In this paper, a three-dimensional (3-D) F-SAR imaging algorithm is introduced for Forwarding-looking SAR (F-SAR) data processing. The algorithm is the extension of the two-dimensional (2-D) range stacking algorithm (RSA) and allows the accurate image reconstruction without any interpolation and geometric correction. Then the spatial-varying and spatial-shift properties of the 3-D spread point function (PSF) of Forwarding-looking SAR are revealed with the analytical expression. Finally, the simulation experiment is performed to demonstrate the validity of the 3-D RSA.


The effective action and background field method have been applied to investigate free energy density for non-Abelian gauge theory at finite temperature, in which quantum corrections are included and certain symmetries of generating functional are restored. Renormalization is also considered for the gauge field. We give result for the one loop free energy density of gauge theory at high temperature and non-zero chemical potential, correcting a result previously at zero temperature and density. Some results are extended up to two loops.


This article is devoted to modern methods of risk management in a crisis in the financial markets. The global financial crisis of 2008 created new and aggravated existing risks in the economy: unexpected movements of the markets began to appear on a global scale. This makes it increasingly difficult for businesses and individuals to conserve their assets, plan production, and save households. In this regard, an approach to the study of markets in the field of technical analysis was chosen, which is impersonal look at the fundamental, including hidden market movements. The article deals with new approaches to the study of Finance and financial markets. New methods of comparison of fundamental events and their technical interpretation on price charts are presented. Measures to improve the efficiency of risk management of financial market participants are proposed. Is considered bidding analysis tool RTSI (RTS index future). An effective analysis is given using Fibonacci levels. The main risks in the financial markets in modern conditions and ways to reduce them are determined. Keywords—Financial crisis, Risk management, Trend, Lateral movement, Gap, Fibonacci levels.


Now it's time for some good news. Anew development in court rulings offers a brighter legal picture for media defendants who want to avail themselves of anti-SLAPP statutes. The SLAPP—Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation—is a meritless legal action used to intimidate and prevent citizens from exercising their First Amendment rights. Matthew D. Bunker, Paul H. Gates, Jr., and William C. Nevin report that 27 states have now enacted anti-SLAPP statutes, and as more courts interpret these statutes, a body of law that is quite press friendly is emerging. More are being interpreted to include protection of the press, which can mean not only vindication, but also a shifting of court costs and attorneys' fees to the plaintiffs. In a time of declining revenues and shrinking legal budgets for many media organizations, anti-SLAPP laws "can be a welcome addition to the legal arsenal of the press," they conclude.


Calculation of inter-textual distance. This euclidian metric allows unbiased classifications and the calibration of a distance scale for French texts. A large number of trials have validated this method. Applied to the works of Corneille and Moliere, it reattributes to Corneille all the masterpieces in verse by Moliere and two comedies in prose by the same: Dom Juan and l'Avare. Many stylistic and historic evidence corroborates this attribution. At least, we answer the main objections: possible "unconscious" imitation of Corneille by Moliere, the influence of prosody on distances, the possible "quarrel" about l'Ecole des femmes.


Adaptive control is a critical component of reliable robot autonomy in rapidly changing operational conditions. Adaptive control designs benefit from a disturbance model, which is often unavailable in practice. This motivates the use of machine learning techniques to learn disturbance features from training data offline, which can subsequently be employed to compensate the disturbances online. This letter develops geometric adaptive control with a learned disturbance model for rigid-body systems, such as ground, aerial, and underwater vehicles, that satisfy Hamilton's equations of motion over the $SE{(}3{)}$ manifold. Our design consists of an offline disturbance model identification stage, using a Hamiltonian-based neural ordinary differential equation (ODE) network trained from state-control trajectory data, and an online adaptive control stage, estimating and compensating the disturbances based on geometric tracking errors. We demonstrate our adaptive geometric controller in trajectory tracking simulations of fully-actuated pendulum and under-actuated quadrotor systems.


Changing demographics require human service workers to become more multiculturally competent. Using the multicultural counseling competencies as a foundation, the presenters outlined strategies to develop competencies within the awareness, knowledge and skill domains of multicultural competence. The authors propose implications for improving advocacy for multicultural social justice.


A compact open-path tunable diode laser absorption spectrometry (TDLAS) sensor has been developed for gas-phase hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration monitoring during sterilization and aseptic disinfection. The sensor was based on a open-path multi-pass Herriott cell and wavelength modulated near-infrared diode laser. The sensor was calibrated by titrating the H2O2 water which was obtained by exhausting measured gas-phase H2O2 through a water bubbler. A detection limit of 15 ppm with single measurement is achieved in the range of approximately 0–2000 ppm. The response time is 1s, mainly limited by ramping frequency and processing speed. It offers a combination of sensitivity, fast response, dynamic range, cost effectiveness and easy operation not available in alternative H2O2 detectors.


The California Ocean Plan (Ocean Plan) sets bacterial water quality standards for ocean waters to ensure the protection of two beneficial uses: water contact recreation and shellfish harvesting. Water quality objectives contained in the Ocean Plan are incorporated into discharge permits issued by Regional Water Quality Control Boards. The first Ocean Plan, adopted in 1972, contained total and fecal coliform standards. Little has changed since then; an enterococcus monitoring requirement was added in 1990 at the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) insistence that enterococcus is a superior indicator of human health effects in marine waters. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) staff began their review of the bacterial standards in 1992. Over the ten year review period, a several things have been done to investigate the question of how best to measure bacterial water quality in California marine. Some of the areas that have been addressed in this review are: does enterococcus monitoring provide additional useful information in waters beyond the beach? Do the various analytical methods used during routine monitoring provide results that are comparable? Is it possible to differentiate sources of fecal pollution? A review of discharger data compared the environmental fate of total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus based on historic monitoring data. Results demonstrated that when fecal contamination is present, all three indicators respond similarly, and from a risk management perspective, enterococcus levels seem to add little to the information provided by the coliform data. Work on comparing analytical methods in fresh, estuarine and marine waters is ongoing. Preliminary results suggest differences in the methods; statistical analyses will be done to determine if the differences are sufficient to require the development of test-specific bacterial standards. The preliminary results also show(strongly samples from a pristine mountain river contain high concentrations of enterococcus but low concentrations of E. coli. And, based on the results from two SWRCB studies, it appears possible to differentiate sources of fecal pollution, but much more work is needed before any method can be viewed as reliable.


Nucleation and growth of three-dimensional crystallites in fatty acid monolayers at constant pressure have been studied by direct visualization using a Brewster angle microscope. The number of growing nuclei depends on the film pressure, and the shape depends on the composition of the subsolution. At pH≤3 single crystallites are formed with an area of more than 0.1 mm 2 and a thickness of ≤6 layers


A new ANA-MA-MAC ternary copolymer was synthesized with water as solvent,(NH4)2S2O8 as initiator,iso-propyl alcohol as chain transfer agent,and aconitic acid(ANA),maleic acid(MA),and methyl acrylate(MAC) as monomers.The inhibiting capacity of ANA-MA-MAC for CaCO3 and BaSO4 scale was investigated.The experimental results demonstrated that the ANA-MA-MAC functioned excellent scale inhibition to CaCO3 under the water hardness 6.0 mg/mL,and quality concentration 10.0 mg/L,ANA-MA-MAC scale inhibition ratio reached more than 97%.


The eurypiastic Pacific herring (Clupea harewgus pal8asi) generally encounters temperatures ranging between 0 and 16°C throughout its distribution during the maturation and spawning of adults, incubation of eggs, and hatching of larvae. For many Asian stocks these events occur in the lower half of the temperature range; with North American stocks they tend to occur in the upper half of the range. In British Columbia waters, salinities associated with these events (range, optimum) are spawning (2.6-28.7%0, 27-28.7'350)~ S50% fertilization of eggs (4.5-42%0, 12-15%0), and maximum total hatch and hatch of viable larvae (4.5-42OL, 12-17%). A low/Iow-highlhigh interaction between salinity and temperature also influences total hatch, hatch sf viable larvae, and salinity tolerance of larvae. In addition, the following implications arise regarding aspects of the Pacific herring reproductive cycle, based on previousiy published and new data, and on speculative inference. The response of Pacific herring to salinity and temperature appears to have a commanding influence on the reproductive cycle and, thereby, on distribution of the species. Survival of eggs on substrate, related to respiratory activity, appears to b e influenced by the transport and perfusion velocity of interstitial water in an egg mass. Such transport may involve perivitelline fluid colloid osmotic pressure; natural convection; the surge associated with wave action, beach slope, and depth; and possibly differences in resistance to convective flow of deoxygenated water from an egg mass based on orientation of the substrate. These relations would be modified by variations in deposition intensity (number of egg layers) and packing density (eggs per unit volume), and both factors may affect survival of occluded eggs in an egg mass differentially, depending on the substrate used. A review of data on salinity tolerance of herring larvae indicates that a variety of dosagemortality techiques has been used, leading to nsncornparabie estimates sf response. An assessment of upper incipient lethal salinities will require standardization of such techniques. Recent studies show that salinity tolerance of larvae is influenced significantly by salinity-temperature conditions during egg incubation. At usual incubation conditions in British Columbia waters, the upper boundary of larval tolerance is estimated as 27.5-31 .7%0 S (72-h LC10). depending on incubation history. The fate of Pacific herring larvae carried into the higher salinities of offshore waters has been controversial. In the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, substantial offshore dispersion of lawae occurs where surface conditions generally are 27-28.6% and 9-10°C in the early larval period. Although these salinities are near the upper boundary of salinity tolerance, larvae sampled in offshore waters (1981) had an apparent mean age of 15 d and were actively feeding and growing. From rates of disappearance of larvae in the offshore waters (9%/wk) and inshore waters (45%/wk) we conclude that usual surface salinities and food supply in the open waters of the Strait were not a dominant influence on larval survival. Assuming the larvae remain in the upper 10m, we suspect their disappearance, at least offshore, to be largely the result of predation. Dans l'ensemble de l'aire de distribution du hareng du Pacifique (CBupea harengus pallasi), poisson eurybiote, la maturation, Be frai, I'incarbation et I'eclosion des caeufs se dbroulent entre 0 et 10°C. Pour une grande gartie des stocks asiatiques, ces etapes ont lieu a une temperature se situant dans la premiere moitie de cette ptage, tandis que pour les stocks nod-americains, else est plut6t dans la seconde msitie. En Colombie-Britannique on a rnesur6 la salinite des eaux (limites de la variation et valeur optimale) ou se d4roulement ces divers stades : frai (2,6-28,7O&, 27-28,7%0), fecondation des eufs 250 % (4,542 %e, 12-15%), eclosiow totale maximum et eclosion de larves viables (4,542 %op 12-17760). La salinite et Ca temp$sature, lorsqu'elles sont simultaneinent basses ou simultanement elevees, influent egalement sur I'eclosion totale, I'eclosion de lawes viables et la tolerance des Bawes au sel. b'examen de donnees nouvelles ou deja publiges et Ifextrapsiation nous apportent les renseignernents suivants au sujet du cycle


The aim of the current Bachelor of Arts thesis was to research religious programmes on
Estonian Radio with a specific focus on the frequency of religious topics in the late 1980s and
the emergence of regular religious programmes in the 1990s. The sources of information
included the radio guide Raadioleht, archives of Estonian Radio and interviews with key
persons connected with the production of religious programmes.
The first part of the thesis focused on the first radio programmes publicly dealing with
religious issues as well as the emergence of regular religious programmes. The issues of the
radio guide Raadioleht in the late 1980s show that religious programmes gained momentum
already at the end of the 1980s with Stereoraadio Sunday programme Stereopuhapaev. The
programme introduced both Christian culture as well as the history of the Christian church.
The attempt to establish links between (the Christian) religion and the European culture was
characteristic of the late 1980s. The talks in Stereopuhapaev included ministers, historians
and literary scientists. Both the coming of Christianity to Estonia as well as the history of the
Estonian Bible and its impact on the development of Estonian literature were discussed.
In 1989, programme presenters and listeners gradually began to discover other religions
besides Christianity, bringing a change to the situation. The talks begun in Stereopuhapaev
continued in Vikerraadio late night programme Keskooprogramm with an increasing focus on
other religions, such as Buddhism or Judaism. Philosophical and religious issues, for example
the readings of Herman Hesse and Uku Masing, found good ground due to the late night
transmission time. In parallel to this, the history of Christian philosophy was intensively dealt
with in Filosoofia ja kultuur, an Estonian Radio Channel 1 programme. On the other hand,
other Channel 1 programmes, such as Mottekiir, Esivanemate vaimuvara and Silmaring,
focused on Estonian folk tradition and ethno-religion.
The regular transmission of religious programmes had its beginning in co-operation with the
Estonian Council of Churches at the beginning of the 1990s, although the church community
already supported the broadcasting of the Christmas service in 1988. Sunday morning
religious meditations and radio sermons began with Hingevalgus series in 1989. These
programmes later developed into daily morning prayers which are still on air on the Estonian
Radio today.
The thesis also explored the co-operation of the Estonian Radio and religious organizations in
producing religious programmes, the nature of these programmes and the way they were
produced. One of the most long-lasting partnerships of the Estonian Radio has been with the
Estonian Council of Churches. On February 24, 1990 Kirikuelu, a programme reflecting the
activities of Christian churches was launched in addition to Sunday morning Hingevalgus and
was initially transmitted every other week. Daily religious programmes supported by the
Estonian Council of Churches were launched a year later, on February 11, 1991. The
programmes were listed every morning at 8:15 with a Bible reading or a meditation on
weekdays, Kirikuelu on Saturdays and longer radio sermons on Sundays. The production of
morning meditations was divided on a weekly basis by the Estonian Council of Churches
between its churches and associations of congregations with morning prayer time allocated to
member churches proportionally according to their size. The same principle is still being used
for apportioning morning prayer time by the Estonian Radio now. The Estonian Council of
Churches also supports the Estonian Radio financially by paying the speakers' fees and the
editor's salary. Churches also support the organization of Christian radio work training days.
Using the interviews and the archives as a source, the thesis then gives a short account of the
work done by the editors contracted with the Estonian Council of Churches. The first editor
of religious programmes was Toivo Aare, the former chief editor of the newspaper Noorte
Haal, followed by Terje Soots and Ilona Hausmann in 1993. Contributions also came by
Mare Pihlak from Tartu studio now working as the chief editor of Pereraadio. In 1994, Jaan
Leppik commenced work as editor and coordinator of religious programmes, holding the post
until 2001.

The Estonian Radio also co-operated with the International Broadcasting Association (IBRA),
a mission organization of Swedish Pentecostal background, whose support enabled the
commencement of Christian evening programmes on Channel 3, named Stereoraadio, in
1993. Unable to cover its broadcasting expenses, the Estonian Radio was ready to close down
Channel 3 in 1993, which made IBRA's co-operation very welcome. It supported the
Estonian Radio financially by compensating the expenses of Channel 3 while Stereoraadio
broadcasted the Christian programme Raadio 7 in the evening hours. IBRA's interest for the
co-operation with the Estonian Radio emerged a few years before necessary trainings for
Christian radio work began in Sweden for Estonian Radio staff and ministers of different
Christian churches.
From 1997 onwards, the Estonian Radio also had a third co-operation partner, Lutheran Hour
Ministries Estonia. The aim of this organization, specified in the articles of association, was
to promote Christian values and principles via mass media in Estonia. The work of the
Lutheran Hour Ministries Estonia media centre included programmes both on Vikerraadio
and Klassikaraadio once a week, mostly financed by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,
USA. In 2003, the financing stopped and the media centre was closed down.
In co-operation with the Estonian Radio, the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church acted as
an intermediary for bringing usable radio studio equipment as humanitarian aid from
Germany. The Lutheran church also organized radio seminars in co-operation with the
Communication Committee for Lutheran Minority Churches in Europe (KALME) and invited
editors of Christian programmes to training sessions abroad. In 1991, the Estonian Radio
Mixed Choir recorded a selection of hymns from the new Lutheran Book of Praise and Prayer
which were later used in morning prayer programmes. The first church radio and television
broadcasting at Christmas 1988 was also one of the initiatives of the Estonian Evangelical
Lutheran Church.
The present Bachelor of Arts theses emphasized the key role of the Estonian Council of
Churches in partnership with the Estonian Radio in the production of Christian religious
programmes. It introduced different regularly transmitted radio programmes and their editors.
The study also described several programmes produced with support from Lutheran Hour
Ministries Estonia and IBRA and sought to understand the motives of the Estonian Radio for
including the above-mentioned organizations in the production of Christian radio
programmes. The study identified economic reasons as one possible motive and made a
proposal to develop a set of principles for co-operation with religious organizations. In future,
these principles would provide a necessary framework in a situation where the number of
people belonging to other religions besides Christianity increases in the society, making the
Estonian Council of Churches unable to provide for all potential target audiences.


As the frequency of choice for RFID devices rises into the microwave region, the problem of designing antennas to match the devices on the protected object becomes more acute. The objective of any such antenna must be to maximise the transfer of power into and out of the device on the protected object. This requires careful design to match the antenna to free space and to the following ASIC. The frequency bands considered in this paper are 435 MHz, 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz and the usage is for retail goods only. The major considerations in choosing an antenna are: the type of antenna; its impedance; RF performance when applied to the object; and RF performance when the object has other structures around it. Antennas which are omnidirectional should be avoided and, wherever possible, directional antennas should be used because they have the advantage of less disturbance to the radiation pattern and to the return loss. (5 pages)


It is very common to worry about the development of nationalities and culture. Worries about the decline in developed countries and those about survival in minority nationalities coexist. Minority nationalities are confronted with some difficulties. To shake off poverty and attain great development, both hard work and the state's support are needed; both rational help as well as concern in emotion are both necessary. 


Objective To investigate clinical value of cardiac troponin I(cTnI) levels in patients with chronic heart failure.Methods CTnI levels of 114 patients with chronic heart failure were checked.The correlation among cTnI and cardiac function,left ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac structure were analyzed.Results The cardiac function class Ⅳ in patients with CHF cTnI levels were significantly higher than class Ⅲ and class Ⅱ patients(t = 13.23,9.62,P 0.01),class Ⅲ patients′ cTnI level were significantly higher than that of class Ⅱ patients(t = 7.54,P 0.01),and LVEF40% patients′ cTnI levels were significantly higher than that of LVEF 40%-50%,LVEF50% patients(t=18.34,13.86,P 0.01).LAD and LVEDd in CTnI elevated group were significantly higher than those of the normal group(t = 6.54,7.45,P 0.01),and LVS,LVPW in normal group was significantly higher than elevated group,the difference was statistically significant(t = 16.54,8.78,P 0.01).Conclusion cTnI level can reflect cardiac function in patients with CHF,left ventricular ejection conditions and ventricular remodeling situation.It's worthy of promotion and application.


Principal components analysis (PCA) of remotely sensed satellite image data is a widely used method in mineral exploration. Generally, the method is used for iron oxide and hydroxyl mapping. In this study, however, the PCA method is adopted for borate exploration. This paper demonstrates how PCA of Landsat TM data can be used to map borate minerals. The method has been applied to the sub‐scene of Bigadic and tested on the borate field in Kirka, Turkey. Anomalous pixels for borate minerals in PC6 images have coincided with known borate deposits. Whether borate minerals are mapped into a PC image depends on the appearance of opposite signs in eigenvector loadings for TM4 and TM7 in one or more PCs. Borate coverage in an image is important to emphasize the appearance of opposite signs in eigenvector loadings for TM4 and TM7 in more than one PC.


Towards the end of 1960s there was a huge hippie movement which was marked as Turbulent Decade. In Britain the labor party gained power in 1964, in France the protests in 1968 forced president Charles de Gaulle to leave the country. For some people in Europe, May 1968 meant the end of traditional collective action and the beginning of a new era to be dominated mainly by different social movement emerging at that time throughout the world (Brinkley, 1997; Erlanger, 2008).  Harold Pinter's The Caretaker (1960) and Martin Amis' Money: The Suicide Note (1984) are embedded with violence and mistreatement among the main characters. With an attempt to reflect social dimensions of the society of that time, both novels deal with violence between very close people who have family or very close friendship ties. The Cartaker is the play in which people are portrayed as living on the edge, and are ready to accept any possibility at presented in order to fulfill their individual psychological needs . The Money is a novel about John Self, a film director, a man who makes deals, spends a lot of money, abuses alcohol, tobacco, pills, pornography, and as a result he is portrayed as extremely violent. This paper attempts to analyze the question of violence that is presented and described in these two works. More importantly, this paper uses socio-psychological approaches and the historical context in analyzing violence in these two works. An analysis of absurd and satirist worlds presented by Pinter and Amis is especially valuable because of their relevance for describing and tackling present-day violence in our societies.


The experimental analysis of three-dimensional (3D) movement is of great importance to introduce students to knowledge of the actual physical world. However, the difficulties of collecting 3D data make it little suitable for beginner physics students. In this work, we propose an experiment to analyse 3D motion in stationary and rotating systems. A projectile is launched from a rotating platform. The tracking of the projectile is carried out with the assistance of a stereoscopic camera and simplified object tracking techniques. The experiment can be modelled through the well-known transformation equations between an inertial reference system and a non-inertial one with constant angular velocity. The simplicity of the method and the agreement between the experimental data and the theoretical model make the experiment accessible to undergraduate physics students. In this way, they can easily measure a 3D movement and verify its theoretical equations.


We use state-of-the-art measurements of the galaxy luminosity function (LF) at z=6, 7, and 8 to derive constraints on warm dark matter (WDM), late-forming dark matter, and ultralight axion dark matter models alternative to the cold dark matter (CDM) paradigm. To this purpose, we have run a suite of high-resolution N-body simulations to accurately characterize the low-mass end of the halo mass function and derive dark matter (DM) model predictions of the high-z luminosity function. In order to convert halo masses into UV magnitudes, we introduce an empirical approach based on halo abundance matching, which allows us to model the LF in terms of the amplitude and scatter of the ensemble average star formation rate halo mass relation, ⟨SFR(Mh,z)⟩, of each DM model. We find that, independent of the DM scenario, the average SFR at fixed halo mass increases from z=6 to 8, while the scatter remains constant. At halo mass Mh≳1012 M⊙  h−1, the average SFR as a function of halo mass follows a double power law trend that is common to all models, while differences occur at smaller masses. In particular, we find that models with a suppressed low-mass halo abundance exhibit higher SFR compared to the CDM results. Thus, different DM models predict a different faint-end slope of the LF which causes the goodness of fit to vary within each DM scenario for different model parameters. Using deviance statistics, we obtain a lower limit on the WDM thermal relic particle mass, mWDM≳1.5  keV at 2σ. In the case of LFDM models, the phase transition redshift parameter is bounded to zt≳8×105 at 2σ. We find ultralight axion dark matter best-fit models with axion mass ma≳1.6×10-22  eV to be well within 2σ of the deviance statistics. We remark that measurements at z=6 slightly favor a flattening of the LF at faint UV magnitudes. This tends to prefer some of the non-CDM models in our simulation suite, although not at a statistically significant level to distinguish them from CDM.


We propose a parallel plate slot array antenna fed by a rectangular coaxial line, which can dispense with perfect electrical contact between the bottom plate of the parallel plate and the rectangular coaxial line. We adopt hard walls at the both side walls of the parallel plate in order to maintain a quasi-transverse electromagnetic (TEM) wave. We design the antenna in the 5GHz band. The calculated bandwidth for VSWR less than 1.5 is 3.0%, and the antenna efficiency is 70.6% at 4.89 GHz.


1. Languages of the Amazon: a bird's eye view 2. Language contact in Amazonia 3. The sounds of Amazonia 4. Building words 5. The multifaceted noun 6. The versatile verb 7. Who does what to whom: grammatical relations 8. Changing valency 9. How to know things: evidentials in Amazonia 10. Reflecting the world around: genders, noun classes, and classifiers 11. 'We can't say it with one word': multiverb constructions 12. Putting a sentence together 13. The art of speech 14. Finale: the treasures of Amazonian languages Glossary of terms References Index of authors Index of languages, linguistic families, and areas Index of subjects


B ECAUSE of its inherent capability of producing thrust without using any propellant consumption, a solar sail is a particularly attractive option for the generation of so-called artificial equilibrium points (AEPs). These points are of great interest for mission applications because the spacecraft can be used to provide new vantage points for scientific observation [1]. Interesting positions for AEPs are those placed along the segment connecting the two primaries in the neighborhood of the classicalL1 Lagrange point. For example, in the sun-(Earth+moon) system, these L1-type AEPs have been suggested as useful locations for space weather observation missions [2] or for geoengineering missions [3,4]. Because L1-type AEPs are intrinsically unstable [5], a suitable control strategy is required to maintain their desired location. This problem has been addressedwith different approaches, whichmainly consider either a pitch and yaw-angle control, or a solar sail area variation [6]. However, both solutions present some drawbacks. A substantial simplification of the control problem is obtained when the solar sail attitude is maintained fixed, in a passive way, using a conically shaped structure [7]. The propulsive thrust is therefore always in the sun–spacecraft direction, but it can be modulated by varying, within a limited range, the ratio of the solar radiation pressure acceleration to the solar gravitational acceleration, that is, the sail lightness number β. Such a solution is commonly referred to as β control. The original idea of a β control applied to a solar-sail-based mission toward an L1-type AEP is due to Biggs and McInnes [4]. An interesting implementation of a β control makes use of electrochromic material panels (EMPs) [8]. These materials have already been employed in space missions, notably for the attitude control of the Japanese solar sail demonstrator interplanetary kitecraft accelerated by radiation of the sun (IKAROS) [9,10]. The aim of this Note is to explore the capabilities of the emerging EMP technology for the active stabilization of L1-type AEPs using a square solar sail with a fixed attitude. The problem is addressed within an elliptic restricted framework, which is a more realistic model with respect to the classical circular case [4]. The main spacecraft parameters, including the sail side and the total spacecraft mass, are defined by means of a simplified mathematical model, as a function of the main mission requirements in terms of maximum allowed sail lightness number variation and AEP position.


tag=1 data=Re-engineering as a management practice. by Dr Michael L. Barrett

tag=2 data=Barrett, Michael L.

tag=3 data=Management,

tag=6 data=April 1994

tag=7 data=5-11.

tag=8 data=MANAGEMENT

tag=9 data=TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

tag=10 data=Why does your organisation unit exist? What value does your unit provide and how do your customers measure that value?

tag=11 data=1994/6/4

tag=12 data=94/0310

tag=13 data=CAB


The study aims to investigate the effects of using mind maps and concept maps on students' learning of concepts in science courses. A total of 51 students participated in this study which used a quasi-experimental research design with pre-test/post-test control groups. The constructivist-inspired study was carried out in the sixth-grade science course unit of 'Light and Sound' in a primary school with two experimental groups and one control group. The intervention was held in the experimental group 1 by using technology-assisted technique of mind mapping, in the experimental group 2 by using technology-assisted technique of concept mapping, and in the control group by means of traditional classroom instruction. After the intervention in the experimental groups, concept tests and open-ended questions related to the unit were used as post-tests. According to the data obtained from concept tests, it was found out that all groups' understanding of concepts was equivalent. Significantly, students in the experimental group 2 reported positive opinions, stating that learning through concept maps was useful and engaging.


Anewfraternaltwinoceanobservingsystemsimulationexperiment(OSSE)systemisvalidatedinaGulfof Mexico domain. It is the first ocean system that takes full advantage of design criteria and rigorous evaluation procedures developed to validate atmosphere OSSE systems that have not been fully implemented for the ocean. These procedures are necessary to determine a priori that the OSSE system does not overestimate or underestimate observing system impacts. The new system consists of 1) a nature run (NR) stipulated to represent the true ocean, 2) a data assimilation system consisting of a second ocean model (the ''forecast model'') coupled to a new ocean data assimilation system, and 3) software to simulate observations from the NR and to add realistic errors. The system design is described to illustrate the requirements of a validated OSSE system. The chosen NR reproduces the climatology and variability of ocean phenomena with sufficient realism. Although the same ocean model type is used (the ''fraternal twin'' approach), the forecast model is configured differently so that it approximately satisfies the requirement that differences (errors) with respect to the NR grow at the same rate as errors that develop between state-of-the-art ocean models and the true ocean. Rigorous evaluation procedures developed for atmospheric OSSEs are then applied by first performingobservingsystemexperiments(OSEs)toevaluateoneormoreexistingobservingsystems.OSSEsare thenperformedthatareidenticalexceptfortheassimilation ofsyntheticobservationssimulatedfromtheNR. Very similar impact assessments were realized between each OSE–OSSE pair, thus validating the system without the need for calibration.


This paper describes the author's work with three transgender and/or gender expansive patients. The treatments took place at various times over the past twenty years and are presented chronologically. The author, a cisgender analyst, shows how her thinking and her interactions with her patients have changed. In a sense, the analyst is also transitioning as her thoughts and feelings about her gender expansive patients shift. The importance of moving outside of traditional ways of thinking about gender is emphasized, as is the danger of seeking linear, formulaic answers to why a gender-variant patient does not feel at home in their body.


A parametric loudspeaker is known as a super directional loudspeaker by using nonlinear interaction between high power ultrasounds in air. The parametric loudspeaker is one of the prominent applications of nonlinear acoustics. So far, we had conducted the listening test that the parametric loudspeaker reproduced left and right signals with binaural information. The characteristics of the sound localization with the upper and lower parametric loudspeakers in the vertical direction were investigated by the results of listening tests. The vertical direction of sound localization was able to be controlled when the acoustical axis was set to the right ear. The results were similar as in using ordinary loudspeakers. It was found that the left-right sound localization could be realized only with the upper and lower parametric loudspeakers. By setting the parametric loudspeaker the right ear, that is by setting it only 3 degrees rightward, the direction of sound localization moved about 10 degrees rightward. In o...


During service at high temperature or in aggressive media, metallic structures and components may suffer changes such as phase transformations or second phase precipitation, as a consequence of which the mechanical and chemical properties of the structures may change. Their performance will thus differ from that considered for the design of the component. A knowledge of the amount of a second phase precipitated in a component should be an important tool in the hands of the maintenance engineer, and more so if this information could be obtained by reliable non-destructive testing. Eddy current testing is an adequate method for these assessments, dedicated equipment being available from different vendors. Normal inspection procedures for these devices, however, require the specimen be thick as compared with skin depth. In order to be able to calculate conductivity of specimens not complying the latter condition, a model of the impedance plane was programmed in a PC, taking into account the effect of specimen thickness. Suitable calibrations would allow for the non-destructive assessment of the amount of second phases or alloying elements present in a material. One possible application is the assessment of hydrogen content in reactor components such as pressure and calandria tubes, information which will enable the experts to predict the degree offragilisation of those components. This type of tests should be a natural complement to the normal inspection procedures, which search for cracks and blisters.


Objective To study the effects of Calar light-curing calcium hydroxide pulp-capping material on the recalcification of decalcified dentin.Methods Using Calar light-curing calcium hydroxide as a padding on the decayed faces of artificial caries of isolated teeth.After one month microsclerometer was used to measure the hardness of dentin.While padding calcium hydroxide and zinc oxide as controls.Results The microhardness of Calar light-curing calcium hydroxide was not significantly different from that of calcium hydroxide(P0.05),but was greater than zinc oxide(P0.05).Conclusion Calar light-curing calcium hydroxide is a padding with recalcification.


A novel algorithm is proposed for displaying 3D voxel-based binary objects encoded as octrees. It traverses an octree recursively in a front-to-back (FfB) order determined by a given viewing direction and produces a depth image by scan-converting the visible portion of faces of black octants encountered during the traversal. The algorithm is efficient because many obscured nodes are never visited and many obscured faces of partially visible black octants are not processed during the scan-conversion phase. The key to the algorithm is a new technique termed blocking quadtrees, that enables the node visibility test to be performed efficiently and thus minimizes the overhead cost. Complexity analysis and experimental results show that the new algorithm is much faster than the traditional back-tofront (BTF) approach [3] . A 55-79% time reduction is achieved for a 3D 2563 medical image that requires a reasonable amount of extra memory space for storing the blocking quad trees (64 KB for a 256 image).


The integration of digital technologies is changing the way organizations operate and deliver value. Digitizing operations may replace manual work through increased automation, but it may also enable smarter execution of workflows thereby augmenting human work. Evaluating the level and reach of these three pillars--digitization, automation, and smart--across the organization's value chain provides a diagnostic tool that can inspire future desired directions of digitization.


Abstract The last fifty years mark a period of great change in the role of religious leadership and education in the Sultanate of Oman. The country moved from bifurcated leadership between an Imam and a Sultan to a single political authority. These decades also witnessed the modernisation of the state. These factors combined to reshape the place of religion and religious education in society. Whereas previously religious leaders had relative autonomy and more direct political influence, now they were brought under the auspices of the government with their focus circumscribed to religious matters. The structures and foci of religious education were then reshaped so that tradition provided a platform for progress and the more zealous ideologies emerging in the region could be held at bay. This has permitted Oman to modernise and engage with a global society in an amicable, non-sectarian, manner.


We discuss the holographic reconstruction of static thin bubble walls in Banados, Teitelboim, and Zanelli (BTZ) black hole geometries. We consider two reconstruction prescriptions suggested in recent years: hole-ography and light-cone cuts, in the context of thin bubble walls, and comment on their applicability in the presence of nontrivial matter in the bulk. We find that while the light-cone cuts prescription goes through within its own limitations, the current hole-ographic approaches are inadequate to describe bubble spacetimes completely. Much as entanglement shadows found around BTZ black holes and conical defects in the bulk, we find that thin bubbles are accompanied by shadows of their own, which are regions of spacetime that are only partially probed by minimal geodesics. We speculate that such shadows might be a generic feature of the presence of matter in the bulk.


Cardiac glycosides exert a positive inotropic effect by inhib- iting sodium pump (Na,K-ATPase) activity, decreasing the driving force for Na 1 -Ca 11 exchange, and increasing cellu- lar content and release of Ca 11 during depolarization. Since the inotropic response will be a function of the level of ex- pression of sodium pumps, which are ab heterodimers, and of Na 1 -Ca 11 exchangers, this study aimed to determine the regional pattern of expression of these transporters in the heart. Immunoblot assays of homogenate from atria, ventri- cles, and septa of 14 nonfailing human hearts established expression of Na,K-ATPase a 1, a 2, a 3, b 1, and Na 1 -Ca 11 exchangers in all regions. Na,K-ATPase b 2 expression is negligible, indicating that the human cardiac glycoside re- ceptors are a 1 b 1,, a 2 b 1, and a 3 b 1. a 3, b 1, sodium pump activity, and Na 1 -Ca 11 exchanger levels were 30-50% lower in atria compared to ventricles and/or septum; differ- ences between ventricles and septum were insignificant. Functionally, the EC 50 of the sodium channel activator BDF 9148 to increase force of contraction was lower in atria than ventricle muscle strips (0.36 vs. 1.54 m M). These results de- fine the distribution of the cardiac glycoside receptor iso- forms in the human heart and they demonstrate that atria have fewer sodium pumps, fewer Na 1 -Ca 11 exchangers, and enhanced sensitivity to inotropic stimulation compared to ventricles. ( J. Clin. Invest. 1996. 98:1650-1658.) Key words: Na,K-ATPasecardiac contractilitydigitalis re- ceptorBDF 9148


IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY MAINTENANCE BUDGETS, THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE IN 1969 PASSED A BILL REQUIRING SOME OF THE STATE AGENCIES TO SUBMIT THEIR BUDGETS IN THE PROGRAM FORMAT. THE PROGRAM FORMAT OR BUDGET IS A MEANS OF PROJECTING COSTS BY ANALYZING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES, FOR EXAMPLE SURFACE REPAIR OR VEGETATION CONTROL. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS USED IN DETERMINING THE PROGRAM BUDGET ARE DESCRIBED: (1) QUALITY STANDARDS--CAN BE DEFINED AS ONE PART OR AS PARTS OF A MAINTENANCE OPERATION: LEVEL OF SERVICE; THE DEGREE OF PERFECTION REQUIRED; THE REQUIRED FREQUENCY; AND THE PERMISSIBLE LEVEL OF DETERIORATION. (2) QUANTITY STANDARDS -- CAN BE DEFINED AS THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE WORK REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE QUALITY STANDARD FOR A SPECIFIC OPERATION. (3) PRODUCTIVITY STANDARDS -- CAN BE DEFINED AS THE AMOUNT OF MAN-HOURS IT TAKES TO COMPLETE A GIVEN OPERATION.


Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch. is a dominant shrub in large areas of active and stabilized sandy desert of northwest China. Achenes of A. sphaerocephala are very small and light. The morphology and structure of this achene was observed under a dissecting microscope and S.E.M. The seed coat and pericarp are concrescent while the outmost layers of the pericarp are covered by a layer which becomes mucilaginous when wetted and increases in weight 589 times by absorbing water. In the natural habitat, the mucilaginous layer holds sand particles to the achene thereby increasing the achene weight even further. These achenes can float on water for a long time, and the mucilage mass facilitates the seed germination and seedling development. A. sphaerocephala produces achenes in three colors that germinate at different rates but reach the same final germination percentages. We conclude that the mucilage layer of A. sphaerocephala achenes plays an important ecological function in seed dispersal and germination.


Objective To observe the impact of Rosiglitazone on the blood sugar,inflammatory factors and insulin resistance influence of onset of type 2 diabetes,and further to explore mechanism of the control of blood glucose and improve insulin resistance,anti-inflammatory for type 2 diabetes.Methods 64 cases of patients with type 2 diabetes from January 2009 to January 2012 in Daqing Longnan hospital in Heilongjiang Province were selected,and they were randomly divided into observation group(Rosiglitazone) and the control group(Metformin) according to the random number table,each group had 32 cases.FBG,2 h PG,HbA 1c,HOMA-IR,inflammatory cytokines TNF-α,IL-6 changes in circumstances were compared between the two groups before treatment and after treatment for 12 weeks,24 weeks.Results The FBG,2 h PG,HbA 1c,HOMA-IR,inflammatory cytokines TNF-α,IL-6 after treatment 12 weeks or after treatment 24 weeks in the observation group was significantly lower than before treatment,and those after treatment 24 weeks compared to a previous point in time after 12 weeks of treatment were significantly reduced,and the observation group was reduced more significantly compared with the control group,and there were statistically significant differences(P 0.05).Conclusion Rosiglitazone is not only to reduce blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes,but also can reduce the inflammatory state and improve the function of pancreatic β cells,which should be popularized and applied.


The properties of the nonlinear output and input grating couplers are analyzed by using the singular perturbation technique with the multiple space scales. We first introduce the perturbation parameter concerned with the nonlinear parameter and the grating depth. After the wave functions are expanded, the perturbation solutions to satisfy the equivalent boundary conditions are derived. From the solvability condition to have nontrivial solutions on each perturbation order, the nonlinear equations to describe the power leakage of the guided wave due to the second-order coupling to the first-order waves are obtained. The dependence of the radiated field and the input efficiency on the power are discussed numerically. >


The concrete cover cracking caused by non-uniform corrosion of reinforcing bar is one of the most important reason for structure service performance degradation. The most widely used electrochemical accelerated corrosion methods include external and internal electrode methods. The reinforcement are used as anode in both methods. The different between two methods is the position of auxiliary. In external electrode method, the auxiliary is set outside the specimen, including three methods, i.e. samples whole/part submerged in saline, samples wrapped by sponge and steel mesh. The electrochemical mechanism of these four accelerated method were analyzed by using the FE software COMSOL. According to the corrosion products distribution characteristic along the rebar circumference, the similarity of electrochemical accelerated and natural corrosion was presented. The results indicated that, rebar corrosion with external electrode method can be regarded as uniform corrosion; the internal electrode method could result in a non-uniform corrosion after optimizing, and the orientation and distance of rebar/electrode are two major influence parameters for accelerated non-uniform corrosion. In addition, based on the corrosion electrochemical principles, a modified internal electrode method was given. The stainless wire was put into the cylinder samples parallel to the rebar as a cathode. In present study, the rapid non-uniform corrosion method can play a positive role in studying the cover cracking process of reinforced concrete.


Support vector machines(SVM) may perform poorly in the presence of noise variables; in addition, it is difficult to identify the importance of each variable in the resulting classifier. A feature selection can improve the interpretability and the accuracy of SVM. Most existing studies concern feature selection in the linear SVM through penalty functions yielding sparse solutions. Note that one usually adopts nonlinear kernels for the accuracy of classification in practice. Hence feature selection is still desirable for nonlinear SVMs. In this paper, we compare the performances of nonlinear feature selection methods such as component selection and smoothing operator(COSSO) and kernel iterative feature extraction(KNIFE) on simulated and real data sets.


THE Permanent Wheat and Barley plots were laid down in Stackyard Field at Woburn in 1876 and carried their respective crops without intermission until 1926. In the latter year a two-year fallow was started, the plots were left entirely uncropped during this period, and they were resown with their appropriate cereal in the season 1928-9. The cropping was then continued for five years, but without any further addition of manures, and the plots were then again allowed to remain fallow for two more years. This last period of fallowing has allowed a careful study of the weed herbage which grew on the plots at various times of the year, for the land was scuffled and the weeds destroyed after about every two months during the growing season. As there was no fresh addition of manures, and no cropping, while the treatment in other respects had been and was similar, the differences in the herbage would seem to be the result of the differences in the manures during the previous fifty years. In other words, a soil has been prepared by means of the long-continued addition of manures which has, in each case, its own characters, and these are illustrated by the herbage which now grows on the land. The whole weed-seed population of these plots has been studied by Brenchley & Warington (4) in the first fallow in 1927, by taking samples from the plots and counting the plants that appear when the soils are placed in favourable conditions for germination during about three years. These results enable the total number of seeds of each of the weeds to be ascertained, the period of the year when they most frequently germinate, and the length of time they may be expected to remain in the soil before germination. There seemed, however, a need to supplement their description by a study of the actual weeds that appeared in the field, with each previous soil treatment, at the different times of the year, and of the way in which such appearance was affected by fallowing. It has not been possible to make a study of the vegetation on as many plots as was done by Brenchley & Warington, and regular examinations and counts have been made only after ten different treatments. In addition to this, notes based on eye observations have been made at intervals throughout the period to which the present study refers, chiefly in relation to the perennial weeds. Further, only the principal weeds have been considered, and there are many which occur only rarely which have been


Having in mind the importance of segmental duration from the perceptual point of view, the possibility of automatic prediction of natural duration of phones is essential for achieving the naturalness of synthetic speech. In this paper various machine learning techniques were used for phone duration modeling of the Serbian language. In this paper different phone duration models for the Serbian language using linear regression, tree-based algorithms and meta-learning algorithms such as additive regression, bagging and stacking algorithm are presented. Phone duration models have been developed for the full phoneme set of the Serbian language as well as for vowels and consonants separately. A large speech corpus and a feature set of 21 parameters describing phones and their contexts were used for segmental duration prediction. These features have been extracted from the large speech database for the Serbian language. The phone duration model obtained using additive regression method outperformed the other models developed for the Serbian language which are also presented in this paper. The results obtained for the full phoneme set as well as for consonants and vowels are comparable with or even outperform those reported in the literature for Czech, Greek, English, Lithuanian, Korean, Turkish and Indian languages Hindi and Telugu.


Acombination of high temperature and low temperature hot rolling has successfully been used to prepare 3-layer laminated composite strips based on Ultra High Carbon Steel (UHCS)and Mild Steel (MS), having good interfacial bonding, no profuse carbon diffusion across the interface and fine spheroidized structure. Noelectron beamwelding of the starting UHCSand MSplates at the edges wasnecessary. It has been shownthat high temperature '/• elongation at fracture dependsupon the volume fraction of UHCSin the composite strip. Despite a relatively high strain rate sensitivity value, a 70"/* elongation has been observed for the 3-layer UHCS-MS composite strip having 0.7 volume fraction of UHCSat 670'C and 3x I0-4sec~1 strain rate. Although the UHCSIayers exhibit superplastic behaviour at the chosen experimental conditions, the MSIayer do not. This results in extensive damagein the MSIayer leading to premature failure of the composite strip.


The invention relates to a method for analyzing an integrated circuit comprising: - a step (102) for applying laser radiation at a point on the surface of the circuit; - a step (106) energizing the circuit and subjected to laser radiation by applying an electric excitation signal; - a step (106) of collection of the response of the circuit to the excitation subjected to laser radiation, - a step (106) for measuring the difference phase between the response to the excitation of the circuit subjected to laser radiation and a reference circuit response in the absence of laser radiation applied to circuit.L'invention also relates to a method and associated observing installation.


Compartmentalized microfluidic culture systems provide new perspectives in in vitro disease modelling as they enable co-culture of different relevant cell types in interconnected but fluidically isolated microenvironments. Such systems are thus particularly interesting in the context of in vitro modelling of mechanistic aspects of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which progressively affect the function of neuromuscular junctions, as they enable the co-culture of motor neurons and muscle cells in separate, but interconnected compartments. In combination with cell reprogramming technologies for the generation of human (including patient-specific) motor neurons, microfluidic platforms can thus become important research tools in preclinical studies. In this study, we present the application of a microfluidic chip with a differentially-perturbable microenvironment as a platform for establishing functional neuromuscular junctions using human induced pluripotent stem cell derived motor neurons and human myotubes. As a novel approach, we demonstrate the functionality of the platform using a designer pseudotyped ΔG-rabies virus for retrograde monosynaptic tracing. Graphical abstract Functional neuromuscular junction in a microfluidic chip (a) Overview of microfluidic chip. Human iPS cell-derived motor neuron aggregates (spheroids indicated by black arrows) are seeded in the three lateral compartments of the chip, while human myotubes (white arrows) are seeded in the middle compartment. (b) Directed connectivity and retrograde virus tracing. Outgrowing axons (yellow arrow) from the motor neuron aggregate enter the directional axon tunnels (grey rectangles) and form connections with the myotubes (white arrow) within the opposite compartment. Addition of a designer monosynaptic pseudotyped ΔG-rabies virus to the myotube compartment, infects the myotubes (green) expressing an exogenous receptor (TVA) and rabies glycoprotein (G), subsequently making infectious viruses that are retrogradely transported through the motor neuron axons (green arrow) back to the neuronal cell bodies within the aggregate, validating neuromuscular junction functionality.


The growing interest in the development of nanoplasmonic devices demands theoretical techniques with sufficient predictive accuracy to understand the processes of light-matter interaction at the nanoscale. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is one of the methods of choice. However, when applying TDDFT to the study of the electromagnetic response at metallic nanostructures the ionic structure is often neglected and replaced by a homogeneous jellium background or by an unstructured effective potential. In order to understand the actual impact of the atomic structure, we have studied in detail one of the paradigmatic cases in nanoplasmonics: the hybridization of localized surface plasmons in a metallic-cluster dimer [1], as well as the photoinduced current between the clusters [2]. Although the main trends can be explained using a jellium description of the system, the atomic structure has a strong impact in the results, thus becoming as important as other well-known quantum corrections to the plasmonic response.


We apply the supergraph with spurion technique to compute the renormalization of one-loop diagrams that contributes to electron and selectron self energies in a softly broken Supersymmetric Quantum Electrodynamics (SQED). In particular, we calculate the one-loop gauge superfield contribution to the two-point function.


Cation–aromatic database (CAD) is a publicly available web‐based database that aims to provide further understanding of interaction between a cation and the π interactions. A tool to identify the interactions in a user‐given protein is also added to the database. CAD is freely accessible via the Internet at http://22.214.171.124/gnsmmg/databases/cad/ Proteins 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Smith & Bailey (2017 a ) have raised concerns over the methodologies we applied for time series analysis in our study of the cyclic Devonian lacustrine deposits of northern Scotland (Andrews et al. 2016). Similar concerns have been raised on a number of occasions for similar studies (Bailey et al. 2009 on Kemp & Coe 2007; Smith & Bailey 2017 c on Howe et al. 2016; Smith et al. …


Researches the transverse vibrations of the cable in the area where the insulation is applied to it. The considered mathematical model takes into account a wide range of factors affecting the oscillations: longitudinal motion, variable bending stiffness, environmental resistance, cable tension. The object belongs to a wide range of one-dimensional objects with moving boundaries. Moving boundaries complicate the description of such objects. The article introduces new variables that stop the boundaries. In this paper, using the Galerkin method, a fourth-order algebraic equation is obtained, which makes it possible to obtain two first natural frequencies of cable oscillations. The considered methods of statement and solution of the problem allow to solve the problems arising in the study of oscillations of objects with moving boundaries. Results can be used to ensure reliable operation of the technological installation for the manufacture of cables.


The overwhelming trend in new hospital design is for single bedrooms. As Pennington rightly points out, single rooms increase privacy and allow for better sleep, as well as helping in the fight against infections.1 However, they can lead to isolation and necessitate different practices or systems for monitoring safety. Whether we choose single or multi-bed rooms in our hospitals, what is missing …


The laser glazing rapid solidification can make the dendrite refined and reduce the segregation of alloying elements,so it is very favorable to mechanical properties of alloys,e.g.,the fatigue life of Ni-based superalloy can be prolonged by laser surface melting process due to improved resistance to stress corrosion cleavage.The laser surface melting process can be used for modification of surface or repair of casting defects(such as surface porosity,surface stray grains) in single crystal components.Recently,this technique has become an attractive research subject with latent application. A successful laser glazing rapid solidification to single-crystal should ensure the preservation of the single-crystal nature,i.e.,the re-solidified surface layer needs to be epitactic with the substrate.The microstructure after laser re-solidification is closely related to the processing parameters,however, the relationship between microstructure and re-solidification conditions or processing parameters is not well understood and needs further study.In the present work,the microstructure of laser glazing solidified Ni-based single crystal DD8 was investigated by OM,SEM as well as TEM.The results show that the surface width of the melted pool becomes narrow with an increase of scanning rate, so the melted pool has a relatively high interface/volume ratio which leads to a higher cooling rate. The primary dendrite arm spacing decreases with an increase of cooling rate,and gradually reaches a minimum about only 3μm,which is two orders of magnitude smaller than that of the untreated part of alloy.EDXA shows that the dendritic segregation is not obvious and the chemical compositions tend to be homogeneous after re-solidification,which is caused by the higher solidification rate and related partition coefficients of alloying elements.The solidified structures are composed of the quasiplane front,cellular and fine dendrites from substrate to surface of melted pool.The structures in the regions of the quasi-plane front and cellular consist ofγ-solid solution and dispersiveγ' precipitates with about 20 nm in size.In the regions of the cellular-dendrite and the dendrite,however,there is a eutectic structure with a higher Ti content in the interdendrites.These eutectic structures are small in size and look like leaves.In the transition region,bothγandγ'-phases are not completely melted,and there are some dislocations distributed on the interfaces of theγ'-phase particles induced by thermal stress betweenγandγ' phases at higher cooling rate.The unmeltedγ' particles can act as nuclei of the second precipitatedγ' phases which have a size of about 10 nm and a pile-up-like morphology.


The democratic Government of South Africa inherited a healthcare system that was fragmented and inequitable. The Department of Health was mandated by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to implement a system whereby quality, affordable healthcare could become available to all citizens of the country within the constraints of the available resources. The objective of government, through reform legislation, is to establish a social health insurance (SHI) system for the country which will ultimately lead to the implementation of a national health insurance (NHI) system in order to achieve universal coverage. Medical schemes have been identified as an important component of this transformation process. The private healthcare industry, represented largely by medical schemes, acknowledges that SHI is the ideal pathway chosen by government to achieve universal coverage, but is concerned with the process being used to achieve this aim, the pace at which transformation is occurring, and the effect of this on medical schemes. The movement towards an equitable healthcare system required the introduction of reform legislation necessary for the establishment of an enabling environment. The implementation of community rating, open enrolment and prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) reforms, succeeded in ending the risk-rating of those medical schemes that were excluding members who were considered vulnerable. However, these legislations were not followed by a risk equalisation mechanism in the form of a proposed risk equalisation fund (REF) for the South African environment. The main purpose of this fund is to ensure that equity within the medical schemes industry is maintained through the equalisation of the risks that had resulted from the implementation of the first components of reform legislation. The research into the experiences of other countries shows that South Africa is


Medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs) account for 25%−40% of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). While mechanical thrombectomy is the standard-of-care for selected patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO), there is currently a lack of level I evidence of the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment (EVT) for MeVOs. Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have attempted to answer this relevant clinical question. However, several questions related to the EVT of MeVO stroke may remain unanswered even after successful completion of these trials: What is the optimal EVT approach for secondary MeVOs? Is EVT beneficial for posterior circulation MeVOs? Is pre-EVT intravenous thrombolysis better than EVT alone? What is the optimal first line thrombectomy technique for these lesions? Are the outcome assessment tools used for LVOs appropriate for MeVOs? Upcoming evidence and the natural evolution and development of new technologies will aid in overcoming these challenges.


The viability of using rule-based systems for part-of-speech tagging was revitalised when a simple rule-based tagger was presented by Brill (1992). This tagger is based on an algorithm which automatically derives transformation rules from a corpus, using an error-driven approach. In addition to performing on par with state of the art stochastic systems for part-of-speech tagging, it has the advantage that the automatically derived rules can be presented in a human-readable format. In spite of its strengths, the Brill tagger is quite language dependent, and performs much better on languages similar to English than on languages with richer morphology. This issue is addressed in this paper through defining rule templates automatically with a search that is optimised using Genetic Algorithms. This allows the Brill GA-tagger to search a large search space for templates which in turn generate rules which are appropriate for various target languages, which has the added advantage of removing the need for researchers to define rule templates manually. The Brill GA-tagger performs significantly better (p < 0.001) than the standard Brill tagger on all 9 target languages (Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, Slovene, Portuguese, English, Dutch, Swedish and Icelandic), with an error rate reduction of between 2% – 15% for each language.


A silver lamella was found in Aquincum (1927/28), in a burial site which could be easily dated to the latest Trajan or early Hadrian era, but it was published defectively, misread and misinterpreted. Several attempts at re-interpretation in the 1990s and 2000s succeeded only partially. The reading I propose contains distinct textual units beginning with characters (among them hieroglyphs), and a Coptic magical logos (παχνουφις). In my opinion, the phylacterion was meant to give protection in the next world, and the writer of the spell was well acquainted with the Egyptian magical traditions.


An essential consideration while choosing a vacation site is visitor safety and security. As this industry has expanded, there
have been recurring issues with safety and security. At numerous popular tourist spots, problems with eve teasing, overcharging,
duping, robbery, etc. have been reported. The public awareness-raising efforts have been made in the past, yet the difficulties still
exist. This paper aims to analyze the factors which affect tourism safety, so that a system could be created to provide a solution
to this problem..


Isoprenoids constitute an important class of biomolecules that participate in many different cellular processes. Most available detection methods only allow the identification of one or two specific non-sterol isoprenoid intermediates following radioactive or fluorescent labeling. We here report a rapid, non-radioactive and sensitive procedure for the simultaneous detection and quantification of the 8 main non-sterol intermediates of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway by means of tandem mass spectrometry. Intermediates were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using a silica-based C 18 HPLC column. For quantification, their stable-isotope-labeled analogues were used as internal standards. HepG2 cells were used to validate the method. Mevalonate, phosphomevalonate and the 6 subsequent isoprenoid-pyrophosphates were readily determined with detection limits ranging from 0.03 to 1.0 μ mol/L. The intra- and interassay variations for HepG2 cell homogenates supplemented with isoprenoid intermediates were 3.6–10.9% and 4.4–11.9%, respectively. Under normal culturing conditions, isoprenoid intermediates in HepG2 cells were below detection limits. However, incubation of the cells with pamidronate, an inhibitor of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, resulted in increased levels of MVA, IPP/DMAPP and GPP. This method will be suitable to measure profiles of isoprenoid intermediates in cells with compromised isoprenoid biosynthesis, and to determine the specificity of potential inhibitors of the pathway.


Growth and development of companies and economy in global business may be expected through innovation, new technologies, creativity, knowledge-based economy, investing in knowledge management and projects whose objectives are an ongoing development of learners, learning organizations and distance learning. Distance learning increasingly attracts attention of universities, companies and analysts who deal with modern technologies, management of human resources and skills, learning strategies, learners` achievements, and individual differences of users of these systems. The subject of this paper is to identify areas of distance learning which recognize the need for research and analysis, in order to shed light on essential aspects of problems in distance learning and test certain solutions. The paper offers an example realized by implementation of the Delphi method, as well as two case studies from Serbia field research and experiment. The research and analyses, through previous categorizing and allocation and emphasizing of current topical areas, provide the ability to predict perspectives in which this area could further develop, with the aim of more effective and more efficient learning and higher quality achievements. Keywords—distance learning, electronic learning, achievement, research approaches, Delphi method, experiment, knowledge management.


Provides constant velocity joint, the constant velocity joint, the outer race having a bore with an inner surface, and a cage disposed in the bore of the outer race, the inner race having an outer surface, a plurality of which are arranged in a cage balls and includes a shaft which is connected to the inner race. Cage, with the outer race, inner race, ball, the mutual relationship, such as alignment life-and-death support the cage. Cage, between the outer race and the inner race through the zero angle position and the high angular position of the shaft, or between the inner race, or keep the unsupported between the outer race.


In order to define consumer acceptance by texture analysis, the variables that affect quality of beef cuts for canning are analyzed by instrumental and sensory methods. Five beef cuts, commonly used by consumers, are selected, characterized and evaluated, so as to subject them to cooking, mincing and canning in tin containers, then, commercial sterilization in two levels of thermal treatment (F0=8 and F0=20), to 121°C; and 20 pounds of pressure, with 5 repetitions, is carried out. This procedure is aimed to determinate which of the five cuts offer a better response regarding to texture, costs and yield. The cuts used are: Muscle Romboides or "Huevo de Solomo", Cutaneous of Trunk or Sobrebarriga, Supraespinoso or Sabaleta, Biceps Femoral or Posta, Dorsal Broad or Great Dorsal, its commercial name is "Punta de Espaldilla". All beef cuts are analyzed by expert and non-trained judges in the Sensorial Analysis of Food Laboratory at the University of Antioquia. A Texturometer is used to measure the applied force upon beef cuts. Additionally, costs, yield of cuts, microbiological quality and the test of commercial sterility are also evaluated in tins incubated at 37°C and 55 °C, for the defined F0 values. The statistical correlation among the Sensorial and Instrumental Analysis shows that the best cut for mincing and sterilizing corresponds to "Espaldilla" following a thermal treatment of 16 minutes to 121°C, and 20 pounds of pressure, since it offers a lower cost and a better texture and yield.


The convergence behavior of the least squares general modulus algorithm (LSGMA) is analyzed under several signal environments. Based on the analysis, a novel multi-user beamforming algorithm regarded as iteration least squares projection-general modulus algorithm (ILSP-GMA) is proposed, which can overcome the shortcoming of miss convergence by LSGMA when a CM interference is stronger than the desired signal. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can be effectively used in multi-user scenarios and can provide a much faster convergence than the original iteration least squares projection algorithm (ILSP).


Purpose To assess symptoms and signs in a Norwegian cohort of dry eye disease (DED) patients by investigating the relationship between Ocular Protection Index (OPI) and Ocular Surface Index (OSDI).


Population sampling of five species of desert tenebrionid beetles, Eleodes armata, Centrioptera muricata, Centrioptera variolosa, Cryptoglossa verrucosa and Pelecyphorus adversus, was conducted using pitfall traps for 15 months at South Mountain Desert Park, Phoenix, Arizona. Decreases in beetle catch were observed during extreme summer climatic conditions (sustained drought and above-average temperatures) and throughout the colder winter months. The reduced catch was attributed to decreased surface activities and/or increased mortality rates. Increases in number of beetles collected in pitfall traps resulted from general density increases during seasonal periods of population eclosion. Localized elevations in beetle density may have been mediated through the aggregating influences of reproductive chemical pheromones. Beetle associations with desert vegetation reduced their overall population mobility and increased their likelihood of capture in pitfall traps placed near these plants. Some factors such as differential surface illumination due to changing moon phase and remova,l of beetle catch from the sampling area did not significantly affect the number of tenebrionids collected. Density of pitfall traps in a sampling area was critical in determining the number of beetles captured. Comparisons of beetle catches between two spaced-grid sampling areas with different can densities indicated a close relationship between beetle-catch density and pitfall-trap density.


(Received 20 October, 1975) Abstract. An analytically continuous, one-dimensional model of the vegetation-atmosphere interac- tion is created which is 'multi-layer' in concept, and therefore similar in principle to previous numerical simulation models (except that it also includes the effect of surface water on the vegetation). Mathematical development of this model yields a 'combination equation' similar in form to that produced by single-source, Penman-Monteith models; and demonstrates that the interaction is indeed capable of conceptual representation as a simple electrical analogue, but that all property transfers are subject to a 'surface' resistance. In this way, it is shown that 'multi-layer' and 'single-source' descriptions are more similar than they appear at first sight: the differences between the two approaches become apparent and in this way the assumptions and approximations involved in the single-source hypothesis become explicit.


Cite this article as : Sofulu Ö. Primary bone tumors and tumor-like lesions of the wrist: a single-center experience. J Health Sci Med 2022; 5(1): 131-137. ABSTRACT Aim : The incidence of primary bone tumors of the wrist is increasing. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics, treatment protocols, complication rates, and functional outcomes of bone tumors of the wrist treated in a tertiary orthopedic oncology center. Material and Method : We retrospectively analyzed 93 patients with bone tumors located in the wrist (63 distal radius, 23 distal ulna, 7 carpal bone) who were operated on between 2005 and 2020. Demographic information was recorded. Functional outcomes were evaluated with the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society System (MSTS) scoring system. Results : There were 57 male and 36 female patients. The average follow-up period was 32 months (range 16-163). There were 82 benign and 11 malignant lesions. Distal radius was the most common site of involvement. The most common type of benign tumor in the distal radius and distal ulna was the giant cell tumor (GCT; 26 and 10 patients, respectively). Among the malignant tumors in the distal radius, 5 were Ewing sarcoma, and 2 were osteosarcoma. All patients with malignant lesions underwent wide surgical resection and free vascularized fibular graft (FVFG) reconstruction. Of the malignant tumors in the distal ulna, 3 were Ewing sarcoma, and 1 was osteosarcoma. These were treated with wide resection and FVFG reconstruction (n=3) and wide resection and fibular strut graft (n=1). The rarest site for tumors in the wrist was the carpal bones. Carpal bone lesions included scaphoid (n=5) and lunate (n=2) tumors. In all of these patients, pathological examination indicated intraosseous ganglion cysts. The average MSTS score of all patients was 27 (range 24-30). Of the 36 patients with GCT, 4 (11%) developed local recurrence. One patient with Ewing sarcoma developed local recurrence and underwent secondary amputation. Distant lung metastasis was observed in 5 of 8 patients with Ewing sarcoma. Conclusion : Our study confirmed that bone tumors in the wrist are rare. Most benign tumors can be treated with curettage and cement augmentation. For malignant tumors, it is possible to restore function with FVFG.


Let be a polynomial of degree n. Further, let and . Then according to the well-known Bernstein inequalities, we have and . It is an open problem to obtain inequalities analogous to these inequalities for the class of polynomials satisfying p(z) ≡ znp(1/z). In this paper we obtain some inequalites in this direction for polynomials that belong to this class and have all their coefficients in any sector of opening γ, where 0 γ < π. Our results generalize and sharpen several of the known results in this direction, including those of Govil and Vetterlein [3], and Rahman and Tariq [12]. We also present two examples to show that in some cases the bounds obtained by our results can be considerably sharper than the known bounds.


We present results from 520 days of continuous hard x‐ray observation of the x‐ray binary pulsar Cen X‐3. These observations were made with the Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BASTE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Results of this analysis include a new determination of the binary orbital parameters, and histories of the pulse frequency and pulsed flux during the observation.


Aiming at the problem that cantilever antifreeze spraying devices currently used for coal trains can not lift,a lifting cantilever antifreeze spraying device that can effectively spray various sizes of carriages is presented.A 3D model of the spraying device is established in UG software and then imported into ADAMS software for motion simulation.The simulation results validate the structure design is reasonable and feasible,and lay a foundation for further dynamic analysis and optimal design.


Abstract This article explores forms of 'grief-activism' commemorating those who have perished on the move, in the waters surrounding EUrope, at physical border barriers or on EUrope's streets and in its detention centres. Contestations in death protest the differential distribution of vulnerability and a politics of division, abandonment and necropolitical violence on which EUrope's border regime thrives. Mobilising both Judith Butler's notion of grievability and Jacques Rancière's proposition of an 'impossible identification' as a heterological form of politics, this article examines what occurs in attempts to form solidarities in precarious moments of collective mourning. While a politics that seeks to include lost others must always be replete with impossibilities, it is argued that grief-activist practices that counter-perform exclusions in transformative political encounters engender imaginaries of what it might mean to create community 'beyond borders'.


We are concerned with the problem of how a collection of agents can decide to share a resource, represented as a unit sized pie. We investigate a simple and natural non-cooperative bargaining protocol for this problem, in which players take it in turns to make proposals on how the resource should be allocated, and the other players vote on whether or not to accept the allocation. Voting is modelled as a weighted voting game: each player is assigned a weight, and a proposal for allocation is implemented if the weight of players in favour of that proposal meets or exceeds a given quota. The agenda, (i.e., the order in which the players are called to make offers), is defined exogenously. Thus, the outcome is an offer that has majority support. We consider two variants of this protocol, provide subgame perfect equilibrium strategies for both, and investigate their properties. Finally, we give those conditions for which the non-cooperative equilibria for the two games is in the core of the weighted voting game and those for which it is not.


The QRAM Special Issue encourages submissions, based on case studies and other qualitative methodologies, in different contexts and from scholars across disciplines. Topics of interest include but ...


RSA(random sequential adsorption) method was used to generate the representative volume element models of syntactic foams.Finite element software ANSYS was adopted to analyze the thermal expansion of syntactic foams.The relationships of thermal expansion coefficient of HGMs/resin and hollow glass microballoons(HGMs) filling ratio,coefficient of thermal expansion and HGMs wall-thickness were obtained.The two relation curves were fitted to linear function,and exponential function respectively,with the purpose of analyzing the sensitivity of the HGMs filling volume fraction and wall-thickness to the coefficient of thermal expansion.The stress fields and displacement fields caused by temperature load were also obtained.The results show that both of the increase of HGMs filling volume fraction and wall-thickness can reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion of HGMs/resin syntactic foams,and HGMs filling volume fraction shows the higher sensitivity than that of wall-thickness.


Different reaction conditions for controlling the selectivity of multicomponent reactions involving 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and pyruvic acids are investigated leading to products of several structural classes.


The paper proposes a galvanostatic method for on-site determination of the polarization resistance of reinforcement in large reinforced concrete structures and for subsequent estimation of corrosion rates using the Stern-Geary equation. The method uses two conterelectrodes to apply the electrical signal (polarization) to the reinforcement. The current applied from the external conuterelectrode (guard ring) tends to repel the line from the central counterelectrode, confining them to an area of the structure located approximately under this last electrode. The originality of the method is its use of a pair of sensors to bound the field of action of the signal emanating from the central counterelectrode. Results confirm interesting possibilities for the method.


. Taking advanced industrial applications as case studies, this article sets out a methodology for specifying and designing complex electronic systems. . The methodology derives from the authors'work on research and applications. It covers compilation of comprehensive accurate documentation and includes allowance for maintainability and co-design flexibility (system layout considerations).


Incorporating Tb3+ and Mn2+ into a high efficiency BaCa2MgSi2O8:Eu2+ phosphor generates a green line peaking at 542 nm and a red emission band peaking at 660 nm. Upon 365 nm excitation, the absolute quantum yields of BaCa2MgSi2O8:Eu2+ phosphors doped with various Tb3+ ions all exceed 77%, indicating that the phosphor is a suitable matrix for rare earth ion doping. Meanwhile, the luminescent properties of BaCa2MgSi2O8:Eu2+,Mn2+ were investigated and remarkable energy transfer from the blue emitting Eu2+ to both Tb3+ and Mn2+ can occur in the BaCa2MgSi2O8 system. This energy transfer is important in enabling the achievement of a broad emission spectrum, covering a red spectral region, suitable for a near-UV light-emitting diode (LED) excitation. The decay patterns of the red and blue fluorescence are discussed in relation to the effect of the energy transfer. Measurement of the thermal quenching properties reveals that BaCa2MgSi2O8:Eu2+,Mn2+ exhibits excellent characteristics.


A test on a full‐scale model of a three‐storey steel moment frame was conducted, with the objectives of acquiring real information about the damage and serious strength deterioration of a steel moment frame under cyclic loading, studying the interaction between the structural frame and non‐structural elements, and examining the capacity of numerical analyses commonly used in seismic design to trace the real cyclic behaviour. The outline of the test structure and test program is presented, results on the overall behaviour are given, and correlation between the experimental results and the results of pre‐test and post‐test numerical analyses is discussed. Pushover analyses conducted prior to the test predicted the elastic stiffness and yield strength very reasonably. With proper adjustment of strain hardening after yielding and composite action, numerical analyses were able to accurately duplicate the cyclic behaviour of the test structure up to a drift angle of 1/25. The analyses could not trace the cyclic behaviour involving larger drifts in which serious strength deterioration occurred due to fracture of beams and anchor bolts and progress of column local buckling. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Purpose of the study. To study the effect of means of complex prevention of caries and non-carious damages on the biochemical parameters of blood in patients with estrogen imbalance. Materials and methods. For the study of biochemical parameters, 3 groups of patients were selected: The examination was carried out three times: the first examination – at the beginning of treatment; the second examination – 3 months after the start of treatment; the third examination – 6 months after the start of treatment. In the observation group, no additional treatment was carried out, only professional oral hygiene at the beginning of treatment and observation at the dentist. In the main group 1, a combination of calcium phosphate preparations with vitamin D3 was used (АТС А12А Х., Registration No. UA/10610/01/01 dated 9.4.2020). In the main group 2, a combination of calcium phosphate preparations with vitamin D3 (АТС А12А Х, No. UA/10610/01/01 dated 9.4.2020), alendronic acid preparation (АТХ М05В А04, Registration No. UA/7210/01/02 of September 20, 2017. Order No. 1116 of September 20, 2017). These drugs were prescribed in courses of 1 month with 1 month intervals between courses. Only 3 courses. To confirm the imbalance of estrogen, all patients were tested for the level of estrogen (estradiol) in the body. All patients were in the period of menopause, that is, they did not have cyclical fluctuations in hormone levels. For an indirect study of the degree of osteoporosis (the ratio of destruction and formation of bone tissue), we determined the level of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in blood serum. To study the state of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, studies of osteocalcin and neoganic phosphorus in the blood were carried out. Research results. In the main group 2, after 6 months of observation, the level of acid phosphatase was 2.41±0.19, which is 64.71 % (p6 < 0.05) less than the initial result. At the same time, the indicators in the main group 2 as of 6 months were less than the indicators in the main group 1 by 2.05 times (p7 < 0.05). In the main group 2 after 6 months, the level of alkaline phosphatase was 134.36±11.37, which is 113.44 % (p6 < 0.05) more than the initial result. At the same time, the indicators in the main group 2 as of 6 months were higher than the indicators in the main group 1 by 1.76 times (p7 < 0.05). In the main group 2 after 6 months, the level of osteocalcin was 15.73±3.12, which is 71.82 % (p6 < 0.05) less than the initial result. At the same time, the indicators in the main group 2 as of 6 months were less than the indicators of the main group 1 by 2.55 times (p7 < 0.05). In the main group 2, after 6 months of observation, the level of inorganic phosphorus was 1.62±0.18, which is 145.45 % (p6 < 0.05) more than the initial result. At the same time, the indicators in the main group 2 as of 6 months were higher than the indicators in the main group 1 by 1.76 times (p7 < 0.05). Conclusions. The use of calcium phosphate preparations with vitamin D3 and aminobisphosphonates (alentronic acids) for 6 months significantly reduces the activity of acid phosphatase by 64.71 % (p6 < 0.05). The use of calcium phosphate preparations with vitamin D3 and aminobisphosphonates (alendronic acid) for 6 months significantly increase the activity of alkaline phosphatase by 113.44 % (p6 < 0.05). The use of calcium phosphate preparations with vitamin D3 and aminobisphosphonates lasting 6 months statistically significantly reduces the level of osteocalcin by 71.82 % (p6 <0.05). The use of calcium phosphate preparations with vitamin D3 and aminobisphosphonates (alendronic acid) lasting 6 months increase phosphorus absorption by 145.45 % (p6 < 0.05). Key words: caries prevention, estrogen imbalance, bisphosphanates, calcium supplements.


Concern for the environment has been noted in recent decades as a global phenomenon that is present among general publics in regions around the world. Though a topic of emerging interest, at present, assessments of environmental concern cross-nationally do not provide definitive evidence as to whether similar levels of environmental concern are identifiable across mass publics and whether its underpinnings are similar across national contexts. This research compares concern for the environment across 15 countries, examining the role of measurement cross-nationally. I demonstrate that different rankings of general publics can be distinguished with regard to different measures of environmental concern. I also examine demographic factors typically associated with the expression of environmental concern to determine their cross-national comparability. Results demonstrate that the measurement of environmental concern matters, both in terms of describing its composition in different countries and in identifying its underpinnings in this sample of countries.


Abstract Tonsteins are thin mudstone beds composed of kaolinite that formed from the alteration of volcanic ash in coal-forming environments. In the Coal Measures of Britain, tonsteins have been recognized as volcanic in origin based on bedform, volcanic textures, field relationships with other volcanics, distinctive volcanic minerals and an igneous geochemistry. The sharp contacts, together with a contrasting composition with adjacent sediments and lateral continuity, are diagnostic of an altered air-fall volcanic ash. Passage into less altered volcanics and into a K-bentonite have both been shown in Britain. A more direct determination of volcanic origin is possible from the identification of volcanic minerals, whole-rock geochemistry and analyses of silicate melt inclusions in volcanic minerals such as β quartz. Once a volcanic origin is established the stratigraphic value of a tonstein is enhanced. Immobile trace elements in tonsteins also provide information on the tectono-magmatic setting of the parent volcano. Two tonstein groups are identified in the Coal Measures of Britain, one formed from basic (basaltic) ash of local origin and the other from acid (rhyolite or rhyodacite) ash, probably associated with distant Plinean or ultraplinean eruptions at a destructive plate margin to the south or southeast.


The present invention consists of an illumination apparatus capable of being attached to surgical instruments, and providing a better illumination of the operating field during surgical procedures. The illumination apparatus comprises a light source (1), such as a LED, connected to a power supply source (2). The light source (1) and part or all of the power supply source are housed in a purpose built casing (3). Said casing (3) has at least one attaching means (5) on its outer surface which is suitable for removably attaching the illumination apparatus to a surgical instrument, being removed and re-attached to another. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said at least one attaching means (5) is a magnet. These attaching means allow for an easy attachment and removal of the illumination apparatus to several different surgical instruments during a particular surgical procedure. They also allow for the position of the illumination apparatus to be easily shifted along the surgical instrument. Due to its weight, design and size, the illumination apparatus of the present invention does not interfere with the normal use of the surgical instruments. Said present invention is aimed exclusively at open-air surgeries and in particular those in which it is necessary to obtain a good illumination of normally poorly illuminated organ cavities.


The article describes the current state of wind energy, the main achievements in this area and its problems. One of the problems is the lack of qualified specialists in this field. To solve this problem, the training course "Renewable Energy Sources" was created at the Odessa Polytechnic University for the specialization "Engineering of smart electrical systems". For the course, a laboratory stand "Vetroenergetika" was developed. The stand simulates the operation of a wind generator and displays the main electrical and mechanical performance indicators. It is also provided for the output of these values to the computer using the microcontroller and the platform. With a computer, all the main dependencies are built in real time to monitor the state of the wind generator. Also, a laboratory workshop on the topic "Wind power" was prepared, which, at the moment, included four laboratory works, namely: the study of the external characteristics of the wind generator when the electrical load changes, the study of the dependence of the change in power on the wind speed, the study of the dependence of the change in power on the angle of attack wind flow for two different types of wind generators and a study of the dependence of the speed on the electrical load. The plan of the experiments and the results obtained during the laboratory tests of the stand are described in detail. Each of the above dependencies has practical applications in the production and operation of wind turbines. The authors do not consider the list of possible researches complete and it will be replenished as the stand and laboratory workshop develop. Also, the proposed teaching methodology can by no means be considered the only and complete one.


This graduation is about the future: a scenario-based design assignment about the future of education in Amsterdam in the year 2100. This work is part of the Complex Projects Graduation studio 2018-2019 of the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture. In 2100, automation of work will have a massive impact on our society. Labor will not be the primary occupation anymore in adulthood. Education has to adapt to prepare new generations for a life in a non-linear society that values creative and social skills above all. Moreover, education will develop to be an end goal in itself instead of a means to an end. It has become possible to learn your whole life. Education that combines the preparation for a non-linear society, and the ability to participate in lifelong learning requires a new type of school – the learning space of the 22nd century.