following thyroidectomy and thiouracil feeding as well as in controls.2 A brief descrip-


Understanding self-regulation in science learning is important for theorists and practitioners alike. However, very little has been done to explore and understand students' self-regulatory processes in postsecondary science courses. In this study, the influence of science efficacy, learning value, and goal orientation on the perceived use of science study strategies was explored using structural equation modeling. In addition, the study served to validate the first two stages of Zimmerman's cyclical model of self-regulation and to address the common methodological weakness in self-regulation research in which data are all collected at one point after the learning cycle is complete. Thus, data were collected across the learning cycle rather than asking students to reflect upon each construct after the learning cycle was complete. The findings supported the hypothesized model in which it was predicted that self-efficacy would significantly and positively influence students' perceived science strategy use, and the influence of students' valuation of science learning on science study strategies would be mediated by their learning goal orientation. The findings of the study are discussed and implications for undergraduate science instructors are proposed.


The science development view is one kind comprehensive,coordinated,the sustainable new social development view,its core content is persists humanist,the essence is must realize the economic society and human's full scale development.The university student is the country precious human resources,will be nationality's hope and the motherland future.Promotes and realizes university student's full scale development is the science development view basic request,fulfills the science development view is university student's social responsibility.The article attempts from to analyze the university student full scale development basic connotation obtaining,elaborates and the explanation to the science development view and the university student during full scale development intrinsic relations,how then to promotes university student's full scale development by the science development view to propose the countermeasure.


Anemia is a multi-factorial condition; successfully addressing it demands an ecological approach that recognizes internal (biology, genetics, health) contributors and external (social/behavioral/demographic and physical) environments. As highlighted in the USAID Advancing Nutrition Anemia Task Force (ATF) report,1 using this approach to develop and implement context-specific equitable, safe, and effective interventions will improve assessment and implementation of programs, policies, and standards of care of patients and populations. An appreciation of systems biology will support the development and translation of nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific assessment methodologies and interventions, and improve clinical and public health outcomes.


The invention provides an upper machine frame supporting plate assembly. The upper machine frame supporting plate assembly comprises an upper supporting plate formed by integrally bending a hot-rolled steel plate, supporting side plates, supporting bottom plates and a connection plate. The left end and the right end of the upper supporting plate are bent to form the supporting side plates correspondingly, and the bent positions are in smooth transition. The supporting side plates on the two sides are symmetrical. The bottom ends of the supporting side plates are bent to form the supporting bottom plates, and the bent positions are in smooth transition. The upper supporting plate and the supporting bottom plates are arranged in parallel. An obtuse angle is clamped between each supporting side plate and the upper supporting plate. A first connection hole used for being connected with an elevator traction machine is formed in the middle of each supporting bottom plate. The front end face of the upper supporting plate is vertically bent upwards to form the connection plate. The left side and the right side of the connection plate are each provided with a second connection hole. A third connection hole is formed between the two second connection holes in the two sides. The upper machine frame supporting plate assembly has the beneficial effects that the upper machine frame supporting plate assembly can adapt to the trapezoid structure of the elevator traction machine, plays a supporting and protecting role and is convenient, rapid and efficient to assemble.


Auxiliary power supplies are required to have low standby power consumption at light-load conditions. These power supplies also require features such as low cost, high efficiency, and a Line Under-Voltage Lockout (UVLO) function to detect the input voltage so the main power supply does not operate at low input voltage ranges. Fairchild's FSQ510 has been specifically designed for low standby power consumption and valley switching control and is ideal for auxiliary power supplies. This paper outlines a design procedure for an auxiliary power supply using the FSQ510.


This study was objected to identify the effect on water quality and contamination by non-agricultural facilities in 'A' reservoir watershed located in OO city, Kyounggi-do, Korea. Ground- and stream water samples showed (Na+K)-Cl, Ca(Cl, SO) and Ca-Cl type in an illegally discharging area of sewage and a densely industrial area indicating water contamination. Stream water of an illegally discharging area of sewage had high COD, T-N and T-P. In this area, direct incoming of sewage into stream water was induced ground water system by well pumping, and it made a progress of ground water contaminations with those components. Groundwater of a densely industrial area showed high concentrations of T-N, NON. From a nitrogen isotope analysis, stream water of an illegally discharging area of sewage has values of 0.7%0 was strongly affected by nitrogen originated from agrochemicals, and a densely industrial area of 19.7%0 from septic system. Ground- and stream water of a livestock fanning area were contaminated with NH-N and Mn, which was affected by intensive livestock facilities. SAR-conductivity plot indicates the water does not pose either alkalinity or salinity hazard for irrigation. COD, T-N, T-P, NO-N, NHN and Mn concentrations from contaminated areas were diminished by mixing with 'A' reservoir water. There were no water contaminations in silver towns, vacationlands around reservoir and golf links. Consequently, it should be made a plan of systematic managements for past and- present possible contaminants and sewage systems in preventing water contamination by non-agricultural facilities.


Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a hepatotoxic environmental organic pollutant that can cause aberrant lipid accumulation in the liver. However, the molecular mechanism underlying PFOS‐induced hepatic steatosis remains unclear. Our research showed that subchronic PFOS exposure inhibited AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, leading to increased acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) activity, attenuated fatty acid β‐oxidation, and consequent liver lipid accumulation. We found that 1 mg/kg/day PFOS exposure significantly aggravated steatosis in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed mice, along with reduced AMPK activity. Oil Red O results showed that PFOS exposure caused fat accumulation in HepG2 cells. As predicted, PFOS treatment reduced the level of phosphorylated AMPK in a concentration‐dependent manner, leading to subsequent increase in ACC activity and lipid droplet accumulation in HepG2 cells. Treatment with 200‐μM AMPK agonist AICAR alleviated PFOS‐induced ACC activation and lipid accumulation. In summary, our data highlight a crucial role of AMPK/ACC pathway in PFOS‐mediated liver lipid metabolic disorders.


I am honoured and delighted to be asked to write this editorial as I leave the Editorial Board after a number of years. I note the range of articles in this edition and again am amazed how far we have come, not only in terms of this journal, but also on the role of evidence and its importance in health care. My career path has paralleled this. As a midwife originally, and a midwife teacher, we had some of the early work around Cochrane carried out in my field and in obstetrics. My frustration then was how difficult it was to get the evidence applied to practice. At that stage, even if you had access to libraries and searching techniques, no one would listen to the evidence that was beginning to be produced and there was no thought of research meta-analysis or synthesis! I happened to find the abstract of my first ever international conference presentation when tidying out my desk last Christmas. This conference, the triennial International Confederation of Midwives was held in 1978 in Jerusalem. I quote:


The purpose of the present paper is to review recent studies in children which have: (1) examined differences in energy expenditure, especially as they relate to differences in body composition and risk of developing obesity; (2) enabled more accurate measurements of body composition (especially fat and fat-free mass) and body fat distribution (especially intra-abdominal adipose tissue); (3) examined the relationship between obesity (especially body fat distribution) and increased disease risk.


The Maintenance and Transmission of Ethnic Identity: A Study of Four Ethnic Groups of Religious Jews In Israel. Linda B. Soroff. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1095. xii + 248 pp., tables, appendixes, endnotes. bibliography


We monitor the quantum trajectory of a superconducting qubit as it evolves under a continuous weak measurement. We verify the trajectory using quantum state tomography and investigate statistical properties of ensembles of trajectories.


The recent Blue Arrow and Maxwell cases have highlighted the extremely wide‐ranging powers of investigation and inquiry vested in regulatory authorities such as the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and in company liquidators by recent legislation (Companies Act 1985, Insolvency Act 1986, Criminal Justice Act 1987). In this paper, the author reviews the current state of the law on the availability of the privilege against self‐incrimination and of legal professional privilege as protection for senior company officials who face such investigations or inquiries. Through the consideration of a hypothetical scenario, the paper provides some general suggestions with a view to minimising, insofar as possible, the problems, criticisms and adverse publicity for the company which may result from these investigations and inquiries


Objective To study the prophylaxis and treatment on glaucoma secondary to silicone oil migration into anterior chamber of pseudophakic eyes.Methods Following vitrectomy and silicone oil injection,silicone oil migrated into anterior chamber in 12 pseudophakic.Healon is instilled into the eye to facilitate silicone oil aspiration through the another corneal incision,a periphery iridectomy is performed at 6 o'clock position routinely.Results Postoperatively,the intraocular lens lies in good position,silicone oil in vitreous cavity and retina remain attached.There is no other severe complications.Conclusion Healon injection into anterior chamber,removal of silicone oil from it with a peripheral iridectomy is a simple,safe and effective procedure dealing with pseudophakic eyes of glaucoma secondary from silicone oil entering into anterior chamber.It is suggested that taking active prophylaxis measures could decrease the rate of this complication.


In the historically fragmented U.S. health care system, care has been delivered by multiple providers with little or no coordination, raising issues with access, cost, and quality. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is guiding several experimental programs in health care payment and delivery. A fundamental element of this reform is the development of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), which offer providers financial rewards if they can reduce Medicare cost expansions and ensure quality standards. Alternative payment models are not only in the center of current U.S. government efforts, but have also gained international attention. Due to their heightened importance, this essay provides a general overview of ACOs based on a theoretical analysis of the existing body of literature. Evaluation of cost reduction and quality improvement of early ACOs show promise but also unintended incentives for providers through the benchmarking methodology. Enacting the Final Medicare Shared Savings Rule in 2016, the government is making continuous efforts to reset providers' incentives to strengthen their satisfaction and maintain ACO participation.


Eruptive activity at Stromboli Volcano was significantly elevated over background levels in May 2001. During 63 h of observation, eight vents produced, on average, 17 explosions/h with an average repose interval of 3 min. During this period, the Stromboli vents exhibited consistent seismic and acoustic signatures, based on cross-correlation cluster analysis. Dendrogram clustering, based on waveform cross-correlation, was used to illustrate the complexity of the near surface plumbing system of Stromboli's multi-vent edifice. Cross-correlations of displacement seismograms produced by explosions at specific craters, such as the Northeast crater (NEC), form dense waveform clusters with correlation coefficients between 0.96 and 0.99, while displacement waveforms from other craters, such as the Southwest crater (SWC), exhibit loose clusters with correlations between 0.88 and 0.96. The inconsistency of SWC events, as compared to the NEC, suggests that the vent system there is more heterogeneous. Cluster linkage distance between the NEC cluster and the Central crater (CC) cluster is shorter than the linkage distance between the NEC and SWC clusters, indicating that NEC and CC are more closely related. Infrasonic observations were used to locate vent explosions confirming that the clusters of events are associated with specific vents or craters. Qualitative analyses of acoustic waveforms from approximately 500 explosions reveal that impulsive acoustic signals were associated with short, mechanically simple ground displacement responses. These events may correspond to the bursting of an individual gas slug. Similar degassing mechanisms from vents in the NEC and the CC show common characteristics in their displacement waveforms. D 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.


Chaplowe and Cousins' book, Monitoring and Evaluation Training: A Systematic Approach, is a timely and useful addition to the growing field of evaluation capacity development. Building monitoring and evaluation capacity—creating evaluation units, identifying M&E roles and responsibilities, and developing key stakeholders' understanding of the use of M&E—is a challenge facing most countries today, particularly in light of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To respond to this challenge, there has been a significant rise in the quantity and quality of formal and informal national and international training programs (including masters and Ph.D. level programs).Discussions about the accreditation1 of individual evaluators, the establishment of International Development Evaluation Associations (IDEAs), national evaluation associations, and networks of evaluation associations are all important steps in building national and global monitoring and evaluation capacity. At the centre of much of this work are educators and trainers who can provide the knowledge and skills that would support the development of both the suppliers of monitoring and evaluation as well as those who need to be able to use evaluations. This manual's contribution is systematically exploring and providing guidance on how to use the best education and learning practices to facilitate the learning of monitoring and evaluation theory and practice. Overall, the book is a useful tool for trainers who seek to prepare and deliver M&E courses and a solid resource for M&E practitioners to draw upon in the delivery of technical assistance. The authors pursue a system approach for training that makes a difference, importantly pointing out that training does not happen in isolation but as part of a larger system composed of interdependent parts. As such, to understand any one part of the system, it is best to examine it in relation to the overall system. M&E training is thus a system within a system and is dynamic and changing. The authors argue that delivering an effective training program requires orderly, careful planning to gather information, analyze training demand, needs, and resources, identify relevant objectives, and realistically evaluate these objectives.


thermoregulated laser transmitter apparatus with embedded control, for transmitting laser beams modulated, comprising a laser diode (2) with photodiode sensor (2 ') is subjected to three control loops regulated by a microcontroller (29): - a loop thermal control maintainer stable temperature laser diode (2); - a light control loop maintainer stable irradiance of the laser beam emitted by the laser diode (2); - a control loop modulation index responsible for controlling the modulation depth of the laser beam. Applicable to optical communications laser.


In order to solve the problem of electromechanical coupling that influencing the control effect in the control of two vibration hammers,the influence law of electromechanical coupling is studied.The dynamics equations of the hammer-pile-soil system and electromechanical coupling mathematical model of two pile hammers synchronous vibration system are established,and then the simulation model is built with Matlab/Simulink.Base on the simulation model,some research of the numerical computation is done about the key parameters(motor speed difference,initial phase difference,soil parameters,the installation location and distance,etc.) respectively,which may affect the synchronization of the system.Simulation results shows that self-synchronization phenomena will appear in the pile hammer synchronous vibration system in some conditions,and the basic law is obtained.In the end,the mathematical models and simulation results were proved to be correct by experiments.The research results provide theoretical foundation for the synchronization control strategy of the pile hammer synchronous vibration system.


When used separately, anti-parasitic efficacy of nutrient (MP) supplementation and bioactive forage consumption is usually considerably lower than what can be achieved through the use of pharmaceuticals, although it has been argued that the latter may not necessarily be required nor desired. It might be therefore beneficial to combine these strategies to control parasites to a greater extent than possible when they are used in isolation. This is because nutrient supplementation and PSM consumption affect differently components of parasite life cycle (epidemiology) and benefit hosts differently at different productive stages (e.g. growing vs. lactating small ruminants). This principle has just been applied in temperate systems of production with greatly promising consequences. The strategy used was the supplementation of ewes with MP and the supply of chicory as forage to their lambs, and resulted in substantially reducing the antiparasitic drug input into the system than was achieved by using either of the two strategies on its own. The issue is whether the principles developed above could be applied to control parasites in small ruminant systems of production in the tropics, especially because the option of nutrient supplementation might not always be available. When devising such nutritional strategies one should take into account the availability of local resources on the one hand and both the antiparasitic and anti-nutritional properties of local forages on the other. Only then alternative strategies can be implemented and incorporated into local systems of production with a high degree of success. The final part of this paper will concentrate on this issue.


This article presents the findings from a study into the chances for refugee status, or a temporary residence permit, for three cohorts of male and female asylum-seekers to the Netherlands. The study investigated whether men and women with similar backgrounds in terms of country of origin, social and demographic characteristics have a similar likelihood of obtaining permission to stay in the Netherlands.

The quantitative findings are corroborated with an in-depth qualitative study of refugees' files from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), as well as with an experiment in which decision-making personnel were asked to judge hypothetical case studies of refugees in which gender as well as other gender-specific properties were systematically varied.

We recommend that further in-depth studies be conducted to capture elements in the decision-making process that could not be investigated in our kind of large-scale study.


A novel data processing circuit in high-speed serial communication has been demonstrated in this work. The circuit, including a serializer and a frequency divider, was developed to convert the transmission signals into the desired format. The chip design is based on TSMC 0.25/spl mu/m mixed signal model, and semi-custom design methodology is used. Pre- and post-layout simulation results indicated that the speed of circuit has reached 480MHz. Moreover, the data are processed properly in agreement with USB2.0 specification.


[Objective] To evaluate the disinfection effects of ultraviolet(UV) lamps with different powers and for different durations in surgery operating rooms, and to provide reference for disinfection optimization. [Methods] Two surgery operating rooms with same size, same orientation, and at the same floor of a hospital were selected. UV lamps of 30 W and 40 W were placed in the two rooms respectively. The changes in total bacterial count, sterilization rate, and ozone concentration in the air of the operating rooms were recorded at various time points of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes. [Results] After using the 30 W UV lamp radiation for 10 min, the air total bacterial count were 4 cfu/m3, and the sterilization rate was 95.3%. After using the 40 W UV lamp radiation for 10 min, the sterilization rate was 95.6%. After 30 min, the sterilization rates were both 100.0% for the two rooms. The air ozone concentration in the surgery operating room using a 40 W lamp for 20 minutes was statistically higher than that in the room using a 30 W lamp(P 0.05). After 30 min, the ozone concentrations in the air of both rooms exceeded 0.3 mg/m3. [Conclusion] The 30 W and the 40 W UV lamps show similar disinfection effects, but the 40 W lamp produces more ozone. A preferable UV light sterilization time is 30 min.


Two-boson-exchange charge density operator is obtained for static nucleons by taking account of rr-, p· and aJ-meson exchanges and Ll-intermediate state with a consistent treatment of nuclear wave function and effective operator. We study its effect to the charge form factor of 'He by adopting a simple nuclear wave function. At high momentum transfer, two-boson exchange charge density is found to have an appreciable contribution to the nuclear charge form factor.


The contribution of Jin Ping Mei lies in the creation of the immortal image of XIMEN Qing,a character who has varied social status and profound historical connotation.Analysing the ways in which XIMEN Qing makes and spends money,one can find out that he cannot be considered a representative of the rising merchants and that his so-called management has a negative effect on social development.XIMEN Qing has been engaged in trade all his life,but his wealth originates from his being fond of women and comes to naught for this reason.


The research adopts the French ROCK600-50 three-axis experiment instrument and SH-II system to evaluate the acoustic emission (AE) peak of the rear axle of yellow sandstone by carrying out the confining pressure synchronous unloading experiment, and evolution of mechanical properties and characteristics of energy transformation and damage of a yellow sandstone, which is a two-damage process, the results of which have shown the following: (1) there are two damages appearing when the confining pressure is 5 MPa, 10 MPa, and 20 MPa. In contrast, these two damages do not appear when the confining pressure is 30 MPa and 40 MPa. The fracture degree and crack number of the two fractures are larger than those without two damages. (2) A failure stress release rate showed an obvious "√" trend. With the increase of confining pressure, the stress release rate of the two failures is increasing. (3) By keeping the strain of the body constant, it is determined to be the first time to destroy the warning. The two failures of rock are predicted by the inflection point of the axial strain slope. No two failures occurred, and the strain unloading process showed two characteristics. (4) Meanwhile, with the increase of confining pressure, the energy released from the peak decreases first and then increases; the law of releasing energy from one failure and two destructions is the opposite. No damage occurred two times. As the confining pressure increases, there is a continuous decrease of the energy released from the peak. As the confining pressure increases, the release rate of the primary energy decreases at first and then increases, and the rate of energy released two times is increasing. The plasticity coefficient shows the trend of increasing first and then decreasing. (5) The damage degree of the second rupture is greater than the first rupture.


This study examines the consent arbitral awards and the possiblity of applying to them the same conditions, rules and effects of ordinary arbitral awards. The study is divided into two main sections: Section one analyzes the legal framework of consent arbitral awards; their definition, purpose and the powers of arbitral tribunals to issue them as being originated from the parties' consent. This is important in the light of some illegal practices of some disputants who may utilize such awards to cover such practices. The second section deals with the judicial review of consent awards either through annulment or enforcement proceedings under national arbitration laws and international conventions, and in particular the New York Convention of 1958 or the Washington Convention of 1965. This study concludes that the Consent Arbitral Awards play an active role in keeping the good relations between the disputants while having the same status and effects of ordinary arbitral awards. The study invites arbitral tribunals to play a more scrutinizing role of the settlement agreements before issuing the in-consent awards in order to avoid the misuse of the arbitral process as a cover of illegal practices.


Gives a new algorithm of medical image registration based on maximum of mutual information(MMI) and edge correlative deviation.This algorithm combines the edge correlative deviation of the reference image and floating image with the mutual information values of original images,and builds a new function to guide the searching course and thereby to realize the registration.Comparing to the standard MMI,this new algorithm accords with the individuality of images,by avoiding the instability brought by the mutual histogram but considering the information of the voxels' intensity values.Tests have proven that this new method additionally has several improved attributes in aspects of the more obvious climaxes of parameters' curves,more diminished errors on extremes conditions that images lack intensity values,better robust when resisting aggravated white noise.


Selected for each processing item reproduction process object, such as content or media, and also, as a user interface for performing such selection of the processing items for a plurality of reproduction process target, and provides the good operability and visibility. Handling menu screen, and displays on the plurality of miniature reproduction process for each destination, to the reproduction process object corresponding to the small image for the index of the predetermined position to be processed at the same time playing attention on one screen. A first processing function item group including a plurality of manipulating-function items for each of the reproduction process object, and displays the second manipulating-function item group including a plurality of manipulating-function items for the plurality of the reproduction processing. According to the first processing state of the manipulating-function items are any one or a selection item included in the group, and a small image for the index that corresponds to the target playback processing target, the display enables distinct from the small image for the other indexes. Multimedia player, an operation input unit, the manipulating-function items, small image for index


Based on the Brazilian experience in the last decades, the text approaches feminism as a phenomenon that, although enunciating women's emancipation in general and abstract terms, concretizes itself in specific social, cultural, political and historical contexts. Initially, the article shows feminism in Brazil, in the seventies, as a women's movement that was framed in opposition to the military dictatorship. In the following decades, it developed within the possibilities and limits of the process of political democratization. Nevertheless, the text argues that the difficulties faced by Brazilian feminism concerns not only the conjuncture constraints, but are related to structural impasses of feminism, due to the fact that women are not a universal category, except by the projection of our own cultural references. Their cultural and social existence implies diversity and institutes boundaries that cut the world culturally identified as feminine. As such, the analysis of feminism requires the reference to the context of its enunciation, which gives its meaning. Accordingly, the analysis of gender relations implies considering the notion of the person as conceived in the symbolic universe to which they refer.


The physical properties of skin ure frequently measured using a variety of mechanical devices. In lifts study, we have developed a new data analysis technique with the Cutometer 575 to characterize "overall skin elasticity." We also propose two additional new physical parameters which correlate to chronological and photo-ageing -''viscous and elastic recovery." This study was conducted on 430 subjects of different age, gender and ethnicity. Using a novel type of area analysis of the Cutometer displacementtime curve, the results uggest a significant decreasing trend in "elastic recovery" with age, while the ''viscous rectvery" showed no significant change over the same age span. These unique parameters offer more accuracy than existing outputs from the Cutometer, and may provide increased sensitivity in skin-care efficacy testing than existing methods.


This paper describes the experiences at the Dutch Agricultural Economics Research Institute LEI-DLO wi th the forecasting of farmer's income and the profitability of the farm business in the current accounting year. The method is based on data of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), combined wi th data from external sources like harvest estimations and price statistics. The paper shows that a relatively easy method of forecasting can yield excellent results. Detailed data in the FADN, up-to-date price statistics and yield estimations need to be available and in the end it is the quality of the researchers involved that determines the quality of the predictions.


A new all-electric retail store located in Montreal, Canada, incorporates several design features to maximize the interactions between various building components. The two-story, high-performance, green commercial building is the result of an integrated energy design process and features ground-source heat pumps with radiant floors for space heating and cooling, improved building envelope, optimized natural lighting on the second floor, exhaust air energy recovery, and hybrid ventilation. A number of results, such as geothermal system operating parameters and building-specific energy performances, are presented. The final results show a specific annual energy consumption of 133.1 kWh/m 2 (12.4 kWh/fr 2 ), while the reference building would be at 466 kWh/m 2 (43.3 kWh/ft 2 ), for a reduction of 71.4%. Energy cost savings are CD$ 24 per m 2 (CD$ 2.22 per ft 2 ).


In order to study maximally non-linear functions, we introduce a transform which is rather similar to a Fourier transform, and we express the Hamming distance between a general function f and a linear function using this transform. This distance depends on certain numbers N(v,t)(f) which are solutions of a linear system of equations. The numbers N(v,t)(f) can also be obtained as the intersection number of certain hyperplanes at the point (v, t). We study some properties of the maximal distance from a function to the generalized order one Reed-Muller code and we obtain a lower bound for the covering ray of the generalized order one Reed-Muller code by studying quadratics functions. This is a joint work (in progress) with R. Rolland.


Fuji Ren and Kyoko Osaka Faculty of Engineering The University of Tokushima Tokushima, Japan rence. This change facilitates the understanding of caring emotion as openness to a formed intention of knowing the other as caring person. Competencies in caring for persons are critical to understanding the value of technological competency as an expression of caring in nursing. Technological competency as knowing others intentionally as "sensitive beings" provided the impetus for the development of the "sensibility estiThe purpose of this study was to deterelectrodes in place, participants were remation technique" using brain wave activimine the emotional sensitivity of persons quested to view an emotionally charged ties to measure it. through empirical determination of elecvideo presentation. "Sensitivity at the motroencephalographic (EEG) data. Ten parment" was measured and found to be signifticipants were selected composed of five icantly changed, showing evidence of male and five female students. With EEG emotional sensitivity at the point of occur-


It is not strange that the name of He Zhen is little known outside the very small groupof researchers specializing inmodernandnear-modernhistory.1 He Zhen, who lived in a time of "chaos," a time when Chinese society was entering modernity and when all kinds of historical characters teemed, did not emerge until the establishment of the journal Tien Yee [Natural justice] in Tokyo in 1907. But the life of the journal was less than a year. Later He Zhen sank low to become a "woman spy" for theManchuQing government, and still later she lived in seclusion for many years and eventually died of madness and cloistering. Today the only reliable source available for us to look for historical traces of this womanHe Zhen is the text of Tien Yee. Instead of perusing the many enlightenment texts about female rights (nüquan) written by male authors and constructed in the discourse of the nation-state, let us reexamine carefully the articles authored by He Zhen and the journal Tien Yee edited by her. I am surprised by her originality,


This document discusses several requirements for always online mobile
applications which reveals that PCP only solution does not fill the
gap.


Objective To detect the anti-colon cancer ability of whole cell lysates pulsed dendritic cell(DC) which acts as an adjuvant.Methods Whole cell lysates of LoVo cells were extracted with freeze thawing method,then the monocyte-derived DC were pulsed with this cellular antigen.Subsequently,the capability of antigen pulsed DC to promote T lymphocytes proliferation and the ability of T lymphocytes to kill LoVo cells were detected by 3H-TdR incorporation and lactate dehydrogenase release methods,respectively.Results The whole cell lysates of LoVo cells pulsed DC significantly stimulated T cells proliferation,and the cytotoxicity abilities of primed T cells to kill LoVo cells were also enhanced.Conclusion Tumor cell lysates which act as the cellular antigen to pulse DC can improve the efficacy of anti-cancer immune response,which provides us an experimental evidence for cancer immunotherapy.


Anatase TiO2 particles, 100−200 nm in diameter, were developed in aqueous solution at 50 °C. The particles were assemblies of nano TiO2 crystals covered with nanorelief surface structures. The crystals grew anisotropically along the c-axis to form acicular crystals. The particles showed c-axis orientation due to high-intensity X-ray diffraction from the (004) planes. The particles had a BET specific surface area of 270 m2/g. BJH and DFT/Monte-Carlo analysis of adsorption isotherm indicated the existence of pores ∼3 nm and ∼1 nm in diameter. Crystallization and self-assembly of nano TiO2 were effectively utilized to fabricate nanocrystal assembled TiO2 particles having a high surface area and nanorelief surface structure.


Scene segmentation is a classical problem in computer vision and image processing. Traditionally this problem has been tackled by exploiting only color information from a view of the scene. Recently, a great amount of research has been done in order to develop efficient solutions for depth estimation and tools like modern stereo vision techniques and ToF range cameras allow accurate depth information extraction. The availability of both color and depth information opens the way for new insights in scene segmentation algorithms. In this paper, a novel scene segmentation framework is introduced. The goal of this approach is to capture the scene distribution, taking into account both color and depth cues, in order to provide a more accurate segmentation. Numerous applications can benefit from an effective scene segmentation method, e.g. 3D video, freeviewpoint video and game controlling. In this paper we will also show how the proposed segmentation scheme can be used to improve depth data compression performances, by using it in order to identify and extract the edges and the main objects in the scene.


Mining and oil and gas enterprises (МОGE) of Ukraine operate potentially hazardous equipment of various manufacturers that are on the verge of developing a resource, therefore it is necessary to create methods and means of technological control that comply with regulatory legal acts and industry standards. The most promising means of technological control of МОGE are mobile control systems (MCS). The process of production control by mobile control systems of МОGE is determined by the maximum capabilities inherent in the physical process phenomena that form a specific production control. The author's point of view is stated that he understands the terms re-refining and non-refining in the MCS and his views on other significant issues of the reliability of control. It is proposed to use the coefficient of variation of the depth of corrosion for a specific mine to increase the reliability of targeted instrumental control of conductors of rigid reinforcement of a mine shaft. The methodology and technology of three-parameter control of MCSs in general are examined in detail. It is proposed to use the Ishikawa diagram to identify causal relationships between factors and consequences in the control problem under study in order to find the optimal solution. An original point of view of technological control is stated and a new approach is proposed for determining the reliability indicators of МОGE control. It is proposed to use the analysis of the budget for the uncertainty of MCSs to improve the control methodology and increase the accuracy of MCSs.


MRI provides quantitative indices including relaxation time measurements, T1 and T2, which theoretically relate to placental composition and indices relating to perfusion, measured by Intra-Voxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM); related variables D and D* (coefficients of diffusion and pseudo-diffusion) and f% (the fraction of moving blood per voxel). We hypothesised these indices would be useful in the non-invasive assessment of the human placenta and are related to placental tissue morphology. Methods 40 (30 normal, 10 fetal growth restriction (FGR)) women underwent MRI examination (1.5 T) between 20 and 41 weeks. Placental relaxation times and IVIM measurements were acquired from a mid-depth placental region. Fixed embedded sections of these placentas, collected at delivery were stained and subjected to stereological analysis of morphology. Results Placental T1 and T2 show a significant negative correlation with gestation in normal pregnancy (p=0.01, 0.03, n=30), whereas IVIM parameters were unchanged (n=10). In the group as a whole, significant correlations were observed between f% and placental fibrin volume and capillary surface area (p=0.02, 0.03, n=6). In the group as a whole, there were no correlations between morphological features and relaxation times (n=19), D or D*(n=6). However, in a subset of pregnancies scanned within a week of delivery, a significant correlation was observed between placental fibrin volume and T2 (p=0.02, n=7). Discussion The correlations between MRI indices and morphological variables support that these indices may be useful in non-invasive assessment of placental morphology. Ultimately, such indices might be useful in FGR, where alterations in placental morphology are observed.


Our goal is to study the sets of -semiclassical orthogonal q-polynomials of class one fulfilling in its three-term recurrence relation , , via the study of the q-difference equation satisfied by its corresponding regular form w where is Hahn's operator. Four canonical situations appear. The recurrence coefficients, discrete measure and integral representation are established.


40 Vol.5 No.1 January 2009 1. 序論 2006年における日本の人為起源CO2総排出量に占める 旅客交通起源排出量の割合は12.0%である。そのうち航空 は6.2%(総排出量の0.8%)を占めているが、1990年比で 60.9%増と著しい増加を示している。また、運輸部門のう ちで脱炭素燃料に切り替わるのが最も遅いのは航空産業と 考えられており、航空からのCO2排出量割合が他部門に比 べ相対的に上昇していく要因として懸念される1)。 欧州では、航空会社のETS(European Emission Trading Scheme: 欧州排出権取引市場)への参加や、運航によっ て排出されたCO2の削減費用の一部を搭乗客に負担しても らい、排出を埋め合わせするカーボン・オフセットの普及 など、地球温暖化防止を重視した取り組みが実施に移され つつある。それとともに、地域間高速鉄道網の整備や高速 道路通行への課金といった施策も推進されている。日本に おいても今後は、導入・充実すべき輸送モードを環境性能 Synopsis: Objective. The focus of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction policies for the inter-regional passenger transport system depends on two factors: 1) the aviation sector is the slowest to eliminate use of carbon fuels; and 2) aviation is expected to contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions than other transport modes. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the possible changes in each indicator of Life Cycle CO2 (LCCO2) per passenger-km and eco-efficiency considering travel speed as a result of a shift from aviation to the high speed railway system (Shinkansen). CO2 emissions both for aviation and Shinkansen were estimated by applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method and taking into account same important parameters such as passenger demand. Results and Discussion. CO2 exhausted from aviation and Shinkansen during normal operation and the additional LC-CO2 from new infrastructure provision were compared. The first analyzed the sensitivity with regard to the number of passengers for a 500km long corridor. The results indicate the following: 1) CO2 per passenger-km generated from aviation hardly vary with the number of passengers; 2) LC-CO2 per passenger-km for Shinkansen is inversely proportional to the number of passengers; 3) LC-CO2 per passenger-km for Shinkansen is lower than that for aviation for the passenger volume of approximately 1,200 or more passengers per day; and 4) for eco-efficiency, the break-even point is more than around 2,000 passengers per day. The second considers the distance and travel demand for both aviation and Shinkansen. A possible shift from the current demand for aviation to Shinkansen was compared for each inter-prefectural Origin-Destination (OD) pair. Shinkansen was found to be superior for OD pairs with higher demand and shorter distances. Conclusions. This paper proposed a methodology for identifying an inter-regional transport system with lower CO2 emissions. An application to the inter-prefectural ODs for existing airlines in Japan shows the conditions that provide an advantage of lower CO2 emissions for aviation or Shinkansen.


Introduction: A combination of three active ingredients amlodipine besylate, telmisartan, and hydrochlorothiazide has been used and proven effective in the treatment of hypertension in patients with moderate to severe hypertension, while it contributes to a reduction in product costs and increases patient compliance. However, there are no monographs in pharmacopoeias for the simultaneous quantification of these three active ingredients. Therefore, in order to contribute to the establishment of an in-house specification for domestic generic drugs, shorten the time of quantifying each ingredient separately, the study was carried out with the aim of developing and validating procedure for the simultaneous quantification of amlodipine besylate, telmisartan, and hydrochlorothiazide by high performance liquid chromatography.

Methods: In this study, we conducted an investigation into different chromatographic conditions, developed an analytical procedure for the simultaneous quantification of amlodipine besylate, telmisartan, and hydrochlorothiazide in tablets preparation. The procedure was validated in compliance with ICH guidelines.

Results: Suitable chromatographic conditions for simultaneous quantification of amlodipine besylate, telmisartan, and hydrochlorothiazide are: Xterra C18 column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 μm), detection wavelength 230 nm, gradient program of mobile phase: acetonitrile and phosphate buffer pH 3.0, flow rate 1.0 ml/min, sample injection volume 10 μl, column temperature 30°C. The procedure was validated for systematic suitability, accuracy, specificity, linearity, precision, working range, and robustness.

Conclusion: A procedure for the simultaneous quantification of amlodipine besylate, telmisartan, and hydrochlorothiazide in tablets by high performance liquid chromatography has been successfully developed and validated.


This research aims to determine the impact of profitability levels, financing levels, and efficiency levels to return on mudharabah deposit and return on equity. The proxy of profitability levels is return on asset, the proxy of financing levels is financing to deposit ratio, and the proxy of efficiency levels is operating expenses to operating income. While the dependent variable used in this research is return on mudharabah deposit and return on equity. This study used secondary data with entire population of Islamic banks listed in the Indonesia Bank (BI) in 2011-2013. The method used to determine the sample using purposive sampling. The analytical method used is multiple linear regression, regression testing prior to first tested the classical assumptions. The result of this research showed that return on asset (ROA) positive significant with return on mudharabah deposit (ROMD). Other result noted that operating expenses to operating income (BOPO) is negatively significant with return on mudharabah deposit (ROMD), while financing to deposit ratio (FDR) are did not significant with return on mudharabah deposit (ROMD). And the result of this research also showed that return on asset (ROA) affect return on equity (ROE), Operating expenses to operating income (BOPO) is negatively significant with return on equity, While financing to deposit ratio (FDR) are did not significant with return on equity (ROE). Overall it can be concluded from these results that return on asset (ROA), financing to deposit ratio (FDR), and operating expenses to operating income (BOPO) affect return on mudharabah deposito and return on equity.


ABSTRACT Increasingly, children who start school have already acquired basic reading and writing skills provided by their parents or preschool teachers. However, even if we choose to accept the fact that by teaching preschool children how to read and write parents wish to help them integrate successfully into the school environment and methods of work, we still need to emphasize that certain activities are not in balance with the needs, abilities, and potentials of a preschool child. At the same time some other possibilities are not being used enough (e.g., visual art). The present research introduces this aspect and presents training prewriting skills based on visual art activities given that visual art represents one of the primary media that every child spontaneously uses in his or her preschool years.


Elevation of nitric oxide (NO˙) can either promote or inhibit ultraviolet B light (UVB)‐induced apoptosis. In this study, we determined real‐time concentration of NO˙ and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) and their role in regulation of membrane integrity and apoptosis. Nanosensors (diameter 300–500 nm) were used for direct in situ simultaneous measurements of NO˙ and ONOO− generated by UVB in cultured keratinocytes and mice epidermis. An exposure of keratinocytes to UVB immediately generated ONOO− at maximal concentration of 190 nm followed by NO˙ release with a maximal concentration of 91 nm. The kinetics of UVB‐induced NO˙/ONOO− was in contrast to cNOS agonist stimulated NO˙/ONOO− from keratinocytes. After stimulating cNOS by calcium ionophore (CaI), NO˙ release from keratinocytes was followed by ONOO− production. The [NO˙] to [ONOO−] ratio generated by UVB decreased below 0.5 indicating a serious imbalance between cytoprotective NO˙ and cytotoxic ONOO−—a main component of nitroxidative stress. The NO˙/ONOO− imbalance increased membrane damage and cell apoptosis was partially reversed in the presence of free radical scavenger. The results suggest that UVB‐induced and cNOS‐produced NO˙ is rapidly scavenged by photolytically and enzymatically generated superoxide (O2˙−) to produce high levels of ONOO−, which enhances oxidative injury and apoptosis of the irradiated cells.


The paper presents glacial lakes and glacial relief forms at the foothill of the peak Maja Jezerce in Mt. Prokletije in Albania, near the border with Montenegro. The group of lakes Buni and Jezerce, which consists of six lakes and which genetically belongs to glacial-erosional lakes, is analyzed. Lakes are situated at the cirque bottom, between the moraines and limestone ridges. Except presented morphometric characteristics of lake basins, data about cirque are given, as well as the reconstruction of the glacier which was formed here. Recent erosion processes are intensive in this area and have considerably changed post-Pleistocene morphology of the lake, as well as the cirque bottom.


Drought and nitrogen (N) deficiency are important causes of low maize (Zea mays L.) yields in Eastern Africa. Breeders developing maize varieties use classical methods and little work has been done in sub-Sahara Africa using doubled haploid (DH) technology or the varietal hybrid (VH) methods which may confer enhanced efficiency in breeding for these stresses. This study was conducted in 24 locations across seven countries. The objectives of this study were to assess the heterosis for grain yield and secondary traits as well as yield stability in F1 VHs (Experiment 1) and also to determine the combining abilities for grain yield and its associated secondary traits in DH lines (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, 10 F1 VHs, their parents and 4 checks were evaluated at 17 locations: 5 drought stressed and 12 optimal. The trials under managed drought stress were grown under irrigation during rain-free months until two weeks to flowering when water was withdrawn to impose stress. An Alpha lattice design replicated twice was employed. Plot size was 5 m long, spaced 0.75 m and 0.25 m between and within rows respectively. Fields were kept free of weeds and pests. Each trial received 90.0 Kg ha-1 N and 98 Kg/ha P as Diammonium Phosphate fertilizer at planting and 100 Kg ha-1 N as Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer top-dressed at 6 weeks after emergence. In Experiment 2, 46 DH lines were crossed to Tester 1 (CML312/CML442) and to Tester 2 (CML395/CML444), belonging to heterotic groups (HG) A and B respectively. The 92 DH hybrids and 4 classical hybrid checks were evaluated across 7 locations: 1 under managed drought, 1 under low-N and 5 under optimal conditions. An Alpha lattice design was used replicated twice. The sizes of plots, weeds, fertilizers application and pest control measures were similar to those in Experiment 1 but the plots under low N trial had been depleted of N until the yields were reduced to 30 % that of the estimated original optimal potential and no fertilizer was applied post-emergence. Results from Experiment 1, revealed that drought reduced broad heritability (H2) from 90 % to 30 %. Similarly, whereas heterosis for grain yield was significant (P≤0.05) under optimal conditions, drought stress xii
reduced the magnitude of this trait to insignificant levels. On the other hand, heterosis for plant height and anthesis silking-interval were significant (P≤0.05) under drought and not under optimal conditions. Amongst the VHs significant (P≤0.05) differences for grain yield occurred under optimal conditions but not under drought environments. Surprisingly, the highest heterosis values (of >40 %) were expressed under drought, where the widest ranges for grain yield were also realized. The VHs yielded 40 % higher than the OPV and as much as the 3-way cross hybrid used as commercial checks. Overall, three VHs (2, 8 and 10) were exceptionally good performers exhibiting both high yields and stability. It was recommended that these three varieties should be evaluated further for possible release to farmers. Results from Experiment 2 revealed that highest H2 for grain yield was present under drought (at 77 %), and lowest under low N conditions; H2 under optimal conditions was in between these two extremes (at 60 %) amongst these DH materials. Variations amongst the DH lines were significant (P≤0.001) for grain yield and secondary traits under both stresses. Differences due to line x tester effects were significant (P≤0.05) for grain yield under drought stress and not significant (P≤0.05) under low N stress. Several DH lines (i.e. 29, 14 and 15) exhibited good GCAs for grain yield and secondary traits. The 46 DH lines were separated into 2 HGs: 24 fell into HG A and 22 into HG B; no lines were placed under HG AB. Although heterotic effects were important in the DH hybrids, GCA effects were more pronounced compared to SCA effects under all production environments. Whereas, across environments, yields under low N and drought stresses were respectively 45 % and 57 % lower than that under optimal conditions, yields of best line (DH Line 29) were consistently higher than those of the best classical-commercial hybrid checks. The findings of this study showed that both DH based hybrids and OPVs have great promise although DH-materials had much higher potential. They should therefore be assessed further for commercial exploitation in Eastern Africa.


The invention relates to the building field, and in particular relates to a composite thermal insulation structure of a wall, and solves the problems of relatively poor fireproof performance, complicated construction and the like of the prior art. In the structure, a phase-change energy storage thermal insulation layer I, a heat insulation layer and a phase-change energy storage thermal insulation layer II are sequentially arranged on the inner side of the wall, or the inner and outer sides of the wall, or the outer side of the wall. In the invention, the heat insulation layer is arranged between two phase-change energy storage thermal insulation layers or between a phase-change energy storage thermal insulation layer and a cement layer, mortar layer, lime mortar layer, magnesite mortar layer or thermal insulation mortar layer replacing a phase-change energy storage thermal insulation layer. Or the heat insulation layer is arranged between two cement layers, mortar layers, lime mortar layers, magnesite mortar layers or thermal insulation mortar layers replacing the phase-change energy storage thermal insulation layers. The structure has high strength, long service life, strong thermal insulation and heat accumulation capability and long heat preservation time, and reduces indoor temperature difference to obtain comfortable ambient temperature.


We report measurements of the integral yields of /sup 246/Cf and some isotopes of fermium /sup 254/Fm and (/sup 252/Fm+/sup 255/Fm) in complete fusion reactions of /sup 48/Ca ions with targets of /sup 208/Pb, /sup 209/Bi, and /sup nat/Tl. We have used the statistical model to calculate the excitation functions and have analyzed the contribution of the various evaporative channels to the measured yields of Cf and Fm isotopes.


Summary form only given. Current embedded systems are made of multiple heterogeneous devices interconnected. These devices present a great variation of functionality, performance, and interfaces. Therefore, it is difficult to build applications for these platforms. In this paper we present some techniques to introduce component-based methodologies into hardware-software codesign. We place special emphasis on the use of simple, homogeneous interfaces to hide the inherent complexity of current designs. A key contribution is the definition of a HW-SW Operating System that makes system resources available to application developers in a clean, homogeneous way. This greatly simplifies the task of designing complex heterogeneous embedded systems.


Considering the LonWorks field bus technology's characteristics,a kind of intelligent nodes based on Neuron ships are discussed,and networks simulation being constructed as industry control field using these nodes. The LNS DDE Server is installed on the upper pc to communicate with LON field bus devices.LonMaker for Windows network integration tool which based on LNS is applied to bind variables and manage the whole network.Experiment results show that the system which is built according to LonWorks technology not only run steadily、control precision,but also construct network easily、extend effortlessly.


Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease. It poses many challenges both clinically and scientifically. Progress made in understanding the genetics, immunology, and neurobiology of MS to date has positioned the field for further breakthroughs both in understanding the etiology and pathogenesis as well as the development of rationally based therapeutics. This review will cover fundamental aspects of the clinical and pathologic features of MS. Identified genetic markers will be considered as well as the evolving understanding of immunologic and neurobiological aspects of the disease. The development of immune therapy based on this knowledge is already apparent and it is likely that neuroprotective therapies will evolve to complement immune modulation in treating the disease. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007


Based on the explicit expressions of the plaquette formulations, the independent plaquette trial action for 4-dimensional lattice gauge theory is introduced. As an example, the mean plaquette energy for the lattice gauge theory is calculated by using action variational approach with the independent trial action. The results are in good agreement with the Monte Carlo results in the strong coupling and the crossover region, and the curve is smooth in the whole region, which show that 4-dimensional theory has only a single, confining phase. The unwanted discontinuity of given by the single link trial action, which is used in the earlier variational calculations has been avoided.


PurposeDrawn on self-determination (SDT) and social cognitive theory (SCT), this study examines how participative leadership (PL) influences the creative process engagement of followers (CPE) on fostering followers' radical creativity (FRC) through the supervisor support for creativity (SSC). It also demonstrates the CPE as a cognitive mediator between PL and FRC and SSC as a behavioral moderator between PL and CPE in Asia's manufacturing settings.Design/methodology/approachThe research is quantitative, and data are gathered using a questionnaire and a survey of Bangladesh's 252 textile and apparel industry respondents. SPSS 26 and SMART PLS 3.8 evaluated the measurement and structural models and other descriptive analyses for hypothesis testing and result confirmation.FindingsThe findings revealed that PL positively impacted followers' creative process engagement. Again, the CPE of followers was used to mediate PL and FRC to promote and determine radical creativity. Moreover, the research also found a substantial correlation between PL and the creative process involved in supervisor support for creativity, which increases followers' radical creativity.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the current literature by extending the scope of PL, CPE, FRC, SDT and SCT theory incorporating supervisor support.Practical implicationsThe findings showed that textile and apparel industry managers, leaders and practitioners could use participatory leadership to engage in collaborative leader-follower creativity goal setting, creativity-relevant thinking and talent flourishing to encourage and motivate creativity through supervisor support to followers to foster radical creativity.Originality/valueThe results demonstrate the colloquial expression in behavioral mechanism (creative process engagement) nurtured with the cognitive tool, shedding insight into the link between PL and radical creativity in followers (SSC for promoting radical creativity).


Background: According to threat anticipation cognitive model, anxiety is the main causal factor for Paranoia. Objectives: The study was designed to answer the question of whether anxiety-based cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce paranoid ideations. Methods: During a six-month period (April to September 2017) the female students of Mashhad Universities, Iran voluntarily participated in this study, of which 30 subjects with subclinical paranoid ideations were selected based on SCID-I, scoring 1 > in the SCL-90 questionnaire, and scoring 40 > in Paranoia scale. Fifteen subjects were determined for each group based on Cohen table and the probability of dropout. They were divided into two groups. Finally, eighteen participants completed all therapy and assessment sessions. Before and after the intervention, paranoid scale and work and social adjustment scale were used to assess paranoid ideations and performance impairments. Results: This study indicated a reduction in paranoid ideation (P = 0.000) and an improvement in general function (P = 0.001). Conclusions: This study could be promising research to design specific protocols for Paranoia in a non-clinical population.


The polarization-dependent Hall effect of light was investigated in full-wave simulations for propagation of electron cyclotron waves in magnetized plasma as an anisotropic medium. The transverse shift of the wave packet, which is comparable to the wavelength in the vacuum, was observed in propagation of extraordinary (X) waves under a static magnetic field. This transverse shift is produced by the Berry curvature for the X wave strongly enhanced at the right-hand cutoff. The direction of the transverse shift is perpendicular not only to the gradient of the refractive index but also to the static magnetic field.


An optical scanning device for scanning an information layer (2) of an optical record carrier (3). The device includes a radiation source (7) for providing at least a first radiation beam of a first polarization along a first optical path, and a second radiation beam of a second, different polarization along a second, different optical path. An objective lens system, having an optical axis (19a), is arranged to converge the radiation beams on the information layer. A beam-deflecting element (30) comprising a birefringent material is orientated such that each of said polarized radiation beams experiences a different index of refraction upon passing through the birefringent material, and is arranged to refract at least the first radiation beam towards the optical axis.


Coetzee's fifth novel 'Foe' is very controversial in various themes like race, gender and social class. In this article we follow the traditional method of analysis which divides the given text into form and content. The written literary text belongs to linguistic data like words or sentences. What differentiate the poetic text from other forms of daily communicative discourse one lies in its function, which Roman Jakobson once called 'the poetic function' oflanguage. Due to the length of the given text, namely the novel 'Foe', we choose arbitrarily some parts of the prose, which, however, are highly relevant to the post-colonial topics including other miscellaneous messages. These are occurring repeatedly in the other novels of Coetzee which can be rendered as 'master & servant relationship, center vs. periphery, culture vs. barbarism, speech vs. silence, or speech vs. writing. In this article we have implied that the author have expressed successfully the possibility of avoiding the traditional western binary dichotomy in fmding a 'truth', which can never be mediated by linguistic expressions. To overcome this dilemma he introduces various kinds of formal devices, like that of setting specific characters, Cruso, Susan, Friday, Foe, and of differentiating the perspectives and genres. Empty space, black hole, which are ascribed traditionally as negative, are here newly fore-grounded as undescribable objects related only to the non-European, namely the black African Friday's world. All this however should be mediated by language on which the writers like Foe and Susan relied. Concerning the topic of writing the poetic text, there seem to be needed some kinds of unintentional blessing of God, or super-natural power, not individual intentions or talent, Coetzee implied.


This work has done for an accidental release of radionuclide in case of a research reactor. For human being it is so important to know the harmfulness of radionuclide and also the safety guidelines from these radionuclides. For accidental case of TRIGA Mark-II research reactor, the isotopes of Krypton nucleus plays harmful effect. Four isotopes of krypton considered for research. These are 83mKr, 85mKr, 85Kr, and 88Kr.


Introduction . The theoretical problem issues of accounting methods and the use of biological assets of plant growing are s tudied and summarized. Recommendations on optimiz ation of accounting provision of farms with new mechanisms and models are worked out . Purpose. The aim of the article is to analyze the organizational and methodological aspects of us age of biological assets, to analy ze the use of biological assets, as well as to develop recommendations for the improvement of optimiz ation of accounting of  the use of biological assets of plant growing . Method (methodology). To solve the se tasks we have used the following methods in this article : method of comparison ( to study the economic substance of biological assets of plant growing ); method of observation ( to study the accounting); method of analysis ( to analyz e the performance of a number of agricultural enterprises and form ulation of conclusions ). Results. Scientific novelty of the results consists in the theoretical substantiation and development of practical recommendations as for the improvement of accounting of the use of biological assets of plant growing in the company in order to improve the analyticity of accounting data.


This paper considered the test specimen thickness effect on the fracture toughness of a material, in the transition temperature region, for 3PB specimen. Then, the thickness effect on the T33 -stress, which is the out-of-plane elastic crack tip constraint parameter, was studied. Finally, an experimental expression on the thickness effect on the fracture toughness by using T33 -stress was proposed for 0.55% carbon steel S55C. The results seemed to indicate a possibility of improving the existing methods to correlate the fracture toughness obtained by test specimen with the toughness of actual cracks found in the structure, in use of T33 -stress.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


In computer graphics some operations can be performed in either object space or image space. Image space computation can be advantageous, especially with the high parallelism of GPUs, improving speed, accuracy and ease of implementation. For many image sp


ABSTRACT The paper examines how the type of ownership affects the efficiency of Russian banks. Using bank-quarter data for selected banks in the period 2004–2015, we combine stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) methodology with an intermediary approach to assess both profit and cost efficiency scores. Our key findings show that foreign-owned banks are the most profit efficient, and state-owned banks efficiently manage costs compared to other banks. These results are robust when we consider these banks in terms of risk preferences and specialization.


The federal-state Medicaid program provides significa,it and important services for persons with developmental disabilities in the United States. The research presented here is an empirical analysis of current congressional proposals to reduce Medicaid spending and a study of the impact of those reductions for persons with developmental disabilities. Compared to current law, the implementation of congressional proposals to reduce Medicaid spending would decrease the number of Medicaid long-term care recipients with developmental disabilities by approximately 56,000 individuals in the year 2002. The implications of Medicaid block grants and related enrollment restrictions are analyzed in the context of current trends in the provision of services to persons with developmental disabilities in the United States


In order to evaluate the effect of heating pattern on the grain structure refinement of bearing steel (JIS, SUJ2), samples were quenched once, twice and three times. After quenching, the samples were polished and etched with Van Gieson solution. Based on our former investigations using Homology analysis, the Betti numbers of the prior austenite grains were observed. It was concluded that the Betti numbers of the grains were strongly correlated to the refined structure.


The fungus Lecanicillium fungicola causes dry bubble disease in the white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Control strategies are limited, as both the host and pathogen are fungi, and there is limited understanding of the interactions in this pathosystem. ABSTRACT The fungus Lecanicillium fungicola causes dry bubble disease in the white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Control strategies are limited, as both the host and pathogen are fungi, and there is limited understanding of the interactions in this pathosystem. Here, we present the genome sequence of Lecanicillium fungicola strain 150-1.


From herbal drug to medicinal agent: An historical view on the occasion of the discovery of morphine 200 years ago Papaver somniferum


Federal statistical agencies are keenly aware of the need for data objectivity, which requires that data be accurate, reliable, and unbiased and that they be is presented in an accurate, clear, and unbiased manner. To be trusted, they need to be presented in a clearly nonpartisan manner. No one realized this more nor did more to advance the reputation for objectivity of the critical employment, price and wage data produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) than its tenth commissioner, Janet L. Norwood. Dr. Norwood passed away from complications of Alzheimer's disease on March 27, 2107 in Austin, Texas at the age of 91. During her career at BLS and in years after her service as Commissioner, Janet Norwood had many platforms for advancing the quality, integrity, reliability and objectivity of Federal statistics. She came up through the ranks at BLS, mainly in the Bureau's price programs and was Deputy Commissioner when, in May 1979 after 16 years in BLS, she was confirmed as Commissioner following the death in office of Julius Shiskin and a short period of service as Acting Commissioner. Only one other commissioner had previously come up through the ranks, and until Janet Norwood, no Commissioner had been a female – though one female had served as acting commissioner in the 1960s. Other firsts marked her career. She was appointed by a Democratic President (Carter) and twice reappointed by a Republican (Reagan). As Commissioner of Labor Statistics, with service from 1979 to 1991, her public contribution to the objectivity of the data centered around monthly open testimony on the jobs report, usually on the first Friday of each month, before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. These monthly employment reports are among the earliest, most closely watched and politically charged of the federal government's indicators of the health of the economy. The hearings had an ignoble beginning, introduced in 1971 during the tenure of her predecessor, Geoffrey Moore when the then-Secretary of Labor dictated the end of monthly press conferences at which the Commissioner explained the data. The Joint Economic Committee stepped into the breach and began this series of monthly testimonies to give the Commissioner a platform for an impartial discussion of the statistics. Janet Norwood took full advantage of the opportunity to go to the Congress and the public each month, eventually logging 137 hearings over her 12-year tenure. Her analysis in these hearings was precise and crisp and she took pains to avoid interpretation that might be perceived as political in tone, often side stepping efforts by members of one party or the other to add flavor to the data releases. Many considered these monthly appearances as being dry, technical affairs, but the jousting over the meaning of the data often made for high theater. She excelled at walking a fine line and sticking to the story that the data told. Her nonpartisanship and demeanor engendered trust, and that trust extended to the data themselves, even though on a monthto-month basis, the estimates sometime looked wacky and were hard to explain. More than surviving and enhancing the hearings however, she made her mark on the Bureau by initiating programs to protect and enhance the quality and scope of the Bureau's core programs. She did it despite widespread budget cuts duringmost of her tenure. Her major contribution was in the significant improvements made to the sensitive Consumer Price Program (CPI) during her years. It was a time when inflation was rising substantially and great attention was paid to the CPI. There was much controversy over the techni-


UBVRI CCD photometry in a wide field around two young open clusters, NGC 663 and 654, has been carried out. Ha and polarimetric observations for the cluster NGC 654 have also been obtained. We use the photometric data to construct colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams, from which we can investigate the reddening, age, mass and evolutionary states of the stellar contents of the these clusters. The reddening across the cluster regions is found to be variable. There is evidence for anomalous reddening law in both clusters; however, more infrared and polarimetric data are needed to conclude about the reddening law. Both clusters are situated at about a distance of 2.4 kpc. Star formation in both clusters is found to be a continuous process. In the case of NGC 663, star formation seems to have taken place sequentially, in the sense that formation of low-mass stars precedes the formation of most massive stars. Whereas, in the case of NGC 654, formation of low-mass stars did not cease after the formation of most massive stars in the cluster.


We have been studying small sized direct-drive electromagnetic linear actuators and their control method. These actuators were able to emulate the viscoelastic characteristics of the human muscle by PD position control to respond to external forces flexibly. However, their thrust force was not enough in order to apply to legs and shoulders of robots. In this paper, we present a novel small cylindrical linear vernier motor for artificial muscle of humanoid robots. First, the structure and operating principle of the proposed linear vernier motor are described. Then, the thrust and detent force of the motor are shown by 2D finite element analysis and measurement on a prototype. As the result, the validity of the simulation is discussed. Finally, the effect of the position controller with the disturbance observer on reduction of detent force and deviation between target and actual mover position is clarified.


In the course of intervarietal crossing in freesias since 1956, a hypotriploid plant (2n=33-1) was obtained unexpectedly from crossing between tetraploid Golden Buttercup (2n=44) and diploid Super Giant Yellow (2n=22). It grows slowly and has a few slender, short, somewhat twisted and palegreen leaves. Each flowerlet born on a curved flower stalk is very small and light-brownish colored, consisting of 5 perigons (3 inner and 2 outer). The maturation division in pollen mother cells is so irregular that almost all pollen grains are degenerate, and thus the plant is completely sterile. Regarding the occurrence of such an abnormal hypotriploid plant, some inferences are described as follows. It is well known, hitherto, that many normally growing aneuploid plants or cultivars have been found in some popular bulbous flowering plants euch as crocus, hyacinth, daffodils etc. These peculiar plants grow vigorously in most cases at present, probably due to their genomic heterognity, namely, partial allopolyploid constitution, transmitted from different kinds of ancestors, and also due to successive natural and artificial selections against long term inferior or lethal characteristics. On the contrary, in some bulbous plants such as canna or freesia, which were derived from ancestors af closely-related or of almost similar genomic constitutions and also were introduced into the horticultural circles in recent centuries, vigorous-growing aneuploid plants would not occur yet, although the normal polyploid levels are present and many tri- or tetraploid strains are used as cultivars already. Furthermore, it is considered that any aneuploid plants will ntver appear in species such as babiana or tritonia which only has single Stable diploid genomes and was newly introduced into Europe in this century from Southern Africa.