Background: Kindlins are essential co-activators of integrins. Results: Kindlin-3 has an elongated structure and forms a ternary complex with the Talin head and integrin β-tails. The Kindlin-3-tail interface involves a membrane-distal NPXY motif on the tail. Conclusion: New information about the conformation and interactions of Kindlin-3 has been obtained. Significance: The solution structure and protein/protein interactions of Kindlin-3 give insight into its role. Kindlin-3, a 75-kDa protein, has been shown to be critical for hemostasis, immunity, and bone metabolism via its role in integrin activation. The Kindlin family is hallmarked by a FERM domain comprised of F1, F2, and F3 subdomains together with an N-terminal F0 domain and a pleckstrin homology domain inserted in the F2 domain. Recombinant Kindlin-3 was cloned, expressed, and purified, and its domain organization was studied by x-ray scattering and other techniques to reveal an extended conformation. This unusual elongated structure is similar to that found in the paralogue Talin head domain. Analytical ultracentrifugation experiments indicated that Kindlin-3 forms a ternary complex with the Talin and β-integrin cytoplasmic tails. NMR showed that Kindlin-3 specifically recognizes the membrane-distal tail NPXY motif in both the β1A and β1D isoforms, although the interaction is stronger with β1A. An upstream Ser/Thr cluster in the tails also plays a critical role. Overall these data support current biological, clinical, and mutational data on Kindlin-3/β-tail binding and provide novel insights into the overall conformation and interactions of Kindlin-3.


Abstract—Experimental studies have shown that in hypertrophy and heart failure, accumulation of microtubules occurs that impedes sarcomere motion and contributes to decreased ventricular compliance. We tested the hypothesis that these changes are present in the failing human heart and that an entire complex of structural components, including cytoskeletal, linkage, and extracellular proteins, are involved in causing functional deterioration. In explanted human hearts failing because of dilated cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction ≤20%), expression of α- and β-tubulin, desmin, vinculin, fibronectin, and vimentin was determined by Northern and Western blot analysis and compared with normal myocardium from explants not used for transplantation. The mRNA for α- and β-tubulin was increased to 2.4-fold (P<0.01) and 1.25-fold (NS), respectively; for desmin, 1.2-fold (P<0.05); for fibronectin, 5-fold (P<0.001); and for vimentin, 1.7-fold (P<0.05). Protein levels for α-tubulin increased 2.6-fold (P<0.02); for β-tubul...


Success in advanced math courses gives students access to a wider variety of college and career options. Because students who fail Algebra I are less likely to enroll and succeed in advanced math courses, it is considered a gateway course for advanced math. To increase the opportunity to take more advanced math courses in high school, there has been a trend toward enrolling students in Algebra I in middle school. That has created a need for middle school teachers with more advanced knowledge of math content.


A detailed 3D seismic interpretation study was carried out of the Pict Field located in Block 21/23b in the Central North Sea, United Kingdom to identify different types of seismic facies and to assess the hydrocarbon distribution within the Tay Sandstone, which is an Eocene reservoir unit. The effect of seismic data quality on the hydrocarbon distribution was also analyzed. The results were then confirmed from the detailed well log information. Three types of seismic facies were marked on the maximum seismic amplitude maps. From seismic amplitudes, we were able to relate sandstone facies to maximum seismic amplitude, and mudstone facies to minimum seismic amplitude. The intermediate amplitudes were interpreted as mixed (sand and mud) facies. The presence of these facies in the specified areas was also confirmed by the well log data. The Pict Field has a distinct amplitude anomaly at the base of the anticlinal feature, initially thought to represent the possible oil water contact (OWC). However, detailed analysis suggested that the amplitudes extent is tilted and extends beyond the structural closure of the Field, as found in 2D Two-Way Travel time maps. Since the hydrocarbon presence was confirmed within the sand mound in the discovery well, and as this sand thins at the limbs of the mound, it may display higher amplitudes due to seismic interference. Hence, the higher amplitudes were interpreted not due to the response of hydrocarbons, but also the lithology effect enhanced by seismic tuning as the sand unit thins to the margins of the channel.


GPx‐3 is a selenocysteine‐containing protein that catalyzes the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides using glutathione as a reducing agent (GSH). Our goals are to overexpress GPx‐3, determine its activity, and study its regulation. The complex expression of selenoproteins requires specific translational cofactors (SBP2, SelD, and tRNASec), adequate selenium, and the selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS), which facilitate read‐through of the UGA codon for selenocysteine (Sec) and incorporation in the growing polypeptide. Stable Cos 7 cell lines of GPx‐3 cDNA/SECIS, His/V5 tagged wild type, SECIS containing mutated 3'UTR fragments, and a Sec → Cys mutant were generated and grown in medium with adequate sodium selenite. Purification was accomplished by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography with nickel Sepharose that binds GPx‐3 His tagged protein, and followed by Western blot using an anti‐V5 antibody, and by His‐tag ELISA. The mRNA stability of both the wild type and Cys mutant were examined by Real‐Time PCR. Translation of the wild type GPx‐3 was much less efficient than that of the Cys mutant. Mass spectrometry confirmed GPx‐3 identity. The 3' UTR of GPx‐3 is important in regulating its mRNA stability and protein expression.


This document, recall one of the most important events of the Colombian political situation and what has appeared from it. The Peace Agreement, signed between the Colombian State, headed by ex-president Juan Manuel Santos Calderon and the group outside the FARC law - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -, in which a series of benefits are contemplated in favor of the actors that have been linked to the conflict dynamics exerted by the Farc around six decades. As a result, one of the most representative points of the Agreement, lies in the comprehensive reparation of all the victims of the armed conflict, what was generated the design and implementation of what is called Public Policy for Victims of Armed Conflict (PPV). However, taking into account that the internal armed conflict occurred in different ways around the national territory, it implies a differentiation in the execution of the PPV, therefore, it will be reflected in here, the behavior of it, in the municipality of Suesca, during the current government period, it means, from 2016 to 2019, in order to analyze the performance of the territorial entity with respect to the budget execution what is assigned to the assistance of the victims residing in the municipality.


The invention discloses an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) with deep energy level impurity implantation and belongs to the technical field of semiconductor power devices. Deep energy level N-type impurities are implanted into an N-drift region (8) on the basis of the traditional Planar FS-IGBT. According to the characteristic that the ionization degree of the deep energy level impurities is raised and the impurity concentration is raised along with the temperature increase, the parasitic PNP transistor alpha PNP of the IGBT can be effectively reduced, so that the high-temperature leakage current of the IGBT is reduced, and the overall loss of the IGBT is reduced further; and moreover, the electron concentration increased in the N-drift region (8) and holes in the drift region are accelerated and compounded, and the deep energy level impurity self is a deathnium, the electron hole recombination is accelerated, the turnoff process of the IGBT is reduced, the turnoff characteristics are effectively improved, and the reliability of the IGBT is improved.


Many data service platforms use local file systems as their backend storage. Although this approach offers advantages in portability, extensibility, and ease of development, it may suffer from severe performance degradation if the mapping between the services required by the data service platform and the functions provided by the local file system is not carefully managed. This paper presents in-depth analysis of performance problems in current data service platforms that use file systems as their backend storage and proposes three novel strategies that are essential to solving the current performance problems. We demonstrate the efficacy of our strategies by implementing a prototype object store in Ceph, called SwimStore (Shadowing with Immutable Metadata Store). We experimentally show that SwimStore provides high performance with little variation, as well as a large reduction in write traffic.


The current study aimed to evaluate the presence of variability for desired traits and to estimate genetic parameters (phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, broad sense heritability), correlations and principal component analysis for such traits. The study was conducted in 2020 and 2021 at the Rice Research Department Farm of the Sakha Research Station of the Agricultural Research Centre, Egypt. In a randomized complete block design with three replications, fifteen rice genotypes were evaluated for yield and yield components, including days to flowering, plant height, number of panicles per plant, panicle length, total spikelets per panicle, panicle density index, grain length, width, thickness, shape and 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant. The analysis of variance showed significant differences between the genotypes for all the studied traits. The genotypes Egyptian Yasmine, IRRI 154, Sakha 101, Giza 178, IR 65600-77-4-2-1, and IRRI 147 were found to have the highest mean values for grain yield/plant (53.47, 55.07, 52.32, 52.07, 50.02, and 46.60, respectively). The widest grains, measuring 3.31 to 3.63 mm, were found in the genotypes WAB-96-1-1, IR 65600-77-4-2-1, Sakha 105, GZ 10101-5-1-1-1, and IRRI 147. IR 65600-77-4-2-1 recorded the thickest grain (2.37 mm). All the results obtained will be considedrd in the next hybridization programs to get the most preferred traits in rice plants.


The paper presents the application of the use case approach for developing reusable power system components. Object oriented three phase load flow is introduced as an example. The three phase load flow development is based on the symmetrical components theory and the decoupled models of the untransposed transmission lines. The well known Newton Raphson and Fast Decoupled algorithms are chosen in the development. The three phase load flow is solved by incorporating the solution of the positive sequence load jlow and the negative sequence and zero sequence nodal voltage equations. The different use cases are studied before the code implementation. Based on these use cases, an analysis model is constructed The clear advantage of the use case approach is that it defines the reusable objects before the code implementation.


The invention relates to a method for installing a bridge crane using load-supporting roof beams for hoisting and usage thereof. The invention is characterized in that: hoisting points are arranged on roof beams of a workshop, components of the bridge crane are assembled on the ground on site, and hoists and specified suspenders are used for hoisting the bridge crane; the method mainly comprises the steps of arranging of load-supporting beams for hoisting, hoists and hoisting points, fabrication of the specified suspenders, arranging of assembly pulleys and wire ropes, assembly of the bridge crane on the ground, hoisting of bridge stands of the bridge crane, hoisting of main and assistant trolleys of the bridge crane and installation of the wire ropes and the suspenders. According to the invention, site requirements are low, finished roofing of the workshop does not need to be dismounted, no giant crane is utilized, and facilities purchased and suspenders fabricated at a time can be used repeatedly, thereby saving cost; lifting and suspending with two cranes are avoided, thereby reducing safety risks; components are assembled in place on the ground and hoisted at a time, thereby improving working efficiency and abating risks in high altitude construction; time for actual hoisting is short and operationality is strong; the method is applicable to installation of large and medium-sized bridge cranes without being influenced by sites or hoisting height.


Traditional R-Tree organization methods usually choose a bottom-up method, while a small number of top-down algorithms cannot give an optimal performance due to the limitations of the division mode. This paper proposed a new R-tree organization method based on top-down recursive clustering against the deficiencies of the traditional bottom-up divided structure node. This method divided our spatial data into several classes by a K-means clustering method and uses the method of STLT to build the R-tree top-down, instead of adjusting each class. Apply this method to all the classes by recursions to construct the whole tree. The experiment shows that the new algorithm gives a better performance in query efficiency than Hilbert and STR, but has a bad construction efficiency to be improved.


Using a Vector Autoregression (VAR) approach, several hypotheses are re-examined suggested by the literature concerning the relationship between financial development and economic growth, investment and productivity. The models use quarterly time-series data from ten OECD countries and China. Innovation accounting or variance decomposition and impulse response function analysis is applied to examine interrelationships between variables in the VAR system and, therefore, differs from the more usual Granger causality approach. In particular, it examines the relationship between financial development proxied by total credit. At best, weak support is found for the hypothesis that financial development 'leads' economic growth.


Surface charge accumulation on insulators under high dc voltage is a major factor that may lead to the reduction of insulation levels in gas insulated devices. In this paper, disc insulators made of Al2O3-filled epoxy resin were surface fluorinated using a F2/N2 mixture (12.5% F2) at 50 °C and 0.1 MPa for different durations of 15 min, 30 min and 60 min. A dc voltage was applied to the insulator for 30 min and the charge density on its surface was measured by an electrostatic probe. The results revealed significant lower surface charge densities on the fluorinated insulators in comparison with the original one. Surface conductivity measurements indicated a higher surface conductivity by over three orders of magnitude after fluorination, which would allow the charges to transfer along the surface and thus may suppress their accumulation. Further, attenuated total reflection infrared analysis and surface morphology observations of the samples revealed that the introduction of fluoride groups altered the sur...


In this note, we prove that the cop number of any n‐vertex graph G, denoted by ${{c}}({{G}})$, is at most ${{O}}\big({{{n}}\over {{\rm lg}} {{n}}}\big)$. Meyniel conjectured ${{c}}({{G}})={{O}}(\sqrt{{{n}}})$. It appears that the best previously known sublinear upper‐bound is due to Frankl, who proved ${{c}}({{G}})\leq ({{1}}+ {{o}}({{1}})){{{n}}{{\rm lg}}{{\rm lg}} {{n}}\over {{\rm lg}} {{n}}}$. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 58: 45–48, 2008


The key process in understanding carbon dynamics under different ecosystems is quantifying soil CO2 efflux. However, this process can change annually as it depends on environmental variables. The results of this paper present the effects of root network, soil temperature, and volumetric water content on soil CO2 efflux, which were investigated on Retisol of two types of land uses in Western Lithuania in 2017–2019: forest and grassland. It was determined that the average soil CO2 efflux in the grassland was 32% higher than in the forest land. The CO2 efflux, average across land uses, tended to increase in the following order: 2017 < 2018 < 2019. Dry weather conditions with high temperatures during the vegetation period governed the soil CO2 efflux increase by 14%. Soil temperature (up to 20 °C) and volumetric water content (up to 23–25%) had a positive effect on the soil CO2 efflux increase on Retisol. We established that the root's activity plays one of the main roles in the CO2 production rate—in both land uses, the soil CO2 efflux was influenced by the root length density and the root volume.


The vectorial properties of paraxial beams propagating perpendicular to the optical axis of a uniaxially anisotropic crystal are investigated. By relying on a suitable planewave angular spectrum representation of the electromagnetic field, we obtain the analytical expressions of optical fields. The longitudinal component is expressible in terms of the first correction of the transverse field. Moreover, the extraordinary beams can induce ordinary beams in terms of the second correction of the transverse field.


Abstract There is extensive research in the monitoring of a process whose characteristics are represented as profiles. However, most current techniques require all observations from each profile to determine the process state. We study the use of a Shewhart chart based on a Gaussian process model with heteroscedasticity for the online monitoring of profiles, while these are being developed, where the central line is the predictive mean and the control limits are based on the prediction band. The advantage is that we do not have to wait until a profile ends to make process corrections. Our results indicate that our method is effective.


These investigators have analyzed the salivary gland chromosomes of first generation larvae, obtained by mating irradiated males with untreated females, for chromosome alterations induced in the treated sperm.


Self-locking button-like fixation devices for ACL reconstruction are attracting knee surgeons9 attention due to promising technical advantages: complete filling of the tunnel with graft, anatomic reconstruction (AM portal), fixation achievement even when a short tunnel is reamed, opportunity of graft re-tensioning after tibial fixation and/or cyclic load. We compared two similar devices (TightRope vs ToggleLocZL) 20 fresh-frozen porcine femurs (mean age 2.1 years) were assigned to the two groups by randomization. Hamstrings with 9 mm of diameter were obtained using bovine tendons that show the same biomechanic behaviour of human hamstrings. Femoral tunnel was created by AM portal technique (anatomic position). Zwick-Roell z010 tension/compression device with bone and tendon clamps, was used for the study: Cyclic test (1000 cycles, 0.5 Hz, 50–250 N/cycle, 50 cycles of preload at 10–80 N/cycle) Final pull-out test (1 mm/s) Failure analysis CT scan and densitometry Any implant didn9t fail during cyclic test. The elongation average was 2.85±1.63 for ToggleLoc and 2.71±.85 for TightRope (P>0.05). Pull-out test showed different values in terms of Ultimate Strength Failure (USF), Stiffness at USF, and Stiffness: The failure mode was: The mean method of failure was the fracture of the cortical bone of the femoral condyle, for both groups. But if we extrapolate the USF the difference was favourable(P The mean bone density of porcine femora was comparable to young human femora (1.12±0.31 BMD) The reproducibility of surgical technique, the mechanical strength and endurance of the systems suggest two valid options for ACL reconstruction with hamstring. ToggleLoc showed worse results due to the sharp squared edges of the button.


A common effluent treatment plant offers an alternative to the practice of better utilization of resources of an industrial area. The monitoring and performance evaluation studies were carried out for an effluent treatment plant of a common effluent treatment plant at Delhi. The samples from the inlet, before aeration process and outlet locations were collected at regular intervals and were analyzed for different parameters. The pH, TSS, TDS, BOD, COD were found to be reduced significantly. The wastewater discharge is as per the standards prescribed by pollution control board and the plant is working satisfactorily.


Some results relating to the road-coloring conjecture of Alder, Goodwyn, and Weiss, which give rise to an O(n2) algorithm to determine whether or not a given edge-coloring of a graph is a road-coloring, are noted. Probabilistic analysis is then used to show that, if the outdegree of every edge in an n-vertex digraph is δ = ω(logn), a road-coloring for the graph exists. An equivalent re-statement of the conjecture is then given in terms of the cross-product of two graphs.


Transcranial color‐coded duplex sonography (TCCS) is a useful tool for evaluating cerebral structures. The aim of this study was to examine whether TCCS is useful for evaluation of hematoma volume.


Objective: Calculate the required personnel and resources needed to fulfill the service promise agreed with the customer. Methods and materials: This paper presents a discrete event simulation (DES) model developed to select and implement a Point of Sale (POS) for a company providing financial products. First, the paper shows the characterization of the system components and times per process. Then, hypothesis testing and goodness-of-fit statistics are estimated. Subsequently, the simulation scenarios assess the times between arrivals and the number of commercial advisers. Results and discussion: This model allows us to assess the allocation of resources to fulfill the service promise, which is that 80 % of customers must be served within one hour or less. This paper provided the service isoquants allowing us to observe the behavior of the performance metrics (service promise fulfillment) among different scenarios. Conclusions: The use of DES techniques allows for the evaluation of the assignment of personnel to achieve the fulfillment of the service promise, including facilities, equipment, and the evaluation of related processes. These methods can be extended to the analysis of resource allocation in the development of other processes, observing the relationship between service quality and operating costs.


PV-T(Photovoltain-Thermal) Module is the system that can make both electrical power and thermal energy by attaching heat recovery system such as air duct, liquid tube and so on. In case of air-type PV-T system, among these PV-T module, installation methods of obstacle that can enhance turbulence flow lead to improvement of heat transfer rate from photovoltaic module to flow air is one of most important things for design this system. So, in this study, Thermal performance of PV-T module according to arrangement of obstacle was investigated. As a result, heat transfer performance was increased with decrement of installation distance between obstacles. But the pressure drop related to power consumption of blower was also increased with decrement of installation distance between obstacles. From these results, it was confirmed that optimal conditions for arrangement of obstacle is need to be chosen by considering both heat transfer and pressure drop increase even the higher heat transfer resulted from the lower installation distance.


In practical application, the existing gender and age recognition algorithms can't meet the requirements of both smallsized model and high accuracy simultaneously. Moreover, most models based on CNNs have a even larger size of more than 200M. In this paper a multi-layer multi-channel attentive network based on the idea of divide-and-conquer is proposed. This method uses multi-layer processes in each channel to extract features of different layers and improves accuracy by layer refinement. We use some dynamic parameters to fine- tune each layer to make the model fit better. Each layer uses the same classifier to reduce parameters to make the model smaller. And we import attention mechanisms to increase the ability of the network to use the features. Experiments show that the accuracy of this method is better than several mainstream networks and the size of the model is less than 0.5M, which can be used in mobile terminals well.


The aim of this paper is to study the interaction between aid allocated to infrastructure and the actual level of that infrastructure; as well as the impact of such interaction on the net inflows of foreign direct investment to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  In order to achieve this goal, the simultaneous equations model used in the study of Donaubauer, Nunnenkamp (2015) was partially modified to make it suitable for the conditions of the MENA region; and the three-stages least squares (3 SLS) method was applied. The study results reveal a strong positive impact of infrastructure on foreign direct investment. Raising by one point the economic infrastructure index leads to an increase of 6% to 7% of GDP in foreign direct investment inflows to the MENA countries. The various conducted robustness tests also prove that such impact is robust and stable. However, foreign direct investment inflows are only indirectly influenced by aid via the channel of the actual infrastructure level. At the sectors' level, the infrastructure of the information and communications technology sector had the greatest effect on attracting foreign direct investment to the MENA region, followed way behind by the infrastructure of the transport sector, then by the infrastructure of the financial sector and finally the infrastructure of the energy sector.


A new method of information fusion is presented. which combines time fusion and space fusion. Time fusion is realized by Bayes estimation theory. Spacial datas fusion is realized by the Neural Networks to realize integrated assessment of the coal mine's air quality. Algorithm simulation is carried out on the two-step fusion applied in the coal mine monitoning system. The simulation result improved that the presented method is feasible and effective for coal mine monitoring system.


Background and importance Eribulin is used, as monotherapy, in the secondline treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in patients who have previously received an anthracycline and a taxane or these are contraindicated. ESMO-MCBS scores eribulin as level 2 (low clinical benefit) according to the EMBRACE study (Cortes et al, 2011). Results in a non-controlled setting are usually worse than those obtained in clinical trials. Aim and objectives We aimed to assess progression free survival (PFS) and safety of eribulin in clinical practice. Material and methods An observational, retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. Patients with mBC treated with eribulin between April 2014 and May 2019 were included. Age, HER-2 and hormone receptor status, previous regimens for metastatic disease, number of eribulin cycles and time to progression or death were collected. Treatment related adverse events were also analysed. Results Thirty-four patients were included Median age was 54.1 (IQR 19.2) years; 82% were HER-2 negative and the other 82% were hormone receptor positive. Half (56%) of the patients had received three or more previous regimens. Median eribulin cycles was 5 (IQR 4.3). Median PFS was 3.5 months (IQR 4.2). Fourteen patients (41.2%) suffered side effects, mainly neutropenia (20.6%), asthenia (14.7%), mucositis (11.8%), hepatotoxicity (8.8%), peripheral neuropathy (5.9%) and thrombocytopenia (5.9%). Conclusion and relevance The benefit in PFS reported in the pivotal clinical trial was maintained in clinical practice. Adverse events were consistent with those reported in the EMBRACE study although the incidence was lower. References and/or acknowledgements 1. Cortes J, O'Shaughnessy J, Loesch D, et al. Eribulin monotherapy versus treatment of physician's choice in patients with metastatic breast cancer (EMBRACE): a phase 3 open-label randomised study. Lancet 2011;377:914–923. No conflict of interest.


Microalgae Spirulina sp. has been identified as potential source of natural food supplement and food colorant. The high water content of microalgae (70-90%) causes an obstacle in biomass dehydration which requires large amounts of energy, eventually damaging the lipid in the microalgae. Therefore, the lipid must be extracted by using a suitable method which complies to wet biomass conditions. One of the methods is applying osmotic shock. This study was aimed to investigate the influence of osmotic agent (NaCl) concentration (10-30%) and extraction time (20-50 min) on yield of lipid and also to determine the optimal conditions in the extraction process through response surface methodology. The extraction was conducted at a temperature of 40°C under ultrasound frequency of 40 kHz. The result showed that the optimum yield lipid obtained was 6.39% in 16.98% NaCl concentration for 36 minutes 10 seconds.


African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is an economically important plant since it is the highest yielding oil-producing crop in the world. Long reproductive cycle and slow seed maturation result in lengthy breeding cycles and a slow rate of improvement through selection. Demand to increase oil palm yield can be supported by
analysis of oil palm sequence data towards a functional genomic approach to support marker assisted selection.
In this study degradome data from inflorescence of the African Oil Palm was analysed to identify miRNA/siRNA cleavage products and SNPs in miRNA targets.
Degradome analysis tools CleaveLand, SeqTar and PARESnip were used to analyse degradome data towards the objective of identifying miRNA/target pairs that may be
important in oil palm flowering and hence yield of this major crop. Total miRNA targets predicted by CleaveLand, SeqTar, PARESnip were 1304, 663318 and 12532 respectively. SeqTar is suitable to be used to predict a wide range of
targets without missing any possibilities of the predicted targets in oil palm degradome data. SeqTar is also suitable to predict precursor novel miRNA targets in oil palm
degradome data. CleaveLand can only be used to predict known miRNA targets and it is not suitable to predict novel miRNA targets in oil palm degradome data.

Of the three currently available tools for degradome analysis, PARESnip was found to be the fastest and most convenient tool. PARESnip is user friendly and user
configurable tool. PARESnip also shows the highest number of prediction of highly significant miRNA targets compared to CleaveLand and SeqTar. Thus, PARESnip can be considered as a more reliable tool to analyse degradome data from African Oil Palm inflorescence.

Computational prediction methods have been successfully employed to find candidate miRNA targets in African Oil Palm inflorescence data.


The main goal of the case study 'a comparative study of European sign languages' is to create a database with comparable multi-media recordings documenting sign languages as used in three European countries (Sweden, UK, and the Netherlands). This study should be regarded as a demonstration of how multi-media data can be documented and used on the internet to make them accessible for the whole scientific community, for deaf people themselves or for anyone interested in sign languages. These publicly available data collections are expected to contribute significantly to the systematic study of individual languages, but also the study of the similarities and differences between languages. This new technology for presenting sign language data and transcriptions poses the following question: to what extent should we use standard transcription conventions? If all the raw material (the video sources) is available, do we need full transcriptions? In principle, one can look at the video source for all kinds of information that are traditionally included in various transcription system, such as eye gaze, head nods, etc. On the other hand, the great strength of computer tools such as ELAN is that it allows for complex searches in large data domains and for the immediate inspection of the video fragments relating to the search results; this is typically very timeconsuming when using paper transcription forms or even computerized transcription forms that are not directly linked to the original data. We wanted to establish an annotation system that could be useful for any researcher, with a focus on the syntactic and discourse domains. We tried to be careful not to impose too much analysis on any tier by saying that a specific phonetic form is an instance of 'person agreement', for example. The relatively small set of transcription tiers allows for the coding of a large data set, which can be further expanded by researchers according to their specific needs. ELAN will see many updates in the coming year (2004); one of the future functions will be the possibility to expand a publicly available transcription file with ones own additions, including extra tiers, and storing these additions in a local file while maintaining the link to the original transcription that will be stored on a remote server.


Microgravity fluid dynamics deals with the thermodynamics and dynamics of fluid systems in low-gravity environments and, thus, covers a rather large variety of subjects.' Among them, free convection in systems with fluid-fluid interfaces has received renewed attention because these systems are found in many materials sciences processes and exhibit a number of new, interesting phenomena. This paper surveys some recent studies by the author and his coworkers on the free convection occurring in a system of two interfacing, immiscible fluids subject to an imposed temperature gradient in a gravity environment. Three classes of free convection may be distinguished: natural, Marangoni, and combined free convection, according to whether it is caused by thermally induced buoyant forces, Marangoni stresses. or both. For each class of free convection one may further distinguish different regimes (purely diffusive, convective-diffusive. boundary layer type), according to the relative importance of convective and diffusive transport of momentum and internal energy. The first section deals with the use of order of magnitude analysis to identify the types of flow regimes that can be established for each class of free convection and to deduce the a priori criteria required to determine the class of free convection and the regime prevailing in each case. The other two sections are focused on the study of the main features of the two classes of flow regimes that can be established when the leading driving action is the Marangoni stress: Marangoni boundary layers and Marangoni-Stokes flow.


We report photometry and spectroscopy of the nova‐like variable DW Cancri. The spectra show the usual broad H and He emission lines, with an excitation and continuum slope characteristic of a moderately high accretion rate. A radial‐velocity search yields strong detections at two periods, 86.1015(3) minutes and 38.58377(6) minutes. We interpret these as respectively the orbital period Porb of the binary, and the spin period Pspin of a magnetic white dwarf. The light curve also shows the spin period, plus an additional strong signal at 69.9133(10) minutes, which coincides with the difference frequency 1/Pspin - 1/Porb. These periods are stable over the 1 year baseline of measurement. This triply‐periodic structure mimics the behavior of several well‐credentialed members of the "DQ Herculis" (intermediate polar) class of cataclysmic variables. DQ Her membership is also suggested by the mysteriously strong sideband signal (at νspin - νorb), attesting to a strong pulsed flux at X‐ray/EUV/UV wavelengths. DW Cnc is a new member of this class, and would be an excellent target for extended observation at these wavelengths.


The volatile compounds o'fXiaoxiangshui'pea(rPyrus ussuriensis Maxim.)from different ripening stages were extracted by headspace solidphase microextraction and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometer.The results showed that the volatile components increased during ripening not only in numbers but also in contents.Thirty-eight volatile compounds were detected at different ripening stages,of which 15 constituents were the common volatiles for different ripening stages. Ester was predominant among the volatile profile and increased dramatically during ripening,and reached the peak at 9 d.Ten character impact compounds including aldehydes and esters were identified.The odor values of ethyl 2-methylbutanoat,ethyl hexanoate and ethyl butanoate contributed were 668.09,279.58 and 190.60,respectively.


In this study we address the problem of adding new classes to an existing neural network classifier. We assume that new training data with the new classes is available. In many applications, dataset used to train machine learning algorithms contain confidential information that cannot be accessed during the process of extending the class set. We propose a method for training an extended class-set classifier using only examples with labels from the new classes while avoiding the problem of forgetting the original classes. This incremental training method is applied to the problem of language identification. We report results on the 50 languages NIST 2015 dataset where we were able to classify all the languages even though only part of the classes was available during the first training phase and the other languages were only available during the second phase.


Allergic diseases are an increasing concern, yet, unfortunately, most of the molecular events that lead to an immune response against an innocuous protein ("allergen") still remain unknown. Thus, efforts are being made to elucidate why a protein becomes an allergen. In this regard, a significant proportion of known allergen proteins are lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) and recent compelling evidence suggests that their lipidic ligands might play a significant role in the sensitization phase of allergy. Of special interest is Pru p 3, a LTP from peach fruit and model in food allergy, whose natural lipidic ligand was recently identified. Experiments have demonstrated the presence of the ligand inside CD1d receptors that in turn present lipidic antigens to T-cells triggering immune responses. Moreover, the most important type of proteins that assist in lipid trafficking in the human immune system are also LTPs called saposins. Interestingly, Pru p 3 has a similar fold and size to saposins and even a significant structural relationship with one type of these proteins (saposin A). Based on these similarities, a computational study aimed to analyze the dynamic properties of both Pru p 3 and two relevant saposins (A and B) in their interactions with lipid ligands and with membranes is presented in this TFG. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at all-atom and coarse grained resolution, biased MD to obtain energy landscapes, calculation of protonation states and of Poisson-Boltzmann electrostatic potentials are combined to get a detailed view of these interactions. The results show that, in contrast to Pru p 3, saposins display changes in structure, aggregation state and pH-dependence to perform their function. MD calculations also provide a common binding mechanism to membranes of these LTPs and reveal a preferred binding of Pru p 3 to anionic instead of neutral phospholipids. Additional computational protocols developed to further investigate protein-lipid ligands-membrane systems of immunological interest are finally presented.


A study is undertaken to identify the ideal type of staff to be recruited by legal academies. The academic and professional details of career academic Jane Smythe, dedicated teacher Rick Palmer and retired judge Nigel are analysed, and it is concluded that Jane would be most suited to be a legal academic.


The data mining concept has become one of the most essential things to process huge amounts of data and get the work done in various fields. Initially, manual computations are done as a part of the data analysis. But, with the advent of computers, the computation and analysis processes have become a bit easier than earlier. Along with the increase in technology, the data to be stored and analyzed has also increased at higher rates. In general, the government officials make a note of the actual area present in a village/town/city/state/country and they"ll be assigned the task of updating this data at regular intervals of time. To complete this task, they generally conduct surveys and make a note of different categories of land that is present in that particular area. After the collection of this data, the data belonging to all the areas present in a particular state are combined to get an overall idea of the land belonging to different categories in that state. In the same way, the data belonging to all states are brought together and analyzed to understand the total categories of land present in that particular country. As we all know that Agriculture is one of the key sectors that is making human life possible to survive on this planet, there comes the need to have the statistics of this agricultural land. It is hard to process this agricultural area data in normal methods. Data Mining stands as the best choice to complete this task. Thus, the time series mining approach is followed for agricultural area detection.


We report on a magneto-optical Kerr effect MOKE investigation of microstructured rectangular islands, which have been arranged on kagome lattices. The magnetization reversal was studied by regular longitudinal vector MOKE in specular geometry as well as in Bragg MOKE geometry, using the diffraction spots from the grating for hysteresis measurements. The magnetization at remanence is imaged by using magnetic force microscopy and x-ray photoemission electron microscopy. The measurements have been compared to the results of micromagnetic simulations, which allow a detailed interpretation of the experimental data. It is demonstrated that the magnetization reversal process in an external magnetic field strongly depends on the shape and the interparticle spacing between the islands. For the thorough understanding of the nontrivial dependence of magnetization reversal on the array geometry, the magnetic moments of the islands and the energy barriers for magnetization switching in individual elements have been theoretically analyzed. The performed analysis provides insight into the magnetostatic interactions and probability of switching paths taken by the particles arranged on lattices with kagome symmetry during the magnetization reversal process.


Real time image analysis has undergone a rapid development in the last few years, due to the increasing availability of low cost computational power. However computing power is still a limit for some high quality applications. Highresolution medical image processing, for example, are strongly demanding for both memory (~250 MB) and computational capabilities allowing for 3D processing in affordable time. We propose the reduction of execution time of image processing exploiting the computing power of parallel arrays of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). We apply this idea to an algorithm that finds clusters of contiguous pixels above a certain programmable threshold and process them to produce measurements that characterize their shape. It is a fast general-purpose algorithm for high-throughput clustering of data "with a two dimensional organization". The two-dimensional problem is well processed by FPGAs since their available logic is naturally organized into a 2-dimensional array. The algorithm is designed to be implemented with FPGAs but it can also profit of cheaper custom electronics. The key feature is a very short processing time that scales linearly with the amount of data to be processed. This means that clustering can be performed in pipeline with the image acquisition, without suffering from combinatorial delays due to looping multiple times through the whole amount of data.


Despite being recommended by professional bodies, and expected by the public, the practice of having family members present during resuscitation (FPDR) remains inconsistent.


Unincorporated associations are often viewed as the simplest form that a not-for-profit (NFP) organisation can take. It is estimated that the majority of NFP organisations in Australia (approximately 440,000 of 600,000 organisations) are unincorporated associations. It is essential that directors of unincorporated associations understand how the income tax and GST regimes apply to their organisations. This article poses the following questions: What is an unincorporated association? Is it a legal entity, akin to a corporation, or something different? What are the legal and tax consequences of being a member of an unincorporated association? The answers to these questions are important to determine the legal liability and responsibilities of directors and members of unincorporated associations, as well as their liability to income tax and GST.


Probolinggo is one of the regencies which is directly adjacent to the Madura Strait and this area has a coastal area of around 71,893 Km. This long coastal area cause the area has high risk of coastal abrasion, so that monitoring of the condition of mangrove forests is needed to prevent the abrasion. In the coastal areas of probolinggo mangrove forests are used into purposes fields such as tourism, disaster prevention, education and conservation. To maximize the role of the mangrove forests, the analysis of mangrove health analysis in Probolinggo is very important to do. Because of the large research area, the utilization of remote sensing becomes an important alternative method. This study utilizes Sentinel-2A satellite imagery using the supervised classification method for area classification and the Normalized Different Vegetation Index method to classify mangrove health. Based on the results of the supervised classification analysis, the accuracy test using overall accuracy gives the accuracy result of 96.57% and from the mangrove health classification it is known that most of the mangroves in Probolinggo are in good health with a percentage of 75.75% of the total mangrove area i.e 367.04 hectares . Further research on the correlation of mangrove health to water quality is suggested to get more complex information about mangrove health.


The paper presents the latest research results of gigabit passive optical network analysis using machine learning algorithms. TensorFlow has been used to learn the frames of GPON management traffic of the G.984.3 protocol and detect outliers to the standard. The frames are captured by FPGA programmable network card and processed with a software parser and further processed with the TensorFlow using JSON format. The proposed technique can bring a way how to test if vendors of network devices follow the standard and if the content of the frames can be treated as secure and trustworthy.


Development of next-generation high-energy lithium (Li) metal batteries is hindered by uncontrollable growth of Li dendrites and the unstable Li/electrolyte interface during repeated Li plating/stripping. To overcome these issues, artificial protection for Li metal prior to assembling the cell/battery is needed. Here we show a facile approach to in situ coating of a protected layer on the Li metal anode by directly placing a PVDF-HFP/AlF3 modified Celgard separator on its surface. We find that AlF3 can react with highly reactive Li metal and produce a LiF coating on Li metal in situ. This LiF-rich SEI layer can effectively passivate the highly active Li anode surface and suppress the lithium dendrite growth, forming a uniform structure on the Li/electrolyte interface that reduces interfacial impedance. Owing to the enhanced interface stability, the Li‖Li cell presents a stable polarization voltage for approximately 600 h compared with the blank cell (45 h). The Li‖LiFePO4 cell with the composite separator has a high capacity retention of 78.3% after 300 cycles at the 3C rate, exhibiting an improvement in the cycling life of high energy-density Li metal batteries.


Because of the high cost of energy, hydrometallurgy is frequently preferred to smelting to extract metals from ores. Many of these processes involve leaching of the metal with an acid, often sulfur...


The problem of beam space charge in microwave generator with REB is discussed. The intense REB is injected in plasma and the degree of space charge neutralization is measured. The stimulated cyclotron radiation of spiral beam in vacuum and in plasma is observed. The microwave power in plasma is more than the power in vacuum by a factor of about one hundred. This fact is explained by neutralization of beam space charge in plasma. The investigation of maser electron cyclotron resonance in vacuum is described in the last part of the report. We hope to make this maser with plasma and to increase the microwave power.


In October 2007, the Chamber I of the Federal Civil and Commercial Chamber of Appeals, Buenos Aires, dismissed the appeal of the plaintiff (Harrods Limited) and declare not undue the opposition filed by the defendant (Harrod's BA), thus concluding the latest episode in the dispute-laden relationship between these companies.


Unifying potential trade relationship is of considerable interest, especially in the case of polyethnic and multicultural Caspian region. In this term, the history of trade relations and their legal formalization is at the same time the history of conflictogenic situations political solving. The object of this study is formation and initial legal formalization of Russia''s trade ties in the Caspian region after the fall of the Golden Horde and Tatar khanates, which controlled the Volga-Kama basin and Volga delta. General historical part of the article is devoted to the problem of consolidation of Russia in the Caspian region as a full trading partner of Safavid Persia and India of Great Moguls. In my article, I have considered Russian trade relations evolution in Caspian region since the reign of Vasili III Ivanovich and Ivan IV Vasilyevich up to the end of Aleksey Mikhailovich''s epoch. As to the first stage (from Vasili III Ivanovich up to Ivan IV Vasilyevich), I show that fall of Kazan and Astrakhan khanates, cessation of their policy of brigandage and plunder on the Volga-Caspian trade route, and its transition under the full control of Russian State helped to strengthen trade ties in the Caspian region. The second part of my article is devoted to the legal aspects of Russian trade ties in the Caspian region in the second half of the 17th century. Russian State''s ''grant-charters'' (regulatory enactments) analysis allows me to conclude about the protectionist policies of the Russian tsars with respect to trade in the Caspian region. At the same time simultaneously with the patronage towards the merchants of Eastern countries Russian sovereigns restricted the trade activity of Western European merchants. Thus 'Armenian Company' received special privileges from Alexei Mikhailovich in 1667. I paid particular attention to its role in the Russian State''s trade in Caspian region, as well as to the legal status of this trade institution.


The mission and objective of the United Front is to build a unified and harmonious social order. During the transitional period, the increase of heterogeneous factors and the diversified development of the society constitute the objective basis for the existence and development of the United Front. The structural changes in the society during such period call for the change to the social integration method from hierarchical control to mutual dependence. As the United Front's principle of "seeking common ground while reserving differences" is consistent with this integration method of mutual dependence, it has the unique advantage in the social integration during the transitional period, and constitutes an important part of the social integration system of the ruling party. The influences of social transition on the United Front also include extension of the scope and change of function of the United Front.


The Social Context of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control in Texas: Foundations for Effective Risk Communication. (December 2011) Amy Haley Delgado, B.S.; M.S., Texas A&M University – Kingsville; D.V.M., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Bo Norby The introduction of FMD into the US would have serious economic and societal effects on the livelihoods and sustainability of affected livestock producers. Livestock producers serve as an important line of defense in both detecting an introduction of FMD as well, helping to prevent disease spread. However, due to the complexity of moral, social, and economic issues surrounding the control of highly contagious diseases, producer cooperation during an outbreak may not be assured. This study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative analysis of interviews and quantitative analysis of a postal survey, in order to explore the factors likely to influence producer cooperation in FMD detection and control in Texas. Reporting of cattle with clinical signs of FMD in the absence of an outbreak was related to producers ́ beliefs about the consequences of reporting, beliefs about what other producers would do, trust in agricultural agencies, and their perception of the risk posed by FMD. During a hypothetical outbreak, intentions to report were determined by beliefs about the consequences of reporting, and perception of the risk posed by FMD.


The relationships of religiousness, anxiety and six aspects of self-concept have been studied in a sample of 416 adolescents. Religiousness has been determined according to self-description in three categories (I am religious, I am not religious and I am not sure about my religious belief). Anxiety has been measured by an alpha scale from MK-240 battery (Džamonja, Volf, Momirovic, Sipka, Ignjatovic), while self-appreciation was measured using the scale of Bezinovic (perception of self-incompetence, self-esteem, overall satisfaction, loneliness, fear of negative social evaluation and externality). The discriminant analysis has shown that the groups of religious, non-religious and 'unsure of their religious belief' adolescents differ significantly among themselves 87% has shown that the groups of religious, non-religious and 'unsure of their religious belief' adolescents differ significantly among themselves in the studied dimensions. The analysis according to the items at the anxiety scale has shown two significant discriminant functions in the studied groups: The first one differs the 'unsure of their religious belief' group from the religious and non-religious ones, while the second describes the differences between the groups of religious and 'unsure' adolescents from the group of non-religious ones. Analysis by the sub-scale scores of self-concept also shows two important discriminant functions: The first defines the differences between the group of non-religious adolescents from the other two groups, while the second describes the differences between the 'unsure of their religious belief' group on one hand and the religious and non-religious, on the other.


The three grade of carbide tools such as YT15,YG8 and YW2 were used to analyze wear morphology and characteristics of these tools by the test of dry cutting TC4 titanium alloy.As well,the influence of cutting speed on tool life is studied and Taylor formula between the tool life(T) and the cutting speed(v)is built.The result shows that with increasing cutting speed the decreasing tool life of the YT15 is the fastest,and the YG8 is followed,and the YW2 is the slowest.


In order to explore the treatment effects of different low temperature on Idesia polycarpa seed dormancy breaking among different provenances, Idesia polycarpa seeds of 12 provenance were taken as material and treated for 0, 20, 40, 60 days respectively at 5 ℃, 10 ℃, 12 ℃, 15 ℃, then its germination was observed at 15/25 ℃. Results showed that the low temperature treatment could increase the seed germination rate and germination potential of Idesia polycarpa among different provenances in different levels, that would be 5.38%~5.38% increase in germination rate and 7%~48.96% increase in germination potential, with respective growth rates of 8.26%~114.18% and 37.49%~37.49%; the optimal treatment temperature and time among different provenances were different, the optimal treatment temperature were increased with the increase of latitude, low temperature of 10 ℃ was better to break the seed dormancy for most of provenances, and 20 days of low temperature treatment could effectively break the seed dormancy, a long time low temperature treatment would inhibit the germination of seeds at higher temperatures, the mean time to germination of seeds would be prolonged at 15 ℃, and when the low temperature treatment time reached 60 days, the low temperature of 15 ℃ even had led to the Linan provenance seeds lost the ability to germinate.


Abstract. Two different Melanesian antibodies demonstrated, by blocking tests and their reaction patterns, steric interaction of S, s and U components. The antigen (s) detected, designated Ux and Uz, may represent differing conformations, genetically determined, of certain U, S and s structures.


This article elaborated the main charac-teristics of reading tendency among college student includes: hierarchy,following like sheep,utility;being appointed,and entertainment.It also proposed countermeasures to the reading problems among col-lege students.


The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into public sector readiness for change from the perspective of four dimensions, namely, change management, change communication, change resistance, and readiness for change; to determine associations between these four dimensions; and to establish a prediction model for readiness for change. Using a structured survey questionnaire, data was collected from the employees of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF). These research findings suggest statistically significant positive correlations exist between three change variables, namely, change management, change communication, and readiness for change; whereas, negative correlations exist between change resistance and the other 3 variables. The results also show that change management, change communication, and change resistance added statistically significantly to the prediction of readiness for change. This paper makes its theoretical contribution to the scarce theoretical strands relating to change efforts of public enterprises; and practical contribution towards prediction of readiness for change, policy making, and strategic planning at government levels.


Carbon aerogels were prepared by sol-gel reaction,ambient dehydration and high-temperature carbonization in vacuum with resorcinol and furfural as raw material.XRD,BET and SEM were used to investigate the microstructure,composition and morphology of carbon aerogels.Finally,experiments on wettability were carried out.Results indicate that the prepared carbon aerogels can change from superhydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity after fluorination.


The invention relates to a method for the production of products based on ring organic carbonic ester, obtained by reacting (A) at least one cyclic organic carbonate with (B) at least one compound having at least two nucleophile groups per molecule, selected from sulfonic acid, hydroxyl-, mercapto- and primary or secondary amino groups, at reaction temperatures in the range from 150 to 200 DEG C, characterized by first heating to a temperature in the range from 100 to 145 DEG C and then heating with a heating rate in the range from 1 to 85 DEG C per hour to the reaction temperature.


This paper proposes a discharging scheme of a number of paralleled energy storage devices (ESDs) within smart grid or microgrid environment. With proposed control algorithm discharging process of standalone batteries with different level of initial charge, without mutual communication, becomes synchronous. During discharging phase when droop control is utilized, difference in state-of-charge (SoC) of different paralleled ESDs will occur, thus some ESDs will stop operation earlier than expected. Proposed method allows discharging time of the ESDs to become equal despite the difference in SoC, active power supplied by ESDs is regulated according to the locally measured information, thus omitting the any need for communication between ESDs. Feasibility and effectiveness of proposed method is verified by the simulation.


: The United States elections 2016 has seen an unprecedented amount of media coverage, numerous presidential candidates, and acrimonious debates over wide ranging topics from candidates of both the republic and democratic party. In contrast to the expectations Donald Trump surprisingly won the elections. Experts analyzed that the social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and big data analytics rather than traditional approach helped Donald Trump to win the elections. In this project, Data Science and Big Data Analytics is used to analyze how the tweets in Twitter impacted US Elections. This project is an application of Sentimental Analysis also known as Opinion Mining using R Programming to perform text mining and opinion analysis on tweets collected during the US Election time.


Based on current condition of China women's football team and the level of current world football development, With the methods of literature review,investigation expert interview,analysis of variance,illustrational analysis,the paper made a SWOT analysis of development China woman football team and putting forward some development strategies of China woman football team in accordance with analysis result.


...................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... iv DEDICATION.................................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... ix LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .......................................................................................... xi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview of Teachers' Beliefs. ................................................................................ 1 1.1.1 Inquiry and Science Education. ......................................................................... 2 184.108.40.206 Role of Teaching Beliefs. ........................................................................... 3 188.8.131.52.1 Overview of GLOBE Program. ........................................................... 5 1.2 Statement of Problem. ............................................................................................... 7 1.3 Purpose. ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Justification for Study. .............................................................................................. 8 1.5 Research Questions. ................................................................................................ 10 1.6 Definitions of Terms. .............................................................................................. 12 1.7 Delimitations. .......................................................................................................... 13 1.8 Assumptions. ........................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER II – REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ................................................... 14 2.1 Teachers' Beliefs versus Knowledge. ..................................................................... 14 vii 2.2 Teaching Beliefs, Science Teaching and Classroom Practice. ............................... 15 2.3 Concept of Pedagogical Content Knowledge. ........................................................ 18 2.4 Other Models of PCK and Science Teaching. ........................................................ 19 2.5 PCK Development and Research. ........................................................................... 20 2.6 Benefits of PCK. ..................................................................................................... 22 2.7 Summary. ................................................................................................................ 22 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 24 3.1 Research Design...................................................................................................... 24 3.2 Participants. ............................................................................................................. 24 3.3 Instrumentation. ...................................................................................................... 25 3.4 Procedure. ............................................................................................................... 27 3.5 Data Analysis. ......................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER IV –RESULTS ............................................................................................ 32 4.2 Quantitative Analysis. ............................................................................................. 36 4.3 Details of BARSTL................................................................................................. 37 4.4 Descriptive Analysis. .............................................................................................. 38 4.5 Statistical Analyses. ................................................................................................ 42 4.6 Qualitative Analysis. ............................................................................................... 55 4.7 Results of Qualitative Analysis ............................................................................... 63 4.8 Summary ................................................................................................................. 91 viii CHAPTER V – DISCUSSION ....................................................................................... 94 5.1 Summary of Study. ................................................................................................. 94 5.2 Description of Sample. ............................................................................................ 95 5.3 Description of Study Variables ............................................................................... 96 5.4 Discussion and Analysis of Research Questions. ................................................... 96 5.5 Quantitative Analysis. ............................................................................................. 97 5.6 Qualitative Analysis ................................................................................................ 98 5.7 Implications........................................................................................................... 101 5.8 Limitations. ........................................................................................................... 102 5.9 Recommendation for Future Research.................................................................. 103 APPENDIX A – TEACHING AFTER GLOBE TRAINING QUESTIONNAIRE ..... 104 APPENDIX B-Belief about the Reformed Science Teaching and Learning ................107 A.1 How People Learn About Science. .......................................................................... 107 A.2 Lesson Design and Implementation. ........................................................................ 108 A.3 Characteristics of Teachers and the Learning Environment .................................... 109 A.4 The Nature of the Science Curriculum .................................................................... 111 APPENDIX C IRB Approval Letter............................................................113 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 114


This chapter analyzes the challenges and opportunities encountered when applying a transnationalism approach to the analysis and understanding of international migration contexts. Critical perspectives such as the political economy of the media, cultural studies, urban studies, and media practices in everyday life are useful approaches to incorporate in an interdisciplinary understanding of Latino diasporas and the media. Findings from a variety of research projects on media production, distribution, and consumption indicate that these performances are influenced by diverse variables such as the stage of immigration processes, generational and new technologies gaps, and social environments in the city of origin and destiny. Communication and information practices are transformed and reconstructed in the vicinity of Latino diasporas. The conjunction of quantitative and qualitative methods facilitates a better understanding of these complex social processes.

Keywords:

Latino Diasporas and the Media;
Transnationalism;
Territorial Immigrants/Digital Immigrants;
Qualitative Research;
Discourse Analysis;
Cultural and Media Consumption


Compilers are used to run programs that are written in a range of designs from text to executable formats. With the advent of the internet, studies related to the development of cloud based compilers are being carried out. There is a considerable increase of on-line compilers enabling on-line compilation of user programs without any mandate to. This study is specific to on-line C compilers to investigate the correctness, issues and limitations.


Please follow us on our social media pages for all the latest updates on Heads Apart, property maintenance in Bristol.


Magnetic fields as small as 4 kOe substantially increase the resistivity of U1−xThxBe13 for x=0.0175 and 0.0378 between 1.4 K and Tc, the superconducting transition temperature of this heavy fermion material. At the intermediate value of x=0.026, Tc reaches a local maximum, and no normal‐state field dependence is observed up to 4 kOe. At x=0.0603, away from the region of nonmonotonic dependence of Tc on x, again no field dependence is seen. The observations are discussed with regard to specific‐heat measurements and in terms of the interaction of superconductivity with narrowband features.


The two-stage anaerobic biological technique is introduced to treat wastewater from production of epoxy resin.The experimental results are as follows: the COD removal rate reached 91% and the suspended solids(SS) removal rate was 67% after treatment by the anaerobic migrating blanket reactor(AMBR) and the expanded granular sludge bed(EGSB) reactor;the pH value of the effluent water decreased from 6.80 to 5.86 and volatile fatty acids(VFA) varied from 1 265 mg/L to 3 862 mg/L when influent water was treated by the AMBR reactor,and the acidification effect was preferable;the effluent water from the AMBR was treated by the methanation reactor(EGSB reactor) and the efficiency of methanation was favourable,and the pH and VFA became 7.61 and 206 mg/L respectively.Then the water was further treated by the SBR in the continuing process and the effluent water met the demands of National Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard.


The electronic band structure of III-V substitutional alloys calculated within the framework of coherent-potential approximation (CPA) and tight-binding formalism are presented. The major advantage of semiconductor alloys over binary compounds is that the semiconductor alloys extend the opto-electronic properties in the spectral region intermediate to two constituent compounds. The III-V semiconductor alloys studied presently are the anion substituted ternary alloys GaAsi _xPx and InAs1-x Px° the cation substituted ternary alloys GaxIn1-xP and Gax In1-x' As and the quaternary alloys GaxIn1-xAsyP1-y lattice-matched to InP and GaAs as well as the quaternary Ga0.51n0.5As0o5P0.5. The disorder in substitutional semiconductor alloys arises due to the random distribution of atoms at lattice sites, so that the translational symmetry does not exist in substitutional alloys. The disorder-induced effects have been computed within coherent-potential approximation which is treated as the best single-site approximation. The disorder in the diagonal atomic term values has been treated in CPA, while the off-diagonal disorder has been treated in virtual crystal approximation (VCA). Band structure calculations have been performed using tight-binding method where the interactions upto and including second neighbor have been taken into account. The spin-orbit interactions have been taken into account explicitly. Tightbinding parameters of Porod et al. [J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 21, 965 (1982)] reproduce all the important gaps of involved binaries GaP, GaAs, InP and InAs, which agree very well with the recent experimental data. Partial s and p cation as well as anion density of states (DOS) have been computed using sampling procedure. Calculation of partial CPA self-energy 1 from partial VCA DOS is an iterative procedure starting from the value of = 1/4(A -ia), where A is the alloy scattering parameter. The real part of the complex CPA self-energy gives correction to VCA band structure, while its imaginary part gives lifetime broadening effects. The complex energy band structure of the ternary alloys GaAs0.5 P0.5' InAs0.5 P0.5' Ga0.5 In0.5 P and Ga0.5In0.5As, where the disorder is expected to be maximum, are studied in detail. In addition, the variation 'of seven important states 115v' 1c' X5v° X1c, X3c, L3v and Llc as a function of composition x is studied for all the four ternary alloys in the whole composition range between two end-point semiconductors. It is found that CPA self-energy correction is maximum for cation s-like states. The variation of direct as well as indirect 1 -X-suid .1-L energy gaps with composition x is studied within CPA for all these alloys. The calculated variation of these gaps is seen to match well with the available experimental data. The CPA bowing parameter is found to be small for anion substituted ternaries for GaAs1-xPx° the calculated value is 0.177 eV, while for InAs1-x x' P it is 0.035 eV. For cation substituted ternary alloys, the calculated bowing is found to be large it being 0.7 eV for GaxIni _xP and 0.79 eV for GaxIni _kAs. These values agree with the experimental data. A crossover between the direct gap and indirect r -x gap has been obtained for the ternary alloys GaAsi _xPx and GaxIni _xP. The alloy GaAsi _xPx is found to be a direct gap semiconductor for 0 < x < 0.5 and an indirect gap semiconductor for x > 0.5. For GaxIn1-xP alloy, the crossover is obtained at x = 0.77, it being an indirect gap semiconductor for x > 0.77. Finally, the variation of E1-optical gap with composition x is studied for all the ternary alloys, and a good agreement between theory and experiment has been obtained. The CPA technique has also been applied to enumerate the electronic properties of the quaternary alloy. GaxIni _xAsyPi _y. The complex energy band structure of the quaternary alloy Ga0.5 0.5 As0.5 P0.5 is studied. The compositional variation of direct as well as the indirect r-x and r-L gaps has been studied for the quaternary alloys GaxIni _xAsyPi _y latticematched to InP and GaAs. The bowing parameters calculated in VCA as well as in CPA for various values of x and y are presented for both the lattice-matched quaternary alloys. The disorder-induced effects are seen to be larger for GaAs latticematched quaternary than for InP lattice-matched one. This is also found to be true for the E1-Optical gap which has been calculated for the various combinations of x and y. The compositional variation of direct gap and El-optical gap for the InP lattice-matched quaternary is seen to agree with the experimental values. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CHAPTER


Liz Jefferson is a patient at Renew Dental in Walsall in the West Midlands and is one of nine veterinary nurses to hold a qualification in dentistry. Here, she shares her dental nursing experience ...


Objective To investigate mutations in the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA in colorectal carcinomas. Methods Polymerase chain reaction and direct sequence techniques were used to analyze the sequence of the D-loop region of Mitochondrial DNA in three colorectal carcinoma cell lines compared with one normal colorectal cell. Results Mutations were foud in three colorectal carcinoma cell lines and one normal colorectal cell. The C to T mutation at 72, A to G mutation at 73, C to T mutation at 16298, T to C mutation at 16569 was found in three colorectal carcinoma cell lines and one normal colorectal cell, these mutations were associated with polymorphism. The T to C mutation at 16224 and 16311was found in SW480 and Lovo, the C to T mutation at 114, 498 and 16234 was found in SW480 and HT29, the same mutations found in different colorectal carcinoma cell lines was associated with typical mutation. Conclusion Polymorphism and mutation was found in the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA in colorectal carcinomas, the typical mutation in the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA might probably be associated with carcinogenesis or susceptibility of carcinoma.


The current studies were designed to characterize type IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIb) expression and to assess the effect of 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3 (vit-D3) on NaPi-IIb gene expression during rat ontogeny. Sodium-dependent Pi absorption by intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) decreases with age, and NaPi-IIb gene expression also decreases proportionally with age. Vit-D3 treatment increased intestinal BBMV Pi absorption by ~2.5 fold in suckling rats and by ~2.1 fold in adult rats. Vit-D3 treatment also increased NaPi-IIb mRNA abundance by ~2 fold in 14-day-old rats, but had no effect on mRNA expression in adults. Furthermore, in rat intestinal epithelial (RIE) cells, vit-D3 increased NaPi-IIb mRNA abundance, an effect that was abolished by actinomycin D. Additionally, human NaPi-IIb gene promoter activity in transiently transfected RIE cells showed ~1.6-fold increase after vit-D3 treatment. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the age-related decrease in intestinal Na/Pi absorption correlates with decreased NaPi-IIb mRNA expression. Our data also suggest that the vit-D3 effect on NaPi-IIb expression is at least partially mediated by gene transcription in suckling rats.


Major factors influencing the expansion value of expansion joint and calculation formula are introduced.According to common structural forms encountered in practice corresponding expansion values are calculated and analyzed.At the same time simplified method for expansion value calculation is presented.In the end construction installation steps and construction control key points of expansion joint are elaborated,in order to ensure construction quality of bridge expansion joints.


Citation: Lipponen, A., & Kauppi, L. (2015). "Monitoring and Assessment and the duty of cooperation under the Water Convention: Exchange of Information Among the Riparian Parties". In Tanzi, A., McIntyre, O., Kolliopoulos, A., Rieu-Clarke, A., and Kinna, R. (Ed.). The UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes Its Contribution to International Water Cooperation. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill | Nijhoff, pages 249-267. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004291584_018


Wlodzimierz Wolski and Irena Okonska Kozlowska: Dissolution Velocity of Zinc Ferrite in AcidsThe kinetics of the system ZnFe2O4/H+ has been examined in various concentrations of hydrochloric and nitric acids separately and in their mixtures. It was found that in nitric acid independent of its concentration the process is non-stoichiometric one, giving after the same lapse of time more zinc cations to the solution than the stoichiometricity requires. This behaviour can be observed in both dilute and concentrated HNO3.In the presence of hydrochloric acid the same ferrite displays quite different way of dissolution ; here according to the analytical data, the amounts of ferric and zinc ions do indicate the molar solubility. Rather surprisingly, however, the best conditions in order to dissolve stoichiometrically this compound in acids under investigation, have been achieved for the mixture of 2N HNO3 and 2N HCl even, when. the proportion of HCl:HNO3 had been as small as 1:20.The results of temperature effects examination |20°, 40°, 60°C| upon this reaction showed, as to be expected, much more greater rate of dissolution in higher temperatures. The findings allowed to establish the kinetic equation and calculate the rate constants K and k. The most accurately they fit when put in the following equation : dx/dt=s0k(1-x)3;K=1/t[1/(1-x)2-1];K=2ks0, where s0 is the specific area.


The paper presents results associated with the electro-mechanical characterization of a composite material with power storage capability, identified throughout the paper as a structural supercapacitor. The structural supercapacitor uses electrodes made of carbon fiber weave, a separator made of Celgard 3501, and a solid PEG-based polymer blend electrolyte. To be a viable structural supercapacitor, the material has to have good mechanical and power storage/electrical properties. The literature in this area is inconsistent on which electrical properties are evaluated, and how those properties are assessed. In general, measurements of capacitance or specific capacitance (i.e. capacitance per unit area or per unit volume) are made, without considering other properties such as leakage resistance and equivalent series resistance of the supercapacitor. This paper highlights the significance of these additional electrical properties, discusses the fluctuation of capacitance over time, and proposes methods to improve the stability of the material's electric properties over time.


In this paper, we examine P systems with a linear membrane structure, i.e., P systems in which only one membrane is elementary and the output of which is read out as the sequence of membrane labels in the halting configuration or vectors/numbers represented by this sequence. We investigate the computational power of such systems, depending on the number of membrane labels, kinds of rules used, and some other possible restrictions. We prove that two labels, elementary membrane creation and dissolution, together with the usual send-in and send-out rules, suffice to achieve computational completeness, even with the restriction that only one object is allowed to be present in any configuration of the system. On the other hand, limiting the number of labels to one reduces the computational power to the regular sets of non-negative integers. We also consider other possible variants of such P systems, e.g., P systems in which all membranes but one have the same label, P systems with membrane duplication rules, or systems in which multiple objects are allowed to be present in a configuration, and we describe the computational power of all these models.


Character of distribution of temperature of the pressed is defined threw in a deformation zone at continuous pressing of Сonform by the way by the decision a method of calculus of variations of the equations of the stationary heat conductivity considering a thermal emission and a convection of heat in the course of plastic deformation.


The challenge in service quality for the performance of Next Generation Networks (NGNs) is a growing concern. The bandwidth limitation for multimedia applications in NGNs such as voice and video telephony along with the increasing number of applications on the Internet, service classification and efficient resource management have all become quite challenging tasks. In order to handle the different types of applications in the network to improve the service quality in video and voice transmission, there has to be efficient resource and traffic management, and using routing protocols is one way in which this can be done. We designed three network models that are configured with OSPF, EIGRP and one with both OPSF and EIGRP routing protocols, and then used the QoS parameters of their throughput, packet loss, convergence time, packet delay variation and end-toend delay as our performance evaluation metrics. Our main source of network traffic was a typical video conferencing application. The results obtained during the simulation indicates that combining both EIGRP and OSPF is more reliable in providing Quality of Service than OSPF routing protocol when the main traffic used in the network is video, but when dealing with a standalone real time application network, EIGRP is better than OSPF.


The Supa Reservoir began to fill in 1984, as part of a hydroelectric power scheme on the Kali River in south-central India. There were significant increases in electrical conductivity and concentrations of chloride, phosphate, iron and manganese in the impounded water during the filling phase. There were also decreases in pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen, accompanied by the evolution of hydrogen sulphide. Nutrients leached from the flooded soil and from decomposition of submerged vegetation contributed to blooms of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The new reservoir has potential for fisheries based on two major carp species, the mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) and the rohu (Labeo rohita).


In this paper we consider a special problem of formation control, that is, the problem of uniform spread (or deployment) of several identical agents on a line segment. This problem was exhaustively studied for first-order agents since the pioneering paper by I.A. Wagner and A.M. Bruckstein who considered it under the name of "row straightening algorithm". We extend it to the more realistic case of second-order agents.


As a boundary of the seashore, the high-water mark (HWM) is relevant to the public, the State, and other rights holders in the coastal zone. Unlike most fixed property boundaries that are surveyed and beaconed, the HWM is subject to dynamic natural coastal processes and moves over time. Its location is difficult to determine, and the precision of this determination is unknown. This paper reports on an experiment to measure the precision (variability/repeatability) of the location of the HWM at a variety of sites near Cape Town, by volunteer participants. Four sites were chosen along stable (non-mobile) shores along the open, high energy oceanic shores south of Cape Town on the Cape Peninsula. One of these sites exhibits large variation in coastal terrain and type – at this site three sets of measurements were undertaken, bringing the total number of experimental sites to six. Surveying was undertaken in the South African national control survey system using network real-time kinematic global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).
This experiment shows that the professional land surveyors located the HWM to ±1,6m, coastal engineers to ±4,1m, and the group of 'others' to ±4,2m. The professional land surveyors determined the height of the HWM to ±0,4m over all sites, compared to ±0,7m for all participants. The HWM is likely to be about 4 - 5m above the lowest astronomic tide. However, the line is not a contour – it is affected by weather and local variations in the coastline such as slope and seashore composition. The averaged heights of the HWM at each of the sites for all participants showed a range of 1,3m. Since the boundaries of the seashore cannot be determined with precision, property, cadastral and environmental law needs to continue to respect the nature of this environment and the limitations of locating the HWM.


This paper presents a new coding method of DNA chromosome for Genetic Algorithm (GA). The DNA chromosome is composed of four kinds of basic components.This DNA coding method makes applications of crossover and mutation operations easier. The proposed method has a redundancy in DNA chromosome and allows overlapped representation of genes. The new method applied to a knowledge acquisition of fuzzy rules of robots which avoid collision with other robots and reach goals. This paper also presents an application of transcription of DNA, virus DNA and enzyme operators into the proposed DNA coding method.


ABSTRACT The medicinal properties and toxicity of aconitine in traditional Chinese medicine have caused widespread concern. In this study, we screened a highly specific and sensitive monoclonal antibody with an IC50 of 3.65 ng/mL generated by immunizing mice and cell fusion, and the limits of detection of the ic-ELISA were 1.13 and 11.76 ng/mL. We then developed a colloidal gold test strip based on the antibody. For rapid detection of aconitine in herbs, the visual limit and detection limit of the test strip are 10 and 25 ng/mL, respectively; the results are obtained within 5 min and are visible to the naked eye. Therefore, the colloidal gold test strip is very suitable for on-site detection and quality screening of aconitine in Chinese herbal medicine.


This article provides an overview of the main features of the Shughni system of demonstratives and their deictic functions. The study is based on the fieldwork data, namely an experiment during which the informants responded with Shughni demonstratives. The data obtained are presented in the form of tables with subsequent discussion. The study uses diverse theoretic approaches: on the one hand, a bicentric approach to deixis, examining it through the relations of the participants in a speech act, on the other hand, the idea of the opposition between person- and distance-oriented systems following the mainstream thinking about deixis as remoteness from deictic center, that is, the speaker. In this vein, this article seeks to combine the achievements of both. As a result, an updated understanding of the variability of Shughni demonstratives is provided.


Phishing is one of the serious web threats that involves mimicking authenticated websites to deceive users in order to obtain their financial information. Phishing has caused financial damage to the different online stakeholders. It is massive in the magnitude of hundreds of millions; hence it is essential to minimize this risk. Classifying websites into "phishy" and legitimate types is a primary task in data mining that security experts and decision makers are hoping to improve particularly with respect to the detection rate and reliability of the results. One way to ensure the reliability of the results and to enhance performance is to identify a set of related features early on so the data dimensionality reduces and irrelevant features are discarded. To increase reliability of preprocessing, this article proposes a new feature selection method that combines the scores of multiple known methods to minimize discrepancies in feature selection results. The proposed method has been applied to the problem of website phishing classification to show its pros and cons in identifying relevant features. Results against a security dataset reveal that the proposed preprocessing method was able to derive new features datasets which when mined generate high competitive classifiers with reference to detection rate when compared to results obtained from other features selection methods.


A sieving machine, based on the principle of the reciprocating movement of a lift, to raise and lower a series of sieves for dry and wet sieving of soils, is described. The machine is portable and can be used in the field with an accumulator. The accuracy of results with this machine is within 1.5%.

Two criteria have been used as tests of the correct standardization of speed of the machine: (i) the granular structure of the final aggregates on the sieves and the absence of pasty matter, and (ii) stability curves of the aggregates with time.

Results obtained in a study of the stability of aggregates of a soil with this machine are reported.


The funeral industry is hidden from most Americans. In the research literature, it is also ignored. This was a preliminary investigation into the workers in the funeral industry be various demographic measures. We also searched for different viewpoints on political and ethical issues. The report also highlights areas for future research on this unique industry population. Everyone has memories of Ward Cleaver, the father in the TV classic Leave it to Beaver. Always wearing wing-tips and slacks, Ward was a middle aged man, who worked full time, middle class, happily married, with two adoring children. Sometimes art imitates life, at least some of the time. Based on a recent survey, Ward Cleaver looks a lot like the typical Oklahoma funeral director. This survey was conducted at the 2008 Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association (OFDA) Convention at Tulsa with the assistance of Jay Baines, Executive Director, and the OFDA Officers. What do we know about the membership of OFDA? How can this information help us plan for the future? This survey was more of a pilot study, with a small pool of responses, but the results can be used to generalize to OFDA's population, with some caveats. First, this survey was not a complete picture, since not all of OFDA's membership was involved. Second, the survey was not random, since it was conducted in Tulsa; those members from the Tulsa region of the state are overrepresented in the responses. Third, the survey was voluntary, so not all those attending did participate. Finally, there was no follow up to confirm the answers that were given were correct.


Poly(p-xylylene tetrasulfide) was synthesized from 1,4-bis(chloromethyl)-benzene and sodium tetrasulfide using interfacial polycondensation technique to examine the effect of methyl tributyl ammonium chloride, tetrabutyl ammonium bromide, and benzyl triethyl ammonium chloride as phase transfer catalysts. The structure of the synthesized polysulfide was confirmed via elemental analysis, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Moreover, the thermal behavior of this polymer was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and thermo gravimetric analysis methods. Beyond, Friedman method was applied to analyze the degradation kinetics of the prepared polymer. The synthesized polymer had a molecular weight of about 2584 g/mol.


The goal of the European DIgital upper Atmospheric Server (DIAS) is to make available to the user community a range of pan-European ionospheric data and quality assured information products and services. Historical, real-time, forecast, alert and warning information derived from seven digital ionosondes distributed across Europe are now readily accessible to the user community through a server system designed to be easy-to-use and focussed on satisfying the users' needs and requirements.


1. Let q be a hyperbolic (cid:12)xed point (HFP) of a C N -di(cid:11)eomorphism S of an n -dimensional mani- fold M onto itself, and let W − and W + be its outgoing [unstable] and incoming [stable] manifolds (separatrices). Let the dimensions of W (cid:6) be n (cid:6) respectively (so that n + + n − = n ) and let the r j be transversal homoclinic points so that at each point r j the manifolds W − and W + intersect transversally. According to a theorem of Alekseev [1], for any open set U containing the orbits of the points q and r j , there is an open set V (cid:26) U such that the restriction S j A to the maximal S -invariant set A contained in V admits a description by the methods of symbolic dynamics. Motions on the set A are called quasi-stochastic. Conditions were obtained in [2] under which the implication holds, which entails in particular the non-existence of a non-trivial (cid:12)rst integral and a non-trivial meromorphic vector (cid:12)eld generating a local symmetry. In the appendix to [2] we remarked that (1) implies the discretenessof the analytic centralizer(that is, the group of analytic di(cid:11)eomorphisms commuting with S ) in the compact-open topology. The present paper develops the results of [2]. 2. Let (cid:21) i (1 (cid:20) i (cid:20) n + ), (cid:22) i (1 (cid:20) i (cid:20) n − ) be all the eigenvalues of the C N -di(cid:11)eomorphism S at the point q , where 0 < j (cid:21)


This paper reviews the historical aspects related to the development of coiled tubing for oilfield drilling, logging, workover and production operations. It focuses on the metallurgical and process variables of coiled tubing and their interrelationship with aspects of the downhole service environment and the resultant corrosion performance. Special emphasis is placed on (1) operating conditions that can lead to excessive corrosion and/or cracking damage and corrosion fatigue and (2) metallurgical and processing parameters which can be controlled to maximize coiled tubing resistance to corrosion degradation.


Abstract Present problems of guidance and training must be solved by persons daring to face facts and changing with times and conditions rather than merely being satisfied with "rearrangement of their prejudices."