Purpose:- This study was aimed at extending the understanding of Covid-19 literature regarding Consumer Behaviour by using bibliometric technique of analysis. Design/Methodology/ approach:- The current study adopts bibliometric analysis and was based on the records extracted from Scopus database. Scopus database was selected since it was known to be major citation and abstract database of peer-reviewed literature covering an extensive collection of topics. Findings:- The findings suggested that the most influential authors in the area were Graffigna, G. was leading others by producing the most documents (16) in the searched area. Furthermore, key co-occurrence showed 'pandemic', 'social media', 'consumer behavior', 'social distancing', and 'lockdown' as main keywords. Research limitation/ Implications:- This research applied specific keywords which might have limited the results. We also applied different thresholds while screening and analyzing the records which might exclude the important and worth-noticing piece of data in the documents. We categorized the keywords which were relevant to Covid-19 and Consumer Behavior. It might overlook other more important keywords used in the documents. Originality/value:- The current study was designed to extend the understanding of Covid-19 literature with Consumer Behaviour by using bibliometric technique of analysis. It was first of its kind which would aid in comprehending the phenomenon and future research directions.


List of figures List of tables List of boxes List of acronyms How to use this book Part I. Simple Regression and Data Analysis: 1. An introduction to ordinary least squares 2. Running simple regressions: global poverty and growth 3. Using logs and estimating elasticities: demand for air travel 4. Hypothesis testing: health expenditures and the quality of life Part II. Multiple Regression and Diagnostic Testing: 5. Multiple regression analysis: housing demand in the UK 6. Heteroscedasticity: R&D, innovation and economic performance 7. Autocorrelation: tourism and the environment 8. Model misspecification: Tobin's q and investment in the USA Part III. Time Series Econometrics: 9. Structural breaks, non-stationarity and spurious regressions: venture capital and computing investment in the USA 10. Error correction models AND cointegration: consumption and the multiplier in the UK Part IV. Advanced Topics: 11. Panel estimation: divorce and income 12. Binary dependent variables: war and poverty Index.


Appointments and Classes • Make an appointment as soon as you think you are pregnant to start prenatal care. • Go to your regular prenatal check ups, even when you feel well. At the end of your pregnancy, your check ups will be every 1 to 2 weeks. • Go to classes to help prepare you for labor and delivery, breastfeeding and baby care. Take your partner or other support person with you. • Check if you have insurance for pregnancy and baby benefits. • Ask for an interpreter and financial help if needed.


The research has been conducted under Isparta ecological conditions during the 2006-2008 growing seasons. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of late-season N application on grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen uptake efficiency, nitrogen utilization efficiency and grain protein content of wheat. The experiment was set up as Randomized Complete Block Design with a split-plot arrangement with three replications. Wheat cultivars were main plots, the nitrogen application times were subplots. Bread wheat cultivars (Gun-91, Gerek-79 and Altay-2000) were used. Nitrogen was applied as conventional N (two equal amounts at the time of seed sowing and tillering stage) and late-season N application (one-third of was applied during sowing, one-third at the tillering stage and the rest was applied as foliar at post-pollination growth stage). Effects of late-season foliar N application on grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen uptake efficiency, nitrogen utilization efficiency and grain protein content of wheat were observed. Grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen uptake efficiency, nitrogen utilization efficiency and grain protein content of wheat in both years of the study were significantly affected by N application time. The results showed that the grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency, nitrogen uptake efficiency and grain protein content were higher in the late-season N application than those of in the conventional N application in both years. But, nitrogen utilization efficiency was higher in conventional N application than late-season foliar N application in both years. The highest grain yield (3281 kg ha -1 ), nitrogen uptake efficiency (71.3 %) and grain protein content (12.6 %) were obtained from Altay-2000 with cultivar x late-season N interaction in the second year. The highest nitrogen use efficiency (14.5 %) was obtained from Gun-91 with cultivar x late-season N interaction; and highest nitrogen utilization efficiency (37.6 %) was determined from Gerek-79 with cultivar x conventional N interaction in the second year.


In recent years, nanowires have attracted considerable attention because of their extraordinary physical properties and large number of possible applications in research and technology. There are some alternative techniques, each one characterized by special opportunities and limitation. This article presents a remote automated electrodeposition system used to control the etching and the deposition process. Because it's digital and analogue connectivity with the real world the system allows remote control via network and data recording.


Background The feasibility of the mapping of quantitative cerebral blood flow (CBF) named flow‐sensitive alternating inversion recovery exempting separate T1 measurement (FAIREST) is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of FAIREST in the measurement of regional CBF (rCBF) in healthy volunteers. Methods Eighteen healthy volunteers underwent magnetic resonance (MR) scanning with the sequence of FAIREST. While they were at rest, rCBF values were obtained in various brain regions of interest (ROIs). The same scheme was repeated on every subject after two weeks. Statistical analysis was made to determine the effect of location, scan and side on the measurement of rCBF. Results The mean CBF values were (122±28) ml · (100 g)−1 · min−1 and (43±10) ml · (100 g)−1 · min−1 in the gray and white matter respectively. There was significant main effect of location (t=‐12.5, P<0.01), but no significant effect of side. Paired t‐test of ROIs in the same slice showed no significant difference in most sites between two scans, except in the gray matter of the bilateral frontal lobes (t=2.18—2.34, P <0.05). However, the rCBF values of the same structure obtained from different slices showed a significant difference (t=‐3.49, P<0.01). Conclusion FAIREST is a reliable technique in the measurement of rCBF, but different imaging slice may affect the agreement of rCBF across the scans. Chin Med J 2006;119(24):2096–2100


Predictions of relevant propagation effects are required for the design, development, deployment and operation of all earth-space telecommunication systems. Three primary system issues arise in the design of earth-space telecommunication links: link availability, related to time periods when propagation impairments occurring on the path exceed a threshold that results in a system outage; degraded performance, when the link remains available but the received signal quality is insufficient to meet specified performance criteria; and unwanted interference, generated by other systems sharing the same bands, or possibly cross-polarisation interference (intersystem or intrasystem) between orthogonally polarised channels that results from signal depolarisation on the path, creating channel crosstalk if the system employs dual-polarized channels for frequency reuse.


In this paper the Lagrange-mesh method is used to solve the two- and three-dimensional Schrödinger equation in spherical coordinates. Matrix elements that involve few free parameters and depend on the grid points for the Hamiltonian, and can be used with any quantum mechanical system, are employed. The accuracy of the matrix elements is tested with the quartic anharmonic oscillator and a double ring-shaped harmonic oscillator potentials. Eigenvalues for the systems are reproduced to within machine accuracy when the free parameters of the matrix elements are chosen appropriately.


The gas exchange characteristics of P.euphratica and P.pruinosa of desert dominant plants and the relationships between them and environmental factors were studied under field condition.The results showed diurnal course of net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rates (Tr) of P.euphratica and P.pruinosa's were single peak curves from June to September except August,but intercellular CO2 concentration were double peak curves.The peak values of Pn appeared at 12:00 and peaks of Tr lagged Pn.The monthly Pn,water use efficiency (WUE),light use efficiency (LUE) of P.euphratica were higher than that of P.pruinosa in whole growth season and the stomatic conductance were similar,but Tr of P.pruinosa was higher than that of P.euphratica.The relationships between internal,external factors and Pn,Tr were analyzed by correlation,partial correlation,path and decision analysis.The results indicated that photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was primary determining factor which affects Pn and Tr.The secondary factor was air temperature.P.pruinosa was more sensitive to environmental factors than P.euphratica.It reduced the hurt of high temperature and drought with high transpiration and low WUE.But P.euphratica improved photosynthetic efficiency,WUE,LUE and took the initiative to adjust stomatic conductance to decrease transpiration.It has better ecological adaptation to survive in desert environment.All above characteristics resulted to distribute in different region of P.euphratica and P.pruinosa population in course of long-period adaptation and evolution.


Mesostructured silica−titania mixed oxide monoliths, in which the nanocrystalline titania is well dispersed inside the silicate framework, have been synthesized by a liquid crystalline templating approach in combination with sol−gel processing. Control over the different hydrolysis and condensation rates of silicon and titanium alkoxides was achieved by complexation of the titanium species to the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) part of a block copolymer, such as Pluronic F108. The block copolymer serves two distinct functions:  (a) as a structure-directing agent and (b) as a moderator of the hydrolysis rate of titanium alkoxide. The amorphous titania inside the silica framework is converted by calcination treatment into anatase phase TiO2 incorporated on the silica. The structure and composition of the resulting material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV−visible absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The monoliths have an ordered mesostructure with very smal...


Diarhea is soft defecation or liquid-shaped more than three times a day with or without blood or mucus in faeces. Diarhea patients in Puskesmas Kuaro in 2006 showed the greatest illness rate in children under 5 years of age, with 369 cases in 2005 and 386 cases in 2006. This research was aimed to describe knowledge and attitude of mothers about diarhea disease on level of dehydration on children under 5 years old in Puskesmas Kuaro, Kabupaten Pasir.

It was descriptive research with 61 samples of children under 5 years old suffering from dehydration in work area of Puskesmas Kuaro that qualified research requisites. Investigated variables were mother age, mother education, working status, age of children under 5 years old, children under 5 years old's immunisation status, mother knowledge about diarhea disease and mother attitude toward diarhea disease.

it was obtained that respondents with their child under 5 years old who experienced many dehydration were 18-25 years old group, Primary School level education, and unemployment. In children with 1-3 years old, complete immunisation. While in knowledge level and attitude toward diarhea disease, those who experienced dehydration more were those with poor knowledge and poor attitude.

It could be concluded that mother's knowledge and attitude determined level of dehydration on her children under 5 years old. But the attitude and knowledge itself was not enough, it was necessary to take healthy measure or behavior in daily life and trying to create healthy environment thus the children under 5 years old could be prevented from diarhea disease which resulted in dehydration.


Present study was conducted to investigate the effects of exercise and cholesterol diet on plasma and liver lipid profile, platelet aggregation, erythrocyte Na efflux and liver index such as GOT and GPT using rats on 0.5% cholesterol diet and/or treadmill for 6 weeks. L.W./B.W. ratio was significantly increased in groups fed cholesterol diet (p<0.01), but exercise tend to decrease this ratio. Plasma total and LDL‐cholesterol was significantly increased and HDL‐cholesterol was decreased in groups with cholesterol diet (p<0.01). Plasma triglyceride was significantly decreased in both groups fed cholesterol diet compared with groups fed normal diet (p<0.01). Exercise decreased plasma triglyceride and showed a significant difference between two groups fed normal diet (p<0.01). Liver total cholesterol and triglyceride was significantly increased in groups fed cholesterol diet (p<0.01), but exercise did not affect on these levels. Intracellular Na and total Na efflux were not different, but Na‐K ATPase tend to increase in groups with exercise. Hematocrit was significantly lower (p<0.05) in group of cholesterol diet without exercise compared with other groups. Platelet aggregation in both the initial slope and the maximum was increased in groups fed cholesterol diet, but not statistically significant. Liver index of both GOT and GPT was significantly increased in groups fed cholesterol diet (p<0.01), and exercise significantly (p<0.01) decreased both GOT and GPT especially in groups fed cholesterol diet when compared with their non exercising partners. This study showed that cholesterol diet increases plasma and liver lipid and GOT and GPT, and exercise improves plasma and liver lipid profile and liver index of GOT and GPT preventing fatty liver.


E-commerce websites often seek to maximize sales by employing sales agents to talk on the phone with selected visitors and assist them in making a purchase, and in order to make the most out of thi ...


Use of an asymmetrically-cut single crystal whose surface is polished optically flat can yield a considerable gain in signal over that available in the conventional symmetrical disposition in cases where high resolving power is not critical. Adjustment of the level of asymmetry is achieved simply by rotation of the wedgeshaped crystal about the perpendicular to the Bragg plane used.


In a standard Differential Chaos Shift Keying(DCSK), the reference signal and information bearing signal are sent in separate and equal time slots. In this paper, A new chaos based communications system is proposed by sending the reference signal and information bearing signal in one time slot utilizing the orthogonality between chaotic segment and its time flipped version. This doubles the data rate and enhance Bit Error Rate(BER) performance with respect to DCSK. The proposed system is evaluated using real time simulations in AWGN channel. Moreover, a time flipping unit is designed to synchronize each chaotic segment with its mirrored version. Results indicate that the proposed scheme has an average gain of 4 dB in comparison to the standard DCSK at moderate Eb/No values.


Although life expectancy is increasing, this often comes at the cost of declining health through an increased incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease and arthritis in older age. In addition, a decline in muscular performance is commonly observed with increasing age, combining a loss of skeletal muscle ('sarcopenia'), a decrease in muscle oxidative capacity and a reduction in muscle strength. Research has shown that it is possible to arrest, or even reverse, the changes in muscle mass and oxidative capacity that occur with age. Two of the most successful strategies
identified to date in this regard are exercise, in particular resistance-based training, and protein supplementation. We devised a series of four related studies to investigate and refine strategies for the prevention or mitigation of sarcopenia among the elderly.


The article considers the possibilities of forming the research competence of high school students. It is highlighted that research competence reveals the level of development of students' thinking processes and research activity. It is determined that the essence of research competence is to highlight the personal traits of students, which are expressed in the conscious willingness and ability to independently master and acquire systems of new knowledge, based on previously acquired set of knowledge, skills, abilities and methods. It was found that research competence can be formed only in the process of research. The key concepts that determine the necessary conditions for the organization of such activities of students in school are search, independence, initiative, practical action, experiment, teamwork, the situation of ambiguity, contradictions, the presence of different points of view. It has been proven that involvement in research activities is related to the level of readiness for it, which can be characterized by motivational, cognitive, procedural, creative and reflective-evaluation component. It is determined that the effective means of realization of the professional orientation of teaching physics are the emphasis of students on the universality of physical methods; use of practical tasks that illustrate the need for physical knowledge in different situations; use of interdisciplinary links. It was found that for the formation of research competence a special place in the physics course of primary school should be given to educational and research tasks. The importance of the competence approach in the educational process is shown. The concepts of "research competence" and "research activity" are revealed and the connection between them is shown. The research assignments and tasks that can be used during the teaching of physics in primary school in order to form the research competence are proposed.


Purpose – This paper deals with the modelling of an information system for Chinese herbal medicine manufacturing enterprises, describes its structures and functions, and discusses its implementation issues.Design/methodology/approach – A case experience is presented.Findings – Enterprises within this industry have big differences in production and management process and practice. The implementing plan must consider these differences and have adaptable solutions to fit the firm's conditions. It has been found that the information system model proposed here is feasible and can be used not only in other Chinese herbal medicine manufacturing enterprises, but also in other flow‐process industries.Originality/value – The issues discussed in this paper are common to many Chinese enterprises today, particularly the small and medium‐sized enterprises. The experience described here provides a useful reference for such enterprises' venture into technological and management process innovation.


Clinicostatistical investigation was made on about 53 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity who had undergone neck dissection at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Asahikawa NIcdical College from January 1979 to December 1988.Of the 71 cases of neck dissection, 50 were performed therapeutically, and 21 prophylactically. Metastases to the cervical lymph nodes were histologically confirmed in 33 patients.The majority of the involved nodes were submandibular lymph nodes, superior internal jugular nodes, and mid internal jugular nodes.The five-year-survival rate was 84.1% in patients without metastasis and 46.4% with metastasis.Prognosis was poorer as the number of metastatic nodes and sites increased. Prognosis was poorer as cervical nodes of lower level were involved.Of the 33 cases with cervical lymph node metastasis, eleven cases died of local failure, but only one case died of failure in the neck. This indicates that the prognosis of cases with cervical lymph node metastasis depends upon whether the primary disease is controlled or not.


When preparing the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), Member States were supported by the European Commission but denied the EU a competence in the matter. Currently, the Treaty of Lisbon identifies territorial cohesion as a competence shared between the Union and the Member States. This paper is about the process architecture of territorial cohesion policy. In the past, this architecture resembled the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) which the White Paper on European Governance praised, but only in areas where there was no EU competence. This reflected zero-sum thinking which may continue even under the Lisbon Treaty. After all, for as long as territorial cohesion was not a competence, voluntary cooperation as practiced in the ESDP process was pursued in this way. However, the practice of EU policies, even in areas where there is an EU competence, often exhibits features of the OMC. Surprisingly effective innovations hold the promise of rendering institutions of decision making comprehensible and democratically accountable. In the EU as a functioning polity decision making is thus at least part deliberative so that actors' preferences are transformed by the force of the better argument. This brings into focus the socialisation of the deliberators into epistemic communities. Largely an informal process, this is reminiscent of European spatial planning having been characterised as a learning process.


Abstract Low temperature nanocrystalline titanium dioxide particles were prepared via the sol-gel method using titanium(IV) butoxide for fabrication of flexible dye sensitized solar cells. The prepared sample was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, specific surface area, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Results confirm that the synthesized sample was highly crystalline anatase TiO2 with an average particle size of 35 nm. The measured specific surface area for TiO2 powder and average surface roughness for TiO2 film were 61.11 m2 g−1 and 17.25 nm respectively. The prepared nano-scale TiO2 was then employed to fabricate flexible dye sensitized solar cell via the low temperature sintering and operated with a platinum counter electrode. The solar energy conversion efficiency for the cell fabricated with TiO2 nanoparticles was about 0.85%.


The food and feeding habits of Ethmalosa fimbriata in the Cross River Estuary was studied between November and January, 2011. Result revealed that the species feed mostly on food from plant origin, although food from animal materials was also identified. A total of 120 plant materials (31.49%) were consumed by the species, algae 58 (15.22%), diatoms 44 (11.54%), Food from animal origin encounter in the gut of the species as incidental diets components included fish eggs 22 (5.71%), fish scales 14 (3.67%), fish bones 17 (4.95%), and Aquatic insects part 40 (10.49%). Unidentified food items encountered in the gut of the species during the study were 16 (3.67%), mud/sand particles 50 (13.12%) and detritus which could not be enumerated. The condition factor calculated for the species varied during the studies period with a mean value of 2.0 in November, 3.10 in December and 1.98 in January. Based on the food items isolated in the gut, the species could be considered as a voracious herbivore in the Cross River Estuary. While the variation in the condition factor of the species in the Estuary may indicate a period of high yield or otherwise of the species in the system.


Based on the analysis of the financial development and economic growth,we performed quantitative analysis to the interaction between finance and economy in the east,cental and western regions of China by using the Gini cofficient,the mean logarithmic,devication(GE0) and the Theil index(GE1) as well as the methods of panel data cointegration tesk and unit root test.We analysed the relationship and the cause between the discrepancy of the financial development and economic growth,and pointed out that the financial industry should be treated differently eccording to the different levels of aconomic growth.


In this paper, an analysis of the global AAM conservation properties of NCAR's Community Atmosphere Model Spectral Element (CAM‐SE) dynamical core under Held‐Suarez forcing is presented. It is shown that the spurious sources/sinks of AAM in CAM‐SE are 3 orders of magnitude smaller than the parameterized (physical) sources/sinks. The effect on AAM conservation by changing various numerical aspects of the dynamical core (e.g., different vertical coordinates, reduced formal order of accuracy, increased dissipation, and decreased divergence damping) is investigated. In particular, it is noted that changing from Eulerian (hybrid‐sigma) to floating Lagrangian vertical coordinates does not alter the global AAM conservation properties of CAM‐SE.


In this article, we intend to make clear the conjectures of a curriculum pragmatics conception. We think that it is necessary look to the pedagogical practice as a communicational action and it is also necessary establishing its metacommunicacional demands. That will permit teachers to recover the power of curriculum builders, if they could get an approach of their own science. Those seem, to us, as the necessary requirements to the educacional work. KEY – WORDS: Curriculum pragmatics; Curricular mentality.


Along with increasing demands and rapid development of nanotechnology in various fields, the combination of photonics, nano-optics, biology and chemistry opens new opportunities of developing optical sensors with subwavelength elements or micrometric structures. An innovative sensing mechanism based on the variations in the sensor radiation diagram in correspondence of changes in the refractive index of the surrounding material is illustrated. Particularly, we present a theoretical investigation of two different prototypes of dielectric structures for sensitive and compact chemical optical sensing through the radiation pattern.


OBJECTIVE To establish a HPLC method for determining the content of protocatechuic acid and protocatechualdehyde in Shuruxiaotong oral liquid.METHODS A Shim-pack CLC-ODS column was used. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water-glacial acetic acid (40∶96∶ 0.25). The detection wavelength was at 280 nm. RESULTS The standard curve of protocatechnic acid was linear in the range of 20.0- 100.0 mg·L -1. The average recovery and RSD were 98.97% and 1.24% (n=5) respectively . The standard curve of protocatechualdehyde was linear in the range of 6.0- 30.0 mg·L -1. The average recovery and RSD were 96.75% and 0.94% (n=5) respectively.CONCLUSION Results obtained show that it is a reliable and accurate method for the quality control of Shu Ru Xiao Tong oral liquid.


The reliability of model predictions used in meteorology, agronomy or hydrology is partly linked to an adequate representation of the water and energy balances which are described in so-called SVAT (Soil Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer) models. These models require the specification of many surface properties which can generally be obtained from laboratory or field experiments, using time consuming techniques, or can be derived from textural information. The required accuracy of the surface properties depends on the model complexity and their misspecification can affect model performance. At various time and spatial resolutions, remote sensing provides information related to surface parameters in SVAT models or state variables simulated by SVAT models. In this context, the Simple Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Transfer-Remote Sensing (SiSPAT-RS) model was developed for remote sensing data assimilation objectives. This new version of the physically based SiSPAT model simulates the main surface processes (energy fluxes, soil water content profiles, temperatures) and remote sensing data in the visible, infrared and thermal infrared spectral domains. As a preliminary step before data assimilation in the model, the objectives of this study were (1) to apply a multiobjective approach for retrieving quantitative information about the surface properties from different surface measurements and (2) to determine the potential of the SiSPAT-RS model to be applied with 'little' a priori information about input parameters. To reach these goals, the ability of the Multiobjective Generalized Sensitivity Analysis (MOGSA) algorithm to determine and quantify the most influential input parameters of the SiSPAT-RS model on several simulated output variables, was investigated. The results revealed the main influential input parameters according to different contrasted environmental conditions, and contributed to the reduction of their a priori uncertainty range. A procedure for specifying surface properties from MOGSA results was tested on the thermal and hydraulic soil parameters, and evaluated through the SiSPAT-RS model performance. Although slightly lower than a reference simulation, the performance were satisfactory and suggested that complex SVAT models can be driven with little a priori information Journal of Hydrology 287 (2004) 214–236 www.elsevier.com/locate/jhydrol 0022-1694/$ see front matter q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2003.10.003 * Corresponding author. Address: INRA Avignon-Unité CSE, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc 84914 Avignon Cedex 9, France. Tel.: þ33-432-722427; fax: þ33-432-722362. E-mail address: email@example.com (J. Demarty). on soil properties, as in a future context of remote sensing data assimilation. Measurement acquired on a winter wheat field of the ReSeDA (Remote Sensing Data Assimilation) experiment were used in this study. q 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.


Mechanical attrition and Hot Isostatic Pressing can be used in tandem to create novel hybrid nanocomposite with high interfacial surface areas, which can be manipulated to control bulk properties. A description of these interfacial characteristics in a series of hybrid nanocomposites is given.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical and pathogenic significance of anti-aquaporin 4 (anti-AQP4) antibodies in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), without CNS involvement (non-CNS-SLE).
BACKGROUND
Anti-AQP4 autoantibodies are highly specific for the Neuromyelitis Optica-Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD). Anti-AQP4 antibodies have been previously described in patients with SLE who concurrently have neurological signs consistent within NMOSD. Whether these autoantibodies are also present and persist in the sera of non-CNS-SLE patients, is unknown.
DESIGN/METHODS
Sera from 89 non-CNS-SLE patients determined by clinical record review and according to ACR criteria, were screened for anti-AQP4 autoantibodies by an in house cell-based assay (CBA) using M23-AQP4-transfected cells. Seropositivity was confirmed by a commercial CBA assay (Euroimmun). Archived samples from seropositive patients, obtained serially over a 10-year period were also analyzed for anti-AQP4 autoantibodies.
RESULTS
Two of 89 (2,2%) non-CNS-SLE patients were anti-AQP4 seropositive. Archived samples from both of them (7 from one and 16 from the other, dating back 8 and 10 years, respectively) were also AQP4-positive as confirmed by both CBAs. Staining intensity was similar to AQP4-positive control NMO patients. The two AQP4-positive SLE patients are women with disease duration of 16-17 years; they have mild type of renal involvement and a wide spectrum of other autoantibodies. Both patients had never exhibited any CNS-related symptoms based on neurologic examination. A current brain and spinal cord MRI did not reveal any NMOSD-compatible lesions.
CONCLUSIONS
AQP4-antibodies may develop in some SLE patients and persist for many years, even without developing clinical or MRI signs of NMOSD. It is a possible that the antibodies in these patients result from the underlying polyclonal B cell activation of the immune system, typical for SLE, and may not be pathogenic. Alternatively, the possibility that the antibodies might herald the potential of developing CNS disease even after a decade, cannot be excluded.
Study supported by: Special Research Account, University of Athens Disclosure: Dr. Tatouli has nothing to disclose. Dr. Alexopoulos has nothing to disclose. Dr. Akrivou has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tzioufas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dalakas has received personal compensation for activities with Baxter, Novartis, Grifols, CSL, Octapharma, Dysimmune Diseases Foundation, and Therapath. Dr. Dalakas has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders. Dr. Dalakas has received research support from Biogen Idec, Serono, Inc., Novartis, CSL and Teva Neuroscience.


Objective: To investigate the prevalence of alcohol-drinking behavior,awareness of alcohol-related knowledge and the potential influential factors on the drinking behavior among the college students.Methods: By using a conventional random sampling method,we conducted a survey on 559 students from 9 faculties of 2 higher institutions in Wuhu city with anonymous Questionnaire for Adolescent Behavior,Attitudes and Knowledge of Alcohol-Drinking,and analyzed the drinking statues and influencing factors.Results: ① 392 of the 559 students were drinkers(70.13%),and male drinkers(61.22%) were significantly higher than female ones(38.78%)(χ2=75.97,P0.01).Alcohol-drinking was less prevalent in students from one-child family than those with more than one child(36.73% vs 63.27%)(χ2=9.28,P0.01).②The drinking frequencies were different between male and female students(χ2=96.39,P0.01).The initial attempt of drinking generally started from 16 to 22 years old,yet the males were different from females in age distribution(χ2=96.11,P0.01).③Drunkenness appeared absent or occasional in the total subjects,and the expenditure on drinking was statistically different in males from females(χ2=82.84,P0.01).④Parents' and teachers' attitudes towards alcohol drinking as well as parents' drinking behavior had produced significant impact on the drinking behavior of college students(χ2=10.55,P0.01).⑤The prevalence was significantly associated with the awareness of whether the alcohol was available in campus(χ2=10.10,P0.01) and frequencies of physical exercise(χ2=10.10,P0.01).In addition,the drinkers were significantly different from non-drinkers in awareness of and attitudes towards alcohol use(χ2=8.95,P0.01).Conclusion: Alcohol use appear prevalent in college students.These results suggest that the students shall be subjected to education on the alcohol-related health problems to prevent poor mental health from this behavior.


Sliding wear characteristics of some heat treated SS-304 stainless steel against EN-8 steel in dry condition have been studied in the present experimental work. Samples of SS-304 stainless steel have been heated in a muffle furnace in desired temperature and allowed to dwell for two hours. The heated specimen are then cooled in different media namely inside the furnace, open air, cutting grade oil (grade 44) and water at room temperature to obtain different grades of heat treatment. Microstructures and corresponding micro hardness of the samples have been measured along with Feritscopic studies. Wear characteristics have been studied in a multi tribo-tester (Ducom) in dry sliding condition against EN-8 steel roller. Speed, load on job and duration of test run have been considered as the experimental parameters. The wear of the samples have been obtained directly from 'Winducom 2006' software. Mass loss of the samples before and after operation has also been considered as the measure of wear in the present study. All the samples have been slid against EN-8 steel roller with fixed experimental parameters. The data have been plotted, compared and analyzed. Effect of microstructures as well as micro hardness on the wear behavior has been studied and concluded accordingly. © 2016 Published by Faculty of Engineering Corresponding author: Abhijit Mukhopadhyay Mechanical ngineering Department, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India. E-mail: email@example.com


Near-surface structures of polar InN films were investigated by laboratory-based hard X-ray photoelectron diffraction (HXPD) with chemical-state-discrimination. HXPD patterns from In 3d5/2 and N 1s core levels of the In-polar and N-polar InN films were different from each other and compared with the simulation results using a multiple-scattering cluster model. It was found that the near-surface structure of the In-polar InN film was close to the ideal wurtzite structure. On the other hand, on the N-polar InN film, defects-rich surface was formed. In addition, the existence of the In-polar domains was observed in the HXPD patterns.


Chinese attach great importance to traditional patterns with color,which reflects the image of the rich features of traditional culture.In the modern packaging design,especially the wine packaging and book packaging,the use of Chinese traditional patterns shows the rich and unique culture,thereby the cultural tastes of packaging design is enhancd.


This paper offers a new, formal definition of 'legal information,' intended to exhibit nine characteristics identified as being desirable. Motives for devising a new definition of 'legal information' include enabling automated discovery and organization of law-related information, fostering interdisciplinary research respecting such information, and enabling law librarians to specify the basis of their professional expertise and to limit the scope of their collections and services. Three previously devised, formal definitions of 'legal information' are evaluated and their shortcomings identified. A new definition of 'legal information' is then set out, with examples. Next, the paper discusses a potential controversy respecting a subcategory of law-related information: ostensibly non-law-related information that acquires legal significance by virtue of being used to support a statement about law. A potential approach to that controversy is suggested, involving the use of the economic concept of comparative advantage.This is an invited paper, presented at the Boulder Summer Conference on Legal Information: Scholarship & Teaching, held at the University of Colorado School of Law, in Boulder, Colorado, June 2009.


Use of information and communication technologies can improve the agricultural and rural development. Client server architecture in conjunction with the mobile applications on smart-phones can be useful for delivery of the precise agricultural information to the farmers. Geographical data of mobile phones can further localize the required information needs of the farmers. In this paper, an approach have been suggested for hybrid architecture based on mobile and web technology using the location. The inference of the decision to disseminate information can be made dynamic using an improved rule promotion technique.


People often define the period style according to the artworks that are superior in quantity in a cer- tain period.And then depending no this standard they construct the history of arts.Because of this,some art- works,which are inferior in quantity,are neglected.In some historic chances those artworks that were once ignored might be taken good care of and highly recognized.The Miuzhuan seal of the Han dynasty was once ig- nored and excluded.But now it is recognized and has gained its due place in the history of seal cutting.This article arranges the viewpoints and opinions of the scholars upon the Hart Miuzhuan seal,considering that in the rediscovering and rewriting of the history,the Miuzhuan seals have effectively highlighted the Han seal styles and the multiplicity of the culture of the Han Dynasty.


In the course of investigations of problems of long-term development of Russian pension system its influence problems on macroeconomics of the state and enterprise microeconomics, and also necessity of its adaptation to negative demographic processes were put forward. Problems of pension reform in the context of universal practice of creation and functioning on the basis of insurance principles of pension systems are considered in the article.


China's audit talents are far inferior to meet the demands of the age, training new type talents of high quality audit is the most urgent. It takes hundred years to bring up men of ability, education concerned must go ahead. Traditional teaching mode appears more and more abuses, it is difficult to satisfy the needs of the new type talents, so the reform of audit teaching is of the most urgency.


The desire to reduce complexity at the mobile units, in current code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile systems, has led research pursuing to transfer the signal processing from the mobile unit to the base station. The aim of this paper is to investigate a new bitwise scheme for transmitter precoding subject to a power constrained transformation at the transmitter output. The receivers are constrained to matched filter detection without channel state information (CSI). We investigate precoding for the forward link of time division duplex (TDD) CDMA systems. Finally, it is shown that the proposed approach leads to a simple precoding scheme that offers a reasonable alternative to receiver based multiuser detectors at only moderate additional complexity at the base station. Keywords— Transmitter Precoding, CDMA Systems, Frequency Selective Fading Channels.


Control of US and Russian tactical nuclear weapons has remained an elusive goal since the end of the Cold War, despite the fact that these weapons are particularly attractive to nuclear terrorists and represent a major danger from the standpoint of early or accidental use. Meaningful progress will probably require a larger deal in which there are trade-off between US concessions on issues of interest to Russia and Russian concessions on tactical nuclear weapons. Two options merit serious consideration. The first entails the withdrawal of the small number of US tactical weapons that remain in Europe to jump-start a dialogue. The second option involves a package deal that would include Russian agreement to initiate negotiations on tactical nuclear weapons reductions in exchange for NATO agreement to discuss changes in the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. An optimal approach would be to launch a meaningful dialogue on tactical nuclear weapons in a separate forum, yet in parallel to the next stage of START negotiations.


An effective bosonic Hamiltonian describing the interaction of a mesoscopic Josephson junction with a quantized radiation field is studied. It is shown that when the field is initially in a coherent state and the junction initially in its lowest energy level state, the state of the coupled field-mesoscopic Josephson junction system can evolve to a squeezed state. A detailed analysis about the quantum fluctuation of the coupled system is given.


A portable information processing device is provided to prevent incorrect operation of a user, improve convenience, and minimize moving line of the user by improving a structure for arranging an input or output unit in a front panel. A main unit(110) has a display opening(111) and a front panel arranged around the display opening. A display unit(120) displays an image in the display opening. A key input unit has at least one horizontal key group comprising a plurality of keys(139) arranged to the outside of the display opening in a partial area of the front panel. At least a part of a line connecting an upper end of the keys of the horizontal key group along the outside of the display opening is tilted to a plane of the display unit. The key input unit includes at least one of left and right input keys respectively arranged to left and right sides of the front panel by interposing the display opening between the left and right input keys.


2+ signals evoked by hind limb stimulation.CGP52432 (green, n = 6) and gabazine (red, n = 6) were applied to cortical surface (see text). Supplementary Figure 2. Hindlimb stimulation evoked ∆F/F peak amplitude of dendritic Ca 2+ signals (n = 6) before and after application of APV (100 µM), an antagonist of NMDA receptors, to cortical surface. P > 0.1.


This paper describes a new Central Traffic Control System (CTCS), implemented in several sites in Europe, and also in Haifa, Israel. The CTCS implemented in Haifa contains enhanced capabilities. While it incorporates the general philosophy of on- and off-line traffic signalization control, the CTCS also coordinates its control strategies with supporting units, namely, electronic signs for drivers, closed-circuit TV system, priority for transit vehicles, and for emergency vehicles. In addition, this CTCS allows for coordination with advanced optimization software aimed at optimal online traffic signalization control, for both congested and uncongested traffic flow situations.<<ETX>>


School is an important place to carry out national identity education and to help student form national identity and externalize it into nationally accepted behavior.Reflecting on problems in school education of national identity,exploring ways to national identity education in micro value-orientation,and constructing model of national identity education based on active and true experience will effectively promote the formation and sustainable development of national identity and eventually realize national loyalty.


Pulsed electron beams in the ionosphere radiate electromagnetic energy and, therefore, might work as wireless virtual antennas. Such virtual antennas would be most useful at low frequencies because small or moderate-size wire antennas work well at high frequencies. Natural beams radiate energy that propagates down through the ionosphere, but no experiment has used a man-made electron beam to produce radiation at the modulation frequency or its harmonics, and detected that radiation on the ground. This report addresses the feasibility of such an experiment, and suggests preferred configurations. Motivated by communications applications, which require good time availability, it considers only phenomena, such as the triggering plasma of instabilities or guidance in transient ionospheric ducts.


This dissertation aims at a better understanding of the connection between mental deficiency and criminality by a comparison of the misbehaviour of feeble-minded minors with that of normal children. A detailed discussion of this subject is wanting both in Dutch and foreign literature. The dossiers concerning the children of ,,Groot-Emaus", a large Protestant institution for feeble-minded minors in the village of Ermelo (province of Gelderland), formed the material for my inquiry. ... Zie: Summary


Based on the movement characteristics and interaction mechanism of tidal currents,waves and sediments in coastal and estuarine areas,considering the influence of " wave radiation stress" and " sediment-capacity of wave-current interaction" dynamic factors generated by the wave field on the flow field and sediment movement,and introducing turbulent flow in the sediment diffusion equation,the tidal current and sediment mathematic model was established under the wave actions.The weighting concentration mass on finite units and measured data of Jinzhou Port were employed for the verification of model.Verification results showed that the calculated tidal level was in good agreement with the measured data:flow velocities,flow directions and sediment concentration distribution.On this basis,the changes of flow field and sediment deposition before and after the project were studied,and the sudden silting phenomenon was analyzed.The mathematic model can be applied to simulating and forecasting the flow fields and sediments in coastal and estuarine areas,and it has good application prospect.


In the current international sports market, naturalization has become increasingly popular. Naturalized athletes can be seen frequently in the just-concluded Olympic Games, Winter Olympics, and Asian Cup. In this context, this paper analyzes the effects and impacts of naturalization on countries in globalization mainly through the cases of Qatar, China, and Japan. It finds that naturalization can be both useful and harmful. When it is applied successfully, it can improve countries' global influence, bring new economic potentialities, and promote cultural inclusiveness. In contrast, failed naturalization would likely cause extreme cultural exclusiveness and tremendous financial losses.


summary It has recently been suggested that continuous passive motion (CPM) may be an effective alternative training method for increasing muscle strength and may promote weight loss in healthy participants. However, the evidence provided in the few reasearch studies conducted in this area indicate that CPM programs are generally not able to provide enough of an exercise stimulus to significantly influence body composition or strength.


INTRODUCTION Valsartan is a nonpeptide, orally active and specific angiotensin II receptor blocker acting on the AT1 receptor subtype. Valsartan is chemically N-(1oxopentyl)-N-[[2'-(1Htetrazol-5yl)[1,1'-biphenyl] -4yl]methyl]-Lvaline. [1-4] Methods such as HPLC [5-7] , LCMS [8-9] , protein precipitation [10] and simultaneous UVspectrophotometric methods [11-12] are reported for estimation of valsartan alone or in combination with other agents. Sacubitril is chemically 4[[(2S,4R)-5ethoxy-4-methyl-5-oxo-1-(4-phenylphenyl)pentan-2yl]amino]-4-oxobutanoic acid. [13]


The paper presents realized and planned to implement the principles of management of large multi-disciplinary organization based on the clinical management.


Today many producing companies face two major challenges: they have to maintain a high degree of product differentiation whilst reducing costs through economies of scale. One way to face these challenges is the development of modular product architectures that allow to produce a number of product variants and product generations using one single architecture. The complexity for the product development has thereby increased since expected future changes in products have to be anticipated in the designing process to minimize modification costs. The more robust a product architecture is regarding future changes, the longer an architecture can be used which directly translates into economic advantages for the company. Most companies though struggle to apply the required processes and tools to develop scenario-robust product architectures for their portfolio. This paper aims at the presentation of a methodology to develop alternative, scenario-robust product architecture designs.


We describe a new, high-energy (420 kV), large-scale (0.45 m in diameter, 4 m in height) x-ray tomograph developed to investigate gas and liquid flow through fixed bed like absorption, distillation and reactive distillation columns. The first results obtained with this set-up on test objects (physical phantoms), such as a cylindrical container filled with water or a large diameter structured metallic packing, validate the technique as a quantitative tool for geometrical measurements. Very detailed two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images of a 0.09 m diameter KATAPAK-SP 12, a reactive distillation packing, are presented. Quantitative information relative to liquid hold-up distribution may be obtained from tomographic imaging performed on an irrigated column packed with this element.


Two strontium-based dicarboxylate systems [Sr(oBDC-F4)(H2O)2] (1) and [{Sr(oBDC)(H2O)2}·H2O] (2) were synthesized mechanochemically via milling of Sr(OH)2·8H2O with tetrafluorophthalic acid (H2oBDC-F4) or phthalic acid (H2oBDC), respectively. The new structures were determined ab initio from the powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data. Both compounds 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/c as two-dimensional coordination polymers (2D-CPs). The determined structures were validated by extended X-ray absorption (EXAFS) data. Compounds 1 and 2 show different thermal stabilities. The fluorinated CP 1 is decomposed at 300 °C while the nonfluorinated CP 2 transforms into a new phase after thermal treatment at 400 °C. The two hydrated CPs exhibit small surface areas which increase after the thermal post-treatment for 1 but remains unchanged for the dehydrated sample of 2. Dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) experiments indicate that both the dehydrated and hydrated samples of 2 depict no significant differences in their adsorption isotherms. The DVS of water indicates that the phase transition after thermal post-treatment of 2 is irreversible.


Livia K. Stone's book is a theoretically rigorous and politically useful text that explores activist filmmaking in Atenco, Mexico, and how it intervenes in longstanding legacies of police brutality and development initiatives. Stone asks, "What do [activist films] do? Do they work in the ways that filmmakers think that they do? How do we know if they do?" (113). Stone ultimately answers her own questions by arguing that the filmmakers are "literally producing a medium of human interactions . . . that helps produce a culture outside of neoliberal economies and neoliberal morality" (150).


It has been shown in earlier works that the vertices of Platonic solids are good measurement choices for tests of EPR-Steering. Such measurements are regularly spaced, and measurement diversity is a good feature for making EPR-Steering inequalities easier to violate with entangled states. However, such measurements are provably suboptimal. By scrutinising not only the average results, but also the measurement statistics of cheating strategies in a Local Hidden State model, we outline a method for devising optimal strategies for EPR-Steering tests with no detection loophole.


Abstract : The overall goal of this 12-month project was to explore ion beam assisted growth of uncooled ferroelectric thin film infrared detectors so as to improve the material properties and thus device performance of thin film ferroelectric (TFFE) infrared imaging components/systems. Two issues were addressed. One is to optimize physical properties of the ferroelectric layer, aiming at Improving sensitivity and reducing noise of these devices. The other is to grow the whole multilayered TFFE at a low thermal budget below 500 C, which is required for a monolithic TFFE on Si-based readout integrated circuits. ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) was employed in this research as it can preferentially generate a textured growth pattern, and provide atoms with extra kinetic energies, promoting formation of high-quality oriented ferroelectric films at low substrate temperature. During the project period, two vacuum systems were constructed/modified for the proposed research. One was addition of ion beam to our existing pulsed laser deposition system for ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD-PLD) and the other was the new thermal/e-beam co-evaporator equipped with IBAD and high-resolution electron diffraction capabilities (IBAD-TEC). Growth of samples was conducted on both systems and the experimental results are summarized in the report.


1. Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2. Scientific Research and Analysis Laboratory, Conservation Department, Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware, USA 3. Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands. 4. Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague, the Netherlands 5. University of Delaware, Department of Chemistry, Newark, Delaware, USA 6. Stanford Synchrotron radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park, California, USA


ABSTRACTOptical transforms of two-dimensional model functions for smectic A structures have been produced using a laser- optical Fraunhofer diffraction set-up. The schematic models enable, in particular, the control of two influential parameters: (i) the structure factor of the smectic layers and(ii) the effect of transverse undulations of the smectic layers.The comparison of optical transforms with high-resolution X-ray diffraction patterns of magnetically oriented smectic A liquid crystals reveals that both the structure factor and transverse undulations affect the profile and intensity of the peaks in the X-ray diffraction pattern. The optical transform of the best schematic model only shows one meridional reflection and a lateral broadening. Both characteristics of this very sharp reflection are observed in the X-ray pattern for a well aligned smectic A structure.


: Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is one of the most economically important transboundary animal diseases in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2015 in extensive farming systems of Derashe district, southern Ethiopia aiming at the determination of the seroprevalence of CBPP and associated risk factors. A total of 545 serum samples were examined for the presence of specific antibodies against Mycoplasma mycoides sub species mycoides small colony (Mmm SC ) using competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA). The overall seroprevalence of CBPP was 55.05% (300/545). There was a statistically significant variation of seroprevalence among different examined kebeles (p< 0.05). Similarly, herd size was significantly associated with CBPP seroprevalence (p<0.05). However, other risk factors such as age and sex were not significantly associated (p>0.05) with sero status of the animals. In conclusion, the present study indicated the high seroprevalence in the studied area. Therefore, proper intervention strategies should be designed and implemented to minimize the burden of the disease. This study shows a high seroprevalence of CBPP indicated this disease is the major cattle rearing area. the examined


Advance directives are legal mechanisms that enable people to make decisions about their treatment before a health-threatening event prevents them from such decision making. It is believed by many that advance directives enhance individualism by providing a written document, signed by the person, indicating what that person wants done under certain specified circumstances. Many countries around the world now favour these documents and they are becoming more fashionable in the UK.


The Down-Hole Magnetometric Resistivity (DHMMR) method, an extension to the surface Magnetometric Resistivity (MMR) method, is an effective technique used for the exploration of massive sulphide deposits. The method is based on the "in-hole" measurement of low-amplitude, low-frequency magnetic fields associated with galvanic current flow through the earth. To date, the interpretation of DHMMR data has focused on modelling the amplitude component (which reflects changes in resistivity), neglecting the phase component (which reflects changes in induced polarization). This paper proposes to address the numerical interpretation of decoupled axial component phase data using DHMMR data acquired from the Flying Doctor prospect (near Broken Hill, New South Wales) as a case study. 3D electromagnetic modelling of polarisable tabular bodies in a layered, non-polarisable, half space has provided useful results. In addition to demonstrating a systematic decrease in the size of phase anomalies with increasing distance from the receiver, we have shown that the phase anomaly due to a polarisable body is also dependent on the body's position relative to the transmitter and receiver.


Quam Dilecta It Is Wrong, Everywhere, Always, and for Anyone, to Believe Anything upon Insufficient Evidence The Possibility of Resurrection Dualism and Materialism: Athens and Jerusalem? Probability and Evil Of Of Miracles A review of Without Proof or Evidence: Essays of O. K. Bouwsma, edited and with an introduction by J. L. Craft and Ronald E. Hustwit A review of Universes, by John Leslie


This study aims to analyze and to record the number of words with noun suffixes in a corpus produced by learners of Spanish as second language. Obtaining the suffix index is of utmost importance to draw conclusions about both, the number of nominalizations and the percentage of occurrences coincident with Spanish suffixes as well as idiosyncratic forms. The study is based on the theoretical framework of the interlanguage hypothesis within the theories of second language acquisition and the latest research on automatic handling of errors in Spanish corpus, particularly lexicons. The text corpus is divided in groups according to the proficiency level of the students, who have different native languages. Regarding the methodology, the Nooj system will be used so as to identify the terms that have noun suffixes, and then two different statistical techniques will be implemented to measure the data: the non-parametric test of Wicoxon for independent samples and the non-parametric test of Kruskal-Wallis. The obtained results will show substantial differences in the use and distribution of Spanish noun suffixes among the corpus that do not share the same level of proficiency. Indeed, a significant increase in matching nominal suffixes will be found in the intermediate level sample as compared to the initial level. However, the examined corpus will not show considerable differences in two other cases: existing suffixes in Spanish not combinable with bases and non-existent suffixes.


. Given a locally compact quantum group G and a closed quantum subgroup H , we show that G is amenable if and only if H is amenable and G acts amenably on the quantum homogenous space G / H . We also study the existence of L 1 ( (cid:2) G )-module projections from L ∞ ( (cid:2) G ) onto L ∞ ( (cid:2) H ).


Decision-making between humans is a recurring challenge in a society where consensuses for disagreements have to be found. To support such decision-makings, at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology a Participation Service is developed as part of a service-oriented campus system in an agile manner and based on the Representational State Transfer (REST) paradigm. One of the key success factors of such software projects is the requirements engineering process. Scenarios are an appropriate way to describe a system from the user's point of view. However, existing methodologies do not specify quality requirements for these scenarios. This article presents an enhancement of existing scenario-based requirements engineering techniques to fulfill the quality characteristics of the international standard ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148 and align the quality aspects to the product strategy. We illustrate the approach and the resulting quality improvements by eliciting functional and non-functional requirements for the Participation Service in an agile manner, while considering constraints emerged from the existing RESTful system.


China's National People's Congress representative of the ratio of the amount of the distribution there is no statutory constraints,regional and occupational differences between the representatives on behalf of the poor than the major.In order to overcome these drawbacks,the NPC system,the direction of reform is to repeal the professional representation system,the implementation of substantive equality of citizens right to vote,to take care of ethnic minorities and less populated areas of the principle of abolition of set aside on behalf of the practice,perfect to elect representatives of overseas Chinese and Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan.


Objective The study was conducted to analyze the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of dengue fever in Leizhou,Zhanjiang,Guangdong in 2007.Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was performed on the basis of epidemic data,laboratory findings and entomophily records with respect of dengue fever in Leizhou,Zhanjiang in 2007.Results A total of 205 cases of dengue fever were reported in Leizhou,Zhanjiang in 2007,without death cases.The annual incidence was 14.8/lakh.Three towns were involved in the epidemic,91.2% of cases(187/205) occurring in Wushi town where two peaks presented within the duration from Sep.30 to Nov.22.The men to women ratio was 1:1.11.Affected cases were mostly aged between 30-60 years(63.9%);house workers,unemployed ones and students(84.9%) constituted the occupational predominance among the affected cases,and the clinical symptoms included fever(99.4%) and headache(76.5%).Dengue virus Type I was isolated from 18 patients'blood serum,of which one genetic sequence was highly homologous(99.8%) with other case found in Zhuhai in 2007.Aedes aegypti was the major vector in the city,and household water tanks were the breeding ground.Conclusion The epidemic of dengue fever in Leizhou,Zhanjiang in 2007 was caused by virus sero-type Ⅰdengue virus,and Aedes from household water tanks constituted the causative agents.


Intensive shrimp aquaculture has increased by about 20% per year during the last decade along the semi-arid NE coast of Brazil due to the optimal climate and environmental setting. Emissions of N and P from this activity to 16 estuaries along the coast of Ceara and Rio Grande do Norte states, NE Brazil, where about 80% of the shrimp farming area of the country is located, showed that intensive shrimp farming presents average emission factors for N and P ranging from 6 to 664 kg.km-2 .yr-1 and from 0.4 to 77 kg.km- 2 .yr-1 , respectively. These emission factors resulted in total annual emissions of 9 to 485 t.yr-1 and 0.7 to 35 t.yr-1 , for N and P respectively. Larger loads occurred at the Jaguaribe River (Ceara State) and the Acu River (Rio Grande do Norte State). Intensive shrimp farming is the major relative contributor of N to the Jaguaribe (CE) (41%) and Acu (RN) (63%) basins. Also at the Guamare basin (RN) it contributes with 26% of the total N load. Contribution of P from intensive shrimp farming is relatively small varying from <5% in most basins to a maximum contribution of 13% at the Acu basin (RN). Although the contribution of intensive shrimp farming relative to agriculture and husbandry is small in most of the studied areas, the location of farms adjacent to estuaries makes possible direct inputs to waters, while most other emissions go firstly to soils before eventually being transported to surface waters.


Global linear stability of compressible,three-dimensional flow around a sphere is investigated with a quasi-linearization method on Navier-Stokes equations.An implicit restarted Arnoldi approach is adopted to solve the eigenvalue problem.The global stability problem of three-dimensional compressible basic flows around a sphere is investigated at subcritical parameters of Reynolds number Re = 200,Mach number M = 0.2,and supercritical parameters of Re = 300,M = 0.6.It shows that the increasing of Mach number(up to 0.6) has no qualitative influence on transition of flow patterns.


In this paper, the damping ratios of two methods, namely the half-power bandwidth method and random decrement method from the vibration measurement were examined. Ambient vibration tests were conducted on two steel-framed and one composite tall building ranging from 27 to 36 stories. The performance of the half-power bandwidth method was investigated using four sample sizes, such as 1024, 2048, 4096 and 8192. Damping by the half-power bandwidth method is slightly more overestimated than the random decrement method due to insufficient record length. Damping evaluation by the half-power bandwidth method was found to be enhanced when using the narrower bandwidth with long recorded data.


AbstractTracking construction equipment is a major task when monitoring work in progress and performance on construction sites. Real-time location data of heavy equipment can be used not only to pr...


Workforce scheduling has become increasingly important for both the public sector and private companies. Good rosters have many benefits for an organization, such as lower costs, more effective utilization of resources and fairer workloads and distribution of shifts. This paper presents a successful way to roster nurses in an intensive-care unit in a Finnish hospital. The rosters are generated using a population-based local search method called the PEAST algorithm. The algorithm has been integrated into market-leading workforce management software in Finland.


High speed image and video processing is becoming increasingly important in many applications, especially in robotics. To boost the computing speed of traditional robot vision system, a FPGA and DSP based robot vision system is developed. Considering about the high throughput image acquisition is the premise of high speed processing, a GigE vision interface is also extended. The configuration and some important characteristics of this robot vision system, which can not only capture images rapidly but can also process images using different algorithms in real-time, are described in this paper. Experiment results are also given to show that the newly developed vision system is much faster and more suitable for robot vision applications.


The results of the studies of the mycorrhizae and other root-associated fungal structures of 87 plant species belonging to 29 different families originated from a strictly protected sandy grassland area of the Great Hungarian Plain are presented. Two-thirds of the studied species formed endomycorrhizae. Quantitative characteristics of the mycorrhizal colonization of their roots have been estimated. Considering the coenological features and the dominance relations of the plant community, the area is dominated by mycorrhizal plants. Only a few plants of the families considered as non-mycorrhizal groups have been colonized by mycorrhizal fungi. The annual species characteristic to the cold-season and to the dry-season subpessimum period are mostly non-mycorrhizal plants, this seems to be some separation in time from the mycorrhizal plants. Endogenous septate fungal hyphae and microsclerotium-like structures have been observed in the roots of the majority of the plants; this phenomenon is probably related to the stressful environment.


Abstract Rotational transitions of 28 SiF 2 and four isotopomers of GeF 2 have been investigated using a cavity pulsed microwave Fourier transform spectrometer. Both molecules were prepared in electric discharges, in SiF 4 and GeF 4 , respectively. The high resolution of the spectrometer has permitted the first measurements to be made of the 19 F hyperfine structure, which has been analyzed in terms of spin-spin and spin-rotation coupling constants. For both molecules the spin-spin coupling constants have been used to evaluate the F-F internuclear distances: good values have been obtained which are in agreement with, but slightly smaller than, the r e values.


The dilute aqueous solutions (2×10−7–1×10−5 mol dm−3) of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl)porphine (TMPyP) showed a broad fluorescence emission band, which was split into two bands with increasing temperature and/or further dilution. These results as well as the effects of additives on the fluorescence spectrum indicated that TMPyP molecules stack in water.


The paper presents a technique for transfer matrix synthesis of two-dimensional orthogonal systems. It is an attempt to extend so-called embedding to the two-dimensional case. Separable and nonseparable transfer function cases are discussed. Presented solution is based on the positive answer to the Hilbert's 17th problem and the modified version of the quadratic form representation applied to two-dimensional polynomials. A simple example is given to illustrate the method.


ABSTRACT Dynamics of a belt drive is analysed using a non-linear model of an extensible string at contour motion, in which the trajectories of particles of the belt are predetermined. The equations of string dynamics at the tight and slack spans are considered in a fixed domain by transforming into a spatial frame. Assuming the absence of slip of the belt on the surface of the pulleys, we arrive at a new model with a discontinuous velocity field and concentrated contact forces. Finite difference discretization allows numerical analysis of the resulting system of partial differential equations with delays. Example solution for the acceleration of a belt drive and an investigation of its frequency response depending on the velocity are presented and discussed.


In view of the present status of literature theory course and lack of the consciousness of subjectivity,the article explains the necessity to foster students' consciousness of subjectivity.Literature theory course cannot be a pure science deviating from its historical context.In contrary,it can be great help to fostere students' contemporary subjectivity not only through grasping its historical mission and the cultural space-time where it lives in,but also through textbook to be prepared and teaching designing effectively.


Thank you very much for downloading stochastically based semantic analysis. As you may know, people have look numerous times for their favorite books like this stochastically based semantic analysis, but end up in malicious downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they are facing with some infectious bugs inside their laptop. stochastically based semantic analysis is available in our digital library an online access to it is set as public so you can download it instantly. Our digital library hosts in multiple countries, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Merely said, the stochastically based semantic analysis is universally compatible with any devices to read.


The Oberon programming language and system, subsequently called the Oberon technology, are well known in the software research community. Few applications, however, exist outside academic institutions. This paper describes one of them (FFF97), which constitutes a database front end application that has been in mission critical use by more than 25 concurrent users since 1998. FFF97 makes full use of Oberon's innovations including dynamic loading, commands, garbage collection, type extension, integrated text and form system, component technologies, model/view separation, low resource consumption, etc. It is claimed that choosing the Oberon technology and a particular approach to software construction, known under the term 'Prototyping', was of vital importance for this project, which, as one of the rare examples of custom software development projects, was completed within the scheduled time and budget without compromising quality or functionality.


An intramolecular Cannizzaro-type hydride transfer to an in situ prepared allene enables the synthesis of ortho-fused 4-substituted cycloocta-2,5-dien-1-ones with unprecedented technical ease for an eight-ring carboannulation. Various derivatives could be obtained from commercially available (hetero)aryl aldehydes, trimethylsilylacetylene, and simple propargyl chlorides in good yields.


Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of triple-needle acupuncture in treating acute cerebral infarction(ACI). Method A hundred and twenty patients with ACI were randomized into a treatment group and a control group,60 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by triple-needle acupuncture,and the control was by ordinary acupuncture therapy.Clinical Neurological Function Deficit Scale(NDS) and Activities of Daily Life(ADL) were adopted for comparing the two groups before and after treatment.Result After treatment,the two groups both had significant changes in comparing NDS and ADL scores(P0.01).After treatment,the differences in NDS and ADL results between the two groups were statistically significant(P0.01). Conclusion Triple-needle acupuncture is an effective approach in treating ACI.


Recently, the debate surrounding the United Nations Convention in the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) has been extended to the realm of economic growth and planning. Although coastal states are making efforts to determine what resources they have in their EEZs, little is known about the exact contribution those resources are making or potentially could make to enhanced economic growth. This paper suggests an accounting framework, based on existing literature, which explicity delineates the industries that should be considered a part of the marine sector. Criteria are suggested to help determine exactly where a particular industry falls. Several methodological issues are discussed in detail.


The molecular structure of diphenylmethyl methacrylate has been determined by means of X-ray diffraction. Crystals are monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 29, 177 (2), b = 6,017(1), c = 16,110(1) A, β = 96,840(5)°, and Z = 8. The structure was solved by the direct method and refined by the block-diagonal least-squares procedure to R = 0,071 (Rw = 0,091) for 1768 measured reflections. The molecule has an antiperiplanar conformation as to the CC and CO double bonds about the C(1)C(2) bond and a synperiplanar conformation as to the CO and CO bonds about C(1)O(1).


The invention relates to a lateral-breathable azalea bonsai tree pot. The lateral-breathable azalea bonsai pot comprises an azalea plant, soil and an azalea bonsai tree pot, wherein vent holes are fully formed in the side surfaces of the periphery of the tree pot, the diameters of the holes are 3.2mm, and the distance between every two adjacent holes is 1.3cm. The lateral-breathable azalea bonsai tree pot with the length of 58cm, the width of 45cm and the height of 30cm can be made of stainless steel plate materials. According to the lateral-breathable azalea bonsai tree pot, azalea roots can well adequately absorb oxygen, and the azalea plants can grow to be beautiful.


A new frequency detector, which allows for a fast frequency lock of phase-locked loops (PLLs), is presented. It uses the feedback divider that already exists in a PLL to determine the frequency difference. The proposed frequency detector provides frequency difference information at each reference cycle, and thus guarantees fast frequency acquisition.


The acute pain of the dissecting aneurysm and the leak ing saccular aneurysm is the pain most likely to be mis diagnosed as one of the more usual types of acute abdo minal emergency. The intense abdominal pain may mimic that of acute pancreatitis, perforated peptic ulcer, or mesen teric vascular occlusion. In such a case radiation of the pain into the loins, neck, or lower extremities may be signi ficant. Previous symptoms of cardiovascular disease are usually absent, although the presence of hypertension may be suggestive. The problem of the case which presents with extravasa tion at the hernial orifices is well illustrated in our two cases.


Earlier research by the author indicates a causal relationship from measured real output in New Zealand, to output in the real underground economy. We investigate the possibility of asymmetries in this relationship, and test to see if the response of the underground economy to downturns in real GDP differs from the response to such upturns. No such evidence is found.


Several methods controlling antenna beam- widths are briefly proposed for aperture widths approximately equal to one wavelength, which can be used as primary feeds to create the fan beams of radar antennas. The mouth modifications can improve the radiation patterns and input impedance matching. It is possible to narrow radiation pattern, and therefore to increase the gain. On the other hand, similar modifications are advantageous for dual orthogonal polarization or octave frequency bandwidth operations of aperture antennas such as horns. The proposed modifications have been performed for hoghorn. The measurements of conventional and modified hoghorn designs are compared in detail.


This paper attempts to shed light on the history of rebellious Koreans in the Russian Far East(RFE) least covered by the Western scholarship. Shortly after Japan established protectorate over Korea in 1905 detachments of righteous armies(uibyong)shifted to the RFE where numerous Korean communities had existed since the 1860s. An inflow of rebellious Koreans into the RFE as well as efforts of Japanese Consulate‑General in Vladivostok to stop their activities split Korean communities into the anti‑Japanese majority and pro‑Japanese minority. Unable to stop the activities of rebellious Koreans in the RFE by itself the Japanese government put pressure on the Russian Foreign Ministry to crack down on Korean guerrillas. Since April 1908 St. Petersburg demanded local authorities of the RFE to expel guerrilla leaders far from the Korean border but not early as in 1911 Yi Pom‑yun and other uibyong leaders were banished to Irkutsk. Moreover after the outbreak of the First World War the Russian government especially interested in preserving status‑ quo with Japan stopped activities of the Korean ethnic organizations prohibited publishing of Korean‑language newspapers and arrested or deported leaders of anti‑Japanese movement to Manchuria.


Excerpt Is the patient's illness functional or organic? No question is asked more often in medical clinics. When students or clinicians are prodded about the sense in which the terms are used, the ...


Countermeasures used to detect synthetic and voice-converted spoofed speech are usually based on excitation source or system features. However, in the natural speech production mechanism, there exists nonlinear source–filter (S–F) interaction as well. This interaction is an attribute of natural speech and is rarely present in synthetic or voice-converted speech. Therefore, we propose features based on the S–F interaction for a spoofed speech detection (SSD) task. To that effect, we estimate the voice excitation source (i.e., differenced glottal flow waveform, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\dot{g} (t))$</tex-math></inline-formula> and model it using the well-known Liljencrants–Fant model to get coarse structure, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX"> $g_{c}(t)$</tex-math></inline-formula>. The residue or difference, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX"> $g_{r}(t)$</tex-math></inline-formula>, between <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\dot{g} (t)$</tex-math> </inline-formula> and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$g_{c}(t)$</tex-math></inline-formula> is known to capture the nonlinear S–F interaction. In the time domain, the <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX"> $L^{2}$</tex-math></inline-formula> norm of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$g_{r}(t)$</tex-math> </inline-formula> in the closed, open, and return phases of the glottis are considered as features. In the frequency domain, the Mel representation of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$g_{r}(t)$</tex-math></inline-formula> showed significant contribution in the SSD task. The proposed features are evaluated on the first ASVspoof 2015 challenge database using a Gaussian mixture model based classification system. On the evaluation set, for vocoder-based spoofs (i.e., <italic>S1</italic>–<italic>S9</italic>), the score-level fusion of residual energy features, Mel representation of the residual signal, and Mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC) features gave an equal error rate (EER) of 0.017%, which is much less than the 0.319% obtained with MFCC alone. Furthermore, the residues of the spectrogram (as well as the Mel-warped spectrogram) of estimated <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\dot{g} (t)$</tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX"> $g_{c}(t)$</tex-math></inline-formula> are also explored as features for the SSD task. The features are evaluated for robustness in the presence of additive white, babble, and car noise at various signal-to-noise-ratio levels on the ASVspoof 2015 database and for channel mismatch condition on the Blizzard Challenge 2012 dataset. For both cases, the proposed features gave significantly less EER than that obtained by MFCC on the evaluation set.


Post standardization training of doctors is the strategic measures for promoting the development of hospital construction.At present,the existing problems in our hospital are the outdated uniform standard,paying no attention to standardized training by the doctors and leaders,and non-standardized assessment criteria.The countermeasures are as follows: establishing definite training system,intensifying publicity and education,and standardizing assessment system.


AbstractBasic concepts of quantum integrable systems (QIS) are presented stressing on theunifying structures underlying such diverse models. Variety of ultralocal and nonul-tralocal models is shown to be described by a few basic relations defining novel algebraicentries. Such properties can generate and classify integrable models systematically andalso help to solve exactly their eigenvalue problem in an almost model-independent way.The unifying thread stretches also beyond the QIS to establish its deep connections withstatistical models, conformal field theory etc. as well as with abstract mathematicalobjects like quantum group, braided or quadratic algebra. 1 Introduction A number of quantum models of diverse nature shows the important property of integra-bility in low dimensions, enabling us to solve them exactly. Examples of such models mayextend from field models like sine-Gordon (SG), nonlinear Schro¨dinger equation (NLS),derivative NLS (DNLS) etc. to the discrete models like Toda chain (TC), relativistic TC,isotropic (XXX) or anisotropic spin chains (XXZ,XYZ) etc. Similarly they may havevaried basic commutation relations ranging from ultralocal to nonultralocal models. How-ever, the fascinating feature of such models, as revealed in recent years, is their commonunderlying algebraic structures defined through a basic relation called Yang-Baxter equa-tion. The unifying spirit goes also beyond the domain of the quantum integrable systems(QIS) to reveal its deep relations with variety of other disciplines, which were thought tobe completely unrelated in the recent past. Thus in one hand the QIS is deeply connectedwith abstract mathematical objects like quantum group, noncocommutative Hopf algebras,


A fantastic opportunity to see Vera Van Heeringen Trio play an intimate gig, in the beautiful surroundings of Lodge at Lochside.


The Quest for a Strategy of Guerrilla Warfare (1961-1965) Asian Strategies and Angolan Realities (1966-1977) Guerrilla and Conventional Warfare (1978-1990) From Peace to War and Back (1991-2002)


Education of the tribes of India, more of tribal masses, is an ignored area in discussions on tribes. The present essay does a broad survey of the educational ideas and policies on tribal masses in the pre-Independence and post-Independence years. The effort is to show how colonial ideas have crept in and have shaped our thinking in tribal educational planning. Examples are often cited from Chhotanagpur, an important tribal region, which has been remarkably inundated by various agencies, forces and ideas, including colonial Western education, in recent times, under British colonialism and post-independence developments.


After formalin fixation and paraffin embedding, plasma cells and other py-roninophilic cells may be demonstrated as follows: The staining solution contains 4 ml of a 2% aqueous solution of methyl green, 6 ml of a 2% aqueous solution of pyronin Y, 2 ml of absolute ethanol, and Walpole's HCl-sodium acetate buffer at pH 3.8 to make a final volume of 100 ml. Staining is for 15–30 sec, differentiation by dipping twice, 1–2 sec each, in 2 changes of distilled water, next by keeping the slides in 2 changes of 96% ethanol for 30 sec each and finally by dipping them 6 times in each of 2 changes of absolute ethanol before clearing in xylene and covering in Canada balsam. Both the methyl green (Merck, C.I. No. 42585) and pyronin Y (National Aniline, C.I. No. 45005, Cert. No. NPy-20) stock solutions should be well extracted with chloroform. Sections of freeze-substituted tissues, frozen sections and smears are stained for 5 min or more in a similar solution made up with 0.1 M sodium acetate-acetic acid at pH 4.8, nex...


Objective: The aims of this study were (a) to describe the sociodemographic and clinical profile of women with unplanned pregnancies and consequent exposure to psychotropic drugs, (b) to describe the nature and timing of psychotropic exposure during pregnancy among these women, and (c) to examine the outcome of decisions related to pregnancy following consultation at a perinatal psychiatric service. Materials and Methods: Women attending the perinatal psychiatry services referred for accidental exposure to psychotropics were assessed by structured interviews for the following details: sociodemographic details, clinical details, psychotropic drug use, advice given in the clinic, and outcome related to this advice. Results: Fifty-three women were referred for counseling related to unplanned pregnancies and consequential psychotropic exposure. Forty-two women (79%) sought consultation in the first trimester. More than a third of the women, 19 (36%), were taking more than one psychotropic medication during the first consultation. Only 11 (20%) women had received any form of prepregnancy counseling prior to becoming pregnant. Of the 37 women who came for follow-up in the clinic, 35 (94%) of them continued the pregnancy. Conclusions: Unplanned pregnancies in women with mental illness are common and result in exposure to multiple psychotropic medications during the first trimester. Majority of women did not report of having prepregnancy counseling and which needs to be an integral part of treatment and education.


The aim of this paper is to present a new ECG and motion activity monitoring and on-line analysis system for athle-tes. The developed system is intended to facilitate the coach in optimizing and individualizing the training of elite athletes.The hardware system consists of the device for registration of ECG and accelerometer signals and wireless trans-mission to computer. The coach software works in two modes: on-line version is used during training and off-line version is designed for detailed data analysis after training. The new method for respiration frequency evaluation was developed and checked on 28 persons, and in most cases the developed algorithm correctly evaluated the respiration frequency of the investigated persons. The evaluation of athlete's functional state from calculated and measured pa-rameters and formation of warning signals (green — normal state, yellow — limitary state and red — premonitory state) is based on the analysis applying Moore and Mealy automata algorithms. The software for the evaluation of the patient's activity was tested on 11 healthy students: the increase in physical activity level during the brisk walk was 1.4 times higher compared to the level during the slow walk, and during the jogging sessions it was 1.89 times higher than during the slow walk.The results obtained during the investigations show that the developed ECG and motion activity monitoring system with two packages of software allows to measure cardio respiratory changes and changes in intensities of physical activity under daily conditions. The comprehensive off-line analysis by monitoring data provides the possibility for coaches to make more detailed analysis of cardio respiratory changes and changes in intensities during training.Keywords: monitoring system for athletes, electrocardiogram, accelerometry, respiration frequency.


The author discusses a method to predict the likely behaviors of a complex system when one has a model of that system, but not all the inputs/parameters are precisely known. Depending on the given model, the method can answer such questions as how likely it is that some state variable(s) will stay inside (outside) of a certain numeric range, or increase (decrease); the system will go into oscillation vs. remaining stable; any transients will be below a given threshold and last less than a given duration. Applications include predicting semiconductor yields and drug safety and effectiveness. The author is concentrating on using a cardiovascular model to predict the possible effects of heat disease therapies.<<ETX>>


Ball, Kothari, and Nikolaev (2011) make two major claims in their recent working paper titled "On estimating conditional conservatism." While they agree that the effect documented in Patatoukas and Thomas (2011) biases the conditional conservatism estimate proposed in Basu (1997), they claim that the source of bias is not scale effects but a non-linear relation between expected returns and expected earnings. Second, they propose revised measures of conditional conservatism, which they claim are unbiased. Our evidence contradicts both claims.


The aim of this paper is to make a theoretically study of the minimum Hellinger distance estimator of multivariate, gaussian, stationary, isotropic long-memory random fields The variables are observed on a finite set of points in space. We establish under certain assumptions, the almost sure convergence and the asymptotic distribution of this estimator.


Conclusions 1. Whole body x-irradiation has no effect on the adenosinetriphosphatase, cytochrome oxidase or lactic dehydrogenase activities of spleen, liver or kidney of rats. 2. Succinoxidase activity was reduced in the spleen of irradiated rats but remained normal in the liver and kidneys. 3. The in vivo inhibition of spleen succinoxidase by x-rays could be prevented by either pre- or post-irradiation injection of 1-cysteine.


graphically portrays the greed and incompetence of Ghaznavid government; Miskawayh, an important philosopher and historian – it is a pity that Crone does not find space to say anything about him – pulled no punches in his Tajarib al-Umam in describing the devastation of Iraq which he directly attributed to Buyid misrule, and the list could go on. Poets who had been disappointed by their patrons had no compunction in satirising them and their failings in vicious terms (al-Mutanabbi's lampooning of his erstwhile patron the Egyptian ruler Kafur, for example). Admittedly, poets would tend to pick on what we would consider personal attributes (such as stinginess or physical defects) rather than failings in statecraft, but to a medieval Muslim characteristics like generosity and even personal appearance were an integral part of the image of an ideal ruler. Thus while the theoretical texts Crone describes may have shied away from discussing rulers' failings, this is not true of other types of literature. No work, however good, covering six hundred years' worth of thought is going to satisfy every critic in every respect. This does not detract from Crone's achievement in Medieval Islamic Political Thought which is a truly impressive book and will be required reading for anyone interested in medieval Islamic history or thought. The author's profound erudition and immense knowledge of the Arabic sources used make this a book from which both seasoned scholars and non-specialists will profit and it is recommended without hesitation.


This chapter presents conclusions and future directions on culture, identity, and mental health, including the importance of identity and culture, separations and mourning as an important part of the immigrant experience, immigration-related separations, understanding acculturation, transnational identities, pilgrimages, and return migrations, understanding and treating refugees and special populations, criminality among immigrants to the United States, immigration and race, American narratives and immigrant narratives, treatment of immigrants and the children of immigrants, alternative futures for cultural identity – intercultural future and tribalistic future.


Abstract Lateral duodenal wall perforation occurring during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) due to scope trauma is large and usually treated by surgery. With advances in endoscopic instrumentation, interest in treating these complications using endoscopic devices has increased. Over-the-scope clip (OTSC) which has higher compression force and can approximate large perforations is being increasingly used for the closure of gastrointestinal fistulae and perforations. We recently used OTSC for treating duodenal perforations which occurred during ERCP in two elderly patients. Both these patients had comorbid conditions and were high risk for surgery. Perforations were immediately identified during endoscopy and were closed with OTSC. Both patients had uneventful further course and were discharged successfully. These cases highlight the usefulness of OTSC for the management of endoscopic duodenal perforations.


See abstr. A11994 of 1974. Further details are given of a graphical approach to the Gel'fand-Yaglom equations and their quantization, in the case when repeated representations are not allowed. Graphs associated with the s blocks of L0 are used in their construction, in writing down their characteristic polynomials and the traces required in the quantization conditions. As well as being useful as practical procedures, the methods described are more suggestive theoretically than the conventional algebraic treatment. As examples a range of quantizable spin-2 theories are obtained. It is shown that it is possible to obtain various mass spectra and yet still have a quantizable theory. It is proved that the representation (-1,j+1)(+)(0,j+1)(+)(1,j+1) must occur in a good quantizable theory with maximum spin j not=0.