Abstract : The authors have conducted a two-year revegetation study to assess the ability of sewage sludge applications with or without supplemental fertilizer to promote plant growth and stabilize sloping soils. The study site was a west-facing, 16 deg slope at CRREL in Hanover, New Hampshire. Eight revegetation treatments and one control were replicated three times. Treatments involved applications of dewatered, anaerobically digested sewage sludge at two rates (20 or 40 tons/acre). The sludge was applied alone or in combination with commercial fertilizers which supplied nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, or all three nutrients. The seed mixture in the treatments contained four grasses and one legume. The effects of the various treatments were determined through soil loss yields, visual grass ratings and plant yields. Results show that average soil loss from all treatments was within the acceptable limit of one ton/acre per year and was significantly less than that from the untreated controls. Supplementary fertilizers rich in N, P and K or in P and K appear to be slightly more beneficial than those with N alone in the reduction of soil loss. Greater plant yields during the first year were from the treatment with the lower sludge rate and supplemental fertilizer. During the second year, treatments with the high sludge rate were the better producers. Tall fescue and red fescue were the plant species that performed well in all treatments, while birdsfoot trefoil was the dominant species in treatments which did not receive nitrogen fertilizer.


The utility model discloses an electronic terminal device and a near-field communication antenna thereof, the near-field communication antenna comprises an antenna base plate, an induction coil on the front side of the base plate and an induction coil on the back side of the base plate, and magnetic core is coated in the center of both the induction coil on the front side of the base plate and the induction coil on the back side of the base plate. The utility model has the advantages that a bifacial coil is arranged and the magnetic core is coated in the center of the coils, therefore not only the size of the antenna can be reduced so as not to affect the volume of NFC electronic terminal product, but also the enough working distance can be ensured.


From the Russian concrete actual circumstances,Lenin realized the practical annotation on the economic system foundation of harmonious society.And New Economic Policy is the concentrated expression of "returned transition" construction ideas.In short,New Economic Policy possesses the lofty historical position on the process of Lenin's constructing the economic system foundation of harmonious society.


In this paper we propose a model for the formation of the cosmological voids. We show that cosmological voids can form directly after the collapse of extremely large wavelength perturbations into low-density black holes or cosmological black holes (CBH). Consequently the voids are formed by the comoving expansion of the matter that surrounds the collapsed perturbation. It follows that the universe evolves, in first approximation, according to the Einstein-Straus cosmological model. We discuss finally the possibility to detect the presence of these black holes through their weak and strong lensing effects and their influence on the cosmic background radiation. key words cosmology: theory, dark matter, black hole physics


microRNAs play an essential role in gene regulation during virus infections and have major consequences on viral pathogenesis. During RNA virus infections, the host miRNAs can target both host mRNAs and the virus genomic RNA. Using the CVB3 virus as a model, we have investigated how a host miRNA can target viral genomic RNA and act as an antiviral factor limiting the growth of the virus. CVB3 is an RNA virus whose infection causes myocarditis and, eventually, dilated cardiomyopathy. We shortlisted miRNAs with a potential binding site in the CVB3 genomic RNA. Among these, miR-22 was picked for further studies as its binding site was putatively located in a region in the CVB3 5' UTR, important for recruiting ITAFs and ribosomes for IRES-mediated translation. Using mutational analysis and pull-down assays, we first confirmed the binding of miR-22 on the 5'UTR. This binding negatively regulated the translation of CVB3 RNA. However, miR-22 binding-defective mutant of CVB3 RNA had no effect of miR-22 overexpression and could translate normally. Moreover, cells from which miR-22 was knocked out, showed a higher level of CVB3 infection as compared to the wild type. We have further demonstrated that the binding of miR-22 interferes with the recruitment of several ITAFs (La, PSF, and PTB) on viral mRNA. This abrogates the spatial structure necessary for ribosome recruitment on the CVB3 RNA, ultimately inhibiting its translation. Also, the level of miR-22 increases 4 hours post-infection, presumably after the synthesis of viral 2A protease, to regulate infection in the host cell more effectively. Along with the direct effect on viral RNA, the altered level of miR-22 affects the level of its cellular targets which might contribute to CVB3 infection. To identify the possible players, we obtained a list of miR-22 targets and performed pathway analysis. Several targets were shortlisted among the top hits and their levels upon CVB3 infection were checked. Protocadherin-1 (PCDH-1), a single-pass transmembrane protein, followed an expected trend, and its levels were significantly downregulated upon CVB3 infection in miR-22 dependent manner. miR-22 mediated suppression of PCDH1 levels during CVB3 infection points towards the possible role of miR-22 in either modulating antiviral signaling or in virus entry, in addition to regulating the viral translation.


The design and construction of railway line in Daghestan (the North Caucausis of Russia) which provides a detour route of Chechen region were conducted in 1996-1997. This new railway line has a length of 78 km and comprises more than 50 bridges with main spans in a range of 6 – 110 m. Reference bridge structures are grouped in Table 1. One of design specifics was a high seismic activity in the region. The region is classified by a magnitude of 8-9 on the MSK-64 scale. To develop effective structural measures for bridges to control seismic conditions, detailed analyses of bridge structures on seismic load have been performed.


While the fields of work-integrated learning (WIL) and career development share common goals, WIL literature tends to focus on student employability more than students' ability to manage their careers. The Leading Edge program at a Canadian institution, the University of Victoria, brings together these two disciplines as it draws from theory and methodology in WIL and career development to strengthen student experiential learning and prepare students for meaningful careers. Four reflective questions form the core of the program, and support students to become pro-active experiential learners, embrace diversity and become career-ready during their academic journey. The authors present the theoretical underpinnings in career development, WIL and experiential learning that inform the program development, and analyse its strengths and challenges. The paper concludes with an exploration of how the Leading Edge, an online program, can support learners to navigate the challenges of the current labour market conditions created by [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19.


Recently, a lot of work has been done at the federal level to launch and implement the adopted strategy for the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation with a low level of greenhouse gas emissions (hereinafter referred to as "Strategy 2050"). Today we can state that the necessary regulatory and legal framework has been created. The next step is to analyze and, possibly, revise the role and place of the established scientific and technical disciplines for the implementation of the strategy. The article analyzes this role in relation to one of the oldest scientific and technical disciplines – land management. The historical stages of the formation of the discipline and its place at the present stage in urban planning are considered in this paper. Using specific examples, the article shows that strict adherence to the principles of urban planning is not always able to ensure the sustainable development of territories in accordance with the Strategy 2050. Hence, the importance of land management based on new principles taking into account ESG factors is increasing. Such a new direction is designated by the authors as a "carbon land management". The article gives the suggestions for the theoretical and practical implementation of this new scientific and technical direction.


Previously, we demonstrated that glycosyl tosylates are effective for the synthesis of β-glycosides of gluco-configured 2-deoxy sugars. Here, we show the same sulfonate system can be used for the selective synthesis of α-glycosides containing the allo-configured 2-deoxy sugar digitoxose. As with previous work, optimal selectivity is obtained through matching the donor with the appropriate arylsulfonyl chloride promoter. The utility of this method is demonstrated through the synthesis of the α-linked digitoxose trisaccharide fragment of kijanimicin.


On Context- and Sequence-Aware Document Enrichment and Retrieval towards Personalized Recommendations.- Forests of Oblique Decision Stumps for Classifying Very Large Number of Tweets.- Performance Evaluation of a Natural Language Processing Approach Applied in White Collar Crime Investigation.- An Efficient Similarity Search in Large Data Collections with MapReduce.- Memory-Based Multi-pattern Signature Scanning for ClamAV Antivirus.- Constructing Private Indexes on Encrypted Data for Outsourced Databases.- An Extensible Framework for Web Application Vulnerabilities Visualization and Analysis.- A Combination of Negative Selection Algorithm and Artificial Immune Network for Virus Detection.- De-anonymising Set-Generalised Transactions Based on Semantic Relationships.- An Implementation of a Unified Security, Trust and Privacy (STP) Framework for Future Integrated RFID System.- Toward a Nexus Model Supporting the Establishment of Business Process Crowdsourcing.- Link Prediction in Social Networks Based on Local Weighted Paths.- An Architecture Utilizing the Crowd for Building an Anti-virus Knowledge Base.- Two-Way Biometrics-Based Authentication Scheme on Mobile Devices.- Prospective Cryptography in NFC with the Lightweight Block Encryption Algorithm LEA.- Enhance Fuzzy Vault Security Using Nonrandom Chaff Point Generator.- Smart Card Based User Authentication Scheme with Anonymity.- Cloud-Based ERP Solution for Modern Education in Vietnam.- Heuristics for Energy-Aware VM Allocation in HPC Clouds.- Information-Flow Analysis of Hibernate Query Language.- Investigation of Regularization Theory for Four-Class Classification in Brain-Computer Interface.- Enhancing Genetic Algorithm with Cumulative Probabilities to Derive Critical Test Scenarios from Use-Cases.- Towards a Semantic Linked Data Retrieval Model.


Several modern advanced optical and acoustic survey instruments(ADP,PCADP,ADV,OBS,etc.) have been fixed in a tetrapod for water-sediment measurement in bottom boundary layer.Vertical velocity profile as well as near bottom high resolution velocity,turbulence,temperature-salinity-sediment and wave process,which can′t be easily obtained by routine hydrological survey,can be got by the tetrapod.It was deployed in the most turbid area of the north passage of the Yangtze estuary in August 2007.The data obtained from the tetrapod are compared with those from a survey vessel.The results show that the tetrapod system has great advantages in near bottom survey(especially the near bottom area is strongly stratified).Bottom suspended sediment concentration(SSC) got by the vesselis approximate to that between 70 and 120 cm above(cmab) bottom.Maximum SSC obtained by the tetrapod is 5.8 kg/m3 while maximum SSC at 30 cmab obtained by the tetrapod is 25 kg/m3.Strong stratification usually occurs when bottom SSC is high.At that time,SSC at 30 cmab can be 5 times larger than that at 120 cmab.Bottomvessel measured velocities are averagely 45% larger than those at 30 cmab.But maximum velocity at 30 cmab can still reach 1.2 m/s.Tetrapod data validity is also proved by the data from the vessel and data types are introduced and explained.


Triethylaluminum reacts with bis(diphenylphosphino)-n-propylamine and bis(diphenylphosphino)-n-butylamine to form the 1:1 adducts in which the aluminum atom is pentacoordinate. Triethylaluminum does not react with other bis(diphenylphosphino)amines in which the third substituent on the nitrogen atom is α-methylbenzyl, benzyl, or 1,1-dimethylamine. The formation of adducts from straight-chain hydrocarbons and the total lack of reactivity for the Lewis bases containing bulky groups leads to the postulation that steric hindrance prevents the free pair of electrons on the phosphorus atoms from being available to the triethylaluminum.


In the literature relating to visuo-motor control, controversial data are found concerning the consequence of enriching the visual scene in the specification of the target's spatial coordinates. In this paper four experiments were carried out to unravel this issue. Based on spatio-temporal analysis of pointing movements carried out in an open loop condition, the effect of appending contextual elements in the vicinity of a visual target was investigated, taking into account (1) their location in the visual field, (2) the extent of the movement, and (3) their presence during the planning and/or execution period of the movement. Taken as a whole, results showed that enriching the visual scene gave rise to a decrease of perceptual underestimation of distance (with no effect on the direction parameter), as otherwise observed (dark environment). Though not deeply affecting reaction and movement time, this effect held whatever the target position, provided that the contextual elements were situated between the initial and terminal position of the hand trajectory. The magnitude of the effect was, however, dependent upon the space conferred to the visual context. Furthermore, a higher spatial performance was observed when the latter was provided during the planning of execution period of the movement. Both effects combined when contextual elements were provided during the entire movement, which suggests a continuous updating of target coordinates during the whole motor performance. Altogether these findings underline a dynamic aspect of space perception, originating, in part, in the functional use of contextual cues in the coding of target distance. They also suggest that, provided the visual environment is structured, the retinal signal is widely used in the perception of target distance in visuo-manual tasks.


Periodic and coIfiplex patterns of precipitation have been obtained when a lead acetate solution diffuses into agar-agar gel containing catechol to form lead(IV)-catechol complex. Location of var ious normal-spaced bands from the initial junction has been measured and plotted as a function of the number of bands. The data are best fitted by the empirical equation x" = eemnwhere x" is the location of the band n from the junction. m. and log C are slope and intercept respectively of the plot of log x" versus n. Changes in potential and pH during the reaction process have been moni tored as a function of time. Results lead to the conclusion that the phenomena involve the transition from one stable state to anot1ler state. Influences of the electrolyte concentration, diameter and orientation of the tube on the precipitation patterns have also been studied. The reaction product, obtained in the form of red spherical crystals, has been characterized by far 1R and mass spectros copy, and microanalytical techniques..


Silicon carbide (SiC) is widely used for electronic devices in high temperature and harsh conditions because of its excellent properties. However, SiC is difficult to processed effectively by the traditional wet etching method due to its excellent chemical stability. In this paper, a metal-assisted photochemical etching method was proposed and controllable nano-pore arrays structure in SiC was fabricated. By sputtering a noble metal layer on the bottom surface of the SiC wafer and illuminating UV light on the top surface, SiC could be effectively etched in etchant of hydrofluoric acid and hydrogen dioxide. The effective etching of SiC is attributed to the synergistic effect of abundant photogenerated holes excited by UV light and rapid electron transmission enhanced by the Pt layer, thereby, enhancing the etching reaction rate. Further, it was demonstrated that the diameter of nano-pores could be controlled by adjusting the time of plasma etching polystyrene spheres or changing the etching time. This work will provide an effective means to process wide band gap semiconductor.


This article uses dreams, portents, and prognostications as an entry point into what some scholars have recently called 'Ottoman exceptionalism'. Drawing on sources in Turkish and Arabic, it traces beliefs about the Ottoman dynasty and empire's superiority, divine favour, and special role in history from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century. I begin with the 'seeds' of the topic in the empire's early years and myths of origin, including a number of dream stories, before moving to full-scale political exceptionalism. Looking closer, I then identify an eschatological strand in the lead-up to the Islamic millennium that centred on the dynasty's role in the end time. The millennium's uneventful passing led to the dissolution of this strand but not of ideas about exceptionalism itself, which in later forms turned inward, depicting the empire as 'eternal' and projecting its rule to an undetermined future period.


A new and somewhat different approach is utilized here for determining an upper-bound on ground moving target indication (GMTI) radar performance with two-dimensional space-time processing. An idealized clutter model and other simplifying assumptions are employed. It is shown that the elements of the clutter covariance matrix can be obtained from cross-correlations of the convolution of transmit and receive aperture functions at different times and locations. This feature could provide improved physical insight on how the aperture illumination functions influence performance. Results can be expressed in terms of dimensionless parameters which do not explicitly require the specification of antenna length, radar frequency, platform speed or even target range. Some representative simulation results for idealized and conventional processing are presented and compared.


General Comments: The manuscript 'Climate change over the high-mountain versus plain areas: Effects on the land surface hydrologic budget in the Alpine area and northern Italy' presents climate change impacts on evapotranspiration, precipitation and soil moisture over the Alpine and northern Italy using regional climate model and land surface process model. Authors well deliver the changes of hydrological budget under climate change. However there are a few concerns described below.


Typical failure modes and corresponding failure mechanism of buildings in Wenchuan earthquake are analyzed according to seismic damage in Dujiangyan City.Firstly,the seismic failure criteria of buildings are given.Secondly,typical failure modes and corresponding failure mechanism of buildings in Dujiangyan City are mainly analyzed.By analysis,it is found that for multistory masonry buildings and bottom frame buildings seismic fortification is effective according to current seismic code and that for reinforced concrete frame buildings there are still some typical problems: the ″weak column-strong beam″ mechanism occurs commonly,soft story collapse,column′s section size is comparatively small and reinforcement ratio is comparatively low,column′s stirrup is insufficient universal at the end and beam-column joint part.Finally,some suggestions are proposed based on typical failure modes of buildings.The research work can provide reference for seismic design and strengthening of buildings.


Neutron diffraction for a polycrystalline sample of LaCo$_{0.8}$Rh$_{0.2}$O$_{3}$ and synchrotron x-ray diffraction for polycrystalline samples of LaCo$_{0.9}$Rh$_{0.1}$O$_{3}$ and LaCo$_{0.8}$Rh$_{0.2}$O$_{3}$ have been carried out in order to investigate the structural properties related with the spin state of Co$^{3+}$ ions. We have found that the values of the Co(Rh)-O bond lengths in the Co(Rh)O$_{6}$ octahedron of LaCo$_{0.8}$Rh$_{0.2}$O$_{3}$ are nearly identical at 10 K. The lattice volume for the Rh$^{3+}$ substituted samples decreases with the thermal expansion coefficient similar to that of LaCoO$_{3}$ from room temperature, and ceases to decrease around 70 K. These experimental results favor a mixed state consisting of the high-spin-state and low-spin-state Co$^{3+}$ ions, and suggest that the high-spin-state Co$^{3+}$ ions are thermally excited in addition to those pinned by the substituted Rh$^{3+}$ ions.


On 17 August 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt met with Canada's Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in the town of Ogdensburg, which lies just across the Canadian border in upstate New York. There the two leaders agreed on the formation of the Permanent Joint Board on Defence (PJBD) to advise on policies for the defence and security of the North American continent. The PJBD was commended on all sides, in public at least, not only in the United States and Canada but also in Britain, where the new prime minister, Winston Churchill, speaking in the House of Commons on 20 August, compared the trend towards growing cooperation between the British Empire and the United States to the relentless flow of the Mississippi river. He also referred approvingly to the Permanent Joint Board in his post-war Fulton speech, delivered on 5 March 1946, as an important element in the 'special relationship' between the British Empire and the United States. Later commentators, including John Bartlet Brebner, have also seen the Joint Board as a significant part of the 'North Atlantic Triangle'. However, as this article shows, the PJBD has also attracted plenty of criticism – both contemporary and historical.


Based on the depth analysis of the image of "liquor" in the women's Chinese Poetry of ancient Korea,it is considered that liquor is a tool of social communication,a medium of emotions expressing,and a method of acquiring spiritual freedom in the social life of women in ancient Korea,meanwhile,drinking and writing poems are ways for women to participate in social politics.


Early detection of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions can improve long-term patient survival. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of gadoxetic acid disodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was performed in diagnosing small HCCs measuring up to 2 cm(≤2cm). Two investigators searched multiple databases for studies in which the performances of either Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI or MDCT were reported with sufficient data to construct 2 × 2 contingency tables for diagnosing HCCs up to 2 cm on a per-lesion or per-patient level. Diagnostic performances were quantitatively pooled by a bivariate random-effect model with further meta-regression and subgroup analyses. Twenty-seven studies (fourteen on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, nine on MDCT and four on both) were included, enrolling a total of 1735 patients on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and 1781 patients on MDCT. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI demonstrated significantly higher overall sensitivity than did MDCT (0.96 vs 0.65, p<0.01), without substantial loss of specificity (0.98 vs 0.94, p>0.05). Area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.9712 with Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and 0.8538 with MDCT. Regarding Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, sensitivity was significantly higher for studies from non-Asian countries than Asian countries(0.96 vs 0.93, p<0.01), for retrospective studies than prospective studies(0.95 vs 0.91, p <0.01), and for those with Gd-EOB-DTPA injection rate≥1.5ml/s than that of<1.5ml/s (0.97 vs 0.90, p<0.01). Conclusions: Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI demonstrated higher sensitivity and overall diagnostic accuracy than MDCT, and thus should be the preferred imaging modality for diagnosing small HCCs measuring up to 2 cm. Page 3 of 28 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Liver Transplantation This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Greer assigned three species of Middle American skinks to the otherwise Indo-Australian Sphenomorphus, a plesiomorphic taxon. Sphenomorphus rarus, new species, extends the New World range ofthe genus southeastward to the end of the Cordillera de Talamanca in western Panama. The new species is based on a specimen from 780 m in lower montane rain forest. It is most similar to S. cherriei (Cope) but is readily diagnosed by diverse characters of scutellation, phalangeal formulae, and male genitalia. Sphenomorphus cherriei is a widespread skink found at the southern limits ofits range on the Pacific lowlands ofextreme western Panama. A smalljuvenile from the Atlantic lowlands also is reported, although its assignment to cherriei is provisional since it falls somewhat outside the range of variation of nearly 300 Costa Rican and western Panamanian specimens examined.


Y. Adams. The Philosophical Roots of Anthropology. Stanford, California: CSLI Publications, 1998. ISBN 1-57586-128-3 (pbk); 466 pages. An historical view of the field of anthropology. By "applying anthropology's own tools onto itself," Adams has been able to trace back the binding threads of his discipline to pre-Renaissance philosophical thought. While focusing primarily on North American anthropological practices, Adams skillfully points out the contributions that such great thinkers as Cicero and Nietsche made that would help found the study now known as anthropology.


A photoelectrochemical method for etching p‐GaAs is reported. The method overcomes the apparent stability of GaAs to reductive decomposition by switching the potential of the p‐GaAs between a value at which photogenerated electrons reduce the surface to Ga and As3−, and a more positive value at which the majority carrier holes oxidize the Ga to Ga3+. Etching has been observed in a variety of acidic and basic solutions in which As3− and Ga3+ are soluble. With a 633‐nm He‐Ne laser beam having a peak intensity of 0.75 W cm−2, a maximum etch rate of 1300 A/min has been obtained in a 0.1‐M H2SO4–0.1‐M NaSCN solution. The rate of etching appears to be limited by the rate of dissolution and transport of the products away from the surface. The method is potentially useful for producing anisotropic etching in a variety of GaAs devices.


There are different views on the relationship between language and culture. Some consider them as separate entities one being a code-system and the other a system of beliefs and attitudes. Some believe in a cause and effect relationship between the two; and yet others argue for a co-evolutionary mode of interrelation. This paper will subscribe to the Hallidayan co-evolutionary view of the relationship (cf. Halliday 1991), presenting the view that language and culture are both integrated into a unique socio-semiotic system always interacting with one another for the successful functioning of the system. It will discuss some aspects of this interaction and the implications for ESL/EFL education programs.


Imaging Raman spectroscopy is explored as a new tool for in situ studies of electrochemical systems. The technique provides a spatially resolved view of molecular species present along a focused laser line. The capabilities of our system are demonstrated using an electrodeposited thin film of CuSCN plated on a cylindrical platinum electrode. It is shown that line-imaging Raman spectroscopy is able to measure the properties of the thin film deposit while simultaneously monitoring the concentration of solution species within 1 mm of the surface. The Raman image presented here has a spatial resolution of 6 μm and a spectral resolution of 24 cm -1 , though neither constitutes resolution limits of the instrument


Subjects of contemporary art include numerous concerns, including man and his identity, which in the works of each artist, there is a difference in the way the technique is expressed and performed. After the Renaissance and the great changes of humanism, the creator of a work has become more important than before, and after passing through modernity and reaching postmodernity, he has led to the creation of works with different readings. After creation, the work of art acquires an identity independent of the creator, which is initially assimilated with the conditions and identity of the artist and is born from it and finds its path after birth, but with all these changes, it is an extract from the soul. Has the artist with him. One of the most important factors influencing this phenomenon is the effect of identity on the way of expressing the effect, which can be read in Freudian psychoanalytic approach. Social, human, cultural, and other issues are each separate and interrelated issues. The emergence of a work is directly related to the living and social conditions and other issues of the artist's life, which can be expressed in its own visual language. The artist's mental preoccupation plays an important role in creating the work. This can be an unresolved or concluded issue that manifests itself at any point in the artist's life and, in Jung's words, gives way to a dream and enters the real world, sometimes in the form of A work of art appears. In the postmodern period and beyond, all the rules that were once restrictive for the artist are removed and the artist applies his own unique rules and individual identity. One of the concerns of the contemporary artist is to create works that reflect the existential dimensions of his life. This type of detection implies repression that can be examined in psychoanalytic criteria. Cindy Sherman, a contemporary American artist and photographer, uses herself as a subject in her work. The purpose of examining Sherman's work is to show a kind of repression, repression, and escape from identity that is rooted in the past. Cindy Sherman, a prominent artist and photographer of the postmodern era, is one of the artists who has achieved a new language and a special look by transforming her visible identity and combining several branches of art by recording with a camera. The important question is whether Sherman's presence in all of his works is an emphasis on revealing his hidden identity. And whether the works of this artist can be considered as feedback against his own repressed identity? The purpose of asking these questions is to show the effects of the artist's lived experiences and its effects on his works, which can be examined in the form of psychoanalysis. In the present article, by expressing Freud's psychoanalytic theory in the form of repression and displacement, an attempt is made to show the effects of the events of the artist's life and the direct impact on his works. The writing of the leading article is based on descriptive-analytical research method and the method of collecting information is library type, using reputable internet sites and Cindy Sherman's personal Instagram page. Takes. The artist has created different works over several periods of work. However, their common feature is that the artist is the subject of all his works, and an important part of the writing also deals with this issue, which can be analyzed within the framework of Freud's divisions. The writing of this research is important because no serious study has been done on this type of self-expression in art, and it also shows the impact of important changes in an artist's life on his works, so that the contemporary artist finds a deeper connection between his life and work. Cindy Sherman is one of the postmodern artists who, without a feminist and biased view, has tried to show her identity throughout her life by transforming it into another form, which this multiplicity in identity and its relevance to Freud's psychoanalytic critique necessitates. Argues that research has not been addressed elsewhere from this perspective. According to Freud's classifications such as repression, repression, displacement, escape, and other factors, one consciously and unconsciously resorts to strategies such as art to get rid of these factors. Art is a way to get rid of these shortcomings. Cindy Sherman is a postmodern and post-modern artist who is one of the most prolific artists of all time; But in all his works and periods of work there is a common feature, and that is the subject of Sherman himself in the picture frame. A kind of seeing and being seen is a mechanism for defending against past repressions. In the slips of the tongue that he sometimes writes under his new works, he has reason to be aware of this kind of reaction. He consciously conceals his identity and sees it as a way to protest the status quo. The early periods of Sherman's work evoke spaces from the past that are depicted to find old pleasures, such as the use of dolls in some of his works, and the pursuit of childish pleasures, which in his works are distorted by The doll's appearance is interrupted. In his works, Sherman seeks an identity that he has pursued throughout his life, and his photographs illustrate this point. A way to escape or a way to boost happiness in an oppressed childhood. In all of her works, she seeks out a lost identity by playing different roles for different types of men and women, so that perhaps in the form of a role, her confusion may be reduced to some extent, while she has appeared more in the role of women and has no title for her works. Anonymity is also a reason to hide one's true identity. In some of his works, Sherman takes a protest look at the woman of today who has become an object and is being used more in the present society, a woman who uses every trick to maintain her physical attractiveness and seemingly safe position. Sherman does not claim to be a feminist, and the issue of being a woman is no different for her than being a human being, but she has challenged it all these years. As a result, Sherman's work can be seen as a response to his repressed identity, while he himself is relatively aware of it and uses the practice of photography to the best of his ability to find and conceal his identity. In his past life, Sherman has suffered from failures such as growing up in arid and religious families and unsuccessful marriages, which in reading his works have consequences such as hiding in a mask and escaping from circumstances, while also consuming society and playing with contemporary man. Has an objection.


Abstract Elevations of the earth surface can be estimated using a pair of stereo images obtained from satellites. The elevations can be automatically computed by an automatic search of corresponding points between the stereo images. Mismatches in searches in search of the corresponding points cause abnormal elevations. In this study, causes of mismatches were investigated in computing elevations using Landsat TM data. The variance of source window and the correlation coefficient at matched point were investigated by a discriminant analysis between the two groups of abnormal and normal elevation points. The discriminant analysis showed that the abnormal elevation points could be discriminated from normal elevation points by examining the variance of the source window and the correlation coefficient at matched points with a pretty high probability of about 80%. A method of computing elevations for reducing abnormal elevations points using the following two ideas was proposed: — Enlarge the size of source wi...


High quality performance acceptance testing of turnkey power plants can be time consuming and expensive. Specifying a test quality is often avoided, overlooked or deferred to ASME Performance Test Code plant component standards because the implications, needs and benefits of a test quality specification are not readily evident or understood. This paper describes a probabilistic risk assessment technique used to determine the benefits of specifying test quality. The relationships between test quality, guarantee margins and plant equipment performance variability are also described. An example system is analyzed to indicate how the risks to various parties, such as the turnkey plant supplier and plant owner are affected by various test quality specifications and the effects of plant guarantees at different performance margins. The containment of risk and expected loss by proper specification of the test quality is illustrated. The results and techniques are informative and useful for identifying the implications of specifying test quality under different guarantee situations from different participant perspectives.


The purpose of this research is to provide understanding to the readers and increase their knowledge about the Margondang process in Batak Angkola wedding, so that they can easily understand it. Researchers analysed using the theory of Sudaryanto (2015). The analysis in this study uses qualitative research methods. To support the analysis, researchers used books, journals and theses. Researchers obtained the data from videos and photos.


Phonotactic language recognizers are based on the ability of phone decoders to produce phone sequences containing acoustic, phonetic and phonological information, which is partially dependent on the language. Input utterances are decoded and then scored by means of models for the target languages. Commonly, various decoders are applied in parallel and fused at the score level. A kind of complementarity effect is expected when fusing scores, since each decoder is assumed to extract different (and complementary) information from the input utterance. This assumption is supported by the performance improvements attained when fusing systems. However, decodings are processed in a fully uncoupled way, their time alignment (and the information that may be extracted from it) being completely lost. In this paper, a simple approach is proposed, which takes into account time alignment information, by considering cross-decoder phone coocurrences at the frame level. To evaluate the approach, a choice of open software (BUT front-end and phone decoders, SRI-LM toolkit, libSVM, FoCal) is used, and experiments are carried out on the NIST LRE2007 database. Adding phone coocurrences to the baseline phonotactic systems provides slight performance improvements, revealing the potential benefit of using cross-decoder dependencies for language modeling.


The author was constantly involved in one way or another with energy and other environmental issues since joining the former Japanese National Railways (JNR). The universal and temporary matters of energy issues come into view if one takes a long-term view. The following covers the author current thoughts on energy conservation and on utilization of energy storage technologies that stand out in means of transport and on information & communication technologies (ICT).


Abstract Optimum utilisation of natural hydrologic system models, in water supply engineering problems, leads to successive approximation tactics and to alternate recourse in models and in natural hydrologic systems (examples quoted from the south-east of France).


The labeled antigen is very useful for the purpose of detecting antibodies. If the labeled antigen when incubated with serum moves from its characteristic position in the free state to the position that in the separating system is occupied by bound antigen, then that serum will contain specific antibodies. For growth hormone this is of special interest since i t has been published that treatment with H G H will give rise to antibodies against H G H in some patients (SzCky et al. 1962, Roth et al. 1964).


Because the governing mathematical equations for water distribution networks are nonlinear, many computerized methods of solution have been proposed as the "best" method of solving these equations. A comparison of some of the more popular methods indicates that little difference exists between the methods, although a slight overall edge is available with the Newton–Raphson technique. The exponential increase in computer model cost with increasing network size is demonstrated. The utility of network schematization models is documented, particularly as employed in design studies.


The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. The sorghum was bordered on the north side by CB infested winter wheat. Sorghum rows were planted perpendicular to the winter wheat on 20-22 May, by the cooperating farmer. Plots were 3 rows, spaced 30 inches apart, 100 ft long. The center row was used for data collection. Insecticides were applied on 27 Jun to sorghum plants in the 5-7 leaf stage, with a compressed CO2 sprayer and boom assembly mounted on bicycle wheels. Two drop nozzles/row (Spraying Systems TX 26 tips) were used at 40 PSI, applying 42.6 gal/acre. Plant stand counts were made pre-application on 27 Jun and post-application on 6 Jul, when the experiment was terminated due to death of the plants in the test area. CB's were counted pre-treatment on 27 Jun and 30 Jun by examining 5 plants, above the soil line, in each plot.


This invention provides a low-voltage differential input analog to digits converter containing input stage units made up of multi-differential input units, a backstage treatment unit receiving forestage output signals and a decoding output unit receiving backstage output signals. Each of the differential input units contains the first differential amplifier having a transistor with two source poles connecting the leakage poles of which air connected with the first and second output separately and its grid pole are connected with the first input signal and reference voltage network. The sourcepole is connected to the low operation voltage via current source and the second differential amplifier has a transistor with two source poles connected, the leakage pole of which are connected with the first and second output separately while the grid pole with the second input signal and reference network.


In this paper we prove the equiconsistency of ``Every omega_1 tree which is first order definable over H_{omega_1} has a cofinal branch'' with the existence of a Pi^1_1 reflecting cardinal. The proof uses a definable version of Ramsey theorem on aleph_1 which is again equiconsistent with a Pi^1_1 reflecting cardinal. We also prove that the addition of $MA$ to the definable tree property increases the consistency strength to that of a weakly compact cardinal. Finally we comment on the generalization to higher cardinals.


: To verify the glycemic safety of a maximal cardiorespiratory test (V̇O2max) in T1DM patients and correlate the maximum cardiorespiratory values with metabolic control parameters such as glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, time of diagnosis (TD), and fat (body [GC] and visceral [GV]). The cross-sectional study evaluated ten T1DM patients (age 24.9 ± 7.5 years; time of diagnosis 11.5 ± 7.4; body mass index 22 ± 2 kg/m 2 ). Metabolic glycemic control variables (before and after), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), time since diagnosis and total and visceral fat were collected. The CENESP maximum test protocol was used on the treadmill with direct maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max). Normality test, paired t-test and correlations (p <0.05) were performed. In the results, blood glucose pre 189 ± 67 mg/dL vs. post 172 ± 66 mg/dL (p = 0.140). The V̇O2max with a regular average score for men and women (37.4 ± 6.6 ml.kg.min-1). There was a negative and almost perfect correlation with TD, GC and GV (p = 0.028, p <0.000, and p <0.000). We conclude that is possible to perform a CENESP maximal with glycemic safe in T1DM. However, TD, GC, and GV negatively interfere with cardiorespiratory fitness and should be verified before the test.


The longitudinal Kerr effect in an evaporated film of nickel (80%) and iron (20%) alloy is investigated by the use of a photoelectric polarization spectrometer. The Kerr rotation of the film is measured as a function of the angle of incidence for several wavelengths of light ranging from 400 mµ to 650 mµ. The compensation of the phase angle of the rotation with which the reflected beam of elliptically polarized light degenerates into a linear polarized light is also made with a Babinet Soleil compensator. When the values of the magneto-optic quantity and the refractive index of the film are chosen as 1.48×10-2exp {i(32^°)} and 1.76(1-1.84i), respectively, at the wavelength 592 mµ, the calculated values of the rotation given by the theory of Voigt agree well with the experimental results.


Based on the data analysis of Argos drifting buoys,the intrusion of the Kuroshio to the South China Sea(SCS) through the Luzon Strait was studied.The results show that,the intrusion to the SCS almost occurs in autumn and winter,and the Kuroshio intrude as a form of flow.In autumn,a small quantity of intruding water will flow northward to the Taiwan Strait,while in winter most water will flow to the center of the SCS.This seasonal phenomenon may be caused by monsoonal wind and volume transport of the KC.


Abstract The neutron and gamma dose in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) can be determined by using ionization chambers of different materials. However, inexplicable results, such as negative doses, are sometimes obtained. Computer simulations using MCNPX can help one to understand the behavior of ionization chambers. This paper deals with a part of this investigation: the contribution of protons to the total measured charge in a tissue equivalent (TE) ionization chamber that is flushed with methane-based TE gas. The inherent problem is that the Monte Carlo code MCNPX cannot track protons below 1 MeV. A custom-made program, called Proton Produced Ionization Chamber Charge (PPICC), calculates the deposited energy and thus the charge in the TE gas per proton. For this, it uses the stopping powers for protons in TE plastic and gas. MCNPX provides the total number of protons produced by all neutron interactions near the gas. To check this new procedure, measurements and simulations have been performed using a validated mixed beam of neutrons and gammas. The neutron fluence consists of 12% fast neutrons and 87% epithermal neutrons. In one setup the chamber is free-in-air (epithermal/fast neutron field) and in the other is in a cubic polymethylmethacrylate phantom at 25 mm depth (thermal/epithermal neutron field). The total charge is the sum of the charges due to electrons, originating from primary and neutron-induced gammas, and protons from 1H(n,n)1H and 14N(n,p)14C reactions. The total measured and calculated charges in the two setups have acceptable uncertainties and are in good agreement. The charge collected in a TE ionization chamber can be simulated in a mixed field of neutrons and gammas. The charge resulting from proton recoil in the gas is unexpectedly large.


Paleomagnetic results and isotopic age determinations for granophyre and rhyolite from small, isolated nunataks in southern Coats Land, Antarctica, are used to evaluate late Proterozoic plate reconstructions. U-Pb zircon dates for the two rock types indicate coeval crystallization at 1112±4 Ma. A concordant 1106±3 Ma titanite date from the granophyre overlaps the crystallization age, implying rapid cooling, and is consistent with field and petrographic evidence of no subsequent penetrative deformation, metamorphism, or hydrothermal disturbance. The mean direction of magnetization of the rhyolite at Littlewood Nunataks is statistically indistinguishable from the mean directions of five sites in the granophyre and crosscutting rhyolite dikes at Bertrab Nunataks. The group mean virtual geomagnetic pole of 22.9°N, 80.3°E (N=6, A95=6.8°) compares favorably with the only other extant Precambrian paleomagnetic poles for the East Antarctic craton, two poles from western Dronning Maud Land. The East Antarctic and Laurentian poles of 1.1 Ga do not coincide after restoration of the continents to a position suggested by the SWEAT hypothesis juxtaposing the Pacific margins of East Antarctica-Australia and Laurentia, indicating either that the hypothesis is incorrect or that Coats Land and parts of western Dronning Maud Land (herein the CMG province) were not part of the East Antarctic craton at 1.1 Ga. In support of the latter, there is reasonable agreement of the 1.1 Ga CMG poles and approximately coeval poles from the Kalahari craton of West Gondwana when the CMG is restored to a position adjacent the Kalahari craton. Such a reconstruction places the CMG in West Gondwana rather than East Gondwana, as originally implied in Rodinia reconstructions, and is consistent with previously recognized links between the geology of the Kalahari craton and western Dronning Maud Land. It further implies that the CMG did not become part of East Antarctica until latest Precambrian to Cambrian time. A new reconstruction places a partially assembled West Gondwana off the present southeastern margin of Laurentia at 1.1 Ga such that poles of the CMG and Kalahari fall on the Laurentian polar wander path for this time period.


A diode-pumped Tm:YAlO3 (Tm:YAP), solid-state Q-switched mode-locking (QML) laser was achieved for the first time by using a graphene oxide saturable absorber on gold reflective film. A pulse width for mode-locking inside the Q-switch envelope of 2 ns with a repetition rate of 156.25 MHz has been obtained at the central wavelength of 1973 nm (32 nm full width at half maximum). The measured maximum average output power amounts to 464 mW under an incident pump power of 9.52 W. By using graphene oxide saturable absorber on golden reflective film instead of the tail end cavity mirror, we not only achieved a broadened spectral region 2 µm laser, but also deepened the modulation of the QML.


The configuration of parallel inverter system (PIS) with common dc link and no isolation measure is proposed. The gate control signals for switches in parallel inverters are synchronised to achieve ideal parallel operation status. Adopting the double loop control method which is composed of an outer voltage loop and an inner current loop, PIS has good dynamic response and robustness. In addition, the circulating current caused by the delay time of control signal transmission is studied in detail. The proposed operation method is easy to be implemented on the digital control board using digital signal processing and field-programmable gate array. The simulation and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the validity and features of the proposed operation method.


Detecting the objects behind the wall using Through the wall radar (TWR) face several problems due to the wall effect and antenna that used in radar system. The wall effect may degrade the detection result and the reflected signal from the target is therefore difficult to distinguish. Multiple reflection, wall attenuation contribute a distortion to the transmitted signal. In order to overcome the previously mention problems, a compensation method due to the wall effect to improve the detection capability of TWR is proposed in this paper. The proposed method consists of two part. The first part is wall and antenna effect extraction and the second is deconvolution. In this research, the laboratory experiment is performed to investigate the performance of the proposed method. TWR radar is modelled using Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). The experiment results show that the proposed method successfully compensates the wall and antenna effect. So the reflected signal from target can be identified well. The effect can be extracted from received signal during the measurement. It makes the proposed method more realistic to be implemented.


We consider the Lebesgue space with variable exponent . It consists of measurable functions for which the integral exists. We establish an analogue of Jackson's first theorem in the case when the -periodic variable exponent satisfies the condition Under the additional assumption we also get an analogue of Jackson's second theorem. We establish an -analogue of Bernstein's estimate for the derivative of a trigonometric polynomial and use it to prove an inverse theorem for the analogues of the Lipschitz classes for . Thus we establish direct and inverse theorems of the theory of approximation by trigonometric polynomials in the classes . In the definition of the modulus of continuity of a function , we replace the ordinary shift by an averaged shift determined by Steklov's function .


Telemedicine and m-Health is gaining its momentum in Sri Lanka. Education and training is an important approach to bring about change. Obviously, medical doctors are one important cohort of stakeholders in healthcare services, and therefore, the M.Sc. degree programme in Biomedical Informatics (introduced at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka) had built basic capacities that will certainly bring Sri Lankan healthcare practices to the next stage of its development.


This study explored the effect of employing two language teaching approaches, i.e., schema-based instruction (SBI) and translation-based instruction (TBI) on the structure and vocabulary knowledge as well as reading comprehension ability of sixty undergraduate students studying general English in a medical school in Mashhad, Iran. While the SBI approaches the words/phrases comprising texts as schemata having syntactic, semantic and discoursal relationships with each other, the latter considers offering their translation equivalents as the only necessary and sufficient condition to understand texts. After being divided into two groups, the learners in the experimental and control groups were taught via SBI and the TBI, respectively. The administration of a 120-item schema-based cloze multiple choice item test (SBCMCIT) developed on the syllabus and administered as a pretest at the beginning of the term showed that the two groups were homogenous. The administration of an unseen final examination (UFE) consisting of  structure, vocabulary and reading comprehension subscales at the end of the term showed that the learners taught via the SBI performed significantly better than those taught via the TBI not only on the UFE and its subscales but also on the SBCMCIT administered as a post test. The findings are discussed within the specified language components and abilities.


Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Systems are widely used to support efficient evidence-based care and have become an important aspect of healthcare. CDS systems are complex, and sometimes malfunction or exhibit anomalous behavior. We have previously shown how anomaly detection models can be used to successfully identify malfunctions in CDS systems. We have extended this work and applied two new anomaly detection models on CDS alert firing data from a large health system.


Summary.  Joint morbidity in haemophilia has traditionally been measured using clinical and radiological scores. There have been no reliable, validated tools for the assessment of functional independence in persons with haemophilia till recently. The Functional Independence Score in Haemophilia (FISH) has been developed as a performance based assessment tool to address this need. The FISH is designed to measure the patient's independence in performing activities of daily living (grooming and eating, bathing and dressing), transfers (chair and floor), and mobility (walking, step climbing and running). On assessment of its psychometric properties in 63 patients with haemophilia (mean age 14 years), FISH was found to have good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.85). It had moderate correlation with the World Federation of Hemophilia clinical score (r = −0.61), and a correlation with the Pettersson score of −0.38. It had good correlation with other self‐rated functional scores, such as the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (r = −0.75); the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (r = −0.66) and the Haemophilia Activities List (HAL) (r = −0.66). It had good reliability with a pooled intra class correlation of 0.98. On assessing responsiveness following treatment of flexion deformities of the knee in 12 patients, the FISH showed significant changes in the score with a standardized responsiveness mean of −1.93. In conclusion, the FISH was found to be a reliable and valid tool with good internal consistency and responsiveness to therapy, for the assessment of functional independence in persons with haemophilia.


T R A N S L AT I O N TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION TO LIU SONGSHAN, 1981: Embryonic but Inchoate Designs for a Constitutional Committee Keith J. Hand * When Xi Jinping took the reins of Chinese Communist Party (Par- ty) and state power in the People's Republic of China (PRC), he cat- alyzed new discussion of constitutional supervision systems. In a 2013 Politburo speech on ruling the country in accordance with law, Xi empha- sized the supremacy of the PRC Constitution and the importance of im- plementing the Constitution. 1 In October 2014, the Fourth Plenum of the Party's 18 th Central Committee issued a major decision on the socialist legal system. This document set out a range of reform initiatives, includ- ing the development of more effective constitutional interpretation and supervision systems. 2 Xi's statements and the Fourth Plenum Decision are part of a broader effort to reinvigorate the Party's commitment to law and legal reform. 3 In the wake of these official statements, prominent Chinese jurists endorsed the idea of establishing a specialized Professor of Law and Director of the East Asian Legal Studies Program, University of California, Hastings College of the Law. 1. Xi Jinping Qiangdiao: Yifa Zhiguo Yifa Zhizheng Yifa Xingzheng Gong- tong Tuijin [Xi Jinping Emphasizes: Promote Ruling the Country in Accordance with the Law, Governing in Accordance with the Law, and Administering in Accordance with the Law Together], Xinhua.net (Feb. 24, 2013), http://news.xinhuanet.com/poli- tics/2013-02/24/c_114782088.htm. 2. Zhonggong Zhongyang Guanyu Quanmian Tuijin Yifa Zhiguo Ruogan Zhongda Wenti de Jueding [Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, De- cision on Some Major Questions in Comprehensively Moving Forward the Gover- nance of the Country in Accordance with the Law], Renmin Wang [People.cn] (Oct. 23, 2014), http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/1029/c1001-25926893.html (hereinafter Fourth Plenum Decision). Constitutional supervision in China includes constitution- al review of legislation, review of the unconstitutional acts of state leaders, and the resolution of jurisdictional disputes among state organs. Cai Dingjian, Constitutional Supervision and Interpretation in the People's Republic of China, 9 J. Chinese L. 219, 3. See generally Jacques DeLisle, The Rule of Law with Xi-Era Characteristics: Law for Economic Reform, Anticorruption, and Illiberal Politics, 20 Asia Policy 23-29 © 2016 Keith J. Hand. All rights reserved.


Objectives:To determine the prevalence of anemia (serum hemoglobin <10 g/dL) and assess zidovudine use and toxicity in HIV-positive pregnant women in India. Methods:From 2002 through 2006, 24,105 pregnant women in Pune were screened for HIV and anemia. As part of an infant prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) trial, enrolled HIV-positive women (n = 467) were assessed for anemia and associated outcomes, comparing women receiving zidovudine for ≥2 weeks versus no zidovudine. Results:The prevalence of anemia was 38.7% in HIV-positive women. Anemic women were as likely as nonanemic women to receive zidovudine. At delivery, regardless of anemia status at enrollment, women receiving ≥2 weeks of zidovudine were 70% less likely to be anemic compared with women receiving no zidovudine (odds ratio = 0.28, 95% confidence interval: 0.14 to 0.57; P < 0.01), received iron and folic acid supplements for longer periods, and had no increased adverse delivery or newborn birth outcomes. Conclusions:A significant proportion of HIV-positive pregnant women in India present for antenatal care with anemia. With concurrent iron and folic acid supplementation, however, zidovudine use is not associated with persistent or worsening anemia or associated adverse outcomes. In Indian community settings, all pregnant HIV-positive women should receive early anemia treatment. Mild anemia should not limit zidovudine use for PMTCT in India.


The Erasmus+ TeCoLa project (2016-2019) aims to develop and test innovative gamified telecollaboration approaches for secondary schools that address issues of learning diversity in intercultural and Content Integrated Language Learning (CLIL) and teaching. Authentic task-based transnational interactions among peers from different socio-cultural, educational and language backgrounds are at the very heart of the learning process, using telecollaboration as a way to communicate and collaborate. In this paper we will shortly describe the project's foci and will elaborate on the teacher training programme that has been designed on the basis of the teachers' needs and on a sound conceptualisation of telecollaboration tasks that are useful, enjoyable, and meaningful.


Contents: Preface. Part I: Historical and Conceptual Foundations. F. Saba, Distance Education Theory, Methodology, and Epistemology: A Pragmatic Paradigm. V.V. Pittman, Correspondence Study in the American University: A Second Historiographic Perspective. C.E. Feasley, Evolution of National and Regional Organizations. E.L. Bunker, The History of Distance Education Through the Eyes of the International Council for Distance Education. D.E. Hanna, Organizational Models in Higher Education, Past and Future. B. Holmberg, A Theory of Distance Education Based on Empathy. O. Peters, Learning With New Media in Distance Education. D.R. Garrison, T. Anderson, W. Archer, A Theory of Critical Inquiry in Online Distance Education. T. Anderson, Modes of Interaction in Distance Education: Recent Developments and Research Questions. Part II: Learning and Learners. C.C. Gibson, Learners and Learning: The Need for Theory. D.R. Garrison, Self-Directed Learning and Distance Education. D. Granger, M. Bowman, Constructing Knowledge at a Distance: The Learner in Context. R.F. Curry, Academic Advising in Distance Education Degree Programs. D.J. Winiecki, Instructional Discussions in Online Education: Practical and Research-Oriented Perspectives. K. Carabajal, D. LaPointe, C.N. Gunawardena, Group Development in Online Learning Communities. C. Dillon, B. Greene, Learner Differences in Distance Learning: Finding Differences That Matter. M. Hannafin, J.R. Hill, K. Oliver, E. Glazer, P. Sharma, Cognitive and Learning Factors in Web-Based Distance Learning Environments. C. Kramarae, Gender Equity Online, When There Is No Door to Knock On. Part III: Design and Instruction. R. Shearer, Instructional Design in Distance Education: An Overview. D.J. Davis, Developing Text for Web-Based Instruction. A.G. Chute, From Teletraining to e-Learning and Knowledge Management. R.A. Wisher, C.K. Curnow, Video-Based Instruction in Distance Learning: From Motion Pictures to the Internet. C.J. Bonk, V. Dennen, Frameworks for Research, Design, Benchmarks, Training, and Pedagogy in Web-Based Distance Education. S. Naidu, Designing Instruction for e-Learning Environments. R.H. Hall, S.E. Watkins, V.M. Eller, A Model of Web-Based Design for Learning. S. McKnight, Distance Education and the Role of Academic Libraries. M. Sammons, Exploring the New Conception of Teaching and Learning in Distance Education. Part IV: Policies, Administration, and Management. L. Pacey, E. Keough, Public Policy, Institutional Structures, and Strategic Implementation. M. Simonson, T. Bauck, Distance Education Policy Issues: Statewide Perspectives. A.K. Lezberg, Accreditation: Quality Control in Higher Distance Education. A.C. Sherry, Quality and Its Measurement in Distance Education. P.J. Dirr, Distance Education Policy Issues: Towards 2010. T.A. Lipinski, Legal Issues in the Development and Use of Copyrighted Material in Web-Based Distance Education. R. Watkins, R. Kaufman, Strategic Planning for Distance Education. M.F. Beaudoin, Distance Education Leadership: An Appraisal of Research and Practice. A. Woudstra, M. Adria, Issues in Organizing for the New Network and Virtual Forms of Distance Education. L.L. Wolcott, Dynamics of Faculty Participation in Distance Education: Motivations, Incentives, and Rewards. M.M. Thompson, M.E. Irele, Evaluating Distance Education Programs. Part V: Different Audiences in Distance Education. D.G. Oblinger, S.C. Rush, The Involvement of Corporations in Distance Education. Z.L. Berge, Planning and Managing Distance Training and Education in the Corporate Sector. K. Perdue, Web-Based Continuing Professional Education: Uses, Motivations, and Deterrents to Participation. P.J.L. Westfall, Distance Education in the U.S. Air Force. S.M. Jones, L.A. Blevins, W. Mally, J.E. Munroe, The U.S. Marine Corps Distance Learning Program. M.W. Freeman, Distance Learning in the U.S. Army: Meeting the Readiness Needs of Transformation. C. Dalziel, Community Colleges and Distance Education. T. Clark, Virtual and Distance Education in American Schools. Part VI: The Economics of Distance Education. G. Rumble, Modeling the Costs and Economics of Distance Education. I. Jung, Cost-Effectiveness of Online Education. A. Inglis, A Comparison of Online Delivery Costs With Some Alternative Distance Delivery Methods. Part VII: International Perspectives. R. Mason, Global Education: Out of the Ivory Tower. C.N. Gunawardena, P.L. Wilson, A.C. Nolla, Culture and Online Education. T. Evans, D. Nation, Globalization and the Reinvention of Distance Education. J. Visser, Distance Education in the Perspective of Global Issues and Concerns. J. Daniel, W. Mackintosh, Leading ODL Futures in the Eternal Triangle: The Mega-University Response to the Greatest Moral Challenge of Our Age. M. Foley, The Global Development Learning Network: A World Bank Initiative in Distance Learning for Development.


Effective solid phase extraction(SPE) ex-treatment method and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent asssay(ELISA) were developed for determining the nodularins(NOD) and cylindrospermopsins(CYN) in water samples.Due to the different polarities,two different ex-treatment methods were applied to NOD and CYN,respectively.The methods were developed as followed: ① For NOD,firstly the C18 column was activated by 10 mL methanol and 10 mL Milli-Q water;then the sample was applied to the column at 3-4 mL/min;after washing the column with 10 mL water,the NOD was eluted with 10 mL methanol;then the eluent was dried up with a rotary evaporator,and lastly the final volume was fixed to 1 mL with Milli-Q water for ELISA analyse.② For CYN,the carb SPE tubes were activated with 10mL methanol and 10mL Milli-Q water;then the sample was applied to the tubes at 2-3 mL/min;after washing the tubes with 10mL methanol,the CYN was eluted with 12 mL methanol containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid;then the eluent was dried up with a rotary evaporator,lastly the final volume was fixed to 1 mL with Milli-Q water containing 0.1% ammonia for ELISA analyse.The results indicated that these methods can guarantee the good recoveries of NOD and CYN for ELISA analyse,which could reach to 94.3% and 77%,respectively.


A review of: "Commonplace Things: Simple Choices," a study day on the history and theory of consumption, held at the National Railway Museum, 5 October 1996, York, England; "Folk Art: Is It All Over?", a conference sponsored by the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 6-9 March 1997, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and "Common Ground: Contemporary Craft, Architecture, and the Decorative Arts," a conference sponsored by the Institute for Contemporary Canadian Craft, 21-23 March 1997, Montreal, Quebec.


The tumour microenvironment represents a dynamic complex milieu, which includes tumour cells, cells of the immune system and other (cellular and non-cellular) components. The role of these particular 'puzzle pieces' may change substantially due to their mutual interactions. The present review concerns different opinions on interactions that occur between monocytes, tumour cells and TMVs (tumour-derived microvesicles).


Domain-specific Neural Machine Translation (NMT) model can provide improved performance, however, it is difficult to always access a domain-specific parallel corpus. Iterative Back-Translation can be used for fine-tuning an NMT model for a domain even if only a monolingual domain corpus is available. The quality of synthetic parallel corpora in terms of closeness to in-domain sentences can play an important role in the performance of the translation model. Recent works have shown that filtering at different stages of the back translation and weighting the sentences can provide state-of-the-art performance. In comparison, in this work, we observe that a simpler filtering approach based on a domain classifier, applied only to the pseudo-training data can consistently perform better, providing performance gains of 1.40, 1.82 and 0.76 in terms of BLEU score for Medical, Law and IT in one direction, and 1.28, 1.60 and 1.60 in the other direction in low resource scenario over competitive baselines. In the high resource scenario, our approach is at par with competitive baselines.


Head beats and eyebrow movements as a function of phonological prominence levels and word accents in Stockholm Swedish news broadcasts


Growth hormone (GH) secretion is increased in subjects with Type 1 diabetes, yet circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I are low or low-normal. Thus there is evidence of GH resistance at the level of the hepatic GH receptor, with low circulating levels of GH binding protein (GHBP), and impaired IGF-I generation following exogenous GH administration. These abnormalities arise in part because the hepatic GH receptor and postreceptor signalling are partially dependent on portal levels of insulin. At diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, GHBP and IGF-I levels are low and although they increase with the introduction of insulin therapy, they remain lower than those of controls. Conventional insulin therapy does not correct these abnormalities, and this is only achieved by direct portal administration of insulin. Portal levels of insulin are also important in regulating IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-1 and IGF protease activity: regulators of IGF-I bioactivity and bioavailability. Reduced IGF-I levels and reduced bioavailability contribute to the poor pubertal growth in Type 1 diabetes, and studies using recombinant human IGF-I (rhlGF-I) indicate that they could also have effects on insulin sensitivity, which is orchestrated by changes in the IGFBPs. Low IGF-I levels also provide the feedback drive for GH hypersecretion. GH hypersecretion in Type 1 diabetes is characterized by increases in pulse amplitude and baseline concentrations with some evidence of a shortened pulse periodicity. The GH resistance appears to be confined to the hepatic GH receptor, as the increase in GH pulse amplitude leads to reduced peripheral glucose uptake and insulin resistance, whereas increases in pulsatile and baseline GH levels lead to enhanced lipolysis and non-esterified fatty acid-mediated changes in hepatic glucose production and ketogenesis. There are no data concerning the integrity of other tissue GH receptors in Type 1 diabetes, but data from animal studies suggest that paracrine production of IGF-I may persist in the eye or the kidney, even in the presence of low circulating IGF-I levels, and this may be of importance in the pathogenesis of microangiopathic complications. RhIGF-I therapy in Type 1 diabetes leads to significant overnight reductions in GH and insulin requirements for euglycaemia. In longer term studies this translates into improved glycosylated haemoglobin levels, but it is yet to be determined whether rhlGF-I will reduce or aggravate the risk for microangiopathic complications.


It is well known that the wave forms of pulse waves in humans are chaotic. Pulse waves of subjects over a wide age range were measured at the brachial artery, and their embedding dimensions and the numbers of active degrees of freedom of the dynamics (d/sub L/s) were calculated using global and local false nearest neighbor methods. The d/sub L/s tend to decrease as the subject's age increases.


AimsThis paper aims to address the research question: What is an effective framework to strategically select nationally reported serious adverse events in healthcare for investigation to improve patient safety? BackgroundThe healthcare system is globally under strain due to an aging population with increasing co-morbidities. Serious adverse events remain a consistent challenge. Patient safety can be improved by investigating cases and addressing underlying systemic risks. However, due to resource limitations, only a limited number of cases can be investigated. This necessitates a strategic selection of cases with the greatest potential for improving patient safety. This paper aims to develop a theoretical framework that identifies the key strategic issues that should be addressed when setting up a new national healthcare safety investigative body to select adverse events for investigation.MethodsThis study will primarily draw on semi-structured interviews with senior stakeholders in key healthcare regulatory agencies in Norway. For comparative purposes, a stakeholder from a key United Kingdom healthcare agency was also interviewed. The interview template is developed based on insights from a literature review and develop existing safety frameworks such as the Framework for Managing Risk. The paper also draws on selected tools from Strategy Management.ResultsA novel theoretical framework was developed to help set up case selection mechanism in a new national investigative body. The framework consists of four strategic themes that should be considered both sequentially and cyclically. Within each theme several key policy questions were identified.(1)Governance: role and powers, independence, and stakeholder engagement (2)Monitoring risk: adverse events, quality indicators, and unexplained variation(3)Strategic portfolio: broad coverage, vulnerable groups, and underreporting (4)Individual case selection: outcome, systemic risk, and learning potentialConclusionsPolicy makers should carefully consider the themes and questions in the proposed theoretical framework when setting up a new national safety investigative agency. In turn, this can ensure that the implemented selection mechanism identifies cases with the greatest potential to improve patient safety.


Abstract The two 15 N nuclei of cis -azobenzene- 15 N 2 dioxide (1) are slightly nonequivalent in the solid state. The 15 N NMR line-shapes of 1 under conditions of magic-angle spinning (MAS) are shown to be sensitive to the spinning rate. Significant line broadening and distortions from normal MAS lineshapes are observed even when the spinning rate is much larger than the 15 N- 15 N dipolar coupling. MAS lineshapes are calculated using average-Hamiltonian theory and compared with experiment. Over a spinning rate range of 1.2 to 6.0 kHz, the agreement between simulated and observed MAS lineshapes is reasonably good. Average-Hamiltonian theory indicates that the detailed 15 N NMR MAS lineshapes are dependent on the relative orientation and magnitude of the two 15 N chemical-shift (CS) tensors as well as the orientation of the CS tensors with respect to the 15 N- 15 N dipolar vector. The 15 N CS tensors of 1 were characterized by analyzing the NMR lineshape of a static powder sample.


My PhD work focused on the exploration of potential negative cardioand cerebrovascular consequences in response to energy drink consumption, which were investigated in young and healthy subjects. We used a randomized controlled crossover study design, in combination with state of the art equipment for assessment of blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, and cerebral blood flow velocity, to investigate hemodynamic responses to energy drink consumption:


Process capability indices have been widely used to evaluate the process performance to the continuous improvement of quality and productivity. The distribution of the estimator of the process capability index C pmk is very complicated and the asymptotic distribution is proposed by Chen and Hsu [The asymptotic distribution of the processes capability index C pmk , Comm. Statist. Theory Methods 24(5) (1995), pp. 1279–1291]. However, we found a critical error for the asymptotic distribution when the population mean is not equal to the midpoint of the specification limits. In this paper, a correct version of the asymptotic distribution is given. An asymptotic confidence interval of C pmk by using the correct version of asymptotic distribution is proposed and the lower bound can be used to test if the process is capable. A simulation study of the coverage probability of the proposed confidence interval is shown to be satisfactory. The relation of six sigma technique and the index C pmk is also discussed in this paper. An asymptotic testing procedure to determine if a process is capable based on the index of C pmk is also given in this paper.


In October 2014, all 4,494 undergraduates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were given access to Bitcoin, the first decentralized digital currency to solve the problems that had plagued computer scientists' early attempts at creating digital cash. As a unique feature of the experiment, students who would generally adopt only mature and established technologies were placed into an early-adopter condition: suddenly they had to decide to either learn more about Bitcoin and try to use it, to bet on its volatile future by holding it, or to simply cash out and convert it into US dollars. In this paper, we explore the students' response to the digital currency, and in particular how randomly delaying different types of students relative to their peers affected their adoption decision. Our results point to a novel mechanism through which early-adopters may influence technology adoption, and ultimately technology S-curves: whereas the existing literature has stressed the positive, network-effect building role of individuals who seek early adopter status, our data suggests that they can also be an obstacle to diffusion. If early-adopters derive consumption utility from being first among their peer group in embracing new technology trends, excluding them from early access has a strong effect on the likelihood that they will ignore the technology. Moreover, their behavior seems to generate negative spillovers on adoption by their peers. The experimental nature of our data, combined with fine-grained information about individual outcomes, allows us to cleanly estimate the causal effect of short delays on adoption. Small changes in the initial availability of a technology among different types of users have a lasting effect on its potential: Seeding a technology while ignoring early adopters' needs for distinctiveness is counterproductive.


Behavior of a dynamic vibration absorber system with combined viscous and Coulomb friction both in the main system and in the absorber is investigated. In this case, the main system is subjected to harmonic base excitation. The solution for the non-stop steady motion is deduced from the equation of motion refering to the half cycle of relative motion between the main mass and the base by means of the boundary condition method. The numerical results of analytical solution coincide very well with those of digital simulation. A set of empirical formulae for calculating the optimum tuning and damping of the absorber, constructed by composing and correcting the formulae given in the previous reports, are prsented.


The present invention relates to the field of high-pressure, high-pressure tank structure which discloses a high-pressure accelerator, comprising a high voltage tank, a charged particle generator, accelerating tube, and a beam transport line target of interest; high voltage inside the hollow compartment the housing is surrounded by a high voltage through a grounded tank; and a cavity, the charged particle generator is disposed in the hollow cavity; said high voltage tank is provided to assist in a higher potential to accelerate the charged particles out of the electronic generator ; disposed near the outer edge of the tank with a high voltage insulated conductors. Advantageous effects of the present invention are: to set the position of the insulated conductor according to the different air grounded housing surrounding a high voltage tank structure and spaced, thereby further increasing the maximum withstand voltage of the high voltage compartment.


"Golden-Queen" muskmelon was used to study the effect of hot water treatments on the ability of PE and PPO.Muskmelon was treated with hot water for 2 min,3 min,4 min at the temperature 40℃ and 50℃ and 60℃ respectively.The results showed that the treatment with the temperature 50℃ for 3 min may restrain the activity of PE and PPO,but may retard degradation of pectic substance,prevent muskmelon from rotting and prolong the shelf life of muskmeoln.


Abstract This article presents and describes the simulation and emulation of single processing core, designed for new heterogeneous multiprocessor computer architectures with supplemental computing elements in the operating memory. We study the emulated results over the simulated model to confirm it's usability in the overall simulation of complete system. The simulated models are developed based on existing data, comparing time markers, measuring the output performance against the results from the emulation. Using additional computing elements in the memory will allows us to improve the current limitations of the conventional architectures.


py4DSTEM is a free, open source, python-based data analysis package for the emerging field of fourdimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM). In 4D-STEM, the electron beam is rastered across a sample and a diffraction pattern is collected at each scan position, yielding highly information-rich datasets which can be used to virtually recreate images that map sample orientation, local lattice parameters, strain, and short/medium range ordering, or to reconstruct the electrostatic potential itself [1]. These datasets can easily reach tens or even hundreds of GB in size, and almost always require significant computational processing to extract useful results. The aim of py4DSTEM is to make 4DSTEM data analysis easy and accessible for everyone [2].


Design of an electronically beam steerable integrated lens antenna suitable for 71-76/81-86 GHz backhaul applications is presented. The lens is made from a thermoplastic material and has the aperture size (diameter) of 260 mm ensuring a half power beam width below 1°. The beam steering capability is provided by an antenna array of 4 microstrip patch feed elements and a single pole four through MMIC switch mounted on a high frequency printed circuit board. The half-power (-3 dB) overlapping level of the adjacent beams is achieved by selecting a proper distance between the feed elements in the array. The lens antenna has a WR-12 waveguide interface and can be easily integrated with traditional millimeter-wave radio systems. Measurement results of the fabricated lens antenna prototype with electronic beam steering are provided. A successful trial of the prototype was performed with a commercial 71-76/81-86 GHz system during a 3-month test at a mobile operator's network.


Abstract We develop a modular landscape model for the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) infestation of a stage‐structured forest of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas). Beetle attack dynamics are modeled using response functions and beetle movement using dispersal kernels. This modeling technique yields four model candidates. These models allow discrimination between four broad possibilities at the landscape scale: whether or not beetles are subject to an Allee effect at the landscape scale and whether or not host selection is random or directed. We fit the models with aerial damage survey data to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area using estimating functions, which allows for more rapid and complete parameter determination. We then introduce a novel model selection procedure based on facial recognition technology to compliment traditional nonspatial selection metrics. Together with these we are able to select a best model and draw inferences regarding the behavior of the beetle in outbreak conditions.


Reinforced concrete bridges are common in Sweden and often damaged by reinforcement
corrosion that reduces the safety of the structure. This issue has been addressed in several research
projects with, however, a strong focus on ribbed bars, while further knowledge about smooth bars
is still needed. Edge beams from a bridge in Gullspang with naturally corroded smooth bars will
be studied so as to provide benchmark data for the assessment of the load-carrying capacity of
existing structures with corroded smooth bars. Structural tests are carried out on several beams,
with varying amounts of corrosion damage, measuring anchorage properties such as applied load
and end-slip.


According to several theoretical points of educational philosiphy thoughts such as "every student owning his merits",this research puts forward principles of methods designing such as promoting integration,observing process,trending personality,strengthening cooperation and doing research with teaching, thus to forms 13 fundamental ways for evaluation and the evaluation tool——The manual of supporting curriculum for students'development. On the view of developing psychological guidence, the research poses the evaluation of "each mentally retardaed tudent should have a suitable evaluation system", constructs the evaluation research pattern of "humanistic-integration",and forms the"multi-developing evaluation" operation system and a series of related research achievement.


Drawing on statistics from the archives of the Luella Hannan Memorial Home, including the number of applications filed between 1927 and 1933, the gender, race, marital status and educational backgrounds of the applicants, the number of cases denied and accepted, and the reasons for these decisions, the authors characterize the "Hannan-type" as one who met the discursive, cultural, and organizational expectations of the sponsoring institution.


Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a complex neuromuscular disorder caused by expansion of a CTG repeat in the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of the DMPK gene. Mutant DMPK transcripts form aberrant structures and anomalously associate with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). As a first step toward better understanding of the involvement of abnormal DMPK mRNA folding in DM1 manifestation, we used SHAPE, DMS, CMCT, and RNase T1 structure probing in vitro for modeling of the topology of the DMPK 3′-UTR with normal and pathogenic repeat lengths of up to 197 CUG triplets. The resulting structural information was validated by disruption of base-pairing with LNA antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) and used for prediction of therapeutic AON accessibility and verification of DMPK knockdown efficacy in cells. Our model for DMPK RNA structure demonstrates that the hairpin formed by the CUG repeat has length-dependent conformational plasticity, with a structure that is guided by and embedded in an otherwise rigid architecture of flanking regions in the DMPK 3′-UTR. Evidence is provided that long CUG repeats may form not only single asymmetrical hairpins but also exist as branched structures. These newly identified structures have implications for DM1 pathogenic mechanisms, like sequestration of RBPs and repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation.


Abstract The tail plumage of the Superb Lyrebird, Menura novaehollandiae, proceeds through a succession of annual moults over about eight years for the male and about seven for the female in which the feathers change in dimensions, shape, structure and pigmentation. Male lyrates increase in length from 245 mm to ∼700 mm, and in weight from 0.37 g to 2.4 g; adult female lyrates are ∼305 mm long and weigh 0.55 g; but details vary from bird to bird. The asymmetry (defined in paper) of the first two generations of lyrates is low, but increases at each generation. The shape of the feather is determined by the lengths of the barbs in both vanes and the angle of growth, and the curvature pattern of the shaft, which is curved concave to the long axis of the bird over the proximal part and convex over the distal part. The degree of curvature is greatest in the distal part and increases as the bird matures. Lyrates have yellow-orange-brown bars along the inner vane; the number increases from 16 for the second generation to 20–25 at maturity; adult female lyrates have 8–12 bars. Lyrebirds from Sherbrooke Forest differ from one another in the details of the properties studied; lyrates from other districts had characteristics that fell within the ranges of values for the Sherbrooke birds. The data for a particular mature male bird from Healesville indicate that, once a male bird has matured, the dimensions and structural details remain (practically) unchanged. The lyrates of adult females from different districts differed in some respects, but were similar in others.


AbstractOur studies on the targeting of liposomes and liposome-associated pharmaceuticals within the cardiovascular system are reviewed. The delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents in plain liposomes, immunoliposomes, long-circulating liposomes and long-circulating immunoliposomes into the sites of vascular injuries and myocardial infarction is discussed. In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experiments present a general view on the advantages and limitations of using liposome-mediated targeting. Liposomes capable of targeting pathological areas of the blood vessel wall both, in vitro and ex vivo are described, as well as liposome able to be internalized by normal endothelial cells. Liposome-mediated drug targeting to compromised myocardium is reviewed with a primary impact on liposomes with anti-cardiac myosin antibodies. Targeted visualization of myocardial infarction with diagnostic liposomes is discussed. Efficient accumulation of long-circulating immunoliposomes in the infarct zone is demonstrated, a...


The purpose of this study was to find out the Prospective English teachers' perspective on the development of translation's textbook base on Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Pedagogical purpose. Therefore, the quantitative research was applied to gather the data. By using the questionnaire with Likert Scale, the quantitative data were collected from 100 prospective English teachers in Indonesia. As a result, from nine aspects questioned to the prospective English teachers, most of them (92%) said that the translation's textbook base on TEFL Pedagogical purpose was significantly needed. Therefore, the English Education Study Program (EESP) in Indonesia should use translation for teaching English purpose not for professional career in translation. Therefore, Translation as a TEFL purpose model is the most suitable model to be applied in EESP in Indonesia.


The association between sclerodermiform syndromes and cancer has been described historically since the 1950s, in most cases preceding the debut of the neoplastic process [1,2]. The spectrum of the clinical manifestations includes from the classical picture of systemic sclerosis to cases of scleroderma and scleromyxedema. To date, less than 10 cases of this type of paraneoplastic skin syndromes related to prostate cancer have been reported [3,4].


This paper presents an improved robust tracking control for uncertain robot manipulators. An approximate fast terminal sliding mode control is proposed by integrating a nonsingular fast terminal sliding surface with an exponential reaching law. Lyapunov stability theory is employed to prove the global approximate finite-time stability ensuring that the tracking errors converge to an arbitrary small ball centered at zero within a finite time and thereafter arrive at zero asymptotically. The benefits of this integrated design are that it can ensure faster transient and higher steady-state tracking precision with lower chattering. Simulations and experiments are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and improved performances of the proposed approach.


Function approximation can improve the ability of a reinforcement learner. Tile coding and Kanerva coding are two classical methods for implementing function approximation, but these methods may give poor performance when applied to large-scale, high-dimensional instances. In the paper, we evaluate a collection of hard instances of the predator-prey pursuit problem, a classic multi-agent reinforcement learning problem, to compare these two methods and their optimization techniques. We rst show that Kanerva coding gives better results than Tile coding when the dimension of the instances increases. We then describe a feature optimization mechanism and show that it can increase the fraction of solved instances by both Tile coding and Kanerva coding. Finally, we demonstrate that a fuzzy approach to function approximation can further increase the fraction of instances. We show that our fuzzy approach to Kanerva coding outperforms fuzzy Tile coding when feature optimization is applied. on large-scale, high-dimensional multi-agent problems.


Topological features of the torus can be used to significantly reduce data projection errors in simple principal component analysis on high-dimensional periodic manifolds.


Review of: Jeronim Perovic (ed.), Cold War Energy. A Transnational History of Soviet Oil and Gas. Cham:
Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, xxix, 425 pp., £74.50/e106.99 h/b.


The numerical simulation of thermal field in laser processing has been studied in this paper.The 3D(three dimensions)finite element model of transient thermal calculation has been given by thermal conductive equation.The effects of latent heat of transformation have been considered.Finally numerical example was given to verify the model.


This research investigates the effect of process parameters on real-time temperature and forces distribution during friction stir welding of AA7039. Experiments are conducted at different rotational speed, welding speed, and tilt angle conditions. For the experimentation, a low-cost real-time force-measuring fixture is indigenously developed in-house. However, eight K-type L-shaped thermocouples are used to examine the real-time temperature distribution. The forces in the z-direction are of a higher magnitude than the x-direction. The maximum force in the z-direction of 3.25 kN is witnessed for 2° tilt angle and a minimum of 2.1 kN for 26 mm/min of welding speed. The maximum force in the x-direction of 0.97 kN is obtained at 2° tilt angle and a minimum of 0.27 kN is obtained at 1.3° tilt angle. The maximum temperature of 390 °C is observed at 1812 r/min, whereas a minimum of 283 °C is observed at 43 mm/min of welding speed. The variations in temperature and force distribution during friction stir welding are also evaluated by utilizing two phenomenological models.


A die setup for direct hot extrusion of extra-short aluminium alloys billets used in semi-pilot plant tests was simulated using Deform ® 2D/3D software and results were compared with experiment. A die setup without welding chamber proved to shorten charge-weld to such extend that most of material could be recovered as usable samples. Having good agreement between simulated and experimental results of two tested die setups (with and without welding chamber) the effect of temperature on length of charge-weld was evaluated. A main drawback of die setup without welding chamber is too short and, consequently, too week charge-weld. Since many extruded profiles need to be stretched after cooling, die setup without welding chamber is not applicable for commercial production.  Application of die setup without – or with shallow – welding chamber is limited to flat profiles with simple and symmetrical geometry like round or rectangular bars where mixing of extruded material is not crucial for the extruded profile properties.


Purpose: Authors introduce short term results, hazards and solutions of 250 two incision MIS hip replacement performed in their institute. Aspects of one incision techniques are detailed with differences in indication . Methods: Between April 2003 and September 2004 250 two-incision minimally invasive total hip replacements were performed in authors institute. The cup and the stem is implanted through two incisions using physiological muscle route between m. sartorius and m. tensor fasciae latae and the m.rectus femoris and the m. gluteus medius. Preparation of the stem is done through an incision made above the greater trochanter through a gluteus maximus split straight done to the piriformis fossa. No muscles and tendons are detached Neurovascular hazards, complications with solutions are introduced. Indication is determined by pathoanatomy and weight of the patient. 115 osteoarthritis, 72 aseptic necrosis, 57 dysplastic and 6 posttraumatic patients were operated. Results: The operation performed on properly selected patients results in increased primary stability, because of preserving structures like the iliotibial tract, muscles and the iliofemoral ligament, causing minimal soft tissue damage. There was no dislocation. Radiological analysis revealed more than 3 degrees malalignment in 3,7 % for stem and in 5,1% for cup. Fluoroscopy and OP time was reduced to av. 6 secs. Average flexion was 76 degrees in the first two post op days. Post operative pain was significantly reduced. Hospital stay was 3,2 days. There was no infection, nor heterotopic ossification. In 5 cases the femur fractured and wiring was necessary through the anterior incision. 1 revision for cemented stem was necessary because of stem migration due to extreme size of femur . Conversion to lateral exposure was done in one case. Conclusions: Two incision minimally invasive total hip replacement is technically more demanding, requiring adequate training and knowledge. Appropriate indication is inevitable. Hospital stay and rehabilitation time is reduced also resulting in economic benefit, though not compromising good result of THR.