We present a different implementation of the Edge Illumination (EI) X-ray Phase Contrast imaging method based on the use of multiple focal spots created through an additional x-ray mask. While this resembles directly inspired by the Talbot-Lau implementation of grating interferometry, the aim of the source mask and its effect on the acquired images are different. The individual "sourcelets" are much larger than in grating methods, and then still spatially incoherent; however, their use allows (a) exploiting cheap and large focal spot sources and (b) reducing the source spot size from the usual 70–100 μm typically used in EI to few tens of μm, which enables the realisation of more compact setups. However, in EI, multiple sources create images shifted by one detector pixel with respect to the other, imposing the use of an image restoration algorithm. Here, we show that the approach is feasible by deconvolving differential phase-contrast image profiles acquired with three separate sources, and comparing resu...


Image resizing is one of the basic operations for image and video display, transmission, and analysis, etc. Traditional image resizing methods usually utilize an interpolation algorithm to zoom in or zoom out an image, e.g., the nearest neighborhood interpolation, the bilinear interpolation and the cubic interpolation are most widely used ones. The interpolation based methods don't pay attention to the content of an image and so they may make the image be seen unnaturally. The famous seam carving based image resizing method reserves the high energy part of an image during the image resizing process, so it is content aware and has better performance than the interpolation based methods. But drawbacks still exist in the former seam carving based image resizing methods proposed by researchers. In this paper, a new improved seam carving image resizing method is proposed. In the proposed improved method, a new combined energy is utilized which can better describe the content of the image. Optimization methods are also provided to accelerate the algorithms. Experimental results show that the proposed method is effective.


Indus-2 is a 2.5 GeV electron storage ring and a national facility for synchrotron radiation users in India providing the photon beam in round the clock mode. Recently, the electron beam emittance of Indus-2 was reduced to one third of the normal operating optics (130 nm rad) with improved beam optics. Due to this reduced emittance, likelihood of fast beam ion instability (FBII) enhances, and that was explored using simulation study. FBII is generated due to the cascading interaction of electron beam with ions that comes across in the path of the beam. This interaction induces oscillation in center of mass of bunches of electron beam and that process increases the transverse beam size, which spoils the effort made in achieving the reduction in beam emittance. For correct understanding of this instability, simulations have been performed with different ring average pressure and considering different per bunch current values. Further, studies have been carried out for two sets of beam optics used for normal emittance and reduced emittance of the electron beam. The simulation method and results are presented in this paper. To observe the signature of this instability, an experiment has been conducted in Indus-2 and its limitations due to operational gas pressure are discussed.


The effect of particle size on the movement and solubility of z39Pu02 has been investigated in rats by administering fractionated suspensions of a polydisperse aerosol. Particles > 0.025 pm remained predominantly in the lungs after intubation or deposited in the liver after intravenous injection. Convei sely, particles of about 0.001 pm diameter move rapidly from the lungs to blood. In blood, the particles undergo a rapid reaction. It is postulated from the experimental evidence that this involves citrate ions and that a chemical species of 239Pu with citrate, as yet unidentified and referred to as an "intermediate" species, is formed. This then could proceed to form citrate and eventually 239pu transferrin. The "intermediate" species is the predominant form of Pu in urine within tens of minutes following an intravenous injection of 0.001 pm PuO, particles but is subsequently transformed to 239Pu citrate. There are two implications from this study. One is that a polydisperse aerosol containing a high 0.001-pm particle fraction will behave differently to that predicted by the Task Group Lung Clearance Model, which defines 23?u02 as an insoluble compound. The other is that any attempt to estimate the body content (excluding lungs) of 239Pu by applying a fixed factor to cumulative urinary excretion would have to be adjusted to account for the enhanced excretion of 239Pu (compared with administered 239Pu citrate) in the early period after an intake of 0.001-pm particles. The intravenous injection of Na3Ca-DTPA effectively removed the 0.001-pm component of a polydisperse aerosol of 239PuOz if administered within 1 hr. 239


Nowadays, electricity consumption especially in Malaysia has increased by the year. One of the factors that led to the increase in electricity consumption of a building is the usage of air conditioners (AC). The inability of conventional AC remote controls to monitor indoor environment conditions of the building will lead to unnecessary extreme temperature setting, then causing unnecessary high electrical consumption. Also, the conventional AC remote control is not able to store and perform analysis on the environment condition data of the building for the use of energy management strategy. The conventional AC remote control is only able to show the temperature set point value of the system, which could not represent the comfort experienced by occupants. In this project, a new device which can monitor the indoor environment condition and estimated electricity consumption on a web server is developed. The device monitors a comprehensive thermal comfort index Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) representing the comfort experienced by the occupants. The device is equipped with wireless sensor modules for indoor and outdoor remote monitoring. The device can monitor the outdoor temperature, indoor temperature, and indoor relative humidity along with indoor PMV value and electricity consumption. This device can grant advance feature to conventional AC remote control without causing physical modification to the existing system.


They have found three gems. Now they must seek the fourth, hiddenon a shimmering, barren waste, kept jealously by an unknown guardian. Separation, confusion, and strange, terrible enemies await Lief, Barda, and Jasmine in the harsh land-scape of the Shifting Sands.


When a visual stimulus is randomly displayed either to the left or to the right of the fixation point, manual response is faster when both the response key and the stimulus are located at the same side (compatible condition) than at opposite sides (incompatible condition). In a spatial compatibility task, a difference of 30-40 ms is found between the manual reaction times (MRT) of compatible and incompatible conditions. In the Simon effect, though the criterion to response selection is primarily stimulus shape (or color), the stimulus position also influences the MRT, either increasing it in the compatible condition or delaying it in the incompatible condition. The Simon effect can be inverted if the subject has recently performed incompatible tasks, showing that short-term memory processes elicited by the incompatible associations can modulate stimulus-response relationships based on long-term memory.


ABSTRACT Effects of two anionic hydrotropes – sodium benzoate (NaBz) and sodium salicylate (NaSal) – on the mixed-micelle formation with an amino-acid-based surfactant – sodium lauroylsarcosinate (SLS) – in water were investigated by the conductometric method. Specific conductivity was measured for SLS/NaBz/water and SLS/NaSal/water systems to determine the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Using the regular solution theory for non-ideal mixing, the pairwise interaction parameter, β12, and micellar composition, χ, were estimated in the mixed micelle. The cmc values of the surfactant–hydrotropes mixtures were generally lower than those predicted from the ideal mixing theory. The β12 values are generally negative for the two systems at all mole fractions with an average value of −2.83 for the SLS/NaBz and −3.31 for SLS/NaSal systems, respectively, indicative of a strong attractive interaction between the SLS/NaBz and SLS/NaSal mixed micelle. The calculated thermodynamic parameters of micellisation all indicated spontaneity in mixed-micelle formation for the systems studied.


Influenza is preventable by vaccination and the vaccination is recommended by the The German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) as a standard vaccination for people from the age of 60 onwards. Up to date a parenterally administered trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) has been in use almost exclusively. Since 2011 however a live attenuated vaccine (LAIV) has been approved additionally. The STIKO most recently recommends LAIV for children from 2 to 17 years of age, within the scope of indication vaccination.


An innovative nanonetwork composed of TiO2 nanoparticles and single-crystalline ZnO nanowires is demonstrated as efficient photoanode in excitonic solar cells. Such architecture benefits of the capability of high sensitizer loading offered by the nanoparticles and of the direct conduction path for electrons guaranteed by the nanowires. The combination of these features leads to improved light absorption, electron photogeneration, and charge collection. The nanonetwork was implemented in a dye-sensitized solar-cell architecture demonstrating threefold enhancement of the efficiency with respect to a nanowire photoanode of the same thickness. Cell efficiency of 1.6% was obtained in 1.5 μm thick nanonetwork.


Life support networks are vital structures, as they are significant in size and essential in nature for the entire society. A network failure may thus involve serious consequences. The analysis of the needs of those in charge of emergency measures has established that the behaviour of life support networks had to be studied not only for extreme events but also for all possible situations of failure. In this context, the role of civil engineers is crucial, since they must assure the safety of infrastructures from design to dismantling. The proposed approach consists of characterizing networks according to the importance and efficiency of their missions, operations, and essential infrastructures. This allows approaching network vulnerabilities from an exhaustive and global perspective. Based on the degree of efficiency of a mission, it is possible to identify the dysfunctioning operations and infrastructures, from which the internal and external causes of faults or failures could be defined. Instead of star...


The XE-2100 is a new automated hematology analyzer developed by Sysmex Corporation. With consideration of medical analyzer requirements for the 21st century, this unit was developed to satisfy the following concepts and to cope with diversified laboratory needs. 1) Electronic network communication 2) Presentation of high level value-added information 3) Contribution to test cost control 4) Pursuit of a user-friendly analyzer The XE-2100 provides integrated reticulocyte analysis, previously available only in a separate device, and has the ability to enumerate nucleated red blood cells. The instrumentÕs capacity for high throughput allows simultaneous determination of five-part white blood cell differential, nucleated red blood cell count at the rate of 150 samples per hour. These features contribute to a significant reduction in report turn-around-time (TAT). In addition, the instrument is designed to provide remote maintenance support and on-line quality control reporting through an electronic network, thus improving laboratory management. (Sysmex J 9 : 58 − 64, 1999)


In this work, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations to study the fracture mechanism of ice crystals in a bulk phase and at ice-ice interfaces at the atomistic scale. We show that there exists a narrow disordered interfacial layer between two Ih ice structures. The width of the interfacial layer is determined to be about the size of two water molecules. Upon deformation, the stress response of ice at interface show significantly anisotropic behaviors depending on the direction of deformation. Bulk-like behavior is observed when direction of deformation being orthogonal to the direction of interfacial plane. Significantly smaller fracture stress and yield strain occurs if the deformation is along interfacial plane. This result illustrates the dominant role played by the small amount of disordered water molecules at interface in altering mechanical strength of an interfacial structure.


Geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) bridge abutments can offer a relatively inexpensive and practical solution for bridge foundations in a wide range of applications including low volume roads, highways, or trails applications. The use of geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) systems for bridge abutments and piers is receiving increased attention and interest because of low cost, speed, and ease of construction. Considerable experience has been gained on GRS abutment supported bridges constructed in California, Colorado, and Alaska on Forest Service trail and road bridge projects. The Federal Highway Administration and various US Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have also used this technology, as well as in Europe, Australia, and Japan. The soil mass of the abutment system is typically reinforced with layers of a polymeric geosynthetic material. Various "flexible" facing materials have been used, including timbers, concrete block, or welded wire, or rigid facing materials can be used. This adaptation of reinforced soil technology to bridge structures and their approach fills offers an excellent opportunity to simplify construction, and reduce time and cost on structures where this technology is appropriate. Also the actual bridge superstructure rests upon the GRS abutment wall, minimizing differential settlement and eliminating the problematic "bridge bump" found on many structures.


Abstract : The Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat Capability (HDBTDC) Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) was a tri-service effort led by the Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) to determine the best weapon system solution for the defeat of hard and deeply buried targets. This paper describes the methodology and approach used for the lethality analysis portion of the HDBTDC AOA. The HDBTDC AOA was performed in three steps. Under Step 1, measures of performance and measures of effectiveness were defined. In addition, representative hard targets were chosen for the template target set and defeat mechanisms were defined for each template target. In Step 2, a screening analysis was completed using simplified algorithms to analyze the effectiveness of the conceptual weapon systems against the template target set. The weapon system concepts were compared within categories to select the most promising candidates for additional analysis. Based on this comparison, generic weapons were designed to improve performance in each category. In Step 3 a detailed analysis was completed in which the best systems in each category from Step 2 and the generic weapon concepts were evaluated in more detail using the Modular Effectiveness and Vulnerability Assessment (MEVA) code.


Solar light is recognized as one of the most valuable sustainable energy sources of the future. Finding solutions to enhance energy‐conversion efficiency is of paramount significance for realizing more efficient photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices. Remarkable development in chemical and physical strategies has been explored to increase the optical‐absorption coefficients, extend the spectral range, and optimize the light‐harvesting and conversion efficiency. Optical resonators, which play a ubiquitous role in modern optics, possess the unique ability to provide strong optical confinement and enormous light‐matter interactions. Such features have attracted tremendous attention in photoelectric enhancement and applications in photovoltaic, photocatalysis, and even light‐emitting devices recently. This review presents theoretical as well as experimental progress on enhanced photovoltaic and photocatalysis by exploiting optical resonators. Fundamentals of various optical cavities are discussed according to confinement and photoelectric enhancing mechanism, including Fabry–Perot, whispering gallery mode, photonic crystal, plasmonics, and hybrid cavities. Finally, the application prospects of cavity‐enhanced photoelectric effect, including strong coupling, cavity design, and challenges are discussed. It is envisioned that the successful implementation of optical resonators in photoenergy applications may open a promising avenue for a broad spectrum of light‐energy‐conversion technologies.


FIELD: shipbuilding. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to ship building and navigation in severe storm and ice conditions. Invention covers all-weather sea rescue research ship created with orientation on multigrade and all-weather navigation in the Far-Eastern seas of Russia. Invention defines optimized hull form, as well as design and arrangement of superstructure, devices and mechanisms of the ship. EFFECT: technical result consists in minimizing of external force action on the side of the hurricane winds and storm waves at active ship maneuvering. 1 cl, 4 dwg


Objective To probe into the application value of pressure monitoring of artificial airway gasbag in nursing care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients accepted tracheal catheterization.Methods 60 COPD patients with artificial airway were randomly divided into two groups.Patients of test group were used with inflation of special air pressure gauge PORTEX aero cyst pressure monitoring meter to acetify and take pressure,while patients in control group were applied traditional fingers-nipping to acetify.Air leakage of the two groups was checked via ventilator.Both aero cyst pressure,aero cyst volume and complication incidence were compared with each other.Results When aero cyst pressure of test group was(27.50±2.50)cm H2O,aero cyst volume was(11.0±1.8)mL.However,when aero cyst pressure of control group was(42.74±7.26)cm H2O,air bag volume was(15.0±5.2)mL.No air leakage was monitored in two groups.There were less brachial mucous injury or aero cyst broken in test group than control group,with significant difference(P0.05).There was no obvious difference between two groups in aspiration,esophago-tracheal fistula and air leakage(P0.05).Conclusion The gasbag pressure of COPD patients with artificial airway is measured with inflation of special air pressure gauge and maintain(29.50±2.50)cm H2O,which effectively avoids airway mucosa injury,aero cyst broken,air leakage and aspiration.


Abstract The preparation of carbon dots (CDs) from different biomass source represents an interesting alternative to obtain these nanoparticles, mainly when they can be prepared using low-cost methods. In this work we have used a nitrogen-rich precursor, chitosan, to obtain CDs using two different methods, acid dehydration (AD) and hydrothermal carbonization (HC), with the aim to study the different characteristics of the obtained nanoparticles. Also, a simple method to functionalize the CDs was applied to enhance the optical properties of the carbon nanoparticles. The obtained CDs were characterized by several techniques including FTIR, Elemental Analysis, TEM, UV-Vis, Fluorescence, and Potentiometric Titration. Size distribution measurements showed that the CDs had a narrow size distribution, with the diameters in the range 1.0–3.6 nm. Also, the CDs obtained by the HC method showed a greater amount of nitrogen functional groups than the nanoparticles prepared by the AD route. The functionalized CDs obtained from the HC method reached 15.3% of quantum yield. Furthermore, the obtained CDs were used as fluorescent sensors for different metal ions. Finally, these results represent an alternative to obtain biomass-derived CDs prepared via a low-cost method, presenting a relatively high quantum yield with potential applications in different areas.


In this article, for the first time, one of the insufficiently studied problems "the ways of using plants of the southwestern Kyrgyz in the processing of skins in the late XIX and early XX centuries" is considered. Based on a thorough analysis of the relevant material, it is substantiated that the southwestern Kyrgyz processed skins and fur products in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and used different types of plants, and we are witnessing this problem. They produced materials from animal skins suitable for household use (clothes, shoes, utensils, horse equipment, etc.). The skin was cleaned from the remnants of meat, fat, and made it soft, durable, flexible and waterproof, and finally dyed with herbs. The dyed leather goods were of high quality. Attempts have been made to provide folk methods of labor-intensive leather production of the southwestern Kyrgyz, including the use of plants, based on field materials.


Background In a context of a rapid emerging disease, like the COVID-19 pandemic, we are confronted with clinical uncertainty, evolving epidemiological setting and lacking evidence. Within the context of such a high-priority topic, living systematic reviews (LSRs) are an important systematic review type characterized through regular updating and permanent surveillance of continuously evolving evidence. However, with the new pandemic-related challenges, the standard LSR methodology had to be adapted. Objectives The objective is to discuss certain challenges that occurred when conducting LSRs in a rapidly emerging disease context. In particular, we give insights in the lessons we have learned from the conduct of two COVID-19 LSRs and highlight emerging methodological aspects. Results With the evolving knowledge around the virus and its caused disease, we learned that the initial plan for inclusion of study designs, publication types, interventions and comparators, outcomes and the search strategy had to be adapted. The author teams for example had to revise outcome measures or included observational data in addition to evidence from randomized controlled trials, as they provided substantial information on the safety of investigated interventions. For deciding when to update a LSR, additional aspects, such as policy relevance or waiting for important evidence dependent on the individual research question were considered. To avoid biases in the review process, we learned that transparent reporting of any methodological adaptations is highly relevant;between protocol and review, as well as between each review update. Conclusions Our experience showed that LSRs are highly suitable in a pandemic context, in particular when facing unexpected methodological and clinical challenges. The research question, study designs and the methodology, should be revisited and critically discussed before each update, to be flexible enough for addressing the pandemic context. Key messages Living systematic reviews are highly relevant in a pandemic context, but the methodology and decision when to update the review have to be adapted to respond purposeful to the emerging topic. To avoid biases in the review process, we learned that transparent reporting of any methodological adaptations is highly relevant;between protocol and review, as well as between each review update.


The invention relates to a clustering type file management method and a clustering type file management device. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining an existing file download path of a client and corresponding download file information; sending first synchronizing information to the client, wherein the first synchronizing information comprises the existing file download path and the corresponding download file information; generating a cluster file directory at the client according to the first synchronizing information, wherein the cluster file directory comprises the existing file download path, a corresponding download file and information thereof; obtaining the file download path when the client downloads and the corresponding download file information; updating or supplementing the first synchronizing information according to the obtained file download path when the client downloads and the corresponding download file information. According to the clustering type file management method and device provided by the invention, users are not needed to perform extra operations, and the efficiency is high.


The purpose of this study was to develop a new order fulfillment strategy for LG Electronics Nordic AB. This order fulfillment strategy is called order delivery strategy (ODS) which aims to strike ...


Recent global health challenges due to coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic point to the fact that health system strengthening through health financing is indispensable. Government expenditure on the health sector based on budgetary allocation is very low at less than 6% compared to the recommended 15% by the Abuja Declaration. However, innovative health care financing is a winning way to raise revenue to enhance health care delivery for the achievement of Universal Health Care Coverage (UHC). This paper examined the prospects of various innovative financing options for the health sector that Nigeria can leverage on as alternative ways to finance the health sector. This was carried out by reviewing different options in terms of its components, justification, income generating capacity and implementation strategies. Some of the options include; Excise taxes on foods high in salt, fat or sugar contents, levies on mobile phone use, currency/financial institutions levies, sintaxes on consumption of tobacco, alcohol and hard drugs, luxury items, diaspora funds and catastrophic health fund. Cross country analysis was carried on the various identified financing options. Drawing inspiration from any or hybrid of the country models surveyed in this paper, Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) can establish an act to facilitate innovative financing for the Nigerian health sector.


The present work shows a three-dimensional numerical simulation of a Single Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) with a constructal-based pattern as a gas distributor. The models are classified according to the proposed angle and bifurcation level. The numerical model considers a complete solution of the Navier-Stokes equations, the species transport equation and two potential field equations; the model is solved using a finite-volume technique assuming isothermal and steady state conditions. The three-dimensional simulation includes nine control volumes: two current collectors, two flow channels, two gas diffusion layers, two catalyst layers and a membrane between the two catalyst layers. The results show that larger values of current density can be obtained in order if the bifurcation levels are increased. This suggests that a better performance is reached when the structure is closer to those structures found in the natural world.© 2008 ASME


If the teaching of Marxism Basic Principle Introduction wants to achieve practical effect,it needs not only theoretical teaching,but also practical teaching.This article study practical teaching of Marxism Basic Principle Introdction from three aspects: necessity,means and importance.This paper mainly explores the teaching practice means of this course in order to make it closer to practice,life and university studnets' goal.


Following many years dominated by a handful of governing ideas, the period referred to as the post-modernist era burst onto the scene with new forms and new schools.


By discussing JAVA and XML,two of the most popular programming techniques at present,the article put forward a three-layer WEBGIS framework based on JAVA and XML to resolve such problems as cross-platform,data safety,data performance etc in WEBGIS.


In order to widen the thermochromic temperature of thermochromic materials,thermochromic materials using crystal violet lactone( CVL) as chromophore,bisphenol A as developer and tetradecanolhexadecanol binary mixture as solvent were synthesized. By comparing the thermochromic properties of materials,the optimal proportion of chromophore,developer and solvent was determined. According to binary eutectic system theory,the theoretical eutectic point was obtained,and then the actual eutectic point was obtained by experimental analysis. Experimental results showed that the optimal proportion of chromophore to developer to solvent is 1 ∶ 4 ∶ 65. The color difference analysis and DSC analysis showed that the thermochromic properties of these tetradecanol-hexadecanol binary mixture thermochromic materials were good and the thermochromic temperature were between 20 ℃ and 43 ℃.


Summary Degenerative forms of eosinophilic leukocytes are found commonly in ileocecal lymph nodes and in other lymphoid tissues of the rat. The relative numbers of these degenerative forms are increased in rats subjected to lowered barometric pressures.


The area of expertise of the most interesting in college was computer science, especially with regard to computer programming. One of the courses in computer education in Indonesia is logic algorithm. This course serve as a major subject in computer education courses, where students get the courses definitely algorithm at the beginning of the semester. One of the universities in Indonesia, STMIK STIKOM Surabaya who have the majority of computers, having difficult teaching the basic concepts of programming. Students must be able to think logically and make the algorithm clearly, if they want to become a good programmer.
Computer Aided Learning (CAL) or in Indonesian called Computer Based Learning , is the use of computers to deliver instructional materials. In this method, the teaching must involve students / learners are active. CAL is basically a form of multimedia technology to deliver learning materials. Algorithm modules are packaged in CAL application consists of 3 modules.
Module 1 contains the basic concepts of data processing. Module 2 discusses the concept of flowcharts. While the tutorial module 3 contains the testing applications using a flowchart. If we want to improve the learning outcomes of students, classroom teaching must involve cognitive, psychomotor, and affective. To support this, CAL application is made as attractive as possible, by combining multimedia files, such as image files, sound files, and video files. The files will be packaged as the facilities provided in the form of data applications such as filling form, making flowchart, and learn from video tutorials. With the CAL is equipped with modules of algorithms, students are expected to take computer courses, especially in STMIK STIKOM Surabaya can improve learning outcomes at the course logic algorithms.


Introduction: There are different methods of coating. Depending on the benefits and limitations of each, one method will be optimal. Objective: The aim of this study is to synthesis SiC-SiO2 coatings with different percentages of SiO2 and SiC. Material and Methods: By changing the parameters affecting the sol, the percentage of SiO2 and SiC in the coating is adjusted to optimize the mechanical properties such as hardness and wear resistance. The morphology of the coating is examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Result: Suspensions prepared in an acidic environment are rapidly agglomerated and practically cannot be coated. Suspensions prepared in a neutral environment also settle after a very short time. However, the suspensions and colloids prepared in the alkaline environment have a relatively high stability. Therefore, it can be conclude that pH is the main variable of coating process. Conclusion: The results of this study are expected to be useful for the engineering application of this type of coating.


Rapid access processing is a photographic processing method that combines high temperature processing and high energy developing agents to obtain very short induction periods, and thus, reduced pro cessing times. In order to obtain maximum quality from the process, the rapid access halftone percent dot areas must be correctly eyaluated according to established aim points. Traditional evaluation methods, either visual or instrumental, produce errors. These errors are the partial result of the unique dot characteristics of the process. These char acteristics include soft, fringed dots; dots with low Dmax, found particularily in the shadow areas; loss of dot area on the tips of the halftone dots during plate exposure^ and high fog in the highlight areas. The illustration of the differences in dot fringe characteristics of a rapid access and a conventional lith halftone imaged with main exposures only were determined visually by the use of microphotographs illuminated with oblique illumination, and quanitatiyely by micro densitometer traces and film contacting the original halftone films, In all cases, the rapid access halftone dots: had a more highly fringed area when compared to the conventional lith halftone.


A pair of primers were designed based on the sequences of PRRSV GP5 protein gene.The amplicon was 502bp,which was used to develop SYBR Green-Ⅰ fluorescent quantitative PCR for detecting PRRSV.The results showed that r values exceeded 0.99 in the standard curve of the developed PCR met-hod.The detection limit of the PCR was 10copies/μL,which was 100 fold sensitive than that of the conventional PCR.The 54 sera from the pigs infected-experimentally with PRRSV were examined by the PCR,and the positive detection rate was 100%.This PCR assay was sensitive,specific and stable for rapid detection of PRRSV,with a positive detection rate of 100%.


Since December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has posed serious public health threats. Multiple organs in humans are attacked by the virus, but ways and extent to which SARS-CoV-2 affects them vary due to differing t-RNA pools. Codon usage bias of human tissue-specific genes indirectly reflects the cells' t-RNA pool for that specific organ. Once the viral codon usage bias highly matches that of genes expressed in the organ, the virus more effectively utilizes t-RNAs and causes increased damage by reducing translation of human genes. Therefore, finding such a correspondence helps in deducing organs' susceptibility to infection. Using databases and software, we compared codon usage bias of genes in the testes, uterus, brain, liver, ovaries and vulva, and the two longest genes of SARS-CoV-2: ORF1ab and Spike. We found that the two viral genes share 95% identical codon usage bias. We also found that the liver, ovaries, and testes have the most genes sharing similar codon usage bias to the two viral genes and thus a high possibility for infection. Based on Person's correlation coefficient, we identified the top three genes in the liver, ovaries, and testes. The consequences due to the reduced expression of these genes agree with clinical reports.


According to the theory of 'core-competition',in the education field,a wave of researching on 'core-competition' existed.This paper discusses the post-graduates' core-competition from the morality sight,analyzes the blind-zone of the post-graduates' core-competition,constructs the new frame with the supporting of the 'harmonious morality' theory.


This paper will focus on the analysis of epigraphic production on the site attributed to the Vascones,through four characteristics that appear unambiguously in all tituli: place of finding, chronology, type and user. With them we can get a set of general guidelines on the use of this media to characterize de epigraphic culture.


Introduction Reoperations to manage unstable total hip arthroplasty are reported with a high failure rate. The dual mobility cup (figure 1) (mobile polyethylene component between the prosthetic head and the outer metal shell) is a useful option in such cases. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the clinical and radiologic features associated with the dual mobility cup. Materials and Methods Fifty one unstable total hip arthroplasties (32 females, 19 males) were revised using a dual mobility socket at our institution between March 2000 and February 2005. Mean age at reoperation was 67 year old (range, 35 to 98). The outcome of the revision procedure was assessed using the Harris Hip Score, and complications were determined by detailed review of the patient9s records. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the involved joint were reviewed to assess the position of the prosthesis and to look for osteolysis and signs of loosening of the implant. Results Mean follow-up was 4 years (range, 2 to 6.7). At last review 4 patients had died and one was lost to follow up. Postoperatively there was a significant improvement of the Harris Hip Score. Fifty patients (98%) had no further episodes of dislocation. There were 3 revisions for deep infection, and 2 for dissociation of the bipolar component. No cup required a revision for aseptic loosening. No radiolucent lines around the components and no osteolysis were observed at latest follow up. Conclusion The dual mobility cup is a highly effective option to manage unstable total hip arthroplasty. Unlike constrained devices, such components provide encouraging radiologic results regarding the potential for loosening and osteolysis. Longer follow up is needed to confirm these results.


The invention relates to a device (10) for receiving and supporting containers (12), in particular test tubes. The device has at least one support rail (22) with recesses (26), a front (16) and a front (16) oppositely disposed uprising strip (20). Each container (12) is assigned a recess (26) in the support rail (22), serving as a first support. The contact strip (20) is adapted to engage the bottom of the container (12) and for the axial fixing of the container (12). The invention is characterized in that a folding mechanism (40) is provided for at least two folded positions, in a first tilted position at a first angle on a supporting surface (14) resting device (α) to the contact surface (14) and second in a folding position at a second angle (β) to the support surface (14) align.


Abstract . The purpose of this study is to compare and investigate the differences existing in the attitudes of one of the most influential philosophical schools, Rorty's new-pragmatic, and the associated Western pragmatism, especially the educational system of the United States, with the Islamic educational philosophy. This is a qualitative research study in which the internet and library resources have been used. The finding of this study indicated that the tenet of new-pragmatic is to propose factual issues beyond time and ignoring objectivity. Given that, new-pragmatism made use of some principles based on which it could bridging the gap of relativism. However, it is unable to explain the identity of an individual in a comprehensive educational philosophy. Consequently, new- pragmatism proposes the design of modern language which is an idealistic one and since it is a futuristic model, it cannot be the basis for educational philosophy which needs a practical model. Sequentially, it should be noted that in the studies which are conducted on the current educational philosophy practiced in Iran, many of the new alternatives are provided are not without failures. That said, no new educational philosophy should be used in Iranian context without doing research and comparing it with the Islamic philosophy which pays the utmost attention to the human spirituality for many years even if the founders of such schools of philosophy have global reputation and be among the most influential philosophers. Keywords: Education, new-pragmatic, Islamic education, educational philosophy, Rorty's new-pragmatic.


This paper deals with some results obtained from fuzzy logic controllers (FLC) applied to a DC motor and an AC three-phase motor. Dynamic parameters such as speed, accuracy and stability are evaluated, and results of terminal characteristics are also presented.


The 50 years development of China's self-grinding technology,self-grinding process flow and production practice are given.Especially it puts forward corresponding improving direction and research suggestion of the self-grinding process flow of CITIC Australia SINO Ore Mine.


Under certain mild conditions with data missing at random,it is shown that the asymptotic distribution of the empirical likelihood ratio statistics for various differences of two nonparametric populations is scalar χ2(1),which can be used to construct empirical likelihood confidence intervals for the differences.


Silo is a large concrete structure to dispose of lowand intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) [1]. It is located in a stiff rock layer, but considering the long period of waste storage, it is necessary to understand the behavior of the silo for various earthquake disaster scenarios. Detailed seismic analysis can be used to assess the seismic behavior of the silo, and the determination of an appropriate input ground motion is important to improve the reliability of the analysis. However, for underground structures, unlike the nuclear power plant located on the ground surface [2], the determination procedure for input motion is not clearly established. In this study, an input ground motion that can be used to evaluate the seismic behavior of silos in the LILW disposal facility was developed. A probabilistic seismic hazard assessment was performed for the site to derive the uniform hazard spectrum. In addition, the site response analysis was performed to derive the seismic motion of the control point in the analysis.


Abstract The aim of the present paper is to investigate an objective microbiological analysis of the wine by identification of some parameters such as total amount of germs and yeastswhich are contained in the quality wines from Getic Piedmont namely: Bolovanu, Corcova, Drăgășani, Sâmburești, Segarcea, Ștefănești.The Getic Piedmont is a relict geomorphological relief unit with significant variations from the flat, low lands fragmented by moderately rough with strong fragmentation. We have selected by grouping the wines in grape varieties, white wines (Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling) and red wines (Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot noir) which were tested by microbiological tests. The opinion that the bacteria level should be acceptable in red wines and the yeasts level in white wines were supported by literature. The presence of these micro-organisms have clear influence in wine validity, in principle they are not detectable in a biologically pure wine.


"A Soldier of Humour," the opening story of Wyndham Lewis's 1927 collection of short stories entitled The Wild Body, is a neglected but important document in the history of modernism. Initially completed on the front line at the Battle of Messines Ridge, provocatively published in 1917–18 in The Little Review, and then extensively reworked during the 1920s, the story is central to Lewis's thinking throughout the middle period of his career. Although The Wild Body is usually seen as a document of early modernism, marked by a savagely satiric anti-humanism, we can instead read "A Soldier of Humour" as an expression of the social and cultural anxiety in England which results from the political and economic rise of America during the 1920s. Taken together with Lewis's theoretical statements in "The Meaning of the Wild Body,'" this story points towards a distinctively late modern poetics in Lewis's work.


Long-term hearing changes were investigated in 63 patients with Meniere's disease (46 unilateral, 17 bilateral). In most patients with unilateral Meniere's disease, the hearing level noted on the initial visit remained unchanged for a long time. In young patients who had therapy at an early stage, hearing was improved or conserved at a good level. On the other hand, in most patients with bilateral disease, hearing on the initial visit was worse than in those with unilateral disease, and it became gradually worse. Those with late onset often had very poor hearing and early therapy was not possible. Hearing changes in unilateral and bilateral Meniere's disease appear to have different mechanism.


Notes on the Contributors - Introduction: Post-Fordism and Social Form W.Bonefeld & J.Holloway - Fordism and Post-Fordism J.Hirsch - The Reformulation of State Theory W.Bonefeld - Regulation Theory, Post- Fordism and the State. More than a Reply to Werner Bonefeld B.Jessop - The Great Bear: Post-Fordism and Class Struggle. A Comment on Bonefeld and Jessop J.Holloway - Overaccumulation, Class Struggle and the Regulation Approach S.Clarke - Learning to Bow: Post-Fordism and Technological Determinism E.Pel ez & J.Holloway - Polar Bears and Class Struggle: Much Less than a Self-Criticism B.Jessop - Capital is Class Struggle (And Bears are not Cuddly) J.Holloway - Crisis of Theory in the Contemporary Social Sciences K.Psychopedis - Marxism, Metatheory and Critique R.Gunn - Index


This report describes a study of countercurrent steam-water flow in a vertical channel. An experimental facility was designed and constructed to enable measurement of the local condensation rates by pitot tube transverses in the steam. The facility was tested and proven by measuring local condensation rates for 49 separate steam-water flows. Preliminary results of a heat transfer analysis show overall trends of the heat transfer coefficient as a function of axial position.


1. A process for producing an isocyanate by carrying out a thermal decomposition reaction of carbamic acid ester, which comprises the following steps: extracting ingredient with low boiling point in the form of a gaseous phase component of a chemical reactor for carrying out the process of thermal decomposition, wherein the thermal decomposition reaction is carried out; ! recovering a liquid phase component containing carbamic acid ester from a lower part of a chemical reactor for carrying out the process of thermal decomposition; and! feeding all or part of the liquid phase component to the upper part of a chemical reactor for carrying out the process of thermal decomposition. ! 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbamic acid ester is supplied to a chemical reactor for carrying out the process of thermal decomposition at a temperature in the range from 50 to 180 ° C. ! 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbamic acid ester in liquid form is fed into a chemical reactor for carrying out the process of thermal decomposition. ! 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbamic acid ester is an ester of carbamic acid, which is prepared by reacting carbonic acid ester with the amino compound. ! 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the chemical reactor for producing carbamic acid ester compound and a chemical reactor for carrying out the process of thermal decomposition may be the same or different, and the chemical reactor for producing carbamic acid ester compound and a chemical reactor for carrying out the thermal decomposition process are at least one chemical reactor selected from c


The various plasma resonance phenomena observed in the ionosphere as relaxation signals near the characteristic frequencies ƒN, ƒT (plasma and upper hybrid frequencies), and n ƒH (electron gyrofrequency harmonics) have been correctly interpreted as oblique echoes. However, the ƒH case is not yet understood. The EIDI 3 relaxation sounding rocket experiment has provided original results regarding the plasma resonances. These results provide grounds to approach the ƒH problem. Indeed, the spectral features of the ƒH resonance signal look like pure sine-wave ones; their frequency location is found to be very close to the gyrofrequency deduced from the earth's magnetic field model (relative frequency shift of the order of 10−4). The duration of the ƒH resonances is very short and their amplitude level very weak in the EIDI 3 ionospheric flight conditions. Moreover, a well-defined dependence of this level on the orientation of the dipole antenna with respect to the earth's magnetic field has been pointed out, as well as an increase of the signal level when the antenna length is doubled. To interpret theoretically these experimental results, a brief review is made of the various modes of principal waves propagating close to ƒH. Their frequency range, their wave vector orientation, and the EM field polarization are examined with respect to the corresponding experimental features in order to discard the disagreeing kinds of waves. The ordinary wave mode gives good agreement with the EIDI 3 results. A first-approach study of the interest of this mode for explaining the ƒH resonance phenomenon provides good grounds for its further study.


Being used the three kinds of aqueous solution of tobacco extracts as a new experimental material, experiment and theoretical analysis are performed. Measurements are made with a apparatus designed and constructed by the author.The average diameter of the ice crystals is 0.04-0.1cm between 0.2 and of the subcooling temperature of the solution. The growth rate of ice crystals in direction of axies A, is in proportion to the subcooling temperature, viz; $v_a=0.058{\Delta}t_b,\;where\;{\Delta}t_b


Contents: Part I: A Neo Structural Legal Perspective to Economic Power Analysis 1. Introduction: The Insufficiency of the Antitrust Concepts and Instruments Part II: Economic Power Structures: Creation and Existence 2. Criticism to Traditional Measurement 3. Market Power: Criticism to Traditional Measurement 4. Legal Structures 5. Dominance of Common Pool Resources Part III: Power Structures: Dynamics and Behavior 6. Legal Monopolies and Dynamic Abuse 7. Exploitation of Natural Resources: The Environmental Problem Part IV: Conclusion: From a General Theory of Market Power to a General Theory of Law? Part V: Bibliography


A shell foundation of reinforced concrete is developed as a damper for dynamical machines with low frequency. Using this shell foundation for damping, it is unnecessary to use any other elastic components and vibration dampers, the cost to reduce the amplitude of machine foundation is much reduced and the damping is reliable. Both the damping mechanism and the dynamic analyses of the shell foundation are discussed. The results of this study show that a satisfactory amplitude frequency characteristic and obvious damping effect will be obtained if the dynamic parameters are selected properly. For dynamical machines with low frequency, the design is simple and convenient, low cost and reasonable.


Various geometrical and energetical properties in the symmetric muonic molecular ions $\mathrm{pp}\ensuremath{\mu},dd\ensuremath{\mu},tt\ensuremath{\mu}$, molecular ions $ppe,dde,tte$, and exotic system $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\mu}e$ $({\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}})$ are determined with high accuracy by using the two-stage strategy proposed by Frolov [Phys. Rev. A 57, 2436 (1998)]. The significant difference between bound-state spectra in muonic molecular ions $\mathrm{pp}\ensuremath{\mu},dd\ensuremath{\mu},tt\ensuremath{\mu}$ and molecular ions $ppe,dde,tte$ ions is explained by using the general theory of bound-state spectra in Coulomb three-body systems, which is closely related with the general theory of compact operators. In particular, the principal classification of the bound-state spectra in such systems can be made in the same manner as for compact operators. For instance, the discrete spectrum of a Coulomb three-body system may have the Hilbert-Schmidt, nuclear or finite-dimensional structure. Moreover, this structure can be changed by varying some of the physical parameters (e.g., masses or charges) of the system. The developed theory is applied to the case of symmetric Coulomb three-body systems with unit charges.


We report on the reduction of the threading edge dislocation density of Al0.15Ga0.85N buffer layers for efficient 350 nm light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Structures were grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) on (0001) sapphire substrates using three‐dimensional (3D) facetted GaN nucleation islands. The flattening of the overgrowing AlGaN buffer layers could be controlled by choosing appropriate growth conditions resulting in smooth surfaces. High‐resolution X‐ray diffraction (HRXRD) ω‐scans show that a prolonged 3D growth phase leads to a narrowing of the asymmetric diffraction peaks and hence to an effective reduction of the density of edge‐type threading dislocations. Photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) measurements show directly the beneficial effect of the improved crystal quality on the optical emission properties. The output power of LED structures grown on an optimized buffer was increased by a factor of 6 compared to structures grown on a two‐dimensional (2D) low Al content AlGaN nucleation layer.


Objective Predicting the secondary structure and B cell antigenic epitopes of cytolethal distending toxin(CDT)protein of campylobacter jejuni to provide grounding data means of preparing CJ vaccine.Methods The cdtA,cdtB,cdtC fragment was amplified from CJ O:19 chromo somal DNA by PCR.It was cloned into pGEM-T,sequenced and compared with international standard strains NCTC11168 in the GenBank.The cdtA,cdtB,cdtC gene of CJ were collected to predict the secondary structure by using methods of Chou-Fasman,Garnier-Robson and Karplus-Schulz,the hydrophilicity,surface probability and antigenic index of deduced cdtA,cdtB,cdtC by Kyte-Doolittle,Emini and Jameson-Wolf were analyzed respectively.The B cell antigenic epitopes for deduced cdtA,cdtB,cdtC were predicted by synthesizing these methods.Results The cdtA,cdtB,cdtC fragments were composed of 874,913,711 base pairs.And their nucleotide homology with Cj NCTC11168 strains on the GenBank were 100%.The predominant epitopes were probably in the region of 11~44 and 54~90 of cdtA,5~70,78~112 and 137~187 of cdtB,119~140 and 145~193 of cdtC.Conclusion The cdtA,cdtB,cdtC fragments are successfully amplified and their homology is high compared with otherspecies.We predict the secondary structure and B cell antigenic epitopes of cdtA,cdtB,cdtC.It will lay the basis for designing new generation vaccine of CJ and screeing the monoclonal antibody.


The Health Foundation recently published a report on emergency hospital admissions from care homes.1 The analysis, coproduced with NHS England, found that 41% were for "potentially avoidable conditions," such as respiratory infections, pressure sores, and urinary tract infections. It estimated that one in every 12 patients admitted to emergency wards is a care home resident—around 192 000 a year.

Care home residents are often in the final phase of life: median survival from entry is around two years (less in nursing homes than residential homes), with a 55% chance of surviving the first year.2 Advance care planning and support at the end of life should surely …


A novelmultiple objective fitness function (OFF) is proposed for transmission parameter optimization in dynamic spectrum access. The proposed scheme consists of two phases: Four OFFs are individually designed in the first phase, where the spectrum band index is additionally considered unlike the conventional OFFs. In the second phase, then, the individual OFFs are combined to form a multiple OFF, where the individual OFFs may be differently stressed depending on the transmission scenario of interest. In simulation results, finally, the proposed multiple OFF is found to provide the optimal parameter set for transmission under various types of scenarios.


GENERAL MOTORS' bankruptcy, the largest ever by a U.S. manufacturer, won't have as big an impact on the chemical industry as the precipitous decline in U.S. auto sales already has had, experts say. GM plans to emerge as the "new GM" in 60 to 90 days. It will have new owners, the largest of which will be the U.S. government, with a 60.8% stake. The governments of Canada and Ontario will have an 11.7% share, the unions will have a 17.5% stake, and the balance is going to unsecured creditors. No chemical firms are named as major creditors in the bankruptcy filing. But the list includes parts suppliers—such as Delphi, Lear, and Johnson Controls—that buy plastics from chemical companies. The economic downturn slammed the automotive industry, which already was severely struggling with its finances, says T. Kevin Swift, chief economist at the American Chemistry Council, an industry trade group. "The extent of the downturn surprised ...


Objective To evaluate the effects and acute and late toxicities of conventional fractionation radiation plus concurrent cisplatin and 5-flurouracil chemotherapy in patients with local advanced esophageal cancer.Methods Forty one patients with primary esophageal squamous cancer were randomized into two groups: 21 patients in combined group(CRT) received conventional fractionation radiation of 60Gy in 30 fractions with five daily fractions of 2Gy per week over a 6-week period plus concurrent chemotherapy:CDDP 52.5mg/m2 d1,5-Fu 700mg/m2 d1~d5,repeated 4 times every 28 days.20 patients in radiotherapy group(RT) only received the same radiation schema exception of 70Gy in 35 fractions.Results Response rates in CRT and RT were 100% and 80%,respectively(P = 0.013).Six-month,12-month and 18-month local control rates in two groups were 88.9%,81.5%,81.5% and 75.0%,49.5%,41.3%,respectively(P = 0.006).Six-month,12-month and 18-month survival rates in two groups were 81.2%,73.8%,59.0% and 80.0%,54.2%,31.6%,respectively(P = 0.085).Hematological toxicities in CRT were more severe than that in RT,while radiation-induced esophagitis and radiation-induced pneumonia was not significantly different in two groups.Conclusion CRT significantly improves response rates and local control rates,and it shows the improved tendency of survival rates compared with RT.The toxicities in CRT were tolerated.CRT was warranted to further study.


Pathological alterations of the thymus are observed in the majority of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). To explore the potential mechanisms of these alterations, we performed a transcriptome analysis and measured co‐expression of aberrant long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs).


EDA tools for design and verification are changing rapidly as microelectronics progress and the SoC becomes popular, which contains microprocessors, memories, even analog and RF units , are becoming increasingly complex in function and scale. It is impossible to use traditional tools to finish the verification task of SoC. Thus it comes so called "verification crisis" problem. To meet the problem EDA tools are experienced rapidly and fundamental changes these years. The RTL based design and verification methodologies have to go up to the system level, and have led to advent of the verification languages and their standardization. This paper surveys the development and the trend of design and verification languages, analyses their advantages and disadvantages. Some comments on current verification methods are also given. and the assertion based verification method is emphasized.


Abstract What is aging? When does it begin? How to control lifespan? Can we rejuvenate organisms in addition to slowing down the aging process? There is no consensus on these questions, but recent developments in the field may allow to address these questions. In particular, DNA methylation of defined sets of CpG dinucleotides emerged as a critical and precise biomarker of the aging process. Multi-variate machine learning models, known as epigenetic clocks, exploit quantitative changes in the methylome to predict the age of bulk tissue with remarkable accuracy. Additionally, the first epigenetic aging clock that works at the level of single cells has been developed. Together with advances in genomics, transcriptomic longevity signatures and intervention strategies, these tools support quantification and manipulation of the aging process. Moreover, these tools may also be used to assess the possibility of age reversal. Several types of rejuvenation have been described, including the recently discovered process of early embryonic rejuvenation, culminating in ground zero, marking the beginning of organismal aging.


In order to analysis the reason of salt stress affect tomato yield and fruit quality from the carbohydrate production and metabolism,tomato varieties 'Liaoyuanduoli' were used as material,the effect of different concentrations NaCl stress treatment on tomato leaf photosynthesis and sugar metabolism were studied.The results showed that salt stress decreased tomato leaf net photosynthetic rate,the greater NaCl concentration the more reduction;salt stress reduced tomato leaf stomatal conductance,intercellular CO2 concentration and transpiration rate,reduced chlorophyll a,b and total chlorophyll content,this reduction was associated with the NaCl concentration.NaCl stress led to significant accumulation of fructose and glucose in tomato leaves,the higher NaCl concentration the more accumulation;NaCl stress reduced sucrose and starch content in tomato leaves;NaCl stress increased invertase activity and sucrose synthase activity in tomato leaves,and the addition was more with the increase of salt concentration.The results indicated that NaCl stress damaged the photosynthetic function of tomato leaf,reduced the efficiency of photosynthesis,and the reduction is greater with increasing of salt concentration;NaCl stress altered the direction of sugar metabolism in tomato leaves,significant increased the decomposition of starch and sugar,increased the content of fructose and glucose in tomato leaves,and the effect increased with increasing of salt concentration.


An Internet voting system for providing a mutual attestation function to each participant in a trusted computing environment by using a TMP is provided to make each participant trust and use the Internet voting system on a trusted platform by adding the mutual attestation function. An authentication server performs authentication. A voter terminal(100) performs the authentication with the authentication server by using TPM and performs voting after the mutual attestation between a voting server(200) and a ballot counting server(300). The voting server stores voting information received from the voter terminal. The ballot counting server performs the authentication with the authentication server by using the TPM and performing the mutual attestation with the voter terminal, and provides a voting ticket for inputting the voting information to the voter terminal during the voting, and announces a voting result by analyzing the voting information stored through the voting server during ballot counting.


During the state of emergency in Romania, in the first part of 2020, we asked 30 participants from the urban and rural environment in Brasov County to take photographs of what living in isolation means. To our surprise, many of the photographs we received illustrate landscapes that seem to have represented a therapeutic resource, and seem to have contributed to maintaining a state of well-being of the participants during quarantine. With the aid of these images, we drew up a visual essay that reflects the particular importance the environment, especially nature and the city, had in a crisis for our participants, generated by the traumatizing experience of isolation.


At present, there is an urgent need to design sensitive substrates for the Raman analysis system to detect potential substances that have major ramifications for health care and the ecological envi...


A compressor blade of low aspect ratio is a typical shell-type structure and its natural frequency and vibratory stress are sensitive to a manufacturing tolerance. In designing a blade, the designer should take the variation of the vibration characteristics into account, and evaluate the mechanical strength of the blade. This paper, first, proposes an analysis method for predicting the resonant stress due to the interaction force between the vane and blade, using 3-D CFD and the modal analysis method based on 3-D FEM. Rig tests of the compressor are carried out, and the measured frequencies and vibratory stresses are compared to predicted values, and the validity of the proposed method is verified. In the second place, a practical analysis method for predicting the variation of the natural frequency and vibratory stress of the blade is proposed, where the variation of the vibration characteristics such as a natural frequency and a resonant stress is evaluated by the first order second moment method in addition to 3-D CTD and 3-D EEM. The calculated results are compared with measured ones. From the results, it is confirmed that the variation of the vibration characteristics can be predicted by the simple method proposed in this paper.Copyright © 2006 by ASME


The paper presents results of X-ray measurements of the texture of a magnetite (Fe3O4) layer formed on 10CrMo9-10 steel during 100,000 hours operation at the temperature of 575°C (in a flowing medium environment). The formed oxide layer was ≈140µm thick. Measurements of texturing were performed on the oxide surface and also at the depth of ≈50µm from the surface (1st polishing) and ≈100µm (2nd polishing). X-ray studies were carried out using the radiation of a cobalt anode tube, λCo=0.17902nm, for (311) and (400) Fe3O4 reflections, using a radiation beam collimated to φ=2mm. The study was aimed at determination of correlation between the texturing and the structure on the magnetite layer cross-section. A clear texturing of {111} and {111} type for the magnetite in the initial state and after the second polishing was found. Instead, after the first polishing there was a substantial texturing of {034} and {015} type. A different nature of the texture may result from a diversified morphology of magnetite at various depths (caused inter alia by a differentiated temperature on the tube wall cross-section during the material operation), which is related among other things to the crystallites size. The magnetite structure and texture changes can affect the magnetite porosity and cleavage.


An investigation of the drag induced by pulling a tool through a granular medium is reported. The work is aimed at understanding the drag on an offshore cable-laying tool with the objective of producing a model capable of predicting the force required to pull the tool through a granular medium. Experiments were run at 1g in a laboratory rig comprising a channel, containing the granular medium and a frame, in which the tool was inserted into the sand to a fixed depth and pulled through it at a constant velocity. The width, length and depth of insertion of the tool, the shape of the tool face and velocity of towing were investigated in dry sand only. The results show little change in drag force with velocity, over the range investigated, but indicate a power law relation to the depth of insertion. Increase in face width produces a near proportional increase in drag while increases in length produce smaller increases in drag force. The use of a rounded nose on the tool reduces the drag by a factor of up to 30%. A numerical model is proposed which is matched to the data and used to predict the loads on a full-scale device.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


Treatment and management of teeth with furcation involvement is one of the most challenging problems confronting general dentist. In advanced furcation involvement, the tunnel preparation procedure is preferable to extraction when other treatments are precluded for financial or other reasons. Certain technical problems, such as gaining access for oral hygiene procedures on posterior molars, are obvious; this heroic technique could not be considered as a regular treatment modality for any tooth or any patient. This treatment was done for a 38-year-old female patient in good general health. After raising a full thickness flap on the mandibular left side of the mouth, the furcation of tooth #36 was widened by a #2 round bur and bone file. Osteoplasty continued by bur, file, and chisel until enough space was created for interdental brush use to control dental plaque. Flap was placed apically and sutured. Prosthodontic treatment was done 4 months after the periodontal therapy. After 1-year, the treated tooth is still functioning in the mouth of the patient. We are satisfied with the result of treatment.


Emotional divorce is the most important stage in the divorce process and indicates a declining marital relationship, which has increased in recent years. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between lovemaking styles and cognitive distortions with emotional divorce in women. The research design was descriptive, of correlational type. The statistical population of the present study was all married women in District 2 of Tehran in 2019. To conduct this study, 150 people were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and asked to complete the Emotional Divorce Scale (EDS), Sternberg Love Scale (SLS), and the Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale (ICDS). The results of the study showed that emotional divorce has a significant negative relationship with each of the dimensions of lovemaking styles, i.e. sincere love, passionate love and committed love and have a significant positive relationship with each of the dimensions of cognitive distortions, i.e. rejection in interpersonal relationships, unrealistic expectations in relationships and misunderstanding in interpersonal relationships. In addition, according to other results of the study, among the styles of lovemaking, "committed style" and among the cognitive distortions, "misunderstanding in interpersonal relationships" were significant predictors of emotional divorce in women. Therefore, counselors and therapists can reduce the likelihood of emotional divorce in women by providing timely and appropriate interventions and training in the field of lovemaking styles and cognitive distortions.


In the narrative of Mo Yan's novels,the desire of the historical narrative becomes the focus,and forms a unique practice way.These relate to the three-dimensions of individual living desire,sex desire and the wildest power desire.Living desire is the general theme and ultimate goal to understand the history,and it shows reality,envision and the humanization of things;sex desire achieves the subject control and aesthetic experience,it shows not only a wild and rage,but the reason and smart;power desire forms a living state including produce and impress,control and revolt,commend and punish,it shows the struggle in adverse situation,the external force and the steal force.These are the distinctive characters of his desire narrative in novels,and also become the key for him to reveal the identity of historical narrative.


One of the definitions for food security is having sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet dietary needs. There is an overdue need to optimize nitrogen use for food and nutrition security in developing countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, while minimizing environmental risks. In the past, nitrogen related environmental issues have often been associated with excessive use; however, of recently, challenges related to 'too little' nitrogen use has been recognized. In sub-Saharan Africa, nitrogen management must address the 'too little' and 'too much' paradox. Too little nitrogen is used in food production, which has led to chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. Conversely, too much nitrogen load in water bodies due mainly to excessive soil erosion, leaching, limited nitrogen recovery from wastewater, and atmospheric deposition still contributes to eutrophication in some areas. Significant research has been conducted to improve N use for food production, whereas little has been done to effectively address the 'too much' issues. The current research gaps must be addressed, and supportive policies operationalized, to maximize on nitrogen benefits, while reducing its negative impacts on the environment. Innovation platforms involving key stakeholders are required to address the nitrogen use efficiency along the full food supply chain in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as other World regions with similar challenges. Introduction Africa's agricultural lands continue being degraded with an annual estimated economic cost of up to 18% of the gross domestic product (Nkonya et al, 2011) because of poor agronomic practices and nutrient depletion (Tittonell and Giller, 2013; Sutton et al., 2013). Over 80% of agricultural lands are for instance nitrogen (N) deficient (Liu et al., 2010). Barriers such as availability and costs of inputs, poor economic returns of input use due to limited market opportunities or quality of the inputs, limited financial capacity and access to credits, and insufficient extension services among others have drastically affected adoption of improved agricultural inputs including fertilizers, of which nitrogen is just one (Akpan et al., 2012a,b; Akudugu et al., 2012). Limited research capacity in most regions of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for long term trials, has also added to the difficulty of improving nitrogen agronomic use efficiency. Soil acidification, poor organic matter content, deficiencies of various nutrients and reduced microbial activities are among factors affecting crop responses to applied nitrogen (Fairhurst, 2012, Nezomba et al., 2015). Adequate diagnosis of the actual limiting factors to inform the application of integrated soil fertility management is therefore required to optimize N agronomic use efficiency (Giller et al., 2011) and increase the sustainability of agricultural intensification (Vanlauwe et al., 2015). Continuous nitrogen depletion has contributed not only to the persistent food insecurity for both quantity and quality (Marler and Wallin, 2006), but also excessive erosion due to insufficient land cover, deforestation, and encroachment to marginal lands, and consequently N load into water bodies (Leip et al., 2014). In highly populated regions of sub-Saharan Africa like the Lake Victoria catchment, inadequate systems for municipal wastewater treatments have also resulted in excessive N load into water bodies and contributed to eutrophication of certain sections of the Lake (LVBC, 2012; Zhou et al. 2014). Atmospheric deposition also contributes to N load into the sub-Saharan African environment including surface water (Galy-Lacaux and Delon, 2014). Other sources of N load into water bodies include erosion in infrastructure construction, runoff


In the three years prior to the end of 2005, net inflows into the hedge fund sector were particularly strong, averaging USD 20 billion per quarter. However, net outflows in the last quarter of 2005 warned many hedge fund managers of the possibility of higher withdrawals in the future. This also raised questions about the factors that drive money flows into the hedge fund industry. It has frequently been suggested that the main drivers of inflows were the global search for yield, against a background of persistently low interest rates globally, coupled with high risk appetite among investors. This Box tests this hypothesis by discussing the funding liquidity risks faced by hedge fund managers and by analysing the determinants of aggregate money flows into single-manager hedge funds.


Software fault prediction has been studied by many researchers to assess the quality of software and to predict where faults may appear in future. However, the performance of fault prediction degrades because of many reasons including unlabeled instances or data imbalance, i.e., modules that contain faults are minority. The data imbalance is common in fault data where the majority of software modules are marked as non-faulty. However, part of these modules are still fault-prone but faults are uncovered yet. Threshold values are used to identify the modules that are complex and more fault prone. The fault prediction models are combined with the use of threshold values to improve the prediction performance. Fault prediction models are built in two phases. First, threshold values are used to spot the most fault prone modules. The modules that have metrics larger than thresholds and were fault free are classified as medium, while modules with faults are classified as high. Second, the new data are used to build prediction models using five machine learning models. Five classifiers were built for ten software systems. We have found improvements in the classification performance of all classifiers when compared with traditional classification.


This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com. Recommended Citation Johnson, David Allen, "The Relationship Between School Integration and Student Attitude Toward Residential Racial Integration" (1990). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1180.


This study aims to investigate change in Inflammatory Markers and Isokinetic Muscular Functions in elderly women when applying weight training and mat pilates, and identify training methods with high continuity of effects after 2 week detraining period. The divided groups were WTG with 9, MPG with 9, and CG with 9. They had 2 week detraining period after exercising 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The results of this study are as follows; Body composition and Inflammatory Markers showed no significant difference between groups. Peak Torque in extension and flexor of elbow joint was higher in WTG than that in CG. Peak Torque in extension and flexor of trunk was higher in WTG and MPG than that in CG. Muscular Endurance in extension of elbow joint was higher in WTG than that in CG. Muscular Endurance in flexor of elbow joint was higher in WTG than that in MPG, and it was higher in MPG than in CG. Muscular Endurance in extension of trunk and knee joint was higher in WTG and MPG than that in CG. Muscular Endurance in flexor of trunk and knee joint was higher in WTG than that in CG. After detraining, Muscular Endurance in extension of trunk was higher in WTG and MPG than that in CG.


The manufacture technology of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) strengthened by compressed poplar was introduced in this paper. The compression ratio of LVL strengthened by compressed poplar is 15%~40% or so, and its indexes like the hardness, bending strength, water resistance are well above the common LVL. It can be used for beam of construction, pillar, concrete-moulding board, furniture, door window, floor, carriage board and container. It is a kind of good structural material and it has large market development potential.


This paper examines the rise and fall of Eastern Airlines from 1928 to 1991. lt outlines the carrier's development under a succession of leaders and discusses the major events of each leader's reign. From a small contract mail carrier known as Pitcairn Aviation, Eastern grew to become one of the largest airlines in the free world. But after 26 years of growth and prosperity under the leadership of Eddie Rickenbacker, the airline began to stumble in the early 1960s. Frank Lorenzo took the reins in 1986 and began selling the carrier's assets while attempting to destroy the unions. After a massive employee strike in 1989 and a bout with bankruptcy, Eastern stopped flying in January 1991. On January 18, 1991, Eastern Airlines (EAL) ceased operations. The death of what had once been one of the largest airlines in the free world was brought on by years of labor strife, a high debt load, and an inherently unstable north-south route structure. EAL began on February 28, 1928, when Harold Pitcairn's fledgling company, Pitcairn Aviation, was awarded Contract Air Mail (CAM) route 19 from New York to Atlanta. The route included stops in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, and the Carolinas. Later in the same year, Pitcairn picked up CAM 10 from Atlanta to Miami, with stops in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Tampa, and Macon, Georgia. The two routes were combined, renamed CAM 25, and by the end of the year, Pitcairn bad firmly established a 1400-mile north-south route structure on the eastern seaboard that would eventually become the backbone of EAL (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). In June, 1929, Pitcairn sold the airline to Clement M. Keys, a Canadianbom entrepreneur who controlled North American Aviation Cmporation (NAAC), a holding company for several aviation enterprises. Keys named Thomas B. Doe president, reorganized the airline, began to explore the future Essays in Economic and Business History of transporting people instead of mail, and officially named it Eastern Air Transport (EAT) on January 15, 1930 (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). In April, 1930, Congress passed the Watres Act, reducing the airlines' revenues from mail transport and forcing them to look to passenger service to remain profitable. One month later, the Postmaster General, Walter Folger Brown, held a series of meetings (now knovvn as the "spoils conferences") that virtually reshaped the U.S. commercial air map and divided the major routes among the nation's four largest carriers (United Aircraft & Transport, American Airways, EAT, and a merger that resulted in today's Trans World Airlines [T\V A]). During these meetings Doe attempted, but failed to gain a footing on the other three's transcontinental routes, and thus, Eastern's north-south structure was solidified (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). EAT began limited passenger service between New York and Richmond (with intermediate stops at Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington) on August 18, 1930. The service expanded considerably over the next several years, and after acquiring two smaller airlines (Ludington Line and New York Airways), EAT had a virtual monopoly of air traffic along the eastern seaboard (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). The airline continued to grow, but the stock market crash affected Keys such that he eventually lost control of both NAAC and EAT. General Motors (GM) assumed control on February 28, 1933, with Doe remaining on as EAT's president (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). From 1933 through 1934, a congressional investigation of Brown's actions during the spoils conferences culminated in the passage of the Air Mail Act of 1934, and significantly threatened the survival of the big four. To ease the threat and save the nation's air transportation system, the government allowed the big four to reorganize under new names. Thus, Eastern Air Transport became Eastern Air Lines (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). The act also specified that any executive who had participated in the spoils conferences could no longer hold office in his respective airline. Doe was replaced temporarily by GM executive Ernest Breech, until Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (Captain Eddie) assumed the helm as general manager on January 1, 1935 (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). As Eastern continued to grow, a rift developed between Breech and Captain Eddie, and with the backing of rental car baron John Hertz, Breech attempted to purchase the airline for himself. However, GM did not want to loose Breech, and convinced him to drop the offer and remain with the company as a vice president. A subsequent attempt by Hertz alone was thwarted when Captain Eddie obtained the financial backing to submit a higher offer. GM sold the airline, and on April 22, 1938, Eddie Rickenbacker became president of EAL (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). r The Rise and Fall of "The Wings of Man1' Eastern prospered and grew tremendously under Captain Eddie's leadership. He was president until August 10, 1953, when he passed the title to Tom Armstrong, Eastern's secretary and treasurer. Retaining the position of general manager, however, Eddie essentially remained in control until October 1, 1959. Without significant competition, EAL had been able to prosper, but as the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) awarded lucrative vacation routes to competing airlines in the post WWII era, Eastem's monopoly of seaboard traffic slowly disappeared. The competitive edge declined further when Eddie delayed the transition to jet aircraft in the late 1950s, foregoing significant cost and speed advantages to Delta, Eastem's chief rival in later years (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). Maurice Lethridge, an executive who held nine different positions at Eastern from 1943 to 1975 once said, "If he [Captain Eddie] had put about eighty million dollars more into jets at that time, one bas, to wonder what would have been the history of Eastern today" (Serling. 1980, p. 269). Over the years, Eastern also developed a reputation for poor passenger service, originating most likely from Eddie's disdain of providing fancy in-flight amenities such as gourmet meals and free wine. He felt the airline's job was simply to transport passengers to their destination as efficiently as possible. Courteous and friendly service was not a prerequisite. This indifferent attitude ultimately culminated in the late 1950s with the public's formation of an organization known as WHEAL, or "We Hate Eastern Air Lines" (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). A further error was Eddie's decision to use non-pilots as flight engineers on aircraft requiring three cockpit crew members. This decision proved to be detrimental because management now had to deal with an additional union, the Flight Engineers International Association (FEIA). Delta elected to use pilots trained as flight engineers, enabling it to later gain ground on Eastern by avoiding labor disputes with the FEIA (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). A 1958 FEIA strike was the only major labor dispute during Captain Eddie's tenure, but it was also the event that finally led Eastern's board to replace him with Malcolm Macintyre, a former undersecretary of the Air Force and American Airlines lawyer. Captain Eddie had been named Chairman of the Board of Directors (Lewis 1982; Serling, 1980). In 1960, the pilots went on a 12-day wildcat strike that had some of its roots in the 1958 FEIA strike. Part of the 1958 agreement was to include a third pilot on Eastern's DC-8s, resulting in a four-man crew. When Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors insisted on occupying the third pilot's jump seat during check rides, the pilots protested. The resulting strike cost Eastern $8 million dollars in lost revenue, and combined with the 1960 recession, caused its first net loss ($3.6 million) in 26 years (Serling, 1980). Although Eastern lost $53 million in 1962-1963, Macintyre was not totally to blame however, as Captain Eddie continually interfered from his seat on the Essays in Economic and Business History of transporting people instead of mail, and officially named it Eastern Air Transport (EAT) on January 15, 1930 (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). In April, 1930, Congress passed the Watres Act, reducing the airlines' revenues from mail transport and forcing them to look to passenger service to remain profitable. One month later, the Postmaster General, Walter Folger Brown, held a series of meetings (now knovvn as the "spoils conferences") that virtually reshaped the U.S. commercial air map and divided the major routes among the nation's four largest carriers (United Aircraft & Transport, American Airways, EAT, and a merger that resulted in today's Trans World Airlines [T\V A]). During these meetings Doe attempted, but failed to gain a footing on the other three's transcontinental routes, and thus, Eastern's north-south structure was solidified (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). EAT began limited passenger service between New York and Richmond (with intermediate stops at Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington) on August 18, 1930. The service expanded considerably over the next several years, and after acquiring two smaller airlines (Ludington Line and New York Airways), EAT had a virtual monopoly of air traffic along the eastern seaboard (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). The airline continued to grow, but the stock market crash affected Keys such that he eventually lost control of both NAAC and EAT. General Motors (GM) assumed control on February 28, 1933, with Doe remaining on as EAT's president (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). From 1933 through 1934, a congressional investigation of Brown's actions during the spoils conferences culminated in the passage of the Air Mail Act of 1934, and significantly threatened the survival of the big four. To ease the threat and save the nation's air transportation system, the government allowed the big four to reorganize under new names. Thus, Eastern Air Transport became Eastern Air Lines (Lewis, 1992; Serling, 1980). The act also spe


The invention provides a method for manufacturing an oil impregnated sintered bearing, the method which adjusts a surface aperture rate of the inner peripheral surface of the sintered bearing at a low cost, and further to provide a sizing pin to be used for the method. On the outer peripheral surface of the sizing pin 12, a sizing surface (a large-diameter surface 13a) for sizing the inside peripheral surface 11a of a sintered body 11, a small-diameter surface 14a having a diameter smaller than the large-diameter surface 13a, and a stepped portion 15 connecting the large-diameter surface 13a and the small-diameter surface 14a, are provided. The sizing pin 12 configured as described above, is press-fitted into the inside peripheral surface 11a of the sintered body 11 from the side of the small-diameter portion 14 having the small-diameter surface 14a.


The invention relates to an air cleaning unit for a coal mine refuge chamber. The unit comprises a box body, two air doors, an anti-explosion fan and four reagent boxes, wherein the middle lower parts of the opposite sides of the box body are respectively provided with an air door mounting opening, a support frame is arranged on the inner wall of the box body, and the reagent boxed are positioned between the air doors and the support frame; the air doors are installed on the air door mounting openings, and the air doors are respectively provided with rectangular holes and metal nets, which correspond to the corresponding reagent boxes; the anti-explosion fan is installed on the top of the box body; and the reagent boxes are hollow cuboid structures, and carbon dioxide absorbents and/or carbon monoxide catalysts are contained in the reagent boxes. The reagent boxes adopt vertical structures, have small volumes and are simply and conveniently changed. The air cleaning unit has strong cleaning capability, can effectively clean carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other toxic and harmful gases at normal temperature, and is low in energy consumption; the gas cleaning efficiency can be adjusted according to the indoor air quality; and air cleaning agent particles in the reagent boxes can be changed according to different requirements.


A process for preparing insulin compounds and its analogs or derivatives from their corresponding precursors of insulin, which are represented by the formula: ** ** Formula wherein R is hydrogen or a cleavable amino acid chemistry or enzymatically or peptide cleavable chemically or enzymatically comprising at least two amino acid residues, R1 is OH or an amino acid residue, or Y1-Y2 in which Y is an amino acid residue, residues A1 to A21 correspond to the a chain of insulin and the residues B1-B27 correspond to the B chain of insulin, including substitution, deletion and / or additions thereof, R2 is Z1-Z2 wherein Z1 is selected from Pro, Lys, Asp and Z2 is selected from Lys or Pro or Glu or Z1-Z2-Z3 wherein Z1 is selected from Pro, Lys, Asp and Z2 is selected from Lys or Pro or Glu and Z3 is threonine or a peptide moiety of at least three amino acid residues, with the proviso that the amino acid corresponding to B30 is threonine, and X is a polypeptide that connects the A chain to the B chain and cleavable enzymatically without affecting either the A chain or the B chain, having at least two amino acids in the the first and last amino acid are lysine or arginine, such precursors are defined by an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% homologous to the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, which comprises treating said precursor with trypsin and carboxypeptidase used in combination and concurrently, wherein the reaction is carried out in a pH range of 8 to 9, and wherein the ratio of the relative concentration of trypsin relative to carboxypeptidase is from 5: 1 to 50: 1 and the relative amount of trypsin to that of the insulin precursor is from 1:10 to 1: 100.


The identification of viable myocardium within dysfunctional myocardium has important clinical implications. By using a microvascular tracer, myocardial contrast echocardiography may have the potential for prediction of myocardial viability in the acute and subacute phases of myocardial infarction. In the case presented, the normal myocardial perfusion observed after intravenous injection of the contrast agent, combined with severe wall motion abnormality following prolonged chest pain, suggested myocardial stunning. This was confirmed by normal coronary angiography and by restoration of normal left ventricular function at 1‐month follow‐up echocardiography.


The moisture and air stable ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazonium tetrafluoroborate [bmim]BF4 and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazonium hexafluorophosphate [bmim]PF6 were used as 'green' recyclable alternatives to volatile organic solvents (VOCs) for ethylenediammonium diacetate (EDDA) catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation between aldehydes or ketones with active methylene compounds. Both aldehydes and ketones gave satisfactory results. The ionic liquids containing catalyst EDDA were recycled several times with no decreases in yields and reaction rates. In the case of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, the reactions led to the formation of 3-substituted coumarins under standard reaction conditions.


A theoretical study on the isomerization mechanism between organorhenium alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes(Me)2(NHR3)Re(CHR1)(NR2) and(Me)2(NHR3)Re(≡CR1)(NHR2), where R1,R2, R3=H,Me,But, were carried out with the density functional theory B3LYP method. The optimal structures of the transition states were located and the activation energies were calculated. The calculation results indicate that the intramolecular hydrogen transfer process is kinetically unfavorable because the high activation energies exists whatever the substituent is. The intermolecular hydrogen transfer process between two alkylidene complexes is less favorable either. The hydrogen transfer process between the alkylidene complex and the water molecule is favorable. The most favorable process is the hydrogen transfer process between the alkylidene complex and the chlorine hydride molecule where the chlorine hydride molecule acts as a bridge or a catalyst. The calculation results suggest that the effects of substituents on the reaction barriers of hydrogen transfer processes are almost the same for all the four processes considered in this work. For each process the most preferable substituents are the methyl or t-butyl group for R1, the hydrogen atom for R2, and t-butyl group for R3. The calculation results also show that the additivity exists for the effects of substituents on the barriers of the α-hydrogen transfer reactions.


Sulfonated β-cyclodextrin was synthesized with β–cyclodextrins (β-CD) and concentrated sulfuric acid. The molecular structure of sulfonated β-cyclodextrin was characterized by FTIR and 1H-NMR. The dispersing ability of sulfonated β-cyclodextrin was investigated using various characterization methods like paste fluidity, adsorption amount and zeta potentials measurements. The results show that compared with sulphonated naphthalene based superplasticizer (NPS), the fluidity of cement paste dosage with sulfonated β-cyclodextrin is 248 mm, the zeta potential value changes from 11.5 mV to-19.6 mV with the concentration of sulfonated β-cyclodextrin increasing from 0 to 15 g/L and the maximum adsorption amount is 20 mg/g. Meanwhile, FTIR and 1H-NMR results indicate that the sulfonic groups were grafted successfully on the molecular chain of the β-CD.


In this study, the leaves of pumpkin purchased from two different markets in Osun State, Nigeria - Dagbolu along Ikirun Olorunda Local Government and Irepodun Village Osogbo Local Government Osun State, were analyzed for proximate and heavy metal content. The results of the proximate analysis revealed that the leaves contained essential nutrients like moisture, ash, crude fiber, fat, protein, and carbohydrate, which makes them a good source of food supplement. And their percentage composition were (2.64 % and 2.15%), (13.33% and 12.98%), (2.32 % and 2.15 %),(11.85 % and 11.20%),(24.54 % and 25.40 %) and(45.32 % and 46.12 %) for A and B respectively. Analysis also showed the concentration of heavy metals like Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn, which were found to be relatively high in the leaves with following concentration (3.12 mg/g and 2.56 mg/g), (1.95 mg/g and 1.64 mg/g), (6.98 mg/g and 5.89 mg/g), and (0.43 mg/g and 0.36 mg/g) respectively for A and B. Despite this, the high concentration of Zn and Fe makes pumpkin leaves an excellent source of energy and protein for both humans and animals.


In order to assess the relationship between milk coagulation properties (MCP) and cheese yield, experimental cheese-making trials were made once a month for 5 times between January and June 2010. Six cows producing milk with good MCP and six cows producing milk characterized by having poor MCP have been selected, using CRM (Computerized Renneting Meter) analysis. Milk has been mixed to form four experimental milks: two milks were of extreme good and poor MCP, and two intermediate milks were prepared mixing the two extreme experimental milks in proportions of 67:33 and 33:67. 90-days-ripened chesses were obtained from each 10 liters vat. Analysis of the protein profile has been carried out vat milk by HPLC. Mid-infrared spectroscopy has been used to determine the percentage of protein, fat, casein, lactose, total solids, citric acid and urea in milk, and total solids, fat, protein and lactose content in whey.