In this work we present the laser performance of channel waveguides which operate at 1064 nm at room temperature. These channels were made on Nd: YAG crystal by proton implantation with different widths (10, 15 and 20 μm) forming sets of 10 waveguides which are separated by a distance of 215 μm. The results shown are transversal mode distribution, propagation losses, absorption and luminescence spectra and laser emission characteristics such as pump power threshold and slope efficiency. The spectroscopic characterization indicates that the optical properties of the waveguide in comparison with the bulk material are preserved after the implantation process and that this is a potential technique to develop compact and efficient lasers.


We're not the best family for pets, having killed many goldfish and two cockatiels. One time I had a parakeet named Clyde. Before you hear the rest of the story (so to speak), I should point out in my defense that this was a really mean parakeet. We were not the first owners. The bird was originally given as a gift from a man to his fiancee. In this case maybe flowers would have been better, because the man left her at the altar. She expressed her anger by torturing the parakeet. It was a reverse he loves me, he loves me not, done with feathers instead of flower petals. Eventually she couldn't stand doing even that, so she sought to discard the bird. We wanted a pet, and this was before we understood our deficient pet-rearing abilities, so we rescued him. But by then, Clyde was pretty much finished dealing with human beings. As a result, Clyde was not easy to love. It wasn't like the cherubic birds in Mary Poppins that would chirp along with Julie Andrews and land on her finger. No, Clyde was out for vengeance.


Objective: To study the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth fac-tor(CTGF) in lung tissues of rats with hemodynamic pulmonary hypertension.Methods: Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into group A(total resection of left lung),group B(sham operated)and group C(control),with 15 rats in each group.Six weeks later,the mean pulmonary artery pressure(mPAP) and index of right ventricle hypertrophy(RVH) of every group were measured.The percentage of small pulmonary musclarized arteries to all the small pulmonary vessels(SMA%) were observed and calculated under optical micro-scope.Immunohistochemistry methods were performed to determine TGF-β1 and CTGF protein expression in lung tissue.The expres-sions of TGF-β1 mRNA and CTGF mRNA in lung tissue were evaluated by RT-PCR.Results: ① The animal model of hemodynamic pulmonary hypertension was confirmed by increased mPAP,index of RVH and SMA% in total resection of left lung group.② Compared with sham operated group and control group,the expression of protein and mRNA of TGF-β1 and CTGF were significantly increased in total resection of left lung group(P0.05).But there was no difference in each index between the sham operated group and control group.Conclusion: The TGF-β1 and CTGF are important factors in the development of hemodynamic pulmonary hypertension,and may co-play an important role in the pulmonary artery remodeling.


This contribution to the group of "LLW, ILW, MW, NORM and TENORM Posters" describes the challenges arising with the quality control required for the disposal of radioactive waste in the German repository KONRAD [1]. The licence for operating the KONRAD repository had initially been contested by opponents of disposal, but final court decision of 26 March 2007 established that the repository in the former iron ore mine KONRAD may be operated for the disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste from 2013. Preparations are currently being made in Germany for the delivery of waste packages to the KONRAD repository. The demonstration of the suitability of the KONRAD mine as a repository proved particularly difficult with respect to legacy waste, for example, in the case of poor documentation of this legacy waste. The declaration of the radionuclides contained in that waste generally no longer fulfils the standards now required. Furthermore, it proved difficult to verify the assignment of the waste products created in the past to the waste product groups (WPGs) defined for KONRAD [2]. Another problem associated with the quality control of the legacy waste is the requirement that waste packages should be delivered to the KONRAD [2] repository in a depressurized state. In order to fulfil this requirement, it must be ensured that there is little or no gas formation (e.g. due to the decomposition or fermentation of organic matter). Conditioned waste has already been cemented into the packages for disposal so that it is very difficult to provide sufficient proof that this requirement has been complied with. Beginning in the 90s, radioactive waste was already conditioned in accordance with the draft KONRAD waste acceptance requirements published in 1990. A large volume of the waste produced at that time was packed into containers that were manufactured considering the 1990 requirements. However, the fulfilment of the KONRAD waste acceptance requirements has to be demonstrated prior to emplacement. Finally, the declaration of substances of relevance for legislation relating to water [3] is a topic of current interest. This requirement must be fulfilled for both newly conditioned waste and also for legacy waste.


Prior to the late 1980s, most states determined child support awards on a case-by-case basis, although rules of thumb were in use and case law was well established. The 1984 child support amendments (to the Social Security Act) required each state to establish, by October 1987, child support guidelines for use in an advisory capacity. Federal regu lations implementing this made the provision more specific: State child support guidelines must be based on specific descriptive and numeric criteria and result in a computation of the support obligation. The Fam ily Support Act of 1988 required states to pass legislation making the state child support guidelines a "rebuttable presumption."


Cities along rivers are threatened by floods and waterlogging, and the relationship between rainstorms and floods is complex. The temporal and spatial distributions of rainstorms directly affect flood characteristics. The location of the rainstorm center determines the flood peaks, volumes, and processes. In this study, machine learning algorithms were introduced to analyze the rain–flood relationship in Luzhou City, Sichuan Province, China. The spatial and temporal patterns of rainstorms in the region were classified and extracted, and flood characteristics generated by various types of rainstorms were analyzed. In the first type, the center of the rainstorm was in the upper reaches of the Tuojiang River, and the resulting flood caused negligible damage to Luzhou. In the second type, the center of the rainstorm occurred in the Yangtze River Basin. Continuously high water levels in the Yangtze River, combined with local rainfall, supported urban drainage. In the third type, the rainstorm center occurred in the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Tuojiang rivers. During the flooding, rainfall from Yangtze River and Tuojiang River moved towards Luzhou together. The movement of the rainstorm center was consistent with the flood routing direction of the Yangtze and Tuojiang rivers, both of which continued to have high water levels. The flood risk is extremely high in this case, making it the riskiest rainfall process requiring prevention.


The UV‐VIS absorption data of four bacteriorhodopsin (BR) analogs formed from azulene‐retinals of varying polyene chain length show that the one‐bond‐shortened to one‐bond‐lengthened analogs possess comparable opsin shift values to that of BR. A two‐bond‐shortened analog exhibited a much smaller opsin shift. These data, combined with those reported for the C‐22 retinal analog (Tokunaga et al., 1977, Biophys. J. 19,191–198) were analyzed by molecular modelling and computer graphics in terms of a model where conformational flexibility of the appended butyl is the controlling factor in determining ease of pigment formation and protein/substrate interaction.


The growth in the the number of news articles, blogs, images, and videos
available on the Web is making if more challenging for people to find potentially useful information People have relied on search engines to satisfy their short-term needs, such as finding the telephone number for a restaurant; however, these systems have not been designed to support long-term needs, such as the research interests of academics. One approach to supporting long-term needs is to use an Information Filtering system to select potentially useful information from the vast amount being produced everyday.

The similarities between Information Retrieval systems and Information
Filtering systems are well-established. They have prompted the use of retrieval models and methods in filtering systems, which has had some success but has been criticised as a limiting factor due to the unique challenges of document filtering. A significant difference between these systems is the use case: a filtering system is intended to push information to the user over a period of time, whereas a retrieval system is intended for the user to pull information to themselves for immediate use. The main challenge that needs to be addressed by a filtering system is the transient nature of the information published on the Web and the drifting nature of information needs. These factors lead to an uncertain interplay between the components comprising a filtering system and this thesis presents an empirical analysis of how the main system components affect performance.

The analysis explores the role of each system component independently and in conjunction with other components. The main contribution of this thesis is a deeper understanding of how different components affect performance and the interplay between these components. The outcome of this thesis intends to act as a guide for both practitioners and researchers interested in overcoming some of the challenges of building filtering systems


ABSTRACT The purpose of this investigation was to establish a biostratigraphic framework for the Marble Falls Formation (Pennsylvanian) of central Texas. The Marble Falls Formation is a sequence of fossiliferous limestones and shales that crop out along the northern periphery of the Llano Uplift. The Marble Falls Formation is divided into two members: a Lower Member which is Morrowan in age, and an Upper Member which is Atokan in age. Brachiopods were collected from numerous measured sections and other fossil collecting localities in the Marble Falls Formation. Also, brachiopod collections made by University of Texas students were borrowed and utilized in this study. After an exhaustive literature review, the brachiopods were identified as completely as possible. Of the 55 species collected, only 7 undoubtedly occur in both the Upper and Lower Members. This indicates a major faunal change across the Morrowan/Atokan boundary. Biostratigraphic evidence suggests that the oldest Morrowan strata and the oldest Atokan strata are in the eastern part of the study area. This supports the idea that both members were deposited as part of an east to west transgression. This study also attempted to determine the environmental preferences of the brachiopods by relating biofacies to lithofacies. Cluster analysis was done to identify the biofacies, but only one community (the Desmoinesia-Spirifer community of the Lower Member) was recognized. Using the lithofacies scheme of Johnson (1983), it was shown that the vast majority of brachiopods were collected from Johnson's spicular facies and skeletal facies. These facies represent deposition in quiet water, muddy substrate environments. In the Lower Member these environments occurred in a low-energy, shallow platform interior. In the Upper Member these facies accumulated in the quiet, semi-restricted areas between algal buildups and calcarenite shoals. Morphologic characters of many brachiopod specimens also indicate adaptations to soft-substrate conditions.


Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a safe and effective treatment for actinic keratoses (AKs) and photoactinic damage. Three elements are needed for PDT: a photosensitizer, oxygen, and a light source. Conventional PDT is performed with a variety of different laser and light sources including blue, yellow and red in addition to filtered intense pulsed lights (IPL). Daylight PDT, using ambient visible light has been reported as safe, time‐ and cost‐efficient, and more comfortable than with other light sources. We report our experience with daylight PDT in 80 patients.


In each rm the role of xed assets in producing a product that wants to achieve as a goal the company has been great. Fixed assets owned by the company used for its operating costs progressively reduced bene ts. Therefore the use of which is continuously, then this tangible xed assets will gradually experience shrinking, both physically and fung- sional.Dalam this PT. Unindo to calculate the cost of de- preciation of tangible xed assets recording company ap- plies straight-line method and declining. The purpose of this study was to nd out what method is more pro table for the company and what is in conformity with recognized methods in the tax laws. Company in calculating the depre- ciation cost is calculated the same in each period, namely the building of Rp. 5.5 million for 10 years, Vehicle Op- erations Rp. 8.25 million for 8 years, Oce Equipment Rp. 1.25 million for 4 years and from the calculation of pro t / loss statements obtained by the commercial value of Rp. 800.309 million. While the Tax Act No.17 of 2000 to calculate depreciation using the declining balance method and the calculation of pro t / loss is derived Fiscal loss of Rp. 812.309 million and has a dierence of the two cal- culations are valued at Rp. 12 million, in this case the company should make a positive scal correction in accor- dance with the amount. Can be seen from each calcula- tion of depreciation costs more pro table is by using the Straight Line Method as a smaller loss in the pro t / loss compared to using the declining balance method.


ABSTRACT Impedance Source Inverter (ZSI) offers a solution to low output renewable energy sources, provides unconventional high boost. Interaction of Quasi-Z-Source Inverter (qZSI) and third order filter raises stability concerns. Dynamic interaction of DC and AC sides shows additional resonant frequencies, resonant characteristic needs attention when grid connected. In this paper, resonant characteristic of a third order passive filter based qZSI is explored. DC and AC sides dynamic model are analysed considering parasitic resistance, and optimum parameter selection for passive component and controller design is presented. Closed loop stable control is established for input variation taking care of multiple resonant feature. Disturbance rejection for an increased and decreased input is established by DC and AC side controllers, DC and AC side dynamics are handled using voltage loop and dual current loop, respectively. MATLAB/PSIM/dSPACE 1104 are used in this study, controller response is evaluated for two design cases (case I, II) and recommendations are made considering resonant characteristics, measured results validate the design and control methodology.


This paper analyses Ding Yaokang's literary character and personal character,and the textual research on the year of its writing is engaged in.


Let $\Upsilon $ be a compact, negatively curved surface. From the (finite) set of all closed geodesics on $\Upsilon$ of length $\leq L$, choose one, say $\gamma_{L}$, at random and let $N (\gamma_{L})$ be the number of its self-intersections. It is known that there is a positive constant $\kappa$ depending on the metric such that $N (\gamma_{L})/L^{2} \rightarrow \kappa$ in probability as $L\rightarrow \infty$. The main results of this paper concern the size of typical fluctuations of $N (\gamma_{L})$ about $\kappa L^{2}$. It is proved that if the metric has constant curvature -1 then typical fluctuations are of order $L$, in particular, $(N (\gamma_{L})-\kappa L^{2})/L$ converges weakly to a nondegenerate probability distribution. In contrast, it is also proved that if the metric has variable negative curvature then fluctuations of $N (\gamma_{L})$ are of order $L^{3/2}$, in particular, $(N (\gamma_{L})-\kappa L^{2})/L^{3/2}$ converges weakly to a Gaussian distribution. Similar results are proved for generic geodesics, that is, geodesics whose initial tangent vectors are chosen randomly according to normalized Liouville measure.


The effect of secondary air inlet conditions on natural gas combustor is investigated numerically. Secondary air inlet conditions include its amount, position, total number of inlet ports and its arrangement along the combustor. The secondary air is introduced normally through inlet ports at different levels along the combustor. Each level includes a number of ports distributed around the combustor periphery. The number of ports levels varied from four up to sixteen and the number of ports in each level varied from four up to sixteen ports. Thus, the total number of ports varied from 16 up to 256. The combustor used has an air swirler at its upstream. Primary air, secondary air and fuel lines are also included. The sheer-stress transport (SST) k-omega model was used to simulate the turbulent isothermal flow and the non-premixed combustion model was used to simulate the turbulent reacting flow. For validating the model, a comparison between the measured and the calculated axial temperature distribution is made which show a reasonable agreement. Primary air swirl number of 0.87 and air to fuel ratio of 30 are used in this study. Secondary air leads to a decrease in flame size. For secondary to primary air ratio (SPAR) greater than 0.3, the flame became narrower in diameter and shorter in length. For certain secondary air configuration, NO, CO, CO2 are decreased with secondary air and are further decreased when increasing the value of SPAR.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


This paper disproves Ohlin's version of the loanable fund theory. It proves that a demand for goods does not give a supply of fund (indeed, it gives rise to a demand for fund), and a supply of goods does not give a demand for fund (indeed, part of it gives a money supply). It also disproves aggregate supply and demand, to remove even Ohlin's foundation.


For innovative and highly significant contributions of enduring value to the development, understanding, or use of database systems and databases. Until 2003, this award was known as the "SIGMOD Innovations Award." In 2004, SIGMOD, with the unanimous approval of ACM Council, decided to rename the award to honor Dr. E. F. (Ted) Codd (1923-2003) who invented the relational data model and was responsible for the significant development of the database field as a scientific discipline. Recipients of the award are the following: SIGMOD Contributions Award For significant contributions to the field of database systems through research funding, education, and professional services. Recipients of the award are the following: SIGMOD has established the annual SIGMOD Jim Gray Doctoral Dissertation Award to recognize excellent research by doctoral candidates in the database field. Recipients of the award are the following: The issue opens with the Database Principles column, where Karvounarakis and Green survey the recent literature on querying semiring-annotated data. Annotated data models have been proposed for various applications, including provenance, probabilistic and incomplete information. An earlier work (PODS 2007) by Karvounarakis, Green and Tannen had proposed the general framework of K-relations, which captures the querying of such annotated relations, where K is a commutative semiring. The present paper surveys the literature on querying semiring-annotated data and presents new development of the ideas, based on semiring of polynomials, applying in particular to provenance representations and to XQuery views over annotated, unordered XML. The survey by Manica, Dorneles and Galante focuses on the support for the time dimension within Web search engines. Users may either issue search queries with explicit time constraints, or query data related to the " recent past " (what is the latest version of this information? ") or forecast data (what are the predictions for tomorrow's weather?) Successive generations of Web search engines have tackled the time dimension from different angles, from providing the freshest results first, to allowing the user to specify a time window for their results, and finally to extract and manipulate the temporal information comprised in Web pages. The authors end with a set of currently open problems and perspectives on further features, and more efficiency, that could be achieved when answering search queries with a temporal dimension. Ryan Johnson is the recipient of the SIGMOD 2012 Doctoral Dissertation award (advised by Anastasia Ailamaki). In the Distinguished Database Profiles column, he talks about the importance of …


Locally linear embedding(LLE) is one of the recently proposed manifold learning algorithms for nonlinear dimensionality reduction,which has demonstrated promising results in visualizing high dimensional data.However,the LLE lacks a parametric mapping between the observation and the low-dimensional output,In addition,since it is developed based on minimizing the reconstruction error,it may not be optimal from classification viewpoint.In this paper,we present a novel nonlinear dimensionality reduction approach for face recognition by fusion of LLE and LDA,Experiments on three public available face databases show the advantages of our proposed novel approach.


The Legnaro National Laboratories (LNL) of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) are developing a neutron source within the SPES-BNCT project. An accelerator-based, high-flux thermal neutron beam facility is planned for the experimental treatment of skin melanoma. Neutrons are produced via the Be(p,n) reaction by bombarding a 1 mm thick beryllium target with 5 MeV protons generated by the CN Van de Graaff accelerator of the INFN-LNL. One of the major challenges of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is to obtain the required characterization of the neutron beam in terms of intensity and energy spectrum. Data from the literature are limited when it comes to the angular neutron yield of the Be(p,n) reactions and the corresponding energy spectra [1]. While various types of spectrometers are currently being used at INFN-LNL for measurements in the 100 keV 5 MeV neutron energy regions [3,4], spectra should also be characterized below 100 keV. For this purpose a Bonner Sphere Spectrometer (BSS) was developed at the Department of Mechanical, Nuclear and Production Engineering (DIMNP) of the University of Pisa. The present report concentrates on the setup of the BSS. An evaluation of the response matrix of the BSS was carried out by using the MCNPX code [4]. An appropriate unfolding code is necessary to achieve the final spectrum, various deconvolution options are being examined.


A gas-liquid separating device of a gas-liquid separating tower relates to structural modification of a filling tower and other separating towers used for gas purification and absorption. The gas-liquid separating device is characterized by structurally comprising a segmental orifice plate, a flow guiding pipe, an umbrella-shaped flow guiding pipe cap and a liquid drainage pipe, the segmental orifice plate upwards projecting in shape is horizontally positioned in the gas-liquid separating tower, the lower end of the flow guiding pipe is fixedly connected with a through hole of the segmental orifice plate of a gas distributing plate, a gas outlet is arranged on the lateral wall of the flow guiding plate, the umbrella-shaped flow guiding pipe cap is mounted at the upper end of the flow guiding pipe in a covering manner, and the upper end of the liquid drainage pipe is fixedly connected with a liquid outlet arranged on a horizontal annular ring plate of the gas distributing plate. The gas-liquid separating device can be mounted in the middle of a multifunctional tower device to separate all functional towers, guarantees separation of liquid of all the towers, simultaneously can guarantee smooth passing of gas, and not only can reduce occupied space of equipment and investment of the equipment, but also can reduce pipeline connection among the towers, system resistance and air leakage rate.


ABSTRACT Colour changing is a well-known phenomenon exhibited by a number of terrestrial arthropods. Non-random 'morphing' of the visible phenotype has generally been associated with changes in response to the environment. This article describes a previously unrecognised class of colour change which occurs as a result of endogenous rather than exogenous changes: specifically, moulting. The tomocerid springtail Lepidophorella australis dramatically changes its colour phenotype from silver-grey to yellow and back again during its moult cycle. These colour changes are caused by alternations between structural colouration (conferred by its 'clothing' of scales) and cuticular pigmentation during ecdysis (scale loss) and post-ecdysis (scale regeneration). Although the rate and frequency of change is affected by external factors related to development (e.g. temperature), it is a fixed component of life history. The extent of the difference between colour phenotypes means that they produce distinctly different visual (and presumably, therefore, ecological) signals. It is hypothesised that bright yellow subscale pigmentation may operate as a signal of aposematism when L australis are vulnerable to predation as a result of reduced activity and absent cuticular scales.


In order to study the relationship between cell osmotic regulator and bluegrass drought resistance mechanism,taking two introduced varieties of Poa sphondylodes L.from aboard(Reubens and Ruler)and one wild growth Poa sphondylodes T.in Heilongjiang as test materials.The intracellular osmolyte of soluble sugars,free proline and soluble protein of Poa sphondylodes L.and the relationaship were researched by continuous drought stress.The results showed that intracellular osmolyte of soluble sugars and free proline of three varieties all increased under drought stress,but decreased when rewatering.Soluble protein decreased under drought stress,while increased after rewateing.The accumulation speed and recovery ability was that Local bluegrassReubensRuler.


live cellularity in the human trabecular meshwork. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2013; 54: 1039–47. 3. Gonzalez JM Jr, Heur M, Tan JC. Two-photon immunofluorescence characterization of the trabecular meshwork in situ. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2012; 53: 3395–404. 4. Gonzalez JM Jr, Tan JC. In situ 3D analysis of actin and its disruption in human trabecular meshwork. ARVO Meet Abstr 2012; 53: 2746. 5. Tan JC, Gonzalez JM Jr. In situ autofluorescence visualization of human trabecular meshwork structure. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2012; 53: 2080–8. 6. Huang AS, Gonzalez JM Jr, Le PV, Heur M, Tan JC. Sources of structural autofluorescence in the human trabecular meshwork. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2013; 54: 4813–20.


The second media age or the postmodern virtuality introduces significant changes to all dimensions of childhood. The application, as well as the use of new technologies, has significantly altered a child's core activity during this period- the playing, introducing it into surreal spaces without much needed natural supplementation. A virtual world, together with computer and video games, represent the most common social environment and form of children's entertainment nowadays. The text precisely analyzes the positive and negative consequences of children's play created in a cyber yard and questions the ethics of techno-progression, that is, an already inbred fictitious social space intended for growing up, which, as such, increasingly dehumanizes basic childhood postulates. In terms of the content, the paper also offers certain theoretical guidelines stemming from the collective experience of previous generations who remember the play as a source of spontaneity, carelessness, joy, and amusement, rather than an innate and/or trend-driven activity mediated by digital technology.


In adrenalectomized rats, renin substrate was, as previously found, extremely low in non-substituted animals, markedly decreased in salt- substituted animals, but only slightly decreased in both salt- and DOCA-substituted animals. After three of four injuries, known to increase acute phase proteins, there was also an adrenal-dependent increase in renin substrate. A similar adrenal-dependent increase in substrate was further found in 24-hour uninephrectomized rats and in rats with ceased urine excretion, while the increase after binephrectomy is non-adrenal-dependent and thus not due to ceased urine excretion.


The combustion and desulfurization of coal in a fluidized bed of limestone were studied as part of an effort to develop an in situ flue gas desulfurization system for the generation of clean power at low cost. Studies of the coal combustion step were made at pressures up to 9 atm. Sulfur dioxide removal rates of over 90 percent were measured, and nitric oxide levels were well within the current Environmental Protection Agency standard. The regeneration step was studied at pressures up to 10 atm and temperatures up to 2100/sup 0/F. The measured SO/sub 2/ concentration in the product gas from the regenerator averaged about 40-50 percent of the maximum concentration calculated by assuming the solids and gases were in chemical equilibrium. At 10 atm pressure, the measured SO/sub 2/ concentration was around 2 percent. High conversion of calcium sulfate to lime was obtained by adding auxiliary air directly to the fluidized bed.


This paper describes and compares three approaches to solving design optimization problems with multiple conflicting objectives. The three techniques are described in detail and then applied lo an example which demonstrates how information is accumulated which leads to a logical and efficient multicriteria optimal design. The techniques employed (weighting, noninferior set estimation and constraint methods) ate compared to each other by considering their computational efficiencies and their abilities to produce an approximation of the Pareto optimal set.


This study aims to analyze the historical process of adulteration of a river and its transformation into a garbage dump based on the memory, narratives and insights of an ex-garbage picker about environmental changes on the site. It also aims to describe some aspects of Macae city, the daily lives of garbage workers, as well as the process of activation and deactivation


Synthesis and the results of pharmacological tests of 14-hydroxy-dihydro-allopseudocodeine 8-ethers (VIII) were described. The potent local anaesthetic activity of the 8α-ethers and the contrary relationship between analgetic activity and local anaesthetic activity with the change of alkyl chain on ether group were observed in guinea pigs.


The high horsepower mud pumps have been widely used in the various kinds of drilling rigs for offshore drilling platform abroad,they bring plenty of advantage for drilling engineering.After studying the features of several kinds of mud pumps in domestic and abroad,discussions on the technical specifications and main structure on the basis of domestic model 3NB2200 mud pump are presented.


The present invention addresses a high luminance light source device having discharge lamp, a low saturation voltage flowing through the lamp current becomes large. The light source apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pair of opposed electrodes disposed so that the discharge lamp and the discharge lamp after the start of work, the power supply device to provide a discharge current to the electrodes, both connected to each other, wherein said power supply means for controlling flow through the discharge lamp the current does not exceed a predetermined current limit value, immediately after initiation of starting of the discharge lamp to heat the discharge lamp reaches the said current limit value as a first limit value, after the above-described current limit value changes the time period before the full It is smaller than the first limit value of the second limit value.


Occlusion of the central retinal artery may be due to: arteriosclerosis, functional vasoconstriction, an embolus. In most cases, arteriosclerosis with thrombosis or spasm is the cause of occlusion. Emboli may occur in endocarditis and athero-matous processes of the aorta or the internal carotid artery, in air embolism and fat embolism, and they may originate from venous thrombi in the presence of an open foramen ovale. Manschot, Embolism of the Central Retinal Artery ... 431 A description was given of the histological examination of the left eye of a man, aged 57, who during the night had suddenly developed a subcoma and who the next morning, on admission to the Neurological Department of the Coolsingel Hospital (Ter Braak), showed spastic paralysis of the right half of the body with right-sided central facial paralysis. The EEG indicated extensive damage to the left hemisphere. The ophthalmologist on duty did not find any abnormalities in the right eye. The left eye showed papillary oedema and a recent inflammatory focus between the papilla and the macula; the picture closely resembled an acute juxtapapillary chorioretinitis. After 3 days the patient died. Post-mortem examination of the skull revealed en-cephalomalacia of the left temporal lobe, the posterior part of the left frontal lobe and the inferior part of the left parietal lobe, l1⁄8 cm. from the spot where it opened into the circulus arteriosus, the left carotid artery was filled with a yellowish-red transparent embolus, which continued as far as the left median cerebral artery. In the left eye, the trunk and large branches of the central retinal artery were filled with a substance resembling mucoid degenerated connective tissue, containing few spindle-shaped cells. The same type of embolus was found in one of the posterior ciliary arteries. All these emboli originated from an endocardiac niyxoma found at autopsy in the left atrium. An identical case was described by Reichling in 1934. Discussion. Mulock Houwer reported that about 30 years ago he published a description of a case in which a thrombus had developed in the internal carotid artery. This thrombus had extended as far as Willis' circle. At that site, pieces had been washed from it and these had migrated into the ophthalmic artery, causing the presence of emboli in the central artery, in some posterior ciliary arteries and in some muscular arteries. They were demonstrated morbid-anatomically. Manschot thanked for this important addition. So it was not Reichling but Mulock Houwer who has described the first histologically confirmed case of a real embolus in the central retinal artery.


Abstract The arrival in the Caribbean region of the electronic telegraph in the second half the 19th century and the rise of the competing wireless radio technology half a century later, provide a backdrop against which the article analyses the emergence of Caribbean media networks, ranging from telegrammes via Morse Code to digital telecommunications providers, and from an amateur radio channel to a public broadcasting network within the 20th century. Specifically, the arc of analysis in this article encompasses how the West India and Panama Telegraph Company (WIPTC), founded in 1869, eventually became Cable and Wireless, the modern transnational telecommunications corporation. It also explores the growth of ZQI, a wartime amateur shortwave radio service initially established in Jamaica in 1939. Acquired by the British Rediffusion Group, ZQI was later nationalised by the Jamaican government and has now become one of the Caribbean's leading media conglomerates, called the Radio Jamaica Rediffusion (RJR) Group. The article is based on historical research into the foundations of Caribbean media, conducted over several decades. It includes hitherto unpublished research data compiled by the author from archival records in the UK's Public Records Office (PRO) and from within Jamaica's national archives.


Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying reasons for symptomatic (SRCC) and incidental diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (IRCC), and possible differences in cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS) with regard to reasons for detection. Material and methods. Between 1997 and 2010, 413 patients underwent surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). SRCCs were divided into groups with general and classical symptoms. IRCCs were divided into "true" IRCCs, found owing to investigation of another definitive medical condition, and "unrelated" IRCCs, found owing to investigation for signs and symptoms presumed to be unrelated to RCC. Gender- and age-adjusted estimated overall survival (EOS) rates based on national mortality data were calculated for both the total material and the subgroups. Results. IRCC tumours were smaller, and of lower stage and grade than SRCCs, which was also reflected in the lower CSS in this group. Most IRCCs were found during investigations related to another definitive condition. There was a significantly higher level of comorbidity in the IRCC group, and the "true" IRCC group had the highest rates. The two IRCC subgroups had similar CSS and tumour characteristics. In the SRCC group, however, those with general symptoms had worse tumour characteristics and lower rates of CSS compared to those with classical symptoms. The true IRCC group had significantly inferior OS compared to the unrelated IRCCs (p = 0,040). Only the unrelated IRCC patients had an OS similar to the EOS; for all other subgroups the OS was inferior to the EOS. Conclusions. Most IRCCs were found during investigations for other medical conditions, and the OS rate in this group of patients was lower than expected.


Additive Manufacturing Technology,which possesses particular technology advantage,has been a research hotspot in rapid prototyping of metal material. The fundamental principles and the advantage of several typical Titanium alloy Additive Manufacturing Technology were introduced in this paper. The lasted study and applications of Titanium alloy Additive Manufacturing Technology were analyzed. The development trend of Additive Manufacturing Technology was discussed. Finally,the development prospect of Additive Manufacturing Technology was expected.


From the view of stakeholders,this paper analyzes the management goals of heritage resorts by using Game Theory and Pareto Optimality of economics.Based on the study of the transfer of management rights and nonprofit management,it proposes the direction of China's heritage management reform.


A new 8‐pulse Phase Modulated binomial‐like selective inversion pulse sequence, dubbed '8PM', was developed by optimizing the nutation and phase angles of the constituent radio‐frequency pulses so that the inversion profile resembled a target profile. Suppression profiles were obtained for both the 8PM and W5 based excitation sculpting sequences with equal inter‐pulse delays. Significant distortions were observed in both profiles because of the offset effect of the radio frequency pulses. These distortions were successfully reduced by adjusting the inter‐pulse delays. With adjusted inter‐pulse delays, the 8PM and W5 based excitation sculpting sequences were tested on an aqueous lysozyme solution. The 8 PM based sequence provided higher suppression selectivity than the W5 based sequence. Two‐dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy experiments were also performed on the lysozyme sample with 8PM and W5 based water signal suppression. The 8PM based suppression provided a spectrum with significantly increased (~ doubled) cross‐peak intensity around the suppressed water resonance compared to the W5 based suppression. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The goal is to identify the relationship between the forecast parameters of the approved budget of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2025, which is formed on the basis of the data of the Forecast of socio-economic development of the country, with the volumes and directions of renewal of agricultural production to be financed. Methods – comparison of calculated levels of dynamics according to the republican budget and information on the amount of allocated finance from budgetary funds intended for state programs. Results – the forecast indicators of the three– year state budget were studied and assessment of the budget money provided to agro-industrial complex, in particular agricultural sector was conducted. The dynamic changes that take place in the process of generating income for the implementation of budgetary management and main types of tax revenues are determined, followed by their comparison with the amounts of cost part by functional groups. The continuity and social orientation of state budget expenditures are noted. The results of the study show that in the dynamics of the budget of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2025 there is a fairly close relationship between classification of costs and budget funds aimed at financing the development program for the AIC, including agricultural sector. Conclusions – on the basis of a detailed comparison of the size, structure, trends in distribution of public resources and budget lending, it is substantiated that reduction in the size of budget allocations with simultaneous decrease in the amount of financing will lead not to the increase, but to the decrease in the gross output of agro-industrial production. Budget investments in agriculture are the integral part in modern conditions, with the help of which the financial stability of the country's agro-industrial complex is achieved.


Longitudinal methods have been widely used in biomedicine and epidemiology to study the patterns of time‐varying variables, such as disease progression or trends of health status. Data sets of longitudinal studies usually involve repeatedly measured outcomes and covariates on a set of randomly chosen subjects over time. An important goal of statistical analyses is to evaluate the effects of the covariates, which may or may not depend on time, on the outcomes of interest. Because fully parametric models may be subject to model misspecification and completely unstructured nonparametric models may suffer from the drawbacks of "curse of dimensionality", the varying‐coefficient models are a class of structural nonparametric models which are particularly useful in longitudinal analyses. In this article, we present several important nonparametric estimation and inference methods for this class of models, demonstrate the advantages, limitations and practical implementations of these methods in different longitudinal settings, and discuss some potential directions of further research in this area. Applications of these methods are illustrated through two epidemiological examples.


A new subatomic particle named Ds (2317) has been discovered in the BaBar experiment at the DOE's Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC). It was observed as a resonance in the system of Ds p 0 mesons. The new particle is probably a P-wave excitation of the Ds meson (the S0 ground state of the system of c and s quarks). Its existence has been predicted theoretically, but itsmeasuredmass, 2.317GeV/c, turned out to be much lower than predicted. Nor is the particle's decay pattern consistent with the current theoretical model of the meson (no radiation transitions to the ground state occur). Alternative hypotheses are suggested, according to which the newly discovered particle is either a four-quark system or a hadron molecule. The particle Ds (2317) was produced in electron ± positron collisions at thePEP-II asymmetric-energy storage ring. The international BaBar Collaboration consists of more than 500 scientists and engineers from 75 institutions, including Russian scientists from the G I Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics in Novosibirsk. Source: http://www-public.slac.stanford.edu/babar/


Since surgery is still the most effective treatment for accessible lesions, the earliest possible detection of melanoma metastases should improve treatment results. In the early stages of their development tumors are characterized by a high relative macrophage content and therefore the targeting of these cells would be an effective strategy for the scintigraphic visualization of small tumors. J001X, an acylated polygalactoside with amphiphatic properties developed from the membrane proteoglycan of Klebsiella pneumoniae, is able to target macrophages selectively. We performed a study in 12 patients with skin and lymph node metastases and in 14 isease- ree patients, the first step being to assess the scintigraphic strategy using J001X in the imaging of melanoma recurrence. 99m Technetium-J001X was administered by inhalation with an ultrasound nebulizer and then imaged 3 and 5 hours later using a gamma-camera. In the first group, 5 of the 6 skin metastases and 10 of the 11 lymph node metastatic foci were imaged with high scintigraphic contrast. In the control group scintigraphy was negative in 11 patients ; the 3 remaining patients had fixing foci. Our study shows that scintigraphy with the J001X macrophage targeting agent is effective for the visualization of skin and lymph node melanoma recurrence. However, such targeting of macrophages cannot be specific for cancers and requires systematic checking of the fixing foci.


Among densitybased clustering techniques ,DBSCAN is a typical one because it can detect clusters with widely different shapes and sizes, but it fails to find clusters with different densities and for that we propose a new technique to enhance the performance of DBSCAN on data with different densities ,the new solution contains two novel techniques ,one is the separation (partitioning ) technique that separate data into sparse and dense regions, and the other is the sampling technique that produce data with only one density distribution. the experimental results on synthetic data show that the new technique has a clustering


1,7-Dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone (X1) and 1,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone (X2) are two important xanthones of the Tibetan medicinal plant Gentianopsis paludosa (Hook. f.) Ma. They are very similar in structure, the only difference being exchange of OH and OCH(3) at the 7 and 8 positions. By calculations based on the geometry of the molecules using the MM+ force field, the different distances between the hydroxyl groups of the two xanthones were obtained (4.64774 angstrom for X2 and 7.19412 angstrom for X1), therefore, the two hydroxyl groups of X1 should freely interact with more water molecules than those of X2 in aqueous solution. In other words, X2 is more hydrophobic than X1. Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was therefore chosen for separation of the compounds. The optimum separation conditions were: 20 mM borate + 20 mM SDS (pH 9.8) as running buffer, 17.5 kV applied potential, and detection wavelength 260 nm. The two xanthones were well separated in 9.0 min, with Gaussian peak shapes. The repeatability of the MEKC method (expressed as RSD) for X1 and X2 was 0.9 and 1.1%, respectively, for migration time, and 3.1 and 1.4% for peak area. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were 0.41 mu g mL(-1) for X1 and 0.82 mu g mL(-1) for X2. The recovery of the MEKC method for the two xanthones was also satisfactory.


This paper describes the layered architecture and functionality of an intelligent logistics platform for logistics companies to centrally coordinate their transportation operations. It offers real-time tracking, tracing, and reporting capabilities to logistics stakeholders, as well as dynamic scheduling and routing of deliveries forming shipments and routes with optimized resources allocation and costs. The optimization of shipments scheduling and routing is performed drawing on the backpressure technique, which, to the best of our knowledge, has never been applied to optimize supply chain transport operations. The algorithm combines a variety of factors that affect transportation operations (such as the capacity and current inventory of each node in the transportation network and the fleet characteristics) and proposes dynamically shipments and optimal paths for the company fleet and couriers for last-mile delivery.


The article presents the results of the study of the baking qualities of grain of three varieties of soft spring wheat characterized by by purple grain colouring, and the red grain standard of Zlata in the conditions of the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone. The years of the study were characterized by contrasting meteorological conditions – excessively humid year 2020 and arid year 2021. Protein content was determined using a spectrophotometer. Gluten was washed manually. Bread baking was carried out according to the modified methodology of the State Commission for Testing and Protection of Breeding Achievements. The allelic composition of high molecular weight glutenins was carried out by electrophoresis according to Singh et al., (1991) in the modification of Branlard et al. (2001). It has been found that all varieties of spring wheat with purple grain colouring are not inferior in quality to the standard, differing from it by two alleles of high-molecular glutenins, affecting the stability of manifestation of baking qualities by year. The quality of the grain is highly dependent on the meteorological conditions of the growing season. All the studied varieties of spring wheat with a purple grain colouring are able to form a grain suitable for baking in the conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone. The quantitative protein and crude gluten content in grain varies by year, but is not inferior to the standard. The quality of gluten varied within groups I and II. At the same time, the gluten was stronger under drought conditions. All varieties showed a high potential of bread volume yield – at or above the standard. The low score of the general bakery evaluation is explained by inclusions of purple bran particles, which caused a darker colouring of the crumb. The positive correlation between the volume yield of bread and the protein content was stronger in the year with reduced protein content in grain.


The category of a notified body is inherently connected with the system of product conformity assessment. Evaluation of a product compliance with essential requirements constituting the European quality assurance mechanism for non-food products placed on the EU single market for goods is aimed at consumers' health and safety protection. Moreover, it is to ensure a free movement of products. Notified bodies conduct conformity certification against the relevant requirements of the applicable technical harmonisation directive, hence their crucial role in the conformity assessment system. Notified body accreditation requires organisations to obtain a relevant administrative decision, under consideration of the requirements of Community law. The article presents the authorisation process for the provision of conformity assessment services, as well as the legal instruments which safeguard the rights of bodies applying for the appointment.


Data were collected to describe the spatial and temporal variability of nutrients, suspended sediment, and pesticides in the Kentucky River Basin, Kentucky, from April 1987 through March 1990. Nutrient and suspended-sediment samples were collected monthly at seven fixed stations in the 7,000-squaremile basin. Synoptic studies of nutrients and suspended sediments included water-sample collection at a total of 74 sites in both August 1987 and August 1988. The distribution of pesticides was studied by collecting samples at a limited number of fixed stations and synoptic sites during the 3-year period. Efforts were made to identify the causative factors affecting instream concentrations and loads of target constituents. Nutrient concentrations did not vary significantly from year to year at the fixed stations. Although no statistically significant correlations were found between concentrations of nutrients and discharge, high concentrations of phosphorus were found at high discharges in nonurban areas, and high concentrations of total nitrogen were found at the upper and lower extremes of discharge near the mouth of the Kentucky River. Significant correlations were found between concentrations of total phosphorus and suspended sediment. At many sampling sites in urban areas, most of the stream nitrogen load was primarily attributable to wastewater-treatment-plant (WWTP) effluent, even where only a small proportion of the total stream discharge was attributable to WWTP effluent. At synoptic sites downstream from WWTP's, instream nitrogen concentrations were among the highest measured in the Kentucky River Basin. No significant correlations were found among land-use types and concentrations of nitrogen at the fixed sites. Concentrations of phosphorus were positively correlated with urban and agricultural land use but negatively correlated with forest and mining land use. The high phosphorus content of Bluegrass Region soils was an important source of phosphorus in streams draining that area. Correlations between forms of phosphorus and nitrogen and land-use type were similar at synoptic sites but were not significant statistically. Phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations in the Kentucky River main stem were positively correlated with concentrations of total phosphorus and total ammonia plus organic nitrogen during low flows. The positive correlation of chlorophyll a with total ammonia plus organic nitrogen indicates that a considerable proportion of total nitrogen was transported as algal biomass during periods of low discharge. The highest algal-cell densities and the highest concentrations of chlorophyll a were found in the lower Kentucky River, downstream from river mile 180. In tributary streams, phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations were also positively correlated with concentrations of total phosphorus and total ammonia plus organic nitrogen. In August 1987 and August 1988, several streams receiving urban sources of nutrients contained low concentrations of phytoplankton chlorophyll a, but demonstrated high levels of algal productivity, an indication that periphyton probably dominated the algal community in those streams. Streams affected by agricultural sources of nutrients contained higher densities of phytoplankton than streams that drained forested areas. Median chlorophyll a concentrations and algal cell densities were substantially lower in streams that drained surface-mined areas than in streams that drained agricultural and urban areas. The median concentration of suspended sediment was lowest in Elkhorn Creek at Frankfort and highest in the North Fork of the Kentucky River, where mining is a principal land use. The trend in suspended-sediment concentrations during the 3-year study period was a downstream decrease in the Kentucky River main stem from the headwaters to the mouth during the 3-year study period. Mean suspended-sediment concentrations for the study period were correlated with discharge at the fixed sites; concentrations were always lower in summer, typically a low-flow period. No significant correlations were found among suspended-sediment concentrations and any of the nutrient forms studied in the Kentucky River Basin, with the exception of phosphorus. No correlations were found between land use and total suspended-sediment concentrations, but the level of resolution of land-use data may not have been adequate to reflect differences at the subbasin scale. A significant 15-yearlong downward flow-adjusted trend in suspended-sediment concentrations was indicated at a site near the mouth of the Kentucky River. Atrazine was found in water samples throughout the Kentucky River Basin. Other herbicides frequently found were 2,4-D, alachlor, metoalchlor, and dicamba. Diazinon, malathion, and parathion were the most frequently detected organophosphate insecticides in water samples, particularly in the Elkhorn Creek Basin. Analyses of streambed-sediment samples resulted in frequent detections of several organochlorine insecticides, including aldrin, chlordane, DDT, DDE, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and lindane. Many of the pesticides detected in the Kentucky River Basin were in counties of the Bluegrass Region, where agricultural land use is dominant. Residential pesticide application in urban areas in several counties in the Bluegrass Region might also affect the presence of pesticides in surface streams. INTRODUCTION Elevated concentrations of nutrients, suspended sediments, and pesticides cause many problems in surface-water systems at local, regional, and national scales. Issues associated with these three classes of water-quality constituents are related to one another in many respects. These classes of constituents commonly have urban and rural point and nonpoint sources in common, they interact in various ways depending on ambient surface-water conditions, and they directly and indirectly affect the biotic community in streams. Although nutrients, sediments, and pesticides also affect other water-quality characteristics individually and collectively, the importance of these interactions warrants their treatment together in a single report. Nutrients and suspended sediments are among the most well studied of the numerous characteristics used to assess water quality. As used in this report, the term "nutrients" refers to that group of constituents that are essential for plant growth, including various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. Surface waters differ in background concentrations of nutrients and suspended sediments as a function of basin geology, geomorphology, and geochemistry. Basin topography, soil type, and land cover also dictate, in large measure, the erosional capacity of drainage areas and, consequently, the amount and size of suspended sediments in receiving streams in the basin. The input of nutrients and suspended sediments to surface waters is increased by human activities associated primarily with agriculture, wastewater treatment, industrial effluent, urban runoff, coal mining and oil production, and construction. Furthermore, interactions among suspended sediments and nutrients are significant because of the ability of sediment particles to adsorb some nutrient forms. Much less well studied are the various pesticides that reach surface waters in runoff largely from cropland, pastureland, and residential property. In addition, knowledge of the fate and transport of herbicides and insecticides and their effects on the biological communities in aquatic systems is incomplete. The ability of sediment particles to adsorb and transport organic compounds increases the distribution of pesticides and may affect their concentration in surface waters. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as part of the USGS National WaterQuality Assessment (NAWQA) program, has studied the streams in the Kentucky River Basin to assess surface-water quality. Data were collected for assessments of the sources, occurrence, distribution, and fate of nutrients, sediments, and pesticides in the basin. The information generated in these studies is available to water managers, policymakers, and the public to improve the effectiveness of water-quality management and the assessment of proposed changes in landand water-management practices. Purpose and Scope This report presents results of the Kentucky River Basin pilot NAWQA project. The report includes descriptions of (1) the distributions and trends in concentrations of selected nutrients, sediments, and pesticides in streams, (2) the distributions and trends of these constituents to natural physical and chemical processes as well as human factors that affect water quality, and (3) the possible interactions of these constituents and potential effects of observed water-quality on aquatic biota. The temporal and spatial distribution of nutrients, sediments, and pesticides was evaluated by use of several sources of data. Water and suspended-sediment samples were collected monthly at seven fixed stations during April 1987-March 1990. Water and sediment samples were also collected during low-flow synoptic (spatial distribution) surveys at 74 stations in August 1987 and 74 stations in August 1988. Water-quality data collected by the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Division of Water (KDOW) during 1986-89 at 11 fixed stations in the Kentucky River Basin (4 of which were also being monitored by the USGS) were analyzed in conjunction with NAWQA data to enhance the understanding of the spatial distribution of constituent concentrations, loads, and trends. Surface-Water-Quality Issues in the Kentucky River Basin The following brief overview of the historical data on water-quality conditions in the Kentucky River Basin provides a context for the discussion of relevant issues related to nutrients, sediments, and pesticides. Concentrations of total phosphorus ranged from 10 to 3,700 A*g/L in 251 water sa


Abstract BACKGROUND Data regarding the efficacy of adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for resected brain metastases (BM) is often limited to patients completing SRS within a specified timeframe. We performed an intention-to-treat analysis to determine local recurrence (LR) for all BM patients referred for SRS. METHODS We retrospectively identified resected BM patients referred for SRS between 2012 and 2018. Patients were divided based on delay to SRS into four categories: 1) ≤4 weeks, 2) >4–8 weeks, 3) >8 weeks, and 4) never received. We investigated the relationship between delay to SRS and LR, local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and overall survival, as well as the predictors of and reason for delays. RESULTS In our cohort of 159 patients, median age was 64.0 years, 56.5% patients were female, median tumor diameter was 2.9 cm, and gross total resection was achieved in 83.0%. On intention-to-treat analysis, LR was 22.6%. Delays to SRS correlated with LR: 2.3% with SRS ≤4 weeks postoperatively, 14.5% with SRS at >4–8 weeks (p=0.03), 48.5% with SRS at >8 weeks (p<0.001). No LR difference was observed with SRS delayed by >8 weeks, vs. never completed, 48.5% vs. 50.0% (p=0.91). 53 (33.3%) patients comprised these latter two categories. A similar relationship emerged between delay to SRS and LRFS (p<0.01). Non-small cell lung cancer pathology (p=0.04) and earlier year of treatment (p<0.01) were predictive of delays. Common reasons for delays included logistics, management of systemic disease, complications, or comorbidities. CONCLUSION A significant number of patients referred for SRS never receive it, or are treated with a delay >8 weeks, conferring equivalent LR risk. Accordingly, the actual efficacy of adjuvant SRS may need reassessment. Reasons for delays and mechanisms for reducing them are discussed. For patients likely to experience significant delays, other techniques, such as preoperative SRS or intraoperative brachytherapy, may be considered.


Abstract : A methodology for evaluating a large scale C3 system is developed. The first step of this methodology consists of a procedure for evaluating a system using a simple model of it. The second step consists of an algorithm aimed at determining the smallest number of experiments that will enable one to evaluate the effectiveness of an actual C3 system or testbed. This methodology is applied to an abstracted version of an actual air defense system: a mathematical model of this system is presented and the system is evaluated on the basis of this model. The experiment design procedure is assumed to have been implemented and data produced; it is then shown how the actual system would have been evaluated based on these data.


The inclusion of children's responses in research of educational settings are important and have been described as a pertinent tool to understand and be aware of children's perspectives that adults may not be aware of (Lundqvist, 2014).  Sheridan (2011) further expresses that the "evaluation of quality of early childhood education must include the voices of children" and is an essential part of the overall understanding of early childhood education.  The responses and voices of young children reflect diverse forms of communicating, representing and interpreting their thoughts and emotions. This paper will present some models that can help guide the researcher to make decisions about how a child can participate in the research activity.  Specifically, I will describe the use of an ethnographic combined with Clark and Moss's Mosaic approach to researching with children.


The invention relates to a method of preparing size-controllable nano structure conductive polyaniline, which includes steps: adding solution of monomer aniline to solution of oxidant under temperature of 0-5 DEG C, carrying polymerization reaction according conventional interfacial polymerization method or homopolymerization method, after conventional post-treatment, obtaining the size-controllable nano structure conductive polyaniline. The oxidant is selected according to diameter of the needed polyaniline nano structure by following formula: log d=0.69+0.71Eox, wherein d is diameter of nano structure polyaniline, Eox is oxidation-reduction potential of used oxidant. Compared with traditional ''template method'' and ''soft template method'', advantages of the invention are: template and post-treatment thereof is avoided, reaction medium is simplified, method is more simple and low-cost, defect of bad controllability to production configuration and size of traditional template-free method is overcomed, and size completely controllable conductive polyaniline nano fiber can be prepared by selecting oxidant with fitting oxidation-reduction potential.


Four growing pigs and four diets that had graded levels of tryptophan, i.e. 1.2, 1.7, 2.2 and 2.7 g/kg as treatments, were used to study the effects of dietary tryptophan on nitrogen (N) utilization and plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), growth hormone (GH) and insulin and the relationship between these parameters in growing pigs. The animals and the diets were allocated in a 4× 4 Latin square design. The results showed that there was no significant difference in dry matter (DM) digestibility, organic matter (OM) digestibility and N digestibility between different treatments (P0.05). The N retention and N biological value of diets were significantly increased when tryptophan level was increased from 1.2 to 1.7, 2.2 and 2.7 g/kg (P0.05), but the difference in N retention and N biological value between treatments of 1.7, 2.2 and 2.7 g/kg tryptophan were not statistically significant (P0.05). The results also showed that difference in plasma concentration of IGF-I, GH or insulin between different treatments was not significant (P0.05).There were neither significant relationships between dietary tryptophan level and plasma concentration of IGF-I, GH or insulin, nor between nitrogen retention and plasma concentration of IGF-I, GH or insulin. Based on above results, there were significant differences in dietary tryptophan levels and nitrogen utilization of growing pigs, but no significant differences in dietary tryptophan levels and plasma concentration of IGF-I, GH or insulin.


Abstract In a world plagued by the same multifaceted Covid 19, pros-cons discussions about vaccines, their effectiveness, side effects, fears, and their inclusion in therapeutic strategies have taken on innumerable colors. In this article we will look at the impact of vaccines from the booster regimens to the effects of the booster, all this being seen through the light of the latest research conducted this year.


An enterocutaneous stula (ECF) is an aberrant connection between
intra-abdominal gastrointestinal tract and the skin. While great
majority are iatrogenic, between 15-25% occur spontaneously.
Common causes of spontaneous stula are congenital, infections,
inammation, tumour, radiation and ischemia. Mortality associated
with ECF has decreased from 40-60% to 15-20% largely attributed to
advances in uid, electrolyte, acid-base balance knowledge,
administration of blood products, critical care, antibiotic regimen and
nutritional management – both enteral and parenteral.


In field studies, in 1993, 1994, and 1995, clomazone at 390 g ai/ha and rimsulfuron at 35 g ai/ha were evaluated preplant incorporated (PPI) and postemergence (POST), respectively, for weed control and crop response in transplanted 'Keystone RG3' bell pepper. Clomazone did not injure bell pepper. Common lambsquarters and jimsonweed control was 77 to 95% by clomazone treatments but was variable by rimsulfuron treatments at 41 to 93% common lambsquarters control and 42 to 68% jimsonweed control; common ragweed control by both herbicides was unacceptable. Injury by rimsulfuron to bell pepper in the field was 19 to 47% at 21 DAT. In the greenhouse, injury to Keystone RG3 and three additional bell pepper varieties, 'Camelot,' 'Jupiter,' and 'Memphis' was similar at 44 to 62% by rimsulfuron at 17 to 35 g/ha POST, and bell pepper had lower height and dry weight than untreated controls. In the greenhouse, jimsonweed control was below 49% and black nightshade control was below 23% by 17 to 35 g/ha rimsulfuron. In these studies, clomazone controlled common lambsquarters and jimsonweed without injury to bell pepper. The solanaceous weeds treated in this study were not well controlled by rimsulfuron, and bell pepper was not sufficiently tolerant to rimsulfuron to permit its use in this crop.


The invention discloses a hydrocracking catalyst carrier containing a beta molecular sieve, its preparation method and a hydrocracking catalyst with the carrier. The hydrocracking catalyst carrier contains a modified beta molecular sieve, amorphous silicon aluminum and alumina, wherein the modified beta molecular sieve is prepared by: subjecting a crystallized beta molecular sieve slurry directly to ammonium exchange and a template agent removal treatment, then first conducting a hydrothermal treatment, and performing an aluminum salt solution treatment, under the condition of maintaining a high beta molecular sieve crystallinity, removing part of non-framework aluminum uniformly, thus obtaining the beta molecular sieve with the characteristics of high Si/Al ratio, large specific surface area, appropriate acidity and acid distribution, and reasonable pore structure, etc. The modified beta molecular sieve especially has a suitable cracking effect and a very good isomerization effect on long-chain alkane and the long side chain alkyl of aromatic hydrocarbon and cyclane, and has a synergistic effect with amorphous silicon aluminum, so that the prepared hydrocracking catalyst has high activity, can produce maximum low condensation point diesel oil, and also can produce high quality hydrogenation tail oil as a byproduct.


Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immune-mediated disorder of the neuromuscular junction that is characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness.Acetylcholine receptor antibody (AchR-Ab) is the first MG specific antibody being elucidated, however, the discovery of many other MG specific or related antibodies enriches its immunopathogenesis greatly.The detection of antibodies is very important for the diagnosis and classification of MG.It can be used to guide the clinical management and evaluate the response to treatment as well.With the development of laboratory medicine, the methods of antibody detection are also being optimized.In this paper, we will review the serum antibodies closely associated with MG and their mechanisms, detection methods and clinical significance.(Chin J Lab Mes,2014,37: 577-581)

Key words:
Myasthenia gravis; Autoantibodies; Immunoassay


What is good practice when it comes to managing staff? The Village Nursery Group, based around Manchester, has some tips. By Hannah Crown


The Toyota production fashion,as the representative of advanced manufacturing system,has been imitated by many other manufacturers.However,the numerous imitators,including many Japanese businesses,have seldom attained Toyota's high level of labor productivity,quality and variety of products.Many of Japan's businesses lost their advantageous position in international competition during the country's economic slump period in the 1990s,while Toyota,successfully accelerating its own development,became the first business in Japan to obtain a profit that exceeded one thousand billion Japanese yen.This paper proposes to reinterpret the connotation of Toyota's production fashion from the angle of the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the Toyota mode and the Japanese mode in general,so as to provide more inspiration for the study of such issues as the generation of production mode and the principle,universality and particularity of its evolvement,whether it can be imitated,and the relations between the industry's generality and the initiative of individual manufacturers.


A catalyst composition comprising 0.005 to 5.0 wt .-% precious metal selected from among Pt, Pd, Rh and Ir, 0.5 to 5 wt .-% of at least one metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table selected from among Ni, Co and Fe and 3 to 18 wt .-% of a metal of group VI of the Periodic Table and a refractory support, wherein the noble metal in the refractory support which is represented by the formula ML


The present invention a person using the diet / nutrition for preparing a solid composition useful as adjuvants and may animal feed supplements in the medical uses on, stable and non-hygroscopic, 2-amino ethane sulfonic acid and combined with L- carnitine or lower alkanoyl Russo reveals that the -L- carnitine salts suitable. 2-amino-ethane-sulfonic acid, L- carnitine, alkanoyl carnitine -L-


This research aims to adapt PROLEC instrument depending on the particular target population and development of the Romanian language, through a pilot study of 60 participants, aged between seven and ten years. The purpose of this tool is to develop dyslexia screening test. Thus, this research were built and adapted to the particular instrument subscales Romanian language and analyzed the internal consistency of the instrument as a whole and for each individual subscale.


The covariance function that forms a variogram is an important measurement for spatial dependence and as a linear kriging interpolation tool. The covariance function requires a definite positive guarantee, this means that not all functions can be used. Therefore, this research explores the correlogram and nonmonoton variogram functions and shows it analytically using the Fourier Transform (Bochner's theorem). In addition, a simple approach is used to determine definite positivity by paying attention to boundaries. Suppose that C : Rd → R is positive definite if it bounded to exponential which is positive definit. Research shows that Nonmonoton Bessel functions that have Exponential bound are positive definite. Multiplication operations of two covariance functions, C1 and C2 in measured spaces indicate that definite positive properties are fulfilled.


The acrylamide assisted polymeric citrate route was investigated for the synthesis of nanocrystalline ZrO2 powders, using zirconium oxychloride as the source for metal ion along with citric acid and acrylamide as chelating as well as polymerizing agents. The complete process for the synthesis of nanocrystalline ZrO2 powders was monitored by TG/DTA, FTIR, XRD and TEM techniques. Thermal decomposition of the polymeric intermediate was investigated using TG/DTA analysis. Structural coordination and phase of the synthesized ZrO2 powders were investigated by FTIR and XRD analysis respectively. The microstructure of the synthesized nanocrystalline ZrO2 powder was identified using transmission electron microscopy, which showed ~10nm agglomerates of still finer ZrO2 particles.


A shunt type universal compensator is developed in the paper for improving the operation performance of a distribution-level microgrid with unbalanced DGs and loads. The control scheme of the universal compensator is derived from the symmetrical components method. With the on-line compensation of the proposed universal compensator, the operation performance indexes of the distribution-level microgrid, including voltage regulation, power factor, voltage and current unbalance ratios, are improved significantly. This paper introduces the development of the proposed universal compensator. Finally, a demonstration system is given to validate the effectiveness of the universal compensator.


The optimum size WECS for dairy farm electrical production, and return on investment thereof depend greatly on utility regulations, load management techniques, and the future of the economy. Seasonal and daily fluctuations in available wind power and electric demand together with existing or expected rate schedules must be considered in choosing an appropriate load management system. An economic analysis is done investigating optimal system size and use strategies for the use of wind generated electrical power on midwestern dairy farms.


A 8 DOF vehicle model was built,and the inverse pseudo excitation method was used to work out the PSD of vehicle body vertical acceleration,the suspension dynamic deflection and the wheel relative dynamic load in the context of unknown spectral density of road excitation and known vertical vibration response-PSD of the wheel.A simulation program is designed using MATLAB to compare the ride comfort of the sure pavement with that of the unkown one.The results show that the method presented in this work is simple and practicable,which can solve the problem of settimg the road excitations and is worth of application in automobile vibration study.


A 2024-T3 aluminum alloy stud with the circular ridge projection at the bottom was welded to a 1.5 mm-thick 5052-H34 aluminum alloy thin plate by the advanced high-speed solid-state joining method. The projection crushed and spread along the plate surface. Joining was achieved within a few milliseconds with a negligible temperature increase of the joint. Asymmetrical deformation occurred on both the inner side and the outer side of the projection. It was found that enlargement of the joining area outside of the projection was effective to increase the joint strength by the present authors' previous study. Based on this guide, in the present study, trial was made to increase the joint strength by determining the optimum projection shape at a bottom of the stud. Three types of projection shape were prepared and they were provided for joining tests at various discharge voltage conditions, and joint interface morphology, joining area and joint strength were compared. When we used the stud with which the projection tip shifted to the inner side, the outer side of the projection spread much wider along the plate surface than the inner side. This worked effectively to increase the joint area of the outside and the resultant joining strength. It is confirmed that the modified projection shape is useful for the stud welding for the thin plate. (Received December 22, 2011 Accepted May 23, 2012)


How to Write Law Essays and Exams provides a practical and proven method of analysing and answering essay and exam questions. Using the techniques in this book will not only help students write more powerful and responsive essays and exams but will also improve their appreciation of how to undertake critical legal thinking. Furthermore, the suggestions in this text will help students manage their time better, allowing them to write top essays despite time pressures. The book focuses on those questions that give students the most trouble, namely problem questions, but its techniques are equally applicable to other types of essays. In addition to providing a framework for analysing and writing law essays, the book teaches how to identify relevant legal authorities, distinguish and harmonise conflicting legal precedents and evaluate the applicability of the law to the facts of the question at hand. The book also contains specific law-related revision techniques and general writing tips.


This paper presents the forward kinematics analysis for the Mitsubishi Melfa RV-2AJ industrial robot with a five degree of freedom (DOF) revolute joints. The kinematics problem is defined as the transformation from the joint space to the Cartesian space and vice versa. An analytical solution using Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) representation to describe the position and orientation of the robot end-effector is presented. Several lab experiments to verify the developed kinematics equations have been conducted. In this study, the developed kinematics solutions were found to be accurate (98.68%) compared to the real robot. These findings have important implication for developing dynamic simulation model that can be used to evaluate position and force control algorithm.


Two ultrahigh carbon steels containing 1.3 and 1.5 pet carbon have been tested for their plane-strain (Chevron-notch) fracture toughness using Barker tests. The microstructure of these two materials consisted of fine carbides dispersed in a ferrite matrix. Fracture toughness of UHC-1.3 C was twice that of UHC-1.5 C. This result can be readily explained by means of the difference in size of the carbide particles found in each microstructure. The crack growth mechanism consisted of ductile tearing at the notch tip region followed by nucleation of a brittle crack at carbides. Crack propagation in the UHC-1.3 C specimen occurred unstably and smooth crack growth behavior was observed in UHC-1.5 C. The difference in crack growth behavior was attributed to the elastic energy stored in the grips, which was higher for the UHC-1.3 C test than for the UHC-1.5 C test.


A lot of platinum-palladium replaced solution is produced in the hydrometallurgical process of gold and silver extraction from copper anode slime.The replaced solution is discharged after wastewater treatment,not only increasing the cost of production,but also affecting energy conservation and emission reduction.However,the replaced solution can be returned to copper separation process,using its chloride ion and residual acid for silver precipitation and copper leaching,respectively.With the above new process,silver precipitation and copper leaching indexes are not less than those of the original production process,realizing higher Te leaching rate and water recycling in the process.


To evaluate effectiveness of progesterone (P) prophylaxis in women presenting with recurrent painful irregular uterine contraction and to determine efficacy of supplemental ritodrine hydrochloride therapy for prolongation of pregnancy duration in these women. The study included 100 women free of previous history of preterm delivery (PTD) presenting with gestational age (GA) 20-25 week and had recurrent painful irregular uterine contraction. All women received 200-mg micronized progesterone vagina capsule once daily and were followed-up weekly. Women developed PTD received Ritodrine hydrochloride infusion and to continue with oral tables (20 mg/tablet) once daily till delivery. Prophylactic success rate of vaginal progesterone for prevention of PTD and delivery rate at 48-hr for those had PTD were defined. Forty-three women continued their pregnancy free of PTD for a mean duration of 10±2.4; range: 5-17 weeks with a mean at delivery GA of 33.3±2.2 (30-37) weeks. Fifty-seven women developed PTD after a mean duration of 4.9±1.2 (3-7) weeks. At end 1 st 24-hr after initiation of ritodrine infusion, 17 women responded to tocolytic therapy; while 40 women required a second infusion till achieve response. At end of 2 nd 24-hrs, 39 women responded to tocolytic infusion and started oral therapy with a total success rate for ritodrine infusion of 68.4%. Maintenance therapy allowed these 39 women to continue their pregnancy for a mean additional duration of 4.1±1 (2-6) weeks and mean at delivery GA of 32.4±2.4 (28-36) weeks. Eighteen women developed PTD manifestations after a mean prophylaxis duration of 5.2±1.6 (2-8) weeks and had labor at GA of 28.8±2.5 (24-32) weeks. NICU admission rate was significantly higher in non-responders. Prophylactic progesterone therapy for pregnant had recurrent irregular painful uterine contractions provided efficient prolongation of pregnancy with success rate of 43% and continuation with ritodrine therapy allowed successive tocolysis for failed prophylaxis.


The aim of this study was to probe into changes in diversity of ground-dwelling beetles (Coleoptera) and their relation to environmental variables within restored habitats in the hill and gully area of Loess Plateau, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. An investigation of ground-dwelling beetle communities was carried out using pitfall traps in six habitats including shrub/grassland, tree/shrub mix, fuel-wood forest, naturally restored grassland, plantation forest, and level terraced field in July and August, 2013. We found that species richness and abundance of individual ground-dwelling beetles was higher (P<0.05) in the shrub/grassland, tree/shrub mix, and fuel-wood forest compared to the other three stands. Species richness of ground-dwelling beetles was markedly lower (P<0.05) in naturally restored grassland, plantation forest and level terraced field, whereas the abundance of individual ground-dwelling beetles were higher in plantation forest and level terraced field than in naturally restored grassland. Jaccard indices revealed a high level of similarity amongst shrub/grassland, tree/shrub mix, and fuel-wood forest stands, and then between plantation forest stands and level terraced fields. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that herbaceous biomass, cover of shrub species and soil water content were the key factors affecting species richness of ground-dwelling beetles, while it was canopy cover and leaf litter depth that most affected total abundance. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the cover and depth of leaf litter, cover of canopy and herbaceous layers were important determinants of species abundance and composition of beetle communities. 第 4 期 杭佳等: 宁夏黄土丘陵区不同生态恢复生境地表甲虫多样性 517 In conclusion, conversion to shrub/grasslands may be one option for raising ground-dwelling beetle diversity in the hill and gully area of Loess Plateau, Ningxia.


In this research study, it is aimed to determine the situation of primary school students' children's books in terms of their physical structures, content and illustrations. In this context, one hundred children's books which published between the years of 2005 and 2009 made up the research sample through a random sampling method. As for the data analysis, frequencies and percentages were used. As a result of this research, it was found that the size of the books are almost the same, their bindings and covers are endurable, there aren't any subject variety, some important characters' features are not mentioned, some books do not include any messages and are full of grammar mistakes.


Objective: Preventing chronic diseases is important for public health. The aim of this study was evaluation the effectiveness of positive psychology (PP) training on rumination and depression in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Materials and Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental design and a pre-test-post-test with a control group. The statistical population of the present study consisted of women with T2DM. By referring to the medical centers of regions 7, 4, 11, and 16 in Tehran, 30 people were selected by purposive sampling method. Data collection tools in this study were two standard questionnaires of Nolen-Hoeksema and Beck Depression (1978) and positive educational training and guidance protocol. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 21.
Results: The results showed that PP training has a positive and significant effect on decrease rumination in women with T2DM (Pvalue= 0.001). Also, PP training has a positive and significant effect on reducing depression in women with T2DM (P-value= 0.002). The PP training had a greater effect on rumination in women with T2DM than depression.
Conclusion: Positive training in psychology has an impact on rumination and depression in women with T2DM, according to the findings. The findings of the study show that therapeutic intervention for rumination and stress is subordinated to the health network's planned working processes.


In a previous study of the distribution of agglutinins in the serum and organs of rabbits (1), it has been shown that the liver, spleen, kidney, lung, uterus and skin of actively or passively immunized rabbits accumulate approximately the same amount of antibodies per gram of organ. A decided difference was observed, however, in the rate of accumulation in these organs. In passively immunized animals the accumulation of agglutinins is rapid in the liver, spleen, kidney and lung. In these organs the accumulation was completed within from ten to fifteen minutes after the immune serum had been injected into the ear vein. On the other hand, in the uterus and particularly in the skin, the accumulation of antibodies continued for several hours.
 In the first paper of this series it was suggested that the relatively early appearance of antibodies in the liver, spleen, kidney and lung may be connected with the relatively greater rate of lymph flow from these organs.


Key words: remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), aerial photographs, shoreline change
Data from aerial photographs taken in 1981, 1992 and 2002 of the Kunduchi shoreline off the Dar es Salaam coast were integrated in a geographic information system (GIS) to determine shoreline change in that locality. It was found that considerable changes have taken place, and that the two techniques are effective for shoreline monitoring. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science Vol.3(1) 2004: 1-10


The effect of water-cement ratio (w/c) and curing regime on chloride ion ingress of 20 x 20 x 12 cm concrete specimens exposed to Mediterranean Sea climate was studied. Variants included w/c of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.75, and 1, 3, and 7 days of water curing at 30 C (86 F). Diffusion curves have been obtained from dry-drilled pulverized samples extracted in 5 mm (0.198 in.) steps after 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 2, and 3 years of exposure. A depth of 0.4 and a 1.0 percent Cl-threshold for the different variants has been established. A linear relationship was found between threshold depth and w/c. The threshold values are linearly dependent on the curing regime after 1 year of exposure. With time, the dependence is reduced. After 3 years' exposure, no significant dependence was observed. Explanations for results obtained are offered, and the results are compared with local code requirements. Temporary recommendationbs include reducing w/c and increasing cover over reinforcing steel.


In Hogarth's painting, Moses brought before Pharaohs's Daughter in the Foundling Museum, when Moses had to let go of the safety of his wet nurse/mother's skirt he had to cross the space to the welc...


Mass concrete is a concrete casting with a large enough volume, usually used for foundations, bridges,dams and so on. The heat of hydration in the mass concrete causes a temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the concrete surface. This can cause cracks in the concrete,where the temperature inside the concrete has a higher temperature rise than the outer surface yhat is in contact with the environment. One way to control the temperature of the concrete is to use a post cooling system.Post cooling system design requires knowledge of temperatur distribution in concrete. The research was conducted by varying the cooling pipe materials used,namely steel,PVC,and PEX where the cooling water discharge and temperatur were constant.The result of the research that have been carried out show that with the same cooling water discharge and temperature,concrete with PVC cooling has a higher temperature than PEX cooling pipe or steel.


Scoliosis is a lateral deviation of the spinal column from the midline that may or may not include rotation or deformity of the vertebrae. Postural scoliosis is a curve resulting from an incorrect relationship between the parts of the body and its center of gravity. This curvature is usually small and can be corrected with passive and active exercises. Clinically, postural scoliosis will correct when the patient bends, demonstrating that no fixed rotation is present in the spine. Structural scoliosis, however, cannot be corrected actively by a patient, indicating the presence of bony changes with fixed rotation toward the convexity of the curve. Structural scoliosis is classified into


It always is a hotspot of plant researchers' concern to make plants to improve their own adversity-resisting capability and physical methods has gotten more and more widely adopted in this field.The paper fully summarizes the uses of electric field,magnetic field,ionizing radiation,laser in treating plant seeds or seedlings to improve the plant resistances to such adversities as cold,drought and diseases,introduces the achievements in their increasing crop yields and the corresponding possible physiological and biochemical mechanisms,and envisages their development prospects.


A B S T R A C T Lithium gallium phosphate glass samples were synthesized through melt quenching by varying lithium oxide, titanium oxide and gallium oxide concentrations. The de-polymarizability of glass ceramic samples was identified by Hurby's parameter (Kgl) with the data of DTA traces. Impedance measurements were made on all the glass ceramic samples at different temperatures. The bulk resistance (R) for all the samples relative to each experimental temperature is deduced from the


The author comes forward with arguments proving the idea of procedural economy as a principle of present day criminal process. The author offers his personal treatment of the stated principle as a rational application of procedural and non-procedural means aimed at higher efficiency of the criminal procedural activity.


Coordination deficiencies have been identified after the March 2011 earthquakes in Japan in terms of scheduling and allocation of resources, with time pressure, resource shortages, and especially informational uncertainty being main challenges. We address this issue of operational emergency response in natural disaster management (NDM) by suggesting a decision support model and a Monte Carlo heuristic which account for these challenges by drawing on fuzzy set theory and fuzzy optimization. Deriving requirements for addressing NDM situations from both practice and literature, we propose a decision model that accounts for the following phenomena: a) incidents and rescue units are spatially distributed, b) rescue units possess specific capabilities, c) processing is non-preemptive, and d) informational uncertainty occurs due to vague and linguistic specifications of data. We computationally evaluate our heuristic and benchmark the results with current best practice solutions. Our results indicate that applying the new heuristic can substantially reduce overall harm.


Some results suggest if the economy is competitive is does not matter whether firms are run capitalists or workers. In particular, in the long run labor-managers use the same amount of labor and hire the same amounts of non-labor inputs as a similar capitalists firm. Here we reexamine this issue when the production possibilities are characterized by technical progress. It is argued that labor-managers can sometimes increase the present value of firm-members' income by committing to a policy of steadily reduction of labor-use. In turn this implies that changes of the saving rate changes growth.


Smart city solutions have evolved beyond hype and experimental projects. Solution-optimized smart cities that are focused on improving cross-city services, transportation management systems and energy use are now having a tangible and positive effect on city-based quality of life. ■ 4R Energy is promoting a new sustainability system to recycle electric vehicle (EV) high-performance lithium ion batteries for secondary usage in homes, emergency batteries and EV charging stations. ■ Eutech Cybernetic has developed a platform that provides managers and planners with an integrated view of a city or urban development's IT and operational technology (OT) elements that facilitates decision making and provides security and visualization capabilities. ■ Goji delivers smart locks that provide control over physical access to homes and facilities using a mobile phone. This provides real-time picture alerts via text or email of individuals who access a facility. ■ Petra Systems uses its smart energy modules for distributed power generation for smart city infrastructure. ■ Savari's solutions are focused to realize "Traffic Engineering" and E-Payment applications by delivering contextualized alerts and services that are based on data/information analytics. Recommendations ■ Look for applications and solutions that optimize smart city operational benefits and improve quality of life for citizens. ■ Invest in solutions and applications that leverage mobile-driven ecosystems, which build on the consumerization of IT and the global proliferation of mobile devices and infrastructure.


Edwin M. Surprise I noted in reading Mr. Rhodes' paper, that in New York City, at least, and probably in other places where very large and tall office buildings are under consideration, the scheme of attenuation is employed; that is, a large cable is brought in at the basement and branches taken off from that cable at necessary intervals. In our New England territory we have leaned a good deal toward the extension of small risers, one, two, or more, as may be required, to each floor, with the idea that it would result in economy, not only on account of the first cost of extending the cables, but also by reason of flexibility.