Chemicals that end up in the water cycle can negatively impact water quality and thereby the aquatic environment. In the Netherlands, drinking water is primarily prepared from surface water and groundwater. To protect the environment and drinking water sources, it is important to adequately monitor the water quality and identify contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Current European legislation on water quality assessment dictates the use of targeted chemical analysis to analyze a list of priority substances in water bodies. By only measuring a limited list of compounds, however, environmental risks and adverse effects on water quality may be underestimated. To improve this assessment, effect-based bioassays are applied more and more. Bioassays measure the combined potency of all (known and unknown) bioactive compounds in a sample that affect the same endpoint. Effect-directed analysis (EDA) combines chemical analyses and bioassays into one platform to identify CECs, to prioritize them for future monitoring.

Previously, such a platform was developed in the High-Throughput EDA project (2013 – 2017, funded by NWO-STW). In this project, the Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry and the VU Department of Environment & Health of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam collaborated with Het Waterlaboratorium. The developed platform was implemented at Het Waterlaboratorium for monitoring applications outside an academic context. In the HT-EDA project, bioassays that monitor mutagenic and endocrine disrupting activity were applied for the identification of compounds with EDA. Furthermore, the platform allowed for high-resolution fractionation, simplifying the composition of mixtures in fractions in well plate format. The identification success rate was limited, however, which could be (partly) attributed to a lack of fast identification strategies. Also, there was a need to identify CECs with other toxicological endpoints relevant to the water cycle, such as the toxicity of antibiotics. The work in this thesis was carried out as part of the RoutinEDA project, which was embedded in the CEC-partnership, a research program funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), STOWA, TKI Water Technology, and KWR Water Research Institute.

Chapter 1 describes the background and the aims of this thesis. Here, information on chemicals that threaten water quality and water quality assessment strategies are provided. Further, it is described how targeted chemical analysis and suspect and nontarget screening approaches are applied in the identification of CECs. The principle of EDA is presented in detail, together with novel toxicological endpoints relevant to the water cycle that were addressed in this work. The aims of this thesis were to:
(1) Expand the existing EDA platform with an antibiotics bioassay, targeting antimicrobial compounds as a toxicological endpoint
(2) Enhance the identification success rate of CECs
(3) Identify CECs with glucocorticoid and/or antimicrobial activity in water samples
(4) Improve the EDA platform in efficiency and use allowing for routine application by monitoring laboratories

Chapter 2 describes the development of a high-throughput bioassay for the screening of antibiotics in environmental samples.

In Chapter 3, a data processing workflow for EDA studies was developed to improve the identification process of CECs using suspect and nontarget screening.

Chapter 4 describes the identification of antimicrobial CECs in water sample extracts that were sampled around two WWTPs by using EDA.

In Chapter 5, six Dutch WWTP effluents were subjected to EDA for the identification of CECs with glucocorticoid and/or antimicrobial activity.

Finally, Chapter 6 discusses the overall findings of this thesis and provides future perspectives to improve the EDA platform.


Carey. Myriad Genetic Laboratories Inc of Salt Lake City, Utah, holds patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2 tests. Even though a number of insurance companies cover testing and Myriad has an assistance program for low-income patients, the cost still can be prohibitive for uninsured and underinsured patients. "If you can't get the test done, then you can't use the prevention strategy," Carey noted. Carey said Weitzel's test "lets you do a first-pass screen; it rules people in." She said the test "is a very easy allelespecific hybridization type of approach to just looking for [recurrent BRCA mutations] instead of the needlein-the-haystack approach that is full sequencing." In addition, the multiplex panel also is less expensive than full sequencing, she noted.


Abstract This study aims to examine the association between arts related interests and cognition among older Chinese. Data were drawn from 3,243 participants (Mage=71.1, SD=7.8) in the China Longitudinal Aging Study collected in 2011. About 54.4% were female, the average education was eighth grade, 560 interested in music, 86 interested in drawing, and 69 interested in both. Those interested in music or drawing were more likely to enjoy tea and exercise like Taichi, and less likely to smoke or drink (p < 0.01). Those interested in both reported best cognitive function, and those interested in music or drawing had better cognitive function than those without these interests (p< 0.01). However, the difference in cognition between those interested in music and those without diminished after education was controlled. The effect of arts hobbies in cognition among older Chinese remains to be further examined within the context of education and associated lifestyle factors.


The macrolide ketocarbonic acid carolacton (1) was isolated from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum, strain So ce960, because of its antibiotic activity. Subsequently, carolacton (1) was discovered to be a highly potent agent against biofilms containing the caries- and endocarditis-associated bacterium Streptococcus mutans. The 2D structure of 1 was elucidated by HRMS, IR and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Initially, the stereogenic centres were determined by chemical derivatization in combination with computional methods and finally verified by X-ray analysis.


Bromodomains recognize a wide range of acetylated lysine residues in histones and other nuclear proteins. Substrate specificity is critical for their biological function and arises from unique acetyl-lysine binding sites formed by variable loop regions. Here, we analyzed substrate affinity and specificity of the yeast ScSth1p bromodomain, an essential component of the "Remodels the Structure of Chromatin" complex, and found that the wild-type bromodomain preferentially recognizes H3K14ac and H4K20ac peptides. Mutagenesis studies—guided by our crystal structure determined at 2.7 Å resolution—revealed loop residues Ser1276 and Trp1338 as key determinants for such interactions. Strikingly, point mutations of each of these residues substantially increased peptide binding affinity and selectivity, respectively. Our data demonstrate that the ScSth1p bromodomain is not optimized for binding to an individual acetylation mark, but fine-tuned for interactions with several such modifications, consistent with the versatile and multivalent nature of histone recognition by reader modules such as bromodomains. Highlights The ScSth1p bromodomain preferentially recognizes H3K14ac and H4K20ac peptides Ser1276 and Trp1338 are key determinants of substrate affinity and specificity Mutations of these residues drastically increase substrate affinity and specificity The ScSth1p bromodomain is fine-tuned for promiscuous histone tail recognition Graphical Abstract


Ferroelectric-Ferrite composite with composition (x) Li0.5Fe2.5O4 + (1-x) BaTiO3 (for x= 0, 0.20 & 0.40) were prepared by the conventional sintering technique at 900C for 4 hours. Presence of two phases is further confirmed by x-ray diffraction analysis and lowering of c/a ratio show incorporation of ferrite in ferroelectric compound. Dielectric constant decreases with increase in ferrite content indicating lowering contribution due to interfacial polarization. An increase of Curie temperature with increase in ferrite content suggests an increase of material stability in high temperature region.


Variability of renewable energy sources (RES) creates great challenges for their owners and power system operator. In recent years energy storage system is employed to mitigate the fluctuation of RESs. This paper addresses optimal decision-making of the wind-diesel-storage system in the day-ahead electricity market with a data-driven approach. The problem is formulated as MILP to maximize the profit. Uncertain parameters of the day-ahead electricity market and wind speed are forecasted by a deep bidirectional gated recurrent neural network (DBGRUNN). The proposed model is compared with LSTM, GRU, CNN, and Conv models and different evaluation criteria, as well as the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), the root, mean square error (RMSE), and the mean absolute error (MAE) are used to measure accuracy. The presented model results on a Ferrol 1 Tide Gauge station database at the Spain pool market show that the proposed model performs better than the comparative models.


To assist the contractors faced with multiple biding opportunities to make a decision,apractical bidding decision method of international hydraulic engineering is established by using analytic network process(ANP).And then it analyzes the main impact indicators of bidding decision.At the same time,triangular fuzzy number is introduced to solve the model,which increases the accuracy of evaluation.Finally,taking a construction enterprise selecting one of three projects A,B and C to bid for an example,the results show that the improved ANP provides an more accurate and effective way for international contractors to make the bidding decision.


This experiment was designed to study the effects of caffeine on the histomorphology of the testes of prepubertal male Wistar rats. Prepubertal Wistar rats (25-28 days old), weighing between 50-60 g were randomly divided into three treatment groups (B, C and D) and control (A) of ten rats each. Group A rats received distilled water while Groups B, C, and D rats were respectively given daily dose of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg of caffeine dissolved in distilled water for 14 days by gavage. Five rats from each group were sacrificed 24 hours after the last caffeine administration while the remaining rats were monitored for another three weeks for them to attain sexual maturity. The rats were sacrificed under diethyl ether anesthesia and the testes were fixed by immersion in Bouin's fluid. The tissues were processed for histomorphological and histomorphometric assessment. Data obtained were analyzed using one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett post hoc test for comparison with control. Alpha level was set at 0.05. Results showed that treatment with caffeine caused a significant decrease in testicular weight and a marked cellular degeneration and depletion of germ cells in the testes of rats in group D. The height of the germinal epithelium was significantly reduced when compared with control. This study concluded that prepubertal exposure of Wistar rats to caffeine reduced testicular growth and deleteriously alters testicular morphology.


Abstract The errors-in-variables (EIV) model is used for data processing in the field of geodesy. However, the EIV model may be ill-posed. By analyzing the decreasing regularization (D-regularization) characteristic of solutions for EIV models, algorithms using traditional methods such as singular value decomposition or the Tikhonov function can directly determine the irrationality of a model. When an EIV model is ill-posed, solutions in which the observation errors in the coefficient matrix are simulated by variables make the ill-posed nature of the model more serious. This is because the simulated observation errors are subtracted from the coefficient matrix in subsequent computations, which reduces the singular value of the normal matrix. This point is verified using an example. To account for the D-regularization of solutions in EIV models, a modified algorithm is derived by classifying the models into two categories, and the regularization parameters are iteratively revised based on the mean squared error. Finally, some conclusions are drawn from two separate examples.


As one of China's emerging urban agglomerations, the Changzhutan urban area is suffering from regional composite air pollution. Previous studies mainly focus on single cities or world-class urban agglomerations, which cannot provide a scientific basis for air pollution in emerging urban agglomerations. This paper proposes the latest high-resolution emission inventory through the emission factor method and compares the results with the rest of the urban agglomeration. The emission inventory shows that the estimates for sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter 10 (PM10), particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ammonia (NH3) emission are 132.5, 148.9, 111.6, 56.5, 119.0, and 72.0 kt, respectively. From the 3 × 3 km emission grid, the spatial difference of air pollutant emissions in the Changzhutan urban agglomeration was more obvious, but the overall trend of monthly pollutant discharge was relatively stable. Depending on the source apportionment, SO42−, OC, and NO3− are the main chemical constituents of PM2.5, accounting for 13.06, 8.24, and 4.84 μg/m3, respectively. Simultaneously, industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and dust are still three main sources that cannot be ignored. With the support of these data, the results of this study may provide a reference for other emerging urban agglomerations in air quality.


Following a pilot test of the Solution-Focused Wellness for HIV (SFWH) Intervention for Women, we used qualitative research with (N = 14) participants to understand their experiences of a 6-week client-centered group counseling intervention. We analyzed focus group and interview data to determine intervention feasibility, acceptability, and participant experiences. Our findings included not being defined by HIV diagnosis, solution-finding skills gained from participating in the intervention, supportive aspects of being with other women living with HIV, progressing toward wellness goals, a safe place to openly express feelings, recommending the intervention to other women living with HIV, a positive response to the intervention, and improving access to the intervention. We recommend programmatic adaptations related to transportation and child care provision to improve intervention access that may benefit other health researchers in community-based settings.


Convolutional neural networks have achieved wide success in RGB saliency detection. Recently, the advent of RGB-D sensors such as Kinect provide additional geometric saliency cues. However, the key challenge for RGB-D salient object detection that how to fuse RGB and depth information sufficiently is still under-studied. Traditional works mainly follow the two-stream architecture and combine RGB and depth features/decisions in an early or late point. The multi-modal fusion stage is performed by directly concatenating the features from two modalities without selection. In this work, we address this question by proposing a novel network with a distinguished insight: A selection module is significantly helpful for more informative and sufficient cross-modal cross-level combination. To this end, we introduce a top-down RGB-D fusion network which integrates an attention-aware cross-modal cross-level fusion block in each level to select discriminative features from each level and each modality. Extensive experiments on public datasets show that the proposed network is able to solve the key problems in RGB-D fusion and achieves state-of-the-art performance on RGB-D salient object detection.


In this paper, we first analyze the performance of maximal ratio combining (MRC) scheme for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) in an interference-limited CDMA cellular system. Different from the previous contributions, our work focuses on downlink for the following reasons: first, downlink has always been the bottleneck of capacity due to asymmetry in traffic loads between downlink and uplink; second, the simplicity of MRC MIMO present more attractiveness in downlink for the strict complexity restriction on mobile stations. We analyze the impact of intra-cell interference as well as inter-cell interference on system performance and derive the outage probability and capacity of the system in a closed-form. Then we compare the performance between MRC-MIMO-CDMA and single input single output (SISO) CDMA systems in respect of outage probability and capacity. The results indicate the efficiency predominance of MRC- MIMO-CDMA over SISO and show that employing more transmit antennas at the base station brings on better performance than using more receive antennas.


Background and Objective: Identifying the complications of menopause and their related prevention method is necessary for every woman an important task that is achievable through health care educations. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of education on the knowledge and attitude of post-menopausal women about menopausal symptoms and complications. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 100 women in the age of 45-60 years old were randomly selected based on the target model. Prior to the educational programs, the knowledge and attitude of postmenopausal women about the symptoms and complications of menopause were collected. Then, the educational program was performed according to the Deputy Health Educational package, followed by a thorough evaluation carried out using questionnaires in the second test phase after two months of training. The resulted data were analyzed using SPSS software and paired T-test and one-sided variance methods at the significant level of p less-than 0.05. Results: There was a significant difference (p less-than 0/001) between the amount of average knowledge before and after the training. Before the training, 11% of the individuals had a poor knowledge of the subject. While 88% of the women had a moderate knowledge, only 1% of them had a good understanding. By contrast, after the training, none of the subjects had a poor knowledge, and 73% and 27% of the individuals had gained a moderate and good knowledge respectively. In addition, there was a significant difference (p less-than 0/001) between before and after the training periods. Prior to the education program, 7% of the individuals had negative and 59% had positive attitude. However, after the program, 80% of the individuals showed a positive attitude. Conclusion: The training of postmenopausal women results in an improvement in the level of their awareness, and could lead to significant changes in their attitudes toward the menopause. Thus, conducting the training programs is the best way to strengthen the scientific vigor, changing the attitudes and behavior of the postmenopausal women.


An intense L-band traveling-wave electron accelerator is under development for irradiation applications. It is capable of producing 10-MeV electron beams of 30 kW under a fully beam-loaded condition. The accelerator is powered by a pulsed klystron of 1.3 GHz and 25 MW with a 60-kW average power. The accelerating structure is a constant-impedance, disk-loaded structure operated with the 2 /3 mode. The RF cavities in the accelerating structure were designed by using the SUPERFISH code. Cold tests were also conducted for every kind of prototype cavities with dierent dimensions in the accelerating structure. A beam dynamics simulation by the PARMELA code indicates that the beam transmission eciency, the ratio of the input to the output currents, is over 90 % with solenoid fields from the POISSON code. With the simulation, we obtain the fully-beam-loaded condition at an input beam current of 1.6 A.


Abstract A small-scale study to identify the clinical effectiveness of electrosurgery in destroying hyperkeratotic, chronic lesions on the plantar and dorsum of the feet is presented. The researchers utilized a questionnaire to rate subject's satisfaction levels with treatment and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to determine pain pre and post surgery. The results highlight a significant clinical improvement in pain levels with a mean healing time of 3.4 weeks, 52% presenting total resolution and 34% no pain but some callus formation, indicating electrosurgery can make a valuable contribution to podiatric care. A high satisfaction rate was indicated by the subjects – 83% reporting they were pleased with the care package. The studysuggests treatment is clinically effective & useful for subjects with chronic painful hyperkeratotic lesions of the foot, although a longer-term study is required.


Using whole-community macrobenthic responses to assess pollution impacts in estuaries presents a difficult challenge due to dynamic natural conditions that may impose their own physical limitations on the biota. For example, the recognition of bioindicator taxa becomes confounded when correlations exist between gradients in natural environmental variables, such as salinity, and gradients in contaminants, such as trace metals. The authors used partial Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to separate natural and contaminant related gradients in macrobenthic community structure across 319 EMAP sites dispersed throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico. Residual variation in macrobenthic community structure was examined with respect to gradients in contaminant levels to identify responses by positive and negative bioindicator taxa. Gradients in concentrations of trace metals do not coincide completely with those in other chemical contaminants, and responses by characteristic bioindicator taxa reveal information regarding effects of specific contaminants. Several indigenous taxa serve as good negative bioindicators, whereas other opportunistic taxa serve as positive bioindicators of estuarine contamination.


This article makes a time-domain analysis of contact passive intermodulation (PIM) with vibration. A time-domain model is presented to quantify the relationship between uneven contact force and the electrical contact state by observing the test results of PIM with vibration and analyzing related research. The time-domain varying of three-order PIM (PIM3) power is calculated whose periodicity and change tendency agree with the measurement results. Meanwhile, the numerical results explain the vibration modulation phenomenon on contact PIM and the effects of vibration on contact PIM. The frequency doubling of vibration modulation and the increase of contact PIM power are observed from the results under bending vibration. It shows that the mechanical connection in sensitive regions needs to avoid bending vibration.


: This study investigated and collected evidence on the "four chaos" problems of rivers and lakes through cutting-edge information technology, and promoted regulatory upgrading with technological progress to ensure that relevant departments comprehensively strengthened supervision of rivers and lakes in the region. The use of remote sensing information technology to achieve large-scale periodic macro monitoring of the "four chaos" of rivers and lakes, provide timely and reliable technical support for the supervision of the "four chaos" of rivers and lakes, and help the realization of the beautiful ecological vision of "clear water and green mountains"; With the macro and periodicity characteristics of remote sensing monitoring, problems such as incomplete supervision scope, inaccurate information acquisition, untimely acquisition and difficult problem summary and statistics can be solved. On the premise of ensuring accuracy and timeliness, human and material costs can be greatly saved and good economic benefits can be achieved.


This article is intended to prepare the dermatology nurse to competently and confidently assist in the deep chemical peel and to manage the care of the patient effectively before, during, and after the procedure.


The value of orbital phlebography in neurologic research and clinical practice has recently been discussed1 due to the findings reported by Bovim et al.2 The synopsis of Bovim's article reports pathologic orbital phlebograms in tension-type headache, cluster headache, cervicogenic headache and migraine. However, the orbital phlebograms were only considered pathologic by both investigators in one of the 8 episodic cluster headache and in 2 of the 10 the tension-type headache patients but in none of the 9 cervicogenic and 7 migraine patients. The findings in the patients with tension-type headache indicate further studies in such patients. We have earlier reported pathologic orbital phlebograms in 8 of 13 patients with active episodic cluster headache.3 The discrepancy between the number of pathologic phlebograms in the two groups of episodic cluster headache patients is difficult to explain. Besides the thoughts expressed in the Discussion of Bovim's article, it can be added that recent, but yet unpublished, studies show that the findings in orbital phlebography are related to the extent of the involvement of the venous vasculitis. There may have been differences as to how many attacks and how long periods of cluster headache persisted in the different groups; which may have had a bearing on the results. Judging from the published phlebograms in the article, subtraction of the cranial structures were not undertaken in all investigations, a technique that improves the evaluation of the phlebograms. The great difference between the two studies is the way the evaluation of the angiograms were done. In Bovim's study one neuroradiologist knew the diagnosis of the patients and only one of the evaluators did the evaluation blindly. In our studies two neuroradiologists evaluated the angiograms independently of each other and also both without knowledge of the diagnosis of the patients studied.


ObjectiveAtrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmias associated with not only increased morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting but also increased healthcare costs. Many factors are associated with atrial fibrillation onset after coronary artery bypass grafting. We prospectively examined which factors could predict atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. MethodsFifty-seven consecutive patients (37 men, mean age=60.2±12 years) with sinus rhythm before coronary artery bypass grafting are included the study. Clinical, demographic, laboratory and echocardiographic characteristics are all evaluated prospectively. The maximum and minimum P-wave duration (Pmax and Pmin) were measured from the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram. The difference between the Pmax and the Pmin was calculated and defined as P-wave dispersion. Preoperative venous blood samples were taken for N-terminal proBrain natriuretic peptide level analysis. ResultsTen (17%) patients had postoperative atrial fibrillation. Patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation were older (69.4±6 versus 58.2±12 years, P=0.01), had lower ejection fraction (44.1±8.9% versus 54.3±9; P=0.002), higher proBrain natriuretic peptide levels (538±136 pg/ml versus 293±359 pg/ml; P=0.03), longer Pmax (142.2±13.7 ms versus 120.8±21.2 ms; P=0.006) and longer P-wave dispersion (55.0±8.2 ms versus 41.3±14.3 ms; P=0.008) compared with the patients without atrial fibrillation. Univariate analysis showed that increased age (P=0.01), lower ejection fraction (P=0.02), enlargement of left atrium (P=0.02), increased Pmax (P=0.006) and increased P-wave dispersion (P=0.008) and increased level of preoperative proBrain natriuretic peptide (P=0.03) were associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation. Positive correlation was seen between the age and level of proBrain natriuretic peptide (r=0.322 and P=0.015). In multivariate analysis, age (P=0.05), lower ejection fraction (P=0.03), left atrial enlargement (P=0.05), longer Pmax (P=0.01) and P-wave dispersion (P=0.01) were found to be independent predictors of postoperative atrial fibrillation. ConclusionAge, poor left ventricular functions, Pmax and P-wave dispersion are found to be independent predictors of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting.


thetic interactions for different illicit substances. A single protocol is inadequate and detrimental to patient care.7 Studies overall demonstrate comparable overall outcomes and cardiovascular complications for UDS positive, non-toxic patients when compared to the general population for elective procedures.4-6,12,13 Patients with IDU are at increased risk for difficulties with surgical planning and timeliness of procedures.9,11 Current practice often results in short-notice procedural cancellations. Standardized institutional protocols and societal guidelines may help minimize unnecessary cancellations and delays in patient care.


It is investigated how two (standard or generalized) $\lambda-$symmetries of a given second-order ordinary differential equation can be used to solve the equation by quadratures. The method is based on the construction of two commuting generalized symmetries for this equation by using both $\lambda-$symmetries. The functions used in that construction are related with integrating factors of the reduced and auxiliary equations associated to the $\lambda-$symmetries. These functions can also be used to derive a Jacobi last multiplier and two integrating factors for the given equation.
Some examples illustrate the method; one of them is included in the XXVII case of the Painleve-Gambier classification. An explicit expression of its general solution in terms of two fundamental sets of solutions for two related second-order linear equations is also obtained.


The cast of subjects affected by Law 14/2013, of September 27, of the entrepreneurs support and its internationalization, is extensive. Among the various implications of this legal text, our thinking is guided to highlight the characteristics of the participating the new procedure to reach an extrajudicial agreement for payments, and the specialties of the novel also "consecutive bankruptcy".


As the initial results of the 2000 Census were made public, the December 2000 issue of PS was published. In that issue, articles by Lynne Billard (2000), Thomas Brunell (2000a), and by us (Anderson and Fienberg 2000a) explored the technical innovations for adjusting the census to ameliorate the effect of the differential undercount and the political controversies surrounding the implementation of some of those innovations in the 1990 census. We commented on Brunell (2000a) in Anderson and Fienberg (2000b). Brunell (2000b) responded to our article on mythmaking, which focused on the implication for apportionment of a computer error in the proposed adjustment. This is our response to Brunell's comments on our original article about census adjustment and apportionment in 1990. In particular we point out that Brunell misread both out tables and our discussion about the computer error. In his comments, Brunell (2000b, 2000c) also raises new issues about adjustment. We respond to these, albeit briefly.


Behavior of defects in ion-implanted semiconductors is an everlasting topic and becomes even more critical as semiconductor devices continuously shrink and ion implantation technique has been increasingly employed. High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) were employed to investigate the structural evolution of arsenic (As) implanted silicon (Si). Project range (PR) defects and end of range (EOR) dislocations are observed via HRTEM. EDX characterization proves the two types of defects are related to dopant atoms precipitations. The sizes of both PR defects and EOR dislocations enlarge at the expense of small ones with the elevation of annealing temperature. The characterizations of electrochemical capacitance–voltage and EDX conclude that the SiO2/Si interface is playing an indispensable role in the deactivation of dopant atoms during the annealing process. As atoms are detected in the As-implanted Si region near the SiO2/Si interface but not in the silica layer. Nanoparticles composed of Si atoms in the silica layer are observed in the 1150 °C-annealed samples, which proves the migration of oxygen atoms at the SiO2/Si interface.


Objective To discuss the reasons and the remedial strategy of the patients with intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) resistant to mechanical ventilation.Methods We analyzed 29 patients with IPPV resistant to mechanical ventilation retrospectively.Results There were 29 cases (31.5%) resistant to mechanical ventilation among 92 cases with IPPV, and two (6.9%) of the 29 cases died. The causes of resistance were multiple, including airway obstruction in ten, bronchial spasm in three, insufficient tidal volume in two, persistent high fever in four, acute pulmonary edema in five, single lung ventilation in two, leakage of ventilator in two, and pneumothorax in one case(s).Conclusion The causes of resistance to mechanical ventilation are mainly airway obstruction, bronchial spasm, insufficent tidal volume, etc. The ratio of the patients with IPPV resistant to mechanical ventilation can be reduced through enhancing airway management, setting up adequate respiratory mechanical parameter and relieving bronchial spasm.


Sensitive and broadband detection of MWIR and LWIR radiation with any wavelength within the 2 to 16 μm spectral range and bandwidth from DC to GHz range is reported. Recent efforts have been concentrated on the extension of useful spectrum range above 13 micrometers. This was achieved with improved architecture of the active element, use of monolithic optical immersion technology, enhanced absorption of radiation, dedicated electronics, series connection of small cells and applying more efficient Peltier coolers.


The invention relates to a testing system of a luminous element and a method for testing the luminous element. The method comprises the steps as follows: respectively covering the luminous element and a region on a circuit board at which no luminous element is arranged, obtaining reference voltage according to the brightness of the region at which the luminous element is not arranged, obtaining testing voltage according to the brightness of the driven luminous element, and judging whether the luminous element passes test according to the testing voltage and the reference voltage. According to the invention, the testing of the luminous element can be realized in an automatic manner instead of a manual manner, and the misjudgement probability can be reduced.


Slender bodies of revolution with minimum inviscid pressure drag are derived using the hypersonic small-disturbance approximation to the shock-expansion method. Solutions are examined for each of the six classical optimization criteria based on length, diameter, surface area, and volume. By use of a method developed by Miele, each optimization problem is reduced to that of numerically minimizing a product of nondimensional integrals. Minimumdrag coefficients and the corresponding optimum body shapes are computed over a range of the hypersonic Mach number similarity parameter at specific-heat ratios of jand %. The minimum-drag coefficients for high hypersonic speeds and a specific-heat ratio of •§• are bracketed by Newtonian theory with and without centrifugal effects. The minimum-drag coefficients increase with decreasing Mach number similarity parameter and increasing specificheat ratio. The optimum body shapes vary slowly with Mach number similarity parameter. They are weakly dependent on specific-heat ratio and are approximated by those derived from Newtonian impact theory. The most rapid variations of minimum-drag coefficient and optimum body shape with Mach number similarity parameter occur in the moderate supersonic flow regime.


Significance When the domestication of rice began in its homeland, China, is an enduring and important issue of debate for researchers from many different disciplines. Reliable chronological and robust identification criteria for rice domestication are keys to understanding the issue. Here, we first use phytolith dating to constrain the initial occupation of Shangshan, an important site with early rice remains located in the Lower Yangtze region of China. We then identify the rice phytoliths of Shangshan as partly domesticated based on their morphological characteristics. The results indicate that rice domestication may have begun at Shangshan in the Lower Yangtze during the beginning of the Holocene. Phytolith remains of rice (Oryza sativa L.) recovered from the Shangshan site in the Lower Yangtze of China have previously been recognized as the earliest examples of rice cultivation. However, because of the poor preservation of macroplant fossils, many radiocarbon dates were derived from undifferentiated organic materials in pottery sherds. These materials remain a source of debate because of potential contamination by old carbon. Direct dating of the rice remains might serve to clarify their age. Here, we first validate the reliability of phytolith dating in the study region through a comparison with dates obtained from other material from the same layer or context. Our phytolith data indicate that rice remains retrieved from early stages of the Shangshan and Hehuashan sites have ages of approximately 9,400 and 9,000 calibrated years before the present, respectively. The morphology of rice bulliform phytoliths indicates they are closer to modern domesticated species than to wild species, suggesting that rice domestication may have begun at Shangshan during the beginning of the Holocene.


Abstract
Purpose
The chapter revisits the concept of social stigma viewed from the perspective of mental patients integrated in the community based on the example of Geel, Belgium that historically utilized a family care model for a significant number of patients with severe mental illness.

Methodology/approach
Interpretive analysis of data presented in ethnographies on the Geel colony by Roosens (1979) and Roosens and Van de Walle (2007), showcasing 30 patients' case studies in addition to research-based author narratives.

Findings
This study demonstrates that chronic mental patients tend to reject the sick role and the stigma associated with it by trying to influence their social image and how their status is being defined in the community. They appear to be active managers, not passive recipients of societal attitudes, and, furthermore, functional members of the community. By forgoing exemption from social roles carried by their significant impairment, mental patients continue to be contributing members of their host families, and in some cases develop into caregivers themselves completing the circle of role reversal.

Research limitations
The current analysis utilizes secondary data and therefore is restricted by the information included in the primary research.

Originality/value
The findings allow us to develop a deeper understanding of the social status chronic mental patients acquire in the community, and how it is influenced by the dynamics of social stigmatization and remedial work these social actors are compelled to perform. Additionally, the study contributes to the inclusion of the chronic patients' perspective in research.


Employee engagement is a hot topic, and organisations are exploring new ways of enhancing it. Drama-based interventions can achieve positive results by increasing employee self-efficacy and their confidence in their competence to undertake challenging tasks.


The results of design and simulation of a 0.2- THz traveling-wave tube amplifier with a grating slow- wave structure (SWS) are presented. An electron-optical system with a converging sheet electron beam is designed and beam transmission in a rectangular tunnel at over 45 mm distance is demonstrated in numerical simulation. Electromagnetic parameters of a double-grating staggered slow-wave structure are calculated. Smallsignal and large-signal gain regimes are simulated.


An improved process for extraction of gibberellin using the
macroporous resin adsorption is reported.It is especially suitable for the
gibberellin production of solid state fermentation.


The paper illustrates innovative ways of using the CARSO (Computer Aided Response Surface Optimization) procedure for response surfaces analyses derived by DCM4 experimental designs in multivariate spaces. Within this method, we show a new feature for optimization studies: the results of comparing their quadratic and linear models for discussing the best way to compute the most reliable predictions of future compounds.


Vol. 16, No. 11 21 The proportion of older adults in the world popula tion is growing rapidly. In the next 10 to 15 years, the population age >60 will grow 3.5 times more rap idly than the general population.1 As a result, there is an increased urgency in examining benefits vs risks of anti psychotics in older individuals. In a 2010 U.S. nationally representative observational study, antipsychotic use was observed to rise slowly during early and middle adult hood, peaking at approximately age 55, declining slightly between ages 55 and 65, and then rising again after age 65, with >2% of individuals ages 80 to 84 receiving an anti psychotic.2 This is likely due to the chronology of psychotic, mood, and neurocognitive disorders across the life span. In this large national study, longterm antipsychotic treat ment was common, and older patients were more likely to receive their prescriptions from nonpsychiatrist phy sicians than from psychiatrists.2 Among patients receiv ing an antipsychotic, the proportion of those receiving it for >120 days was 54% for individuals ages 70 to 74; 49% for individuals ages 75 to 79; and 46% for individuals ages 80 to 84. New evidence supports augmenting an antidepressant with a low-dose antipsychotic S E C O N D O F 3 P A R T S Prescribing antipsychotics in geriatric patients: Focus on major depressive disorder


Although it is widely believed that socioeconomic status (SES) is strongly correlated with measures of academic achievement, weak and moderate correlations are frequently reported. Using meta-analysis techniques, almost 200 studies that considered the relation between SES and academic achievement were examined. Results indicated that as SES is typically defined (income, education, and/or occupation of household heads) and typically used (individuals as the unit of analysis), SES is only weakly correlated (r = .22) with academic achievement, With aggregated units of analysis, typically obtained correlations between SES and academic achievement jump to .73. Family characteristics, such as home atmosphere, sometimes incorrectly referred to as SES, are substantially correlated with academic achievement when individuals are the unit of analysis (r = .55). Factors such as grade level at which the measurement was taken, type of academic achievement measure, type of SES measure, and the year in which the data were collected are significantly correlated statistically with the magnitude of the correlation between academic achievement and SES. Variables considered in the meta-analysis accounted for 75% of the variance in observed correlation coefficients in the studies examined.


[Background]:
How many of us have presented a lecture to a room of students over one, two or three hours with little interaction or feedback as to how much they understand what has just been presented? It would be great to have some feedback about their understanding of the material being presented. Not when they do the final exam but when we can do something about it. It would be invaluable to hear from each student what they have not understood, if not learnt.

We ask questions only to be answered (if at all) by the best students while the timid, average or less articulate students just sit there even though they may not have understood. Some students do not respond to questions or request for feedback due to the fact that even though they are physically in the classroom their minds are somewhere else. They are thinking about other things or courses/subjects – leave you to guess what's on their minds and gaining their foremost attention. Other students do not respond for fear of retribution either from their fellow students or from the teacher whom they perceive may think of them as 'dumb'. Some don't answer because they can't put into words what is concerning them. This could be because they are not sure what to say or in the case of many overseas students, they perceive they can't express themselves adequately in English. Many students have a fear of speaking in a group and don't respond from a fear of looking inept. There is always a group of students that answer or attempt to answer every question and dominate, leaving no chances for other less assertive students to respond. Then there is the group of students that do not understand or follow the logic of the argument presented. This group is not mutually exclusive of the other groups' described sharing similar characteristics. It is purported that there are many students in our classes that can't follow the content delivery, particularly at the pace at which material is delivered in contemporary classrooms and courses. More material is being crammed into courses and programs without full recognition given to the need for the additional time required to cover the material. This produced one-way communication with little feedback from, and interaction with, students.

Traditional approaches to gaining feedback through the use of questions and quizzes have a lot to be desired. This paper presents a technology-based solution that is not new but has evolved into a feedback mechanism which provides lecturers with a non-intrusive but effective pedagogy. It provides a method that can overcome many of the barriers presented above while giving and gaining student feedback to dynamically modify delivery in the classroom to help focus on students' needs as identified by students themselves. Variously described a 'clickers', audience response systems, personal response systems, and
student response systems, they have evolved as an effective technology in education and training but have been popularised in TV game shows such as "Sale of the Century".


In IEEE 802.11p WAVE System, more accurate channel estimation is necessarily required to improve communication performance. In this paper, a new channel estimation algorithm which is based on both two long training symbols and a short training symbol is presented to improve the performance of the existing LS channel estimation algorithm.


To date, no systematic work has been intended to describe spatio‐temporal patterns of cardiac rhythms using only short series of RR intervals, to facilitate visual or computerized‐aided identification of EKG motifs for use in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to detect and classify eye‐catching geometric patterns of Poincaré time‐delay plots from different types of cardiac rhythms and arrhythmias using short‐term EKG signals.


ABSTRACT The mass spectrometry of a number of 6-substituted coumarins was studied in the context of correlating fragmentation pathways and electronic charges of atoms performed by AM1 semiempirical method. The atomic charges of atoms are found to be good predictors of the fragmentation pathways.


Abstract The pace of developments in national and international policies for the conservation and management of the living marine resources of the Bering Sea has accelerated dramatically, while key stocks have evidenced severe population declines. These developments stem from overcapitalization of the U.S. domestic fishery and overexploitation of straddling stocks within the central Bering Sea high seas "donut hole."; In waters under U.S. jurisdiction, a unique limited entry management system is being readied for the sablefish and halibut fisheries. At the same time, internal changes in Russia have created the preconditions for a convergence of interests with the United States regarding maritime regimes and coordination mechanisms for the region. That convergence was manifested in a joint effort to negotiate a voluntary suspension of pollock fishing in the central Bering Sea with noncoastal fishing states. As a result, the distant water fishing fleets of Japan, China, South Korea, and Poland have departed...


Abstract The individual and combined effects of W and Zr additions on macrostructure, microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb have been investigated. Nb, Nb-10 wt% W, Nb-2.5 wt% Zr and Nb-10 wt% W-2.5 wt% Zr alloy ingots were prepared by electron beam drip melting using high purity Nb, W and Zr rods. Additions of W and Zr resulted in significant improvement in hardness and room temperature tensile strength. It is seen that the effect of 10 wt% W addition is more than that of 2.5 wt% Zr addition in improving room temperature strength of Nb, although on 'per wt% addition' basis, Zr is a more effective strengthener than W. It is also observed that the cumulative effects of 10 wt% W and 2.5 wt% Zr on grain refinement and strengthening are more than their respective individual effects.


Theoreticians . .. have reached no consensus on how to solve the Al problem-on how to make true thinking machines. Instead, there are two opposing philosophical viewpoints and a flurry of research activity along these two directions. The different viewpoints were represented at a recent meeting of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence by Marvin Minsky and John McCarthy.... McCarthy believes that the way to solve the Al problem is to design computer programs to reason according to the well-worked-out languages of mathematical logic, whether or not that is actually the way people think. Minsky believes that a fruitful approach is to try to get computers to imitate the way the human mind works, which he thinks, is almost certainly not with mathematical logic.


This study aims to examine the influence of political connection to the amount of comapanies cost of debt. In addition this study aims to determine the effect their independece board and managerial ownership to the cost of debt of companies related to politics or political connection. The dependent variable in this study is the cost of debt, the independent variable in this study is a political connection, board independence, and managerial ownership. While the control variables in this study is the leverage, roa, size, growth, and tangible asset intensity. The sample in this research is a public company in every sector except financial sector in Indonesia Stock Exchange during the period 2010 to 2014. The total sample is 292 companies and identification of any political connection. Samples were selected using certain criteria (purposive sampling). Testing in this research using panel data estimation with eviews program 9 for windows. The results of this study revealed a positive and significant correlation between political connection and cost of debt which means creditors assume its related companies politically more risky and have a high default risk. Also in this study the control variable leverage, roa, size, and growth is significant of the cost of debt while the variable control of tangible assets intensity is not significant to the cost of debt. The independent variables for independent board and managerial ownership the results are not significant with the cost of debt. Because it is assumed in this study board independence and managerial ownership no impact on the determination of the cost of debt is rated by the creditor.


Thin-tapered-rod single-crystal active element is proposed to use in laser amplifiers. Numerical and experimental investigation of small signal gain in thin-rod and thin-tapered-rod geometries is performed and advantages of thin-tapered-rod active element are shown.


Root cause analysis of BGP updates is the key to debug and troubleshoot BGP routing problems. However, accurately inferring what is the cause of routing instability and where it originate is very hard. In this paper, we present a novel approach to locate the origin of routing instability by analyzing the relationship of the closed loops formed by intersecting the all the paths in path exploration and the length variation of the paths received in a single vantage point. Then we demonstrate our approach using BGP data obtained by simulations and show that the method is quite effective. Once there is path exploration when a routing event triggering BGP updates, this approach can precisely identify whether the event is a link failure and pinpoint the right place where the event exactly happens if so. Otherwise the approach can deduce the candidate set of locations to a small size.


Public policies related to the housing market, no matter what the goals or intent of those who draft them, frequently run head-on into entrenched, powerful local interests. Analysis of the structure of these interests, the power that they wield, and how that power shapes the local housing market, goes far toward accounting for the failure of public policy to provide adequate housing for all. Such an analysis is advanced in this paper. We have examined the interplay of economic and political power in one city-Cambridge, Massachusetts-in terms of its effects on the housing of Cambridge residents. In this city large property owners (six percent of the city's households own and control some seventy percent of Cambridge's housing units) are closely tied to city government. The result has been city policies, especially development policies, that favor large property interests at the expense of tenants, particularly among the working class and the elderly. The property-politics bloc has largely succeeded in thwarting attempts to provide low-tomoderate-income housing, and has even managed to turn apparently tenant-oriented rent control to its own advantages. 1


enveloping impermeable exhaust-ventilated suits in addition to working in an ultraclean environment the rate of deep sepsis fell even further, to only 0 9%. With the wisdom of hindsight (and the example of the gases) it is a pity that we do not know how effective exhaust-ventilated suits would have been if used in conventionally ventilated operating rooms. The rates noted so far were achieved without prophylactic perioperative antibiotics. The use of prophylactic antibiotics was not controlled during the experiment, but a retrospective examination of the data showed that when they were used during operations done in conventional operating rooms the deep sepsis rate was 0-8%. In ultraclean conditions there was further but insignificant improvement to 0.70,/ and when exhaust-ventilated suits were worn as well deep sepsis was reduced to a near-perfect 0 0600" (one in 1584 operations). This dramatic effect has been confirmed by an independent study in which use of antibiotics was fully controlled.3 If ultraclean air more than halves the rate of sepsis in prosthetic orthopaedic surgery, why not perform all such operations in these conditions ? The implications of an affirmative answer need careful consideration. The available data suggest that prophylactic antibiotics are at least as effective as ultraclean air and exhaust-ventilated suits in reducing deep sepsis. Close attention to the choice of prophylactic agentsand the timing of their administration-might possibly improve their effectiveness still further. When all three measures are used simultaneously the final improvement is less than 1 0. So the cost of equipping large numbers of orthopaedic operating rooms with ultraclean air delivery and exhaust-ventilated suits could be justified only if deep sepsis rates after prosthetic surgery in conventionally ventilated operating rooms had already been reduced to the minimum possible; the further improvement of a fraction of 1 % might then be thought worth while. In the mean time attention directed to general measures and more efficient use of antibiotics seem likely to produce greater benefit at a fraction of the cost of providing ultraclean air delivery and exhaustventilated suits. Should these results be extended to the rest of surgery? Could infection rates of 5%NO or 10%' be better than halved by operating in ultraclean air conditions ? The strongest reason for doubting the validity of this extrapolation is that the infection rates under discussion are of deep sepsis, the kind which threatens the integrity ofan implanted joint. "Ordinary" wound sepsis has been excluded from the figures available at present from the MRC trial, and we shall have to wait for details to be published before a proper judgment can be made. The idea cannot, however, be dismissed out of hand. Further information is provided by a double-blind study of the effects of ultraviolet irradiation in operating rooms in 14 854 operations performed over two years in five American hospitals.4 Like ultraclean air, ultraviolet irradiation achieved an impressive reduction in the number of airborne bacteria, but the overall rates of infection were 7.400 in irradiated rooms compared with 7.500 in unirradiated. Only in operations classed as "refined clean" did irradiation show any advantage, and that was comparatively small-a reduction of infection from 3-8% to 2-9% These results, like those of the MRC study, show that the total contribution of airborne microorganisms to postoperative sepsis is very small, and their removal, or killing, can be important only when the more important causes of sepsis have been eliminated or considerably reduced. It follows that in classes of surgery with higher infection rates any benefit from the provision of ultraclean air is likely to be small. The message seems to be clear. The presence of microorganisms in the air of operating rooms is relevant to the production of deep postoperative sepsis in the special circumstances of prosthetic orthopaedic surgery. The observation might cautiously be extended to other types of surgery where very low rates of infection have already been achieved, but more data are needed to establish this. These findings are overshadowed by the deduction that prophylactic antibiotics have an effect at least as dramatic as clean air in the circumstances under review. A rational appraisal suggests that the benefit to be derived from this very much cheaper alternative should be exhausted before any of the substantially more expensive provisions are considered. P D MEERS


The work aim is to study the degree of awareness of female consumers about the range of contraceptives and their use, as well as the process of providing contraceptives with the subsequent use of the results obtained to improve the contraceptives supply system for the right strategic marketing decision-making.
During the study methods of searching, analyzing, generalizing data from information sources, systemic, comparative, marketing analysis, and survey were used.
Results. Before the survey, the modern assortment of contraceptives study and an information array of them was formed, which was used to conduct conjoint analysis. At the same time, a survey among female respondents regarding their awareness of contraception issues was conducted.
As a result of the survey, 420 questionnaires with full valid answers of women aged 16 to 49 years were collected. Each of the groups covered a 4-year age interval. In addition, 117 refusals of women to participate in the survey were collected. The reasons of refusals were also taken into account in the study for a broader understanding of the functioning problems of a modern contraceptives supply system.
Conclusions. It was found that the degree to which women are familiar with the modern arsenal of contraceptives varies depending on their age. Overall, 78% of women are partially familiar with the entire range of contraceptives. The percentage of women who had a deficit of information about the range of contraceptives increases with the transition to older age groups: after the age of 30, every sixth woman in Ukraine does not know about the existence of some types of contraception.
Among women who were familiar with the entire range, the age group of 25-29 years prevails, which is associated with active family planning processes in this age range - 6.42%.
Women's views on the process of providing contraceptives and men's role in this process were analyzed. Thus, of the total number of respondents, 117 (21.78%) women refused to take part in the survey, explaining their refusal by their lack of interest in this topic, ignoring the use of contraceptives, or by their shyness. This "taboo" of the topic is closely related to the problems of sex education, problems of motivation and involvement of medical representatives in the dissemination of information about contraceptives and their importance in the process of family planning.
In addition, 69% of women prefer to coordinate the choice of contraceptives with their husbands, and only 20% of female consumers, believe that the process of preventing or planning a pregnancy is personally a woman's business.
The results of the survey prove the need to intensify health education work to improve the level of education of women and men on contraception, as well as expanding the boundaries of access to contraceptives for the target consumer.
Keywords: contraception; consumers; pharmaceutical support


UV lithography,silicon etching and soft lithography were adopted to fabricate microwell patterns with SU-8,a negative photoresist,and poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA).Patterns were integrated with SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.SEM,light microscopy as well as calcein fluorescence staining were used to evaluate the pattern structure profiles and cell growth behaviors.The results showed that our fabricated patterns had a nominal well diameter of around 100 μm and a high aspect ratio of around or even greater than 1 with or without microchannel connection.The patterns were also transparent and thus rendered suitable for optical detection as a 3-D format scaffold of cell based biosensors.Cell culture experiment results demonstrated that patterns of such dimension can not only guide cell alignmen and neural extensions,but also affect the cell morphological differentiation.


This study is an attempt to identify the level of increase carbon dioxide gas emission and atmospheric temperature in the last 5 years. National Geographic noted that there is a exchange of energy between the source (the Sun), & the Earth's surface, the Earth's atmosphere, and the ultimate sink outer space. The ability of the atmosphere to capture and recycle energy emitted by the Earth surface is the defining characteristic of the Green House Effect.CO2, CH4, N2O, H2O are green house gases which are responsible for Green House Effect. Out of all these CO2 is mainly responsible for Green House Effect. Therefore a need was felt to study the variations in carbon dioxide concentration to be fundamental factor influencing climatic variations over this time scale. In this study, researchers have chosen only CO2 gas and its increasing value worldwide. Study reveals that the recent phenomenon of global warming has been attributed primarily due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration in Earth's atmosphere. The research reveals the truth from that the concentration of carbon dioxide and temperature in the atmosphere have  increased during  past five years.


Areas of m arketing researches are gradually expanding. One of the new er areas of m arketing researches is represented by researches aiding investm ent processes and aim ed at m axim ization of socio-economic effectiveness of investm ent projects, resulting in increm ent (both quantita tive and qualitative) of consum er goods supply. These researches — as fa r as we know — w ere first initiated in the U nited S tates w here they are fu rther developed at p re s e n t1. Demand for sim ilar researches seems to exist also, or perhaps first of all, in cen trally planned economies. This is due to two reasons: 1. Any investm ent project in conditions of the cen trally planned economy is supposed to be optim ally effective from socio-economic point of view, its potential and planned social effectiveness is gaining a growing im portance in the socialist process of distribution if a given investm ent project envisages a prospective increase of consum er goods supply; 2. Investm ent decisions are supposed to possess a high degree of social accuracy, as its reduction will sim ultaneously increase social costs of production and consum ption (the effects of which will obviously be fe lt la te r on), and dislocate — to some ex ten t — socio-economic pro-


The authors proposed a new surgical instrument that can cut a target region of the liver from the surface into a cylindrical shape and remove a tumor with less loss of liver tissue. The instrument has a unique mechanism that drives the four blades three-dimensionally, alternating between cutting and coagulation. In order to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism, a desktop experimental prototype was manufactured. Through an experiment on a pig liver using a prototype, it was shown that the target portion can be excised into a cylindrical shape as expected by the proposed mechanism.


For the difficulties happened in the research of logistics scheduling optimization problems and in the system design of agility scheduling DSS, and for the purpose of reducing the complexity and improving the solving efficiency of research problems, the paper proposes a basic way of agility scheduling realization on the basis of semi-hierarchical control mechanism, the paper emphasizes on one applied example and analyses agility scheduling general work logic and the construction of key optimization models and their semi-hierarchical solving algorithms based on scheduling priority rules under the control mechanism, furthermore, according to different individual characteristics of logistics scheduling agility problems, the paper also briefly introduces individuation problems of logistics agility scheduling


The civil procedure rules have been amended to curb pretrial discovery misconduct. The amendments may have deterred some such misconduct. However, the downside has been that the amendments have prompted expensive, time-consuming pretrial hearings which can make it more difficult for a litigant with a meritorious claim to reach trial. In some respects evidentiary misconduct at trial is an even more serious problem than pretrial discovery misconduct. The question is whether we can deter such misconduct without creating an impediment to a fair trial on the merits. To that end, this article proposes that in extreme cases, a litigant should be able to treat an opponent's knowing proffer of inadmissible evidence at trial as proof of the opposition's consciousness of the weakness of their position in the litigation.


The Relationship between Historical Research and Policy Making Historical research has an uneasy relationship with policy making. This reality is, in our view, grounded in the nature of historical research. History is usually regarded as a discipline that engages with the past and with change. But these concerns are not the main stumbling block to constructive interactions between policy and history. It is rather the commitment of much historical writing to capturing the detail, complexity and singularity of processes of change that impedes communication. Historical research is often based on an ideographic approach to the production of knowledge. Researchers working within this paradigm try to accommodate as many 'facts' as possible and they respect the integrity of past events. This should be contrasted with a nomothetic approach in which past events are chosen selectively and manipulated to Ž t a theory or model. An ideographic orientation is particularly strongly entrenched amongst historians but is by no means conŽ ned to them. It can be found and has been fruitfully deployed within a number of disciplines.


The ASA-NBER multiperiod survey forecasts of business investment are compared with univariate forecasts to assess predictive information content. In general, the survey forecasts fail to be unbiased, and, none fully exploit the information in the past history of business investment. Interestingly, however, they contain predictive information on other relevant (quantitative or qualitative) variables. Combined forecasts of survey and univariate models score significant improvements over either, suggesting their potential usefulness in policy-making.


The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the power of two mostly used definitions for fractional differentiation, namely, the Riemann-Liouville and Caputo fractional operator to solve some linear fractionalorder differential equations. The emphasis is given to the most popular Caputo fractional operator which is more suitable for the study of differential equations of fractional order..Illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the procedure of solution of couple of fractional differential equations having Caputo operator using Laplace transformation. Itshows that the Laplace transforms is a powerful and efficient technique for obtaining analytic solution of linear fractional differential equations


Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is not commonly seen in children, more so amongst Asian children living in the tropics. We report four cases of definite relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, and a fifth child with a florid first demyelinating episode and a high risk towards developing subsequent MS, occurring in Malaysian children. Methods: Five children were seen over the last three years (January 2003 till October 2005). The children with definite MS fulfilled MacDonald's criteria for dissemination in time and space, whilst the child with high risk for MS fulfilled criteria for dissemination in space. Results: Age of onset ranged from 4 to 10 years. All four children (two girls, two boys) with definite MS had an initial optic neuritis of insidious onset, followed by subsequent symptomatic and silent demyelinating syndromes involving the brain and spinal cord. Long segment contiguous lesions were seen when the spinal cord was involved. Clinical symptoms included deterioration in vision, aphasia, cerebellar dysfunction, hemiparesis, monoparesis or quadriparesis, paraparesis and sphincteric involvement. All clinical episodes improved with intravenous methylprednisolone and oral prednisolone. The first child we saw had five relapses before receiving prophylactic interferon beta-1a, experiencing a further single relapse after a year on treatment. Two other children have recently been started on interferon beta-1a after the second episode. The boy with high risk for MS had a first demyelinating episode with bilateral optic neuritis and multiple gadolinium enhancing perpendicular periventricular and callosal lesions, with complete resolution after treatment with steroids. Conclusion: Multiple sclerosis is seen in Asian children. The disease in these children may have a preponderance towards optic neuritis and spinal cord syndromes.


The research aimed to compare a movie with the theme of heroes from Indonesia and China that must contain messages in seeing heroes, hero images, ideology, and even heroic culture the two countries. It explored 20 Indonesian and Chinese films with comparative literary perspectives related to the theme of heroism. The focuses of this research were (1) how could the image of the hero created by the film provide a view of each country's people's culture, (2) could the movies provided more detailed information on the policies of each country, (3) how could films strengthen the relationship between Indonesia and China. The approach used in this research was the comparative literary theory of the symbol of heroism that appears in Chinese and Indonesian films. The method used in this research was to use qualitative methods with a comparative literature perspective. The data source from the dialogue in the film "Merah Putih", "Gie", "Susi Susanti", "Soekarno", "Tanah Surga Katanya", "3 Srikandi", "Laskar Pemimpi", "Guru Bangsa", "Soegija", "Jenderal Soedirman", 攀登者 (The Climbers), 中国机长 (The Captain), 红海行动 (Operation Red Sea), 烈火英雄 (The Bravest),战狼 1 (Wolf Warrior 1), 战狼 2 (Wolf Warrior 2), 建国大业 (The Founding of A Republic), 建党大业 (Beginning of The Great Revival), 建军大业 (The Founding of An Army), 叶问 (IP Man). The data analysis technique used were (1) determining variables, (2) classification, (3) analysis, (4) conclusions. The results show that the symbols of heroism in Indonesian and Chinese films have similarities to the fight against colonialism, injustice, and class. The theme of heroism in the two countries' films has striking differences, such as Chinese films are more concerned with collective characters' obligations and interests, the film does not have an element of humor, the theme emphasizes conflicts with other countries. While Indonesia highlights individual characters' views, movies still include comedy and emphasize domestic problems.


Headline: "B-36 Probers Won't Quiz Convair Officials at West Coast Hearing"; Headline: "Significant B-36 Plan Changes Are Outlined By Convair Management," evening edition


A series of novel red-emitting phosphors BaZrGe3O9 : Mn4+ (BZG : Mn4+) were synthesized through high-temperature solid-state reaction method in order to explore their capabilities for application as red-emitting phosphors. The phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectra, and decay curve measurements at the temperature ranging from 80 to 500 K. The luminescence intensity increases to maximum at doping concentration of 0.2 mol.%, and then decreases with concentration. Serious thermal quenching was also revealed. Keywords: red-emitting phosphor, germanate, Mn4+, concentration quenching, thermal stability.


The utility model provides a vehicle which comprises a braking system and a control system of a vehicle braking lamp. The control system is connected with the braking system. The control system of the vehicle braking lamp comprises a braking lamp, a braking lamp driver, a light ray sensor and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) control chip, wherein the light ray sensor is used for detecting the intensity of light rays outside the vehicle, and the PWM control chip is connected with the braking lamp driver and the light ray sensor and is used for controlling the braking lamp driver according to the intensity of the light rays. According to the vehicle, the brightness of the braking lamp can be automatically adjusted according the intensity of the light rays outside the vehicle, the influence on the driving comfort of a driver in a rear vehicle is avoided, and road safety is improved. The utility model further provides the control system of the vehicle braking lamp.


ABSTRACT Pharmacological potential of serially extracted Solanum xanthocarpum fruit (SXF) extracts in terms of antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial activities was evaluated. Chemical characterization of the potent extract was done by HPLC, LC-MS-MS, and GC-MS techniques. In vitro antioxidant models, viz. hydroxyl radical scavenging, metal ion chelation, total antioxidant capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power, were used to assess the antioxidant potential of extract. Cytotoxicity of the SXF extracts was tested against prostate, ovary, and breast cancer cell lines (DU-145, IGR-OV-1, and MCF-7) using sulforhodamine (SRB) assay. The antibacterial potential was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Escherichia coli bacteria. Results indicated potential pharmacological activities and the presence of pharmacologically active phytoconstituents in the SKF extracts.


In experiments for fluorescence detection of single molecules in solution the background due to unrejected scattered light increases linearly with laser power while the dye molecule fluorescence signal and photodegradation probability saturate.


Submitted for the MAR10 Meeting of The American Physical Society Memory effects in the ion dynamics in nanopores1 MATT KREMS, University of California, San Diego, YURIY PERSHIN, University of South Carolina, Columbia, MASSIMILIANO DI VENTRA, University of California, San Diego — We have performed molecular dynamics simulations of ion dynamics across solidstate nanopores subject to a periodic electric field. We have analyzed both the ion build-up at the surfaces of the pores as well as the ion conductivity. Our results show that ion dynamics exhibits memory effects due to both the finite relaxation times of ions in solution as well as the water polarization/depolarization time-scales. These memory effects are reminiscent of the recently proposed memcapacitance (capacitance with memory) features of certain non-linear circuit elements [1], and may have important implications in DNA dynamics and sequencing [2]. [1] M. Di Ventra, Y.V. Pershin and L.O. Chua, Proc. IEEE 97, 1717 (2009). [2] M. Zwolak and M. Di Ventra, Rev. Mod. Phys. 80, 141 (2008). 1Work supported by NIH. Matt Krems University of California, San Diego Date submitted: 18 Nov 2009 Electronic form version 1.4


In a paper published by Teorema in 2010, D. Moore claims that my misgivings regarding the coherence between Davidson's anomalous monism and his rejection of scheme / content dualism are misplaced. I have argued that there is a tension underlying most of Davidson's philosophy that becomes more notable when we contrast his monist ontology with the holism that vertebrates his ideas about radical interpretation. Moore appeals to the extensional character of events and to the causal nature of triangulation to make Davidson's arguments compatible. In this paper I hold that both approaches highlight, rather than ease, the tension.


We derive the general structure of the space of formal recursion operators of nonevolutionary equations~$q_{tt}=f(q,q_{x},q_t,q_{xx},q_{xt},q_{xxx},q_{xxxx})$. This allows us to classify integrable Lagrangian systems with a higher order Lagrangian of the form~$\mathscr{L}=\frac12 L_2(q_{xx}, q_x, q)\,q_t^2 + L_1(q_{xx}, q_x, q)\, q_{t} + L_0(q_{xx}, q_x, q)$. The key technique relays on exploiting a homogeneity of the determining equations of formal recursion operators. This technique allows us to extend the main results to more general equations~$q_{tt}=f(q,q_{x},\ldots,q_{n};q_{t},q_{xt},\ldots,q_{mt})$.


additional electric heater for a motor vehicle, comprising a zone (4) and a heater compartment (5) accommodating electronic components of heating control, said electronic components being arranged on a support (6) of the printed circuit. The support (6) of the printed circuit, on the one hand has a zone (9) longitudinal partial milling on the other hand is bent angle in said region (9) Partial milling.


Thai geotechnical engineers started using bored piles more than 40 years ago but only in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand in which the soil is strata consists clay and sand. Piling projects outside Bangkok still prefer driven piles than bored piles because of the low cost. Recently bored pile is extensively used, especially in downtown but the pile size is small. The large bored piles were used for the first time in Khon Kaen in which the soil is cohesionless. A 1.2 m diameter bored pile with 40 m long was tested by static method. The frictions along pile shaft were measured by 21 vibrating wire strain gauges installed in pile and then compared with the frictions computed by various methods proposed in the literatures. The method developed by Davies & Chan(1981) gave the best fit. The results show that K and β should not be constant but should vary in direct proportion to strength of the soils around pile. KEYWords: Large Bored Pile, Bored Pile in Khon Kaen, Pile in Cohesionless Soil 5-4 +.indd 53 21/1/2559 5:16:20 54 วิศวกรรมสารฉบับวิจัยและพัฒนา ปีที ่ 26 ฉบบัที ่ 4 ตลุาคม-ธนัวาคม 2558 The skin fricTion of large bored pile in cohesionless soil Siwawet Obma and Watcharin Gasaluck


Author's main attention is drawn to the examination of the influence of stanzaic prosody upon Brahms's vocal and orchestral music. Secular cantatas are analyzed in details from the point of view of the interaction of word and music structures, the use of couplet-variation and variant song forms, the striving for metaphysics, the combination of the influence of vocal and instrumental forms upon a music composition. The article is provided with tables demonstrating music form of cantatas as well as with score examples


of the respect of water quality standards at the level of entire (2008/105/EC and 2013/39/EC). This refers to the control of pesticide residues in surface waters. In order to achieve the set goals, a continuous monitoring program that should provide a comprehensive and interrelated overview of water status should be implemented. However, it demands the use of appropriate analysis techniques. Until now, the procedure for sampling and quantification of residual pesticide quantities in aquatic environment was based on the use of traditional sampling techniques that imply periodical collecting of individual samples. However, this type of sampling provides only a snapshot of the situation in regard to the presence of pollutants in water. an alternative, the technique of passive sampling of pollutants in water, including pesticides Different samplers are available for pesticide sampling in surface water, depending on compounds. The technique itself is based on keeping a device in water over a longer period of time which varies from several days to several weeks, depending on the kind of compound. In this manner, the average concentrations of pollutants dissolved in water during a time period (time-weighted average concentrations, TWA) are obtained, which enables monitoring of trends in areal and seasonal variations. The use of these to an increase in sensitivity of analytical methods, considering that pre-concentration of analytes takes place within the sorption medium. the use of these techniques for determination of pesticide concentrations in real water environments requires calibration studies for the estimation of sampling rates ( Rs ). Rs is a volume of water per time, calculated as the product of overall mass transfer coefficient and area of the receiving phase exposed to the external environment, and it is substance specific. insecticides


A mechanical shock testing apparatus is used for testing the response of components subject to large accelerations in hostile environments. The test acceleration is provided by the impact of a bullet against a plate on which the component to be tested is mounted. This report describes a series of experiments that were performed to determine the dependence of the air gun test apparatus performance on incremental changes in the hardware configurations, changes in the pressure used to drive the bullet, and different accelerometers. The effect of variation of these experimental factors on the measured acceleration was determined using a Taguchi screening experimental design. Experimental settings were determined that can be used to operate the tester with a measured output within acceleration specifications.


Although much study has been done on the language skills and attitudes of French immersion students, there has been very little assessment of the students' knowledge of French culture, even though many educationalists advocate such knowledge for second language learners. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Education, Program of Studies, states as one of three objectives for French immersion, the appreciation of French language and culture (p. 184). Thus the intention of this study was to find out if, indeed, early and late French immersion students in grade 9 in St. John's, Newfoundland, have any knowledge of French culture, and if so, how much and of what type; and a further aim was to measure differences, if any, in these areas between the students in the two programs. This study was carried out by means of a questionnaire devised by the researcher. -- The questionnaire was designed in two parts, although the division was not obvious to the respondents. The first part was designed to create a profile of the respondents, and the second part was a test on French culture. This test was divided into three types of culture: behavioral culture is the typical behavior of the culture and involves such things as functional language, gestures and values; informational culture is facts that are cherished by the culture including history and geography, heroes and villains; and achievement culture is the artistic and literary accomplishments of the society. -- The information gathered was used to address the following research questions: — Do the students in the early French immersion and the late French immersion possess similar types of cultural knowledge and similar amounts of knowledge of the three types of culture: behavioral, informational, and achievement? Is there a correlation between knowledge of French culture and, program, overall achievement, achievement in French, attitude towards French people and their culture? Are there any differences in the students' knowledge of French culture which might be attributed to gender? Is there a relationship between program followed or sex of the student, and language used to complete the questionnaire? -- The main research findings in this study were as follows. The early and the late French immersion students demonstrated similar types of knowledge of French culture as tested in this study, but the late French immersion did significantly better on the overall test and on two of the subtests, namely behavioral and achievement culture. There was a strong negative correlation between the students' overall average and, total score and score on informational and achievement culture; and between the student's average in French and, total score and score on achievement culture. No correlation was found between the student's professed attitude towards French people and their culture and his/her score on the test or subtests. It was noted that some questions did seem to have a gender-bias and that this bias was in favour of empathy with the same sex. Hardly any of the late French immersion students answered the French version of the questionnaire but a sizeable number of the early French immersion students did, although among this group there were more females than males.


The column of the flower of S. crassifolium when mechanically stimulated moves through an angle of about 4 rad in 15 ms and then resets more slowly in several hundred seconds. The rates of the firing and resetting as a function of temperature have been investigated. Arrhenius plots of these rates are approximately straight lines yielding energies of activation of ~ 8 kJ mol-1 for firing and ~72 kJ mol-1 for resetting. These results suggest that resetting is the 'active' part of the movement, and is closely linked to the metabolic energy supply. The rate of firing is more likely limited by friction within the cell walls of the motor tissue, or possibly by the viscosity of extracellular water.


Anthropologists working in a number of regions in the world have noted the existence of a positive relationship between population density and state formation (R. Stevenson, 1968: 1-7). The only area to which this generalization has not been applied is Africa south of the Sahara. In writing about African societies, Fortes and Evans-Pritchard assert that size of population should not be confused with density of population. There may be some relations between the degree of political development and the size of population, but it would be incorrect to suppose that governmental institutions are found in those societies with great density (1940: 7). Furthermore, they base this conclusion not only on evidence from the eight societies included in African Political Systems but also on data from other African societies which "prove that a large population in a political unit and a high degree of political centralization do not necessarily go together with great density" (1940: 8). In his interesting and insightful book, Population and Political Systems in Tropical Africa, Robert Stevenson implies that the seemingly anomalous assertions by Fortes and Evans-Pritchard have gone unchallenged for decades because of the stature of the two anthropologists rather than the weight of the evidence (1968: 5). Only Eisenstadt clearly states that this is an empirical question which requires further systematic analysis (1959: 204). Stevenson cites a number of instances in which Africanists noted a relation between population density and political organization, but none in which the relationship was systematically examined (1968: 5-6).


One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for implementing a reverse protocol launch. For example, the reverse protocol launch may be implemented between apps (e.g., as an app-to-app protocol) such that a user may navigate between apps in a contextually relevant manner using the reverse protocol launch. In an example, a search app may display vacation search results based upon a search query. Responsive to a selection of a vacation movie search result, a transition to a movie app may occur. A context, specifying a contextual state of the search app (e.g., information regarding the vacation search results, the search query, etc.), may be sent to the movie app. The movie app may implement a reverse protocol launch using the context to transition from the movie app back to the search app in the contextual state (e.g., the search app may be repopulated with the vacation search results, etc.).


Peculiarity of Synthesized Smart Management Control System (SSMCS) PV-3 with regard to Vanyukov Process at copper production Zapolyarny branch of OJSC «Mining and Metallurgical Complex "Norilsk Nickel"» is use of universal description of complex multifactor model in the form of semantic network on specific restricted vocabulary. That is substantially decreased dimension of subject area without losses of semantic with retention of operability of all their elements. Application of tailor-made method of acquisition and formalization knowledge in analytical expression allows perform convolution of multivendor on its physical nature information into polynominal model exactly for given process, phenomenon or object. There was showed efficiency of application of SSMCS PV-3 while execution concept of management on the base of «principle of settlement of conflicts» in industrial conditions.


During a procedure for pulmonary vein ablation in a male patient, resistance to Brockenbrough needle advancement into dilator was felt. Needle advancement was …


In this paper a novel software for analysis and design of multivariable 2x2 control systems is presented. The 2x2 Individual Channel Design MATLAB®Toolbox is a valuable aid for analysing and designing multivariable control systems under the framework of the Multivariable Structure Function (MSF) and Individual Channel Design (ICD). Given a set of specifications for a 2-input 2-output multivariable control system the appropriate use of the toolbox can lead to successful and robust controllers. The process is based on an iterative procedure. Closed loop simulations (in SIMULINK®) are included so results can be tested. Final stability margins and robustness measures are also assessed. A design example is included for completeness. The development of the general m x m case is in progress.


Disturbance rejection is one of the key performance benchmark for a controller. For an industrial process, disturbance can be internal or external and it is an important that it can be rejected effectively by an optimal controller design. In the present work, set-point tracking and disturbance rejection capability of the controllers have been evaluated by comparing the closed loop responses for a selected second order delayed model.


We present a parallel algorithm for the solution of tridiagonal linear systems based on the method of partitioning and backward elimination. A given N × N system is partitioned into r blocks each of size n × n (N = rn n even). Within each block the system is rewritten by collecting pairs of equations from the top and bottom (written backwards); this makes it suitable to solve the subsystem by a UL-factorization of its coefficient matrix. Once a core system of size 2r × 2r has been solved, solutions of the r subsystems can be computed in parallel. Interestingly, the serial arithmetical operations count for the present algorithm is 0(1612;N); this makes it faster than the quadrant interlocking factorization method of Chawla and Passi [1], the partitioning method of Wang [7] and cyclic reduction (see Hockney and Jesshope [6, p. 479]), each of which has a serial count of 0(17N).


Much of the discussion of site selection on Mars is based on interesting images of the surface combined with safety issues. I argue that the two rovers should be sent to mineralogically distinct regions. Compositional information is still poorly constrained on Mars; however, the instruments on the 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) will provide a unique opportunity for detailed characterization including mineral identification. There is strong motivation for sending one rover to a "typical" region on Mars to be used as a ground truth for the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), while the other rover should be sent to a site where water and chemical alteration are likely to have occurred. Determining the mineralogy of the Martian surface material provides information about the past and present environments on Mars which are an integral aspect of whether or not Mars was suitable for the origin of life. Understanding the mineralogy of terrestrial samples from potentially Mars-like environments is essential to this effort.


The study focuses on the relationship between selected characteristics of the outdoor environmental (earth) education program Earthkeepers and its impacts on students' environmental values and knowledge. It is rooted in the authors' previous research that is being both applied and reflected here. For providing empirical evidence, it uses data collected by the environmental center Lipka that implemented the program in the Czech Republic in 2020-2021 (N=80). The program successfully influenced students' environmental values and understanding based on the analyses. Students described the programs' instructional strategies as highly encouraging, experiential, empowering, and straightforward. At the same time, student descriptions of the program correlated with the environmental values they held before the program; students who viewed the program more positively also tended to be more positively influenced by the program. Implications for the practice of outdoor environmental education are also discussed.


Gamma effects on the CdS photoconductivity spectrum were studied. The long wavelength photosensitivity of CdS monocrystals can be increased by quenching-type thermal processing which promotes the appearance of many microfissures and dislocations in the crystal bulk. Photocurrent spectral distributions prior to irradiation and after 24 and 48 hr of gamma irradiation are presented in graphical form. (L.N.N.)


Abstract Grain texture evolution in starter block during single crystal (SX) casting with a grain selector had been investigated. Several spiral grain selectors with different spiral geometries were designed to investigate the effects of spiral geometries on grain selection in spiral passage. The results indicated that the percentage of grains with a deviation angle of <10° from the axial orientation increased simultaneously with distance from the chill plate. When the distance reached 36·1 mm, nearly 90% of the grains' misorientations were <10°, and the minor grains deviated >12°. As the spiral angle θ and the spiral thickness T decrease, the SX structure occurred at the lower position of the grain selector. In addition, it was concluded that the SX structure cannot be selected when the spiral angle is <15°. Moreover, the effect of spiral geometries on grain selection has also been discussed.


We propose a novel measure of bond market liquidity that does not depend on transaction data. Capturing how the strength of the relation between mutual fund cash holdings and uncertainty about fund flows varies in the cross section, our measure reflects funds' perceived illiquidity of their portfolio holdings at a given point in time. Speculative grade and smaller bonds are perceived to be significantly less liquid, with the illiquidity of speculative grade bonds in particular deteriorating in the post-crisis period. Our measure can be applied to asset-backed securities, syndicated loans, and municipal securities for which publicly available data on transactions are not available. JEL classification: G11, G23


A silicon-glass based DNA micro analysis system is demonstrated. This biochip is able to amplify and detect specific DNA. First a PCR is run in a micro chamber to generate DNA copies from a specific target gene (16 rRNA). Afterwards the PCR solution is put on a capacitive DNA sensing area where target DNA hybridization is detected. The sensor consists of functionalized nanoscaled interdigitated electrodes for label-free DNA recognition. This biochemical analysis system is able to detect pathogenic bacteria in a miniaturized, cost effective and fast way.


Based on the multi-body error-modeling system and the theory of gear engagement,the spiral bevel gear tooth contact analysis including the kinematical and geometrical errors of machine tool and the installation error of gear pair(Error tooth contact analysis,ETCA)is put forward.With an example of a pair of spiral bevel gears processed by SGM method(gear processed by generation,pinion processed by modified roll method),the quantitative relation between the spiral bevel gear tooth contact quality and the said kinematical geometrical errors and installation error are found by ETCA.Through analyzing the results of TCA and ETCA,the comparison outcomes indicate that the said kinematical and geometrical errors and installation error can significantly influence the spiral bevel gears tooth contact quality.In order to adjust the gear processing parameters through the tooth contact analysis,using the analysis results of ETCA is more reasonable than TCA.