RESULTS: Smokers were younger (45 versus 53 years; P = 0.003), with no differences in sex, race, or body mass index. Nonsmokers had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (27.4% versus 16.9%; P = 0.048) and were more often on dialysis (32.1% versus 19.1%; P = 0.020). Preoperative laboratory values were comparable, as were wound class, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, operative time, and length of stay. Major (2.2% versus 7.2%) and total complications (16.9% versus 14.3%) were also comparable between smokers and nonsmokers; however, smokers required intraoperative transfusions more frequently (14.6% versus 5.5%; P = 0.006). Smokers and nonsmokers also experienced similar reoperation (2.1% versus 6.7%) and readmission rates (3.4% versus 3.8%). Regression analysis revealed that among replantation/revascularization patients, preoperative diabetes mellitus was a strong predictor for 30-day reoperations (OR, 5.8; 95% CI, 1.1–30.4) and white race was a significant predictor of 30-day major complications (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.1–10.2), all P ≤ 0.038. Preoperative smoking history of ≤1 year was not found to be a predictor of any adverse 30-day outcomes.


In order to study the effects of PP 333 on the quality of tomato plug-seedlings in both summer and autumn,we sprayed different concentrations of PP 333 on plug-seedlings at two-leaf stage,and then measured and analyzed the seedlings' morphological indexes and physiological indexes.The results showed that all the PP 333 treatments improved the seedlings' quality compared to the control whether in summer or in autumn,and the PP 333 treatment with the concentration of 200 mg/kg could obviously increase the quality of tomato plug-seedlings in both summer and autumn,with the rootshoot ratio,sound seedling index,G value,root activity,chlorophyll content increased significantly,while the plant height,soluble protein content and soluble sugar content decreased compared with those of the control in both summer and autumn.


The analysis of Mexican-American and Anglo groups observed in Chicago public parks indicates substantive and systematic differences in the social organization of recreation activities between the t...


In this paper, a natural generalization of KMY model is proposed for the evaporation of charged black holes. Within the proposed model, the back reaction of Hawking radiation is considered. More specifically, we consider the equation , in which the matter content is assumed spherically symmetric. We also assume the radiation to be massless and chargeless. With this equation of motion, the asymptotic behavior of the model is analyzed. Two kinds of matter contents are taken into consideration in this paper. In the first case (the thin-shell model), the infalling matter is simulated by a null-like charged sphere collapsing into its center. In the second case, we consider a continuous distribution of spherical symmetric infalling null-like charged matter. It is simulated by taking the continuous limit of many co-centric spheres collapsing into the center. We find that in the thin-shell case, an event horizon forms and the shell passes through the horizon before becoming extremal, provided that it is not initially near-extremal. In the case with continuous matter distribution, we consider explicitly an extremal center covered by neutral infalling matter, and find that the event horizon also forms. The black hole itself will become near-extremal eventually, leaving possibly a non-electromagnetic energy residue less than the order of . The details of the behavior of these models are explicitly worked out in this paper.


A new high loading catalyst for phthalic anhydride (PA) from o -xylene was developed.A bench scale catalyst evaluation unit was used to study variation of process parameters and catalyst stability characteristics. Under the conditions of air flow rate 4 0 m 3/h in a single tube,salt bath temperature 358~360 ℃, o -xylene concentration 85~90 g/m 3,yield of phthalic anhydride was 111%~113% in the reactor outlet and phthalide content in crude phthalic anhydride was less then 0 04%.Repeated tests showed the catalyst have good repeatability.At initial start-up stage of catalyst,a few shut-downs have no obvious influence to characteristics of catalyst.High hot spot temperature test showed that the catalyst have good heat-resistant stability.


Shared reading, in which children acquire new experiences in the field of lanugage, is one of the fundamental instructional practices that facilitate the development of literacy skills in children from an early age. This descriptive and holistic case study aims to investigate the SR practices carried out in the Primary 1st Grade literacy studies. The subject of the study is a child with hearing loss that receives auditory-oral education. Data in this study have been collected through the educational program, classroom observations, documents, the records of the validity and reliability committee, process products and the researcher's log. During the analysis of the data,the educational program and the process products have been examined, observation sessions of shared reading practices have been documented, and prominent findings have been identified.  It could be safely claimed, in accordance with the findings of this study, that the features of the story book, the literacy strategies applied during SR practices and the follow-up acitivities contribute significantly to the benefits of shared reading practices.


There is still much debate about how firms develop the capabilities needed to sustain competitive advantage within changing environments. Why do some organizations exhibit competence in high-velocity environment, while others do not? Answering these questions is an essential prerequisite to understanding how firms should allocate valuable resources to any particular endeavor. In business environments defined by the use of the Internet and related technologies to increase business velocity, stable organizational routines become obsolete. Dynamic capabilities enable firms to respond to changing market conditions and can be used to improve firm's existing resource configurations in the hunt for sustainable competitive advantage. This paper presents a synthesis of the dynamic capabilities literature and extends the concept to examine IT-enabled firm capabilities. It magnifies the concept of dynamic capabilities showing that they are a set of specific and identifiable processes. This study makes a contribution to the literature by proposing a framework to explain distinctive dimensions of dynamic capabilities among e-commerce companies. In addition, this paper proposes three stages of capabilities development (ad hoc activity stage, formalization stage, and institutionalizing capability stage) and discusses dynamic capability evolution among e-businesses.


The Making Design and Analysing Interaction track at the Participatory Innovation Conference calls for submissions from 'Makers' who will contribute examples of participatory innovation activities documented in video and 'Analysts' who will analyse those examples of participatory innovation activity. The aim of this paper is to open up for a discussion within the format of the track of the roles that designers could play in analysing the participatory innovation activities of others and to provide a starting point for this discussion through a concrete example of such 'designerly analysis'. Designerly analysis opens new analytic frames for understanding participatory innovation and contributes to our understanding of design activities.


Prolonged cultivation of the young sterlet sturgeons under sensory deprivation conditions (in the hatchery tanks) builds inadequate behavioural skills in fish. Olfaction and electroreception being the major distant sense organs in sterlets when searching for their feed in the wild are almost useless when feeding on artificial diets in the tanks. This applies particularly for the electric sense which serves for detection of extremely weak electric fields generated by the invertebrate food sources. All the above factors hamper the development of some essential adaptive behaviours in sterlet. Thus, in the test environment, when feeding on chironomid larvae burried in the sand, the young sterlets reared in ponds consumed their food more intensively as compared to the fish reared in tanks (52±9 and 34±6 larvae for 15 minutes). Besides, when taking chironomid larvae hidden in the sand, the young fish created conical depressions ("craters") on the sandy substrate, and the distribution of these "craters" clearly indicates their searching tactics. The pond-reared fish feeding on each found food patch made not idle bites on the substrate which is evidenced by the equal numbers of "craters" and food items in the patch. Another evidence is the absence of the "craters" in the foodless areas (12,5 and 13,1 respectively). The tank-reared young fish performed a random search continuously testing the presence of food items in the substrate physically and creating the "craters" both within the food patches and empty areas (aggregation index of "craters" totaled 3,88). Pond-reared young fish displayed higher correlation of the diet level with their locomotor activity (r = 0,71; p < 0,01) than the tank-reared fish (r = 0,17; p = 0,46). Hence, the pond-reared young fish adapted to infaunal feeding used their environment selectively, while the tank-reared fish performed a random search, which markedly lowered their feed efficiency.


The article gives an idea about the volume of companies subsidizing in the EU. The characteristics of the last decade are revealed: stable growth, which led to a doubling of government aid spending, then a huge surge at the end of the period under review due to the COVID-19 crisis. The types of assistance are described, as well as the conditions under which it can be provided from state budgets according to the Temporary Anti-Crisis Program of the EU, put into effect in March 2022 in connection with Russia's Special Military Operation in Ukraine and allowing additional state subsidies. Significant differences between EU countries in the level of state support of the national economy are shown. It shows also the active use of state support as a tool for influencing the economy by large European countries: Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, as well as a noticeable increase in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Against this background, the forecast of further deepening of cross-country imbalances in the EU is given. The modern role of the European Commission in the control of state support is revealed: once the guardian of fair competition, which does not recognize state interference in market relations, and now the conductor of state subsidies to the economy, distorting the normal course of competition.


The Environmental Protection Areas - APA's, represent one of the categories of Conservation Units - UC, established in Brazil, as a sustainable use. The objective of this study was to analyze the employment and income alternatives near the Barra do Rio Mamanguape-PB. In fact, we tried to know the main socioeconomic activities developed in this community, to understand the conflicts between APA management and the population, as well as to analyze the possibility of sustainable viability of their socioeconomic activities. Configuring as a descriptive qualitative research, the data collection consisted of the field observations in APA visits, an interview with the manager of the CU and through researches in scientific works carried out in the place. The findings of this study reveal that there are no defined areas for agriculture; fishing has several restrictions; the shrimp farming activity has not been developed in a sustainable way and many indigenous villages have practiced it, because they have their own legislation that is in opposition to environmental legislation. It was also noticed that the current APA management sees in ecotourism and in the implementation of a home-based housing project a sustainable alternative to improve the quality of life of the local community, however, it is necessary to empower the community to better understand the practice of ecotourism and also to develop local entrepreneurship.


In this work, glycolic acid was separated from glycolonitrile hydrolysate by an extractant consisting of tri-n-octylamnie, tri-n-butyl phosphate, n-octanol, and sulfonated kerosene. In a single equilibrated apparatus, the synergistic effect of the extractant, the influence of diluents composition, the temperature, and the concentration of ammonium sulfate in the hydrolysate on the distribution coefficient of glycolic acid were studied. The extractant loading of glycolic acid was back-extracted by pure water at high temperature. The results show that synergistic effects appear below 1.56 mol·L–1 of glycolic acid. When the concentration of glycolic acid is higher than 3.42 mol·L–1, there is either little or no synergism effect. The quantity of ammonium sulfate in the hydrolysate has little effect on the extraction efficiency. Based on material balance, a mathematical model for the synergistic extraction was established. In a Φ50 mm Kuhni extraction column, glycolic acid was separated continuously from the h...


Data base archive systems (DBAS) for picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) require very large storage devices for the digital images. The images, as large as 50 Mega-bits, are stored and retrieved simultaneously at the DBAS. The response time to the user for image storage and retrieval must be of the order of two seconds. Consequently, the image storage at the DBAS must be efficient to process the image requests in the required time. This paper describes an image migration algorithm for efficiently storing and moving the images within the DBAS storage devices. The DBAS storage devices are structured in a three level hierarchical architecture. Level 1 is composed of high speed magnetic disks and contains recent images, up to seven days. Level 2 consists of automatic juke box optical disk systems and contains images up to 30 days old. Level 3 is a manual juke box optical disk system and contains storage for images up to 7-10 years. A fourth level is a manual archive for images greater than seven years. The DBAS migration algorithm was developed to migrate images within this three level storage structure. A migration model was developed to represent the image data flow between levels. The model can be used to determine the size of each level at any time and the amount of data flow between levels. The model is driven by image generation requests by the Imaging Equipment and image retrieval requests by the user workstations. The migration algorithm for the DBAS was included in the simulation of the entire PACS system, including the Image Network, DBAS, Imaging Equipment, and User Workstations. This paper presents the result of the simulation and shows the effect of the image migration algorithm on the channel utilization.


Indonesia is a humid tropical country that has very intensive weathering of soils resulting acidic soils such as Oxisols and Ultisols. In swampy ecosystems, organic matters accumulated become peat soils or Histosols. Reclamation of shallow peat for agricultural land will induce the forming of acid sulfate soils (Sulfaquept and Sulfaquent). Due to low fertility soils, the three of above soils are classified as marginal soils and now they are used for agricultural activities and some of them are still in forests. The use of marginal soils should refer to land suitability whether it is retained as a forest or used as agricultural land. The development of agricultural commodities on marginal soils must consider soil characteristics and agro-climate conditions. Oxisols and Ultisols have characteristics of low pH, low organic C, low macro and micro nutrients. In areas where rainfall is higher than 2,000 mm/year and evenly distributed throughout the year, oil palm plantations can be well developed. Meanwhile in the rainfall between 1,750-2,000 mm/year, rubber, cacao, coffee plants can be cultivated. Agricultural development in acidic soils need to be followed by the addition of soil amendments such as organic materials, humic substances, lime, fly ash, steel slag as well as fertilizers. Acid sulfate soils have a pH value of around 3 due to pyrite oxidation and usually low macro and micro nutrient content. Acacia mangium plants as raw material for pulp and oil palm plantation can grow quite well if followed by application of fertilizers and appropriate soil amendments. Peat soils are very fragile ecosystem so that in the upstream area and peat dome, they must be retained as forests. Peat can be developed for Acacia crassicarpa, oil palm, and rubber plants with good water and fertilizer management. Thin peat underneath mineral soil from river sediments can be developed rice field.


As evidenced in the recent LAMPP workshop on Dirac approaches to nuclear physics, the impressive experimental studies of spin observables in high-energy proton scattering have stimulated renewed interest in the role of relativistic effects in nuclear physics. To complement the current enthusiasm for extremely simple relativistic models arising from their phenomenological success, the workshop organizers asked me to assume the role of the Devil's advocate and to provide a critique of these models. In that same spirit, in this Comment I would like to critically assess the strengths and limitations of alternative cont~mporary approaches to nuclear structure and highenergy nuclear scattering, to examine the degree to which phenomenology actually discriminates between alternative physical mechanisms, and to raise some of the conceptual questions inherent in relativistic nuclear physics. In order to disentangle the physical issues as clearly as possible, I will separately discuss the theory of the nuclear ground state and high-energy proton-nucleus scattering.


The semi-topological K-theory of real varieties, KRsemi(−), is an oriented multiplicative (generalized) cohomology theory which extends the authors' earlier theory, Ksemi(−), for complex algebraic varieties. Motivation comes from consideration of algebraic equivalence of vector bundles (sharpened to real semi-topological equivalence), consideration of Z/2-equivariant mapping spaces of morphisms of algebraic varieties to Grassmannian varieties, and consideration of the algebraic K-theory of real varieties. The authors verify that the semi-topological K-theory of a real variety X interpolates between the algebraic K-theory of X and Atiyah's Real K-theory of the associated Real space of complex points, XR(C). The resulting natural maps of spectra K(X)→ KR(X)→ KRtop(XR(C)) satisfy numerous good properties: the first map is a mod-n equivalence for any projective real variety and any n > 0; the second map is an equivalence for smooth projective curves and flag varieties; the triple fits in a commutative diagram of spectra mapping via total Segre classes to a triple of cohomology theories. The authors also establish results for the semi-topological K-theory of real varieties, such as Nisnevich excision and a type of localization result, which were previously unknown even for complex varieties.


This descriptive quantitative research on the effects of social media and social capital utilization on strengthening individual character involved 251 students of Primary School Teacher Education in Tegal. The objective of this research is to analyze and describe the effects of social media and social media utilization in strengthening student characters; how significant is the effects of social media and social capital in strengthening student characters; character strengthening from the use of social media and social capital. The result of this research shows that the use of social media does not affect character strengthening. It is proven by the result of t-test where t-count is lower than t-table (0.422 < 1.971) and significant value is higher than alpha (0,673> 0,05). Why social media does not affect character strengthening was because the nature of social media is neutral. However, character strengthening depends on social capital utilization. Social capital provides positive effect on character strengthening because t-count is higher than t-table (19.685 > 1.971) and significant value is lower than alpha (0,000 < 0,05). Furthermore, the value of F-count is higher than F-table (197.790 > 3.04) and significant value is lower than alpha (0,000 < 0,05), it means that social media and social capital affect character strengthening. Contribution of social media and social capital on character strengthening is 0.612 or 61,2%, and the rest is affected by other factors. The average of character strengthening from social capital and social media utilization is relatively high; the highest average of character strengthening is 3.232, it is based on empowerment social capital by strengthening independent, discipline, hard work, communicative, and responsible characters; the second highest average of character strengthening is 3.162, it is based on norm social capital strengthening discipline, honest, and responsible character; the third highest average of character strengthening is 3.159, it is based on social capital of communication information strengthening communicative, tolerant, social concern, and responsible characters. Keywords—Social media, social capital, character, students.


WC-10Co-4Cr powers were prepared by two different materials, which physical properties were analysed as well. The coating was prepared by means of high velocity oxy-fuel spraying(HVOF). Coating hardness was studied. The results show that the sphericity of powers is good and the element of coatings are well-distributed. But the hardness of B is higher than A, and the distribution of hardness is well-distributed.


Tourism is one of the major social and economic phenomena of modern times. It is being considered as an efficient tool for promoting economic growth of a nation. The tourism industry in India has been witnessing rapid growth and development during the last few decades. It possesses a huge potential which can add pace to the overall economic and socio-cultural development of the country. This paper is a sincere attempt to examine the dynamics of the relationship between tourism sector expansion and economic growth in India. The study uses time series data to prove the relationship between tourism and economic growth. Simple statistical techniques have been used to establish this relationship. Therefore, with regard to policy implications it can be argued that economic policies should be directed towards improving the Indian tourism industry to produce a higher economic growth rate.


We consider a wavelength division multiplexed, optical network where the nodes are connected in a star topology. In this architecture, each node can be equipped with transmitters and receivers that may be tunable or tuned to a fixed wavelength. To efficiently use the bandwidth, at least one end (at the receiver side or at the transmitter side) must be tunable. However, tunability is an expensive option and it is typically assumed that only one end is tunable and the other end is fixed. In this paper, we assume that each node in the passive-star network is equipped with a fixed receiver and tunable receiver. A transmitter takes a non-zero amount of time (called tuning latency) to tune from one wavelength to another. We assume that time is slotted and the transmission time of each packet is equal to one time slot. We restrict our attention to schedules where collisions are avoided in the broadcast medium, i.e., two transmitters will not transmit in the same wavelength during any time slot.


In January 2012, the Jane Addams Hull House Association—one of Chicago's largest and oldest social service agencies and arguably its most iconic—announced that it might have to close in the spring due to financial difficulties. Just days later, the 122-year-old organization stunned the philanthropic world when it laid off its employees without notice, declared its intention to liquidate in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and shut its doors forever. In the weeks that followed, more and more people began to ask: What had happened to the board? Had bankruptcy really been inevitable? This case chronicles the organization's final decade and enables students to step into the shoes of the chairman of the board, Steve Saunders, as he led the board through its last two years. Students will examine the roles and responsibilities of effective boards and determine how internal and external factors contributed to Hull House's demise.

After reading and analyzing the case, students will be able to:

Describe the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards

Determine when the board is not performing its job and what the implications are for the organization

Evaluate ways in which the board might change in order to do a better job

Diagnose when external environmental factors threaten the security of a nonprofit and how the board itself might diagnose and work with such threats


At first sight, the topic "public responsibility for higher education and research" might appear a theoretical question of the kind typically cherished by academic thinkers, but without any practical relevance. But I shall argue that, on the contrary, the question is of increasing practical importance for the effectiveness of the higher education and research system. A first and very strong political sign is that the ministers of education stated firmly in their Prague and Berlin communiques (2001 and 2003) that higher education is a "public responsibility", a principle which was already implicit in the Bologna Declaration (1999). A second, but different concern, shared by university leaders and experts, is that it is crucial to define correctly the nature and scope of the public responsibility for higher education and research and how it is implemented; otherwise this political good intention could act counterproductively. A serious indicator of this potential threat arises from the fact that the ministers of education added in the Prague Communique (2001) that higher education "should be considered a 'public good' and is and will remain a public responsibility (regulations, etc.)". This means that the sense given to the expression "public good" is all but insignificant. This is all the more important as we can also hear or read from time to time that higher education and research are a "human right" or a "democratic right", without a precise definition of what is meant by them.


Investigations on the electromagnetic behaviour of a low-power amplifier are led using the extended-integrated circuit emission model (ICEM). This modeling approach is proposed on a mixed-signal (analog/digital) CMOS 0.18 mum circuit dedicated to neural signal recording. This ICEM allows coarse and fast studies of the electromagnetic compatibility of CMOS devices especially in characterizing the coupling phenomena that occurs at each building block inside the whole chip. ICEM simulations of power and ground bounces are more than 500 times faster than complete SPICE ones with a correct accuracy for first electromagnetic compatibility investigations. This quick modeling method allows for checking many different design or simulation configurations. For example, some simulation results show that substrate interactions and power/ground crosstalk increase the noise level of the low-noise amplifier, in particular in its low frequency domain.


Results of research of variants of the individual attitude to a problem of age are presented In clause. Such personal characteristics are put in a basis of typology of the person's attitude of to age, as features of semantic sphere of the person, a level of subjective well-being, the individual attitude of the person to time prospect of a life. In work the basic types of the attitude of the person to age are allocated: adequate (mature) and inadequate (infantile).


Dong Q.P., Yao Y.Z. & Ren D., 2012. A new species of Progonocimicidae (Hemiptera, Coleorrhyncha) from the Middle Jurassic of China. Alcheringa, 1–7. ISSN 0311-5518. A new fossil species, Cicadocoris assimilis, of the family Progonocimicidae is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou Village, Inner Mongolia, China. Cicadocoris Becker-Migdisova, 1958 and Mesocimex Hong, 1983 show no significant differences and are considered to be synonyms. Qiuping Dong [email@example.com], Yunzhi Yao* [Corresponding author: firstname.lastname@example.com] and Dong Ren [email@example.com], Key Laboratory of Insect Evolution and Environmental Changes, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, PR China. *Also affiliated with State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy (Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, CAS), Nanjing 210008, PR China. Received 30.3.2012; revised 21.5.2012; accepted 7.6.2012.


Summary Intraperitoneal injection of Trypanosoma brucei AnTat 1.1 into mice of the C3H.He, BALB/c or C57BL/6 strains resulted in impaired immune responses from day 3 onwards, as measured by the reduction in DNA synthesis in spleen cell populations stimulated with concanavalin A (Con‐A) in vitro. Adherent cells from the peritoneum (PC) or from the spleen of infected mice, consisting predominantly of macrophages, caused a 60–80% reduction of the Con‐A response in spleen cells from syngeneic recipients 3–4 days after transfer in vivo. Adherent PC from irradiated or athymic mice were equally suppressive. Spleen cells from infected mice reduced the proliferative response of spleen cells from uninfected mice upon co‐cultivation in vitro. This dominant suppressive effect was abolished after the selective removal of macrophages from the spleen cell population by treatment with L‐leucine methylester. Moreover, the macrophage‐depleted spleen cells from infected mice responded normally to Con‐A provided they were supplemented with splenic adherent cells from naive mice as a source of accessory cells. Both the cell transfer and co‐cultivation experiments suggest that infection with African trypanosomes changes the properties of macrophages to a state which allows them actively to suppress immune responses.


Wnt signaling has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, but no studies have described Wnt signaling in aging brain. Phosphorylation of the Wnt coreceptor, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (Lrp6), is a sensitive indicator of Wnt ligand-receptor interaction and canonical Wnt signaling. We report that in aged human temporal lobe, the phospho-Lrp6 (pLrp6) epitope localizes to neurons in the entorhinal cortex (EC), the dentate gyrus (DG), and the hippocampal formation, especially in the CA3 field. Activated Lrp6 is detected in neuronal soma and in neuronal processes, particularly in the mossy fiber terminals in the stratum lucidum of CA3. These three regions and their connectivity represent the afferent arm of the major hippocampal circuit. In the DG, cells positive for pLrp6 include Type 1 and Type 2 hippocampal progenitor cells. Overall, these data indicate regional Wnt receptor activation in the human hippocampus that is most prominent in the cells comprising the afferent arm of the major hippocampal circuit that is associated with learning and memory functions. These findings are consistent with data from rodent studies which suggest an important role for Wnts in adult neurogenesis in the human DG. We speculate that Wnt signaling may be an activity-dependent trophic influence in the hippocampus.


Summary form only given. The AC-Stark shift of a set of interfering laser beams together with the Zeeman interaction with external magnetic fields provide flexible mechanisms for coherently controlling atomic wave packets. When detuned far from atomic resonance, these optical lattices can trap cold atoms with minimal dissipation and thus provide an ideal environment for observing quantum coherent phenomena. We consider a one dimensional lattice of double wells produced by counterpropagating linearly polarized laser beams and a static magnetic field transverse to the laser wave vectors.


Background : Emotional disorder, one of the common human emotional states is defined as feelings of sadness and tiredness in response to life events, such as disappointments. It is one of the major problems among students and although it consists of more than half of all mental disorders, it is often left untreated each year worldwide. Aim : To determine the prevalence of emotional disorders among medical students at a university in Malaysia. Methods : A cross sectional study design was used. All medical students at a local university in Malaysia were included in the study. A questionnaire similar to the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used as a screening instrument. Results : A total of 41.9% of the medical students were found to have emotional disorders. Factors found to have a significant association with emotional disorders were relationship of the respondents with their parents ( c 2 = 6.02, d.f. = 1, p < 0.05), siblings ( c 2 = 6.94, d.f. = 1, p < 0.05) and lecturers ( c 2 = 4.80, d.f. = 1, p < 0.05), as well as pressure prior to exams ( c 2 = 10.30, d.f. = 1, p < 0.05). Conclusion : The prevalence of emotional disorders among medical students was high. There was significant association between emotional disorders and respondents' relationship with their parents, siblings and lecturers, as well as level of pressure prior to exam. Early detection of this condition is important to prevent psychological morbidity and its unwanted effects on medical students and young doctors. " 2003 Blackwell Publishing Asia and Wonca


An all metal patch dual frequency dual circularly polarized X-band antenna is under development at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a potential Europa Lander. The antenna is proposed to be used as a secondary telecommunication antenna for Direct-to-Earth (DTE) link without relying on an Orbiter. An antenna array with fan-beam radiation has been designed which can result in a wide beam circular polarization for longer coverage while surviving the harsh environmental conditions at Europa, including, cryogenic temperature, high radiation and electrostatic discharge (ESD) levels.


This study,by incorporating multivariate factors in psychological contract and organizational justice,investigates 512 managers from a wide variety of research sites and tests the role of procedural justice and interactional justice in the relationship between organizational psychological contract and managers' EVNL.It is found that: organizational procedural justice will moderate the relationships between organizational psychological contract violation and manager's voice;organizational interactional justice will moderate the relationships between organizational psychological contract violation and manager's voice;organizational interactional justice will moderate the relationships between organizational psychological contract violation and manager's loyalty.No evidence is found that there is significant effect of organizational justice on the relationship between organizational psychological contract violation and manager's active behaviors, such as neglect and exit.


Techniques of signal processing from the field of non-linear time series analysis have been applied to microelectrode recordings from the subthalamic nucleus of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. The recordings have been taken while the patients perform different language processing tasks from raw microelectrode recording data obtained from within the brain during surgery. Using classical chaotic signal analysis techniques, very complex behaviour is discerned but no robust trends for different tasks identified. However interesting behaviour is shown when the recordings are analysed using techniques from non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, indicative of different short term signal behaviour whilst performing the different language processing tasks. In particular, the evidence of discrimination between different linguistic tasks and left/right brain behaviour is revealed.


Agriculture is a main source of income for farmers in India. Farmers produce many seasonal local crops based on their location. Cotton is the most produced crop across India. Cotton is a commercial crop, and farmers get good capital from cotton. This will increase the income of the farmer. However, one of the basic problems with cotton is that it is easily exposed to many diseases. These diseases need to be identified as early as possible to avoid production loss. In this paper, the CNN algorithm is used to create the prediction model by leveraging the TensorFlow's Keras API. This model is further used in mobile app development which helps the farmers identify cotton disease and recommend the pesticides which can be used to overcome the disease. The TensorFlow open-source platform was used to prepare the ML model. The TensorFlow Tflite model is created, and after that, the model is converted into the Core ML model, which is used in iOS app to make the disease predication. Google's core API is used to convert the TensorFlow model into the Core ML model. The label dataset was used to create the model. The Swift language is used in app development. The model accuracy was around 90%. Currently, boll rot and fungal leafspot disease are detected in this app. However, the app can be further extended for other cotton diseases too.


As Benjamin Franklin once said: "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."1 If our goal is to provide the best evidencebased care to our patients with headache disorders, research in the field must be adequately funded. Sufficient research funding and academic productivity may raise the profile of headache medicine,2 which in turn will attract more investment and promote recruitment of both clinicians and scientists to the field. That is, exposure to more headache research may attract more investigators to the field,3,4 may mitigate stigma towards the field,5 and can help to address the massive clinical workforce gap.6 Finally, public research funding may spur discovery and innovation towards improved therapies that may be less likely to arise from industry funding alone.7,8 Moreover, industry funding may focus on development of products with high commercial potential and highincome markets, and thereby limit equitable access to a balanced range of evidencebased therapies.9 So how are we doing with regard to public funding for headache medicine research? Available data reveal a dismal situation. The National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) Wide Strategic Plan (2016– 2020) cited disease burden as a "crucial" consideration for prioritizing their programs,10 and Congress stated in 2016 that it "expects NIH to consider the burden of a disease when setting priorities and developing strategic plans"11; however, NIH has never funded research into headache disorders commensurate with their burden.11– 14 Data on NIH funding over a 20year period (1987 to 2007) show that funding for migrainerelated projects was lower than for all 10 comparator chronic diseases relative to disease prevalence, disabilityadjusted life years (DALYs), and direct and indirect economic costs.13 Subsequent sequential analyses (fiscal years 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017) posted by NIH for research funding relative to DALYs for 74 different disease categories consistently showed that migraine and headache disorders had the very lowest relative funding among the nation's most burdensome diseases (Figure 1).11,14,15 A similar analysis for fiscal year 2019 estimated that NIH migraine research funding was just 7.8% of the amount projected relative to its DALYs burden ($28 m actual vs. $360 m estimated).13 While there has been a recent encouraging increase in NIH migraine research funding ($40 m in fiscal year 2021), this actually represents a very modest change relative to the 2019 estimated target of $360 m and also relative to overall NIH budget growth (Figure 2).13 European data show comparable underfunding. Migraine is the most underfunded brain disease in Europe when comparing allocated public research Euros to economic costs, and other headache disorders have no identified allocated European public research Euros at all.16 Research on headache disorders in children and adolescents is similarly underfunded. A recent study (fiscal years 2015– 2018) examined NIH funding for pediatric research relative to disease burden assessed by DALYs, deaths, years lived with disability, years of life lost, or hospitalizations.17 Comparing actual to predicted funding levels based on DALYs, headache disorders were the most underfunded of all pediatric diseases. Other data suggest that, even among funded headache medicine projects, children and adolescents are rarely the study population; only 5.4% of NIH funded projects included pediatric participants.12 The underfunding of headache research spans the age spectrum, but may be particularly significant for pediatric research. In sum, wherever one may look, headache medicine research is woefully underfunded. Aside from research dollars, another crucial metric for the health of a research field is the number of funded Principal Investigators (PIs). How many PIs would be appropriate to the burden of headache disorders is unsettled. However, in fiscal year 2019, 55 extramural PIs were funded for NIH headache research, compared to a mean of 322 (±84) extramural PIs funded for each of Parkinson's disease,


Christianity dessimination in the Tang Dynasty of China went on smoothly at the beginning but ended in failure for different reasons. Studies on the reasons for failures of Christianity dessimination help people understand the cultural differences between China and the West.


A shake‐table study of the friction‐pendulum isolation system, installed in a six‐story, quarter‐scale, 52‐kip model structure, is presented. Two bearing materials are studied, one with a peak friction coefficient of 0.075 and another of 0.095. In both cases, the isolation system has a rigid‐body mode period of 1 sec. The isolated structure is found to be capable of withstanding strong earthquake forces of different frequency content. In tests with the El Centra motion, the isolated structure sustains, without any damage, a peak ground acceleration six times greater than what it could under fixed‐based conditions. It is found that the bearing displacements are low and that the permanent bearing displacements at the end of free vibration are very small, in general, not exceeding 6% of the bearing design displacement. The system is shown to have quantifiable properties, and analytical techniques are presented that provide accurate prediction of the response.


Summary form only given, as follows. The generation and dynamic behavior of ozone and OH radicals are observed in pulsed corona discharge plasma under a humid-air environment at atmospheric pressure. Ozone is measured by the ultraviolet (UV) laser absorption method and OH radical is measured by the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method. For OH excitation and for the UV source in ozone measurement, a tunable KrF excimer laser (248 nm) is used.


Epicurus,late philosopher of ancient Greece,researched into the problems on life and death on the basis of atomism.Being against the view of religionary undead spirit,Epicurus put forward the necessity of death,which consequently got rid of the bondage that religion impacted on individual immanent life.Also he put forward his significant opinions about temporal life-hedonism.The happy life,which Epicurus emphasized wasn't the material and carnal enjoyment,but the quiet and equanimity of soul.If one wanted to reach this,he thought one had to deal with it from two aspects: one was that people in temporal life could get along with each other harmoniously(that is tolerance);the other was that one should satisfy with material life and refrain from desire.Unlike other philosophers,Epicurus treated the disease on individual immanent life by claiming the view of life and death,so as to make people gain the real liberty.


The Kebon Agung Sugar Factory has a lot of tourism potential that can be managed as an educationaltour. However, its tourism potential has not been managed properly because the Kebon Agung SugarFactory currently only focuses on carrying out the factory's main function, namely producing sugar. Sothat the potential for managing educational tourism at the Kebon Agung Sugar Factory is consideredimportant to be a guideline for the company in managing its educational tourism potential.This research uses qualitative methods, namely by conducting observations, interviews, anddocumentation studies. The technique of determining the informants used purposive sampling.Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive qualitative analysis and using concepts of tourismpotential concepts, educational tourism concepts, tourist attraction concepts, tourism managementconcepts, sustainable tourism concepts and analyzed using SWOT analysis. The results of this researchindicate that the existing conditions of tourism potential at the Kebon Agung Sugar Factory are all managedto carry out and support the main functions of the factory activities. Every tourism potential of the KebonAgung Sugar Factory is analyzed using a SWOT analysis all of the tourism potential can be managed intoan educational tour of the Kebon Agung Sugar Factory.Keyword: Tourism Potential, Educational Tourism, Sugar Factory.


Abstract This paper discusses the use of composite structures to improve the hydrostatic performance of piezoelectric ceramics in which other phases such as epoxy resins and glass fibres are used to control the stresses acting upon the ceramic. Structures are described in which the hydrostatic piezoelectric figure-of-merit is improved relative to that of the single-phase material by a factor of more than 60. The use of these structures in practical hydrophones and their frequency performance are also discussed.


This poster explores the influence of an improved surface potential energy model on the predicted characteristics of cold field electron emission. We explore effects on the shape of Fowler-Nordheim plots, and on the values of slope and intercept correction functions.


DDoS attack effect evaluation is the basis of security strategy deployment. The traditional effect evaluation method relies on the original data, ignoring the relationship between features and the evaluation target and indicator data redundancy, which affects the accuracy and reliability of the evaluation result. To this end, we introduce distance entropy to measure the similarity between features and evaluation target and use LSTM and Triplet networks to measure multiple correlations simultaneously. Then, a 2D-CNN is used to mine deep feature information and filter irrelevant information. We also combine 1D-CNN and attention models to achieve hierarchical sampling of different local features. Finally, three fully connected layers' training obtains a total evaluation value. We conducted experiments on five commonly used DDoS datasets. The results showed that the average ranking accuracy of the neural network-based DDoS attack evaluation method (NNDE) reached 87.2%, 91.3%, 88%, 85.6%, and 94.5%, respectively. Compared with other evaluation methods, an average increase of 19.73% indicates that this method can better evaluate the effect of DDoS attacks.


Manufacturing enterprises are different from service enterprises, and fixed assets, inventory and large equipment are the main enterprise wealth, and there are many factors affecting their profitability. This paper analyzes the total income, total investment and short ‐ term investment of the modeling enterprises, and explores the influence of strategic investment on the profitability of manufacturing enterprises.


Managing virtualised computing, network and storage resources at large-scale in both public and private cloud datacentres is a challenging task. As an open source cloud operating system, OpenStack needs to be enhanced for managing cloud datacentre resources. In order to improve OpenStack functions to support cloud datacentre resource management, we present OCReM: OpenStack-based cloud datacentre resource monitoring and management scheme. First, we designed a virtual machine group life-cycle management module. Then, we designed and developed a cloud resource monitoring module based on the Nagios monitoring software and Libvirt interface. We conducted an integrated experiment to verify the performance improvement of group-oriented auto scaling and elastic load balancing policy based on real-time resource monitoring data. After that, we implemented the OCReM-EC2 hybrid cloud monitoring and auto scaling model. Finally, we analysed the prospective research direction and propose our future work.


PurposeTo investigate the impact of tax enforcement on (a) debt aggressiveness (DEA) and (b) dynamic adjustment of capital structure in Chinese listed firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors estimate the target capital structure by employing the different models. This study uses data of Chinese A-share listed firms from year 1998 to 2015.FindingsThe study suggests that the greater the intensity of tax enforcement, the more radical the listed companies' debt policy. The macroeconomic status and nature of property rights have significant moderating effect on the positive relationship between tax enforcement and DEA of listed companies. Further, tax enforcement has a significant impact on the dynamic adjustment of capital structure.Practical implicationsResearch conclusions are conducive to tax administration departments to understand the economic consequences of tax enforcement and further promote tax administration efficiency. Additionally, listed companies can rationally adjust their capital structure to strengthen tax enforcement.Originality/valueThis research helps extend the influencing factors of corporate debt decision-making and capital structure dynamic adjustment to the level of tax enforcement and provide new evidence on the effects of tax enforcement on corporate capital structure.


The combination of QoS network security mechanisms and TCP bandwidth management at this stage is the implementation of the quality of services feasible way.Based on this view,this article introduces a basic concept of QoS protection in CPN environment.


Background/Objectives: The aim of this paper is to design a decoupled PID controller for quadruple tank process. The major advantage of quadruple-tank process is that the multivariable zero can be positioned to both side of 's' Plane. Methods/Statistical Analysis: In this paper, the control of liquid levels in Quadruple tank process with non-linear dynamics is considered. The dynamic behavior of the system can be achieved in both minimum and a non-minimum phase by varying valve position. The process is simulated and the simulation results are presented to analyze the performance of PID controller. Findings: The multivariable process is decomposed into several independent single-loop sub-systems. The performance of the system is compared with and without decoupler. The Decoupled PID controller results show the improvement in performance. Applications/Improvements: The interaction between the tanks is reduced by designing the decoupler. The Decoupled PID controller results show the improvement in performance. The decoupled control provides control method for multivariable process using independent loop controllers.


Purpose: The purpose of this study was to translate the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale (SRIS) into Korean and test its validity and reliability. Methods: Participants were 340 nursing students who were recruited from 5 nursing colleges in Korea. Data were collected from November 21 to December 20, 2016 and analyzed using the IBM Statistics SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 23.0 programs. Exploratory factor analysis, Confirmatory factor analysis, and concurrent validity analysis were performed. Results: For the Korean-SRIS (K-SRIS) 4 items were deleted from the original SRIS. The final scale consisted of 16 items which were sorted intothe 2 factors: self-reflection (11 items), insight (5 items). The cumulative percent of variance was 50.91%. The statistically significant correlation between K-SRIS scores and the Reflection in Learning Scale (RLS) support the concurrent validity of the K-SRIS. The reliability of the scale, Cronbach's ⍺ was .83. Conclusion: The finding indicate that the K-SRIS has validity and reliability. Therefore it can be used for measuring and developing reflection ability in nursing students.


The aim of this paper is to investigate the issue of stochastically exponential stability in positive nonlinear impulsive switching systems that involve random impulses. The random impulses means that the randomness of impulsive densities and the occurrence of the impulses is a Markov chain. The occurrence instants of impulses also satisfy average impulsive intervals. This research employs the multiple max-separable Lyapunov function method to investigate two cases: asynchronous/synchronous switching and impulses. Then the stochastic exponential stability conditions are given. Finally, to demonstrate the validity of the theoretical results, two illustrative examples are provided.


We are concerned with the vulnerability of computer vision models to distributional shifts. We cast this problem in terms of combinatorial optimization, evaluating the regions in the input space where a (black-box) model is more vulnerable. This is carried out by combining image transformations from a given set and standard search algorithms. We embed this idea in a training procedure, where we define new data augmentation rules over iterations, accordingly to the image transformations that the current model is most vulnerable to. An empirical evaluation on classification and semantic segmentation problems suggests that the devised algorithm allows to train models more robust against content-preserving image transformations, and in general, against distributional shifts.


Based on arranging the general situation,this article finds out that the Medicine Industry in Suzhou has a great advantage on industrial technology,business incubating,talent introduction,platform construction and so on.In particular,nanomedicine,antibody test and medical engineering are on the same starting line with the developed countries.At the same time,this article analyses the current problems and situation of the industry deeply,and puts forward the developmental emphases in the thirteenth five-year with the practice of Suzhou.


Due to the uncertainty of the nodal power caused by the varying renewable energies and the variety of loads, the line power of the distribution network (DN) is uncertainty also. In extreme scenarios, the line power may exceed the loading limits and incur overload violations. In this paper, a risk analysis specifically for overload violations based on the security region of the DN is established. This method takes the N-0 security of the DN as the reference to determine the bidirectional security region and violation distances. The calculation of the probability distribution of the overload violation in the distribution lines is established according to the distribution of node injections of the DN by using the semi-invariant algorithm. By referring to the security boundaries, the optimization model of the anti-violation strategy to minimize the cost of anti-violation is derived, by which the severity of violation risk events is obtained accordingly. Assessment of the risk cost is built with the CVaR index for violation events. Based on the above algorithms, the risk-tolerated scheduling model of the DN is arrived at with the objective of minimizing the comprehensive risk cost and operating cost. Finally, the validity of the proposed method is verified by a modified IEEE 33-node example.


A theory for network analyzer calibration and de-embeding is presented in which the calibration constants are evaluated via linear equations. The error-removal is accomplished by convenient matrix multiplication. It is shown that calibration procedures known until now are included as special cases. As results of the theory new more general concepts are presented, e.g. TMR and TAN, which have no inherent limit in bandwidth and no lower frequency limit.


Small sample forecasting problem is an important issue in various fields. The early stage of manufacturing system is a positive example about this issue. Manufacturers need sufficient management knowledge to lower overall production cost, but it is a hard task due to the obtained samples is limited. This study is thus to develop a modeling procedure to acquire stable prediction results under small data sets. Briefly, we first judge some single models to determine whether the real sequence tendency can be reflected with the grey incidence analysis and then evaluate their forecasting stability by the relative ratio of error range; finally, the grey silhouette coefficient is developed to build an applicable hybrid forecasting model for small samples. The material fatigue limit data set is used here to confirm the effectiveness and practical application value of the proposed method. The empirical results show that the hybrid model indeed can lower forecasting errors and come up better results with the limited data. Consequently, the proposed procedure is considered a feasible tool for the small sample forecasting problem.


We discuss the production of carbon nanotubes by the electric arc-discharge method. Co-evaporation of metals, Yttrium, Lutetium, Nickel and Boron have been used with the following stoichiometry: YNi2B2C or LuNi2B2C. We have obtained singlewalled and multiwalled nanotubes and also crystalline nanoparticles embedded in glassy carbon as evidenced by HRTEM and x-ray diffraction observations. The SQUID measurements showed a superconducting transition which would mean that crystalline particles present the superconducting phases of YNi2B2C, YNi4B4C or LuNi2B2C. HRTEM investigations are corroborated by Raman spectra which exhibit the features characteristic of singlewalled nanotubes by the presence of three main peaks at approximately 1580 cm-1, approximately 1350 cm-1 and approximately 180 cm-1. Other samples present on the E2g2 mode and those assigned to glassy carbon at approximately 1350 cm-1 and approximately 1600 cm-1.


This paper first considers the provenance of an incomplete meta-fictional novella which Richard Hughes intended as the basis of a screenplay for Lord of the flies, which was commissioned by Horizon Pictures in 1958. It sets out the debate concerning the guidelines for adaptation championed by the producer, Sam Spiegel. After describing in detail the substance of Hughes's revisions, the paper considers their philosophical basis in the author's own convictions regarding species survival in the shadow of global nuclear armament. Although the manuscript of the novella is provisional, the author argues that it suggests some of the complexities of contending with apocalyptic narrative, and advocating a prudential contrary.


The CIPO artwork program are interactive action based installations, that investigate through robot agents, the relationship between subjects, body and space. The interminglements of spectators within the digital framework turn the space into an experimental place. The CIPO program involves the live energy of the human presence, performer; it agitates the spectators to perform in an active relation with subjects and objects in place. Cipo_08 was conceived through a reading on the non-official urban equipment, the temporary architecture coming from the movable/ vehicle and the everyday street life. It is an autonomous robotic vehicle that is driven by the human body; as a guide on a "derive" in urban areas. An alternative way of thinking about mobile bodies is to think of them as moving with the aid of a number of prosthetic devices. Cipo_08 archives the experiences from the walking act, as a material which is conceived as fluid information; from the potential of mobility through a network, as a mapping system that is crossing over territories. Different plotting graphics are created by cipo_08 through its passing, material that is transcribed from random background noises in the city. Cipo_08 , an uncanny and unusual existence, just like the cyborg, pays attention to the otherness (refugee), and is immune with racism and the traditional power-relations. It crosses the borders, in nomadic shifts and paths of deterritorialization.


Purpose To determine the validity of the contrast sensibility, in the diagnosis of the diabetic retinopathy and macular diabetic edema.

Methods Cross -sectional observational study consisting of 628 eyes of patients with diabetic retinopathy, being realized the curve of contrast sensibility using the test CSV-1000E. There were studied 4 spatial frequencies (3,6,12,16 cycles / second). The results were analyzed for each of the frequencies, corrected by the age, degree of diabetic retinopathy and thickness macular.

Results In patients with retinopatia diabetic sensibilities of 4 were obtained (3 ciclos/seg) 2 (6 ciclos/seg) and 1,5 (12 and 18 ciclos/seg) .La average decrease of the curve corrected by the age was 30 %, 37 %, 42 % and 45 % for each of the analyzed frequencies. The patients with thicknesses macular top to 400 microns experimented decreases superior to 50 % of the curve of sensibility.

Conclusion We find a widespread reduction of the curve of sensibility to the contrast, in patients with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. The high frequencies were more prematurely affected, being able to serve in proof of screening, since the functional damage in these frequencies might precede the structural anomaly.


In this paper,we presented two quality-control models for dairy supply chain with different supply patterns of raw milk based on the theory of dynamic game,comparing the levels of the product quality-control and inspection with different supply patterns of the raw milk and discussing the influence of milk depot on the product quality-control after solving and numerical simulating to the two models. The results show,compared with model of milk depot purchase raw milk,enterprise purchases raw milk directly would not only heighten the sensitivity of the levels of finished goods and raw milk to the variation profit difference and consumer claim amount,but also lower the inspection level and cut down the enterprise's inspection cost. However,though the price difference of different quality raw milk would provide incentive to the quality of raw milk,also lower the enterprise's inspection level,which would incur the farmer's adverse selection,so it is futile to improve the quality of raw milk.


ZnO nanospheres of average diameter of 5.0±0.2 nm have been prepared by simple hydrothermal method using sodium alginate as a template. The prepared ZnO nanospheres are characterized by XRD, TEM, EDX and fluorescence spectra. The photodegradation of the drugs diclofenac (DCF) and chloramphenicol (CHL) are studied in presence of UV light of wavelength 365 nm. Formation of wurtzite structure of ZnO nanospheres is confirmed by XRD analysis. The decrease in intensity of fluorescence emission spectra of the nanospheres indicated the interaction between the drug molecules and the excited species. The peroxide radicals and the hydroxyl radicals formed due to electron and the hole further affect the degradation of the drug molecules. The TOC content of DCF and CHL is reduced to 12.8% and 6.8% after 180 min under the conditions of the reaction.


An inquiry of the taste preference of 442 business students for brussels sprouts showed about a 50% dislike of the vegetable, 40% indifference, and a 10% like. Some implications of the findings are suggested.


The main objective of this paper is to report two benthic, epilithic diatom species from the Raska River. Samples were collected in April, June, August and November 2011 and March and May 2012 from 5 localities along the Raska River by scraping off the stone surface using a brush. Diatom frustules were first cleaned using the cold acid method, and then mounted on permanent slides. Descriptions (main valve measurements of the populations in the Raska River), ecology, distribution in Serbia and Europe, and appropriate photomicrographs of two species are presented. Navicula jakovljevicii Hustedt and Navicula catalanogermanica Lange-Bertalot & Hofmann are rarely found in Europe and these are new distributional records. These new taxa significantly contribute to diatom floristic diversity of the Raska River. * Corresponding author: firstname.lastname@example.com INTRODUCTION The last decade of the 20th century brought biodiversity researches as an important part of biological research due to the increasing evidence of the biodiversity loss on a global scale (Pimm et al. 1995). In addition, there has been an increase in knowledge about diatom biodiversity as a result of a more detail morphometric analysis of the diatom valve by LM and SEM microscopy (Lange-Bertalot 2001). On the other hand, benthic diatom communities are a particularly important element in monitoring the ecological status of rivers, recommended by Water Framework Directives (Water Framework Directive, European Parliament 2000 directive, 2000/60/EC). Diatoms are considered to be very useful indicators of environmental changes in aquatic ecosystems (Van Dam et al. 1994, Lowe & Pan 1996, Stevenson & Pan 1999). The study of diatom communities in rivers goes back several decades, therefore there is a lot of information on species sensitivity to changes in the environment as a result of different types of impact, including particularly anthropopressure (Kelly & Whitton 1998, Kwandrans et al. 1998, Gomez & Licursi 2001, Ivanov et al. 2003, Vilbaste & Truu 2003, Acs et al. 2004, Newall & Walsh 2005). Evaluation of the floristic richness of diatoms in the river is a necessary, further step. It is contributory to diatom biodiversity, as well as better implementation of biomonitoring programs. The genus Navicula was originally described in 1822 by Bory de St. Vincent to accommodate isopolar biraphid species with a spindle-shaped ('navette', hence naviculoid, Cox 1999) valve outline, uniseriate striae composed of slit-like areolae, a rather simple raphe system with an internal accessory rib, and two plate-like, girdle-appressed plastids (Round 186 | Danijela Vidakovic, Jelena Krizmanic, Sanja Sovran Copyright© of Dept. of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Poland www.oandhs.ocean.ug.edu.pl et al. 1990; Cox 1999; Lange-Bertalot 2001). This widespread genus (Wojtal 2001, Van dr Vijver et al. 2010, Guiry 2013, DeNicola 2000, Lange-Bertalot et al. 2003, Witak 2013, Kargioglu et al. 2012), which includes more than a thousand species organized in 15 sections (Hustedt 1961–1966, Van-Landingham 1975), was modified several times (Patrick 1959; Cox 1979, 1999; Round et al. 1990; Lange-Bertalot 2001). Navicula jakovljevicii was described in lakes and springs of the Balkan Peninsula by Husted (1945). For the first time the taxon has been found outside the Balkan area in Lake Zug, Switzerland (Reichardt 1992). Lange-Bertalot and Hofmann described Navicula catalanogermanica. This taxon has been found in the Eastern Pyrenees, France (Lange-Bertalot 1993). Until now there has been no published data about diatom flora in the Raska River. Recently, an endangered red alga − Bangia atropurpurea (Roth.) − was found in the Raska River (Simic 2008). Krizmanic et al. (2008) found Hydrurus foetidus (Vill.) in the same river. In the present study, we sampled benthic diatoms to evaluate the floristic richness of the river. Two species new to the Serbian diatom flora were found in the Raska River.


Abstract A novel theory which employs the K-BKZ viscoelastic integral constitutive model was developed in this study for simulating the non-isothermal injection molding filling process and the frozen stresses of a three-dimensional thin part. The simulation of viscoelastic model in such a problem has not yet been discussed in most previous works as a result of the complexity of this problem. A quasi-steady approximation concept was developed in the present investigation for solving the non-isothermal filling process via K-BKZ viscoelastic integral constitutive model. Additionally, the numerical method of flow field was based on the control volume finite element method. The flow field of generalized Newtonian fluid was used as the initial guess of flow kinematics. The quasi-steady state approximation was introduced for each element to calculate the flow kinematics and stress profile from the K-BKZ integral constitutive model. The finite difference method with streamline upwind characteristic was adopted here for calculating the temperature field of process. When the cavity is fully filled, the subsequent non-isothermal stresses would relax after cessation of flow. Thereby, the frozen stresses (or frozen birefringence) could be obtained.


Monitoring of organochlorines pesticides residues was conducted at Bauru (São Paulo) in the period of 1997 to 2002. Elected areas for sampling were based on the agricultural area, soil conducive to agricultural runoff, and location near major aquifers (sugar cane field). The results indicated lower concentration of organochlorinepesticides infinisheddrinkingwater,whichprobably can be related with its adsorption in clay particle presents in supply water or during water treatment process. The results of organochlorine pesticides showed the efficiency of treatment of the distribution net for finished drinking water and water source were compared with the Brazilian classification system for inland


The research used a long memory or Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average model to study and forecast crude oil prices using weekly West Texas Intermediate and Brent series for the period 15/5/1987 to 20/12/2013. Fractional differencing Methods such as Local Whittle Estimator and Geweke and Porter-Hudak identified long memory characteristics in the crude oil prices. For WTI series, the Bayes Information Criteria selected 3 breaks with the first, second and last breaks captured in 1999, 2004 and 2008 respectively. Three breaks in Brent series using the Bayes Information Criteria were selected and this pointed out that Brent series has break points in 1999, 2005 and 2009. Numerous ARFIMA models were identified, selected using Akaike Information Criterion, estimated/check, in sample and out sample forecast was carried out using Box and Jenkins methodology. ARFIMA(1,0.47,2) is appropriate for West Texas Intermediate series while ARFIMA(2,0.09,0) is suitable for Brent series. One year in sample forecast indicates a small difference between the original series and the forecast results. The one year out sample forecast revealed a decline in future crude oil prices which may be good news to the consumers and bad news to the producers.


We study the multicast throughput capacity for hybrid wireless mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) with a directional antenna and delay constraint. The hybrid wireless network consists of a mobile ad hoc network with $n$ nodes and $m$ regularly placed base stations connected by high-bandwidth wired links. For the MANET, there are $n_s$ multicast sessions and each multicast session has one source which transmits identical informations to its associated $p$ destinations. Assuming that the mobile nodes adopt 2D-i.i.d. mobility model, we investigate the ad hoc mode multicast throughput capacity when each node is equipped with a directional antenna along with a tolerant delay $D$. That is, a source node transmits to its $p$ destinations only with the help of normal nodes within $D$consecutive time slots. Otherwise, the transmission will be switched to the infrastructure mode, where the base stations serve as relays. We find that the multicast throughput capacity of a hybrid wireless MANETs greatly depends on the delay constraints $D$, the number of base stations $m$, and the beamwidth of directional antenna $\theta$. We show that the multicast throughput capacity of the hybrid directional wireless network is $\Theta(\sqrt{\theta})+\Theta(\frac{m}{n_sp}W_2)$ bits/sec, if $D=\Omega(\frac{n_s}{(\log p)^2(\log(\theta n_sp))^2})$; $\Theta(\frac{m}{n_sp}W_2)$ bits/sec, if $D=O(\sqrt[3]{\frac{n_s}{(\log p)^2(\log(\theta n_sp))^2}})$; and $O((\log p)(\log(\theta n_sp))\sqrt{\frac{\theta D}{n_s}})+\Theta(\frac{m}{n_sp}W_2)$ bits/sec, otherwise. We analyze the impact of $D$, $m$ and $\theta$ on the multicast throughput capacity of the hybrid MANET. Finally, we derive lower bound of the muticast throughput using a similar raptor coding approach as in\cite{ZY10}.


Examines the European Commission's proposals for a Common Frame of Reference towards harmonisation of European contract law. Argues that harmonisation will require more than the technical drafting of common rules, noting the doctrinal complexities of the Member States' different legal systems, including difficulties in reaching agreement even on a common definition of "contract". Predicts problems with the attempt to draft common rules for non-performance and conformity, with reference to the divergence between the treatment of those concepts in European Parliament and Council Directive 1999/44, and the treatment of the same concepts in English and French sales law.


In a teleparallel theory of (2+1)-dimensional gravity developed in a previous paper, we examine generators of internal Lorentz transformations and of general affine coordinate transformations for static circularly symmetric exact solutions of gravitational field equation. The \lq \lq spin" angular momentum, the energy-momentum and the \lq \lq extended orbital angular momentum" are explicitly given for each solution. Also, we give a critical comment on Deser's claim that neither momentum nor boosts are definable for finite energy solutions of three-dimensional Einstein gravity.


Transport means for large-scale automobile body parts in the form of a pallet (1) from the bottom (2) rising with each other transversely braced corner columns (3) and large-scale, deformable, plate-like bodies (4) with one of the surface of the pallet base corresponding plate surface on the ground in a layered, horizontal support (2) of the pallet (1), the body parts (10) between embed under mutual force or frictional clamping and by externally engaging the clamping elements (5) have a common, stable, with the pallet (1) do not form permanently connected unit.


Issues in FPGA to ASIC conversions, such as netlist translation, re-use of simulation vectors, static timing comparisons and physical design are analyzed. Some techniques to address related problems are discussed. An integrated approach for ASIC design with FPGA prototyping, that aims to minimize the risk and effort involved in retargeting, is then presented. 1 .O Introduction: With the advances in FPGA technology, and its benefits such as low-risk and reduced time-to-market, the number of FPGA based prototype designs has increased rapidly in recent times. Thus prototyping and field testing designs on FPGAs before commiting to silicon is gaining popularity. However, the process of converting an FPGA based design into an ASIC is still risky, time-consuming, and often requires rework at the layout stage. This is primarily because the conversion is typically performed using a back-annotated FPGA netlist, which does not contain information such as user specified design hierarchy, and implementation control attributes. We address some issues related to ISBN# 0-7803-2636-9 such conversions. We then consider an integrated design flow that aims to cut down the risk and effort involved in retargeting a prototype FPGA design to an ASIC, by using a unified design entry methodology. 2.0 Converting an FPGA to ASIC the typical scenario 2.1 Netlist translation Obtaining the FPGA netlist and translating it to the target ASIC library is the crucial task in the whole process. Every other task is either to make this task safer or to verify this task. The process involves extracting the netlist from the particular FPGA layout and also creating a timing model for verification. Usually, this step is performed as part of timing analysis after designing the FPGA layout. The FPGA vendors have their own tools for getting the final netlist written out. This should be written out or further converted into some standard format (eg. EDIF) which some netlist translator tools can read in. These tools will remap the logic from FPGA resources to ASIC library components. There are few important issues to be considered in this process. The logic


A simple synthesis and study by UV-vis, IR, NMR, ESI-CID-MS 2 and X-ray diffraction of ((2E)-2-(1-{4-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]phenyl}ethylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide is reported. It was tested in vitro against chloroquine-resistant strain (W2) of Plasmodium falciparum, hemozoin (β-hematin) formation and cysteine protease falcipain-2. In general, it was found to possess a proved activity in its inhibitory power on the parasite but less active on the formation of hemozoin (β-hematin) and falcipain-2. Also, the X-ray analysis presented an unexpected electronic density that can be assigned like S(2). This electronic density can be attributed to autocondensation of thiosemicarbazide, generating H 2 S as a subproduct. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v9i4.1001


Background . Conventional induction treatment in young Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients ( Aim of the study . We evaluated the safety profile and the efficacy of two four-drugs induction schedules, adding either fludarabine (25 mg/sqm days 1–5) or mylotarg (3 mg/sqm day 6) to idarubicin (6 mg/sqm days 1, 3, 5), cytarabine (1 g/sqm days 1–5), etoposide (100 mg/sqm days 1–5) (FLAIE and MyAIE, respectively). Methods . Sixty-six consecutive AML patients were enrolled either in the FLAIE (N=44, from 2002 to 2005) or in the MyAIE (N=22, from 2005 to April 2007) schedule, with similar clinical and biological characteristics. The median age was 45 and 48 years, respectively. According to kariotype, WBC count and FLT3 status, seventy and sixty-four percent of cases, respectively, were considered at high risk. Consolidation therapy consisted of 2 cycles of ID-AraC and Ida. Results . The complete remission rate was 75% and 59% for FLAIE and MyAIE, respectively (p=n.s.). Death during treatment rates were 5% and 0. After 1 consolidation course the overall CR rate was 80% and 73%. After a similar median follow up, 27 months (1–62) and 21 months (5–42) respectively, 41% of patients are alive in CR in the FLAIE group (12 SCT and 3 ASCT) and 64% in the MyAIE group (7 SCT and 4 ASCT) (p=n.s.; Chi-square, Fisher's exact test). Toxicity was comparable in the two regimens. The median time to ANC recovery (>1.0 x 10^9/L) was 31 and 23 days for FLAIE and MyAIE, respectively. The median time to PLT recovery (>100 x 10^9/L) was 28 and 24 days, respectively. The median time of neutropenic fever episodes for patients was 1 and 1.4 in the 2 groups, respectively. Grade III/IV GI toxicities occurred in 11% and 22% of cases, respectively. Conclusions . These data showed that four-drugs intensified induction therapy is a feasible approach in young AML patients. Recent published trials have demonstrated that fludarabine-based induction chemotherapy in high risk AML patients is able to increase the CR rate offered by conventional treatment. Therefore, the limited number of patients involved in this study, the low administration dosage of idarubicin, and the relevant role of fludarabine in induction therapy, can reasonably justify the lower CR rate obtained in patients treated in the MyAIE schedule, if compared with FLAIE regimen and, above all, with standard chemotherapy. In the light of their efficacy and safety profile, fludarabine and mylotarg, in combination with conventional chemotherapy, represent a promising induction regimen in young AML patients; further analyses and randomized pilot trials will define their definite role.


With the upsurge in various forms of religion, especially dogmatic forms that kill in the name of good versus evil, there is an urgent need for intellectuals to acknowledge and analyze the role of religion in contemporary culture and politics. If there is to be any hope for peace, we need to understand how and why religion becomes the justification for violence. In a world where religious intolerance is growing, and the divide between the secular and the religious seems to be expanding, Julia Kristeva's writings bridge the gap and once again provide a path where others have seen only an impasse. Her approach is unique in its insistent attempt to understand the violence both contained and unleashed by religion. Moreover, she rearticulates a notion of the sacred apart from religious dogmatism, a sense of the sacred that is precisely lacking in fundamentalism.


Comparative study of learning media of mysterious card box with the media of snake ladder on the material of atomic structure to the result of study of class X student of SMA N 5 AMBON. The mysterious card learning media box is applied to the X class MIA1 and the ladder snake media in the X class of MIA3. From the results, the mysterious card learning media box can improve student learning outcomes, seen from the presentation of the achievement of the final test results obtained by the two classes, where the two classes have a presentation of different final result qualification ie qualification completed for class X-MIA1 which uses the mysterious card box learning medium is 100%, and no qualifying fails with an average rating of 85.68. But for the class X-MIA3 using the learning media of snake ladder with qualified thoroughly is 51.51% and qualification failed 48.49% with an average value of 72.95, therefore Mann Whitney test results using SPSS 20 obtained a significance value of 0.002 (> 0.05 ) thus H0 is rejected and H1 is received so it can be concluded that there are differences in student learning outcomes using the mysterious box learning media and learning media snake ladder


Thirty-one strains ofmarine bacteria wereexamined fortheir ability totransfer mercury resistance to Escherichia coli incomplex media; eight strains wereable totransfer their resistance marker, withfrequencies ranging from10-3 to10-8. Frequencies generally increased withtheincrease ofthemating period. Additional mating experiments werecarried outwithonestrain, belonging tothepseudomonads, toestimate theinfluence oftemperature, salinity, andtimeontheconjugal transfer frequency ofmercury resistance markers. The higher frequencies occurred at30°C, inasalt medium(37%o), after 24hofmating. Mercuric ionsaretoxic tobacteria, mainly because they strongly bindsulhydryl groups andinhibit biosynthesis and enzymeactivity (2,8).Nevertheless, these microorganisms havedeveloped several resistance mechanisms (8)which are probably duetotheincreasing useofmercurial compounds ashospital disinfectants andtoindustrial orurban pollution. Resistance tomercurial compounds isacommonplasmiddependent property ofbothenvironmental andnosocomial bacteria (4,8,11,19). Theconjugative transfer ofmercuryresistant (HgR)plasmids fromHgRenvironmental bacteria toEscherichia coli orother plasmidless recipient strains has beendemonstrated invitro (8,11). Inaddition, theinsitu transfer ofantibiotic resistance hasbeenrecently described infreshwater systems (1,13). Little hasbeendoneonthe possible extension ofsuchtransfer between marine and telluric bacteria, although manyofthemharbor R-plasmids (18). Theaimofthis study wastoinvestigate theoccurrence of thetransfer ofmercury resistance markers between marine bacterial strains andE.coli K-12, which isrepresentative of water-borne enteric bacteria fromhumanorigin commonly usedaspollution indicators, andtostudy thejoint influence oftemperature andsalinity onthetransfer frequency in complex media.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Drawing on Halbwach's notion of collective memory t he paper reassess some of the key turning points in Hendrix's legacy. Highlighting t he contingent nature of Hendrix's rise to fame through to its peak in 1968, the paper illu strates how, despite the fact that Hendrix continued to grow as a musician, from 1969 onwards his business and personal affairs were increasingly in disarray. In fact he w as telling Rolling Stone in May of that year, that he needed to take a year off ("Hendrix's One Year Retirement Plan"). Secondly, I show that Hendrix's Woodstock performance did not represent the high point of the festival either artistically or in terms of crowd n umbers, and that rather than being regarded as iconic at the time, Hendrix's rendering of the anthem was regarded as controversial by his opponents and as a theatrical display of music virtuosity by his supporters. I also demonstrate how Hendrix's flirt at on with the American anthem represented part of a wider cultural phenomenon at the ime. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


© 2023 Aimone, Awile, Diesmann, Knight, Nowotny and Schürmann. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Neuroscience, computing, performance, and benchmarks: Why it matters to neuroscience how fast we can compute


The purpose of the study is reducing the loss of mineral raw materials and increasing the efficiency of mining operations using a mining complex through the introduction of a new design and engineering solution that improves the equipment functionality. The study involves the analysis of known designs of mining equipment capable of providing the transformation of cyclic scooping of rock mass into its continuous loading, as well as screening of fine fractions from the ore mass. High productivity mining complexes are referred to a promising direction of mining equipment development. The article proposes an improved design of the mining complex, which allows to combine the extraction and loading process and ore mass grading. The improved mining complex is equipped with an annular conveyor with vibrating grids through which fines are screened into the accumulation hopper. From the accumulation hopper the small fractions are sent by means of a pneumatic conveying system to the bunker sections of a special-purpose hauler while the oversize product is loaded into a dump truck by a dump conveyor. The fine fractions of substandard ore collected in the bunker sections are sent for heap leaching. The fine fractions of conditioned ore are sent to the concentration plant to be processed. The proposed design and engineering solution employing an improved mining complex will reduce the cost of works and increase the recovery factor of mineral raw materials in the development of complex-structured deposits of ores characterized by natural concentration of small classes. Removal of fine ore fractions directly during the excavation and loading process can significantly reduce the dusting and decrease the loss of mineral raw materials from blowing and spilling of fine fractions.


There is no relevant literature which studies the configuration scheme of drill conductor tensioner for jack-up platform.Therefore,taking the 91.44 m jack-up drilling platform as the object of study,the finite software was adopted to conduct a mechanical analysis of the 90 m-deep drill conductor in different top tensions and to give the optimized configuration of drill conductor and the recommended top tension and displacement.The drill conductor which is subject to top tension was simplified as the beam model situated on the vertical plane.The driving end was simplified as the fixed hinged support,and the Pipe31 unit is selected to make an analysis.The analysis shows that the configuration of conductor tube tensioner for jack-up platform should be analyzed according to the specific operating condition of the system,determining the tube's configuration.Then,the rated tension of the tensioner is determined according to the design principle of API 16Q specifications.With the increase of top tension of conductor tube,the lateral deformation of the tube and the bending moment at the mudline are reduced correspondingly.


The small turbocharger for the automotive application is designed to operate up to 200,000 rpm to increase system efficiency. Because of high rotation speed of turbocharger, floating ring bearing are widely adopted due to its low friction loss and high rotordynamic stability. This paper presents a linear and nonlinear analysis model for a turbocharger rotor supported by a semi-floating ring bearing. The rotordynamic model for the turbocharger rotor was constructed based on the finite element method and fluid film forces were calculated based on the infinitely short bearing assumption. In linear analysis, we considered fluid film force as stiffness and damping element and in nonlinear analysis, the fluid film force was calculated by solving the time dependent Reynolds equation. We verified the developed theoretical model by comparing to modal test results of test rotors. The analysis results show that there are two unstable modes, which are conical and cylindrical modes. These unstable modes appear as sub-synchronous vibrations in nonlinear analysis. In nonlinear analysis, frequency jump phenomenon demonstrated when vibration mode is changed from conical mode to cylindrical one. This jump phenomenon was also demonstrated in the test. However, the natural frequency measured in the test differs from those obtained using nonlinear analysis.


The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is increasing, but is still less than expected given our current knowledge of carbon sources and sinks. It has been hypothesised that the terrestrial biosphere in general and tropical forests in particular are acting as major sinks for atmospheric carbon. A possible mechanism for these sinks is the rapid regeneration of forests following the abandonment of previously cleared land. To quantify the amount of carbon sequestered by regenerating tropical forests requires data on their location and, since it is known that young regenerating forests grow faster and sequester more carbon than do old regenerating forests, data on their age. The biophysical properties of regenerating forests change with age and are different from those of the surrounding mature forests. Certain key biophysical properties can be detected, at least in principle, using satellite sensor data recorded in red and near infrared (NIR) wavelengths. However, while the relationship b...


Based on discrete vortex method,Particle Strength Exchange(PSE) is used for diffusion and when the distribution of the particles becomes distorted,the particle strength redistribution is applied.The problem of the flow past an impulsively started cylinder,the problem of the flow with 15° attacked angle pass a square and the flow past the great belt bridge are simulated.The results agree quite well with the analytical results and the results from other numerical methods.The numerical results show that the high-resolution of deterministic vortex method makes it have great potential in the simulation of the flow past the bluff body.


The aim of this paper is to analyze the delay-dependent stability of symmetric Runge--Kutta methods, including the Gauss methods and the Lobatto IIIA, IIIB, and IIIS methods, for the linear neutral delay integro-differential equations. By means of the root locus technique, the structure of the root locus curve is given and the numerical stability region of symmetric Runge--Kutta methods is obtained. It is proved that, under some conditions, the analytical stability region is contained in the numerical stability region. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the theoretical results.


OBJECTIVE
To define relative increases in visual bony surface area and access to critical landmarks with the addition of a trochanteric slide osteotomy to a Kocher-Langenbeck approach.

METHODS
A Kocher-Langenbeck approach followed by a trochanteric slide osteotomy were sequentially performed on 10 fresh frozen hemipelvectomy cadaveric specimens. Visual and palpable access to relevant surgical landmarks was recorded. Calibrated digital photographs were taken of each approach and analyzed using Image J.

RESULTS
The acetabular surface area exposed was 27.66 (+/- 6.67) cm2 for a Kocher-Langenbeck approach. This increased to and 41.82 (+/- 7.97) cm2 with the addition of a trochanteric osteotomy. The exposed surface area was increased by 51.2% for the trochanteric osteotomy (p<0.001). The superior margin of the acetabulum could be visualized and palpably accessed in both exposures. Access to the more anterosuperior portions of the acetabulum was consistently possible in the trochanteric osteotomy but not with the Kocher-Langenbeck approach.

CONCLUSION
A trochanteric osteotomy may visually improve access to the most anterosuperior acetabulum but does not significantly improve surgical access to relevant portions of the superior acetabulum when compared to a Kocher-Langenbeck approach.


The following topics are discussed: quantitative laws of light action; primary mechanisms of light action; secondary reactions; controversies and limitations.


This paper presents numerically tractable strict and non-strict linear matrix inequality conditions to the internal stability analysis of 2-D singular discrete-time systems. Two classes of 2-D singular systems are considered: (i) a general singular Fornasini-Marchesini model, and (ii) a singular Roesser model. In addition, the proposed conditions also guarantee that the 2-D singular system is acceptable and jump modes free. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the proposed approach.


Brushless DC Electric Motors are popularly known as BLDC motor. They are synchronous motors. Numerous configurations of PFC converters are accessible for feeding a BLDC motor drive. Luo converter and BL Luo are some of them. Luo converter is an example for converters having VL technique. This paper presents the Matlab/simulink models for above mentioned configurations and the comparison between these configurations.


Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which is more prevalent in women than men. Considering the onset of MS in the women of reproductive age, the present study aimed to investigate the reciprocal effects of MS, childbirth, and postpartum. Methods: This retrospective, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 110 women diagnosed with MS during pregnancy in Isfahan, Iran during 2016-2017. The subjects had become pregnant within the recent decade and were selected via random sampling. Data on the demographic characteristics, pregnancy and postpartum profile, medicinal changes, symptoms, severity, and attack rates of MS were collected. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16. Results: Mean age at the completion of pregnancy was 38.13 weeks. In total, 63.9% of the deliveries were accomplished via caesarean and 35.1% of the women had natural vaginal delivery. Mean pain intensity at childbirth was 7.11. No symptoms of MS attacks were reported in 86.7% of the subjects during delivery and 90.7% of the women within the first six weeks of childbirth. All the neonates were healthy, and 66.3% of the mothers had no psychological and emotional postpartum complications. In addition, 40.3% of the women started their MS medication within the first six months after childbirth. Conclusion: According to the results, MS was not associated with the increased risk of preterm or post-term delivery. Moreover, it did not increase the severity of labor pain in the mothers. On the other hand, the rate of elective cesarean section was higher in MS patients compared to the general population, especially in the cases with disabilities. According to the Friedman curve, MS caused no substantial changes in the progression of delivery, and most of the neonates were healthy males with an Apgar score of 10. However, the severity of limb numbness and blurred vision increased in the women with MS in the postpartum period.


This work reports infrared spectroscopy studies in neutron irradiated Cz-Si containing carbon. The material was thermally treated at high temperature prior to irradiation. The aim was to investigate the production and annealing of the CiOi(SiI) defect, well-known as C4 center. Besides the two standard localized vibrational modes (LVMs) at 934 and 1018 cm−1 detected always in room temperature measurements, another band was also detected at 760 cm−1. The latter band has the same annealing behavior as the 934 and 1018 cm−1 bands. Its existence has been predicted by theoretical calculations previously, but it has not been reported definitely so far experimentally. The present study verifies unambiguously its presence. Upon annealing the above three bands begin to decay in the spectra at ∼140 °C and disappear at ∼200 °C. No other bands appear to arise in the spectra upon the disappearance of the above bands. Semi-empirical calculations of the LVM frequencies of the C4 complex verify the correlation of the 760 ...