We are thus judged not for the positions we hold in the community, our social status, academic records, wealth, heroic deeds, etc. Neither will we be judged by the number of prayers we say daily unless they lead us to greater love of God which in turn leads us to the service of the poor -- "the least brothers of mine." Rather, we will be judged for very simple acts.....


In the scope of its focus, this paper has the critical infrastructure protection in a contemporary setting as a threat for the Euro-Atlantic Values. The awareness for the vulnerability of the critical infrastructure systems, which are additionally threatened by cyber-attacks and communication disruptions, is high on the security assessment and planning agenda for the state's policy creators and corporate enterprises. The methodology applied for this research consists of qualitative and quantitative methods of data interpretation, gathered by a method of open source analysis, observations, document screening and analysis. The first hypothesis depicted by the data analysis reflects the need for further development of the cyber security platform that incorporates several institutions accounted for critical infrastructure protection and the prevention of tasks overlaps and operational vacuum. This hypothesis refers concretely to the case of the Republic of North Macedonia. The limitations of the findings from this research effort are displayed in the form of lack or insufficient legal framework realization of the prescribed institutional capacity and regulation execution in the domain of critical infrastructure systems protection. A conclusion can be drawn that emphasizes the actual imperative for applying and implementing context-specific and best-alternative solutions in the critical infrastructure protection, delivered by joint engagement of the relevant institutions. Key words: security, cyber, critical infrastructure, protection, planning


In this month'sArchives, Nuytinck and his coinvestigators1review in depth the autopsy findings in 35 cases of patients who died after severe injury. They point out there is a pathologic accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and abnormal organ weights in these patients. Although the investigators have exercised a fair amount of restraint in their conclusions, they hypothesize that "ARDS [adult respiratory distress syndrome]See also p 1519.and MOF [multiple organ failure] are the results of a generalized and massive activation of inflammatory mediators." They focus particularly on polymorphonuclear leukocytes and complement. I have no doubt in the validity of the observations made in this particular study; however, one must exercise some caution in assigning cause and effect. One can also learn from earlier observations. In August 1917, the Medical Research Committee of Great Britain appointed a special investigation committee to undertake the coordination of inquiries into surgical shock


We present x-ray absorption spectra around the $3\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{d}4f$ and $4\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{d}4f$ excitation thresholds of in-plane magnetized Gd and Tb films measured by total electron yield using circularly polarized synchrotron radiation. By matching the experimental spectra to tabulated absorption data far below and above the thresholds, the imaginary parts of the complex refractive index are determined quantitatively. The associated real parts for circularly polarized light propagating nearly parallel or antiparallel to the magnetization direction are obtained through the Kramers-Kronig relations. The derived magnetooptical parameters are used to calculate soft x-ray reflectivity spectra of a magnetized Gd film at the $3\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{d}4f$ threshold, which are found to compare well with our experimental spectra.


Objective To determine the value of loop electrosurgical excision procedure(LEEP) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) 2/3 and to compare the performance of TCT and HC2 in detection of residual or recurrent disease.Methods A series of 72 women subjected to LEEP due to histologically confirmed CIN 2/3 were followed-up biannually consisted of TCT,HPV,and colposcopy.Presence of histologically confirmed CIN 2/3 or higher was considered as residual or recurrent disease.Performance indicators were calculated for cytology and HCⅡ assay in detecting residual or recurrent disease.Results The overall cure rate was 93.05%.Nine(12.5%) women showed residual or recurrent disease.Considering HCⅡ and TCT as standalone tests,both techniques showed similar sensitivity at the first follow-up visit.At the second and third,TCT showed better specificity and PPV than HCⅡ,and both tests had fairly the same high NPV and sensitivity.While they combined,Specificity and PPV were significantly higher.Conclusion LEEP is a kind of effective and safe method for treatment of high-grade CIN,Both TCT and HPV-DNA tests performed well in detecting residual or recurrent disease after LEEP.


Power transformer is one of the most important components in electrical network which play effective role in the electrification. The same way that continuous performance of transformers is necessary to retaining the network reliability, forecasting its costs is also important for manufacturer and industrial companies. Since major amount of transformers costs is related to its raw materials, so having the amount of used raw material in various conditions in transformers has a high importance in costs estimating process. This paper presents a new method to estimate the weight of main material for 63/20kV transformers. The method is based on Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MPNN) with sigmoid transfer function. The back-propagation (BP) algorithm is used to adjust the parameters of MPNN. The required training data for MPNN are the obtained information from the transformers made by Iran-Transfo Company during last 4 years.


Fat-containing wastes that are generated as a result of industrial production of food products and are being accumulated in large quantities in wastewater and sewage treatment plants and present a serious environmental problem. Microorganisms that decompose various types of lipids may be potential candidates for creation of commercial bioformulations for fat destruction. The aim of the study was to obtain pure cultures of lipophilic bacteria from fat-containing wastes, to study their diversity and activity for the development of a biological product. As a result, 30 strains of different phylogenetic groups with lipolytic activity was obtained. The most isolated strains were represented by enterobacteria and pseudomonas members within the Gammaproteobacteria. Almost half of the isolated strains were closely related to conditionally pathogenic microorganisms such as Serratia, Klebsiella etc. Non-pathogenic strains and promising for biotechnology ones belonged to Pseudomonas citronellolis, P. nitroreducens, P. synxantha, P. extremaustralis, Bacillus subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Brevibacillus brevis and Microvirgula sp.


EDITOR—Sreenarasimhaiah has produced a comprehensive review of the clinical features and diagnosis of intestinal ischaemia.1 However, the recommended management strategy for acute mesenteric ischaemia is misleading and flawed.

Contrary to Sreenarasimhaiah's report, surgical embolectomy should …


The utility model discloses a seat with changeable gravity centre, comprising a seat plate, a backrest and a handrail fixing seat, wherein the backrest and the seat plate are movably connected by a backrest rotating shaft; the handrail fixing seat is provided with a guide rail; the seat plate is movably disposed on the guide rail; the backrest is connected to a rotatable transmission rod; the other end of the transmission rod is movably disposed on the handrail fixing seat; the seat plate is provided with a guide wheel; the seat plate is movably disposed on the guide rail by the guide wheel; the backrest is provided with a cassette; the seat plate is provided with a rotatable adjusting rod which is blocked in the cassette. In the utility model, the seat plate is movably disposed on the guide rail by disposing the handrail fixing seat on the guide rail, so that the seat plate can be slipped horizontally; the rotatable transmission rod is disposed between the backrest and the handrail fixing seat, so that the seat of the utility model can be used as a common seat, and the inclination angle of the backrest also can be adjusted, and the gravity centre of the seat is adjusted during the adjustment of the inclination degree of the backrest, therefore the use is more comfortable and safe.


A semi-active linear stroke magnetorheological fluid-elastic lag damper is proposed as a retrofit to an existing elastomeric helicopter lag damper. A flow mode magnetorheological valve is incorporated into the inner chamber of the elastomeric damper. Consistent with sinusoidal loading conditions for a helicopter lag damper, single frequency (lag/rev) and dual frequency (lag/rev and 1/rev) sinusoidal excitations are applied to the magnetorheological fluid-elastic damper. Complex modulus and equivalent damping are used to compare the characteristics of the magnetorheological fluid-elastic damper with the passive elastomeric damper. Based on our measurements, the field-off magnetorheological fluid-elastic characteristics are similar to the passive elastomeric damping. Controllable magnetorheological damping is also observed as the applied current is varied in the magnetorheological valve. The experimental damping characteristics of the magnetorheological fluid-elastic damper are consistent with the analytical results obtained from the Bingham plastic analysis of the magnetorheological valve. A time domain magnetorheological fluid-elastic damper model is introduced to describe the nonlinear behavior of the magnetorheological fluid-elastic damper. Good correlation between the model and experimental data demonstrates the feasibility of the magnetorheological fluid-elastic model for future magnetorheological fluid-elastic damper applications. Significantly, this paper provides key insights into the practical design of semi-active linear stroke helicopter lag dampers.


The article considers the functions of good wishes in the plots of the Buryat folk tales. It is stated that talented connoisseurs and artists of oral folk poetry incorporate patterns of folklore minor genres into narrative tales to enrich the fairy tales language.


In this paper we propose three different frequency resource management strategies that, working together with FFR and open-loop Fractional Power Control (PFC), succeed on mitigating both uplink inter-cell interference (ICI) and ICI fluctuations, that usually reduce the performance of SC-FDMA cell-based systems. Simulations are carried out with real-time traffic patterns at different loading scenarios, showing that our strategies outperform a typical FFR scheme suggested to coordinate frequency assignments among neighboring cells.


A molecular-level kinetic model was constructed for a vacuum gas oil hydroprocessing unit. The feedstock molecule selection was based on typical arrangements of structural attributes in crude oil. ...


S pontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon and poorly understood cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a sudden separation between the layers of a coronary artery wall that creates an intimal flap or intramural hematoma, obstructing blood flow (Fig. 1A) The true prevalence, causes, prognosis, recurrence rate, and optimal management of SCAD remain uncertain, but recent increases in the use of social media, in patient engagement, and in the formation of disease-specif ic online communities have facilitated case f inding and have accelerated the progress of SCAD research. Advances in imaging techniques and better recognition of acute SCAD have led to several new insights and have generated interest in this underrecognized and understudied condition. The demographics, causes, and natural history of ACS associated with SCAD are distinct from those of ACS caused by atherosclerosis or plaque rupture. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection patients are typically young women who do not have risk factors for atherosclerosis. The average age of incident SCAD is 42 years, with reported cases from the age of 14 years to well into the 7th decade. Approximately 80% of SCAD patients are female and, of those, 20% to 25% of cases occur in the peripartum period. In recent accounts of series that have used careful angiographic evaluation or advanced intracoronary imaging to detect intramural hematoma and more subtle dissections, the true prevalence of SCAD (a phenomenon once believed rare) has been reported to be as high as 1% to 4% of ACS overall. Moreover, SCAD has been found to be a factor in up to 40% of heart attacks in women under the age of 50 years. About half of SCADs initially present as ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, and one quarter present with multivessel involvement.


Most computational methods analyze DNA as a linear sequence of information when in fact the 3D architecture and organization contains important structural and functional elements that provide valuable information on DNA's role in mediating cellular processes. However, this 3D conformation has been extremely difficult to profile, requiring vast experimental resources and limiting the number of cell types for which it becomes available. In this thesis, I seek to address this limitation using a computational approach for predicting 3D conformation using diverse genomic annotations that are much more easily and broadly available. Hi-C maps for lineage-committed IMR90 cells and pluripotent H1 cells will provide information on features that are inherent to long-range interactions in all cell types as well as in specific cell types. Previous work in the lab used support vector machines on 5C data to find important features. While SVM performance is competitive, it becomes difficult to reveal which features are useful. I use alternating decision trees, a type of supervised learning technique that potentially provides a more transparent relationship between features, to analyze proximal and distal genome interactions to determine the sequence and regulatory elements that are important for these interactions. In particular, I separated the data set by interaction distances to investigate how the mechanisms for chromatin organization vary spatially. Additionally, I extended the alternating decision tree learning algorithm to model the distance-dependent nature of these interactions. Thesis Supervisor: Manolis Kellis Title: Professor


To allow the occurrence of shocks and other discontinuities which, for instance, can be caused during the opening process of a valve it is necessary to use the conservative formulation of Eulerian Equations. If the time integration is done numerically and the computational domain is discretised (figure 1 a) the numerical scheme is given by Equation (7). Herein, i is the local index of a cell and n is the index of the current time step.


AIM
An immunomagnetic capture protocol for use with LC-MS was developed for the quantitation of saxitoxin (STX) in human urine.

MATERIALS & METHODS
This method uses monoclonal antibodies coupled to magnetic beads. STX was certified reference material grade from National Research Council, Canada. Analysis was carried out using LC-MS.

RESULTS
With an extraction efficiency of 80%, accuracy and precision of 93.0-100.2% and 5.3-12.6%, respectively, and a dynamic range of 1.00-100 ng/ml, the method is well suited to quantify STX exposures based on previously reported cases.

CONCLUSION
Compared with our previously published protocols, this method has improved selectivity, a fivefold increase in sensitivity and uses only a third of the sample volume. This method can diagnose future toxin exposures and may complement the shellfish monitoring programs worldwide.


In the title compound, Na2[Ni(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2]·2H2O, the Ni atom is coordinated by four O atoms from two malonate ligands and two water molecules in a distorted octahedral geometry. The two independent Na+ ions are coordinated by five and six O atoms, respectively. The crystal structure is stabilized by the three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network formed by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.


Reforestation of arid zones is of increasing importance as it is one of the favored approaches to combat land degradation. Several studies have shown that trees have a strong influence on their abiotic environment. As a consequence, those trees often function as 'fertility islands', facilitating the recruitment of ground vegetation. Acacia raddiana is such a keystone species persisting on the edge of the Sahara desert. The most critical factor controlling productivity and reproduction of the ground vegetation cover is water availability in the soil. The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Acacia tree stand age on soil hydraulic properties in an forest-steppe ecosystem where different reforestation campaigns took place during the last century. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), bulk density (BD) and the soil-water retention curve (SWRC) were determined underneath and outside the canopy for three stand age groups L1, L2 and L3 with crown diameter classes of 3-5 m, 5-7 m and >7 m respectively. Tree group L1 showed similar Ks values (4.39 ± 3.00 x 10 6 vs. 4.19 ± 3.09 x 10 6 m/s) and significant lower BD values (1.48 vs. 1.61 g/cm³) compared to outside canopy. Tree group L2 significantly improved the soil hydraulic properties compared to outside canopy, while the additional positive effect of tree group L3 was marginal compared to tree group L2 (Ks: 8.13 ± 5.23 x 10 6 vs. 6.62 ± 4.36 x 10 6 m/s; BD: 1.41 vs. 1.44 g/cm³). In general, results showed an increase in hydraulic conductivity and decrease in bulk density with increasing tree stand age. This could be related to the shift in the wet range of the SWRC towards higher water contents, suggesting Ks was driven by greater macroporosity. To conclude, Acacia plantations have a positive effect on the soil hydraulic properties and those properties are moreover improved with increasing tree stand age. Further research will be carried out to relate those findings to the root zone water balance of the ground vegetation cover.


ABSTRACT The objectives of this cross-sectional survey research were to study the life happiness and the factors influencing the life happiness of the elderly in Rayong province. The samples included 400 elderly aged between 60-80 years which were selected by multi-stage random sampling. The data were collected by interview questionnaires from June 1st to July 31st 2008 and analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square test, Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiple regression analysis.The results showed that 48.0 percent of the elderly had a moderate level of life happiness, followed by those with a high level (27.8%) and those with a low level (24.2%). The factors which were significantly associated with life happiness of the elderly were gender, education, health condition, personality, self - esteem, family relationships, roles of the elderly in the family, monthly income of the family, social support, participation in social activities and perception of social circumstances (p-value < 0.05). The statistically significant predictor variables were self-esteem, social support, family relationships, participation in social activities and perception of social circumstances. The result of classification was 91.2% correctly classified. The finding suggest that the responsible organizations should establish the reinforcement to promote happiness of the elderly by improving the elderly's self-esteem. There should also be sufficient social support, family relationship and participation in social activities as well as management of social circumstances in agreement with individual personal need and life style, to maintain the life happiness of the elderly. Key words: Life happiness, Elderly, Self-esteem, Social support


Abstract: textural signatures (Grain size, shape, and sorting) wireline log and core analysis. Within A, B and C slight increa 1. INTRODUCTION The uses of lithofacies identification and analysis have a greater importance in terms of clues towards the interpretation of depositional environments of sedimentary rocks. A succession of sedimentary strata should be described first in terms of distinct lithofacies units reflecting different processes of depositions. Then the facies can be grouped in the lithofacies associations, which can be interpreted in terms of depositional environments on the basis of the combinations of physical, chemical and biological processes which have been identified from analysis of the facies (Nichols, 1999). (Fig. 1). Fig.1. Location Map of the Badin Block showing the wells included in the present Studies Detailed studies of lithologic successions of upper sands of Lower Goru Formation in the subsurface of X Field of Sindhmonocline were investigated by Zoom Stereo Binocular examination and thin section study of well cuttings in conjunction with the wireline log and core analysis to understand the depositional environment. The sedimentological studies of the well cuttings samples of each of the main bodies resolved into various lithofacies based on their -sand distinct coarsening and fining upward sequences have been identified which reflect frequent sea level fluctuations. Textural investigations, particularly of those samples composed predominantly of sand size fractions, show that the mean grain size in studied field is fine to medium grained and range between 1.8φ and 2.5φ. The samples are moderate to well sorted and well rounded to sub-angular in shape. Mineralogically, the samples comprise mostly of quartz grains and occasionally feldspar grain. Only the fine grained sandstones of studied field exhibit a se in the amount of feldspar. A few grains of dark colored minerals can occasionally be seen in thin sections. The results further indicate that the sandstones are fairly mature. The strongly coarse skewness determined in some of the facies, in particular the lithofacies of B sand indicate the progressively increasing competence of flood flow at near shore areas. Based on overall results it can be interpreted that the Upper sands of Lower Goru Formation of Lower Cretaceous age in Sindh monocline were deposited in moderate to high energy near shore sedimentary environment largely influenced by frequently fluctuating sea level.


Cotton is one of the major cash crops in Uganda, where it covers more than 2 million acres. The cotton bollworm, Heliothis armigera (Hubner); the spiny bollworms, Earias biplaga Walker and E. insulana Boisduval (Noctuidae); the false codling moth, Cryptophlebia leucotreta Meyrick (Olethreutidae); and the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Gelechiidae) are some of the major pests. Collectively, these species cause more than 60% of the crop loss attributable to insect pests (Ingram 19663). The noctuids are partially controlled by DDT (25% EC), but no effective chemical control has been found for C. leucotreta and P. gossypiella because both are internal feeders which enter the cotton bolls very soon after they hatch.


With the requirement of practical problems and the advancement of computation technology, common numerical methods [1,2,3] can not satisfy the development of the numerical computation, especially, in fluid mechanics. Numerical approach to three dimensional systems is of great importance [4], Theoretically, three dimensional computational methods can be applied to various practical geometries [5]. So far two dimensional numerical computation has widely applied in engineering [6], but not much progress has been made for the three dimensional cases. Considering the following conservational differential equation


Adsorption equilibrium and breakthrough curves of dichloromethane vapor onto hypercrosslinked polymeric resin were investigated. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Astakov models were used to correlate the experimental data, respectively. The results showed that the experimental data were found to fit well by Dubinin-Astakov model,which indicated that pore-filling was the dominating mechanism for dichloromethane adsorption. The breakthrough curves were correlated by Yoon-Nelson model. The calculated breakthrough curves were in high agreement with corresponding experimental data. Moreover, the hypercrosslinked polymeric resins were utilized to recover dichloromethane from waste gas discharged from a chemical factory. 95% of dichloromethane was recovered and reused, and the adsorption unit system has been operated for one year.


The invention relates to a self-ventilation motor, in particular to a self-ventilation asynchronous motor with a large induced draught fan, and solves the technical problems that an existing self-ventilation motor is small in air volume and foreign matters such as rain, snow and gravel easily enter the existing self-ventilation motor. The self-ventilation asynchronous motor with the large induced draught fan comprises a stator belt base and a rotor, the rotor is arranged in the middle of a stator core of the stator belt base through a horizontal rotating shaft, an end cover is arranged in the rear of the stator belt base, a plurality of vent holes are formed between the tooth portion of the rotor and the horizontal rotating shaft, a centrifugal fan coaxial with the rotor is mounted behind the rotor, an air inlet is formed in a stator belt base top plate on the front upper portion of the rotor, a dust filtering device is mounted at the air inlet, a plurality of air outlets directly facing fan blades of the centrifugal fan are formed in the end cover, and a dust cover is arranged on the air outlets. The self-ventilation asynchronous motor is simple in structure, easy to assemble and maintain, large in air volume and fine in cooling effect, and the fan blades of the fan are large in sectional area.


Sense-making activities in AP physics courses played an important role for both boys and girls in developing a sense of self-efficacy as well as developing a physics identity.


Evaluation of the small-angle X-ray scattering of two-phase systems leads to the determination of the Porod length lp and the correlation length lc. In dilute systems, the parameter κl = lc/lp − 1 is a measure of the polydispersity of the chord lengths l within the dilute phase, which depends on the size distribution and the shape of the particles forming this phase. As an example, the change of κl with the size distribution is calculated for spheres and spheroids. For dense two-phase systems, κl depends not only on the polydispersities of the chord lengths l1 and l2 of the two phases but also on the spatial order in the system. This is demonstrated by examples related to microemulsions. The appendix contains a short discussion on the relationship between chord-length distributions and Bertrand's paradox.


In the digital transmission of non-telephone signals, impulse noise interference, such as switching machine noise, interruptions, etc., become problematic and it has become necessary to suppress them. to suppress impulse noise interference efficiently, this paper presents a time spread transmission system, which transmits digital signals spread on the time axis through a block conversion, and discusses the system construction and the noise attenuation characteristic. First, the requirements for the time spread matrix in a general communication channel with impulse noises and random noises, such as thermal noise, crosstalk, etc., are described. It is clarified that for the matrix a cyclic orthogonal one is most suitable. For a single impulse noise interference, noise amplitude attenuation characteristics of the system are improved by 3 dB, compared with those of the conventional smearing-desmearing filter method. Finally, the bit error rate is estimated for burst noise interference channel on a statistical noise model and it is shown that the bit error rate reduction of two decimals is achieved for the case of transmission rate 64 Kb/s and spread time 8 ms.


Snow is a vital source of water for drinking, agriculture and electrical power in the western United States and other locations around the world. To know how much water will be available the following spring, water resource managers and hydrologists need to know where snow has fallen, how much there is and how is characteristics change as it melts.


The ability to quickly and efficiently detect ecological stimuli,such as snakes,spiders,and fearful faces,is vital for one's survival.Here we asked whether such stimuli are processed automatically.In the study,we used negative faces to examine the automatic processing of ecological stimuli with two criteria(i.e.,intentionality and load-insensitivity)that are essential aspects of automaticity.In Experiment 1,we manipulated perceptual load in a visual search task,where participants searched for a target letter(either X or N)from an array of letters(five letters,selected from O,E,F,H,K,Z,V)that together circled around a central fixation.Either a negative face(i.e.,ecological stimuli)or a neutral face(i.e.,non-ecological stimuli)was presented in the peripheral as a task-irrelevant distractor.To further rule out the possibility that the salience of the negative faces may account for the load-insensitive attention capture,we used the same paradigm in the Experiment 2,except that a color singleton,a salient stimulus without ecological property,was presented as the distractor in the peripheral.A total of twenty-one college students participated in the study.As expected,in Experiment 1,the search efficiency was higher when the perceptual load was low,and the presence of the negative face captured a larger amount of attention than the neutral face.Critically,the amount of attention captured by the negative face(versus neutral face)was the same across different levels of perceptual load,suggesting that ecological stimuli are processed automatically.To further examine the possibility that the load-insensitive attention capture observed in Experiment 1 was instead due to the salience,not the ecological property,of the negative face,in Experiment 2 we used the same paradigm as that in Experiment 1,except that a salient color singleton,not the negative face,was presented in the peripheral as a task-irrelevant distractor.We found that although the presence of the color singleton captured attention,the amount of attention capture varied as a function of perceptual load,suggesting that it is the ecological property,not the salience,of the negative face that is processed automatically.Taken together,our study provides direct evidence that ecological stimuli are processed automatically,independent of perceptual load.Further fMRI studies may help elucidate the neural basis of the automatic processing of ecological stimuli,possible via a sub-cortical pathway.


Background Experimental studies have demonstrated that lead and cadmium have direct toxic effects on the myocardium, but the few human studies are limited by design, assessment of exposure, and use of heart failure as a late‐stage endpoint. Methods and Results In a prospective population study, we studied the association of left ventricular (LV) function with blood lead (BPb) and 24‐hour urinary cadmium (UCd). In 179 participants randomly recruited from a Flemish population (50.3% women; mean age 39.1 years), geometric mean BPb and UCd at enrollment (1985‐2000) were 0.20 μmol/L and 6.1 nmol, respectively. We assessed systolic and diastolic LV function 11.9 years (median) later (2005‐2010) by using Doppler imaging of the transmitral blood flow and the mitral annular movement and speckle tracking. In multivariable‐adjusted linear regression, LV systolic function decreased with BPb. For a doubling of exposure, estimates were −0.392% for global longitudinal strain (P=0.034), −0.618% and −0.113 s−1 for regional longitudinal strain (P=0.028) and strain rate (P=0.008), and −0.056 s−1 for regional radial strain rate (P=0.050). Regional longitudinal strain rate (−0.066 s−1, P=0.009) and regional radial strain (−2.848%, P=0.015) also decreased with UCd. Models including both exposure indexes did not allow differentiating whether LV dysfunction was predominately related to BPb or UCd. Diastolic LV function was not associated with BPb or UCd (P≥0.159). Conclusions Although effect sizes were small, our results suggest that environmental exposure to lead, cadmium, or both might be a risk factor for systolic LV dysfunction, a condition often proceeding to heart failure.


ABSTRACT Dispersion-strengthened Pt-20Rh was designed and prepared by powder metallurgy-internal oxidation-sintering. After rolling and annealing, the microstructures, mechanical properties at room temperature and 1000 °C were tested and analysed. Results indicate that the dispersion-strengthened Pt-20Rh alloy consists of Pt and Rh solid solution, Y2O3 and ZrO2. It has a stabilised grain structure at 1000 °C. As the Zr content increases, the strengths at room temperature and high temperature are greatly improved. ZrO2 particles can pin up and block the movement of dislocations, making it possible to enhance the strength. When Zr content is 0.3 wt-%, the room temperature and 1000 °C tensile strengths are up to their maximum, i.e. 555 and 149 MPa, respectively.


This paper has introduced the process of producing open cell polyurethane foam,and particularly discussed the effect of the different types and quantities of polyalcohol, catalysts, and surfactants impact on foam aperture, and analyzed the influences factors of foam reaction. The result shows that the process conditions of polyester type open cell polyurethane foam are easy to control, and the mechanics performance of polyester type is better than that of polyether type.We can adopt L-580 and EL-10 or TW-80 complex active system of surface to produce open cell polyurethane foam with different dimensions, different densities and different collateral channels thicknesses. It is easy to control action by adopting A-33 and A-22 or A-33 and organic tin catalysts cooperation system.In the process of treating polluted water, the open cell polyurethane foam can absorb most bacteria, and it is the better material for treating polluted water.


The invention discloses a method for preparing synthesis gas by reforming methane and carbon dioxide. An active component of a catalyst adopted by the method is NiO, a carrier consists of TiO2 and SiO2, the reaction temperature is between 700 and 850 DEG C under normal pressure, and the components are subjected to reforming reaction in a fixed bed reactor under the operation condition that the air speed is 18,000 to 72,000mlh g . The highest conversion rates of the methane and the carbon dioxide reach more than 88 percent and 97 percent respectively, the highest yields of H2 and CO reach more than 85 percent and 93 percent respectively, and the catalyst after being stabilized for 30 hours does not lose activity remarkably.


Composite materials based on nylon 6 (PA6) and unmodified copper particles, were prepared by in situ anionic polymerization of є–caprolactam (CL) in the presence of the metallic fillers using rotational moulding technique. The above materials were characterized by some experimental techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide angle X–ray diffraction (WAXD). The electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the composites under study were also evaluated. Both molecular weight and crystallinity of the nylon 6 matrix were found to be strongly influenced by the presence of the copper powders. WAXD analysis has evidenced a close relationship between metallic filler used and nylon 6 crystal structure. The presence of copper particles into nylon 6 favours the formation of γ–phase crystal and reduces the fraction of the α–form crystal. For the copper particles incorporated in the nylon 6 matrix only one main peak at 2θ =43.4° was observed. Analysis of the results obtained on nylon 6/copper composite materials with DSC show that the incorporation of copper particles lowers the melting temperatures but rises the crystallization temperatures of the matrix of the composites while its crystallinity degree decreases. The addition of metal particles to nylon 6 played the role of nucleating agent and enhanced the crystallization rate. An improved thermal stability of the nylon 6/copper composite materials with respect to the neat nylon 6 can be noticed. The investigations on the nylon 6/copper composite materials show also that their mechanical properties are superior to those of neat nylon 6 in terms of the flexural strength and flexural modulus, but with sacrificing their impact strength.


In order to make clear the effects of fine manipulation of experimental tympanoplasty, on the iuner ear the anther investigated the post operative histopathological changes in the inner ears of rabbits. The results of the investigations were as follows : 1) Penicillin, when it has bas given into the tympanic cavity, causes no inner ear damage, but DHSM causes degeneration of the supporting cells of the organ of Corti firstly. 2) Fine manipulation of the stapes may produce reactions of the inner ear similar to those caused by acoustic traum, hydrops, and sero-fibrinous labyrinthitis. 3) Also, curettaging the mucosa from the promontory area and excessive suction at the oval window area, ought to be avoided.


The utility model relates to a chain shearing machine, which mainly comprises a switch control cabinet and a machine frame. The chain shearing machine is characterized in that a wheel type chain winding roller, an opening guiding roller, an adjustable rail positioning device, a pneumatic cutting knife, a motor and a hopper are arranged on the machine frame; the wheel type chain winding roller is arranged at the front-most end of the machine frame; the adjustable rail positioning device is arranged above the pneumatic cutting knife, and a rubber pressing roller arranged on the adjustable rail positioning device is connected with the motor; a material guiding pipe is arranged between the adjustable rail positioning device and the pneumatic cutting knife, and the motor is arranged at the rear-most end of the machine frame; and the hopper is arranged under the adjustable rail positioning device. The chain shearing machine uses machinery to cut off a chain and adjust cutting speed and quantity, in other word, is capable of realizing standard cutting for the chain, greatly improves work efficiency compared with the mode of manual distance measuring prior to cutting, is more accurate, reduces errors and is convenient and speedy.


Objective
To explore the clinical experience of hybrid operation and laparoscopic repair in the treatment of abdominal incisional hernia.

Methods
A retrospective review of 30 patients with abdominal incisional hernia who were treated in Xinghu hospital from March 2015 to January 2018 was carried out. Among them, 14 cases were treated with hybrid operation and 16 cases with laparoscopic repair. The surgical indexes and postoperative pain of the two groups were compared.

Results
There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of complications, VAS scores, intraoperative bleeding volume, the time of autonomous out of bed and the time of hospitalization [0 vs 12.5%; 3.15±0.63 vs 3.65±0.52; (65.96±12.35) ml vs (66.34±13.52) ml; (2.49±0.35) days vs (2.50±0.38) days; (8.16±2.34) days vs (8.26±2.18) days, P>0.05]. However the operation time of the hybrid group was shorter than that of the laparoscopic group [(175.63±21.15) minutes vs (246.35±52.16) minutes, P<0.05].

Conclusion
Hybrid operation for abdominal incisional hernia can significantly shorten the operation time, and has good safety, with high clinical value.

Key words:
Incisional hernia; Abdominal wall; Repair; Hybrid operation; Clinical experience


The aim of this research is to develop a laser cutting process model that can predict the relationship between the process input parameters and resultant surface roughness; kerf width characteristics. The research conduct is based on the Design of Experiment (DOE) analysis. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is used in this research, it is one of the most practical and most effective techniques to develop a process model. Even though RSM has been used for the optimisation of the laser process, published RSM modelling work on the application of laser cutting process on cutting material is lacking. This research investigates laser cutting stainless steel to be best the circumstances laser cutting using RSM process. The input parameters evaluated are gas pressure, power supply and cutting speed, the output responses being kerf width, surface roughness. The laser cutting process is one of the widely used techniques to cut thickness material for various applications such as fiber, steel wood fabrication. In the area of laser cutting material,it can be improved drastically with the application of hard cutting. The application of cut on stainless steel for various machining techniques, such as bevel linear and bevel non-linear cutting, requires different cut characteristics, these being highly dependent on the process parameters under which they were formed. To efficiently optimize and customize the kerf width and surface roughness characteristics, a machine laser cutting process model using RSM methodology was proposed.


Adoption of organic production and subsequent entry into the organic market is examined using Mexican avocado producers as a case study. Probit analysis of a sample of 183 small-scale (<15ha) producers from Michoacan suggests that adoption is positively influenced by management and economic factors (e.g. production costs per hectare and making inputs), but also by social factors (e.g. membership of a producers' association). Experience in agriculture has a significant but negative effect. Effective policy design must be therefore be aware of both the economic and social complexities surrounding adoption decisions.


Here we describe a combined design, numerical, and experimental program intended substantially to increase the lift and work of low-pressure turbine stages. This exercise is critically dependent upon the appropriate modeling of boundary-layer transition over airfoil surfaces. The effort proceeds through the design of turbine stages consistent with future unmanned air vehicle engine cycles. Then, a series of experiments are described that increase in complexity while driving the technology to more realistic embodiments. Representative experimental data are compared to pre-test predictions of the flow field, and it is shown that acceptable Reynolds lapse behavior is achievable even for turbines with significantly increased lift and work over state-of-the-art systems. Additionally, it is shown that through the judicious use of appropriate flow control technologies, it is possible to improve further the lapse characteristics of very high-lift airfoils. Finally, the benefits of applying such high lift, high work low-pressure turbine components are outlined with respect to a notional aircraft system, and future experiments are proposed.


Recently, the use of contrast agents has been increasing as a broader range of tests and dynamic tests have be-come common due to the development of equipment and imaging techniques such as...


The objective of this research was to figure out the students' dominant interpreting skills and process during the interpreting practice to hone their interpreting ability in English-Indonesia Interpreting class. This research was conducted to the last years university students and took 20 students as sample that taken by simple random sampling. This research employed the descriptive method. The instruments of this research were oral test and monitoring guide for observing interpreter practice. The result of this research located that the students' oral test score was 6. It pointed out that students' interpreting skill in fair level. Meanwhile, the average score of their decoding skill was 24. It showed that their decoding skill was at the very poor level. The student's accuracy average score was 2,1. It pointed that they got the needed improvement level, and the average score of the student's recording skill is 0.3. It means that they are in the unacceptable level in interpreting practice. The conclusion of this research is the students still having the lack of interpreting skill and process. They tend inconsistent in interpreting process.


The worship of the folk religion is a folk religious culture of the Bai people, and it is closely related with the history, art, philosophy, country life and national consciousness of the Bai people. The folk religious culture aims at expressing a wish for the Bai people safe and sound, the prosperity of the six domestic animals (pig, ox, goat, horse, fowl and dog) and the good harvest of the five cereals (rice, two kinds of millet, wheat and beans). Just like the other cultures of the Bai people, and the folk religious culture has important influences in the areas where the Bai people live. The paper first gives an elementary analysis to the relationship between the folk religious culture of the Bai people and Confucian ideas, and then points out the contemporary significance of Confucian ideas.


This paper explores the iterative learning control (ILC) problem for two‐dimensional (2D) multi‐input multi‐output nonlinear parametric systems by taking all nonrepetitive uncertainties of stochastic initial shifts, different tracking tasks and nonuniform trial lengths into consideration. A 2D stochastic variable is defined with Bernoulli stochastic distribution for the first time to handle iteration‐varying trial lengths. The desired output is incorporated into the learning control law as a feedback to compensate the iterative changes of the tracking tasks. An iterative 2D parameter updating law is established using a new defined virtue tracking error to well address the systems uncertainties and varying trial lengths. Consequently, a novel 2D adaptive ILC (2D‐AILC) is presented by incorporating the control law and parameter updating law. The convergence is proved by introducing both the Lyapunov stability principle and the 2D key technique lemma into the repetitive 2D systems even though the dynamic evolution along with two‐dimensional directions makes it more difficult in the mathematic analysis. The simulation study tests the theoretical results: the presented 2D‐AILC scheme can still accomplish a tracking task exactly even though there exist random initial states, nonrepetitive reference trajectories, and iteration‐varying trial lengths.


In this work, poly (ether-block-amide) (Pebax MH 1657) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared using nanoporous ZSM-5 as a filler. The fabricated membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Effects of zeoilte loading (5, 10 and 15 wt. %), and feed pressure (1, 3 and 5 bar) on CO2/CH4 separation of MMMs were investigated using constant volume/variable pressure system. SEM analysis represents a proper morphology along with proper dispersion of ZSM-5 particles within the polymer matrix. TGA analysis demonstrated that the thermal degradation temperature (Td) of MMMs increased by increasing the ZSM-5 loading. The obtained experimental results showed that both permeability and CO2/CH4 selectivity enhanced by addition of zeolite compared to neat Pebax. At low concentration of zeolite (5 wt. %), the CO2 permeability increased significantly from 122.4 Barrer to 217.9 Barrer at pressure of 1 bar. MMM that incorporated by 15 wt. % of zeolite showed the best CO2/CH4 selectivity of 33.9 at pressure of 1 bar. The CO2 permeability of MMM with 5 wt. % ZSM-5 enhanced from 217.9 to 292.4 Barrer with increase in feed pressure from 1 to 5 bar. Copyright © 2016 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The purpose of this study was to estimate the cattle carrying capacity of the Mendoza plain rangelands. Annual forage production was estimated from the d...


The public finance framework has been built in China as a result of 30 years' fiscal reform. Many puzzles can be found in the practice of China's fiscal reform. The road of China's fiscal reform is a road of the mix of China's elements and global perspectives. In the future,there are still some difficulties for China to overcome. A fiscal institution to coordinate efficiency,equity and economic stabilization should be built.


into a monetary number, handed to my mother in monthly installments. And he is not owned by the factories for which he paid his time in hot darkness. And he is not owned by the story of his disappearance, or the stories of his death. And the father I want remains a collage, badly constructed, sticky, fluid as the Maumee, which took him and kept him until, inside, I knew he was dead. And his body remains the earth's, though his bones pour out memories. And when he is ash he is ash and he is licked by every tongue of wind this town has ever seen.


On education, educational technology has caused
great pedagogical changes which have forced teachers
to search for new ways of working by using online technologies.
The possibilities offered by these new tools are
immense, however, in this work it will only be mentioned
the advantages and applications from online courses at
Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco. Online education
doesn�t pretend to replace traditional teaching, in
fact, it reinforces, complements, updates and spreads it
in time and space. Online courses elaboration for teaching
must be carefully planned and structured; if they are well
structured, more possibilities will be available to monitor
directly the progress of each participant in the course.


ABSTRACT: In this study, the effect of machining parameters on surface roughness in hard milling of AISI H13 steel with a carbide-coated (TiAlN) cutting tool under nanofluid MQL condition was analyzed based on the integration of Taguchi method and response surface methodology (RSM). SiO2 nanoparticles were selected to add into cutting oil CT232. The experiment was carried out using the L27 orthogonal array of DOE method developed by G. Taguchi. The cutting parameters including cutting-velocity, feed-rate, depth-of-cut and hardness-of-workpiece at three levels were investigated to find out their influence on the surface roughness. An empirical model was presented to predict surface roughness under nanofluid MQL condition. Additionally, a multi-objective optimization was performed to obtain the minimum value of surface roughness and the maximum value of the material removal rate.


This book chapter examines the evolution of rugby union in Ireland over the twenty years since the game turned professional. the growth and success of the game are analysed in the context of social and economic change in Ireland, specifically the period of the Celtic Tiger, increased secularis and evolving identity politics.


In such severe core damage accident, as small LOCAs with no ECCS injection or station blackout, in which the primary reactor system remains pressurized during core melt down, certain modes of vessel failure would lead to a high pressure ejection of molten core material. In case of a local failure of the lower head, the molten materials would initially be ejected into the cavity beneath the pressure vessel may subsequently be swept out from the cavity to the containment atmosphere and it might cause the early containment failure by direct contact of containment steel liner with core debris. When the contribution of a high-pressure scenario in a core damage frequency increases, early conditional containment failure probability may become large. In the present study, the verification analysis of PHOENICS code and the combining analysis with MELCOR and PHEONICS codes were performed to examine the debris dispersion behavior during high pressure melt ejection. The PHOENICS code which can treat thermal hydraulic phenomena, was applied to the verification analysis for melt dispersion experiments conducted by the Purdue university in the United States. A low pressure melt dispersion experiment at initial pressure 1.4MPas used metal woods as a molten material was simulated. The analytical results with molten debris dispersion mostly from the model reactor cavity compartment showed an agreement with the experimental result, but the analysis result of a volumetric median diameter of the airborne debris droplets was estimated about 1.5 times of the experimental result. The injection rates of molten debris and steam after reactor vessel failure for a typical PWR plant were analyzed using the MELCOR code. In addition, PHOENICS was applied to a 3D analysis for debris dispersion with low primary pressure at the reactor vessel failure. The analysis result showed that almost all the molten debris were dispersed from the reactor vessel cavity compartment by about 45 seconds after the start of steam release.Copyright © 2006 by ASME


Fisheries Sustainability. Sustainability is defined as the ability of a socio-ecological system to continue to produce benefits to humans, and it has three distinct elements: biological, social, and economic. The key to biological sustainability is keeping fishing pressure at or below the level that will provide maximum long-term yield. This requires a scientific program to determine that level and a management system that can effectively regulate fishing pressure. Social and economic sustainability depend not only on biological sustainability, but also on other aspects such as who gets to fish and how the catch is allocated among different users.


The utility model provides a I -steel is hoist for handling, including couple, left lifting hook, right lifting hook, the couple is the type of falling U form, left side lifting hook and right lifting hook swing joint are on the couple, right side lifting hook has 2 to it correspond to set up in left lifting hook both sides to open one's mouth relative direction, constitutes with left lifting hook and can block and at the class T of the I -steel top flange plate mouth that appears. The utility model discloses simple structure, it is convenient to dismantle the equipment, and two class T shapes that right lifting hook was constituted setting up through left lifting hook with the relative direction that opens one's mouth mouthful can be blocked and at the flange plate at I -steel top, have ensured the security that whole hoist lifted by crane, but further have been equipped with adjusting screw on left lifting hook, have strengthened the compactness of lifting hook and I -steel, the perfect result of use of hoist.


An innovative methodology for the thermo-mechanical simulation of the laser transmission welding (LTW) process for thermoplastic components is presented. The work consists of two parts. In the first part, a finite element (FE) thermal model is developed, for the prediction of the transient spatial temperature history developing during the LTW process. Experimental measurements have been used for the calibration of the developed thermal model. Through this thermal model, a parametric study on the main welding parameters is performed, in order to investigate their effect on the maximum temperature. Using the parametric study results, the optimal combination of the welding parameters is derived taking into account the welding cost. In the second part, the optimized set is used in a model developed for the thermo-mechanical simulation of the LTW process and the calculation of the thermal stresses, strains, and distortions of the welded parts. The benefit of the proposed methodology is that it offers the capability of optimizing the LTW process, and also provides a reliable estimation of the developed temperature, as well as the thermal stress and strain fields reducing the experimental effort.


A most vital aspect that needs to be ensured is that children, who are definitely one of the most profound and irreplaceable components of any society, receive defense and protection from the adverse conditions and problems that might seem as a ramification of the poor decisions taken by their parents in regards to their children's socialization. These less than apt or appropriate decisions can undoubtedly lead to the desiccation and dilapidation of that specific potency within children that is vital for facing the challenges of society. To put it concisely, such decisions affect the social prowess that a child entails. This study aimed to bring about a better understanding regarding the effectualness of Parents' decision-making in pertinence to their children from both upper and lower class. An endeavor has been made here to understand which class holds more promise in making decisions that reinforce their children adequately against the challenges of society.


As the critical dimension (CD) in integrated circuit (IC) device reduces, the total overlay budget needs to be more stringent. Typically, the allowable overlay error is 1/3 of the CD in the IC device. In this case, robustness of alignment mark is critical, as accurate signal is required by the scanner's alignment system to precisely align a layer of pattern to the previous layer. Alignment issue is more severe in back-end process partly due to the influenced of Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP), which contribute to the asymmetric or total destroy of the alignment marks. In this paper, the performance of different design of alignment marks on 0.10μm echnology wafer has been evaluated using ASML ATHENATM alignment system. For example, segmented marks with smaller dimensions in terms of width and length are used. Narrow marks are preferable due to the space constraint in the scribe lines. The width of NSPM has been shrunk down to 70% of the SPM and the length remains the same. It is a challenge to the alignment system to collect the NSPM signal and provide comparable alignment capability. The evaluations were completed using short loop wafers, which focus on back-end-of-line via and metal layers in a 90nm Cu dual damascene low k process. The results also look into the overlay performance using different alignment strategies. Offline overlay measurements were performed to verify the results.


Introduction: Secondary stroke prevention strategies have proven suboptimal in underserved communities and minority populations. Methods: The Discharge Educational Strategies for Reduction of Vascu...


Under a given system everything works properly as the activities have been constantly being monitored by people, rules, regulations and statue. Thus the role played by financial institutions are quite clear in the mindset of the common people.  However, the non institutional financer has also played a great role in an economy but, very less focus has been made on that as these are not exactly following the same system as that of financial institutions. This study has primarily being focused upon the role played by these Non institutional financers in promoting entrepreneurship with a series of case studies inTinsukia district of Assam. Moreover, an attempt has been taken in the studyto know the rate of interest charged by the 'Non-Institutional Financers' from the borrowers against the Mortgaged loan.


In this paper, TiO2 was synthesized in different conditions, and the effects of TiO2 and plasticizers on the conductivity and mechanical properties were investigated.Transmission electron microscope(TEM) analysis revealed that the when TiO2 content was 10%wt which was synthesized in milling and ultrasonic, TiO2 dispersed best.The sample contained 5% wt TiO2, prepared with milling, ultrasonic and adding plasticizers, had the maximum value of conductivity of 1.38×10-3 S/cm.The results showed that after adding with TiO2, the strength of the electrolytes increased, while the tenacity decreased.When the content of plasticizers increased, the strength of the electrolytes decreased and the tenacity increased.


The invention relates to glimepiride for treating diabetes mellitus, and a preparation method of glimepiride. A glimepiride tablet composite is characterized in that every 1000 tablets of composites comprise 2g glimepiride, 85g mannitol, 73.3g lactose, 6.8g sodium carboxymethyl starch, 1.2g povidone K30, and 1.7g magnesium stearate, wherein glimepiride adopts a micronization technique, and D90 is less than or equal to 4.0 micrometers. A glimepiride tablet with high dissolubility and stable performance is obtained.


Background: Thoracic spine (T1-T12) fracture following motorcycle accident (MCA) is not uncommon injury and the topic has not been reported on in Nigeria. Objective: The aim of this study is to report on the demographic pattern of presentation and the short term neurologic outcome of conservative treatment of thoracic spine fractures following MCA in Abuja Nigeria. Methods: Age, sex, fracture pattern, region of fracture, neurologic status at presentation and outcome of patients treated conservatively for thoracic spine fractures following MCA from 1997 to 2007 were retrospectively studied from case notes. Results: There were 27 patients (25M, 2F, M/F 12.5: 1) with mean age of 28.2± 10.8 years over the 10-year period. The seventh thoracic spine T7 (22.2%) and the fourth to seventh thoracic spine (T4-T7) were the commonest level and region of injury respectively. Fracture-dislocation was the commonest fracture pattern noted. Fifteen (55.6%) patients had complete neurologic deficit. Seven (25.9%) patients left against medical advice and 5(18.5%) died during the review interval. Frankel's grading improved in 4 (14.8%) patients at least 2 levels at 6 month of evaluations. The mean duration of hospitalization was 69.5± 20.7 days. Conclusion: Thoracic spine fracture following MCA is not uncommon and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The patients were predominantly young economic active, male adults. The T7 and T4-T7 appears to be the commonest level and region of injury respectively. Fracture-dislocation was the commonest fracture pattern. The short term neurologic outcome was satisfactory in a small minority (14.8%) of the patients. Introduction Thoracic spine fracture usually occurs in high energy injury. As the motorcycle became an increasingly popular mode of transportation and recreation, a concomitant increase in injuries from motorcycle accidents has been reported. Thoracic fractures following MCA have been well documented in many reports but short term neurologic outcome has not been reported on in Nigeria. With emerging trends in the use of motorcycles as a means of transportation and recreation and the attendant injuries from the motorcycle accidents, there is a need to focus attention on this type of injury so as to understand the outcome and its consequences for a developing country like Nigeria. This is a retrospective study of patients with thoracic spine fracture following MCA at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, Abuja from July 1999 to July 2009 to define types of fractures, region of fractures and the short term outcome of conservative treatment. Methods The records of patients admitted at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada from 1 July 1997 to 1 July 2007 were reviewed. All patients with thoracic spine fractures following MCA admitted onto the ward were included in this study. Data extracted were age, sex, type of fracture, region of fracture, neurologic outcome of the treatment offered and duration of hospitalization. Fracture was diagnosed with plain radiograph using anteroposterior and lateral view and where necessary computed tomogram was done; and classified using the Denis' classification. The conservative treatment involved keeping patients in bed with thoracolumbar brace for 6 weeks and then discharged on the brace for another 3 month irrespective of the neurologic status. The neurologic outcome was determined using Frankel's grading. Ethical approval was sought and approval granted for this study. The results were analysed by means, standard deviation, simple percentages and Chi-square as appropriate using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 17.0; p-value of <0.05 is significant. Webmedcentral > Original Articles Page 2 of 11 WMC00872 Downloaded from http://www.webmedcentral.com on 20-Nov-2010, 01:47:43 PM


The Traffic Aware Planner (TAP) is a decision support automation tool for trajectory planning and optimization intended for use on today's flight deck. Drawing from a variety of on-and off-board data sources, TAP employs a sophisticated trajectory optimization algorithm that provides the aircrew with fuel-and time-saving reroute recommendations that are free of known conflicts with traffic, special use airspace, and severe convective weather. As this kind of weather is a significant part of the pilot's decision-making process while planning trajectory changes en route, a series of investigations has been conducted into the integration of weather data and associated functionality into the TAP software. This paper reviews the weather data sources and functionality that have been incorporated into TAP to date, along with experience gathered in the course of the design process


The image of the circle recurs again and again, in a wide range of motifs, in Palamas' poetry. Indeed, some areas of his poetry seem to exhibit a positive preoccupation with circular images of both nature and artifice, the most frequently occurring of which are the sun, moon, crown/garland ring the simple circle and the girdle of embrace Chains also appear to function in some poems as symbols of encirclement. The majority of the contexts in which these images occur are metaphysical in theme and a great number of the images themselves are associated with ideas of daemonic power over Man. The question of the psychological motivation that underlies the symbolism of such images as the 'ring' and 'chains' in Palamas' poetry has been discussed to some extent by most of his critics. What I intend to do here is to examine the poet's use of the whole range of 'circle' imagery as an aesmetic device and as a form of symbolism which he clearly considered to convey most effectively his ideas about his own dilemma and about the meaning of existence around him. I shall deal only with those images which can be called 'specifically' circular in that they are given expression by one or more of the key words discussed and are not just vague suggestions of some such idea.


It is evident that in practice information systems development methods (ISDMs) are usually not used as prescribed. For the effective use of ISDMs method adaptation (i.e. a decision making process through which an agent adapts the method to the project context at hand) is needed. To facilitate a human agent in managing method adaptation appropriate decision support should be provided. Different discourses can be employed and various ways of such decision support are possible. This paper aims at presenting how better appropriation of decision support for method adaptation has been achieved in a large-scale IT department after some trials. Four episodes and their corresponding ways of decision support are distinguished in the department across a ten-year timeline. We analyze four episodes as evolving decision support practices. As four episodes indicate, the appropriation of decision support for method adaptation is essential to the achievement of real decision support. This study also explicates the often-cited suggestion in the decision support literature that before providing toolbased decision support to practitioners we should first understand how the decision is made. Depending on the explicitness and complexity of discourses embedded in a decision making process such an understanding may take few years.


Of the many interpretive puzzles presented by the so-called Anaglypha Traiani, a pair of Roman imperial reliefs today located in the Curia Julia, one special curiosity is their depiction of a tree, commonly identified as the Ficus Ruminalis, otherwise rendered naturalistically but shown as if growing directly out of a stone base or pedestal. Close interrogation of this feature yields two important avenues of investigation. The first is a matter of historical realism, concerning how living trees were incorporated into the Forum Romanum in real life and thus how we should conceive of the Ficus Ruminalis itself. The second pertains to the use of the base as a formal device, one which activates—in concert with multiple architectonic platforms across the two panels—a sophisticated interplay between the "living" and the "monumental." This approach reveals a careful design in which the monuments in the reliefs' foregrounds were selected on both symbolic and historical grounds. Ultimately, this analysis paves the way for a new reading of the two panels as a pair of distinct ideological visions, united within an overarching temporal framework that emphasizes continuity among Rome's origins (the Ficus Ruminalis) and republican institutions (the Marsyas statue) and its imperial present, as well as between one emperor and the next.


chapter on 'Official publications' has no fewer than nine authors (some kind of record?) and, although containing useful facts, reads like a report designed by committee. One other potential critique of BLIW might stress its heterogeneity: unlike many other edited collections this one lacks a stated unifying theme, and many readers will, I suspect, treat it like a journal or encyclopaedia, reading only the chapters relating to their own specialist interest. Such an approach, entirely legitimate as it is, would, however, miss a great deal. For, despite its diverse range, the majority of contributors to BLIW do in fact address an overarching issue: the informatization of library and information work and the coming together (or otherwise) of the traditional library and the technoculture of the digital age. Between them, nearly all of the contributors to BLIW describe a series of processes, strategies, trajectories and outcomes relating to the ensuing technological, organizational and cultural change. Some chapters describe stand-offs, where libraries and librarians insist on the uniqueness of documents, print and reading (see 'Rare books ...'; 'Independent libraries'; 'Services to children and young people'). At the other extreme, tales are told of 'assimilation', where libraries are dissolved, librarians redesignated as 'knowledge managers' and, as in the case of The Association of UK Media Librarians, funeral wakes are held to mark occupational demise (p. 270; see also chapters on 'Government libraries' and 'Health and medical libraries'). Between these extremes, most contributors predictably portray a profession struggling to exploit the digital in ways which will maximize the utility and popularity of their institution. Some, like the large national libraries, appear to have the resource base and financial and organizational muscle to make such a strategy succeed. Many others, however, as Martin Flynn observes, risk 'being overshadowed, if not overtaken, by new alternative and potentially competing services ... and need a fundamentally transformative approach'(p. 220). In the majority of cases illustrated in BLIW, this transformation is at best a work in progress. Informatization is revealed as an untidy and uneven phenomenon, and it is not over yet. As Margaret Coutts astutely observes, the period 2006–2010 is by and large only a staging-post in the 'transition to digital predominance over print ... a fundamental change that could not yet be affirmed ... [and may] still require many years to come to fruition' (p. 74). Let us hope, in the meantime, that BLIW survives in order to record, analyse and critically assess how things turn out. For it is, as John Bowman claims in his publicity for this volume, 'History now'. In its mission to chart the transformation – even perhaps the eventual demise – of British librarianship and information work, BLIW is indeed an important resource: it holds up a mirror to the LIS community in Britain. Whatever its shortcomings, it is therefore surely deserving of a greater level of professional recognition, funding and organizational support than the current volume appears to have received. Note


Inflation, Unemployment and GDP are some of the vital variables for any nation, as they play a key role in determining the economic growth and development. The relationship between inflation and unemployment has been discussed by A.W. Phillips in his concept Phillips curve, which was widely accepted, criticized and augmented by the successive schools of economic thought. This study analyzes the relationship between inflation and unemployment in India from 2004 to 2018 using ordinary least square method and it has been observed that there exists a negative relation among the variables as explained by A.W. Phillips.


205Background: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) who undergo chemotherapy without antiviral prophylaxis may develop HBV reactivation, hepatitis, liver injury, and even death. The University of Illinois Cancer Center (UICC) lacks a standardized guideline for screening patients for HBV prior to chemotherapy initiation. A retrospective chart review was conducted on chemotherapy orders submitted to UICC pharmacy over 4 weeks for both hematological and solid tumor malignancies. Of 63 new orders for intravenous chemotherapy, only 14 patients (22%) underwent HBV screening prior to chemotherapy initiation. We aimed to increase HBV screening from 22% to 50% over 2 months. Methods: A multidisciplinary taskforce comprised of hematology/oncology and hepatology physicians, clinical pharmacy, and nursing was created. An ideal process map was created identifying a clear management schema for HBV screening including differences in screening tests for various populations and management recommendations for positive t...


It is a general consensus that the economic growth in developing countries is necessarily consumption-led instead of production/investment-led. The reason might be that the share of consumption (private) in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in these economies usually ranges between 70 to 75 per cent. Consumption expenditure with its dominant share in GDP is bound to contribute the most in real GDP growth. Thus, what is wrong in consumption-led growth? If people don't consume, why should someone produce? The very act of consumption would encourage private sector to produce more. Thus, consumption-led growth would turn into production/investment-led growth and eventually the economy would move to a high growth trajectory. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to investigate the dynamics of the relationship between real consumption expenditure and economic growth in a developing country like India. The study by employing Cointegration test and estimating the vector error correction regression for the sample period of 1950-51 to 2008-09, provides the evidence of longrun equilibrium relationship among variables. The causality test in the error correction model indicates that there exists a unidirectional causal relationship which runs from real private consumption expenditure to economic growth in the long-run. However, the Granger causality test indicates that there is no short-run causality between them.


In this CDC study published in The BMJ, researchers re-assessed several previously reported links between SSRI use and birth defects using more recent data. These results reflect not only the new data, but also incorporate results from previously published independent studies. Researchers found some birth defects occur about two or three times more frequently among babies born to women who took certain SSRI medications, like fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil), early in pregnancy. However, links between birth defects and other SSRIs, like sertraline, were not observed in this CDC study.


This paper presents a novel 3D laser scanner and compares its performance to that of a range of approaches presently in-use. Each of the alternatives are discussed with respect to a selection of key performance metrics, and the new scanner is also analysed within this context. Examples are then presented where the impact of these performance metrics on real-world applications are illustrated through a simulation, and the new scanner is demonstrated to provide significant advances over existing technologies.


Mid-infrared (IR) array detectors have been used for astronomical observations in space. However, the uniformities of their spectral response curves have not been investigated in detail, the understanding of which is important for spectroscopic observations using large array formats. We characterize the spectral responses of all the pixels in IR array detectors using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and cryogenic optics for measurements at high signal-to-noise ratios. We measured the spectral responses of the Si:As impurity band conduction (IBC) array, a flight back-up detector for AKARI/InfraRed Camera. As a result, we find that the Si:As array has intrinsic variations in the spectral response along the row and column directions of the array. We also find that the cutoff wavelength of the Si:As IBC array depends on the intensity of the incident light.


A new genus, Nephoanthus, is established based on morphological and molecular data. It comprises two species distributed in montane forests of central to southern Vietnam and Hainan Island: the type species N. prostratus and a new species N. nubigenus. Nephoanthus is morphologically similar to Phyllagathis but phylogenetically remote from the type species of Phyllagathis in the analyses of both plastid genome and nrITS sequences. Nephoanthus is genetically associated to but significantly morphologically distinct from Driessenia, Heteroblemma, Medinilla and Tigridiopalma. A detailed morphological comparison of Nephoanthus and related taxa is provided.


This research aimed to analyze : (1) the students' conceptual knowledge by using inquiry training learning model assisted mind map were better than using convensional learning, (2) the students' science process skills by using inquiry training learning model were better than using convensional learning. This research carried out by a quasi-experimental and desaign was two group pretes-postest desaign.The population of this study was class X SMA IT As-Syafiiyah Medan. Sample selection was done by total sampling. Sample devided two class, eksperimen class by using inquiry training learning model and control class by using convensional. The instruments of this study used test conceptual knowledge and science process skills test in the form of a observations  which were valid.  The data were analyzed by using independent sample t-test. Conceptual knowledge postest results of experimental class is 75,20 and the control class is 56.87. Science process skills postest results of experimental class is 72,93 and the control class is 66,50. The result indicates the conceptual knowledge and KPS of students using inquiry training model assisted mind map is better than using convensional learning.


This paper presents an algorithm for recovering an image from a sequence of distorted versions of it, where the distortions are caused by a wavy water surface. A robust non-rigid image registration technique is employed to determine the pixel shift maps of all the frames in the sequence against a reference frame. An iterative image dewarping algorithm is applied to correct the geometric distortions of the sequence. A non-local means filter is used to mitigate noise and improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The performance of our proposed method is compared against the state-of-the-art method. Results show that our proposed method performs significantly better in removing geometric distortions of the underwater images.


Distributed generation is regarded as the developing direction of the power system in 21 century. Because distributed generation always connects with the distribution system, which has great influence on every aspects of power system. This paper studied the influence of distributed generation on load modeling. When the influence of distributed generation is not negligible, the composite induction motor load model can't effectively describe the actual load characteristic. This paper proposes a new load model-asynchronous generator +ZIP. The validity of the proposed load model is also testified via the comparison and contrast from a great deal of simulations. Then, composite induction-motor and asynchronous generator +ZIP load models were unified in one program.


This study aimed to evaluate the influence of CYP2D6 activity and cachexia progression on the enantiomeric alteration of plasma tramadol and its demethylated metabolites in head and neck cancer patients. Fifty‐three head and neck cancer patients receiving oral tramadol were enrolled. The plasma concentrations of tramadol, O‐desmethyltramadol (ODT) and N‐desmethyltramadol (NDT) enantiomers were determined. The CYP2D6 activity score (AS) and degree of cachexia progression were assessed according to genotype and the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), respectively. The enantiomeric ratio of NDT was (+)‐form dominant in all patients. CYP2D6 AS had negative correlations with the plasma concentrations of (+)‐NDT and (−)‐NDT. The plasma concentrations of (+)‐tramadol and (+)‐ODT were higher in patients with GPS 1 or 2 than in those with GPS 0. Lower metabolic ratios to NDT enantiomers were observed in patients with GPS 1 or 2. In patients with GPS 1 or 2, the plasma (−)‐tramadol was associated with the incidence of central nervous system symptoms. In conclusion, CYP2D6 AS partially explained the contribution of CYP2D6 activity to plasma tramadol and its demethylated metabolite enantiomers. Additionally, cachexia progression elevated the plasma (+)‐tramadol and (+)‐ODT levels through the reduction of N‐demethylation of (+)‐tramadol.


Dear Readers, Authors, Reviewers, and Editorial Board Members,
 Gratitude to all of you involved in the development of Letters in Applied NanoBioSciece. Volume 11 of 2022 was a great success, consisting of 120 articles and reviews in 1337 pages, published in advance. In January 2022, editorial staff started Volume 12, assigned to 2023.
Starting with this volume, article numbers instead of the traditional method of continuous pagination will be used. This approach allows a faster production process.
Even if the financial efforts for publications increased in the last few years, the platinum open-access policy is still supported by the journal staff.
Letters in Applied NanoBioscience is pleased to invite contributors to submit their recent results and ideas for publication.


The problem of oncological diseases has acquired a social and medical character. In this regard, the rapid development of new drugs and methods, as well as modification of existing methods in order to increase their effectiveness, is currently required. The paper aims to develop and study two promising agents for photodynamic therapy. We discussed a new binary complex based on the widely used photosensitizer chlorin E6 with europium, which can solve one of the main disadvantages of drugs for photodynamic therapy: it can be used to treat deeper tumors and act more effectively by transferring luminescence energy between europium and chlorin E6. Our other agent was copper-containing chlorophyllin. Chlorophyllin is a natural component, which is always promising in the development of new drugs. The optical and fluorescent parameters of the agents were determined using physicochemical methods; their ability to generate reactive oxygen species in the presence of two fluorescent probes was studied: 2ʹ, 7ʹ-dichlorodihydrofluorescein and dihydrofluorescein. Thus, we showed the effectiveness of chlorophyllin in comparison with chlorin E6 by 1.92 times at 50 μg / ml E6 and showed the effectiveness of the binary complex even at the minimum concentration of 10 μg / ml. Further research in cell cultures will develop the ways of the possible use of new substances as photosensitizers.


. Most galleries prefer to display paintings in major hybrid exhibitions except for the art competition with a special category whereby hybrid artworks would be highlighted. The relationship between artist and curator is crucial when it comes to organising a hybrid exhibition. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify the knowledge about hybrid among the artist and curators in the development of hybrid art exhibitions. The researchers applied the Kawakita Jiro method of clustering attributes that focus on the artist's practices and curatorial skills. The findings show that hybrid knowledge is focusing on representation, assessment, technical collaboration, awareness, and conservation in developing hybrid art practices.


Direct carbonization methods represent a facile strategy for the synthesis of functional carbon electrocatalysts, however, the resulting carbons are mostly microporous and of low surface area, which disfavor mass transfer, and usually have low electrocatalytic activity. In this study, a hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) comprising of melamine and trimesic acid is used as a highly porous precursor to prepare N-doped carbons through facile, direct pyrolysis. The high nitrogen content of melamine and the intrinsically porous nature of the HOF facilitates the formation of a mesoporous carbon with 4.8 atom % content of nitrogen dopants and a significantly high surface area of 1321 m2 g−1. Electrochemical measurements show that the best sample, which was pyrolyzed at 800 °C (HOF-800), exhibited efficient catalytic activity for oxygen electroreduction in 0.1 m KOH aqueous solution. This catalyst exhibits a much more positive onset potential, higher diffusion-limited current density, higher electron-transfer number in the low overpotential region, higher stability, and stronger tolerance against methanol crossover than the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalysts. The results in this study suggest the potential of intrinsically porous HOFs for the development of highly efficient nonprecious-metal electrocatalysts.


Abstract : Consider the linear regression model Y = X Theta + epsilon. Recently, a class of estimators, variously known as ridge estimators, has been proposed as an alternative to the least squares estimators in the case of collinearity, that is, when the design matrix X'X is nearly singular. The ridge estimator is given by Theta-cap = (1/(X'X + KI)) X'Y, where K is a constant to be determined. An optimal choice of the value of K is not known. This paper examines the risk (mean squared error) of the ridge estimator under the constraint Theta'Theta r or = c and determines optimal values of K for which the risk is smaller than the risk of the least squares estimators where c is a constant. (Author)


Abstract This paper proposes a new type of time series model to identify the characteristics of non-linear dynamical structures. The model simultaneously accommodates three kinds of output signals, acceleration, velocity and displacement. This model is more sensitive to non-linearity than models utilising only one output state, and gives accurate time response prediction and frequency response function estimates.


In this article, the effect of earthquake ground motions, especially spatially varying motion, on the seismic response of a long-span double-deck cable-stayed bridge is investigated. Static and dynamic response analyses, with the focus on internal forces on web members, are carried out on the Shanghai Minpu Bridge which is the longest long-span double-deck cable-stayed highway bridge. Firstly, a program for the generation of multi-ground motions has been developed, based on the multivariate stochastic processes of the weighted amplitude wave superposition method in FORTRAN. Secondly, a refined finite element model composed of beam and shell elements and a simplified model using equivalent beam elements to model girders of the bridge are established in ABAQUS. Geometrical nonlinear static analysis is performed to get initial equilibrium configuration of the bridge for both the above models. Modal analysis is carried out on the initial equilibrium configuration and the natures of mode shapes for the refined model are discussed in detail. The dynamic response analyses under two groups of uniform seismic excitation indicate that the two models result in approximately identical results. Thirdly, the effect of nonlinear viscous dampers, located between the tower and the girder, on movement due to seismic excitation is investigated on the simplified model under uniform excitation. Results show that the dampers magnify the shear force and moment on lower tower columns in the longitudinal direction, but have relatively small effect on the upper tower columns. The shear force and moment of the tower base increase with the damping coefficient in a certain range. Finally, the characteristics of internal force for towers, subsidiary piers, and web members (vertical and oblique web members and side oblique chords) under multipoint excitation are examined. It is concluded that the abrupt changes on the shear envelope curves at the intersection of the tower column and the lower transverse beam are aroused due to the eight nonlinear fluid viscous dampers. The lateral moment of the subsidiary piers increases with the distance from the tower to subsidiary piers. The maximum axial forces of web members of side-span vary acutely, especially those of the vertical and oblique members close to the piers. For side oblique chords, the maximum axial force is uniformly distributed with the exception of members at the piers and the mid-span sections. Therefore, attention should be paid to the fluctuation forces of cables in seismic analysis of long-span cable-stayed bridges, since the uplift of girder ends may cause severe damage to bridges.


This paper presents a receiver channel for a pulsed time-of-flight laser rangefinder with dual threshold leading edge timing discrimination. The timing error dependent on amplitude variations is corrected by measuring the slew rate of the arrival optical pulse. In this way the correction can be continued after the pulse is clipped so that the residual error can be minimized. The measured bandwidth, transimpedance and input rms noise current of the receiver channel are 300 MHz, 23 k Ω and 95 nA, respectively. The timing detection accuracy of the receiver channel is under ±30 ps which is ±4.5 mm in distance within a dynamic range of 1:10000.


1. Asberg M, Traskman L, Thoren P. 5HIAA in cerebrospinal fluid: a biochemical suicide predictor. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1976; 33: 93-7. 2. Anon. Serotonin, suicidal behaviour and impulsivity. Lancet 1987; 2: 949-50. 3. Teichcr MH, Glod C, Cole JO. Emergency of intense suicidal preoccupation during fluoxetine treatment. Am J Psychiatry 1990; 147: 20710. 4. Rothschild Anthony J, Locke Carol A. Re-exposure to fluoxetine after serious suicide attempts by three patients: the role of akathisia. J Clin Psychiatry 1991; 52: 491-3. 5. Lipinski JF, Mallaya G, Zimmerman P. Fluoxetine induced akathisia, clinical and theoretical implications. J Clin Psychiatry 1989; 50: 339-42. 6. Dasgupta K. 1990. Additional cases of suicidal ideation associated with fluoxetine. Am J Psychiatry 147; 11: 1570. 7. King RA, Riddle MA, Chappell PB, Hardin MT, Anderson GM, Lombroso P, Schaill L. Emergence of self-destructive phenomenon in children and adolescents during fluoxetine treatment. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1991; 30(2): 179-86.. 8. Mann JJ, Goodwin FK, O'Brien C, Robinson DS. Suicidal behaviour and psychotropic medication. Consensus statement by the ACNP Council, March 2nd 1992. 9. Beasley CM, Dornseif BE, Bosomworth JC. Fluoxetine and suicide a meta-analysis of controlled trials of treatment for depression. BMJ 1991;303:685-92. 10. USA FDA Panel on Prozac. Effect on litigation. Scrip 1991; 1656: 21. 11. Regier, DA, Farmer ME, Rae DS, Locke BZ, Keith SJ, Judd LL, Goodwin FK. Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol and other drug abuse. JAMA 1990; 264; (19): 2511 -8. 12. Kroef. Reactions to triazolam (Halcion) [Letter], Lancet 1979; Sept. 13. Damluji NF, Ferguson JM. Paradoxical worsening of depressive symptomatology caused by antidepressants. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1988;8:342-9. 14. Brent DA, Kupper DJ, Bromet EJ, Dew MA. The assessment and treatment of patients at risk from suicide. Psychiatry Update: vol 7. Washington DC: APP, 1988: 353-85. 15. Hagnel O et al. Suicide rates in the Ludby study: mental illness as a factor in suicide. Neuropsychobiol 1981; 7: 248-53. 16. Guze SB, Robins E. Suicide and primary affective disorders. Br J Psychiatry 1970; 117: 437-48.


Suggests that a non linear path may exist for the development of ICT reflecting late entrants having access directly to the later stages achieved in the mature entrants. This access allows late entrants to 'leapfrog' the earlier stages offering increased choice in the development path and creating non linear path way. In addition the incrementalist model fails to recognise that unsuccessful developments in ICT may result in more than the delay of adoption of the next stage. Negative experiences may lead to retro steps, consolidating positive achievements in previously adopted stages. The paper hypothesises that the linear model fails to explain the historic development and further fails to provide a predictive model of future developments.


The sharp contrasts in teachers' metaphors for their relationships with students set the stage for a critical comparison of traditional, modern, and postmodern educational approaches. In Teaching in the First Person, three university undergraduate teachers' metaphors for education emerge from their candid descriptions of interactions with their students. The rich vocabulary that the interviewed teachers used to portray their interactions with U.C. Berkeley undergraduate architecture students is woven into a larger examination of how assumptions that teachers hold about knowledge impact their treatment of students. The investigation of theory embedded within teachers' narratives begins with a cogent historical overview of paradigm shifts within science, poetry, education, and philosophical theories of knowledge. A critique of harmful educational practices supported by the traditional mind as machine metaphor for knowledge invites educators to embrace the postmodern bodily basis for knowing as a viable alternative that radically redefines the teacher/student relationship.


A method for constructing a target structure, discloses a relevant target and reticle. A target comprises a plurality of gratings having a plurality of sub-structures, respectively. The method includes the steps of defining a target area, placing the sub-structure in the target area in order to form a grid, a configuration assist feature to reduce the measured intensity peak in the peripheral portion of the grating comprising placing the peripheral portion of the grating, the. The method includes modeling the target image obtained as a result by inspection of using metrology process, and to evaluate whether the target structure is optimized for detection using metrology process, a it may include an optimization process comprising. .FIELD 8 (b)


In this paper we introduce the concept of G-H-space which is a generalization of H-space and a G-H-KKM map which unifies H-KKM maps and generalized KKM maps, and obtain intersection and fixed point theorems in G-H-space. We also give applications to the existence of greatest and maximal elements for preference relations in topological spaces.


Jane Wilson-Howarth briefly reviews the health challenges that families travelling overseas face. Travel health is often seen as simply providing immunizations and malaria prophylaxis. Our duty is to highlight the hazards and offer some strategies to mitigate the risks


A hybrid ΔΣ modulator for audio applications is presented in this paper. The pulse generator for digital‐to‐analog converter alleviates the requirement of the external clock jitter and calibrates the coefficient variation due to a process shift and temperature changes. The input resistor network in the first integrator offers a gain control function in a dB‐linear fashion. Also, careful chopper stabilization implementation using return‐to‐zero scheme in the first continuous‐time integrator minimizes both the influence of flicker noise and inflow noise due to chopping. The chip is implemented in a 0.13 μm CMOS technology (I/O devices) and occupies an active area of 0.37 mm2. The ΔΣ modulator achieves a dynamic range (A‐weighted) of 97.8 dB and a peak signal‐to‐noise‐plus‐distortion ratio of 90.0 dB over an audio bandwidth of 20 kHz with a 4.4 mW power consumption from 3.3 V. Also, the gain of the modulator is controlled from –9.5 dB to 8.5 dB, and the performance of the modulator is maintained up to 5 nsRMS external clock jitter.


A novel branch-line coupler with three controllable operating frequencies is presented for tri-band operation. The tri-band operation is achieved by attaching a matching circuit to each port of the conventional branch-line coupler. Closed-form design equations are derived. For verification, a microstrip 3 dB branch-line coupler operating at 0.9/2/2.45 GHz is designed, fabricated and measured. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated results. When the return loss and isolation are better than 15 dB and 20 dB simultaneously, the measured bandwidths of three operating bands are all almost 40 MHz, while the amplitude imbalance is below 0.8 dB and the phase difference is within .


The purpose of this study was to find out whether there s an nfluence between financial literacy on the financial behavior of Binawan Uiniversity students. The research method used n this research s descriptive analysis with a quantitative approach. The sample used was 98 and were active students at Binawan Uiniversity. The results of the study show that there s an nfluence between financial literacy on the financial behavior of Binawan Uiniversity students. The results of the regression test show that the coefficient of determination (R2) s 0.973 or 97.3%. This value ndicates that 97.3% of financial behavior s nfluenced by financial literacy, while the remaiining 2.7% s nfluenced by other variables not examined n this study.Key words: Financial Literacy, Financial Behavior, Student Finance