Bench-scale radioactive tests successfully demonstrated an electrochemical process for the recovery of sodium hydroxide (caustic) from Decontaminated Salt Solution produced from the In-Tank Precipitation and Effluent Treatment Processes at the Savannah River Site (SRS). This testing evaluated two membranes: an organic-based membrane, Nafion Type 350, manufactured by E. I. duPont de Nemours {ampersand} Company, Inc. (DuPont) and an inorganic-based membrane, NAS D, being developed by Ceramatec. Both membranes successfully separated caustic from radioactive SRS waste.Key findings of the testing indicate the following attributes and disadvantages of each membrane. The commercially-available Nafion membrane proved highly conductive. Thus, the electrochemical cell can operate at high current density minimizing the number of cells at the desired volumetric processing rate. Testing indicated cesium transported across the Nafion membrane into the caustic product. Therefore, the caustic product will contain low-levels of radioactive cesium due to the presence of {sup 134,137}Cs in the waste feed. To meet customer requirements, a post treatment stage may prove necessary to remove radioactive cesium resulting in increased overall process costs and decreased cost savings. In contrast to the Nafion membrane, the NAS D membrane demonstrated the production of caustic with much lower levels of gamma radioactivity ({sup 137}Cs activity wasmore » {lt} 51 dpm/g). Therefore, the caustic product could possibly release for onsite/offsite use without further treatment. The NAS D membrane remains in the development stage and does not exist as a commercial product. Operating costs and long-term membrane durability remain unknown.Caustic recovery has been successfully demonstrated in a bench-scale, 2-compartment electrochemical reactor operated for brief periods of time with simulated and radioactive waste solutions and two different types of membranes. The next phase of testing should be directed at (1) demonstrating caustic recovery in pilot-scale equipment and (2) determining membrane and other cell component performance over an extended period of time (minimum of 1000 hours). This information is necessary to verify key criteria which will be used to perform facility design and cost evaluations.« less


We revisit Langlands' construction of the Taniyama group to define a plectic Taniyama group for any totally real field F. The construction is functorial in F and recovers Langlands' original Taniyama group when F = Q. We relate our construction to Nekovar's 'hidden symmetries' in classical CM theory, generalising the relationship between the Taniyama group and Tate's half-transfer maps.


: There is a growing demand for data that facilitate highly accurate understanding of the spatiotemporal distribution of both moving and static occupants in urban areas. Currently, a large amount of population data are available, however none of the data provide an accurate understanding of the numbers and departure/arrival locations of moving people using detailed units of space and time. In this paper, after evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of existing population statistics, including Mobile Spatial Statistics, Konzatsu-tokei®, and Person Trip survey data, we propose a method based on maximum likelihood method is investigated for using their strengths to best advantage and compensating for weaknesses. The proposed method is then validated by comparing with another flow data, which featured spatiotemporal data including departure/arrival locations, and demonstrate that the present procedure provides accurate estimates for population flows. This study makes it possible to analyse urban regions from new and never-before employed points of view by identifying the number of transient occupants and their travel directions at any time on high level of detail.


The objective of this study was to analyze change of soil organic matter fraction from a range of livestock manure compost that differed in their total C, N content and C quality, to gain a better understanding of their influence on soil organic matter. The chicken (CHM), pig (PIM), and cow (COM) manure-based composts, and manure-sawdust-based composts (CHMS, PIMS, and COMS) were applied annually to the upland soil with during 4 years. After 4 years, the soil carbon content was increased to 25-30 and 40% for manure-based compost and manure-sawdust-based compost compared to control. In the all treatments, the content of light fraction C was sharply increased after second year. The content of light fraction C in the manure-sawdust-based compost was higher than in the manure-based compost. By contrast, the content of heavy fraction C was higher in the manure-based compost than in the manure-sawdust-based compost. These results indicate that stabilization of carbon applied from microbiological process was faster in the manure-based compost than in the manure-sawdust-based compost.


Inthis paper, wedeveloped amultifinctional test chip for property extractions onpackaging design. Components in this testchipinclude diodes asthetemperature sensor; polysilicon units astheheater; piezoresistors asthestress sensor; andpadsaswellastherelated metal connector designs forelectrical parameter extractions. Tosavesensor numbers andconnecting wires, sensors onthetestchip surface wereputaccording tostructure symmetry. Since different micro-electronic packaging hasindividual size, components ontest chip surface werelaid based onassembly ofsmall unit cells sothat theflexible test chip size canbe employed tofitrequirements fromdifferent packaging dimensions. Besides, we considered theinductance/ capacitance extractions ofpackages forhighfrequency condition. A test structure wasfinally designed tocooperate theQFPpackages fortheRLC measurement, andthe availability ofthenewdesigned wasdemonstrated from testing data. LIntroduction Nextgeneration integration circuit (IC)willcontain several hundred millions oftransistors ina single chip. Consequently, thechipsize becomes larger, theinternal clock becomes faster, thepowerdissipation becomes higher, andtheinterconnection becomes morecomplex [11. These challenges become cmcial nomatter forICchip designers or package engineers. Forthechipdesigners, manycareful considerations such asthetiming, switching noise, crosstalk, andsignal reflection areneeded toguarantee thecircuit signal integrity atdesign stage; Astothepackage designers, thefuture package solutions ofsmall formfactor, high performance, costeffective design arerequired tomeetthe future developments. Regardless heatandstress, high frequency induced parasitic effects problems inapackaging will seriously degrade theICperformance. Torespectively extract thermal, mechanical, aswellas thehigh frequency induced inductance/capacitance behaviors


European beech seeds are characterised by deep physiological dormancy and to germinate, they require several weeks of stratification at 3°C. Seed dormancy is under hormonal regulation, but the details of how hormones regulate deep dormancy in trees remain not yet well elucidated. We hypothesised that the mechanism of seed dormancy breaking is differentially regulated according to depth of dormancy. Expression of ABI5 and 14-3-3, members of the abscisic acid pathway, and RGL2, a member of gibberellic acid pathways, were examined at the protein and mRNA levels during dormancy alleviation of beech seeds. Unlike in non-deep dormant seeds, ABI5, 14-3-3 and RGL2 were present during nearly all periods of cold stratification in beech seeds, but during dormancy breaking and germination these proteins nearly disappeared. Relative abundances of ABI5 and 14-3-3 transcripts were the highest in dormant dry seeds, and during stratification it decreased gradually. We suppose that during stratification, de novo translation of proteins on the basis of deposited mRNA occurred. On the base of our research we can conclude that the seed dormancy breaking mechanism differs according to seed's dormancy depth.


SCOR model has been developed by the Supply Chain Council, a nonprofit association that serves all types of organizations interested in improving processes in SC. The SCOR model offers a standard set of processes and methods used to model the business activities of an SC, the indicators measuring their performance and the best practices used for solving problems identified in the steps taken for processes modeling and measurement. The SCOR model also facilitates the integration of SC partners by: providing common processes; the provision of some standard indicators of performance measurement of the processes; providing the best business practices applicable to large industrial scale for accelerated performance improvement of the business processes. In this article we will address in a systemic manner the five processes of SCOR model, presenting relevant issues supported by appropriate figures.


One of the efficient methods of inexpensive modernization of thermal power plant is to reduce the temperature of effluent gases of the boilers (t exh ). The purpose of this paper was to carry out the experimental computation investigation of a degree of influence of the operation mode and performance factors (feed water flow rate and temperature, electric and thermal power) on the temperature of effluent gases of the boilers with the retention of the longevity of gas escape ducts. The attempts made to reduce the temperature of effluent gases in order to increase an efficiency factor of the boilers are restricted by the influence of (t exh ) on the longevity of heating surfaces both of the convective ducts and the entire gas-air duct (air heaters, gas-air mains, and the smoke pipe), taking into consideration the dew point (t d ) at which the combustion gas moisture condensation is possible. Based on the analysis of performance indices of the steam boilers of a ТGМP-314А type the regression equation was formed. The research data prove that the feed water temperature produces the greatest influence on the temperature of combustion gases in the entire range of variation in the electric load of the unit.  The analysis of obtained data showed that the temperature of exhaust gases is increased with an increase in the electric power to 130 °С. This allows us to decrease the temperature of combustion gases on average by 20 °С taking into consideration the reliability of convective heating surfaces. Computations of the influence of t exh on q 2 showed that with the 1°С drop in the temperature of combustion gases an increase in the efficiency factor of the boiler reaches 0,035 % for the natural gas burning and 0,06 % for the fuel oil burning. Thus, we can come to a conclusion that the efficiency factor of the boiler of a ТGМP-314А type can be increased by 0,7 % with no degradation of the reliability of the heating surfaces of convective duct for the natural gas burning. The specific consumption of standard fuel will be reduced by 1,61 g.s.f. (grams of the standard fuel)/(kw∙h).


Objective In order to determine the factors pertaining to the development and metabolism of periodontal ligament,the author investigated the effects of human osteoblast cells(OBs) on human periodontal ligament fibrohlast cells(HPLFs).Methods The coculture system of OBs and human HPLFs separated by transwell was established.The proliferation and alkaline phosphatase(AL Pase)activity of HPLF were evaluated by cell number counter and enzyme kinetics methods after 1,3,5,7 days.Results After co-culture,the number of HPLFs were 3.5×10~4 3 days later anfl 7.5×10~4 5 days later.The difference between the two groups was significant (P0.05).The ALP activities of HPLFs increased by co-culture with human OBs 3,5,7 days later.Conclusions Human OBs could restrain the proliferation of HPLFs,while induce the differentiation of HPLFs.


A sunflower pot experiment was conducted in Qianjin Farm of Pingluo County in Ningxia to study the effects of desulfurization byproducts on the functional diversity of soil microbial communities in alkaline soil by Biolog Eco-plate technology.The results showed that applying desulfurization byproducts decreased soil pH by 0.06-0.29,decrease soil total salt content by 0.72-1.35 g/kg,significantly increased soil microbial activity and carbon source utilization level of microbial community;Carbohydrates,carboxylic acid,polymer and amino acid could be used as carbon sources in a higher level while amine and phenolic compounds in a lower level.However,only the proper applying amount of desulfurization byproducts could significantly increase soil microbial functional diversity,2.5-7.5 g/kg of desulfurization byproducts was the reasonable amount in this study in improving soil physical and chemical properties as well as microbial activity under the irrigation conditions.


It has been said that some things never change. As an example one can take the opening words of the 1956 annual report of the Royal Victoria Hospital: 'Although the financial stringency continued, the organisation of the Hospital has been adapted to meet the difficulties' This was an eventful year. The death occurred through a motor accident, on 4 April, of the pioneer neurosurgeon, Cecil A Calvert. The Hospital was awaiting the opening of wards 25 and 26 for metabolic and skin diseases and of wards 23 and 24 for gynaecology (thus vacating 17-18, which would become a fracture unit). Continuity of junior staffing was simplified by changing the date of appointment of senior house officers from 1 October to 1 August, although housemen now lost the opportunity of a well-earned rest, a lucrative GP locum-tenancy, or a short trip as a ship's doctor. The Hospital had 595 beds and 4 cots, a 'Consulting Staff' of 50, and 30 other consultants with clinical responsibilities. One third of the latter were anaesthetists and a further third from various surgical specialties (EENT, gynaecology, thoracic and neurosurgery). The Staff, as distinct from the total body of consultants, was limited to 50, was self-elected and, although it only consisted of about 60% of consultants working in the Hospital, was the recognised channel of communication from the doctors to the Hospital Management Committee and the University. Vacancies on this prestigious body occurred on the retirement or demise of an active member, and the writer was elected in 1961, on the death of Ivan McCaw. This was the last election to the Staff; the author was the last of the fifty and this was a time of change. On reading the history of Belfast medicine, one becomes aware of the very major part played by eye, ear, nose and throat surgeons in many important developments. It was only in the mid-thirties that these specialties began to separate. An early pioneer, Samuel Brown, RN, founded Mill Street Dispensary, pioneered the establishment of the Belfast Ophthalmic Hospital and was elected Mayor of Belfast in 1870. His son, John Walton Brown (later Sir John), appointed to the staff of the Belfast General Hospital in 1876, had specialist training in both ophthalmology and otology and combined them with duties as a general surgeon. He, as Chairman of the Medical Staff when the new hospital was officially opened on 27 July …


The purpose of this study was to explore the moderating effect of hardiness on the relationship between trait anxiety and objective performance within NCAA Division I collegiate baseball players. An updated and shortened version of the Personal Views Survey (PVS III-R) was used to measure hardiness after a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted. Of the total 389 players that participated, 171 met inclusion criteria and were split into two groups – hitters (N = 94) and pitchers (N = 80) – to identify differences in skills and how sub-constructs of hardiness (commitment, control, challenge) affected performance through a descriptive correlational design. The results show significant moderating effects of commitment for pitchers that accounted for the majority of variance in the relationship between perception of trait anxiety intensity and left on base percentage (LOB%) and wild pitches (WP). For hitters, significant moderating effects of control accounted for less variance in the relationship between perception of trait anxiety intensity on batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and grounding into double plays (GDP). The findings indicate there may be significant moderating effects of hardiness on the relationship between trait anxiety and objective performance that may be present in game situations with runners on-base. Practitioners could use these findings to target mental skills that could develop a pitcher's commitment or hitter's sense of control to enhance their performance within baseball-specific situations. For example, mental performance consultants could help athletes reframe the intensity of cognitive or somatic anxiety during situations with runners on-base.


This paper analysised the status and characteristics of domestic Polyurethane industry, and researched the trends and hot spots, involving technology and market prospects of TDI, MDI, Aliphatic diisocyanate, Polyurethane insulation materials,Polyurethane soft foam, Polyurethane Adhesives, as well as Waterborne polyurethane products.


Depression is often expected in our society during physical rehabilitation. This and similar expectations structure the experience of a physical disability. Contradictions in expectations and demands by providers to conform to this paradigm create barriers in the rehabilitation process. Changes in the physical rehabilitation paradigm are briefly suggested. DEPRESSION AND PHYSICAL REHABILITATION In our society depression is expected to follow after a traumatic permanent physical disability (Kerr-Cohn, 1961; Fink, 1967), and it is felt to be a result of concrete losses of body functions and skills. This state often initiates changes in one's self-image, social position, and interpersonal relationships (Barker, et al., 1953; Wright, 1961; Goffman, 1963). It is suggested here that depression is a response which emerges not only from the individual and his perception of the situation, but also as a function of the physical rehabilitation process itself. The source of the depression is a result of the contradictory assumptions and goals inherent in rehabilitation, and as a result depression is expected and maintained by this approach. This type of depression can be traced directly to a social construction of reality (Berger and Luckmann, 1966) that is rarely articulated because of its fusion with the more concrete and localized depression following loss. Examining this system of logic, the therapeutic model, will hopefully open up this subject for discussion in order to minimize the man-made suffering which is presently considered inevitable. THE GOALS OF PHYSICAL REHABILITATION The system of logic underlying the present approach to physical rehabilitation can be stated as follows: The disabled person is invested with a status and dignity which is inherent in all human beings. He, unfortunately, has suffered a loss as a result of a physical limitation which may affect other social and psychological areas of his life. He will usually be depressed soon after incurring this loss but he will hopefully learn to accept and/or cope with this after an appropriate period of mourning. These losses should be minimized so that he can continue in his life as "normal" as possible. A major goal is to participate in the labor market and economy and earn his daily living rather than be supported by others. This is a method for him to be independent, self-sufficient, and worthy of respect. If the reader doubts the validity of this model, a series of quotes by leaders in the field of physical rehabilitation should support the above contentions: A facet of vigorous individualism in American culture tends to support activities such as health services which enhance the worth and dignity of the person, especially if these lead to increased social and economic effectiveness. (Rabbinowitz and Mitsos, 1966:2) (A psychologist states:) "Most people are motivated for health. The handicapped want to be well and normal, considered the same as others; most have a capacity for self-sufficiency when allowed to act for themselves." (Quoted by Alexander, 1970). (An orthopedic surgeon states:) ...that normal people must let handicapped people do what they can for themselves. "They will then feel part of the world .... It helps the handicapped to feel respect for themselves, to have dignity." (Alexander, 1970.) (Vice-president and medical director of a rehabilitation hospital) "The hospital's goal is to return every patient to his family, his community, and, most important, his job." (Quoted by Mateja, 1974) The contradictory and illogical arguments of this approach become apparent when each assumption about disability and rehabilitation is examined in a total context. A person is inherently worthy of respect yet he must "earn'' it through achievement and activity (which he may physically be unable to do). He does not want help from others in order to be independent, yet he must learn to "accept" his dependence. He has undergone a significant personal loss, therefore, he should be depressed. But he should be depressed "correctly": he should not be over-depressed nor underdepressed. Over-depression occurs when the depression takes a course which interferes with institutional demands and expectations. Underdepression occurs when the person is "denying" reality and/or too readily accepts the disabled status. An example of "under-depression" is given by Israel Goldiamond, a professor at the University of Chicago who specializes in behavior modification and Is also a paraplegic. Since he believes that behavior is affected by contingencies and not by emotions, he "refused" to be depressed. When he began suffering from insomnia, the staff told him that, of course, his depression was finding a way to exhibit itself. Due to his habit of keeping records on his medication, he discovered that he had taken himself off tranquilizers and was suffering from withdrawal effects, a fact which had been overlooked in the eagerness of the staff to reinforce their expectations of his disability. (Goldiamond, 1976.) Physical therapy Is a painful, grueling process that is based on the strengthening and maximal use of a person's muscles and physical skills. To endure this training for an often very small change in one's physical functioning is discouraging. The right to decide if one wants to do that much work for that all a reward is often denied the disabled person. Rather he is bulted, told that he must do this for his own good, and told to be motivated for something that may be largely lost. Defeats for physical therapists can be daily comforts for the disabled. An example of the right to decide certain treatments and aides is presented by Ed Roberts, a spokesperson for Berkeley's Center for Independent Living. "Health professionals go through these Incredible fads... For example, they were convinced that using an iron lung was a terrible thing and should be stopped as soon as possible, almost at any cost. Well, I say that's up to me to decide. If not using the tank means I'm going to have something less comfortable and less ventilating, If it means I've got to spend more time concentrating on just breathing, then I'll use the tank." (Quoted by Downey, 1975:25) The individual in a rehabilitation setting, then, is told that he is not physically "normal" and that he should learn to accept his losses and try to re-enter "normal" life. One nurse who is a paraplegic responded to this definition of the situation in this way:


The fate of Homer, and the plaint of our immortal bard, have, as it were, consecrated amaurosis, and rendered it an interesting, though melancholy subject of contemplation. It is often so insidious in its approach, as to give no warning till the patient unexpectedly finds one eye entirely deprived of sight. About, ten years ago, an interesting young lady of our acquaintance, was standing on the Calton Hill, surveying the romantic scenery that surrounds that enchanting spot. She took a small telescope from the hand of a gentle-


Sinonasal actinomycosis should be suspected when a patient with chronic sinusitis does not respond to medical therapy or has a history of facial trauma, dental disease, cancer, immunodeficiency, long-term steroid therapy, diabetes, or malnutrition. Radiological evaluation with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are important in differential diagnosis, evaluating the extent of disease, and understanding clinical symptoms. Endoscopic sinus surgery associated with long-term intravenous antibiotic therapy is the gold standard for treatment of sinonasal actinomycosis. We report an unusual case of abducens nerve palsy resulting from invasive sinonasal actinomycosis in a patient with an abnormally enlarged sphenoid sinus. A review of the current literature highlighting clinical presentation, radiological findings, and treatment of this uncommon complication is also presented.


The efficacy and safety of Indinol (ZAO Mirax-pharma) used in different types of mastopathy were clinically studied to define its place in drug therapy for benign diseases of the breast. More than 500 women were comprehensively studied. The study involved physical examination, mammography, ultrasonography, needle biopsy, followed by cytological, histo-, and immunohistochemical studies to determine tissue predictors, as well as a gynecologist's examination and an endocrinologist's consultation if comorbidity was present. Indinol was given as 2 capsules to all the patients twice daily irrespective of the revealed abnormality, with a further monitoring for 3-6 months. Indinol was ascertained to be an effective and safe drug in the treatment of different forms of mastopathy alone and in combination with gynecological diseases. The benefit from the use of Indinol develops gradually, by peaking 6 months after the initiation of therapy, which is probably to be associated with the depth mechanisms of action on the regulation of hormonal and metabolic processes in the body.


An OCT system incorporating a coherent fibre imaging bundle is described. Fibres are accessed sequentially by a beam focused onto the input face of the bundle, allowing 2D or 3D images to be acquired using point detection. A Fizeau interferometer configuration is used, in which light from the distal end of a fibre in the bundle (forming the reference arm) mixes with light reflected by the sample itself (forming the sample arm). The use of coherent imaging bundles for OCT beam delivery allows mechanical scanning parts to be removed from the sample arm, resulting in a passive probe. Such a configuration can form a compact, robust and "downlead insensitive" OCT system. In the common-path configuration used, an inherent path-length difference is present in the Fizeau sample interferometer, so an additional processing interferometer is required to ensure path-length matching. The depth scanning mechanism is confined within the processing interferometer, external to the sample probe.


The authors have developed a new type of heat spreader based on the integration of heat pipes directly within a thin planar structure suitable for use as a heat spreader or as the base layer in a substrate. The process uses micromachining methods to produce micron scale patterns that act as a wick in these small scale heat pipes. By using silicon or a low expansion metal as the wall material of these spreaders, they achieve a good match to the thermal coefficient of expansion of the die. The match allows the use of a thin high performance die attachment even on large size die. The embedded heat pipes result in high effective thermal conductivity for the new spreader technology.


PURPOSE: A sealed top protection device for a deep well for underground water coupled with a composite resin protection box is provided to cost-efficiently seal underground deep well water by supplying composite resin protection boxes in large quantities. CONSTITUTION: A sealed top protection device for a deep well for underground water coupled with a composite resin protection box comprises a protection box(5), penetration guide pipes(50), an extension casing(8), a fixing joint part, a supply pipe casing, a sealing cover(30), and a protection box cover(22). The protection box is manufactured using composite resin. The penetration guide pipes guide the extension casing so that the extension casing can be inserted into the protection box. The extension casing inserted to the penetration guide pipes is manufactured using a stainless steel pipe or a steel pipe. The fixing joint part fixes the penetration guide pipes and the extension casing. The supply pipe casing connects a supply pipe(6) with an outer pipeline through the protection box. The sealing cover is installed on the upper end of the extension casing. The protection box cover prevents inflow of foreign materials by covering the top of the protection box.


Single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is often the preferred treatment modality for metastatic brain disease, particularly when patients have a small enough volume of disease to preclude whole brain radiation therapy and its associated permanent cognitive morbidity. The two predominant SRS treatment modalities are Gamma Knife and linear accelerator (LINAC). The recent impact of SRS modality in academic versus community hospital settings in the United States (US) since the 2013 implementation of the American Tax Payer Relief Act (ATRA) has yet to be examined.

 Brain metastases patients from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) throughout the United States having undergone SRS were identified using the 2010–2016 National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). SRS utilization in academic versus community (non-academic) hospitals was identified and assessed.

 Of the 4,012 SRS patients examined, the majority (64%) were treated at academic hospitals. Beginning in 2014, LINAC SRS rapidly increased in popularity compared to GKRS, reversing an annual decline in utilization originating from 2011. The 63% LINAC composition of SRS cases at non-academic centers in 2016 was an all-time high, a 12% increase from a year earlier. This was markedly different than SRS utilization at academic hospitals, where despite a steady increase in LINAC SRS since 2013, GKRS remained the predominant SRS modality, comprising 73% of cases in 2016.

 The implementation of LINAC over Gamma Knife SRS in the non-academic hospital setting has markedly increased in the timespan since ATRA implementation, comprising more than 60% of SRS cases compared to only 27% of academic hospital SRS cases in 2016. These findings indicate that without the substantially increased Medicare reimbursement advantage formerly associated with Gamma Knife compared to LINAC prior to ATRA, the non-academic setting may be more sensitive than academic centers to conditions optimizing reimbursement.


Cleavage of the butenyl Grignard reagent by water gives a mixture of butenes, although the products from a variety of addition and coupling reactions are almost exclusively α-methylallyl derivatives. To gain further information regarding the butenyl Grignard reagent we have turned to the study of some reactions expected to cleave the reagent to butenes through the operation of mechanisms different from that involved with water.

For the cleavage of butenylmagnesium bromide by an enolizable ketone, acetomesitylene was chosen since several investigators have shown that organometallic compounds such as ethylmagnesium bromide, n-butyllithium and phenylsodium do not add to the carbonyl group of this compound but give enolization products exclusively. Contrary to expectation, the reaction of butenylmagnesium bromide with acetomesitylene gave a negligible amount of enolization products (less than 3% of the calculated amount of butenes was detected). From the reaction mixture was recovered about 12% of the original ketone and the principal product was the tertiary alcohol, α-methylallylmesitylmethylcarbinol (I). The yield was 83%.


To develop and run environment problem of the real-time telemetry and control software system,this paper simply introduces the functions and important role of the hardware timing equipment in the course of real-time telemetry and control as well as the time managing method of the real-time operation system.To analyze and demonstrate two key technology of the software unify-time design,this paper describes the main function design of software unify-time in detail,and provides the control flow chart which is convenient to the program design.


Many remote sensing studies have individually addressed afforestation, forest disturbance and forest regeneration, and considered land use history. However, no single study has simultaneously addressed all of these components that collectively constitute successional stages and pathways of young forest and shrubland at large spatial extents. Our goal was to develop a multi-source, object-based approach that utilized the strengths of Landsat (large spatial extent with good temporal coverage), LiDAR (vegetation height and vertical structure), and aerial imagery (high resolution) to map young forest and shrubland vegetation in a temperate forest. Further, we defined young forest and shrubland vegetation types in terms of vegetation height and structure, to better distinguish them in remote sensing for ecological studies. The multi-source, object-based approach provided an area-adjusted estimate of 42,945 ha of young forest and shrubland vegetation in Connecticut with overall map accuracy of 88.2% (95% CI 2.3%), of which 20,953 ha occurred in complexes ≥2 ha in size. Young forest and shrubland vegetation constituted 3.3% of Connecticut's total land cover and 6.3% of forest cover as of 2018. Although the 2018 estimates are consistent with those of the past 20 years, concerted efforts are needed to restore, maintain, or manage young forest and shrubland vegetation in Connecticut.


We use the open quantum systems framework to analyze the MINOS data and perform this analysis considering two different dissipative models. In the first model, the dissipative parameter describes decoherence effect and in the second, the dissipative parameter describes other dissipative effects including decoherence. With the second model it is possible to study CP violation since we consider Majorana neutrinos. The analysis from the muon neutrino and antineutrino beam assigns different values to all the parameters of the models, but consistent with each other. Assuming that neutrinos are equivalent to antineutrinos, the global analysis presents nonvanishing Majorana CP phase depending on the energetic parameterization of the dissipative parameter.


The present research aims at contributing to the field of Online Communication for tourism destinations. It provides a study on online communication of Romanian main tourism destinations, focusing on DMOs' websites completeness in terms of contents and on their capability to respond to users' needs. The results of the current research show that the Romanian Destination Websites offer a poor online experience for users, in terms of content, functionalities and fail to fully satisfy the needs and wants of potential tourists. This study is important for establishing the strategies for developing the tourism destination management in Romania.


Since deep learning showed outstanding performance in the computer vision field, Music Information Retrieval (MIR) researchers also started to adopt these successful models in their research area. Unfortunately, a number of publications are still simply applying deep learning algorithms to any new problems or dataset without understanding their models. For sophisticated model design process, interpreting the architecture and the mechanism of hidden layers became more important, and it resulted in multiple publications to propose methods for investigating learnt information in hidden layers: visualization, auralization, and playlist generation. However, due to the fact that proposed methods are very time-consuming processes, hidden layers still remain a black-box. In this paper, I propose two ideas to investigate hidden layers more efficiently, which are ranking tags and deriving filter importances . With conventional approaches and proposed methods, I investigate latent semantics learnt in hidden layers of deep learning models, particularly Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). A prototype experiment was processed with Ballroom dataset and the main experiment was done with Beatport dataset which consists of 15k electronic music. The experimental result reports latent semantics of learnt kernels from pre-trained CNNs for the electronic music genre classification, which was not mainly explored in a deep learning research.


The present study aims to explore the relationship between senior management team culture and clinical governance by investigating public healthcare organizations in three Italian Regions: Emilia-R...


We newly developed a nano-scale patterning method overcoming the diffraction limit of conventional photo-lithography technique by utilizing micro-scale aluminum mask-hyperbolic metamaterials hybrid structures, which is supported by our numerical simulation and experimental results.


Hemoglobin Bart's ( γ4), an abnormal Hb, is a homotetramer of γ-globin chains . Τhe amount of this abnormal Hb in blood circulation can be used as an indicator for the pre sence of different genotypes of α-thalassemias. We successfully cloned and expressed a novel recombinant scFv antibody derived from mouse hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody highly specific to Hb Bart's. The genes encoding variable regions of the heavy (VH) and light (VL) chains were cloned and identified by DNA sequencing. The V H and VL genes were connected via a short linker to form th e full length VH-linker-VL construct and ligated into pET28a. The His tag-scFv fusion protein was e xpr ssed in E. coli and purified by affinity chromatography. The recombinant scFv antibody was mostly expressed as i nclusion bodies with the predicted molecular weight of 28 kDa. This scFv antibody was very specific by reacting with Hb Bart 's (γ4) but not cross-react with HbA ( α2β2), HbF (α2γ2), HbS (α2β2 ), HbE (α2β2 ), HbA2 (α2δ2), and HbH ( β4), as determined by Western blot. The detection se nsitivity of this scFv antibody was 5 μg/μl of Hb Bart's by dot blot ELISA. The scFv antibody should be useful in development of an immunoassay w ith high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of α-thalassemias.


Turbidite sandstones found in deep-water fold-and-thrust belts are increasingly exploited as hydrocarbon reservoirs (e.g. Weimer and Pettingill, 2007). Within these rocks, the fluid flow is profoundly affected by the complex interaction between primary sedimentological and stratigraphic attributes (i.e, facies, layering, reservoir quality, stacking patterns, bed connectivity and lateral extent) and fracture characteristics (i.e., length, spacing, distribution, orientation, connectivity). Unfortunately, most of these features are at, or below, the resolution of conventional seismic datasets and, for this reason, their identification and localization represent one of the fundamental challenges facing exploration, appraisal and production of the sandstone reservoirs (e.g. Mayall et al., 2006). In this respect, whereas considerable effort has been afforded to a characterization of the sedimentological and stratigraphic aspects of sandstones, detailed analysis of fractures in this type of successions has received significantly less attention (Bertotti et al. 2007).


Artificial neural networks have been used as an important technique in microwave modelling and optimisation. This paper gives an overview and recent developments on the knowledge-based neural modelling techniques in microwave modelling and design. The knowledge-based artificial neural networks are constructed by incorporating the existing knowledge such as empirical formulas, equivalent circuit models and semi-analytical equations in neural network structures. When one of the knowledge-based methods can not provide sufficient accuracy, two of them can be used in the same modelling process. This combination of methods is named hybrid technique. Using knowledge-based techniques requires less training data and has better extrapolation performance than classical neural networks. The advantages of using knowledge-based neural network modelling are demonstrated with microwave device modelling applications.


Introducing My Topic, and Myself. Do Women Have Management Potential? Social Values, Power and Women. What Places are There in Organizations for Women? Towards a Profile of Thirty Women Managers. Women Managers' Employment Histories, and Futures. Issues of Personal Identity. Lifestyles: "Leading a Balanced Life." Reform: How to Increase the Number of Women Managers. A Reflective Interlude. Re--Vision: Alternative Futures. Index.


Sparse matrix applications in computer-aided control systems design (CACSD) are described. A sparse matrix data structure is described and used in subsequent algorithms for the matrix exponential, linear simulation, and frequency response matrix calculations. The sparse matrix techniques require no special computer hardware such as aprallel or vector processors. The algorithms are applied to several typical aircraft flight control system state models. Comparison of the CPU timing results with CPU times for implementations of the same algorithms that do not take advantage of the sparsity of the state models show that significant CPU savings can be realized. FORTRAN code segments illustrating the sparse matrix operations are given.<<ETX>>


Landslides are the process of moving rock periods (soil) due to gravity. On the spatial prediction of landslide occurrence in the District in Central Java based on vegetation index using kriging. The vegetation index is the amount of green vegetation values obtained from the processing of digital signal data of the brightness value of several satellite sensor data channels. Some of the vegetation index algorithms used are SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index), OSAVI (Optimized Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index), DVI (Difference Vegetation Index), NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). Kriging is one of the prediction and interpolation methods in geostatistika, consisting of two types of ordinary kriging when only one variable and cokriging when there are more than one variable observed. Kriging functioning formation of color gradient pattern on map result of data interpolation. In this research it was found that the occurrence of landslide in the sample area correlated with low, medium, high, DVI vegetation index of DVI, NDVI, SAVI, OSVII. Banjarnegara Regency is prone to landslides in medium category, Wonosobo Regency in High category, Magelang Regency in High category, Kebumen Regency in Low category, Purworejo Regency in Low category. So it can be concluded that landslides are affected or associated with low tree cover seen by NDVI, DVI, SAVI, OSAVI vegetation indices.


It is shown that certain singular cases occurring in the test of a multivariate polynomial for global positivity need not be considered, leading to a considerable improvement in the efficiency in implementation of the test procedure.


There is no way to gauge precisely the contribution civil society groups make to the enforcement of international environmental law. Until now, leading academic texts have highlighted some of the impacts these groups have had. But their legacy has not been systematically or comprehensively surveyed. Considerable energy has also gone into the accumulation and dissemination of basic information about the encounters civil society groups have had with international institutions and domestic courts. The leading example of a network that performs this function is the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (E-Law). The lack of a good measure of impact leaves the door open, however, for an argument that civil society groups can and should play a larger role, and further that, if they did so, it would make a difference. This is the argument Malone and Pasternack offer and elaborate in their new book. They buttress their claim with three additional items. One is a forceful plea, made earlier by a leading text on international environmental law, and reflecting the text authors' extensive experience with civil society litigation. The plea is that civil society groups should act carefully, and in close collaboration with each other, when they do try to contribute to enforcement. Malone and Pasternack list the members of an international network of expert


The present invention discloses a melon wakame biscuits, was prepared from the following raw materials by weight: 200-250 whole wheat flour, sorghum flour 30-40, 6-8 cocoa powder, 20-30 melon, wakame 10- 14, Stevia 8-10, 15-25 grape, cassia seed 4-5, 2-3 willow, King spent 3-4, 2-3 Perrin, gotu kola 1-2, 4-5 plum, lychee shell 1 -2, baking soda 2-3, 8-12 nutritional powder, an appropriate amount of sea buckthorn oil; according to the present invention will crab shells, chicken processed into nutritional powders, it is possible to add up the bone marrow, tendon bone support, so that a higher nutritional value of cookies, melon rich in nutrients, wakame make cookies can lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, anti-cancer diet, clean intestines, skin protection, more long-term consumption can slow aging, promote bone growth and mental development of children, make grape fruity greatly promote the development and utilization of people's grapes.


The Vascular System: Topographic Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology of Blood Flow Definition of MR Angiography Basic Principles of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging K-Space and Resolution Flow-Dependent and Flow-Independent Acquisition Techniques Spatial Versus Temporal Resolution Contrast Media in MR Angiography Image Display Techniques Quantification of Blood Flow Hardware Configurations Artifacts and Limitations Intracranial Vessels The Carotid and Vertebral Arteries The Thoracic Aorta The Coronary Arteries The Pulmonary Vessels The Abdominal Aorta and Its Branches Arteries of the Extremities Veins of the Body and the Extremities The Splenoportal Venous System Guidance of Intravascular Therapeutic Procedures: Current Status and Future * Intravascular Implants: Safety and Artifacts Subject Index List of Contributors.


The solution redistribution was an important phenomenon during the solidification of multi-component alloys. The improvements of the solute redistribution were considered in this paper especial in the simulation processes. The models of Gibbs free energy were taken into three kinds such as pure materials, the substitutional solution and the sublattice. Calculating the Gibbs free energy of the system, the solute redistribution coefficients could be calculated. The simulated results of Al-Cu binary and Al-Si-Mg ternary alloys agree well with the experimental results.


Background : Concentration of acute care, early discharge, and moving care to the community are a global trend. In May 2012, the Central Denmark Region decided to transfer inpatient rehabilitation for stroke patients to the community, as part of a major stroke care reform. The objective was an integrated care pathway with early discharge stroke teams bridging the two sectors. The main tool was implementation of a collaboration agreement. This study analyses the top-down implementation process and to what extent integrated care has been achieved. Method : An embedded case study was designed, with cases of municipalities (n=7), and early discharge stroke teams (n=5). Municipalities were selected on the basis of theory-based criteria. Data was gathered from October 2013 to April 2014 by means of semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. Results : Both sectors accepted the change, as they believe the reform will benefit the patient. The implementation process has been experienced as head over heels by the stroke teams, and as non-involving by the municipalities. The respondents were not involved in developing the collaboration agreement, and did not feel ownership. Stroke teams experienced opposition of municipalities to their existence. Municipalities were not informed about the financial consequences of the reform. Care is provided by both parties, but it is not coordinated or shared. Conclusion and discussion : The collaboration agreements have been implemented at the administrative level, but haven't resulted in integrated care at the practice level. Active involvement of health care professionals at the practice level would have led to smoother processes with a better result, because the rationale for the reform was supported by the practice level. The implementation process should focus on achieving shared values across sectors and the collaboration agreements could be used as input for that, rather than be viewed as output of the process.


In the attention of the reader to the article on the basis of practical experience, an attempt is made to outline the practice of modern Russian bureaucracy, to reveal General patterns and rules of communication, and also taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of the bureaucratic system is to provide mechanisms for effective interaction between entrepreneurs and representatives of the bureaucratic community in Russia.


Background: Work is an important part of working individuals' life and is an occupation to some people. A number of issues may need to be considered to support people with bipolar disorder in their ...


A wideband end fire antenna architecture in planar technology with fewer turns: helix antenna in planar technology adopting thickness of quarter wavelength is suggested. A wideband 24 GHz helix antenna with 2.25 turns in Rogers compressed RT 4350 technology is presented. The antenna has a bandwidth of 6.2 GHz for S11, gain of 9.3 dBi, half power width of 39.5◦ and 39◦, respectively in X-Z and X-Y planes. This helix antenna is characterized by wide bandwidth, high gain, high half power width, compactness, and high gain turn ratio. It could also be utilized in antenna design for other frequency bands with compressed PCB technology, as well for on-chip THz antenna design.


As a nitrogen fertilizer for vegetable production in Britain ammonia has been used mainly for bruasels sprouts (Page, Tatham & Wood, 1974; Page, 1975a; Page, Wood & Case, 1976), and leeks (Page & Williams, 1977). These crops with long growing seasons allow considerable latitude in time of application of the ammonia. Summer and autumn maturing cauliflowers have not only a short growing season, but also have a physiological control of curd formation which appears to be insensitive to nitrogen supply (Salter, 1969; Salter & Fradgley, 1969). They are also usually transplanted into the field, and the root system is therefore restricted for at least part of the growing season. It is therefore desirable to know if the roots would reach the injected nitrogen in time, as, until the ammonia becomes nitrified, nitrogen movement in the soil is small (Page, 19756). Thus, time of application of the ammonia was considered likely to be important.


Several recent critical opinions and negative assessment of methods applied for research and conservation of archaeological objects, as well as not very successful attempts to work out an exemplary instruction concerning exploration and documentation of archaeological objects, have caused the author's concern. She postulates to undertake a few high-priority measures that may improve - at least partially - the situation. They are: 1 - modification of the students' training program aiming at its quantitative and qualitative intensification in the scope of the exploration methods and preservation of the archaeological substance; 2 - preparing and subsequently publishing in Polish the Manual of the Exploration Methods, including - among others - instruction on preliminary field survey, inventory of artifacts and their conservation; 3 - working out clear criterions (e.g. in the form of an official certificate) for issuing permits to conduct archaeological field research, to be granted to university graduates after an appropriate apprentice period.


A first steam turbine of the rebound stage design is open to form a second turbine stage design of the practical impact using a first turbine and a common component. To open a new path to steam in a first turbine, the rotor, and the upper outer and inner shell of the first turbine is then removed leaving a lower outer shell. The lower carrier section, are mounted in the lower outer shell. Fit the rotor which forms part of the new steam path. The upper inner side shell is bolted to the lower shell, which surrounds the rotor inside, the lower carrier section is bolted to the lower carrier section. Finally, the upper outer shell is bolted to the lower outer shell. As a result, new vapor path of a reduced diameter is opened in a conventional turbine, using a conventional turbine outer shell.


Background: In health care services, equity is the delivery of similar care for similar needs (horizontal equity), and the delivery of more care for higher needs (vertical equity). This study assessed the extent to which primary care provision is equitable across gender, age and socioeconomic groups, and whether any observed disparity is associated with the type of primary care remuneration model to which a family practice belongs. Remuneration models include Fee For Service in which the physician is paid for each encounter, Salary where payment is fixed for the number of hours worked, and Capitation where payment is tied to the number of patients under the care of the provider, and very little or no additional compensation is provided for each patient encounter. Methods: This thesis used data from a cross sectional study of 5,361 patients receiving care from practices (n) in which primary care providers were remunerated by Fee For Service (35), Salary (35), or Capitation (68). Multi-level linear or logistic regressions were used to assess the impact of gender, age and socioeconomic strata on quality of care. The quality of health service delivery and health promotion were assessed through surveys based on the Primary Care Assessment Tool (n=5,111). The quality of preventive care (n=4,108) and chronic disease management (n-514) were evaluated through chart abstraction using the Canadian recommendations for care as the standard. The analyses were conducted stratified by remuneration model to allow the impact of the model on the extent of disparity in quality of care between social strata to be assessed. Results: Men and women reported similar quality of health service delivery. Women were significantly more likely to be up to date on their preventive care, but adherence to recommended guidelines for chronic disease management was better for men in the Fee For Service practices. Older individuals reported better health service delivery than younger ones. The quality of chronic disease management was also age dependent with better care delivered to individuals ages 60-69. Individuals of low income and education had better accessibility than those not disadvantaged in the Salaried model and Fee For Service, but not Capitation model. Despite their higher health risks, these individuals were not more likely to receive healthy lifestyle counseling. Conclusions: Significant inequalities in the care of patients were found across social strata. In some cases, these inequalities are deemed appropriate; a justifiable response to differing health care needs. In other cases, they are deemed inappropriate and representing inequities in the delivery of care. Some of the observed disparities were present in one remuneration model but not others, suggesting that the payment approach may be contributing to these differences. The results raise the concern that the capitation remuneration structure may compromise accessibility.


Objectives The vast majority of residents' working time is spent away from patients. In hospital practice, many factors may influence the resident's working day structure. Using an innovative method, we aimed to compare working time allocation among internal medicine residents using time-motion observations. The first study goal was to describe how the method could be used for inter-hospital comparison. The secondary goal was to learn about specific differences in the resident's working day structure in university and non-university hospital settings. Design Two separate time-motion studies. Trained peer-observers followed the residents during weekday day shifts with a tablet, able to record 22 different activities and corresponding context (with patient, phone, colleague or computer). Setting Internal medicine residencies at a university (May–July 2015) and a non-university (September–October 2016) community hospital. Participants 28 residents (mean age: 29 years, average postgraduate training: 30 months) at university hospital, 21 residents (mean age: 30 years, average postgraduate training: 17 months) at non-university hospital. Outcomes Time spent with patients and time dedicated to activities directly related to patients; description of main differences of time allocation between hospitals. Results Cumulatively 1051 hours of observation (566 (university hospital)+486 (non-university hospital)) and 92 day shifts (49+43) were evaluated. Daily working time was 11.5 versus 11.3 hours. A median daily period of 195 min (IQR 179–211, 27.9%) and 116 min (IQR 98–134, 17.2%) (p<0.001) was dedicated to direct patient care, respectively. Conclusions We successfully identified differences potentially related to each hospital structure and organisation. Inter-hospital comparisons could help set up interventions aiming to improve workday structure and experience of residents.


In Korea, all of the instrumental solenoid operated valves(SOVs) used in nuclear power plant (NPP) have been not localized and imported from foreign companies. The SOV is an important equipment to supply the air into the control equipment as air operated valve. When safety related equipment such as the SOVs in NPP are in trouble, advance preparations for rapid maintenance and replacement are required. Equipment with dependence on import is very difficult to supply at right time and is above the market price. In this paper, we performed computational analysis for development of solenoid operated valve using in NPP. Various analyses such as electromagnetic, thermal, fluid and structure analysis are performed with ANSYS.


The goal of this paper is to present a stabilized Galerkin technique for approximating non-coercive PDE's. This technique is based on a two-level hierarchical decomposition of the approximation space. This space is broken up into resolved scales and subgrid scales. We show that in general the Galerkin formulation provides an a priori control on the resolved scales of the approximate solution, whereas it cannot control the subgrid scales. The missing stability is obtained by slightly modifying the Galerkin formulation by introducing an artificial diffusion on the subgrid scales. Numerical tests show that the method applies also to nonlinear problems.


The present article describes 2D transient electric field calculation by finite element method. Special attention is given to the nonlinear dependence of insulation material resistivity on eclectic field strength under HVDC condition. Importance of taking it into account is shown by comparison calculation results.


For the steady wear state of two contact problems involving power-law graded materials, closed-form solutions are derived in terms of pressure distribution and limiting shapes of profile. Both gross slip of an initially flat-ended cylindrical punch on a power-law graded half-space and the load-controlled fretting wear under partial slip of an initially parabolic indenter are studied. In the case of gross slip at fixed penetration depth there exists a certain exponent of elastic inhomogeneity, for which the effective volume change takes its maximum value. To minimize wear due to fretting under partial slip, an amplitude dependent design of the material gradient is necessary. For large amplitudes of the tangential force a gradient ranged from a soft surface to a hard ground is beneficial, small amplitudes require a reverse gradient characterized by a hard surface and a soft ground. However, the choice of the material gradient also has a decisive influence on the strength of stress singularities at the contact edge and thus the initiation of fretting fatigue cracks, which is why it is discussed in more detail.


Recent studies have shown that predator diet cues provide important information that prey animals can use to assess predation risk. Predator-naive prey animals may even learn to recognize unknown p...


Objective To establish a method to evoke cerebral potentials by stimulating nociceptive fibers with contact heat evoked potential stimulator,evaluate the state of nociceptive system in patients with multiple sclerosis and assess the value of the potentials in multiple sclerosis(MS).Methods Thirty-six definite MS patients and 40 sex-,height-and aged-matched healthy persons underwent stimulation of contact heat delivered via a circular thermode to excite selectively nociceptors with a rapid rising time at 70℃/s to elicit pain and contact heat evoked potentiaI(CHEP).Thermal stimuli were sent at two intensity levels (47 ℃ and 51℃)to 3 body sites:volar surface of the forearm,the skin of leg 5 cm proximal to the medial malleolus and lumbar part.The CHEP were recorded from Cz.The relationship between the stimulus intensity and pain rating was observed,and the main components of the evoked potential were recorded.Then,somatosensory evoked potential(SEP)was examined in 36 patients with MS.Results CHEP were elicited reliably and stably in all control subjects.In contrast,in 4 patients there were no recordable CHEP on stimulation of the upper limb,and in some cases of lower limb(n=5).Conduction velocity of Aδ fihers was(18.1±7.3)m/s.The 21 MS cases had hypesthesia in upper limb and 29 cases in lower limb.The visual analog scale(VAS)for pain perception was higher in control subjects(upper limb:8.0±0.7;lower limb:7.9±0.7)than MS with hypesthesia(upper limb:6.1±0.9;lower limb:5.6±1.3,Z=-3.249 and -5.272,both P<0.01).The group of patients (MS) with hypesthesia(upper limb 17 cases,lower limb 24 cases)had markedly reduced N-P amplitudes(upper limb:(30.5±12.8)μV;lower limb:(28.2±16.2)μV,t=-4.612 and -3.144,both P<0.01)and prolonged N-wave latencies(upper limb:(387.3±34.2)ms;lower limb:(489.9±70.2)ms,t=4.790 and 4.798,both P<0.01)compared with the control group in CHEP mediated by Aδ fibers.CHEP abnormality was observed more often in the lower(26/36,72.2%)than the upper limb(16/36,44.4%,P=0.031)and SEP(19/36,52.8%,χ~2=4.261,P=0.039).CHEP were abnormal in 3 of 15 skin areas with clinically normal nociception in upper limb,and in some cases of lower limb(2 of 7).Conclusions CHEP provides a clinically practical,non-invasive and objective measure,and can be a useful additional tool for the assessment of nocieptive system.Combined assessment of other Eps can help to document dissemination of demyelinating CNS lesions and detect subclinical lesions thus contribute to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Key words:
Multiple sclerosis; Heat; Pain threshold; Evoked poteintials; somatosensory; Hypesthesia


As an organization with cultural property,owing to the imperfection of legal representative mechanism,private colleges had conflicts between idealistic culture and realistic culture,corporation culture and school culture,individual culture and collective culture,foreign culture and native culture,civilizing people by culture and civilizing culture by people. It also had the conflicts of being against ethic,public welfare,and fairness and justice at different levels. An integration of object,value,power,system and mind should be done,so as to change private colleges into outstanding colleges with modern culture ideology.


FIELD: chemistry. SUBSTANCE: inventions refer to medical materials and can be used for polymer materials for soft contact lenses (SCL) of prolonged wearing. Engineering problem is development of polymer composition in the form of interpenetrating grids for SCL of prolonged wearing, possessing oxygen barrier property, hydrophilic properties, mechanical strength and optical transparency in both hydrated and dehydrated state, as well as development of simplified, efficient production method not requiring large quantity of highly toxic organic solvents. Offered are polymer composition representing bi-phase silicone-hydrogel material in the form of sequential interpenetrating grids consisting of cross-linked polysiloxane that is reaction product of vinyl-containing and hydro-containing oligosiloxane, and hydrophilic polymer that is cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol, and production method thereof including synthesis of cross-linked polysiloxane; polysiloxane saturation with monomeric mixture containing vinylacetate, cross-linking monomer and radical polymerisation initiator; copolymerisation of vinylacetate and cross-linking monomer, alcoholysis of cross-linked polyvinylacetate and production of silicone-hydrogel polysiloxane - polyvinyl alcohol. EFFECT: production of polymer composition in the form of interpenetrating grids for SCL of prolonged wearing, possessing oxygen barrier property, hydrophilic properties, mechanical strength and optical transparency, and development of simplified, efficient production method not requiring large quantity of highly toxic organic solvents. 6 cl, 1 tbl, 9 ex


Photograph of the Clanfolk Scottish Dancers performing at the Texas Folklife Festival in San Antonio, Texas. Female dancers wear white dresses, while male dancers wear white dress shirts, ties, kilts, and knee socks. At the center of the stage, a male and female dancer hold hands as they dance.


The invention discloses a decontaminating and dedusting device for a steel drum, which comprises a support which is used for placing the steel drum, a driving device which is used for driving the steel drum to rotate and a cleaning device which is used for cleaning the surface of the steel drum, wherein the cleaning device comprises a hairbrush and a thrust unit which is used for pushing the hairbrush to move, and the driving device and the thrush device are respectively fixed on the support. When the decontaminating and dedusting device is used, the steel drum is placed on the support, the steel drum is driven to move through the driving device, and the hairbrush is pushed to move through the thrust device; and the hairbrush begins to clean the surface of the steel drum when in contact with the steel drum. The decontaminating and dedusting device has simple structure and convenient operation, can reduce manual work, lighten the hurt to a human body when people clean the steel drum, and lower the labor cost.


Crosstalk is one main problem which leads to false distance measurement and reduces work efficiency of ultrasonic range sensor systems in mobile robots. The reason which results in ultrasonic crosstalk is briefly analyzed. To enhance the SNR (signal noise ratio) and work efficiency, different methods used to avoid ultrasonic crosstalk have been put forward in the past decade. Such representative methods are classified into two categories, which are called heuristic soft-processing strategy and hardware based coding strategy in this paper. The advantage and disadvantage of each method are analyzed. Suggestions and comments on designing non-crosstalk ultrasonic range system are proposed at the end


Background/Objectives : Employees play a pivotal role in the hotel industry's success. In order to retain the employees, a loyal workforce must be created within the hotel industry. Methods/Statistical analysis : The structural relationship among job based determinants, employee retention, job satisfaction and employee loyalty among star category hotel employees was analyzed by employing path analysis. Findings : The structural relationship among job based determinants, employee retention strategies, job satisfaction and employee loyalty was analyzed by employing path analysis. The goodness-of-fit statistics indicate that the hypothesised model fits the data gathered adequately well. Improvements/Applications : In order to increase the employee belongingness, the hotels should make the employees know all the happenings in the hotel by the way of being transparent.


Afferent fibers innervate the stomach. However, very little is known about the topographical distribution and morphological terminal structures of gastric nociceptive axons and terminals in rodents. In this study, we used Substance P (SP) as a marker to label afferent fibers in the whole‐mount dorsal and ventral stomach including longitudinal and circular muscles and the myenteric nervous system in C57BL/6J mice and SD rats. The whole‐mount dorsal and ventral stomachs were processed with the substance P (SP) primary antibody followed by the secondary antibody, and then examined using confocal microscopy. We found that: 1) SP‐IR axons and terminals extensively covered the fundus, corpus and antrum of the dorsal and ventral stomach. 2) SP‐IR varicose axons ran in parallel with the longitudinal as well as circular muscles. 3) SP‐IR varicose axons formed dense rings of terminal varicosities around individual neurons in the myenteric plexus. 4) The density of SP‐IR axons and terminals varicosities was different in the fundus, corpus and antrum. Collectively, our data showed for the first time the comprehensive topographical distribution and morphology of SP‐IR axons and terminals in different regions of the stomach. This knowledge will provide an anatomical basis for differentiated nociceptive gastric afferent functions in rodents.


determination of deformation indices, like vertical and horizontal displacements, requires high precision geodetic surveys. in the classic surveying, the precise, geometrical leveling is commonly used in order to determine vertical displacements and angle-distance measurements in control network in order to determine horizontal displacements. The paper presents the main principles and steps of precise determination of the 3-d displacements with the use of GPs technology. The technology of field measurements together with the construction of the control network and the observation processing methodology is presented. The emphasis was put on the data post-processing strategy in precise, local satellite networks. The presented achievable accuracy is confirmed after several years of the experience gained during field campaigns at the open pit mine adamów and the Main and old city of Gdańsk. The results show that it is possible to achieve 2-3 mm accuracy 3-d coordinates of the monitored points. This in turn allows for high accuracy deformation monitoring.


Diseases of cultured animal and environmental pollution are very important problems in aquaculture. The use of probiotics in aquaculture has more advantages than the use of antibiotics and chemicals in aquaculture. This review introduces the use and mechanisms of the probiotics in aquaculture.


, Abstract: Backend trajectory optimization is an important part of the visual simultaneous localization and mapping system, which can significantly improve localization accuracy. However, the existing optimization methods based on the bundle adjustment have a large amount of calculation in large scenes and cannot be applied to end-to-end visual odometries. To solve this problem, a universal backend pose graph optimization algorithm with two visual odometries at the front end is proposed, which can be applied to end-to-end visual odometries. This method uses a high-speed but low-precision end-to-end visual odometry to run at high frequency, while a low-speed but high-precision visual odometry runs at a low frequency. Local optimization uses Gauss-Newton method iterative optimization through the constraints provided by two odometries. Global optimization is per-formed simultaneously which based on key frames scene matching. Experiments show that the simultaneous localization and mapping system which apply this optimization method can run in real-time on the KITTI dataset. Compared with the two visual odometries, the accuracy has been greatly improved. And compared with several well-known open source simultaneous localization and mapping methods that apply backend trajectory optimization, low errors have been achieved in trajectory error, absolute translational error, rotation error and rela-tive pose error, taking into account the advantages of the accuracy of traditional methods and the advantages of high speed end-to-end methods. In addition, the optimization framework can also be applied to other more visual odometries.


Nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in the regulation of various endocrine functions, but the effect of NO on GABAA receptor transmission has never been reported in endocrine cells. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of various agents acting on the NO transduction pathway on GABAA receptor function in frog pituitary melanotrophs. Histochemical studies using the NADPH-diaphorase reaction and immunohistochemical labeling with antibodies against neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) revealed that nNOS is expressed in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary and in cultured melanotrophs. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that the specific substrate of NOS l-arginine (l-Arg, 10−4 m) or the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (10−5 m) provoked a long-lasting inhibition of the current evoked by GABA (5 × 10−6 m). The NOS inhibitor l-nitroarginine (10−5 m) produced a biphasic effect, i.e. a transient decrease followed by a delayed increase of the GABA-evoked current amplitude. Similarly, the specific nNOS in...


Abstract This study aimed to identify the kinds of problem that constrain Ruth to be financially independent and to analyze her struggles to gain her financial independence in dealing with the problems that she faces. This study was a qualitative research employing content analysis method. The first result of the research was the problems that constrain Ruth to be financially independent. They were (1) stereotype: being stereotyped as weak, being stereotyped as domestic, and being stereotyped as spoiled due to her family's wealth; (2) marginalization: being underestimated and being discouraged; and (3) subordination: unfair treatment between sons and daughters and the assumption that women do not deserve high education. The second result was related to Ruth's struggles to gain her financial independence. They were (1) trying hard to get a job: applying for needle work, applying for a teacher, and applying for a columnist; and (2) working hard to prove her ability: working as a contributor, working as a columnist, and working as a writer. Keywords: financial independence, women's struggle, Ruth Hall.


Objective To investigate the relationship between Treg cells change in the peripheral blood and chemoresponse and tumor burden during bortezomib based chemotherapy for multiple myeloma( MM). Methods To detect the proportion of Treg cells change in the peripheral blood before and after bortezomib based chemotherapy from 21 newly diagnosed and 16 retreatment MM patients by flow cytometry and CCK-8,respectively. The correlation of the change of Treg cells and chemoresponse and serum β 2-microglobulin( β2-MG) was then statistically analyzed. Results Compared to healthy volunteers, the proportion of Treg cells in the peripheral blood before chemotherapy from MM patients was significantly higher. In contrast,through bortezomib based chemotherapy,the proportion of Treg cells in the peripheral blood from newly diagnosed MM patients with effective chemotherapy dropped from( 8. 69 ± 1. 39) % to( 6. 07 ± 1. 21) %( P 0. 05). Meanwhile,the proportion of Treg cells from retreatment MM patients dropped from( 9. 35 ± 1. 32) % to( 7. 33 ± 1. 06) %( P 0. 05). The activity of Treg cells in the peripheral blood after chemotherapy from MM patients with effective chemotherapy was reduced significantly. Howere,the proportion of Treg cells and their activity from those two group patients with ineffective chemotherapy was not significantly different. Further analysis found that the decrease of proportion of Treg cells in the peripheral blood after chemotherapy was linearly related with the decrease of serum β 2-MG. Conclusion It is concluded that bortezomib based chemotherapy is effective in the treatment of either newly diagnosed or retreatment MM patients. It suggests that Treg cell is a reliable index of chemoresponse and tumor burden in bortezomib based chemotherapy for multiple myeloma.


In this study, interactions between a main crack and a surrounding layer of crazing patterns are considered. Analysis of the stress field distribution as well as the energy induced during these interactions is based on the resolution of some differential equations along with appropriate boundary conditions and the use of a numerical approach. It is proven throughout this study that the crazes growth occurs along directions normal to the major principal stress directions and constitutes an important toughening mechanism. Thus, the mode I Stress Intensity Factor (SIF) is employed to quantify the effects of this damage on the main crack and the Energy Release Rate (ERR) due to the linear propagation of the main crack and also to the translational change in the growth of the damage. It is proven, herein, that crazes closer to the main crack dominate the resulting interaction effect and reflect an anti-shielding of the damage while a reduction constitutes a material toughness.


Text classification is an important enabling technology for a wide range of applications such as Internet search, email filtering, network intrusion detection, and data mining electronic documents in general. The k Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) text classification algorithm is among the most accurate classification approaches, but is also among the most computationally expensive. In this paper, we propose accelerating k-NN using a novel reconfigurable hardware based architecture. More specifically, we accelerate a k-NN application's core with an FPGA-based sparse matrix vector multiplication coprocessor. On average our implementation shows a speed up factor of 15 over a naïve single threaded CPU implementation of k-NN text classification for our datasets, and a speed up factor of 1.5 over a 32-threaded parallelized CPU implementation.


Objective To investigate the possibility of bridging small peripheral nerve gap using a partial de acetyl chitosan tube. Methods The sciatic nerves of both sides at SD rats were cut. They were allocated into 5 groups landomly. Group A: epineurium suture in situ (n=10); group B: biological tube for bridging the peripheral nerve defect with a small gap (n=10); group C: epineurium suture with distal stump rotated 180°(n=10); group D: bridging the nerve by biological tube with a small gap, but the distal stump rotated 180°(n=10); group N: normal control(n=10). On the 6 weeks after operation, electrophysiological examination was done. The myelinated axon count was calculated under the light microscope. Results The nerve conduction velocity in group A,B,D was faster than in group C but slower than in group N. There was no statistically significant difference among 5 groups. The results of myelinated axon count showed as follows: A B D C N. There was statistical significant difference between group A,B,D and group C. However, no difference was found among group A,B and D. Conclusion The results of partial de acetyl chitosan tube for bridging nerve defect with a small gap were superior to that with epineurium suture with distal stump rotated. This new methods may be possible to substitute epineurium suture.


There exist many problems in tests,process,and turn-to-turn short circuit protection of 110 kV dry-type shunt reactors in UHVAC transmission systems.These problems are mainly caused by the special structure of dry-type shunt reactors which is different from transformers.In order to perfect test items of dry-type shunt reactors and to solve the actual problems in UHVAC transmission systems,these existed problems are discriminated on the basis of the technical specification about 110 kV shunt reactors,related standards,factory practice and available research conclusions.It is pointed out that 110 kV dry-type shunt reactors routine test system lacks its integrity,so it is suggested that the small current distribution inspection should be added and perfected as routine test,and the conductor allowable current density can be set as the control index of winding process dispersion;moreover,lightning impulse test will replace the turn-to-turn withstand test as routine test and should adopt three times negative polarity(not positive polarity) full-wave voltage to examine the winding turn-to-turn insulation.Theoretically,the chopped wave voltage test should not be required,and the winding partial discharge test is not suitable.The winding surface leakage distance should be controlled properly in current process conditions to satisfy the design requirements in the absence of partial discharge.Meanwhile,using the cross differential current protection principle of generator turn-to-turn short circuit for reference,the detection sensitivity of reactor turn-to-turn short circuit fault can be improved.


Nanotechnology in construction and building materials has attracted great attention in recent years. Results demonstrated that nanomodification of cementitious materials can lead to significant improvement of the mechanical property, compactness, and durability. In this paper, based on the major characteristics of nanomaterials when used in cement-based materials, the recent progresses of nanomodification of cementitious materials with the mostly used nanomaterials such as nano-SiO2, nanoclay, nano-Al2O3,and carbon nano materials (carbon nanotubes and nanofibers) are reviewed. Modification effects and their influencing mechanisms of nanomaterials introduced by their specific features, such as the hydration seeding effect, the filling effect, the thixotropy-modifying effect, and the chemical reactivity feature on the properties of cementitious materials are reviewed. It is suggested that a stronger, greener, and more durable cementitious material can be obtained through the help of nanomodification.


In this paper we consider the two equations ; = z 2 +p(t)z+r 0 (t), z = z 2 +p(t)z+r 1 (t), (.) ( .. ) where z ~ C, p, r 1 and r 0 are real, continuous and periodic with period T. It was shown in[2]that if ( •) has two T -periodic solutions and if r 1 ( t) ~ r 0 ( t) for all tE. [ 0, T ], then ( ••) has two T -periodic solutions. In this note we extend this result by showing that if, moreover, the two T -periodic solutions of ( •) are real then so are the T -periodic solutions of( •• ).


Farm-household relations represent a central question as related to data collection / processing to provide information on rural development and agricultural-based households income. This issue implies both theoretical and empirical (modelling) facets. In the framework of the SEAMLESS Integrated Project (EU Framework Programme 6), the Farm System Simulator (FSSIM) model was developed. Based on FSSIM a household module is built to take into account farminghousehold inter-linkages, particularly inflows of extra-farming income by household members, as well as use of (household) family labour, and households (self) consumption of farming outputs. The improvements being developed in the model will allow including issues peculiar of inter-tropical farming systems (FSSIM Africa – provisional title of the new model). Concerning methodological improvements, the last advancements in (Positive) Mathematical Programming as an approach useful to model ex-ante farm-household behaviour under relevant policy scenarios are addressed. The paper includes results of a farm-household survey of Sierra Leone. Results focus on farm-household relations, addressing data collection / processing issues as related to farm-household and village connections.


(57) [summary] user removable optical recording system is provided. The first surface of the medium rotatable are encased in a cartridge. Cartridges, despite the relatively small size of about 35mm × 35mm × 3mm, to provide a relatively large data capacity of greater than or equal to about 0.25Gbyte. Preferably, the cartridge when removed from the drive, substantially sealing the data recording surface of the medium, when inserted into the drive, at least a portion of one surface, automatically with respect to the objective end of the optical arm exposed. Tracking is accomplished by rotating the optical arm about an axis parallel to the disk axis of rotation. Focusing is achieved by about an axis parallel rotate with respect to the disk surface of the optical arm.


The consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased worldwide as a function of modern society, look for an overall, healthier and more natural lifestyle. Therefore, the work evaluated as post-harvest characteristics of the 'Giombo' persimmon submitted to different types of vacuum packaging, verifying as quality variables: Mass Loss; Potential of Hydrogen (pH); Soluble Solids (SS). The persimmons were collected at the Company of Technical Assistance and Rural Extension - Emater Anápolis / GO, and analyzes were carried out at the Post Harvesting Drying and Storage Laboratory of the Agricultural Engineering course, belonging to the State University of Goiás – Henrique Santillo Exact and Technological Sciences Campus, where they were selected, sanitized with sodium hypochlorite solution 2% NaClO, processed, submitted to different types of packaging and maintained in BOD with RU of 40% and 8.0 ± 1.4 °C for 18 days . It was used in experiment the CRD - Completely randomized design, in a factorial scheme 3 x 7 (packages x days of analysis), with 3 replicates. The persimmons were submitted to different vacuum packages, being control (without packaging), Polypropylene - PP and Low Density Polyethylene - LDPE. As the evaluation was performed every 3 days, for a period of 18 days (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 days). The data originated were submitted to analysis of variance (P <0.05) and, when significant, were performed in Tukey tests, at 5% probability, and regression, using SISVAR 5.3 Software. Based on the evaluations, it was concluded that 'Giombo' persimmons stored under different vacuum packages provided a positive effect throughout the storage, highlighting the LDPE treatment, which had preserved postharvest characteristics such as mass loss, soluble solids and pH more effectively.


Bonython, [Sir] John Langton - Guide to Australian Business RecordsPublished Resources - The Guide to Australian Business Records is a biographical, bibliographical and archival database of Australian business entities with links to related articles and images.


We formulate quantum field theory for a wide class of accelerated space-times in four dimensions and describe its thermal properties in terms of analytic mappings. We demonstrate that four-dimensional Rindler space uniquely satisfies the condition of global thermal equilibrium, while spaces which are asymptotically Rindler have thermal equilibrium asymptotically. We discuss the renormalization of the quantum energy-momentum tensor with application to situations in two, four, and ..nu.. dimensions and specifically refer to the general result for conformally flat two-dimensional space-times. Covariant and noncovariant regularization schemes are presented and compared, and we make an improvement to proposals for covariantly regularizing the stress tensor by point separation.


Fatigue crack growth tests were conducted on 0.09 inch thick, 3.0 inch wide middle-crack tension specimens cut from sheets of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy. The tests were conducted using a load sequence that consisted of a single block of 2,500 cycles of constant amplitude loading followed by an overload/underload combination. The largest fatigue crack growth life occurred for the tests with the overload stress equal to 2 times the constant amplitude stress and the underload stress equal to the constant amplitude minimum stress. For the tests with compressive underloads, the fatigue crack growth life decreased with increasing compressive underload stress.


This chapter studies how venture capitalists invest in open source-based companies. Evaluation and valuation of knowledge-intensive companies is a challenge to investors, and while many methods exist for evaluating traditional knowledge-intensive companies, the rise of open source companies with new hard-to-measure value propositions such as developer communities brings new complexity to deal-making. The chapter highlights some experiences that venture capitalists have had with open source companies. The authors hope that the overview of venture capital process and methodology as well as two case examples will provide both researchers and entrepreneurs new insights into how venture capitalists work and make investments. IntroductIon In the traditional view, the evolution of a technology-based new company is seen through separate consecutive stages. Business is based on creating tangible real assets; and in the end, the value of a company is also based on real assets. First, the technology is developed, which is followed by setting up the organization. Once the organization has reached a sufficient scale, internationalization is started. Finally, the value of the company is estimated with potential venture investment or through realization either through an initial public offering (IPO) or a trade sale. However, due to the increased complexity of products and services, time-to-market tends to lengthen. In order to maintain sufficient resources until the company reaches profitability, external financing is needed. The time needed to turn a


With the emergence of social media, a claim has been made about the generalisation of online public participation among youth, as new platforms empower them and give them a voice (Jenkins et al., 2009). Although some scholars question the worthiness of what later was called 'clicktivism' or 'armchair activism' arguing that this generates a low-quality, redundant, and insubstantial public discourse (Shulman, 2009) without any public impact, there are other voices that values the clicktivism for erasing and transgressing group or class barriers when engaging in the public life (Karpf, 2010). The critics generally look beyond the 'potentiality' of participation at the actual engagement in civic and public life, engagement that require some digital and/ or political skills that are to be found at the top of the 'ladder of opportunities' provided by the internet (Livingstone et al., 2011). Later on, based on this gap between 'possible access' and 'actual use' of the empowered voices, some scholars propose a third level of digital divide to determine what tangible outcomes individuals enjoy in their lives as a result of their digital engagement (VanDeursen & Helsper, 2015). In the context of this debate, we propose to question whether and how do Romanian adolescents (14 to18 years old) online engage in public life. For measuring this we used an adapted online civic engagement scale (Smith, 2013). We also wanted to measure whether there is a connection between online public engagement and the quality of the friendship measured using an adapted scale of Ladd and his colleagues (1996). The data had been collected in the  quantitative stage of Friends 2.0 project (2015-2017; Romania) which more generally aimed to explore the meaning of friendship for adolescents in the context of social media use.


Scroll through this compact slide show for review of gaps in US adult vaccination practice and how primary care can help fill them.


This paper deals with adaptively tuning the discrete-time PID controllers to be able to regulate some infinite-dimensional plants in the presence of unmeasured load disturbances having an arbitrary form. The key idea is that the PID control law is derived on the basis of a second order model of AR structure. Such an approach leads to the appearance of unmodelled dynamics. To cope with the unmodelled uncertainty, the projection together with an adjustable dead zone is utilized in the adaptation algorithm. The boundedness of all the signals is established. The results are evaluated by simulation studies.


Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH2)) nanoparticles are produced following an easy, ion exchange process. The produced nanoparticles are characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and are then dispersed in an aqueous emulsion of silanes/siloxanes. The dispersions are sprayed on marble and the surface structures of the deposited coatings are revealed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By adjusting the nanoparticle concentration, the coated marble obtains superhydrophobic and water repellent properties, as evidenced by the high static contact angles of water drops (> 150°) and the low sliding angles (< 10°). Because Ca(OH)2 is chemically compatible with limestone-like rocks, which are the most common stones found in buildings and objects of the cultural heritage, the produced composite coatings have the potential to be used for conservation purposes. For comparison, the wetting properties of another superhydrophobic and water repellent coating composed of the same siloxane material and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles, which were commonly used in several previously published reports, were investigated. The suggested siloxane+Ca(OH)2 composite coating offers good protection against water penetration by capillarity and has a small effect on the aesthetic appearance of marble, according to colorimetric measurements.


Becoming a better teacher by learning and implementing new ways of teaching requires time, effort, persistence, and a belief that new strategies will enhance student learning. But when educational leaders try to improve teachers and teaching from the outside, by bringing in reformers to transform how teachers engage in the core business of teaching, reforms rarely stick because the first transformation that must occur is in the perspective of initially resistant teachers. This transformation in perspective comes, in part, from teachers working to improve the quality of teachers and teaching in their own schools by developing a common vision, trust in teacher leadership, and openness to learning. Teachers who promote change can make a lasting impact.


Abstract— Stereoscopic 3‐D digital imaging holds the promise of improving the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease as well as enhancing the training and preparation of medical professionals through use of stereoscopic 3‐D displays in concert with the many volumetric visualization techniques/modalities developed in recent years. While so‐called 3‐D graphics have improved the state of computer visualization in general, 3‐D displays make full use of the human‐visual perception, and thus can provide critical insight in complex computer‐generated and video 3‐D data. The stereo 3‐D applications reviewed in this paper include screening of breast cancer and diabetic retinopathy, visualization for minimally invasive surgery, and the teaching of anatomy. Also included is a discussion of ground‐breaking results from a stereo digital mammography clinical trial under way at Emory University.


Superconductivity is a fascinating quantum phenomenon able to manifest itself at truly macroscopic scale. From magnetic levitation to lossless power cables, from magnetic resonance imaging to plasma confinement for nuclear fusion, it has a bright future ahead, particularly in the field of quantum information. However, the dissipationless state, the hallmark of superconductivity, may be threatened or plainly disappear at low dimensions, as for instance in superconducting nanocircuits, mainly due to fluctuations. The dominant fluctuations are those concerning a simultaneous depletion of the order parameter and a slippage of the superconducting phase, known as phase slips, and can occur via thermal or athermal (i.e. quantum) excitations. Although extensively investigated during the last decades, a full understanding of phase slips, and especially quantum driven fluctuations, is still lacking. This thesis is devoted to the development and experimental investigation of nanoengineered superconducting junctions. Since the advent of nanotechnologies, nanoscale has been reached with relative accuracy by several fabrication methods. Nanowires, including some made of superconducting materials, have been produced and the current limit is situated around few nanometers of lateral dimension, which is not far from where the transition from thermal to quantum fluctuations of the superconducting phase is expected. We thus propose to bypass this limitation by taking advantage of the possibility to induce atomic migration under an electron wind to carve superconducting junctions well below ten nanometers, and even reach single atom scales. The first task in this work consists in mastering the process of electromigration before applying it to superconducting constricted junctions of multiple kinds. It is observed that electromigration can locally alter material properties and be fully reversed in Al, partially in La2−xCexCuO4 whereas it becomes rather irreversible in Nb. While electromigration induces clear structural changes in Al, more complex mechanisms are at work in Nb and La2−xCexCuO4, which are probably the reason for incomplete reversibility. In addition to the ability of going beyond sizes achieved by standard lithography techniques, the reversibility of the process can act as a powerful complementary tool to fine-tune the properties of a given junction. An easy-to-implement


Chinese Dual Functional Liquid Lithium-lead (DFLL) electromagnetic Test Blanket Module (EM-TBM) will be installed in ITER from the first day of operation for the main test objectives of the electromagnetic performances and MHD effects. The insulating coating has been designed in LiPb flow channels to reduce magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects. The coating e ffects on MHD pressure drop and thermal hydraulics are analyzed by the theoretical calculation and the three-dimensional numerical simulation. MHD use-defined function code based on the commercial Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) software FLUENT is used to simulate the LiPb flow. The e ffects on the MHD pressure drop and heat transfer due to some cracks or faults through the coating layer are also considered. And the insulating performance requirements for the coating material are proposed for the DFLL EM-TBM according to above analyses.