Objective: To evaluate the related factors to virus clearance time in patients with critical COVID‑19. Methods: A total of 63 patients with critical COVID‑19 who had viral clearance were enrolled from Feb 1 to Mar 20, 2020, in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. Univariate analyses were used to compare the related factors between groups with different viral clearance time (≤30 days viral clearance group versus >30 days viral clearance group). COX regression analysis was also used to evaluate the factors related to virus clearance time. Results: A total of 63 critical patients with COVID‑19 who had viral clearance were collected, including 35 male and 28 female. The mean age was (63.65±14.06) years, range from 29 to 89 years. The median viral clearance time was 27 days ( IQR, 21~36 days). In univariate analysis, the following factors had significant differences between ≤30 days viral clearance group and >30 days viral clearance group (all P 70 years old, COPD, WBC>9.5×109/L, LYM 50 mg/L, D‑dimer>5 mg/L, CK>200 U/L, LDH>300 U/L, CD4+ T‑cell 70 years old ( HR : 0.207, 95% CI : 0.090‑0.479), LYM 5 mg/L ( HR : 0.243, 95% CI : 0.105‑0.563), and ALT>50 U/L ( HR : 0.483, 95% CI : 0.239‑0.973) were inconducive to the elimination of the virus. Conclusion: Critical COVID‑19 patients have longer hospital stays and significantly different virus clearance time. There are many factors that affect viral clearance time. As adverse factors, age>70 years old, LYM 5 mg/L and ALT>50 U/L may prolong the viral clearance time. Early detection of related factors and timely treatment are beneficial to shorten the time of viral clearance and improve the prognosis of the disease. © 2021, Editorial Board of Medical Journal of Wuhan University. All right reserved.


Variants of the discrete cosine transform (DCT) have been selected for different image/video compression standards, and fast conversion algorithms between these transforms are needed. In this paper, conversion between an 8×8 DCT block, used in MPEG-2, and its corresponding 4×4 integer DCT blocks, used in H.264, is studied. By investigating the structure of the two transform kernels, a DCT decomposition scheme is adopted in development of the fast conversion algorithm. Analysis of the performance of this conversion scheme shows that the proposed scheme provides over 45% computation savings on multiplications, as compared to an existing scheme, while maintaining high fidelity in terms of PSNR.


Abstract. Despite the inherent difficulties in quantifying its value, bedload
transport is essential for understanding fluvial systems. In this study, we
assessed different indirect bedload measurement techniques with a reference
direct bedload measurement in a reach of a large sandy-gravel-bed river.
An acoustic Doppler current profiler (aDcp), the dune tracking method (DTM) and hydrophone measurement techniques were used to determine bedload transport rates by using calibration with the reference method or by using empirical formulas. This study is the first work which attempted to use a hydrophone to quantify bedload rates in a large sandy-gravel-bed river. Results show that the hydrophone is the most efficient and accurate method for determining bedload fluxes in the Loire River. Although further work is
needed to identify the parameters controlling self-generated sediment noise, the calibration procedure adopted in this study allows a satisfactory estimation of bedload transport rates. Moreover, aDcp and hydrophone measurement techniques are accurate enough to quantify bedload variations associated with dune migration.


In the present study, the nanostructures from curcumin dye, Phthalocyanine (Pc) dye and graphene quantum dot GQD (C30H14), as well as, the nanocomposites which include (GQD/ curcumin, 2GQD/ curcumin, GQD/ Pc and 2GQD/ Pc) are considered to investigate the performances in solar sensation. The geometrical optimization and optical properties of the studied structures are done using the density functional theory DFT and time dependent TDDFT method with B3LYP/6-31G level. Examining the evaluated structures as a sensitizer of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by taking the TiO2 electrode and I-/I-3 electrolyte, it was found that the HOMO and LUMO energy levels, charge spatial separations, energy gap, and light harvesting efficiency for GQD/ Pc nanocomposite satisfied the requirements as a sensitizer. Therefore, it is concluded that the GQD/ Pc nanocomposite indicates an equilibrium among the multiple essential factors and it is predicted that it can be preferred as a promising sensitizer in the DSSCs compared with others structures.


CuO-CeO2 nanocomposite is reported as a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst for the green synthesis of 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes in water. This catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration and recycled up to 8 consecutive runs without any losing of its efficiency.


The present invention makes it possible to search for specific fingerprint match is not dependent on the operational constraints, we propose a method of sorting improved delivery (Postal) items. A in the first path for selection of delivery items, by shooting the image of the item, and acquires a unique fingerprint which is a logic identifier for the item, a unique fingerprint of the item in a memory in correspondence with data about the item for storing. In a second path for selection of an item, again shooting the image of the current item (51), acquiring a unique fingerprint for the current item (52), a unique fingerprint that is stored in the memory, the current item to find a match with the unique fingerprint of. Here in the first sorting path, associate first-order serial number corresponding to the unique fingerprint of consecutive items in memory. In the second sorting pathway, looking for a set of corresponding first-order serial number (61), and calculate the expected first-order serial number for the current item from a set of first-order serial number (62, 65), finding a match between the unique fingerprint of the current item based on the expected first-order serial number (63). .FIELD 5


We experimentally demonstrate transverse Anderson localization of mid-infrared light by using a transversely disordered optical fiber made of chalcogenide glasses.


Cell adhesion molecule 4 (Cadm4) plays important roles on plasma membrane (PM) to regulate myelin formation and the downregulation of Cadm4 is a prominent feature in many demyelination diseases. However, how Cadm4 maintains its level on PM has been elusive. Here, we identify that Cadm4 is palmitoylated at cysteine-347 (C347) and palmitoylation regulates the stable localization of Cadm4 on PM, as blocking palmitoylation by mutating C347 into alanine (C347A) results in the dissociation of Cadm4 from PM and targeting for degradation. Intriguingly, blocking Cadm4 palmitoylation by introducing C347A (Cadm4-KI) causes myelin abnormalities in CNS, characterized by loss of myelination, myelin infoldings and hypermyelination. Moreover, it is uncovered that Cadm4 palmitoylation is catalyzed by DHHC3, reducing Cadm4 palmitoylation by the deletion of DHHC3 renders the redistribution of Cadm4 for degrading. Consistently, the genetic deletion of DHHC3 leads to downregulated Cadm4 palmitoylation and defects in CNS myelination, virtually phenocopies that of the Cadm4-KI mice. Our findings suggest a mechanism that the stable localization of Cadm4 on PM regulated by protein palmitoylation is vital for myelination in CNS.


Many drought-prone areas rely on seawater desalination for their water supply. One such place is Majorca, where a plant equipped with Siemens technology will now serve as a model facility. Siemens engineers developed the plant in the virtual world to test their innovative engineering techniques. With a view to saving time and money while improving accuracy, Siemens is creating an entire desalination plant in the virtual world. Water is a valuable resource nearly everywhere on the Iberian Peninsula. And because Spain suffers from extreme droughts with alarming regularity, water is particularly valuable if it can be used for drinking. Empty reservoirs, rationed drinking water, and withered fields are now a common feature of life in Spain. On the other hand, the scarcity of fresh water has also given Spaniards expertise with regard to seawater desalination, because the country has plenty of saltwater along its coasts. " Several years ago the Spanish government initiated a special development program in order to counteract the scarcity of freshwater, " says Dr. Andreas Pirsing from Siemens Industry. " As part of this program, around 30 new desalination plants were built along the Mediterranean coast. When it awarded the contracts, the government favored local companies so that it could build up a high level of local expertise. This expertise is now being successfully exported to the rest of the world. " Experts expect the fresh water crisis to become much worse — with significant implications for the desalination market. Whereas the market had a volume of $18.4 billion in 2012, Companies & Markets predicts that it will grow to more than $50 billion by 2020. Siemens is present in this market all over the world. In Singapore, Siemens engineers have won a state-organized Singapore Challenge competition for energy-saving desalination technologies (see Pictures of the Future , Spring 2011, p. 30). " Siemens also participated in the Spanish government's development program, " says Pirsing. " Our Industry Sector equipped several plants with automation technology. One of these plants is in Alcudia on the island of Majorca. " As a popular holiday resort, Majorca is especially dependent on desalinated seawater, because the island only has a thin aquifer of fresh water , which " floats " on brackish groundwater. This aquifer is incapable of supplying masses of tourists with sufficient amounts of drinking water. The plant in Alcudia produces freshwater by means of reverse osmosis. In this …


The non-uniform aggregation of fast-diffused Li on anode surface would aggravate its tip-effect-induced nucleation/growth, leading to the notorious dendrite growth in Li metal batteries (LMBs). Tuning Li diffusion on anode...


DevOps is an emerging paradigm for information technology delivery. However, little research has examined the implications of DevOps on the theoretically based foundations for information technology governance. This article contributes to this new area of discourse by examining the challenges faced by institutions in reimagining their information technology governance mechanisms to accommodate DevOps. To further illustrate the profound implications of DevOps delivery models for information technology governance, we examine its theoretical impacts on the United States Department of Defense.


We consider wireless mesh networks that use 802.11 wireless LANs for interconnecting mesh routers. When mesh routers use only one network interface and a single radio channel, performance of packet forwarding quickly degrades with the number of hops due to channel contention and spatial problems such as hidden, exposed, masked, and blocked nodes. We observe that capacity of a wireless mesh network strongly depends on the ability of nearby mesh routers to communicate in parallel, which is only possible if the neighbor routers that may interfere use different channels.


Sedimentation is an essential issue on long-term management of dam reservoirs. Cost and benefit of the comprehensive sediment manage project is now a challenging issue by taking account not only keeping the reservoir capacity but also other important issues such as the improvement of downstream environment by necessary sediment supply, the effect of recycling of sediment, additional costs for downstream facilities, CO2 emission by excavating and transporting of sediment. In this study, we studied how to integrate these costs and benefits for the economic evaluation of comprehensive sediment management projects. The benefits of improving river and coastal environment were estimated by the results of CVM (Contingent Valuation Method) and Conjoint Analysis on Yahagi River. We have also proposed that preparing a stock yard in the middle river reach is a key factor to manage various objectives.


While we depend on computer networks in our daily lives, the p rograms we use communicate via a plethora of often incorrectly impleme nted protocols. Our previous experiments suggest, that there are structural si milarities protocol genes shared between currently used protocols. The theoretical tools for finding these genes are out there both structure extraction and protocol s have gotten their fair share of research. However, they have yet to be combined to fin d ge es from the sea of protocols. The purpose of this project is to develo p a methodology to find the genes and present protocols using them. The collecte d gene pool gives a fresh perspective into many traffic related problems, and a w ay to look at the 'big picture' giving a radical perspective to the protocol pande monium.


While lost in an artist's dream, I would stare at the honest brightness of the gasolineparaphernalia against the splendid green of oaks.(Nabokov, 153). Edward Hopper (1882-1967), Gas, 1940 New York, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Huile sur toile, 66.7 x 102.2 cm.
Mrs. Simon Guggenheim Fund. 577.1943 © 2018. Digital image, The Museum of Modern Art, New York/Scala, Florence * In Nabokov's Lolita, this oneiric evocation of a gas station on the American roadside follows European emigre Humbert'...


The main focus of this study is to measure the influence of Emotional Intelligence towards Teamwork Collaboration in Parsian Bank of Iran. This is a correlation study which uses the survey method to collect data and quantitative approach to analyze findings.


This paper deals with the advantages, disadvantages, promise and system design implications of CO2 refrigerant in the industrial food processing and cold storage industries such as industrial air conditioning, dairy, chilled and frozen food, meat, ice cream, freeze drying and so on. Examples are given of possible applications. CO2 advantages are zero ODP and GWP potential, very low cost, universal availability, non toxicity, non- flammability, relatively high continuous exposure levels of 5,000 ppm, very small compressor swept volume, small piping sizes and so on.


In this paper a voltage reference circuit using only MOSFETs in 180 nm standard CMOS technology is presented. The proposed circuit does not utilize lateral or vertical BJTs since they are not well defined in a CMOS technology, they occupy large area and they cause bulk current leakage. Complementary and proportional to absolute temperature currents are generated using MOSFETs, operating in sub-threshold region. An additional negative feedback is introduced so that line regulation of reference circuit is significantly improved. In LDO voltage regulators, the line regulation of LDO is mainly dependent on line sensitivity of reference circuit. The proposed voltage reference circuit has been laid out in standard 180 nm CMOS technology. The post layout simulation results show that it produces a reference voltage of 600 mV for a minimum input supply of 1.2 V. and varies only 1.2 mV when supply voltage is varied from 1.2 V to 2 V. When temperature is swept from 0 0 C to 80 0 C, the change in the reference voltage is only 4.1 mV. Monte-Carlo statistical analysis of the circuit reveals that it is robust against local mismatch and global process variations.


We present an X-ray study of the Sgr A East region based on recent XMM-Newton observations. The spectrum of Sgr A East can be represented by a two-component thin thermal plasma model with temperatures of 1 and 4 keV, both of which have reached ionization equilibrium state. The abundance of iron is found to be higher in the central region of the nebula, with Z ≈ 3–4 solar, than in the outer area for which Z ∼ 0.5 solar. On the other hand, the abundances of other elements appear uniformly distributed with Z ∼ 1. We also detect a weak fluorescent Kα line from neutral iron in the outer region of source. We discuss the nature of Sgr A East on the basis of these new X-ray results.


ABSTRACT Legacy advocacy organizations face growing competition from digitally native organizations. Interviews with leaders and staff of both types of organizations reveal that legacy NGOs with professionalized and staff-led advocacy strategies are less comfortable than digital natives to cede substantial control over campaigns to their supporters. At the same time, legacy NGOs and digital natives acknowledge similar challenges with regard to enhancing the civic agency of their supporters. Digital natives are more open to online feedback and supporter-led actions, while both types of organizations report similar challenges in utilizing digital tools for sustained and long-term organizing.


The TSS and TDS values of water are required to meet the standard. Like coagulation, the pretreatment process in water helps reduce solid content in water. The coagulant destabilizes water pollutants and helps flocs formation with the coagulation process. This paper studies the performance of chitosan bio-coagulant produced from Corbula faba Hinds shells. The velocity gradient and the Camp number of solids removal were also evaluated. The velocity and period of rapid mixing varied from 110 to 150 rpm, and the velocity gradient ( G) was 181.2 to 288.5 s -1 . The mixing period also ranged from 1 to 5 minutes. The highest TSS and TDS removal resulted in 140 rpm or 260.2 s -1 and 4 minutes of mixing. The residual TSS and TDS decreased with the increase of Camp Number until reaching a point and increased again afterward.


COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has become a global pandemic that is still present after more than two years. COVID-19 is mainly known as a respiratory disease that can cause long-term consequences referred to as long COVID. Molecular imaging of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients would be a powerful tool for studying the pathological mechanisms and viral load in different organs, providing insights into the disease and the origin of long-term consequences and assessing the effectiveness of potential COVID-19 treatments. Current diagnostic methods used in the clinic do not allow direct imaging of SARS-CoV-2. In this work, a nanobody (NB) – a small, engineered protein derived from alpacas – and an Fc-fused NB which selectively target the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein were developed as imaging agents for positron emission tomography (PET). We used the tetrazine ligation to 18F-label the NB under mild conditions once the NBs were successfully modified with trans-cyclooctenes (TCOs). We confirmed binding to the Spike protein by SDS-PAGE. Dynamic PET scans in rats showed excretion through the liver for both constructs. Future work will evaluate in vivo binding to the Spike protein with our radioligands.


'Who is stealing electricity' at Tis Hazari?—the principal magistrate's court for the city of Delhi. The mystery, it turned out, had a simple solution. It implicated a large proportion of the 1500 lawyers' chambers in the court buildings. According to the Vice-President of the Delhi Bar Association (Criminal), the problem arose because the Delhi Vidyut Board 'had installed electricity junction boxes in the premises and has not given any regular connection to individual chambers. Hence, most lawyers had to make their own arrangements'. By this, he meant that the lawyers resorted to tapping electricity from the board's supply lines to run their lights and fans, their refrigerators, air-conditioners and computers. Speaking on behalf of the criminal lawyers, and lending a certain adjectival force to their professional description, their Vice President admitted that it was true that 'earlier, we were stealing electricity. … But now we have taken up the matter with the DVB and have shown our eagerness in seeking regularised connections'. It was almost as if he expected that their eagerness could be entered as a plea in mitigation.


Background: Novel markers that reflect degradative processes within joint tissues, may help identify patients with destructive joint disease and enable assessment of response to DMARD therapy. We hypothesised that levels of proteolytic enzymes and degradation products, would predict radiographic outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: 132 patients with early RA entered a prospective, longitudinal study. Radiographs of hands and feet, taken on entry and at 2 years, were scored using a modified Larsen score. Serum, second-morning urine and genomic DNA were collected at defined time-points. Sera were anal- ysed for degradative enzymes (MMP-1, MMP-13, MMP-3), an enzyme inhibitor (TIMP-1) and a constituent of cartilage (COMP). Urine samples were analysed for a cartilage collagen breakdown product (CTX-II) and collagen crosslinks (PYD, DPYD, glc-gal-PYD). Baseline and longitudinal area under the curve (AUC) results were analysed. Novel markers and an extensive list of traditional markers (including the EULAR core data set, DAS scores, baseline Larsen scores, DR4 shared epitope status) were entered into a multivariate, stepwise, binary, logistic regression to produce models consisting of either baseline or AUC variables. Results: Radiographs were available on 118 patients. Baseline and AUC levels of MMP-3, TIMP-1, COMP, CTX-II, PYD and glc-gal-PYD correlated with change in Larsen score at 2 years (r =0.20-0.41, p= < 0.0001-0.04). Baseline and AUC levels of these markers were elevated (p= < 0.0001-0.04) in patients whose radiograpic scores progressed (n=50) compared to those whose scores remained stable (n=68). Logistic regression was then used to identify markers that would be necessary and sufficient to produce the best model of radiographic progression. In the baseline model, only MMP-3 and CTX-II, were identified ( χ 2 =21.73, df 2, p < 0.001, n=102, PPV 67.7%) whilst using AUC results, the model consisted of MMP-3, CTX-II and 44 swollen joint count ( χ 2 =36.39, df 3, p < 0.001, n=118, PPV 72.3%). Conclusions: MMP-3, TIMP-1, COMP, CTX-II, PYD and glc-gal-PYD predict radiographic progression. The combinations of MMP-3 and CTX-II at baseline or AUC measures of MMP-3, CTX-II and 44 swollen joint count form the best models for predicting worsening Larsen score. These results demonstrate that combinations of novel biochemical markers may give better predictions of radiographic outcome than existing traditional markers. Background: Antigen stimulated T cells have been shown to support os- teoclast differentiation and regulate bone loss in a model of inflammatory arthritis. Cytokine stimulated T lymphocytes (Tck cells) are also thought to contribute to inflammation by inducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production by cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. Our previous studies have shown that Tck cells (which consist of largely T cells and NK cells) were able to support human monocyte-osteoclast formation in-vitro. The purpose of this present study has been to characterise further the role of subpopula-tions of Tck cells, i.e. T cells and NK cells, in supporting osteoclast differen- tiation. Methods: Tck cells were prepared from elutriated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by incubation with TNF, IL-2 and IL-6 for up to 8 days. These Tck cells were then sorted by FACS into CD3+ T cells and CD56+ NK cells. The separated populations were then fixed and co-cultured with adherent primary human monocytes for a further 10-14 days. Osteoclasts were identified by TRAP+, VNR+ staining and the ability to resorb calcified matrix. Gene expression of RANKL was assessed by Taqman and Western blotting. Results: FACS analysis revealed that total Tck cell number increased over the 8 day cytokine stimulation period, this was primarily due to a 3-fold increase in the CD56+ NK cell population, whilst CD3+ T cell numbers re- mained constant. Both sorted CD3+ T cell and CD56+ NK cell populations were able to support the formation of TRAP+, VNR+, multinucleated cells capable of resorption of calcified matrix. We also examined the ability of the fixed NK cell line, NK92, to support osteoclast formation. These cells were also able to support osteoclast formation in-vitro. Following the 8 day period of T cell cytokine stimulation, RANKL mRNA expression levels in the CD56+ NK population were 10-20 fold higher than in the CD3+ T cell population. Conclusions: It has been shown that a subset of NK cells is greatly ex- panded within inflamed joints. 1 Our findings indicate that NK cells are able to support osteoclast formation in vitro, and thus may contribute to the bone cium intake were included in multivariate regression models of father's DXA indices, the associations for paternal variables remained statistically significant (BA: p=0.02, BMC: p=0.002, BMD: p=0.04). Conclusions: Father's skeletal size predicts skeletal size in the offspring, independently of the mother's body build and lifestyle. These data point to the importance of exploring gene-environment interactions at this critical period of development in order to optimise intrauterine and early postnatal skeletal growth. Background: Low dietary calcium absorption is associated with reduced BMD in women. Studies have also demonstrated that lower birth weight, and weight at one year, lead to reduced BMD in later life in women. Few studies have explored the effects of birthweight and intestinal calcium absorption in men. Furthermore, no studies have examined their combined effects in the same cohort. We therefore explored these associations in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study. Methods: 123 healthy men, aged 60-70 years, not taking any drug known to affect calcium or bone metabolism were studied. Birthweight and weight at 1 year were available from midwifery records. Intestinal calcium absorption was assessed using the 1-hour stable strontium technique. T-scores at the lumbar spine (L/S) and femoral neck (F/N) were measured. Relationships were analysed using Pearson's correlation and multiple regression models, with and without adjustment for the potential confounding effects of season, alcohol, smoking, social class and age. Results: The mean age of the men was 63.4 years, BMI 26.9, total hip T score -0.50, LS T score -0.02 and % strontium absorption 7.7%. Increased intestinal calcium absorption was associated with higher BMD at the F/N (r=0.20, p=0.03) but not at the L/S (r=-0.02, p=0.87). Higher birth weight was associated with higher BMD at both sites (F/N r=0.20, p=0.03, L/S r=0.20, p=0.05). Higher calcium absorption (p=0.03) and higher birth weight (p=0.03) had independent effects on F/N t-score which were not attenuated by adjustment for potential confounders. F/N T-score increased from an average of –0.89 for subjects with low birth weight and reduced strontium absorp- tion, to –0.20 in subjects of high birth weight and high strontium absorption. Results were similar for weight at one year. Strontium absorption had no ef- fect on L/S T-score when considered in analyses with birth weight or weight at one year. Conclusions: We have confirmed that increased birth weight and intestinal calcium absorption are associated with increased BMD in men. Both are independently associated with increased BMD at the femoral neck, but only birth weight had an effect on BMD at the lumbar spine. The combined effects of these two variables can account for variations of 0.7 SD in BMD which equates to up to a 50% variation in fracture risk. Background: Low serum vitamin D is prevalent among UK South Asians. Overt deficiency presents as rickets and osteomalacia. The impact of sub-clinical vitamin D deficiency on bone health in young South Asian women is less certain. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of low vitamin D on peak bone mass among South Asian women. Methods: South Asian women aged 18 to 36 years of Pakistani Muslim origin living in the Greater Manchester area were identified from primary care registers using validated computer software. Subjects were invited to attend for a blood test for assessment of serum calcium (Ca), albumin, parathor- mone (PTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and bone mineral density (BMD) scanning. Areal BMD at the total hip, lumbar spine and total body was assessed using dual x-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR 4500), and volu-metric BMD at the distal radius (total and trabecular sites) using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (Norland Stratec XCT 2000). Bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) was calculated by areal spine BMD [divide] area 1/2 . Linear regression was used to determine the association between vitamin D and BMD and vitamin D and BMAD. Results: In all, 78 women, mean age (SD) 29.2 years (4.5), were included in the analysis. Mean Ca was 2.42 mmol/l, 25- OHD, 7.9 ng/ml and PTH, 52.7 pg/ml. No woman had a serum calcium below the laboratory reference range (2.15 mmol/l). A higher 25-OHD and lower PTH was associated with a higher BMD and BMAD. The majority of women (94%) had evidence of vitamin D insufficiency defined as a level < 15 ng/ml, while 20 (26%) had evidence of profound vitamin D deficiency ( < 5ng/ml). Mean PTH level was similar in subjects with a vitamin D of with low BMD in IBD. The aim of our study was to determine whether low BMD in IBD is directly associated with disease activity or due to secondary mechanisms such as steroid use or malabsorption. Methods: Patients with CD and UC were recruited from the IBD database at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust between March and December 1998. All patients underwent physical examination and dual energy X-ray ab-sorpitrometry (DXA) to evaluate BMD of the hip and lumbar spine. Detailed questionnaires of lifestyle, medical and fracture history, disease activity and corticosteroid use were completed. Corticosteroid use was categoriesd as never, intermittent or continuous use. Serum was analysed for 25 (OH) vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Results: 213 patients were recruited, 124 with


This type of research was a of learning devices with the aim to produce devices based learning approach that was valid realistic mathematics, practical and effective, and all the instruments of research related to the application of these devices in the learning of mathematics on the subject of rectangle and square for seventh grade students of SMP. This study was conducted in two stages, namely the first stage was the development of learning tools. The development of devices based learning mathematics realistic approach with reference to the development model learning device according to Thiagarajan, and Semmel Semmel ie 4-D models (four D models). The second stage was the implementation of learning devices that were considered feasible. The design of the trials was a one-group posttest-only design. The findings of the research were: 1) the resulting learning, such as: lesson plan, student books, student activity sheet, and test problem solving had met the criteria of good / valid; 2) The effectiveness of the learning device inferred based on: (i) complete student learning classical at the first trial amounted to 85.17% and in the second test by 90%, (ii) achievement of learning goals at the trials I was not achieved in a matter of question number 3 and 4 and no trial II was reached on each item, (iii) the performance of the ideal time at the trial I and II trials were ideal, 3) The student's response to the component and learning activities was postive. Keywords: Learning devices, Realistic Approach, 4-D Development Model, Problem Solving Mathematics ability.


Q fever has been a well-known and mandatory notifable disease in Croatia from 1954; it occurs usually sporadically in areas predominantly rich with sheep and goats [1]. The mean annual incidence of Q fever in Croatia from 1994 to 2002 was 0.87 reported cases per 100 000 population but in 2003 and 2004 this incidence rose to 3.44 per 100 000. This change in epidemiology was predominantly due to two large outbreaks in north and mid Dalmatia, the central part of the Croatian Adriatic coast.


Introduction. Patient-physician relationship is associated with ART adherence and medical follow-up in people living with HIV (PLWH). Patient's trust in their doctor is a key component of patient-physician relationship, so adequate and reliable instruments to measure this component are important to evaluate its impact on health outcomes. Objective. To evaluate the psychometric properties of a translated and adapted version of Trust in Physician Scale (TPS) in Mexican PLWH. Method. A cross-sectional study was carried out in PLWH. Scale was translated to Spanish and culturally adapted. Sociodemographic and TPS data were collected online due to COVID-19 pandemic. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis were carried out in two different samples. Results. Data from 215 participants was used to EFA. Five items were eliminated due to low correlation with total scale. Final Cronbach's alpha was .93. A single-factor structure explained 68.8% of the variance. CFA in a sample of 140 participants confirmed adequate fit indices (χ2[7] = 13.015 p = .072, CFI = .997, RMSEA = .057, SMRS = .0015). Discussion and conclusion. The final scale was unifactorial and it is made up of six items instead of 11. It seems to be a valid and reliable scale to measure patient's trust in doctors in Mexican PLWH. Further studies are recommended to provide evidence of convergent validity to the instrument.


Introduction Based on continuous monitoring of the 21 white rhinos, data are presented on their daily activities and reproduction. On average, the main periods for feeding were 7–10 am and 4–10 pm; the main period for resting was 11–3 pm; the main period for moving was (between) 1–5 am. Calving occurred throughout the year. The gestation periods calculated from actual observations give a range from 488-504 days. This paper presents an overview of six years of data collection (20112017) relating to the 24-hour clock of the animal and to their reproductive behaviour, updating the one-year information given in Patton et al. (2011). Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (ZRS) covers an area of 64.2 km2 in the Nagasongola district of central Uganda. Prior to becoming a wildlife sanctuary in 2004, the area was part of a cattle ranching operation. ZRS holds the only wild (reintroduced) southern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) in Uganda. At the end of 2017 there were 21 individuals including six breeding females and two breeding males, as follows:


Review(s) of: Proceedings of a conference on the practical implications of the reuse of solid waste, organised, by the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, November 11-12, 1981 (Thomas Telford, London 1982).


The introduction asks how Germany—a country long thought to be irrevocably European and committed to a more social market economy—could have emerged at the helm of a punitive program of neoliberalism within Europe. To resolve this puzzle, we need to revisit the crisis of the 1970s, when neoliberalism first appeared, and rethink the role of the German state in light of newly available archival material. From this viewpoint, Germany is revealed to be the "unwitting architect" of neoliberalism. Its parochial attempts to manage the crisis domestically promoted a regressive form of capitalism internationally that soon boomeranged back upon it, and which it promotes across Europe today so as not to practice at home. After a chapter-by-chapter summary of this argument, the Introduction lists the archival sources consulted for this book and discusses how an archival method can be integrated into critical International Political Economy.


Epitaxial CdSe layers were electrodeposited from aqueous solutions onto InP and GaAs single crystals. The analysis of current transients shows that the growth kinetics corresponds to the Scharifker model assuming a progressive nucleation followed by three-dimensional diffusion-limited growth. Diffusion control is effective after less than 0.1 s after the beginning of the potential pulse. The phenomena associated with the formation of a coherent film cannot be detected by this technique. Transmission electron microscopy observations of CdSe films with increasing thicknesses show when the diffusion control is effective, a large density of growth steps followed by the formation of epitaxial nuclei which finally coalesce.


An on-chip transient-to-digital converter for system-level electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is proposed. The proposed transient-to-digital converter is designed to detect fast electrical transients during the system-level ESD events. The output digital thermometer codes can correspond to different ESD voltages under system-level ESD tests. The experimental results in a 0.18-mum CMOS integrated circuit (IC) with 3.3-V devices have confirmed the detection function and digital output codes.


Dear editor

We read with interest the article by Kortas et al1 entitled "Effect of Nordic Walking training on iron metabolism in elderly women." In their study, the authors investigated the effect of Nordic Walking (NW) training on serum ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), hepcidin, hemojuvelin, and vitamin D, which have been stated as components of the inflammatory system. In this study, while NW training significantly reduced iron stores and increased hemojuvelin and tended to reduce CRP levels, it did not affect hepcidin levels. The authors also observed a significant weight loss after training. The authors concluded NW training has pro-healthy effects manifested by decreased inflammation and a drop in iron stores.

It is well known that obesity is associated with insulin resistance and physical exercise and weight loss reduce insulin resistance. Several studies indicate a positive correlation between iron levels and insulin resistance.2,3 There is also a relationship between insulin resistance and CRP levels.4 The possibility of decreased insulin resistance with weight loss after training can also contribute to the decline in CRP and ferritin levels in this study. The authors mentioned that they did not observe the anticipated increase in hepcidin levels after exercise. As the authors stated, hepcidin levels increase in response to both inflammation and exercise. Because the mean body mass index of the study population is in the overweight range, these subjects might have insulin resistance and associated inflammation. Thus, the anticipated increase in hepcidin levels with exercise might have been attenuated via decreased inflammation in this study. This two-way interaction may account for the unchanged hepcidin levels. The authors did not report insulin levels in this study and did not discuss the probable effect of insulin resistance on the relationship between ferritin and exercise. We suggest that consideration of these factors may facilitate interpretation of the findings of this study. We also suggest that insulin resistance would better be assessed in future studies in this field.


Abstract In 1799 and 1800, crop failures struck the British Isles. The crop failure of 1799 was due to the combined effects of the cold winter of 1798–99 and the cool and rainy growing season of the year. The summer was characterized by the prevalence of low-pressure systems resembling cyclonic weather patterns of the winter. The crop failure of 1800 was mainly due to a drought early in summer. In July there was either no rain at all (especially in the south) or the amounts were negligible. The general synoptic situation indicated an extension of the Azores High to Britain and beyond to central Europe. In the London area the pressure in duly was never below 1020 mb. The wheat harvests of 1799 and 1800 were about one-half and three-quarters of the average, respectively. The deficiencies could not be made up by imports, for, at least in 1799, the weather conditions were also unfavorable to grain production in the countries of northern Europe that were "traditional" exporters of grain to Britain. We estimate...


The aim of this thesis was to investigate how social counsellors employed in health care reasoned on transgender persons as a group and their work with transgender persons, as well as analyse the knowledge they use in that work. The method used for collecting data was qualitative interviews with social counsellors working in health care. Social counsellors interviewed were selected by way of convenience sample and their answers were analysed using theory of knowledge and categorization theory. The conclusion of the thesis is that the social counsellors viewed transgender persons as fragile individuals with a vast spectrum of problems. In spite of this the counsellors did not treat transgender persons any differently from other clients they saw. The social counsellors lacked technological knowledge, that is knowledge on transgender persons as a group and the specific problems of this group. Instead they tended to rely on practical knowledge to a large extent, such as understanding and empathy. The social counsellors lack of knowledge on specific issues of the transgender group as well as their ambitions to normalize and not categorize this group could lead to inferior health care for transgender persons. The thesis hints that further study in this field is needed to determine whether transgender persons would possibly receive better health care if social counsellors were better educated on specific transgender issues. (Less)


This paper describes a case study involving an inventory optimization pilot project that used analytics as a key to identifying and managing inventory levels for a measuring and test equipment program. This paper highlights the approach taken and the analytical tools used to execute that strategy. The approach follows the general guidelines of a LEAN improvement project using DMAIC(Define, Measure, Analyze, Implement, Control) The paper concludes with a summary of results from the pilot project, some lessons learned, anticipated next steps for full-scale implementation, and estimates of potential overall savings.


Measurement data from measuring means and the data memory, complicated operation is not necessary measurement can be transmitted to the data processing system data processing means for processing the data. The individuals (1) is connected to a personal meter cable (3) on the power switch (1a) ON, or the power switch (1a) in an ON state is connected to a measuring device (1) with a cable (3) computer (2) for the upper turning point, the computer (2) will be automatically taken into the measured data storing memory (1) is used in the personal measuring device, the analysis processing, and outputs processing results to the printer (4) the series of processes.


Abstract : The research being conducted is designed to yield major improvements in the capabilities of military wireless communications systems. The new system is designed around a physical layer based upon a wideband direct sequence (DS) multicarrier (MC) code division multiple access (CDMA) link. Among other things, an MC signal does not require a contiguous spectrum: this means, for example. that an MC CDMA network can be overlaid upon an existing set of narrowband signals simply by leaving appropriate gaps in the placement of the multiple carriers. Such a characteristic will allow the military to employ the same frequencies as used by various commercial systems, thereby making use of the technology advancements in those frequency bands, and yet not be limited in deployment because of excessive interference from conventional narrowband signals. We have emphasized the effect of estimation errors in determining channel state information for use in optimal receiver design for MC CDMA systems, and have performed analyses of performance. as measured by the average probability of error of the system. We have also included the use of space-time spreading.


The words of "Rulin"(scholars) and "Shi"(history) in the Chinese title of The scholars reveal that the book is in bound up with historical biographic literature.The artistic conception of The Scholars is greatly lighted with Biography of Scholars in The book of Former Han in the aspects of the setting of clue according to the heroes' appearing,the exiting way made by the heroes,and the establishment of purport,etc.Though it is titled with 'Waishi"(informal history),the book is designed based on the official history,which creates a new way to the writing of stories by drawing nutriment from history.


The clinical features of hyaline membrane disease have been reviewed recently (1, 2). When the disease is fatal the lungs at autopsy are usually grossly atelectatic, suggesting the appearance of liver. Microscopically, this atelectasis is seen to be patchy and widespread; scattered through the lungs are dilated terminal bronchioles and alveolar ducts that are lined with an eosinophilic membrane. The significance of the membrane during life is uncertain. Behrle, Gibson and Miller (3) demonstrated at autopsy that the expansion of lungs of infants was impeded by the membrane. More recently, Craig, Fenton and Gitlin (4) showed from latex casts of the airways that the membrane may cause obstruction. But Gruenwald (5) has taken the view that the membrane may be only "a secondary phenomenon that appears in a previously diseased lung." He has stressed instead the greater importance of the atelectasis to which these lungs appear vulnerable. Our object was to study the static elastic behavior of lungs containing hyaline membranes. For this purpose static volume-pressure relations of lungs from three sources were compared: newborn infants with a histologic diagnosis of hyaline membrane disease, newborn infants dying of other causes, and stillborn infants. On the basis of these measurements, estimates were made of the differences in functional residual capacity (FRC) and pulmonary compliance that might have pre-


In the studies reported here, we investigate the effects of context on students' molecular‐level ideas regarding aqueous solutions. During one‐on‐one interviews, 19 general chemistry students recruited from a two‐year community college and a research university in the United States were asked to describe their molecular‐level ideas about various aqueous solutions in the contexts of conductivity and boiling‐point (BP) elevation. Results indicate that context is important for determining the molecular‐level ideas that students express. Specifically, students were significantly more likely to draw pictures of aqueous NaCl as separated ions in the conductivity context compared with the BP elevation context, for which they more often drew "molecular" NaCl. This phenomenon was particularly striking because the students drew molecular‐level NaCl(aq) pictures in the BP elevation context just minutes after completing the identical task in the context of conductivity. Additional data from laboratory assignments and course examinations further indicate that, even if students are able to correctly represent the molecular level in some contexts, their knowledge may remain inert in slightly different contexts. The results emphasise the importance of the context dependence of molecular‐level ideas and have implications for designing instruction in which students develop robust, coherent understandings that they can apply appropriately in new contexts.


This text is the result of bibliographic research with the theorists of complexity, in an effort to weave evidence, opinions and positions that can offer an opportunity for the opposition of ideas and the clarification about our individualities, practices and society itself. Through this, we seek to increase awareness of living and thinking about citizens in the face of the civilizing, humanitarian, health, educational and economic crisis that we are experiencing. As a final theoretical indication, it points to complex thinking, through transdisciplinarity as a healthy educational medium that promotes human ethics, as well as indicating possible educational paths for "planetary citizenship" and social justice, in addition to demonstrating that human development through creativity the most attractive and collaborative educational strategy in the systemic evolution of the respectful conscience in living.


Despite Friedman's numerous trenchant confrontations with 'Keynesians', he has never compared his analytical framework with the 'Theory of a Monetary Economy' developed by Keynes. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to enumerate a few of the more fundamental conceptual differences between the monetary analysis of Keynes and that of Friedman. Keynes's analysis involves (1) the concept of uncertainty in the Knight-Keynes sense, (2) the inapplicability of a Walrasian system to a real world production economy where false trades occur, and (3) the essential properties of money which follow from the existence of uncertainty. This paper shows that recognition of these conceptual differences leads to significantly different specification of the demand for money and its supply aspects in the Keynesian system compared with Friedman's theoretical framework.


The purpose of writing this article is to find out how important facilities and infrastructure greatly affect the goals and processes in education. School infrastructure is an important component in the education system. Sometimes people even assess the quality of education in a school by looking at infrastructure. Although it is not entirely true, it cannot be denied that the success of the Teaching and Learning Process is more or less influenced by the condition of pre-educational facilities available. Administrative activities in the field of educational facilities and infrastructure include; goods procurement planning, partner prequalification, goods procurement, storage, inventory, distribution, maintenance, rehabilitation, elimination and removal and control. The role of teachers in the administration of school infrastructure facilities: involved in planning the procurement of teaching aids, involved in the use and maintenance of teaching aids used by teachers, supervision in the use of practical tools by students.


Piaget and Inhelder ( 2 ) state that ontogenetic spatial development proceeds from predominantly topological space through affine and projective concepts to Euclidean reference systems. Sears ( 3 ) points out that the stages which Piaget hypothesizes can not be found in all children. Love11 (1) states that much greater variability exists among Ss than Piaget allows. The present investigation was undertaken to determine if a definite series of ontogenetic developmental stages for the concept of space could be determined. 144 well-adjusted, middle-class children of average ability were given a Form Development Test devised by the author which consists of seven items in each of four types of space, topological, affine, projective, and Euclidean. Most of the items were negative photostats of artists' drawings of the figures. Three projective items were partially three-dimensional and one was entirely so. One Euclidean item was entirely three dimensional. Each stimulus was shown for approximately 1 0 sec. and then removed. Each response, consisting of a series of 4 possible figures arranged in random order, was then presented to S. I t was S s task to point to the response which was similar or most similar to the stimulus. Results show that children in this experiment developed topological concepts somewhat later chan the Piaget and Inhelder sample. Projective concepts developed somewhat earlier, while affine relationships were well established by 6 yr. Reference system development occurred for the most part later in this sample chan in the sample reported by Piaget and Inhelder. In fact, many 14-yr.-old Ss had not fully developed Euclidean concepts while a small number of 4-yr.-olds had fairly well established ones. Significant differences (analysis of variance) were shown between types of space, the individual item within the type of space, and between age levels. N o significant sex differences were found.


Earlier studies suggested that the Mesovoid Shallow Substratum (MSS), a subterranean network of voids immediately under the soil and scree horizon, might play an important role in the life cycle of some troglobitic species. No ecological studies have been conducted to test whether this terrestrial shallow subterranean habitat only plays an important role for a few subterranean or preferential species, or whether it is also important for the soil faunal structure and dynamics. We investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of the arthropod community in the MSS and sub-alpine scree and analysed the correlations with environmental variables. We identified 140 soil-dwelling, characteristic and troglobitic species that inhabited the MSS in different seasonal assemblages. Combined statistical analyses of the environmental factors and seasonal variation in arthropod abundance and biomass emphasized the importance of the MSS as an ecological microrefuge for many soil-dwelling species (including important predators and detritivores) which usually live in the adjacent forests or mountain pastures. Conservation plans for invertebrates should include the protection of the MSS.


Numerical simulations of the negative corona in oxygen-containing gases under varying voltage are carried out. It is shown that by changing the values of constant voltage and duration of its application, between high voltage pulses, it is possible to control the electric field strength near the cathode, during the pulse. Quantitative characteristics of the ozone generation process are experimentally investigated. It is found that the agreed choice of the values of the constant component of the applied voltage and the frequency of the high voltage pulses can significantly increase the productivity and energy efficiency of ozone generators.


What are characteristics of China's energy consumption in its urbanization? In the paper,the total energy consumption is differentiated between life and production.Then a new method of energy decomposition analysis is proposed,which absorbs the kernel of SDA(structure decomposition analysis),simply and practically,to decompose the changes of production energy consumption of China from 1985 to 2006.It is concluded that production energy consumption has always played an overwhelming role in total energy consumption during the past 20 years of fast urbanization in China,while life energy consumption has begun stepping up.Another conclusion is that industrial structure effect has increased rather than decreased China's total energy consumption which is on a stage of important scale expansion in past 20 years;and the advancement of technology has always been decreasing total energy consumption.Furthermore,China has great potential of saving energy consumption,which not only originates from the advancement of technology,but also from the adjustment of industrial structure.In the aspect of production energy consumption,China should carry out comprehensive energy savings measures both in high energy consuming industries and fast growing industries.


We are interested in the problem of making precise line drawings using interactive computer graphics. In precise line drawings, specific relationships are expected to hold between points and lines. In published interactive drawing systems, precise relationships have been achieved by using rectangular grids or by solving simultaneous equations (constraints). The availability of fast display hardware and plentiful computational power suggest that we should take another look at the ruler and compass techniques traditionally used by draftsmen. Snap-dragging uses the ruler and compass metaphor to help the user place his next point with precision, and uses heuristics to automatically place guiding lines and circles that are likely to help the user construct each shape. Snap-dragging also provides translation, rotation, and scaling operations that take advantage of the precision placement capability. We show that snap-dragging compares favorably in power and ease of use with grid or constraint techniques.


The waveguide finite element (WFE) method is a useful numerical technique to investigate wave propagation along waveguide structures which have uniform cross-sections along the length direction (`x` direction). In the present paper, the vibration and radiated noise of the submerged pipe with fluid is investigated numerically by coupling waveguide finite elements and wavenumber boundary elements. The pipe and internal fluid are modelled with waveguide finite elements and the external fluid with wavenumber boundary elements which are fully coupled. In order to examine this model, the point mobility, dispersion curves and radiated power are calculated and compared for several different coupling conditions between the pipe and internal/external fluids.


Urgency of the research. The existence of the need to improve the accuracy of research areas, including in hard-toreach areas, updates the direction of finding new ways of automatic localization for the task of the robot about collecting the information surrounding it for its own localization and building the environment map. Target setting. Existing methods for determining the location of a moving platform in space have a significant error, which is unacceptable for use in devices designed to operate without human intervention. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. Research trends show satisfactory results of the introduction of new algorithms based on neural networks, but most of the solutions are designed for large moving platforms, while for small platforms, such as UAVs, solutions are not enough. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. Works on the automatic determination of the location of a moving platform often demonstrate the results of experiments that were performed in laboratory conditions. The question arises: how the system will behave when tested in real conditions? The research objective. It is supposed to implement a system of automatic movement of the platform based on modern hardware and localization algorithms. The statement of basic materials. Considered general information for methods of localization and mapping of SLAM, the general algorithm for the operation of methods of SLAM and their mathematical representation are presented. Sensors, that are used in localization tasks, are described and two main SLAM methods with a detailed description are presented. The results of the simulation of the ORB-SLAM2 method were presented. Conclusions. The methods for localizing a moving platform in space and algorithm for the operation of the SLAM methods were reviewed in this paper. The features of SLAM methods and their development prospects are presented.


The study was conducted to evaluate the concentration variation of heavy metals in milk collected from two different groups of sources: milk collecting centers and dairy farms. Also, their incidence in milk products, as pasteurized milk, butter milk, yogurt, cream, cheese, hard cheese was determined in the NE Romania (Moldavia). The analytical results revealed that the milk samples from the collecting centers had higher levels than the samples from the dairy farms of Pb (2.90 to 3.45 vs. 1.88 to 2.64 µg/kg) and Ni residues (11.31 to 11.88 vs. 11.17 to 11.91 µg/kg) and lower levels of Cu (224.05 to 293.15 vs. 250.15 to 313.70 µg/kg) and Zn (2036.11 to 2517.86 vs. 2066.32 to 2739.43 µg/kg). In the milk products, the average concentration of Pb varied from 2.73 µg/kg in pasteurized milk to4.05 µg/kg in hard cheese; the average concentration of Ni varied from 12.03 µg/kg in pasteurized milk to 16.33 µg/kg in hard cheese; the average concentration varied from 256.51 µg/kg in pasteurized milk to 1289.85 µg/kg in hard cheese; the average concentration of Zn varied from 2374.18 µg/kg in pasteurized milk to 12146.43 µg/kg in hard cheese. Pb and Ni were found at concentration levels less than WHO tolerated values depending on the amount eaten or drunk (25 µg/kg/week and 5 µg/kg/day respectively). The most average concentration levels of Cu and Zn could provide the daily human consumption requirements of 1-2 mg and 3-15 mg, respectively.


Abstract : The capacity expansion problem for flow networks, first studied by D. R. Fulkerson, is reexamined. In the case where no free initial capacity is available, it is shown that the optimal expansion takes place on the arcs of the cheapest chain in the sense of unit expansion costs through the network. The proof makes use of Dantzig's decomposition principle of linear programming. In the case where some free initial capacity is available, an algorithm based on the topological dual is presented. This algorithm does not require that the flow network be planar and can be easily extended to problems having positive lower bound restrictions on arc flows, problems having bounds on individual arc expansion or nonlinear convex expansion costs, and capacity reduction problems.


Twins are the common defects in β-Ga2O3 crystals that affect the development of large single crystal substrates. To investigate the generation and development of twins, we grew a (100) oriented...


A hydroxyl acrylic emulsion containing phosphate group was prepared for anticorrosion coatings,which was featured by the phosphate groups in emulsion particles.When adding waterborne isocyanate curing agent,the phosphate groups will be bonded on substrate metal to form a barrier compact protection film,preventing the contact of water and other salt ion with metal,thus improving coatings anticorrosion property.


Ranking as one of the most frequent educational news items in the public press, on the Web, and in professional journals (see sidebar), the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLBA) has truly captured national conversation. But one thing is missing from all this talk, and that is any mention of just what it is we're at risk of leaving our children behind. NCLBA, which was signed into law in January 2002 (PL107-110), presumably is a comprehensive effort to improve education for all children in the US by providing them successful schools with qualified teachers in every classroom and fair assessments of learning. Few of us would seriously argue against these goals. Some, however, have questioned the implications of NCLBA (e.g., Lewis, 2002; Linn, Baker, & Betebenner, 2002). In fact, the title itself, "No Child Left Behind," suggests that a strong political agenda accompanies its stated goals. Connotations of "Left Behind" What images come to your mind when you hear the phrase, "left behind"? A skittish racehorse caught in the starting gate? An out-ofbreath traveler narrowly missing a bus or train? A family continuing a road trip only remember they left their youngest child at the rest stop? Now extend these images to the context of education. Does learning have a definitive "starting gate" and "finish line"? Is learning a race? Do some children miss the learning train because they arrived at the station too late or because they're standing on the wrong platform? In many ways, the NCLBA requirements fit these images. The states' adequate yearly progress (AYP) targets may indeed constitute finish lines for learners. Children who learn differently or uniquelyand which of them don't?-may be too late for the learning train, particularly when qualified teachers need only to pass tests of content and not pedagogic knowledge and practice; indeed, under NCLBA, developmental learning becomes an oxymoron. And what about the artistically gifted children who learn best in ways not legitimized by NCLBA's limited definition of scientific research NCLBA? Aren't they waiting on the wrong platform? Add to these images the "one size fits all" perspective of "Reading First," which aligns instruction, materials, and teacher preparation with that narrowly defined scientific research, and the increased testing and accountability requirements across the 50 states. It becomes easier to see why some of my Texas colleagues paraphrase the law as "no child left standing." Under NCLBA, learning is reduced to content that is transmitted and then tested. Period. Independent, engaged, life-long learners are not part of the image. Neither are the truly qualified teachers. Think of those you've known. You would likely describe them as people who nurture independent learning, who share learners' interests, and who are learners themselves. They do not talk of children as being "left behind," except perhaps through a national curriculum and legislated policies that disrespect the interest, control, and power of the learner in the learning process. New Science, New Talk Maybe it's the scientific research base as defined by the NCLBA that needs to be left behind. It is, after all, rooted in 17th Century Newtonian concepts of the universe. New seiences, such as quantum physics, self-organizing systems, and chaos theory, are more useful in understanding the complex systems of the 21st century (Wheatley, 1999). …


The incidence rate of diabetes is increasing year by year,it has close relationship with atherosclerosis.The pathogenesis of Diabetic Atherosclerosis is very complicated.In the meanwhile,It is shown that Diabetic Atherosclerosis is closely related to Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9),oxside Low Density Lipoprotein (ox-LDL).The level of MMP-9 and ox-LDL is increased under hyperglycosemia,which is the main factor resulting in atherosclerosis.The related drug intervention can decrease its level,turn the tissue damage over,inhibit or postpone the genesis and development of diabetic atherosclerosis.Color Doppler Ultrasonography can detect its early pathological changes.This article reviews the relationship of atherosclerosis with MMP-9 and ox-LDL,the antiatherosclerostic effect of pioglitazone besides suger-lowering,and early detection of atherosclerosis by color Doppler.


This paper focuses on collaborative forecasting process of collaborative planning,forecasting and replenishment(CPFR)and establishes a forecasting model.This model applies state-space equation to describe actual market demand and observed market demand(sales),uses Kalman filter to forecast retailers' sales in the next period,and predicts retailers' orders as well.


Figure 1. Schematic cross section of the simulated AlGaN/GaN HFET. Figure 2. Id-Vg and gm curve due to the substrate materials.


Consensus problems of multi-agent systems have attracted an ever-increasing interest in the control community due to their great potential in various applications such as cooperative unmanned air vehicles, automated highway systems scheduling, air traffic control, sensor networks. This paper presents a brief overview of theoretical development of consensus in a sampled-data setting, paying special attention to those published since 2011. Recent results in this area are categorized into several directions, such as consensus based on periodic sampling, variable sampling, stochastic sampling, and event-triggered communication. In particular, for event-triggered consensus, some typical patterns of event-triggering conditions are reviewed based on different definitions of a transmission error and a threshold.


Observations on the salamander Mertensiella luschani antalyana revealed that females are viviparous, normally bearing 2 completely metamorphosed young on the soil. Parturition occurred in October, November, December, and January. The gestation period is probably 1 year plus a few months.


A good laboratory practice ensures that biopsy material is correctly identified and associated with a given patient. Nevertheless, there are cases where the proof of origin of a tissue sample may be questioned. In this case study we have identified the source of cervical cancer glass slide sections stained with H/E, (hematoxylin eosin), after the request of a patient of Northern Greek origin who suspected sample mix-up when she coincidentally found out that a synonymous patient was examined for cervical cancer at the same time period in the same hospital in Greece. The patient was prepared to legally challenge the administrators of the downstream chemotherapeutic regimen. A combination of organic gradient clean up and silica membrane method was used for DNA isolation. Powerplex-16® system (Promega U.S.A) was used to generate complete DNA profiles from histological slides and the reference blood sample collected from the patient. Histochemical slides often yield inadequate STR profiles for successful DNA typing. Complete profiling in this case could be attributed to the adequate removal of stain and fixatives inhibitors and the isolation of good quality DNA for PCR or STR, protocols. Matching of histochemical slide DNA with patient blood DNA prevented legal action.


Introduction Due to their unique physical and chemical properties nanosized particles have attracted increasing interest [1]. The complex fluorides LiReF4 (Re = rare earth ion) present a class of crystal materials as model objects in physics of dipolar magnets. Nanocrystals of rareearth tetrafluorides compounds with a controlled size, shape, composition and surface have specific optical, electronic, magnetic and catalytic properties that fundamentally important for industrial use [2]. Trifluoride exhibit distinct magnetic properties at low temperatures and interested as model for the theoretical study of magnetic ordering in competition dipole-dipole and exchange interactions [3]. For the first time the transition to the ferromagnetic state in LiTbF4 crystal along easy magnetic axis was found in [4] from the temperature dependence of the longitudinal magnetic susceptibility. The LiTbF4 is dipole Ising dielectric ferromagnet below the Tc (2.89K) temperature [5]. The compound TbF3 is a dielectric ferromagnet. The phase transition TbF3 single crystal from the paramagnetic to the ferromagnetic state occurs when the temperature is lowered to ТС=3.95 К [5]. At low temperatures (T


This paper describes and estimates a human capital model of whether unemployed workers seek retraining, and the timing of an application in an unemployment spell. The authors find that the probability of seeking retraining declines with age after twenty-seven years; with being attached to noncontracting industries; with greater contentment in unemployment compared with last job; and with union membership. Applications are increased by formal qualifications (CSE/O/A level) and decreased by vocational training, relative to no qualifications. Almost half the unemployed had sought retraining, and this was largely complete after nine months--below the mean interrupted unemployment duration. Copyright 1991 by Royal Economic Society.


In this paper we present Ethane, a parallel search algorithm specifically designed for its execution on heterogeneous hardware environments. With Ethane we propose an algorithm inspired in the structure of the chemical compound of the same name, implementing a heterogeneous island model based in the structure of its chemical bonds. We also propose a schema for describing a family of parallel heterogeneous metaheuristics inspired by the structure of hydrocarbons in Nature, HydroCM (HydroCarbon inspired Metaheuristics), establishing a resem- blance between atoms and computers, and between chemical bonds and communication links. Our goal is to gracefully match computers of different power to algorithms of different behavior (GA and SA in this study), all them collaborating to solve the same problem. The analysis will show that Ethane, though simple, can solve search problems in a faster and more robust way than well-known panmitic and distributed algorithms very popular in the literature.


This article's sub-title, "Finding, Sharing, Healing," is taken from a passage in bell hook's essay, "Healing Darkness," in which she writes, "Though many of us recognize the depth of our pain and hurt, we do not usually collectively organize in an ongoing manner to find and share ways to heal ourselves" (4). This article draws on examples from Canada, the United States and South Africa to explore how Canadian playmakers might push boundaries of "personal/accepted experience" by adopting philosophies of revolutionary theatre, symbolic reversal and the Sarungano. It is my hope that these philosophies will offer playmakers more tools to assist in transforming our complex global realities into tangible dramatic stories that function as key points of collective discovery, of reconciliation, of healing and thus of an aspect of contemporary social justice. It is my hope that this article supports all those involved in the creation and dissemination of such plays – playwrights, actors, directors, administrators, producers, granting officials, board members, professors, teachers, critics, volunteers, audiences and others.


A study of the topographical changes of Li/Si(111) during annealing has been conducted using a high‐temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Depending on the Li coverage and postdeposition annealing temperature the surface exhibited a variety of structures replacing the initial (7×7) reconstruction during in situ investigations. In addition to the previously observed (3×1) structure a coexistence phase with domains of (n×n) (n=5,7,9), a (4×4) structure, and a faceting transition were imaged. Distinct differences were noticed on the Li/Si(111)‐(3×1) surface compared to the corresponding Na structure. Moreover, the dynamic properties of the morphological transformations were revealed by a high‐temperature scanning tunneling microscope.


Using social cognitive career theory (SCCT), we examined the career development of students in sex-typed postsecondary Vocational Technical Education (VTE) programs in the Chilean context. We assessed the moderating effects of students' socioeconomic background, sex, membership to the sex-atypical group, and the intersection of these attributes across SCCT measures and the model's predicted relationships. The results showed that students in sex-atypical careers, particularly low-income students, perceived supports and barriers differently, and that supports and barriers have different effects on self-efficacy and outcome beliefs. We also found differences between female and male students in these careers path, which suggests that the former face more challenges. However, we also found that their career development process unfolds similarly, suggesting that strategies designed to support these groups may be equally helpful for female and male students. We discuss the findings in light of prior literature and offer practical implications for VTE institutions.


Tbe Department of Clinical Orthopaedics had tbe opportunity to take part in tbe early stages of establishing the Multidisciplinary Unit of Day Surgery at the University Hospital Policlinico Tor Vergata in Rome, whose very recent construction (still in progress) allowed creating a day surgery structure according to the most modern criteria. Tbe structural and organizational aspects of this Unit are reported: tbe areas set aside for hospitalization and for operating rooms, the dedicated personnel, the accesses and tbe procedures for the various stages of caring for tbe patients. The fallowing specialties operate in this Day Surgery Unit: GeneraI Surgery, Oculistic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Urologic and Andrologic Surgery, Dialysis, Thoracic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Anaesthesiology, Obstetric and Gynaecologic Surgery, and Otorhinolaryngologic Surgery. As concerns specifically tbe Department of Clinical Orthopaedics, the surgical activity performed during tbe first six months is summarized: tbe patients expressed satisfaction, and it was devoid of intra- and postoperative complications.


Thank you for downloading applied physical pharmacy. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have look numerous times for their chosen novels like this applied physical pharmacy, but end up in malicious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they are facing with some infectious virus inside their computer. applied physical pharmacy is available in our book collection an online access to it is set as public so you can get it instantly. Our book servers saves in multiple countries, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Kindly say, the applied physical pharmacy is universally compatible with any devices to read.


e15011 Background: A retrospective cohort of 135 patients with advanced RCC treated with biological agents and/or cytokines (CK) was analysed between July 1996 and February 2010.

METHODS
The expression of several biomarkers by immunohistochemistry and 2 analytical variables were analysed and were correlated with prognosis.

RESULTS
67 patients were treated only with biological agents and 68 with CK (23 received also biological agents). The univariate statistical analysis showed that the enhanced expression of HIF1α correlated with a poor prognosis in patients treated with biological agents (PFS 5,4 vs 13,5 months with low expression p=0,033) including sunitinib (PFS 5,4 vs 13,4 p=0,001) and CK (PFS 3,3 vs 5,7 p=0,003). The overexpression of CAIX was associated to a better prognosis in patients that received biological agents (PFS 18,3 vs 5,2 months with decreased expression p<0,001; OS 32,1 vs 7,8 p<0,001) including sunitinib (PFS 16,8 vs 5,5 p<0,001), sorafenib (PFS 8 vs 3,5 p<0,001) and CK (PFS 6,3 vs 2,7 p=0,003; OS 32,9 vs 5,9 p=0,001). Positive PTEN was related to a good prognosis in patients treated with sunitinib (PFS 15,1 vs 6,5 months with negative PTEN p=0,003) and CK (PFS 7,5 vs 3,8 p=0,037; OS 13,7 vs 7,9 p=0,039). The increased expression of p21 was related to a poor prognosis in patients that received biological agents (PFS 5,9 vs 16,8 months with high expression p=0,024) including sunitinib (PFS 6,2 vs 18,9 p<0,001), sorafenib (PFS 4 vs 9 p=0,013) and CK (PFS 3,9 vs 7,5 p<0,001). Thrombocytosis was related to a poor prognosis in patients treated with biological agents (OS 15,9 vs 26,7 months without thrombocytosis p=0,007) and CK (PFS 2,6 vs 5,1 p=0,017; OS 5,9 vs 14,3 p=0,010). Neutrophilia was related to a poor prognosis in patients that received biological agents (OS 17,6 vs 25,4 months without neutrophilia p=0,063) and CK (PFS 2,6 vs 5,7 p=0,019; OS 5,9 vs 12,8 p=0,035). In the multivariate analysis the overexpression of CAIX was a favourable prognostic factor independent of PFS with HR of 0,107 (p<0,001) and OS with HR of 0,055 (p<0,001).

CONCLUSIONS
Our experience suggests the utility of de HIF1α, CAIX, PTEN, p21, thrombocytosis and neutrophilia as prognostic factors in patients with advanced RCC. CAIX has shown to be an independent prognostic factor.


The source regions of the Yellow River are crucial water resources in China and the important part of China's Watertower.Since the 1980s,desertification of natural grasslands in Maqu County have increased and the extension of the desert has gradually become more and more severe.In this paper,Maqu County was taken as an example plot to differentiate quantitatively and analyze the correlation and action mechanism of natural factors and artificial factors to desertification severity of natural grassland respectively,and in addition to determine the contribution rate of all factors mentioned above.The results showed that: 1) The total cumulative effect is the total value,in decreasing order of importance of: animal husbandrythe human populationmean annual air temperatureyear-end number of sheep and goatsbeef and muttonmean annual precipitationyear-end number of large animalsrunoff volume of the Yellow Riverannual count of gale daysannual average wind speed.2) Water loss due to ground evaporation and soil aridity were intensified by an increase of mean air temperature in the region.The driver functions of the above change processes that resulted in soil desertification were more than the effects on a reduction of rainfall: the change of wind power was the most important natural driver factor causing soil desertification in this region.3) Based on an analysis of the contribution rate to desertification,artificial factors accounted for 61.55% and natural factors for 38.45%.This result indicated that in conditions of cold and dankness,some degree of unfavourable changes in regional climate and hydrological factors were merely the accentuating forces for natural grassland desertification By comparison,artificial excessive use or some unreasonable utilization could be regarded as the root causes for decline of grassland vegetation,and the combined action of these two processes resulted in acceleration of grassland desertification in the source regions of the Yellow River.


Objective To know the causes of bleeding and corresponding preventive means about PPH.Methods 46 patients received PPH with bleeding in our hospital were analyzed and the causes and preventive measures were summarized.Results 753 cases received PPH,and bleeding occurred in 46 cases,of which 32 cases had bleeding in less than 24 hours after surgery,14 cases had bleeding longer than 24 hours.Microscopic examination found extensive anastomotic bleeding in 11 patients,and pulsatile bleeding in 35 cases.The measures to stop bleeding including 5~6 ml of 0.1% for adrenaline injected into the rectum and to suture directly.Conclusion Surgeon experience,the quality of anorectal stapling and effective use of frequency,dry stool after surgery,infection and other factors are the reasons for the surgical bleeding.Clinical means should be based on early intervention in the different preventive measures,to achieve the purposes of accurate and rapid hemostasis.


During a workshop for students entering the work force, the director of a campus career center once commented, "You can find the answer to any question by making five phone calls." That was back in the early 1990s, "B.C."-before computers. Now she might say, "You can find the answer to any question by checking five Web sites on the Internet." The Internet has become the most valuable tool for desktop research in international admissions. It links us to far-away educational institutions whose graduates want to attend our colleges and universities; to information sources on recruiting, English-testing resources, and country educational system information; and to each other-through e-mail and discussion forums. As with other high-tech tools, the Internet works most effectively for us when we know how to use it. Other equipment and household appliances usually come with instructions-but did you receive an "Internet Instruction Book" the day the computer at your desk got connected to the Internet? Most of us didn't. We low-tech types have learned most of what we know about using the Internet from other people-colleagues, our students, our kids-but not from books. Thus for us, the Internet has remained somewhat like the human brain-over 90 percent of its potential remains untapped. In this first part in a series on "Electronic Tools for International Admissions," we offer the following pointers for those who wish to learn more about the Internet as a tool and how to use it more efficiently to complete daily tasks in the international admissions office. Remember to share these insights with your colleagues, since so far, nobody has written an "Internet Instruction Book" for international admissions. 1 Become familiar with the Internet as a tool. Learn what the Internet, World Wide Web, browsers, search engines, meta-search engines, subject directories, and databases are all about, and how these tools can help you find the information you need. Your institution's library and information technology staff are good resources, as are online tutorials, such as: UC Berkeley Teaching Library Internet Workshops http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/ FindInfo.html This site takes you step-by-step through the process of searching the Web, gives lots of great advice and guidance, and even has downloadable handouts on several topics, including a glossary of Internet and Web jargon. 2 Take the time necessary to get acquainted with using the Internet. Even though doing research electronically can be time-consuming when you first begin, do not be tempted to give up. Let your supervisor know that this use of your time is an investment that will lead to an efficient, effective, low-cost way to get essential and reliable information and communicate with colleagues. …


Multi-wavelength nonlinear parametric χ(3)-effects were observed in highly transparent Y2O3 and Y3Al5O12 nanocrystalline ceramics under picosecond pumping at 300 K. All recorded Stokes and anti-Stokes components in the visible and near IR were identified and attributed to the stimulated Raman scattering active vibration modes of these novel optical and laser-host crystalline materials. For both materials, the steady-state first-Stokes Raman gain coefficient was estimated at a wavelength of around 1 μm.


This paper describes a method for the detection of phases in time{series data. The speciic application considered is time{series data which describes an execution proole of a parallel program. The algorithm is described and examples are presented. This paper presents the problem in the broader sense of general oo{line time{series analysis. In analyzing time{series data, oo{line algorithms enjoy the luxury of more compu-tationally intensive approaches than possible with on{line algorithms. This paper describes an oo{line method for the analysis of time{series data which detects periods of maximum homogeneity in time{series data, speciically phases in execution prooles. The technique is applied to execution prooles from program executions on hypercube computers. This is used to provide another means of workload characterization, and has been used to predict the speedup of parallel programs.


Hopea hainanensis is a large evergreen tree belonging to the family Dipterocarpaceae. It is currently listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. It is found primarily on China's Hainan Island and northern Vietnam. To protect the plant species with extremely small populations Hopea hainanensis and understand its community stability and the inter-specific associations between Hopea hainanensis and other occurring species, we set up 16 quadrats in the areas where wild Hopea hainanensis populations occurred on Hainan Island to investigate the composition of plant species in the quadrats. We used the M. Godron Community stability index to quantify community stability. Based on the two × two contingency tables, the statistic X2, association coefficient (AC), and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), percentage co-occurrence (PC), and OI index (OI) analyze the degree of association between Hopea hainanensis and the dominant species in each layer. The results showed that the relationship between Hopea hainanensis and the dominant species in the community was not significant. In addition, there were both positive and negative associations between Hopea hainanensis and other examined six tree species, positive associations with 13 shrub species, positive associations with two herbs, and negative associations with species of 7 species. The connection between Hopea hainanensis and herbs is more complex than that between trees, shrubs, and the dominant species. M. Godron's stability analysis showed that the community where Hopea hainanensis occurred is relatively unstable (36.84/63.16). The ecology is somewhat fragile, indicating that the community is still at the early or middle stage of competing with other species for resource utilization. The stability of community structure and function is a suitable environment for Hopea hainanensis and finally achieve the purpose of adequate protection, we should choose species with strong positive associations for protecting and recovering Hopea hainanensis.


The present invention directly filtered with that, is reacted with lithium metal uranium oxide powder in the lithium molten salt chloride medium and converted to uranium metal powder, the porous filter of the conversion of uranium metal powder of uranium oxide metal conversion and filtration recovery device to recover lithium melt and remove chloride by an apparatus using a conversion of uranium oxide to uranium metal, the furnace including a heating means; Reactor comprising an injection tube and a discharge pipe for injecting and discharging the sealing cap and the argon gas to discharge port is formed is sealed with a reaction vessel having a conical bottom shape with a slope descending towards the discharge opening, the reaction vessel; Valve assembly for opening and closing the outlet; At least one agitator for mixing the mixture in the reaction vessel; Lithium metal feeder possible including independent heating means, and the detachable sealing cap installed; Cooling jacket incorporated in the sealing cap; A porous filter positioned in the bottom of the reactor; And the molten salt collecting tank which is located in the lower portion of the porous filter; made up of configurations, including, it can be switched to uranium oxide by the reaction of lithium in the molten salt-based high-temperature into uranium metal and to separate the converted metal from a molten salt recovered which provides a uranium oxide and a transition metal filtration recovery.


Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated the benefit for many cancer types, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, urothelial cancer, renal cell cancer, etc. Especially in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, significant improvement in survival results has been shown. Case Report Here, we report a 66-year-old man with lung adenocarcinoma who received nivolumab for 80 cycles. Management and Outcome: Two months after discontinuing nivolumab, he developed follicular lymphoma. Pneumonitis was also accompanied, which was treated with metilprednisolon, but he died due to progressive respiratory failure. Discussion Our clinical knowledge with checkpoint inhibitors is increasing day by day, and to the best of our knowledge, this paper presents the first case in the English literature who developed follicular lymphoma after discontinuing nivolumab in non-small cell lung cancer patient.


Cyclohexene was synthesized by dehydration of cyclohexanol with anhydrous aluminum chloride as catalyst.The effects of various factors on the reaction were studied.It has been found that the optimum reaction conditions are that the amount of catalyst is 13.3% of the amount of cyclohexanol, the reaction time is 80 minutes and the reaction temperature is 200~210℃.Under the optimum conditions,the yield is above 87.8% and the product purity is 98.4%.


Two boron trifluoride proportional counters, one containing normal isotopic boron and the other containing boron enriched to 96% B10, have been irradiated with 4.87-Mev. neutrons from the reaction D(d, n)He3. In addition to the reactions B10(n, α)Li7 and B10(n, α)Li7* with Q-values of 2.79 Mev. and 2.31 Mev. respectively, two other reactions have been observed. These are (i) F19(n, α)N16* with a Q-value of −1.77 ± 0.15 Mev. and (ii) either B10(n, p)Be10 or, much more probably, B10(n, t)Be8 with a Q-value of 0.35 ± 0.20 Mev. Owing to the presence of these two reactions, the analysis of complex fast-neutron spectra by the use of such counters is not feasible.


Learning style is the main reason to cause English learners' individual differences. From the perspective of the definition of learning styles and class characteristics, introduced learning style characteristics, and explores the importance of matching learning styles and teaching strategies, discuss on how to combine and match learning styles theory and English practice teaching.


A slightly increasing trend of frequent pain and psychological symptoms has been shown both in Finnish adolescents and in university students during the past decades [1-4]. In university students, the prevalence of weekly neck pain increased from 25% to 29%, low back pain from 10% to 14% and overall psychological distress from 22% to 28% during the period from 2000 to 2012 [3,4]. In cross-sectional studies comparing the prevalence of both pain and psychological symptoms in adolescents and young adults, these symptoms have mostly been reported to increase with age [2-7]. The university entry is potentially a vulnerable and demanding period with long-lasting health consequences. In this transitional phase from adolescence to adulthood, students may be more prone to experience increased psychological distress and general health problems [8,9]. These health problems have been regarded important to be taken into account in the irst study year for the purpose of preventing health problems in the later phase of the studies and mainting ones's studying capacity and future working ability.


The paper gives a classification and a statistical analysis of the "Ba"sentences written by the Vietnamese students at the intermediate and the advanced levels,and sub-classifies the errors into omission,misuse and wrong order and brings up suggestions for improving the teaching of the "Ba"sentences to the Vietnamese students.


In some data stream applications, the information embedded in the data arriving in the new recent time period is important than historical transactions. Because data stream is changing over time, concept drift problem will appear in data stream mining. Frequent pattern mining always generate useless and redundant patterns, in order to obtain the result set of lossless compression, closed pattern is needed. A novel method for efficiently mining closed frequent patterns on data stream is proposed in this paper. The main work includes: distinguish importance of recent transactions from historical transactions based on time decay model and sliding window model; design and use frame minimum support count-maximal support error threshold-decay factor (θ-ε-f) to avoid concept drift; use closure operator to improve the efficiency of algorithm; design a novel way to set decay factor: average-decay-factor faverage in order to balance the high recall and high precision of algorithm. The performance of proposed method is evaluated via experiments, and the results show that the proposed method is efficient and steady-state, it applies to mine data streams with high density and long patterns, it is suitable for different size sliding windows, and it is also superior to other analogous algorithms.


Understanding the relationship between habitats and the distribution of fishes is critical to effective survey design and spatial management. Determining reef fish habitat utilization patterns from...


Possible ways of optimizing operating conditions for cathodes in millimeter-wave (MM-wave) magnetrons are considered with regard to secondary electron emission processes. An increased secondary emission in combination with a larger interaction space resulting from transition to a hetero-resonator slot-vane system in a non-/spl pi/-mode magnetron or from transition to the electron stream interaction with higher spatial /spl pi/-mode harmonics allows magnetron service life to be increased 5-7 times.


Abstract Embedding a product or a brand into journalistic content may have a negative impact on how the content's credibility is perceived by recipients. However, research has not been able to convincingly prove that product placement has an effect on how recipients perceive and evaluate media content. This particularly applies to context effects, such as the effect that the number of visible products or brands has on the perceived credibility of the journalistic content the placement is embedded in. This study addresses two questions: whether the use of visible products or brands embedded in journalistic content influences the credibility that recipients attribute to such content, and how the tenor of the content, positive or negative, interacts with the placed products. Based on experimental findings and real-time response measurements, we conclude that the number of visible products does not significantly affect the credibility attributed to journalistic content and that judgments about credibility are influenced by the interaction between the number of products placed and the tenor of the content.


OBJECTIVE
Mixed studies reviews include empirical studies with diverse designs. Given that identifying relevant studies for such reviews is time consuming, a mixed filter was developed.

METHODS
The filter was used for six journals from three disciplines. For each journal, database records were coded "empirical" (relevant) when they mentioned a research question or objective, data collection, analysis, and results. We measured precision (proportion of retrieved documents being relevant), sensitivity (proportion of relevant documents retrieved), and specificity (proportion of nonrelevant documents not retrieved).

RESULTS
Records were coded with and without the filter, and descriptive statistics were performed, suggesting the mixed filter has high sensitivity.


RFID(Radio Frequency identification) system is an automatic identification system. A RFID reader recognizes objects through wireless communications with tags which have an unique ID and information, and are attached to objects. The multi-tag identification is main issue in RFID system and could be resolved the anti-collision algorithm. anti-collision protocols can be categorized into ALOHA based protocols and tree based protocols. I-Code algorithm by Philips Semiconductors and DFSA(Dynamic Framed Slotted ALOHA) algorithm are Frame-Slotted-ALOHA based protocols. DFSA is the method to dynamically allocate the frame size according to the number of tags using Tag Estimation Method(TEM). We compare the performance of the I-Code algorithm with DFSA algorithm which estimates the number of tags around the reader using C++ simulation program. According to the simulation result, the DFSA algorithm shows better performance than the I-Code algorithm because the DFSA algorithm has lower complexity and better delay performance.


In order to perform lip segmentation in a lipreading system, we propose a new method based on maximum a posterior and Markov random field (MAP-MRF) framework to statistically model observed images of different texture areas in this paper. First, we establish a multi-scale model to capture the characteristics of each sub-region in the image and use the tree structure in the wavelet domain to calculate the probability of tree nodes at different scales. Thus, the number of layer can be considered as one segment cluster. Then, we utilize MRF to translate the lip segmentation problem into labeling optimization issue. Finally, the Bayesian criteria and the extended expectation maximum (EM) algorithm are applied to estimate child node parameters. The experimental results of this method are more robust than the traditional iterative condition model (ICM). Keywords—lip segmentation; MAP-MRF framework; multiscale model; wavelet domain