Scrambling in Clausal-Internal is accounted for employing minimalist program as a theoretical framework on Urdu Naturalistic data in this study. For empirical evidence, an Urdu corpus has been accumulated in audio-recording forms from 100 competent Urdu speakers within the natural setting, taking Naturalist Inquiry as methodological purposes. Employing minimalist program on Urdu data, this study vehemently postulates that the dislocation of arguments from base to host position only hinges on the phase heads— Co and vo; hence no other external devices essentially necessitate accounting for scrambling. This study highlighted scrambling in clausal-internal specifically within Indo-Aryan Languages is Universal Phase-Based parsimony, and it is only controlled by the exiting mechanism within the phase theory. Moreover, the only merge and move operations linearize the CP in a phase-based fashion while CP is a higher phase and vP is a lower phase. No additional AGRoP necessitates scrambling, but one phase successively and cyclically converges into a higher phase level, i.e. CP and the derivation matches at LF and PF interfaces satisfying Full Interpretation (FI).


In CDMA systems with variable number of users, the decoder consists of two stages. The first stage is the active user identification and the second one is the multi-user detection. Most of the proposed active user identification methods fail to work in overloaded CDMA systems (when the number of users is more than the spreading factor). In this paper we propose a joint active user identification and multi-user detection for binary input CDMA systems using the Viterbi algorithm. We will show that the proposed identification/detection method is Maximum A posteriori Probability (MAP) and outperforms the pervious results. In addition, some suboptimum decoders will be proposed that have lower computational complexities but lower performances.


Chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend films were prepared by solution casting of various mass ratio of CS and PVA. The structures and properties of the blended films were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile test and light transmittance measurement. The results showed that CS and PVA had good compatibility and there was no phase separation in the blends. There was strong hydrogen bonding association between CS and PVA polymer chains. Tensile strength and light transmittance of the blend films increased with the CS addition.


Four architectures for computer supported collaborative learning systems are analyzed using the model-view-controller design pattern and compared from the standpoints of coupling between activities of the users and suitability for educational use, as well as network load and ease of implementation. The architectures are illustrated with examples from the developmental history of Belvedere, an environment for collaborative construction of knowledge representations during problem solving. A hybrid architecture that supports model-level coupling is shown to provide the best design tradeoffs.


Saloustius would approve of summaries as this. While his neoplatonic handbook, the «Peri theon kai kosmou», is often ignored as a laughably lightweight guide to philosophy, this article aims to show that Salioustius is a champion of communication. It argues that the practical tenets of neoplatonism, in themselves first-classs tickets to communication with the gods, are proffered in a manner that exemplifies the virtue of communication with men. The article analyses three subject-areas of the treatise. Section I discusses the author's insistence on the impassibility of divine nature, and how he explains this within a sympathetic, communicative cosmos. Section II assesses the role of Saloustius' daemons in relation to men and the gods. Not only where they essential intermediaries between humans and the divine, but they partly defined what it meant to be a human individual; following an Iamblichean paradox, deamons are presented both as connective and as individuating cosmic powers. Section III investigates Saloustius' discussion of myth, the longest and most original section of the treatise. It is argued that while some philosophers rejected myths as obscene distortions, and others embraced as allegorical representations of the truth, Saloustius combined these two ideas: the veiling of the truth was itself a revelation, this paradox being the ultimate representation of divinity. Allegory was not merely a means of interpretation, but was the very nature of revelation, and this applied not just to myth but all existence. While this article aims to counterbalance the greater interest shown by scholars in Saloustius' historical identity than in his philosophy, it also offers an Appendix which re-evaluates all the available evidence on this matter and outlines the relevant arguments to date. It is hoped that this assessment will prove the likely identity of the elusive Saloustius


Objective To describe the prevalence of sexual behaviors among college students,to find out influencing factors,and to provide bases for sex health education in colleges. Methods A questionnaire was used to investigate heterosexual and homosexual behaviors with their 'friends' among 4 081 college students,multinomial logistic analysis was applied. Results About13.8% respondents admitted that they had sexual behavior in their lives. 9.6%,1.0% and 0.6% reported that they had sexual intercourse with their friends with different,both different and same,and same sex. The risk factors for heterosexual behavior with their friends were age( OR = 1.16),non-medical major( OR = 1.51),and the protective factors were female( OR = 0.34),monthly expenditure500( OR = 0.29) and 500-999,and not in love( OR = 0.10).The risk factors for bisexual behavior with their friends were non-medical major( OR = 2.25),and the protective factors were female( OR = 0.14),and monthly expenditure 500-999 yuan( OR =0.28). The protective factors of homosexual behavior with their friends were age( OR = 0. 60) and monthly expenditure 500- 999yuan( OR = 0.37)( P0.05).Conclusion There are high risk sexual behaviors among college students. As bridge population,college students involved in bisexual behaviors may spread HIV from homosexual students to heterosexual students.


Task-oriented compositional semantic parsing (TCSP) handles complex nested user queries and serves as an essential component of virtual assistants. Current TCSP models rely on numerous training data to achieve decent performance but fail to generalize to low-resource target languages or domains. In this paper, we present X2Parser, a transferable Cross-lingual and Cross-domain Parser for TCSP. Unlike previous models that learn to generate the hierarchical representations for nested intents and slots, we propose to predict intents and slots separately and cast both prediction tasks into sequence labeling problems. After that, we further propose a fertility-based slot predictor that first learns to detect the number of labels for each token, and then predicts the slot types. Experimental results illustrate that our model can significantly outperform existing strong baselines in cross-lingual and cross-domain settings, and our model can also achieve a good generalization ability on target languages of target domains. Furthermore, we show that our model can reduce the latency by up to 66% compared to the generation-based model.


Critical dynamics of an ultracold Bose gas far from equilibrium is studied in two spatial dimensions. Superfluid turbulence is created by quenching the equilibrium state close to zero temperature. Instead of immediately re-thermalizing, the system approaches a meta-stable transient state, characterized as a non-thermal fixed point. A focus is set on the vortex density and vortex-antivortex correlations which characterize the evolution towards the non-thermal fixed point and the departure to final (quasi-)condensation. Two distinct power-law regimes in the vortex-density decay are found and discussed in terms of a vortex binding-unbinding transition and a kinetic description of vortex scattering. A possible relation to decaying turbulence in classical fluids is pointed out. By comparing the results to equilibrium studies of a two-dimensional Bose gas, an intuitive understanding of the location of the non-thermal fixed point in a reduced phase space is developed.


ii Student declaration iii Acknowledgements iv Publications (originating from this study) v Table of content vi Thesis structure x List of tables xi List of figures xii Chapter 1. General Introduction Pages 1-30 1.1 Urban wildlife 2 1.2 The Australian White Ibis 3 1.3 Past and present habitat 6 1.4 Status 7 1.5 Management 8 1.6 Reproductive biology 11 1.7 Population dynamics and movements 15 1.8 Aims 21 1.9 References 23


Although opinions differ on a concise definition of the term, few would disagree that the principles of sustainability are founded on common sense, and indeed that the preservation of the quality of life of present and future generations depends upon their adoption. Whilst there is considerable public support for the notion of sustainability, and for conservation matters in general, sentiment alone is insufficient to secure the changes necessary if we are to fully embrace the concept. Sustainability, if grasped seriously, involves a radical alteration in humanity's attitude to lifestyle, integrating the values of the global ecosystem into its own set of values. It entails adopting those attitudes and actions which place the human race firmly within the global ecosystem, and not parasitic upon it.


This study contrasts the structure of ant communities of the "carrasco" (deciduous forest) and forest (semideciduous forest) remnants in the buffer zone of the Chapada Diamantina National Park, Bahia, Brazil. Our aim was to compare the richness, composition, vertical partitioning and guild organization at the level of leaf-litter, ground-surface and lower vegetation between the habitat types. Ants were sampled at six sites within each habitat by manual extraction in the leaf-litter, pitfall traps at ground level and baited pitfall traps on tree-trunks and shrubs 1.5 m above the soil surface. A total of 132 ant species was collected belonging to 34 genera and seven subfamilies. According to the analyses performed, the habitat types had equivalent species richness and a distinct species and functional composition at the vertical strata level. Furthermore, a greater vertical partitioning was observed in the forest ant community than in the carrasco ant community. The results indicated a distinct biogeographical association between the ant fauna of the two habitat types and suggested that ant communities in carrasco and forest remnants in the buffer zone of the Chapada Diamantina National Park are especially interesting for conservation and ecological research.


The water retention properties of papermaking fibers have been investigated by
a "pressure plate" technique which permits a measurement of equilibrium moisture
contents of pulp samples at precisely controlled relative vapor pressures between
0.99 and 1.00. This range encompasses the water contents of interest in papermaking from the table to the middle of the drier section. Water retention isotherms are drawn and are satisfactorily related to desorption isotherms which have been reported in the literature. Isotherms for a variety of pulps are reported. These are related to the papermaking properties of the fibers and show the effects of wood species, cooking method, pulp yield, bleaching, drying, and beating on the cellulose-water relationship.


We discuss an innovative course model used in first-year calculus courses at a large North American research university, which we refer to as the "Blended Model." We argue that our model takes the best features of lectures, flipped classrooms, and traditional recitations, and gathers them into a cohesive, robust structure that benefits students' learning, graduate students' teaching, and Mathematics departments' management of resources.


Introduction: The expression 'job market' refers, in general terms, to the dynamics and behavior of the labor force available in the market. It encompasses the relations between employment and unemployment, income levels, working hours, and contractual relations, including wage, workforce distribution in the economy sectors, relations between capital and labor.


For a connected reductive group G, we generalize the notion of (semi)stable Higgs G-bundles on curves to smooth projective schemes of higher dimension, allowing also Higgs G-sheaves, and construct the corresponding moduli space.


6-t-Butyl-6-phenylpentathiane was oxidized with trifluoroperacetic acid (CF3CO3H) or dimethyldioxirane (DMD) at -20 °C. Oxidation with CF3CO3H yielded pentathiane 3-oxide as the main product, whereas that of DMD gave 1- and 3-oxides. The structures of 1- and 3-oxides were finally determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. DFT calculations of the NMR chemical shifts were performed on the chair and twist forms of the pentathiane and sixteen isomers of the monoxides with the GIAO method at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The calculated chemical shifts were verified to be in practical agreement with the experimental data of the pentathiane and the isolated 1- and 3-oxides.


Becoming Melungeon: Making an Ethnic Identity in the Appalachian South. by melissa Schrift. (lincoln: university of nebraska Press, 2013. Pp. ix + 222, acknowledgments, introduction, appendix, notes, works cited, index.)In the thorough but concise introduction to her book Becoming Melungeon: Making an Ethnic Identity in the Appalachian South, east tennessee State university Anthropology Professor melissa Schrift comes quickly to the following conclusion: "Thus, in my research, interviews with individuals living in melungeon-related areas resulted in an overwhelming lack of oral history evidence that being melungeon related to any kind of experiential reality distinct from being Appalachian" (p. 22). The archival material, as well, she says, reinforces the conclusion that "there is simply no evidence that melungeons existed as a culturally bounded group of people" (p. 22). This being the case, and admitted so early on, one might wonder why she would bother to complete her book about melungeon identity. Schrift's purpose, as she states, is to examine the social construction of melungeon identity especially through the complex and sometimes contradictory lenses of race and class. Specifically, Schrift claims:In this book i argue that the contemporary revitalization of melungeon identity borrows from the past to create a new white ethnicity that capitalizes on the cache [sic] of the cultural exotic while underplaying stigmatized aspects of heritage. i trace the ways in which individuals employ genealogy, blood metaphors, narratives of oppression, and physiological traits as they become melungeon. in this way the process of becoming melungeon reflects a kind of racial passing from a collectively imagined whiteness to a more desirable non-white, or, perhaps, off-white, otherness. (p. 28)In chapters 1 and 2, Schrift explores early media representations of the melungeons, a mysterious, dark-skinned, presumably mixed-race people living in hancock county, in northeast tennessee. Schrift ties these writings, the earliest dating from about 1880, to the literary "local color" movement, an early, nationalistic phase of the progression toward literary realism that focused on the quaint, the atmospheric, the colorful, and the unusual, in language that typically featured large amounts of equally colorful and unusual dialect. "The effect of local color writing in Appalachia, and elsewhere," Schrift writes, "was to create images of an exotic otherness" (p. 33). one of the earliest and most popular writers to depict the melungeons was "a female nashville reporter named Will Allen Dromgoole" who had indeed actually visited hancock county and talked with the natives. "Dromgoole's articles were sensationalistic and ethnocentric," Schrift says, "producing a national template for future media coverage on melungeons" (p. 38). continuing in chapter 2 with an analysis of the media representation of melungeons over the next 100 years, roughly speaking, Schrift reaches a startling conclusion:A critical analysis of hundreds of melungeon articles yields an incredible truth-the melungeon story is a respindled yarn with little or no basis in ethnographic reality. As i examine the context in which the earliest melungeon articles were written, i argue that the media manufactured a melungeon legend that has little to do with any lived experiences of an identifiable group of people. (p. 53)Much like other perennial mysteries-uFos, the loch ness monster, Atlantis, the bermuda triangle, bigfoot-the melungeon legend is largely a socially constructed "media phantasm" (p. 68).However, this is hardly the end of this fascinating story. in the late 1960s and early 1970s, an outdoor drama about the melungeons, Walk Toward the Sunset, was produced in hancock county. …


This paperwork was developed in order to present the work concerning the use of mechatronic approach in the study of motion control systems for metal forming processes. The paper presents the use of low cost motion control systems, based upon induction motors, as driving systems in unconventional sheet metal forming processes. The main goal of this work was to implement a 2D contouring system for driving the active plate. The model of the system, simulations and some experimental work will be presented


Power as the force to react, power as a legal right, mandated by an "other". Doesn't this have something to do with one's ability to choose? Between freedom and restraint, doesn't the power to choose belong to all human beings? This is what Gestalt therapists try to restore in terms of the competence of our clients. What's going on in one's personal and professional life, the way everyone interacts, with which anxieties and which problems in choosing? This article attempts to name them and suggests therapeutic ideas to go beyond them.


We have achieved reduction of the power fluctuation of the second harmonic of a cw mode-locked YAG laser from 5% to less than 0.1% using a feedback loop with an acoustic loss modulator inside the laser cavity. By using the second harmonic of this laser as a pumping source, we have also reduced the output power fluctuation of a synchronously pumped dye laser at low frequencies.


Objective To analyze the curative effect of laparoscopic operation in treatment of ovarian cyst torsion. Methods The clinical data of 86 ovarian cyst torsion patients receiving laparoscopic operation were selected and retrospectively analyzed from June,2007 to December,2011 in our hospital. Results The ovarian cyst size of 13 ~ 28cm in 42 cases.The pedicle of 360° ~720 °in 50 cases.68cases of cyst assumes purple black.68 cases of ipsilateral annexectomy,the average operation time was 60 ±17.1 min,average blood loss during operation of 12ml,the mean postoperative anal exhaust time 28.1 ±13.2 h,the mean postoperative placement of a Foley catheter time was 10.9 ±8.8,the average postoperative hospital stay was 4.5± 1.5 days. Conclusions Laparoscopic operation for the treatment of ovarian cyst torsion shows small wound,faster postoperative recovery,is worth popularizing.


The authors demonstrate numerically the convergence, in the sense of minimum variance, of the stabilisation method for several basis sets, using as an example the 1s resonance of the perturbed hydrogen atom. This convergence permits choosing between conflicting results for very high fields from different calculations. Using the maximum stabilisation criterion in a definition of convergence, they show that the agreement between Hehenberger and co-workers (1974) and Froelich and Brandas (1975) is due to the fact that the results of the latter authors have effectively converged.


The constriction of new system is a blood injection to farmers' spiritual and cultural life,which is of important and realistic significance.The study takes Shi-bin village in Jiyuan city of Henan province as a special case,adopts various research methods as literature collection,interview and questionnaire,surveys and analyzes the special features and problems of physical education service system in this village.It's hoped to provide some references for the construction of new countryside physical education service system.


For commercial vehicles the rolling resistance of the tyres constitutes a high portion of overall tractive resistance and hence of fuel consumption. Tyres were extensively drum tested to establish the influences of the operating conditions, the viscoelastic properties of materials and the design parameter variations on the rolling resistance. The testing schedule was devised to enable factors of influence to be determined. The limits imposed by other performance characteristics such as riding comfort, road adhesion, abrasion behaviour were in many cases deliberately exceeded so that less pronounced tendencies could also be pinpointed. Altogether approximately 150 types of tyres were tested. In addition, small slip angles were included in the tests thus permitting the losses due to transverse forces (e.g. Side wind) to be calculated. In a second series of tests several individual factors were combined, while ensuring that the remaining performance characteristics were not essentially impaired. The systematic preparatory work led to a reduction in the rolling resistance of 20 to 25 per cent. Apart from rolling resistance values the fuel consumption was recorded on the vehicle. These tests were restricted to constant speeds on a level roadway. There was a good correlation between rolling resistance values ascertained on the test rig and fuel consumption recorded on the vehicle. For a truck train of 38 tons at long-distance traffic a reduction of rolling resistance by 20 per cent resulted in a reduction of fuel consumption by 5 to 8 per cent per car according to different operating conditions. (Author/TRRL)


Objective-To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine(split virion)and to analyze its cross-reactive antibody responses to the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus.Methods-An open-labeled clinical trial was carried out in adults aged 18-60 years and elders aged 60 years.One dose of split influenza vaccine was administered and adverse events were observed.Serum samples were obtained before vaccination and 21 days after vaccination.Three types of antibody against seasonal influenza virus and antibody against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus were tested using micro-hemagglutination inhibition(HI)assay.Results-A total of 128 subjects were recruited and serum samples were collected from 120 subjects.The overall rate of adverse events was 18.8%(24/128)and most of them were systemic reaction.No serious adverse event was reported.After 21 days of vaccination,the seroconversion rate,Geometric Mean Titer(GMT)ratio(post/prevaccination)of antibody against seasonal influenza virus were 64.5%-90.3% and 5.1-26.8 among adults and 74.1%-84.5%,5.7-28.4 among elders respectively;the seroconversion rate,GMT ratio of antibody against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus among adults and elders were 5.1% and 8.2%,1.4 and 1.7 respectively,which was significantly lower than the level of seasonal influenza H1N1 antibody.Conclusion-The trial vaccine has good safety and immunogenicity and induced little cross-reactive antibody response to 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus.


The wavelet neural networks were used to predict the rolling force in order to improve the preset accuracy of rolling force for the hot rolling mill, by using the improved BP algorithm to train the networks. The simulation results demonstrate that the relative error of the rolling force by wavelet neural network is about ±6% and the convergence speed of this algorithm is fast.


In this paper, we derive the escape criteria for general complex polynomial $ f(x) = \sum_{i = 0}^{p}a_{i}x^{i} $ with $ p\geq2 $, where $ a_{i} \in \mathbb{C} $ for $ i = 0, 1, 2, \dots, p $ to generate the fractals. Moreover, we study the orbit of an implicit iteration (i.e., Jungck-Ishikawa iteration with $ s $-convexity) and develop algorithms for Mandelbrot set and Multi-corn or Multi-edge set. Moreover, we draw some complex graphs and observe how the graph of Mandelbrot set and Multi-corn or Multi-edge set vary with the variation of $ a_{i} $'s.


Let R d be the d-dimensional Euclidean space where each point is expressed by a column vector. Let | x | and ‹x, y› denote the norm and the inner product in R d . Let Q = (Qjk ) be a real d × d-matrix of which all eigenvalues have positive real parts. Let X be a process of Ornstein-Uhlenbeck type (OU type process) on Rd associated with a Levy process {Z: t ≥ 0} and the matrix Q. Main purpose of this paper is to give a recurrence-transience criterion for the process X when Q is a Jordan cell matrix and to compare it with the case when Q is diagonalizable. Here by a Levy process we mean a stochastically continuous process with stationary independent increments, starting at 0.


For instability problem in coal properties of power plants,a method based on the D-S evidence theory to identify the coal type was proposed.An updated typical sample database based on the former analysis data of coal was established,then a new method based on the database was proposed to obtain the belief density function.The results of elemental analysis and net calorific value of burning coal in utility boiler can be used to train the evidence.Combined with the typical sampled database,the belief function assignment and uncertainty of the objective modes can be computed,and then the fusion belief function assignment was gotten by using D-S rule.Finally,the target coal can be determined.The method reduces the subjectivity of the judging process of coal evidently,and it can be used to monitor and control the varied coal in a power plant.


Beginning with the reflections of the professional quality of the teachers in the teaching practice,the autho emphasies the importance and necessity of cultivation of the professional quality.On how to improve the professional quality,the author suggests that we should emphasize the moral quality,the training before working,etc.


Anthropologist David P. Gamble was born in 1920 in Northern Ireland and passed away in California in 2011 after a long career of research and teaching. The collection contains a variety of material related to Gamble's more than six decades of work on The Gambia and its peoples. Copies of the anthropologist's publications on Gambian history, economics, languages, and cultures are included, along with many of the notes, maps, illustrations, primary sources, and secondary sources from which he generated these studies. Gamble's output was wide-ranging, but of special note are his contributions to the bibliography of The Gambia; the ethno-linguistic study of Wolof, Mandinka, and Fula; and the early history of the Gambia River region. Language of Materials: Materials are primarily in English and French; some materials in Wolof, Mandinka, Fula, and Jola. Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information. Creator: Gamble, David P. Restrictions on Access COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information. Restrictions on Use and Reproduction Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.


Introduction: A receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has been identified as a susceptibility gene for emphysema/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, less is known how RAGE is involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. Aim: In this study, we aimed to determine the molecular mechanism by which RAGE influences COPD and to assess the efficacy of RAGE-specific antagonist FPS-ZM1 administration in in vivo and in vitro COPD model. Methods: We injected intratracheally porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and RAGE antagonist FPS-ZM1 in mice. Inflammatory cells and cytokine were assessed by ELISA. The expression of RAGE was determined in protein, serum and bronchoalveolar (BAL) fluid of mice. Downstream DAMP pathway activation in vivo, in vitro and patients with COPD was assessed using immunofluorescence, western blotting, and ELISA. Results: we investigated the efficacy of RAGE-specific antagonist FPS-ZM1 administration in in vivo and in vitro COPD model. FPS-ZM1 reversed airspace enlargement and inflammation in emphysema mice. Moreover, we found that expression of membrane RAGE and soluble RAGE was associated with up-regulation of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP)-related signaling pathway via NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2). FPS-ZM1 treatment significantly reduced lung inflammation in Nrf2+/+, but not in Nrf2-/- mice. Conclusions: Our data indicated for the first time that RAGE inhibition has an essential protective role in COPD. Our observation provided new insight into the therapeutic target in emphysema/COPD. Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (NRF-2014R1A2A2A01003737)


Legal evidences for nongovernmental claims for war reparations from appologies and reparations from Japanese government to nongovernment indemnity indicates its understanding and self-examination of aggressive history and determines the healthy development of Sino-Japanese relations.


By introducing phase modulation trigger circuit of type ZX5-400SCR recti fying arc welder,this paper mainly analyses the limitations of this circuit,an d puts forward an improved circuit,and comparatively analyses the characteristi cs.Through application,this new circuit simplifies the debugging process and s hortens the producing cycle.


This case report concerns a two year old female mongrel weighing about 25 kg which was admitted to an animal shelter. A grapefruit-sized mass was found in the animal's left ovary during a routinely performed ovariohysterectomy. On sectioning, the mass revealed cysts containing tufts of hair in creamy white sebaceous fluid. A histological examination revealed a mixture of tissues. The tumor was diagnosed as a mature teratoma (teratoma adultum).


The purpose o f t h i s s tudy was twofold: f i r s t , to determine i f t h e r e was a s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n between s e l e c t e d independent v a r i  ab les and success on the General Education Development t e s t , and second, to de termine p r e d i c t i v e e f f i c i e n c y between those s e l e c t e d independent v a r i a b l e s and success on the General Education Development t e s t (GED). The problem was i n v e s t i g a t e d by (a) a thorough review of the l i t e r a t u r e r e l a t e d to th e problem; (b) c o l l e c t i n g da ta from n ine ty f u l l t i m e Manpower a d u l t b a s ic educa t ion s tu d en t s who en te red the Helena, Montana Adult Learning Center from August I , 1978 through April I , 1979 and v o l u n t a r i l y completed the General A p t i tude Test B a t te ry (GATB), the C a l i f o r n i a Tes t of Adult Basic Education (CTABE), the C a l i f o r n i a Tes t o f Adult P e r s o n a l i t y (CTP), the B iog raph ica l Demographical da ta s h e e t , and subsequent ly wrote a l l f i v e s u b t e s t s o f th e GED examinat ion. . The major r e s u l t s o f the s tudy in d i c a te d t h a t (a) the f u l l m u l t ip l e r e g r e s s io n model found the t h i r t y f i v e independent v a r i a b le s a b le to p r e d i c t success b e t t e r than chance on the fo l lowing GED sub t e s t s : GED Eng l ish , GED Socia l S t u d i e s , GED Sc ience , GED L i t e r a t u r e , GED Math, and the GED Total B a t t e r y ; (b) the r e s t r i c t e d m u l t ip l e r e g r e s s io n model found the n ine independent v a r i a b l e s on the GATB and the f o u r independent v a r i a b l e s on the CTABE ab le to p r e d i c t success b e t t e r than chance on the fo l lowing GED s u b t e s t s : GED Engl ish , GED Socia l S tu d ie s , GED Sc ience , GED L i t e r a t u r e , GED Math, and the GED Total B a t t e r y ; (c) th e s tepw ise m u l t ip l e r e g re s s io n model found eleven to t h i r t e e n independent v a r i a b l e ab le to p r e d i c t success b e t t e r than chance on th e fo l lowing GED s u b t e s t s : GED Engl ish , GED Social S tu d ie s , GED Sc ience , GED L i t e r a t u r e , GED Math, and the GED Total B a t te ry ; (d) double c r o s s v a l i d a t i o n was employed in o rd e r to check the p re d i c  t i v e e f f i c i e n c y of the p r e d i c t i o n equation which was based on the most s i g n i f i c a n t th i r t een . GED Total B a t t e r y s tepw ise v a r i a b l e s . The drop in R square from .6094 to .408 and from .5949 to .246 c a s t s doubt on th e p r e d i c t i v e e f f i c i e n c y of the equa t ion based on a l l n in e ty s u b j e c t s . T h e s e c o n c lu s io n s su g g es t t h a t one must be cau t ious in g e n e r a l i z in g the r e s u l t s beyond the immediate sample involved. The major recommendations o f th e s tudy were: (a) t h a t o th e r a d u l t l e a r n in g c e n te r s should be made aware t h a t a p r e d i c t i v e model o f GED success has been developed; (b). t h a t o th e r a d u l t l e a r n in g cen te rs a r e encouraged to modify the p r e s e n t p r e d i c t i v e model or develop a p r e  d i c t i v e model o f GED success based on t h e i r own popu la t ion and s o c io  economic s i t u a t i o n ; (c) t h a t the p red ic t iv e 'm o d e l should be f i e l d t e s t e d a t the Helena Adult Learning Center on both Manpower and non-Manpower s tu d e n t s f o r one y e a r .


To explore the effect of Qingganlishi decoction (QGLSD) in treating chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis with wetness-heat syndrome of liver and gallbladder. 60 patients were randomly devided into two groups. 30 patients were treasted with QGLSD and 30 patients with Danshitong capsule. Another 30 healthy persons was as the control group.Results:In 30 patients trested with QGLSD,the total marked effective rate was 63.3%. In 30 patients treated with Danshitong capsule. The total marked effective rate of QGLSD group was significantly higher than that of Danshitong capsule group(P0.05).QGLSD has effect on treating chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis with wetness-heat syndrome of liver and gallbladder. It's mechanisms might be related to antibiotic、 analgesia、 anti-infammatory and anti-oxygen-free-radicals.


Twenty‐five women with chronic tension‐type headaches were treated with protriptyline for 3 months, with attention paid to days of monthly headaches before and while taking the medication, as well as change in weight and side effects. One patient stopped the medication because of side effects and 2 did not return for follow‐up, yielding 22 patients. The typical dose of protriptyline was 20 mg every morning. Eighty‐six percent of patients had fewer headaches each month, with the mean dropping from 28.2 to 11.7 days. Seventy‐three percent had a 50% or greater reduction in the number of headaches per month. The average weight change was a loss of slightly over 3 pounds during the study period. The advantages and disadvantages of protriptyline in the treatment of chronic tension‐type headaches are discussed, as are mechanisms of action.


Nutley S. D. (1985) Planning options for the improvement of rural accessibility: use of the time-space approach, Reg. Studies 19, 37–50. Using a time-space approach, it is explained how the evaluation of current accessibility problems in rural areas can be carried forward into planning 'solutions'. Forty planning options are presented for improving access standards in a small case study area in rural Wales. These include conventional bus services, various 'unconventional modes' and several 'non-transport solutions', plus combinations of these. Social benefits of each plan are expressed by the additional accessibility provided; hence costs and benefits can be presented in a comparable manner, and the most appropriate options recommended.


The aim of this dissertation is to explore the role of theatre in influencing perceptions of mental illness; research supporting considers the works of Michel Foucault and other influential theorists, academics and mental health professionals. This paper will observe and comment on the attitudes of UK society when addressing mental health. The central argument within this work discusses the ways in which theatre has the ability to challenge and change any negative perceptions of mental illness. This dissertation explores Erving Goffman's theory of the presentation of the 'Self' and the use of masks, both theatrically and socially, to question the concept of feigning reality as well as madness. The use of theatre practice and performance has the potential to challenge the negative attitudes towards mental illness by connecting with an audience and opening their eyes to the reality of the subject, encouraging them to reconsider their prejudices and adopt a more positive, well informed understanding of mental illness.


In 2004, an estimated 1.5 million persons in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer; about 560 000 will die from cancer; and more than 9.5 million will be undergoing curative treatment, coping with progressive disease, or living free of cancer after successful therapy (1). But many of these survivors still feel the aftershocks and downstream side effects arising from diagnosis and treatment, and many are fearful of recurrence. Substantial progress in reducing the suffering and death caused by cancer is being pursued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and cancer agencies and organizations worldwide through a variety of initiatives, programs, and projects. At the NCI, these efforts emphasize the joint importance of basic and applied scientific discovery, the development and testing of promising interventions, and the delivery of quality care to prevent, detect, and treat cancer and to improve the length and quality of life of cancer survivors (2). It is therefore vital for decision makers, at all levels, to have a firm understanding of just how effectively the fruits of discovery and development are being applied to enhance cancer care delivery in ways that reduce suffering and death. The scientific pursuit of such decision-relevant information is the central business of cancer outcomes research. The overall aim of this Monograph is to provide an empirically grounded review and evaluation of the peer-reviewed literature in cancer outcomes research. The intent is to identify both important recent contributions and the challenges that remain in bringing scientifically sound information to bear in cancer care decision making. DEFINING CANCER OUTCOMES RESEARCH


In our epic narratives, heroism is not limited to the bravery and warfare in the battlefield and hero is not the one who has the power, but wisdom, kindness and justice, generosity and enlightenment, and especially monotheism and praying to God is the highest heroism. During widespread recent research, the significant and effective role of the Shahnameh was studied on the epics after it. However, the study of ethics and wisdom of epics is less considered and most research dealt with mythological and heroic narratives as well as epics. There is not yet an independent study about the evaluation of divine prayers and remembrance of God in these epics and comparing them with Shahnameh. This research, by studying the prayer, traditions, conditions and their frequency in each epic, represents the influence of Shahnameh on these works.


JEL classification: I25 Abstract Education is an investment in the future of a citizen of his country and is economically beneficial to the state. In the category of key factors that have a huge impact on the supply of labour on the market is also included the human capital, and the educational system is considered as the dominant source of its formation. In this context, we emphasise that employees with higher economic studies have a particular contribution to the economic growth, contributing to its development in an innovative trajectory, because without an adequate improvement of the quality of the labour force it is impossible to increase the productivity of labour and consequently to increase the gross domestic product. On the other hand, the current state of the economy is such that, firstly, it does not need such a large number of such specialists, as it cannot provide an equivalent number of jobs with adequate qualifications. Currently, the imbalance between the number of graduates with higher economic studies and the labour market needs is evident. This is largely due to the insufficiently substantiated planning of the volume and structure of specialists with higher economic studies at the national level. This planning is imperial to be achieved taking into account the forecasting of the needs of the national economy in specialists with higher economic studies.


Obesity is a growing public health dilemma around the world. Resistant starch (RS), fermented resistant starch, and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) reduce intestinal fat deposition (IFD) in wild type Caenorhabditis elegans (N2, C. elegans), and increase the healthspan marker, pharyngeal pumping rate (PPR). We hypothesized that the fermentation products, SCFAs, would improve lifespan in C. elegans model. N2 was maintained in liquid culture media supplied with 5‐fluoro‐2'‐deoxyuridine (FUdR, 0.24mM). Control group was fed with E. coli OP50 only. Experimental group received additional sodium butyrate (0.3mM, 1mM), sodium acetate trihydrate (0.3mM), sodium propionate (100mM), and tributyrin (3mM). Butyrate (0.3mM) increased mean survival time during 35 day study (P=0.03) in the C. elegans. Other treatments mildly sustained the lifespan of C. elegans. These data proved that the SCFA butyrate extended lifespan in addition to creating a negative energy balance in C. elegans model.


This paper proposes a path following controller for the uncoupled planar vertical take off and landing (PVTOL) aircraft via the backstepping procedure. The idea of the path following controller design is finding a virtual target point to be tracked on the desired path and designing control inputs to guarantee the errors between the actual aircraft and virtual point converge to zero. The proposed path following controller enjoys the crucial properties of the path attractiveness and the path invariance (i.e. if the mass center of the PVTOL is initialized on the path and its initial velocity is tangent to the path, then the PVTOL aircraft remains on the path at all future time). In the end of this article, several numerical simulations are shown to verify the effectiveness of the proposed nonlinear state feedback controller.


The northwestern part of the Wind River Basin and Range is in the northwest tip of Fremont County, Wyoming, and within sight of the Absaroka Mountain escarpment. From the Precambrian core of the range to the basin area surrounding Dubois, a nearly complete stratigraphic column is present; the best exposures can be found in the many canyons cut in the dip slopes. Foot-by-foot measured sections are presented. The Precambrian to Upper Jurassic stratigraphy was studied along Warm Spring Creek, the Upper Jurassic to Cretaceous in the Little Horse Creek area, and the lower Cenozoic around Brooks Lake. Miscellaneous studies were made at Torry Creek and throughout the area.


In recent years, establishing secure visual communications has turned into one of the essential problems for security engineers and researchers. However, only limited novel solutions are provided for image encryption, and limiting the visual cryptography to only limited schemes can bring up negative consequences, especially with emerging quantum computational systems. This paper presents a novel algorithm for establishing secure private visual communication. The proposed method has a layered architecture with several cohesive components, and corresponded with an NP-hard problem, despite its symmetric structure. This two-step technique is not limited to gray-scale pictures, and furthermore, utilizing a lattice structure causes to proposed method has optimal resistance for the post-quantum era, and is relatively secure from the theoretical dimension.


.................................................................................................................xv Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ................................................................................1 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................1 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................3 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................7 Research Questions ......................................................................................................8 Limitations of the Study...............................................................................................8 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................9 The Organization of LAPD ........................................................................................10 Terms and Concepts...................................................................................................12 Summary of Theoretical Concepts..............................................................................15 Summary ...................................................................................................................17 Chapter II: Review of the Literature..............................................................................19 Introduction ...............................................................................................................19 Organization Theory ..................................................................................................22 Code of Silence..........................................................................................................32 Whistle-Blowing........................................................................................................34 Stages of the Whistle-Blowing Process ......................................................................38 Loyalty and Intrinsic Controls....................................................................................40 Retaliation..................................................................................................................42 Legal Approaches to Whistle-Blowing.......................................................................46 LAPD Internal Investigative Resources......................................................................51 Summary ...................................................................................................................53


Two species of Landolphia were studied in the North central axis of Nigeria using micro-morphological features with a view to exploiting the biosystematics and taxonomic importance of the features obtained. Landolphia been known to have taxonomic complexity. Plant materials of the two species were collected from different locations within the study area and leaf epidermal layers were microscopically prepared, stained and viewed. Leaf epidermal features were characterized and compared. Results showed huge differences in the stomata types and stomata indices that are of taxonomic significance and separate the species but epidermal cell shapes were of the same dimensional pattern and affirms inclusion in the same genus. Though stomata were hardly observed on the adaxial surfaces of the two species, the abaxial surface of L. capensis possessed three types of stomata: tetracytic, anomocytic and anisocytic while L. owarensis had two types: paracytic and anisocytic. Coupled with the differences in the number of epidermal cells, the stomata indices of L. capensis and L. owarenesis were 73.35% and 35.5% respectively. Therefore, the former species possessed more stomata complex types and stomata density than the latter. This separates the species and reinforces their being treated as separate ones. This data on the two Landolphia are maiden and available for the first time. This study therefore clearly separated the two species based on their unique epidermal characters as micro-morphological and microanatomical evidences and has clearly shown the taxonomic value of epidermal features in this genus.


The centrality of the role that ports have in world trade and the economic prosperity of nations is unquestionable. For a geographically isolated trading island such as Australia their role is even more critical. In an environment of projected steady economic expansion over the next two decades, with associated trade and port throughput growth, current discussions about port expansion and the strategic positioning of the ports industry become essential. An important part of this discussion is the sustainability of skills in key commercial and safety-critical areas of port operations. This paper reports on an on-going qualitative study commissioned by the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC) on the future of skills in Australian ports. The research involves a case study of four key ports, independent interviews with key stakeholders as well as a secondary analysis of existing statistical data. The preliminary findings suggest that, whereas appropriate emphasis continues to be focussed on port facility expansion, sufficient thought is not given to the question of the associated skill demands. Furthermore, there seems to be a divide in opinion about how key skills should be developed and who should be responsible.


Flavipanurgus is a small genus of panurgine bees known only from the Iberian Peninsula. Despite its status as one of the few bee genera endemic to Europe, Flavipanurgus are poorly represented in collections and until recently, their ecology had been almost unknown. Flavipanurgus ibericus (Warncke, 1972) was described from southern Iberia, with a northern subspecies F. i. kastiliensis (Warncke, 1987) later described from the north. Recent collections in Portugal have revealed clear differences in the pollen collecting patterns of the two taxa, with southern females collecting exclusively from Jasione montana and northern females from Sedum species. In combination with this ecological difference, COI and 28S barcode data indicate that Flavipanurgus kastiliensis stat. nov. should be raised to full species status. The male of Flavipanurgus ibericus s. str. is described for the first time, and updated keys to Flavipanurgus species are provided. Flavipanurgus fuzetus Patiny, 1999 is recorded for the first time from Spain. Further significant records and new floral associations for Flavipanurgus are also presented.


The frequent use of shock grids for a variety of behavioral treatments and test-measures has led to the development of various electronic and electro-mechanical 'scramblers.' In general, these are devices which apply voltage to different bars to prevent a subject (S) avoiding shock by contacting a pair of + or grid bars, or shorting the grid when a bolus lodges between two bars. The usual disadvantages of previous 'scramblers'


Abstract In 2003 the Department of Pediatrics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, based at Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, provided handheld devices (PDAs) to 105 pediatric residents. To support the technology and training needs of PDA users, an application was submitted and approved for a Technology Improvement Award from the Greater Midwest Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. The project consisted of acquiring the necessary equipment and PDA clinical software, creating a library staff education program, and developing procedures to circulate resources to library patrons.


Local authorities first asserted their international role through decentralized cooperation in solidarity. Today, new forms of international action such as innovation, or attracting business investment, as local economic development (LED) has become their priority. However, is the use of the term "paradigm" – meaning a change in vision, standards, and competences – appropriate? While one would be hard-pressed to identify such a transformation, there has been an increasing level of change for the past twenty years, turning the international action of local authorities into a tool for LED. This phenomenon might be due to four causes: the transfer of legal economic competences from the state to the local authorities, the integration of LED in a globalized system, the compliance of local leaders with this evolution, and finally the limits of decentralized cooperation, which brings out the need for new international action criteria.


The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antagonistic activity of probiotics isolated from products to germination of Candida albicans in vitro. The spent culture supernatant, live bacteria, heat-killed bacteria of 16 strains of probiotics and main bacterial short-chain fatty acids were applied to inhibit the germination of C. albicans in vitro by crystal violet-based germ tube assay. Neutral SCS of all the probiotcis evaluated in this research could decrease germination significantly and live bacteria of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG, Lactobacillus plantarum LA, Lactobacillus johnsonii JCM1022, Bacillus Longum-2, Bacillus sub. and Bacillus lich could partially inhibit the conversion of yeast to germ. However, all the heat-killed bacteria failed to control the germ tube formation. Furthermore, only butyric acid blocked the conversion of yeast to hypha among all the SCFAs. These results suggest that L. rhamnosus LGG, L. plantarum LA and L. johnsonii JCM1022, B.Longum-2, Bacillus sub. and B. lich  maybe potential strains to use as antifungal drugs and the inhibition seems to have direct correlation to the metabolites butyric acid.

 Key words: Candida albicans, antifungal drugs, germ tube, probiotics, butyric acid.


The paper discusses a series of documents being developed by the U.S. EPA, summarizing available information on building materials and products brought into homes and office buildings as potential sources of indoor air pollution. The documents will provide a complete list of materials as potential indoor air pollution sources and, where data are available, each source's relative importance for further research, and basic information for architects, building contractors, and homeowners to use in making informed decisions about materials and their potential impact on indoor air quality. Little effort has been made to systematically identify potential indoor air pollution sources and summarize and evaluate existing relevant data. The EPA effort addresses that need.


Ideally speaking, the words of first import to a child are those he needs for his spontaneous written compositions. In practice the school cannot make as fine adjustments as such a theory would suggest. Just because school teaching is a systematic business it must proceed by some plan, in more or less of a formal way. This does not at all imply that its forms of procedure must be artificial rather than artful or artistic. As all children do not have the same needs, and those they share do not occur at the same moment, the school strikes a compromise and uses a plan of its own. In consequence, the material put down by the course of study and the adopted spelling text really determines the words used by the greater number of teachers. In most courses of study the speller is the course. For this reason, the manner of text-book making is an important element in understanding our situation.


Von Kleist's last work and his masterpiece a story of guilt, innocence, and moral righteousness involving a prince who violates his orders of battle when distracted by a beautiful princess. This is a part of "Plays for Performance Series".


It can be seen from this article that a lot of effective work is being done to improve the methodological training of future mathematicians, which is becoming a problem today.


This study explored the use of real-time traffic events and signal timing data to determine the factors influencing the injury severity of vehicle occupants at intersections. The analysis was based on 3 years (2017–2019) of crash and high-resolution traffic data. The best fit regression was first identified by comparing the conventional regression model and logistic models with random effect. The logistic model with a heavy-tailed distribution random effect best fitted the data set, and it was used in the variable assessment. The model results revealed that about 13.6% of the unobserved heterogeneity comes from site-specific variations, which underlines the need to use the logistic model with a random effect. Among the real-time traffic events and signal-based variables, approach delay and platoon ratio significantly influenced the injury severity of vehicle occupants at 90% Bayesian credible interval. Additionally, the manner of a collision, occupant seat position, number of vehicles involved in a crash, gender, age, lighting condition, and day of the week significantly affected the vehicle occupant injury. The study findings are anticipated to provide valuable insights to transportation agencies for developing countermeasures to mitigate the crash severity risk proactively.


Background: Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is an alcohol extract of leaves from the Ginkgo biloba tree. The extract is available in form of tablets or capsules and its main medical use to improve memory and brain function. In spite of widespread human exposure to relatively high doses over potentially long periods of time, there is few studies regarding the toxicity and carcinogenicity associated with GBE. Aim: to study the potential toxicity of GBE on thyroid gland. Methods: solutions containing GBE in corn oil were administered by peroral intubationto male and female rats five times a week for three months. Groups of 20 rats received 40 mg/kg of GBE, and another group received 500 mg/kg five times a week. Another group of rats given solutions of corn oil with no chemical added. Similar group of animal of rats were given nothing except food and water and served as the blank control groups. Thyroid hormones including thyroid stimulating hormone, total triiodothyronine (T3), and total thyroxine (T4) were measured during the study. At the end of the study, thyroid tissues were examined for every animal by light and electron microscope.
Results:  In the small dose group ,thyroid gland showed disorganized follicles of varying diameters with little amount of the colloid in some follicles while others demonstrated absent colloid with desquamated epithelial cells in their lumens. In the high dose group, thyroid gland was composed of very small follicles. Some follicles had no apparent lumina. Follicular cells were found in more than one layer (adenoma) with Infiltration of interfollicular spaces by fatty cells.
Conclusions: GBE is a complex mixture that induces only pathological changes in rat thyroid gland


This article gives an analysis of the main psychological approaches to psycho-correction and prophylaxis of drug addiction, based on the principles of classical psychology, and the reasons of their small effectiveness are identified. It is shown that semantic approach seems to be the most adequate for carrying out of more effective prophylaxis of drug addiction. Post-modernist approach is recommended to be applied to the problem of drug addiction.


On the basis of non-hierarchical multidisciplinary optimization algorithm,this paper proposed a new multidisciplinary design optimization based on the neural network response surface(ANN MDO),a two-level optimization architecture.That is to say,the sub-discipline level only meet the local constraints and the objective is to get smallest difference between local optimal solution and target program provided by system level.Meanwhile,the system level not only offers some coordinating mechanism to guarantee agreement of all discipline level optimal solution,but also obtains discipline level information by artificial neural network-based response surface approximation.Finally,a gearbox is adopted as an example to verify the efficiency of ANN MDO algorithm,which compare the collaborative optimization(CO) with concurrent subspace optimization(CSSO).


The Carnegie Hubble Program (CHP) is designed to improve the extragalactic distance scale using data from the post-cryogenic era of Spitzer. The ultimate goal is a determination of the Hubble constant to an accuracy of 2%. This paper is the first in a series on the Cepheid population of the Large Magellanic Cloud, and focuses on the period-luminosity relations (Leavitt laws) that will be used, in conjunction with observations of Milky Way Cepheids, to set the slope and zero-point of the Cepheid distance scale in the mid-infrared. To this end, we have obtained uniformly-sampled light curves for 85 LMC Cepheids, having periods between 6 and 140 days. Period- luminosity and period-color relations are presented in the 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron bands. We demonstrate that the 3.6 micron band is a superb distance indicator. The cyclical variation of the [3.6]-[4.5] color has been measured for the first time. We attribute the amplitude and phase of the color curves to the dissociation and recombination of CO molecules in the Cepheid s atmosphere. The CO affects only the 4.5 micron flux making it a potential metallicity indicator.


In this work photoluminescence and amplified spontaneous emission properties of new original 2-cyanoacetic acid derivative in different concentration mixed in polyvinyl carbazole (PVK) matrix were investigated. Ethyl 2-(2-(4-(bis(2- (trityloxy)ethyl)amino)styryl)-6-tert-butyl-4H-pyran-4-ylidene)-2-cyanoacetate (KTB) is recently synthesised nonsymmetric red light emitting laser dye, that in previous experiments with neat thin films showed low amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) threshold value. Based on PVK high refractive index it has been used as a polymer to ensure the preparation of good planar waveguide. Luminescence quenching is expected in neat amorphous thin films according to previous experiments which reduces photoluminescence quantum yield and increases ASE excitation threshold energy. It could be overcome by a decrease of the intermolecular interactions between laser active molecules by doping them in polymer matrix thereby decreasing photoluminescence quenching effect in the system by increasing distance between organic molecules which in turn results in lowering ASE excitation threshold energy. The lowest threshold value of ASE was achieved at 20wt% of KTB molecule in PVK matrix. Ability to significantly decrease intermolecular interactions and excitation threshold energy of investigated compound in host-guest systems makes it promising to be used as a laser dye in preparation of organic solid state lasers.


The invention relates to a method for controlling an excited oscillation (37) of a system (1) to a resonance of the system (1), with a sampling instantaneous values (9) of the vibration size grounded detected discretely and the sampling frequency is below a twice a maximum frequency of the system (1) is selected. The following steps are provided: - determining an amplitude of vibration (40) from the instantaneous values (39), - rules of control amplitude based on the determined vibration amplitude, - setting a positioning frequency reference to the control amplitude, - generating a vibration actuator in consideration of the setting frequency, - Merging of the vibration amplitude and the vibration actuator to a control signal and - exciting the system (1), taking account of the control signal. The invention further relates to a corresponding device.


a series of axial sections representing the general structure of the eye in thirty-one species of animals, comprising two crustacea, the squid, three fish, two batrachians, two reptiles, ten birds and eleven animals. Prof. F. E. Nipher gave an account of the Geissler and Crookes tubes and the radiant phenomena exhibited by each when used in connection with a high tension electrical current of rapid alternation, and detailed the recent discoveries of Prof. Rontgen, showing that certain of the rays so generated are capable of affecting the sensitized photographic plate through objects opaque to luminous rays. Attention was also called to the experiments of Herz and Lodge with discharges of very high tension alternating currents which showed that by the latter certain invisible rays areproduced, which like the Rdntgen rays, are capable of passing through opaque bodies, such as pitch, but differing in their refrangibility by such media. One person was elected to active membership. THE Woman's Anthropological Society, which under the presidency of Miss Alice C. Fletcher, has greatly enlarged its scope and membership, held its 138th meeting February 1st. After the usual business, the session was given over to Miss A. Tolman Smith, director of the section of psychology. Motor Element in Memory.' The paper described in detail a series of laboratory experiments made by the writer with a view to determine the quantitative value of the motor element in the total act of memory. Discussion of the subject was deferred to a subsequent meeting, and the remaining time was given to the problem of emotional expression which has occupied the attention of the section for several months. Brief letters were read from Profs. Melville Bell and David Bell, also from the directors of dramatic expression in leading universities of. this country, setting forth their views as to the relation between the psychic and the physical agitations that make who drew a most subtle and vivid picture of ' dual personality ' in the consciousness of the actor. Miss Wescott, principal of the Western High School, closed the discussion with a summary of tests of emotional disturbance applied by means of the Kymographion under the direction of Dr. Arthur MacDonald. From a series of graphic records showing the effects of various emotional and mental states upon the breathing, two were selected as typical , one of the nervous, the other of the lym-phatic temperament. It was interesting to …


A 59 year-old man presented with a 2 months history of dorsal spinal pain and a right intercostal neuralgia. These symptoms were associated to asthenia, anorexia and loss of weight. The patient had no disease history including no concept of TB contagion or raw milk consumption. He had neither history of taking immunosuppressors nor of any disease indicative of immunodeficiency.


Eighteen Fe ablation trails were observed during the 17/18 Nov 1998 Leonid meteor shower with an airborne Fe lidar aboard the NSF/NCAR Electra aircraft over Okinawa. The average altitude of the 18 trails from the high velocity (72 km/s) Leonid meteors, 95.67±0.93 km, is approximately 6.7 km higher than previously observed for slower (∼30 km/s) sporadic meteors. This height difference is consistent with the assumption that meteors ablate when atmospheric drag reaches a critical threshold. The average age of the Fe trails, determined by a diffusion model, is 10.1 min. The youngest ages were observed below 92 km and above 98 km where chemistry and diffusion dominate, respectively. The average abundance of the trails is 10% of the abundance of the background Fe layer. Observations suggest that the 1998 Leonid shower did not have a significant impact on the abundance of the background Fe layer.


Modern mode of drug delivery system has been constructed to defeat the main issues linked with the traditional drug delivery system. This particular review will give an idea about the retinoid based nanoemulsion system. The main focus is to briefly explain the different aspects of nanoemulsion formulations, procedure of preparation, portrayal procedures with special focus on different utilizations of nanoemulsion in various area. Nanoemulsions are colloidal dispersion system that are composed of two non-miscible mixtures mixed along with surfactants and co-surfactants emulsifier to develop a single phase which is thermodynamically balanced. Nanoemulsion droplet sizes commonly fall in the range of 20-200 nm and show thin size distributions. Nanoscale dispersions of droplets of one liquid in another insoluble liquid can be achieved by using extreme emulsification procedures. Retinoid, better known as vitamin A are lipophillic in nature. They are vastly used for therapeutic purpose in skin disorders. Retinoid are among one of the fundamental compound found in cosmeceuticals. They are the most investigated compound with sufficient information supporting them. Retinoid include natural or synthetic derivatives that decrease hyperpigmentation and limit collagen breaking enzymes. Nanoemulsions comprise of tiny oil-in-water globules, havingless than 100 nm diameter. They are delicate frameworks by nature. Traditional formulations are restricted becauseof irritation, poor aqueous solubility and high instability of retinoid. But administration of retinoid in aqueous mediais enabled due to nanoemulsion based formulation, decreasing degradation, controlled release, high stability,improve targeting and enhance efficacy. Nanoemulsion show incredible guarantee for the future of beauty careproducts, diagnostics, treatments, and biotechnologies. The unique properties of nanoemulsions such as highstability, translucent appearance and efficient drug delivery attribute has attracted researchers interest which is oneof the reason why the usage of nanoscale emulsion has grown rapidly during the recent decades. Nanoemulsionformulation might be considered as viable, safe and with enhanced bioavailability. Comparing to the conventionaltopical formulation, nanoemulsion possess advance transdermal permeation of various drugs such as gels andemulsions. Nanoemulsion is significantly important in modern pharmaceutical industry and provide many benefitsin drug delivery systems. This review is focused on the most recent literature on developments of retinoid basednanoemulsions.


In the Automotive Working Group and Power Supply Working Group of Cooperative Study Group on Standard Development for power electronics systems in IEEJ, practical simulation examples of Automotive and Power Supply Systems have been discussed. This paper provides the practical simulation examples for the inexperienced engineers of automotive and power electronics, in order to easily understand the practical operation and apply to other simulation areas. Each of the practical simulation examples is shown and the validity is demonstrated.


The last three decades have witnessed the staging of Hamlet in Bulgaria as a strongly politicized play, regularly coming up in times of a changing political climate. The Moscow 'spring' which started in 1985 with Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of openness and reform created, throughout the socialist camp, a new atmosphere of political activity (manifest or latent), which made the Tragical History of the Danish Prince burningly topical. The re-evaluation of the whole legacy of the Revolution, the flood of articles, films, books, and TV programmes brought about a new understanding of the whole history of the communist society. The intelligentzia in the socialist countries found itself very much in Hamlet's archetypal situation. The Father (Lenin), embodiment of all the virtues, died prematurely. His usurper Brother (Stalin) stole the precious diadem of power and put it in his pocket. He marrried the seeming-virtuous Mother (the Revolution) and corrupted her. As a result Denmark becomes a prison. The time is out of joint. The intelligentzia (Hamlet) whispers to itself that it is not, nor it cannot come to good. Something is rotten in the state. And the Ghost (History) comes to unfold the secrets of his prison-house, and to reveal the crimes of smiling villains. The innocence of the world is gone for good. Bad dreams are here for a while. And the intellectual makes his moral choice about what will be nobler in the mind... This pattern is certainly mythological and over-simplified, but so is social thinking. Of course in Bulgaria the moral and political crisis is not so direct, but that is yet another reason why the matter should be tackled indirectly, by the very cunning of the scene. It is therefore hardly surprising that in the winter of 1986 two theatre directors had included Hamlet in their programmes-Asen Shopov at the National Theatre in Sofia and Ivan Dobchev in Haskovo. Then Dobchev's production was postponed for one year, while in December 1986 the rehearsals at the National Theatre had already started. The National Theatre in Sofia is the most prestigious theatre house in Bulgaria, and it boasts the greatest tradition of Hamlet stagings, with numerous productions and revivals between 1914 and 1943, featuring the most glorious actors and


The buying power of the middle class has long been used as a way to measure the prosperity of nations, as a strong and healthy middle class population can provide many of the drivers necessary for economic growth in terms of both physical and human capital (Kharas, 2010).  However, while much of the attention on the middle class and the ways in which it influences the global economy has tended to focus on G7 nations, economic growth in emerging nations has created a new global middle class whose needs are much different from their European and North American middle class predecessors (Kharas, 2011).  India and China are two key players in this new global middle class, presenting substantial opportunities for multinationals with well-developed strategies designed to capitalize upon the increased, and often untapped, buying power of middle class consumers.


Sources are necessary components of a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation and their types vary depending on the type of problem under consideration. Usually sources are of two types: (1) near, such as the voltage and current sources described in Chapter 4; and (2) far, such as the incident fields appearing in scattering problems. In any case, a source excites electric and magnetic fields with a waveform as a function of time. The type of waveform can be selected specific to the problem under consideration. However, some limitations of the FDTD method should be kept in mind while constructing the source waveforms to obtain a valid and accurate simulation result. One of the considerations for the source waveform construction is the spectrum of the frequency components of the waveform. A temporal waveform is the sum of time-harmonic waveforms with a spectrum of frequencies that can be obtained using the Fourier transform. The temporal waveform is said to be in time domain, and its Fourier transformed form is said to be in frequency domain. The Fourier transform of the source waveforms and other output parameters can be used to obtain some useful results in the frequency domain. In this chapter, we discuss selected types of waveforms and then introduce the numerical algorithms for calculating the Fourier transform of temporal functions in discrete time.


At 32301 Face of Qilianda Colliery,Shenhua Group Co.,with seam thick 7.17~8.05m,seam inclination angle 1°~3°,layout of designing face is along seam trend,mining height is 4.5 ~6.1 m.Coal face promoting along floor,inclined longwall one pass cutting coal mining and fully caving coal mining method is adopted to manage roof,coal face designing yield is 1 million tons monthly.After coal face put into operation,mining technology and equipment matching are better,every equipment matching operates smoothly,up to designing capacity of coal face yield 1 million t monthly,the largest yield is 1.28 million t,Jan.2008,and technical economic benefit is significant.


Background: Positioned as one of the central members in cellular antioxidant de fense, glutathione reductase (GSR) determines the oxidative status of a cell. The lev el of its activity changes in certain physiological and pathological conditions. The rs1002149 polymorphic loci of the GSR gene, associated with the level of enzyme activity, is a potential molecular-genetic marker of complexly inherited traits (aging, multifactorial diseases). Since the glutathione system is responsible for the interac tion with environmental factors, it is important to take into account the specifics of marker rs1002149 (-386C>A) of the GSR gene in different ethnic groups living in contrasting environmental conditions - Russians, Bashkirs and Tatars (residents of the Republic of Bashkortostan) and Abkhazians. Materials and methods: The mate rial was DNA samples from 1649 men and women aged 21 to 89, not related to each other, representatives of four ethnic groups - Russians (N=443), Bashkirs (N=453), Tatars (N=615), Abkhazians (N=138). Allelic variants of the GSR gene were identi fied by RT-PCR using TaqMan probes. For statistical analysis of the results of the study, computer programs SPSS (v. 13.0), GENEPOP, and Arlequin 3.0 were used. Ethnic heterogeneity was assessed using the Fisher test. Results: All four ethnic groups showed the absence of statistically significant differences in the genotypes distribution (P>0.05). The T allele in the ethnic group of Tatars is more frequent than in the ethnic group of the Bashkirs (22.68% vs. 18.65%, P=0.024). The genotype fre quencies of Russians and Bashkirs (but not Tatars and Abkhazians) correspond to those of Europeans. All four ethnic groups are no different from South Americans. Significant heterogeneity is observed (except the Japanese, Bengalis and Nigerians) between the four studied ethnic groups and populations of East, South Asia and Afri ca. Conclusion: The minor T allele associated with a higher activity of the glutathi one reductase is more frequent in the Tatars ethnic group than in Bashkirs. of the allele (genotype) frequency, HWE-p level of statistical significance of the correspondence of the observed frequency of genotypes distribution to the distribution law


Abstract. We present a concise review of contemporary laboratory methods for diagnosis of rickettsioses with special emphasis on diseases known in Russian Federation. Classic and emerging rickettsioses are transmitted by a diverse and expanding group of arthropod vectors including ticks, fleas, lice and mites. While epidemiological and clinical clues can provide information important for initial suspicion of rickettsial infection, sensitive and specific laboratory methods are necessary for providing probable or confirmed diagnosis of the rickettsial infection. Accurate and rapid confirmation of rickettsial infection is important for ensuring proper clinical care and prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy. Correct identification of the etiology of rickettsial diseases is also important for early identification of clustered cases, novel foci of infections, and for timely initiation of public health responses to these potentially fatal infections.


The expected renewal of peace negotiations between Syria and Israel is likely to bring up again an issue that has been the central component of territorial conflict between the two since 1948: sovereignty in what were, between 1949 and 1967, three demilitarized zones (DMZs) declared on the Israeli side of the Syrian–Israeli frontier. The DMZs, the regime that maintained them, and the significance they had for Syrian–Israeli relations have been studied at some length.1 This article contributes an analysis of the history and implications of one of the three DMZs from the point of view of those for whom the zone was and still is a homeland—the Kirad bedouin moiety, who are now displaced and dispossessed.


Objective This work was to investigate the setup errors of image-guided-radiotherapy (IGRT) . Methods From April 2006 to August 2006, 51 patients were treated with the newly installed Elekta Synergy system, among whom there were 19 head and neck tumors, 25 thoracic tumors and 7 ab-domino-pelvic tumors. All patients had received kilovoltage cone beam computed tomography (kv-CBCT) before radiotherapy was delivered. The acquired X-ray volumetric images (XVI) were co-registered with planning CT and errors of isocenter positions on x, y, z axes were obtained and analyzed. Results The acquired CBCT images had high quality clearly showing soft tissue organs, tumor size , location and the surrounding structures. All 51 patients received CBCT scan at each treatment fraction before radiation delivery. A total of 955 CBCT scans were obtained. Setup errors in the head and neck, chest and abdominopelvis all gave normal distributions. The systemic±random errors on x, y, z directions were (-0.3±1.5) mm, ( -0.3±1.6) mm, (0±1.3) mm for the head and neck;( -0.6±2.9) mm, ( -0. 2±5. 6) mm, (0.7±3.2) mm for the chest; (-0.8±2.1) mm, ( -0. 3±5. 9) mm,(0. 1±2.6) mm for the abdominopelvis , respectively. Conclusion Measurement of setup error before radiation delivery using kV-CBCT scan combined with on-line correction could greatly improve the patient setup precision and may guide optimal PTV designing.


We propose a new method of ensuring the redundant storage of information on tertiary storage, especially tape storage. Conventional methods for redundant data storage on tape include mirroring (storing the data twice) and Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Tapes (RAIT). Mirroring incurs high storage costs, while RAIT is inflexible because special hardware is used and all tapes in a stripe must be loaded to read a file. Our method, Tape Group Parity Protection (TGPP), writes parity data asynchronously, The data area in each tape is divided into fixed-size regions. A collection of tape regions from different tapes are collected into a protection group. Parity data of the tape regions are computed, stored, and eventually migrated to tape. By using the disk cache to buffer the unmigrated parity data, all write operations can be performed asynchronously. Because each tape can be written independently, no special hardware is required to read the tapes, and individual tapes can be manipulated and transferred. In this paper we discuss TGPP, alternatives for managing TGPP groups, and their relative performance.


Many biological studies have indicated that coumarin and its derivatives can act as chemoperventive agents. In this study, three synthetic coumarin derivatives were investigated for their free radical scavenging, anticancer and cell signaling activities. Compound A showed antioxidant effects with 100% decoloration of DPPH at concentration of more than 150 μg/ml with IC50 of 102.12 ± 0.15 μg/ml. Compound B and C induced antioxidant effects with 100% decoloration at 100 and 50 μg/ml, respectively. Also, the IC50 of compounds B and C was 28.35 ± 0.04 and 6.12 ± 0.05 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, these compounds suppressed PC-3 prostate and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cells proliferation with IC50 of 20 μM, 70 μM and 50 μM, respectively for PC-3 cells. However, it needs higher dosage to inhibit MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cell growth with IC50 at 25 μM, 137 μM and 100 μM, respectively. All of these compounds activated the apoptotic death signals downstream by activating caspase pathway. And showed many apoptotic characterizations including, DNA fragmentation and apoptotic bodies formation.


For the soil?stone filling high embankment of Pan Zhi?hua airport in Sichuan province,in situ tests were carried out on each test?point of the mixture of soil and stone with loose laying thickness 4m?5m?6m,respectively adopting 2?000kN·m and 3?000kN·m impact energy whilst the test?points were located uniformly in the area of 3 5×3 5m The relationship between different impact energy and settlement?volume?times of impact of each test?point under different loose laying thickness is presented and later the field evaluation was made on the density and modulus of deformation of the impacted embankment On this basis,the control index and impact compaction construction parameters for soil?stone filling to guide the high embankment construction for airport in mountainous areas are recommended, that is,2?000kN·m impact energy fits the loose laying thickness of 4m and 3?000kN·m fits the loose laying thickness of 5m and 6m


The euro-area sovereign debt crisis was characterized by feedback loops between (1) sovereign bond ratings and sovereign spreads in single jurisdictions and (2) sovereign spreads and ratings among jurisdictions. One explanation of this circumstance is that the ECB was unable to perform the role of lender of last resort in the sovereign bond markets during the crisis. We provide a spatial framework that allows us to distinguish among European countries whose central banks were permitted to function as lender of last resort in those markets and countries whose central banks were not permitted to do so. Our results are consistent with the view that the absence of a central bank backstop in the sovereign bond markets exacerbated feedback loops.


Density functional theory calculations have been used to study the electronic structure, lattice dynamics, and electron-phonon coupling in boron-doped silicon carbide in the cubic phase. Our results provide evidence that the recently discovered superconducting transition in boron-doped silicon carbide can be explained within a standard phonon-mediated mechanism. For the same doping rate, the coupling constant λ in B-doped SiC is very close to that of doped diamond and twice as large as that of B-doped silicon. However, doped silicon carbide differs from its diamond counterpart as most of the electron-phonon coupling originates from low energy vibrational modes.


Purpose: Most universities prioritize online payment administration because_of_advances_in_information_and communicatio_ technologies, especially for online_banking transactions. Benefits from online banking services such as  transactions via Internet banking are very convenient compared to traditional payment methods.  On other side is traditional payment methods transactions must queue and come directly to the bank. This study was done to find out what factors in Semarang City affected the adoption of university E-PS as online banking.Methods: 123 students have participated in this research. Six charactersitics were considered in a new study model that examinated how students' intention to use E-PS was affected: convinience, perceived usefullness, risks, perceived trust and reputation. To validate the reearch model, the structural equation model approach using PLS-SEM was apllied.Result: The empirical result showed that perceived convinience, perceived usefullness and trust had e significan positive relationship with students' intention to use the University's E-PS.  The empirical results showed that perceived convenience, perceived usefullness, and trust had a significant_positivee_relationshipp_withhstudents' intentions_to_use the E-PS university. Perceived convinience was also found to have a positive and significan effect on the perceived usefullness of students using E-PS. However, the perceived risks showed a non-significan negative relationship with tudents' intentions to use E-PS.Novelty: While previous studies have explored the intentions to se E=PS. This research contributes the literature by invetigating the specific factors that influence the adoption of E-PS in the context of tertiary institutions. Additionally, this research provides empirical evidence on the relationhip between perceived convinience and perceived convience and perceived usefullness of using E-PS in univerities. Overall, this research offers a new perspective on the adoption of E-PS in tertiary institutions and contributes to the development of strategies to improve the adoption and use E-PS in universities.


We present a systems design framework called iSugar that integrates lumped, distributed, and system level analyses in a Matlab environment. For lumped analysis we use Sugar for its ease of device configuration, parameterization, and layout capabilities; for distributed analysis, we use COMSOL for its transparent interface; and for system analysis we use SIMULINK for its simple graphical building-block style of modeling. We also accommodate SPICE circuit analysis. For modeling some systems more completely, it may be necessary to model components of the system using different numerical methods so that computational efficiency is optimized without sacrificing model accuracy. A few commercial tools have the ability to integrate with MATLAB and be controlled by SIMULINK. However, iSugar has the ability to control all aspects of the integration from within itself. Doing so facilitates a more holistic approach to design and analysis. We demonstrate several benefits gained from Sugar's efficient and versatile capabilities.


The living tissue is positioned in a substantially homogeneous magnetic field. A region of the living tissue is determined such that the direction of arterial flow is substantially transverse to the plane of this region. The propogation delay from the start of a cardiac cycle, marked by a contraction of the heart, to the occurrence of fast arterial flow in the region to be imaged is calculated. A bolus of arterial flow within the region is before the fast flow reaches the artery within the region. After a predetermined time period a second bolus of arterial flow is excited in the region such that the velocity of the flow throughout the time period remains substantially constant.


The paper discusses materialization of verses into abstract printed artwork. It is an experimental project involving artists and people from IT, where poetry is reinterpreted through the relationship between man and machine. At one end, the artist inputs one verse using his voice and collects a physical form of it at the other end. Between the input and output, the machine analyses the information and creates material evidence of the voice (a 3D printed layer). The final step is made by the artist who assembles all layers into a sculpture.


Many students struggle to interconnect biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) contents taught in separate classes or to relate BMB to what they learn in other courses. Such students lack the necessary perspective to perceive the intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary ''bonds'' of BMB. In other words used before in this journal [1], they are unable to see the tertiary and quaternary structure of BMB. As teachers of BMB, we must strongly consider how to change this if we wish our students to understand what we want them to learn. Integration offers an opportunity to help students make connections, to learn better how to scaffold and organize their BMB. Research on how people learn shows us that deep learning and expertise in any discipline relies on an adequate organization of knowledge [2]. Science academies and scientific societies insistently call for interdisciplinary integration in undergraduate science education [3, 4]. However, moving from plans to action is not trouble-free. It will demand strong commitment from a large number of faculty of multiple departments. It will require coherent mapping and articulation of courses, topics, examples, and assessments. Even at the level of individual courses, programs will need to be rewritten, classes reorganized, and materials reinvented. No wonder teachers vacillate before institutional announcements of large scale curricular integration reforms. Still, more and better integration will always be good news for student-centered education and should thus be strongly encouraged. A feasible pathway toward integration would help and, in this regard, the levels of protein structure provide an inspiring metaphor. No biochemist or teacher of BMB would describe a protein as either ''having structure or not.'' Amidst all their complexity and diversity, the structural organization of proteins develops progressively, a few steps at a time. Primary and secondary structures are essential for higher levels of folding and, ultimately, to the architecture and biological function of the whole macromolecule. Interdisciplinary integration relates to curricular structure. Therefore, perhaps it makes sense to look at integration also as a feature with levels of progressive complexity. Integration at the proximal scale may be as important as integration at the scale of the whole curriculum. Consequently, curricular integration should not be seen as an ''on-or-off'' feature, like a dipole. We should perhaps let go of the idea that curricula are ''integrated or not.'' Picturing different levels in curricular integration may be an interesting idea, but what should these levels be? A very interesting model [5] is a ''ladder of integration'' with 11 steps and four conceptual levels. The main curricular levels are (i) absolutely no interaction between courses or faculty: courses are designed by individual faculty in isolation who have no awareness about what students are being exposed to elsewhere; (ii) presence of some form of articulation: courses are still designed in isolation, but faculty are aware of what is being discussed in courses happening simultaneously; (iii) joint preparation of courses by faculty from different disciplines—the leap from the previous level is that faculty collaborate actively, have common interdisciplinary goals and introduce coherent changes in their courses to achieve those goals; (iv) interdisciplinary courses in the true sense: a multidisciplinary faculty team prepares, teaches, and assesses the course. In the most sophisticated level of integration, the names of disciplines may no longer be visible in course designations for example, biochemistry can be pivotal in a course designated ''cells and molecules.'' Picturing integration by levels is empowering since and makes integration feasible. If we consider the ''primary integration'' of a curriculum, the way courses are linearly displayed in a program, then the ''secondary integration'' would be that neighboring course establish interactions and thus benefit mutually from what students are learning next-door. Clearly, the secondary level of integration * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Medical Education Unit, School of Health Sciences, Gualtar Campus, Braga 4710-057. Tel.:þ351253604805; Fax:þ351253604849. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.


Employee reward systems refer to programs set up by an organization to reward performance and motivate employees on individual and/or group levels. This study was guided by basic salary, training opportunities, health benefits and house allowance as specific objectives in establishing the effects of employee reward system on the achievement of targets of semi-autonomous government agencies in Migori Sub-County. The study is expected to increase knowledge and understanding in this area by assisting the Kenya Government through Public Service Commission of Kenya in formulating and implementing policies that would lead to a fair reward system for public servants and therefore improving efficiency and effectiveness in staff performance. This research adopted survey design. The target population was 74 employees working in the three semi-autonomous agencies in Migori Sub-County. The sample size of 43 was drawn from the target population of employees in the authorities. This was 58% of the entire population of employees in the three authorities in Migori Sub-County. Data was collected by the use of document analysis and questionnaires. Data was analyzed by the use of computer aided data analysis software SPSS and Statpages. Presentation of data was done by the use of tables, bar graphs, line graphs and percentages. Descriptive statistics and correlation was used to compare the means of monthly earnings for different payrolls and also to establish the strength between dependent variables and independent variable. Findings in this study indicate that basic salary, house allowance and health benefits have very strong influence on employee performance as compared to the moderate influence that training had on their performance. The report recommends the harmonization of schemes of service within departments/ministries so that every individual is rewarded appropriately and fairly in order to improve employee performance.


The study sought to assess the listening habits among college students and their effects on their academic performance. It also examines whether more attention needs to be paid to listening as a necessary skill. The study was conducted on law college students. A questionnaire was used for the data collection. The data collected were analyzed quantitatively with the use of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Figures and tables were used to present the results of findings. From the total of 500 copies of questionnaire distributed, 475 copies, representing 95.0% were filled and returned. The findings showed that majority of the respondents acknowledge the importance of listening, some of the respondents neither listened  nor read  any informative speech while some of the respondents only listened  for the purpose of having good grades and passing examination. The study confirmed that listening habit has a greater influence on academic performance and there is a close relationship between listening habit and academic performance. The study recommended among others that teachers/mentors should be advised to stop providing handouts to students but rather encourage them to use the best possible resources for research and training and also, the current system of assessing students should be given a second thought with respect to the formulae of assessment.