The invention provides an elisa kit for detecting chloramphenicol, comprising an enzyme yoke plate with an encrusting peridium source, an enzyme-labeling substance, a chloramphenicol specific antibody, a chloramphenicol standard solution, a substrate visualization solution, a stopping solution, a thickening and washing solution and a thickening double solution; an encrusting chloramphenicol antigen is obtained by coupling a chloramphenicol hapten and bovine gamma globulin by an active ester method, and an antibody is a polyclonal antibody or a monoclonal antibody. The invention also provides a method for detecting the chloramphenicol in animal-derived food, comprising the following steps: sample pre-treatment; detection by reagents in the kit; and detection result analysis. The elisa kit and the detection method are simple and convenient to operate, have low cost and are suitable for screening a great amount of samples to detect the chloramphenicol in the animal-derived food.


The problem of negative social processes in society justified by the necessity of achieving the universal justice is dealt with in the article.


The impact ductility is a technique parameter and a kind of simple test method for evalua-(ting) the ability of resisting reflective cracking of asphalt mixture.In this paper,the impact ductility is proved that it has extensive applicability by the simulative experiment using the automatic asphalt pavement analyzer(AAPA).The reciprocity between two evaluating methods above mentioned is educed.The impact ductility offers the foundations of choosing original material and asphalt mixture types for the asphalt overlay on old roads.


In situ growth of ZnO quantum dots (QDs) on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was presented, and their application in photovoltaic cells by using flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrates was demonstrated. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images revealed the conjugation of ZnO QDs with MWCNTs. Photoluminescence spectra indicated that the charge transfer efficiency at ZnO QD–MWCNT heterojunctions was above 90%, as confirmed by time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. Current–voltage measurements on the flexible devices fabricated utilizing ZnO QD–MWCNT heterojunctions showed the robust nature of the ZnO QD–MWCNT-based photovoltaic cells and their potential applications as the power source for flexible hand-held consumer electronics.


Twomethods used to receive two discriminative affinity matrices by way of learning from weakly labeled images. Ianthe primary affinity matrix, a new procedure referred to as regularized low-rank illustration (ruler).In that calculate the first affinity matrix using the resultant reconstruction coefficient matrix. Within the second affinity matrix, distance metric is used for finding out Methodism to learn a discriminative distance metric with the aid of easily coping with the ambiguous labels of faces. The distances between all faces is used as the second affinity matrix. Two algorithms are used these areas algorithm & Face Naming algorithm. Ambiguously supervised structural metric studying (ASML) it is a distance metrics to learn discriminative Mahalanobis distance metric headquartered on weak supervision data. For perform face naming algorithm used affinity matrix.


Advances in our knowledge of entrepreneurship are enabling progress to be made. In this article, entrepreneurship is considered as a process in which the entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial process are aspects of the same phenomenon. In order to capture this process, a social constructionist theoretical framework is adopted. The article develops an explanation of how the social construction of the entrepreneurial personality may be placed in the context of the social construction of their business reality. Fundamental defining assumptions are discussed, in particular, the opportunistic behaviour of the individual to whom the attribution ''entrepreneur'' is made. Finally, a seven-point research agenda is presented.


In this paper the concept of fully-(m,n) stable Banach Algebra-module (F − (m,n)−S−B−A-module), we study some properties of F − (m,n)−S−B−Amodule and another characterization have been given.


Differences in fat deposition and distribution seem to have a different impact on cardiovascular disease. Excess intra-abdominal (visceral) adiposity is detected by increased waist circumference and is often accompanied by disturbances in lipoprotein metabolism (increased very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL)) [2] and other alterations in blood pressure and insulin sensitivity in the context of what is called the "metabolic syndrome" [3]. The latter relationship with cardiovascular disease has proven to be closer than that observed with simple increases in body weight [4]. 1. Department of Internal Medicine. Hospital Mutua Terrassa. University of Barcelona, Spain. 2. Hypertension Unit. Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.


1 The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of endothelin ETA and ETB receptors in the regulation of intrarenal blood flow and oxygen tension in normotensive Sprague‐Dawley rats. 2 Thiobutabarbital anaesthetized rats were divided into four groups (n = 6–9 per group): (i) saline (4 mL/kg per h); (ii) BQ123; (iii) BQ788; and (iv) BQ123 + BQ788. After baseline measurements, the ETA receptor antagonist BQ‐123 (30 nmol/kg per min, i.v.) and/or the ETB receptor antagonist BQ‐788 (30 nmol/kg per min, i.v.), was administered for a period of 60 min. Total renal blood flow (RBF), cortical and outer medullary perfusion (laser‐Doppler flowmetry) and Po2 (Clark‐type microelectrodes) were analysed throughout. 3 At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups in mean arterial pressure (MAP), RBF, cortical and outer medullary perfusion and Po2. Infusion of BQ‐788 reduced RBF, cortical perfusion and outer medullary Po2 (P < 0.05) and increased renal vascular resistance (P < 0.05) compared with saline‐treated and BQ123 + BQ788‐infused groups. BQ‐123 and coinfusion of BQ‐123 + BQ‐788 increased outer medullary perfusion compared with the saline‐treated group (P < 0.05) without significantly affecting outer medullary Po2 and MAP. Neither selective nor combined ETA and ETB receptor antagonism significantly affected renal cortical Po2. 4 In conclusion, in normotensive rats, ETB receptor antagonism caused renal vasoconstriction and reduced RBF and cortical perfusion. Furthermore, ETB receptor antagonism decreased outer medullary Po2. These effects were mediated by ETA receptor activation and are not due to a lack of ETB receptor activation per se. Finally, BQ‐123 increased renal outer medullary perfusion, suggesting a tonic vasoconstrictor effect of ETA receptors in the medulla of normotensive rats.


Abstract. Online analysis with mass spectrometers produces complex
data sets, consisting of mass spectra with a large number of chemical
compounds (ions). Statistical dimension reduction techniques (SDRTs) are
able to condense complex data sets into a more compact form while preserving
the information included in the original observations. The general principle
of these techniques is to investigate the underlying dependencies of the
measured variables by combining variables with similar characteristics into
distinct groups, called factors or components. Currently, positive matrix
factorization (PMF) is the most commonly exploited SDRT across a range of
atmospheric studies, in particular for source apportionment. In this study,
we used five different SDRTs in analysing mass spectral data from complex gas-
and particle-phase measurements during a laboratory experiment investigating
the interactions of gasoline car exhaust and α-pinene. Specifically,
we used four factor analysis techniques, namely principal component analysis (PCA),
PMF, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and
non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), as well as one clustering
technique, partitioning around medoids (PAM). All SDRTs were able to resolve four to five factors from the gas-phase measurements,
including an α-pinene precursor factor, two to three oxidation product
factors, and a background or car exhaust precursor factor. NMF and PMF provided
an additional oxidation product factor, which was not found by other SDRTs.
The results from EFA and PCA were similar after applying oblique rotations.
For the particle-phase measurements, four factors were discovered with NMF:
one primary factor, a mixed-LVOOA factor and two α-pinene secondary-organic-aerosol-derived (SOA-derived)
factors. PMF was able to separate two factors: semi-volatile oxygenated organic aerosol (SVOOA) and low-volatility oxygenated organic aerosol (LVOOA). PAM
was not able to resolve interpretable clusters due to general limitations of
clustering methods, as the high degree of fragmentation taking place in the
aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) causes different compounds formed at different stages in the experiment
to be detected at the same variable. However, when preliminary analysis is
needed, or isomers and mixed sources are not expected, cluster analysis may
be a useful tool, as the results are simpler and thus easier to interpret. In
the factor analysis techniques, any single ion generally contributes to
multiple factors, although EFA and PCA try to minimize this spread. Our analysis shows that different SDRTs put emphasis on different parts of
the data, and with only one technique, some interesting data properties may
still stay undiscovered. Thus, validation of the acquired results, either by
comparing between different SDRTs or applying one technique multiple times
(e.g. by resampling the data or giving different starting values for
iterative algorithms), is important, as it may protect the user from
dismissing unexpected results as "unphysical".


The result of experiments on the influence of 10 fungicides on conidia germination,germ tuber elongation and appresorium formation of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on glass slides,inducing the production hyphal conidia on glass slides and inhibiting hypha growth on PDA showed that different fungicides had distinct control effect on different form of anthracnose.The fungicides screening trial demonstrated that the control effect of Chlorothalonil,Thiram and Carbendazin on anthracnose was the best,but their mechanism was diverse.


Robot assisted surgery has become increasingly popular with the rapid development of more sophisticated robotic systems. Nevertheless, there are still many tedious surgical tasks that remain to be performed manually by surgeons with high supervisions. One example is to tie a surgical knot during the surgery, which includes the processes of needle threading, suture looping, suture tail grasping and suture pulling. In this research, we present a new method for robotic suture looping process. This method is based on a spatial trajectory planning for the surgical instruments, where challenges such as suture slippage and potential collisions between the instruments could be eliminated. In contrast to conventional looping process, a dynamic control scheme is proposed to optimize the time and workspace required to complete the process. Vision information is incorporated in order to enable closed loop control of the robotic system with Linear Quadratic (LQ) controller. A series of experiments were conducted in order to examine the performance of the proposed control scheme and the results confirmed that surgical knots can be successfully tied robotically, offering new insights to the field of automated robotassisted surgery.


A theoretical study with sinusoidal amplitude diffraction gratings, elaborated with variable periods is shown. The diffraction pattern behavior and the symmetry degree of the gratings were observed. The grating period is increased, fringe to fringe, starting with a small period and ending with a big period that is; the grating edge, start with high spatial frequency and finish with low spatial frequency. This gratings modulation causes a widening in the diffracted orders.


The microspatial distribution of pupal green cloverworms, Plathypena scabra (F.), was studied intensively in six soybean fields during 1979 and 1980. Pupae occurred within the plant canopy and on the soil surface but not below the surface. About 90% of the pupae were collected in the litter on the soil surface. Pupal densities were biased with respect to directional aspect during 1979, with significantly ( P < 0.05) more pupae located in southern exposures than northern exposures, but biases were not observed during 1980. No obvious preferences were observed with respect to eastern or western exposures. Pupal densities also varied inversely with distance from the soybean row. The quantity of litter cover seemed to influence pupal distribution. Implications for pupal sampling are discussed.


We demonstrate the potential of resonant Raman spectroscopy from vibration modes for the analysis of embedded monolayers and quantum dots. As representative systems, we present results for CdSe, embedded either in BeTe or in ZnSe. The vibration spectra reflect a distinctly different behaviour. For CdSe in BeTe, they reveal atomically sharp interfaces, especially when the interface bonds are chosen to be Cd–Te. In addition, the vibration modes reflect the onset of quantum dot formation. They are described by ab initio calculations. In contrast, in case of CdSe quantum dots in ZnSe, the vibration spectra are explained in terms of ternary (Cd,Zn)Se modes with increasing Cd content for increasing nominal CdSe coverage. Thus, they reveal a noticeable interfacial intermixing on the scale of a few monolayers. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


We, as individuals, as organizations, and as nations, have been witnessing a 'paradigm shift' in as far as the source of our 'competitive advantage' is concerned. If it was 'labor' in the agriculture-based economy, it was 'capital' in the industrial age. In today's world, the competitive advantage originates more from 'knowledge' rather than from the traditional sources of 'labor' and 'capital'. It has become the leveraging factor in making growth more robust, be it at the micro level or macro level. The knowledge era is marked by the dramatic changes in society, economy and technology. Markets and workforces are increasingly diverse and global. Change is so rapid and complex that a leader cannot keep abreast of all the changes and developments taking place in the environment, let alone be responsible for the innovation needed to keep ahead of others. Structures are becoming flatter with decision making being highly decentralized and not the only responsibility of the top management. The emphasis is more on networks and geographically distanced global teams are a reality. As the business environment requires the managers to respond to unpredictable threats and opportunities, complete reliance on planning no longer works. In this complex and chaotic environment, the organizations need to engage in new, more spontaneous and more innovative ways of managing. To meet the challenge, the organizational leaders need to be more flexible - stimulating innovation, creativity and responsiveness and learn to manage continuous adaptation to change - without losing the strategic focus. The paper gives an overview of the challenges faced by the leaders in the cited context and the competencies required by the leaders to meet these challenges.


Introduction: Past, Present and Potential Recording Evoked Potentials: Means to an End Frequency-Domain: Music of the Hemispheres Finding Sources: Forwards and Backwards Sounds to Charm the Brain Interpreting the Waveforms: Time and Uncertainty Electrocochleography: From Song to Synapse Auditory Brainstem Responses: Peaks Along the Way Middle Latency Responses - The Brain and the Brawn Auditory Steady State and Following Responses: Dancing to the Rhythms Late Auditory Evoked Potentials: Changing the Things Which Are Endogenous Auditory Evoked Potentials: Attention Must Be Paid Infant Hearing Assessment: Opening Ears Neurotology and Neurology: From Cochlea to Cortex Auditory Neuropathy: When Time is Broke Cochlear Implants: Body Electric Concluding Comments: Beginning to Live


In this paper we give an algorithm to decompose the zeros of a polynomial ascending set over retional field or prime fields of positive characteristics into irreducible components, which can be realized on computer by the software package ″wsolve″ of D.K.Wang.


I hereby dedam that the thesis entrHed A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SCHEMES ON LOW INCOME GROUPS IN MADRAS CITY IS based on the original w w k done by me under the superwsm of Dr K Ume Shenkar Patnalk, Reader, Department of Econom~cs, Pondrcheny Unrversrty, Pondicheny during the penod 1990 -1997 and that the research has not prevmusly fof???ed the besrs for the award of any d e p m , diplome, assocreteship, fellowship or any other wm~ler title


Introduction: It's not a complicated question today, if there are caves on Mars or not. Finding them entrances though is though still difficult, because doesn't exist a definite method, using only remote detection for that. But still, because of the specialties of Mars and the technical attributes of the Martian probes it's easier to find caves there remotely, as it is on the Earth. Most likely lava tubes can be found, because they have vertical and big entrances, which can be spotted from above. The relatively big size of these formations, the absence of flora, and the developed instruments are making that easier – for example the HiRISE can make still the most detailed civilian-used multispectral images, but THEMIS IR's 100 m/pixel resolution is excellent too, compared to similar


In this paper the distance matrix and adjacency matrix of aliphatic aldehydes,ketones,and amines compounds molecules were established primarily by tintaging the heteroatoms,then on the basis of distance matrix and adjacency matrix a topological index was constructed.Subsequently,the topological index and the boiling point and the molar refraction of aliphatic aldehydes,ketones,and amines compounds were put into nonlinear regression respectively.Fortunately a satisfactory result was obtained which can be used to predict the boiling point and molar refraction of aliphatic aldehydes,ketones,and amines.This work provides theoretical foundation for the investigation of the types of aliphatic compounds.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the current perceptions of special education teachers about the transition skills of students with intellectual disabilities (ID) for the successful transition into adult life. The results of this study are as follows. First, overall special education teachers for students with ID perceived the importance of teaching ten transition skills areas in order to help students with ID have a successful transition to adult life. Second, although, special education teachers for students with ID perceived the importance of teaching ten transitions, the teachers perceived their implementation level of these skills as relatively low. Through importance-performance analysis (IPA) of 10 transition skills by using the mean difference between the perception of importance and performance of teachers, 4 areas such as concentrate here, keep up the good work, low priority, possible overkill are suggested. There are some suggestions based on the results of the research.


In a metastable state small perturbations can have major consequences. Such is the case in Itzehow, in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, where the success of a literally tiny process, optical mask lithography, is now set to result in drastic changes at the recently founded Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology (ISIT), including the abandonment of a proposed X-ray synchrotron. ISIT is intended to be a leading element in Germany's contributions to the Joint European Submicron Silicon (JESSI) initiative.


Background: High immunisation coverage is important to stop the transmission of vaccine preventable diseases among children population. Objective: Our assignment aimed to help health workers to develop sensitive early warning system able to detect any coverage gabs among catchment areas self-evaluate their immunisation coverage twice per month in Ombada locality. Methodology: This work was applied in Ombada locality which is located in western northern part of Khartoum state. Out of 42 health centres we were select initially 16 (67%) health centres been the official sample for assessing the immunisation coverage twice per month. These centres were the fixed facilities with reference to the 3 immunisation strategies. The vaccinators were trained about how to report and intervene to elevate the immunisation coverage. Results: Our work revealed that, slight increase in DPT1 coverage through (2009-2010) and remarkable changes progress in (2011-2012). Significant DPT3 coverage progress in 2009 compared with (87%) in 2008.Then dramatically decline noted through (2010-2011) especially in outreach facilities, Measles and DPT drop-out rate was appear very low and acceptable, but after deep investigation we indicate several reasons lead to this experience, such as underestimating of data reported. Recommendations: we recommended that, the local health authority should continue maintaining the early warning reporting system and include other districts, Develop new evidence-based innovative approaches to enhance accessibility to immunization and effective supportive supervision with tools and resources, it is highly recommend to support system implementation. Furthermost understanding of strategies to elevate and sustain immunization levels is necessary in order to create lasting, effective immunization delivery systems. Limitations: limited resources provided and poor supportive supervision to health facilities noted as limitations of this assignment.


An experimental model for the evaluation of surgical techniques and preservation in extracorporeal surgery is described: staghorn calculi were induced in 15 dogs by the injection of methylmethacrylate into the renal pelvis. Removal of the calculi was carried out 3-4 weeks later on a workbench, using microsurgical techniques and ex situ radiographies. 15 min of warm ischaemic and 6 h of ambiothermic preservation were well tolerated as could be demonstrated by determination of the serum creatinine following autotransplantation and immediate contralateral nephrectomy.


This paper introduces the illustration method used in classicality fitment design,research on the application of illustration method, analyses the method of reverse-explain the size of protoplast with unknown perspective term, and an example are given.


The article discusses the development of a prototype of pneumatic artificial muscles for "soft" anthropomorphic holding devices. It gives the description of the development of a device for controlling artificial muscles of anthropomorphic devices and robotic systems based on adaptive grippers. A control system and the digital-analog information input-output module hardware has been developed. The control module performs tasks associated with providing communication between the computer and the programmable logic controller of a robot. It also analyzes the sensors state and transmits control signals to the actuators. The UART interface is used for communication and integration of devices into a local area network. The module can be connected via WiFi and Ethernet interfaces, which facilitates the prompt exchange of device commands with each other and with a computer. The input-output module interacts with only one interface and it is possible to connect only one pre-selected interface, which eliminates errors in the interaction between devices on the network. A program has been developed to update the robot control system and add the ability to control the robot and adjacent automation. The software and hardware platform is used, providing electrical compatibility with industrial standards signals. The digital and analog input and output program unit interacts with sensors and actuators of the manipulator and is fully compatible with the IEC61131-5 standard. The use of a robotic arm with pneumatic muscles contributes to the improvement and expansion of the field of application of a remote control system with tactile feedback, which allows feeling a distant object.


The invention discloses an adjustable nozzle ring structure for a ship mixed-flow turbo-superchager. The structure comprises a bearing casing and a drive mechanism for blades. A plurality of blades are arranged on the bearing casing and are supported on the bearing casing rotatably. The drive mechanism comprises a drive ring, and the blades are arranged in an inner hole of the drive ring. A plurality of drive pins extending along the axial direction of the drive ring are arranged at one end of the drive ring to be corresponding to the blades respectively. A drive arm is arranged between each drive pin and the corresponding blade, the ends of the drive arms are fixedly connected with corresponding blade rotation shafts, U-shaped sliding grooves are formed in the other ends of the drive arms along the radial directions of the corresponding blade rotation shafts, and drive pins are in clearance fit with the corresponding U-shaped sliding grooves in the drive arms respectively. The speed attack angle and the throat area of waste entering the turbine can be changed by changing the nozzle ring blade mounting angles, and the rotation speed and the flow of the turbo-superchager are adjustable, accordingly, the turbo-superchager and a diesel can operate in an effective and matching mode.


To solve the problems of the limitation of AP's communication area and high lost rate in wireless channel,this paper proposes a method adapting to sparse distribution of APs in highway scenarios.Using this method,data packets are always from the AP to the requested users and other vehicles running at the same direction with the user,and no retransmissions are used.When the user leaves the AP's communication area,the lost packets will be gotten from those cooperative vehicles.The method improves AP work efficiency and increases link reliability in data link layer.Simulation results indicate the benefits of the proposed model in terms of reducing packets loss rate and increasing system throughput.


A 77-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a three-week history of nausea, vomiting, pain in the right upper quadrant, and fever with chills. Laboratory studies showed that the white-cell count was 6400 per cubic millimeter, the hemoglobin concentration was 9.0 g per deciliter, the hematocrit was 26.5 percent, the platelet count was 255,000 per cubic millimeter, and the reticulocyte count was 0.6 percent. To evaluate the patient's anemia further, a bone marrow examination was performed; it revealed mild hypercellularity with trilineage hematopoiesis but with a reduced number of erythroid precursors. Evaluation of a smear of the bone marrow . . .


Significance Modern crystallographic structure determination uses maximum likelihood methods. They rely on error estimates between the work model and the unknown target based on a small fraction of the data. This can introduce a large uncertainty and, even worse, restricts the method to projects where sufficient data are available. We investigate the Rcomplete method. It enables the use of all data for error estimation. It reduces the uncertainty associated with the conventional Rfree approach for small datasets. We show that our approach reduces the effect of overfitting. This enables maximum likelihood methods to be extended to a much wider field of applications, including free electron laser experiments, high-pressure crystallography, and low-resolution structures. The crystallographic reliability index Rcomplete is based on a method proposed more than two decades ago. Because its calculation is computationally expensive its use did not spread into the crystallographic community in favor of the cross-validation method known as Rfree. The importance of Rfree has grown beyond a pure validation tool. However, its application requires a sufficiently large dataset. In this work we assess the reliability of Rcomplete and we compare it with k-fold cross-validation, bootstrapping, and jackknifing. As opposed to proper cross-validation as realized with Rfree, Rcomplete relies on a method of reducing bias from the structural model. We compare two different methods reducing model bias and question the widely spread notion that random parameter shifts are required for this purpose. We show that Rcomplete has as little statistical bias as Rfree with the benefit of a much smaller variance. Because the calculation of Rcomplete is based on the entire dataset instead of a small subset, it allows the estimation of maximum likelihood parameters even for small datasets. Rcomplete enables maximum likelihood-based refinement to be extended to virtually all areas of crystallographic structure determination including high-pressure studies, neutron diffraction studies, and datasets from free electron lasers.


IPO pricing is may not only affected by pricing system,underwriter reputation,venture investors' participation,but also influenced by the IPO pricing experience of the board of directors.Based on the perspective of golden-mean thinking and group polarization we test the effect of the IPO pricing experience by directors of board on the focal IPO pricing behavior by using data of the 742 corporate which going IPO during 2004—2012.And find that when the average IPO pricing premium experience by directors of board is high,the focal IPO pricing premium will be lower significantly.When the average IPO pricing premium experience by directors of board is low,the focal IPO pricing premium will be higher significantly,which proved the effect of golden-mean thinking in the process of IPO pricing of the board.Furthermore,the study proved that the duality and political association of the chairman of the board will decrease the effect of golden-mean thinking during the IPO pricing decision.In the perspectives of golden-mean thinking of China,the article provide theory explain for the IPO pricing behavior of corporate,which have certain meaning for understanding the IPO pricing.


With the notion of effective exergy drop based on equivalent enthalpy drop theory,mathematic models of exothermic steam perturbation effect on the whole thermodynamic system were founded.Therefore,fluctuation of economy about the whole thermodynamic system was obtained when some local structure or parameter changed,not requiring rounded calculation for the whole thermodynamic system.Based on the analysis method,abstract physical conceptions and complex calculation were avoided.There is an active significance for popularization of exergy analysis in engineering practice.


RFID applications are used in the Internet of Things (IoTs) which uses multiple readers to read the IDs of multiple tags and form the RFID network. In such a network, unguarded reader deployment may generate over-crowded readers, cause interferences. The deployment is crucial for RFID system performance Radio Frequency Identification (or RFID) tags have seen its wide range of applications in the recent years and has a very promising future. In the present scenario, Ubiquitous computing plays an important role in our daily lives and has a vast range of applications in many fields. In this paper we have proposed a system which uses RFID tags for guidance of tourists. The system uses RFID tags to guide and inform the tourists about a given location and surrounding. We have proposed an algorithm which describes the system's implementation even for densely populated RFID Reader based geographical area. The system requires multiple readers and it collaborates to read the RFID tag data.


OML 18, operated by Eroton Exploration and Production Company (EROTON E&P) and located within the Coastal Swamp of Eastern Niger Delta contains several producing fields. As a brown asset with over 50 years historical production and ageing infrastructure, rapidly declining oil production caused by rising water cut and depleting reservoir pressure has become a normal feature for most of the reservoirs in the block. There arises therefore, urgent need to maximize the value of these mature fields by deploying fit for purpose and cost-effective technologies and methods.
 Thus, we deployed artificial lift technique using the abundant associated gas resources within the asset as one method of managing the rapid decline in oil production. Gas lift is a robust and inexpensive artificial lift solution which can be deployed at any period in the life-cycle of a well. The natural reservoir energy to move liquids to the surface through a well at expected rates declines with production time. Changing well and reservoir conditions, such as declining pressure, increasing gas liquid ratios and rising water cut can make consistent and predictable oil production a challenge.
 A review of the entire wells portfolio within the asset enabled an identification of all potential candidates with potential to benefit from gas lift installation. This was followed by feasibility studies to establish a connection between the magnitude of expected oil resources to be added, the oil rate potential, the existing completion status and surface facility equipment availability such as compression, gas lines and scrubbers etc. Screening of identified opportunities, often conducted in multi-disciplinary review sessions, yielded ranked list of opportunities for further maturation through design, execution and operation. Three (3) fields with over 60 wells and 38 developed reservoirs were selected for the review. The screening criteria included but not limited to reserves to be added, ease of execution, economics and regulatory approval requirements. Since these wells were not originally equipped with gas lift mandrel, alternative means of deploying gas lift equipment downhole had to be designed and implemented. Considering the advanced age of most of the wells, due consideration was given to well integrity in the final execution decision. Despite inherent challenges, EROTON was able to successfully deploy in-house technical knowledge and experience to embark on rigless well intervention campaign to restore production using retrofit gas lift equipment in existing wells, which have ceased to flow due to vertical lift issues, thus extending the life of the wells. We have successfully performed a safe and commercially viable production restoration exercise, returning a total of twelve (12) wells back to full production potential and achieving the well intervention objectives. The operation has accelerated production adding over 5,000 bopd. This paper will discuss the concept of brown field life extension through retrofit gas lift, the workflow utilized and results from select field examples. Well BAKU-07 in RAMA field is further discussed as one of the candidates successfully restored via this method.


Abstract This study addressed nanofiltration of waters of contrasting organic and inorganic matter concentrations, which contained low-molecular-weight mycoestrogens, using an industrial membrane module. The investigation focused on the effect of water recovery at a range of 10 to 90% vol. on the efficiency and effectiveness of the process. An increase in permeate recovery caused a decrease in both efficiency and removal of inorganic matter and mycoestrogens. The removal of organic matter was high irrespective of water recovery. It has been found that the effect of water recovery on the separation of micro-pollutants was the main cause of the decrease in the removal of the compounds in industrial installations against the results obtained on a bench scale.


In the production process of disk head on the computer hard disk, although the strict control have been progressing on the environment and the working procedure by production factory, it's still difficult to make cleanliness of the products reach the requirement of hard drive assembly. Because the working procedure is complex, the pollution source is broader, and the cleanliness standard has been raised to the " without any particle under the 200 times magnifying glass ", which is to meet the increase of the hard disk capacity. This paper designed the mechanical structure of a new machine for cleaning disk head. It uses vacuum to hold disk head instead of grid, and combines spray cleaning, scrub, scouring, ultrasonic cleaning, drying, with electromagnetic valve to control vacuum degree in the vacuum tubes and fixture. Thus this machine cleans disk head to improve its cleanliness.


Older adults make up more than half of the cancer diagnoses and even a greater percentage of cancer survivors. The combined issues of aging and cancer can lead a significant number of these patients to experience emotional distress as they manage the comorbidities related to aging, the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis, and the acute and long-term side effects of treatment. Anxiety and depression are common in older adults with cancer, and there are unique aspects when considering these constructs in this group. Many older adults experience physical and social changes that may leave them vulnerable to psychological difficulties. The assessment of anxiety and depression can be challenging as many symptoms of these constructs overlap with the comorbidities of aging and the side effects of treatment. The psychotherapy and psychopharmacologic treatments should be tailored to the unique needs of this population. More directive, structured psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and problem-solving therapy (PST) tend to be more effective for older adults than open-ended, explorative approaches. Psychopharmacologic treatments should be started at lower doses and titrated slowly. With the continued growth in this population, combined with the unique aspects of assessment and treatment, it is important to understand the basic psycho-oncology principles of working with older adults with cancer.


We present a test of our hypothesis that engaging and challenging work in a country, hence rewarding careers, depends on traditional and modern beliefs and attitudes. We start by defining traditionalism and modernism and on that basis construct simple indexes of traditionalism and modernism for a set of OECD countries based on data from the World Values Survey. Then, we investigate how these indexes relate to reported job satisfaction, based on data from the same source. We find that modernism and job satisfaction are related positively and significantly, in both statistical and economic terms. The relationship between traditionalism and job satisfaction is not totally clear but high levels of traditionalism appear to be associated with low job satisfaction. This relation survives the introduction of some classical controls, such as wage and job security. 1 Ecole Polytechnique, France. E-mail: email@example.com 2 Columbia Univeristy, USA. Laureate of the Nobel Prize in economics for 2006. E-mail: email@example.com


The optimal design of cementless hip prosthesis is investigated in the paper. Design variables are materials (represented by their Young's moduli) of the non-homogenous stem prosthesis, disposed in vertical layers. The minimisation of the interface stress function with constraints on the resorbed bone mass fraction is presented. A simplified two-dimensional FEM model of a stem-bone configuration is considered, enabling however to obtain essential characteristics of the stem-bone load-transfer mechanism. Evolutionary algorithm approach is applied to find the optimal solution.


Education is the basis and foundation for the development of a nation, of which higher education is a reflection of a nation's development, as well as the future and prospects. A comparison of higher education between China and the West is made in order to find out the weakness and strength of China's higher education, which is of positive value to the improvement of higher education in China.


This chapter discusses collective victimization resulting from structural violence, and how the effects of inequality can have similar deleterious consequences for peoples' ability to meet basic needs. Social class and structural violence have been underexamined so far in the literature on collective victimhood. However, considering collective victim beliefs due to structural violence—which are related to, but distinct from relative deprivation—enriches our understanding of relevant experiences and extends the collective victim beliefs that should be assessed. The authors show with empirical examples from Italy and South Africa that collective victim beliefs about structural violence are distinct from collective victim beliefs about direct violence. They also reveal that collective victim beliefs about structural violence may predict different outcomes, such as the preference for different forms of acknowledgment or the need for empowerment and acceptance.


Let be a partial order on a countable set V such that there exists a minimum element a ∈ V and {u ∈ V : u v} is finite for each v ∈ V . An item of information is to be broadcast to the elements of V according to the policy in the following sense: a is initially informed and broadcasting to v 6= a begins as soon as all elements u ≺ v are informed; the time required to broadcast the information is X(v) where {X(v) : v 6= a} is a collection of independent, identically distributed variables with mean 1. The natural random variables associated with this model are the time required to broadcast the information to a given set of vertices and the set of informed vertices at a given time. These variables are studied in terms of the structure of the directed graph associated with . A number of stochastic comparison results are obtained. The common model for deterministic broadcasting in trees is a special case.


Water and oil repellent finish with organic fluorine OLEOPHOBOL-CO is carried out for viscose/ linen fabric in dark color. Effects of water and oil repellent finish on color fastness, handle, shade are discussed. Results show that 50 g/L OLEOPHOBOL-CO agent can impart the dyed viscose/linen fabric good and durable oil and water repellent effect, the wet fastness of the reactive dyeings can be enhanced 0.5 level after oil and water repellent finish, meanwhile, the handle is still soft.


PURPOSE: To provide the subject support body having a very thin coating layer systematized at the molecular level by imparting a specific polyurethane solution to the surface of liquid is which both this polymer and the solvent thereof are insoluble followed by coating the substrate by Langmuir-Blodgett technique. CONSTITUTION: The objective support body having a very thin monolayer or a polylayer coating of an organic polymer material is provided by imparting a polyurethane solution shown by the formula (A is a skeleton of an aliphatic, aromatic aliphatic or aromatic diol; B is a skeleton of aliphatic, aromatic aliphatic or aromatic diisocyanate; (n) is 2-150; R 1 -R 4 are each H's, at least one of them is a≥4C aliphatic group, R 1 and R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are together form an alkylene or the like, respectively) to the surface of the liquid in which both this polyurethane and the solvent thereof are insoluble, and then coating the substrate with a desired number of coating layers by Langmuir-Blodgett technique. COPYRIGHT: (C)1990,JPO


The prevailing developments in internet of things (IoT) and other sensor technologies such as cyber physical systems (CPS) and wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the huge amount of sensor data has been generating from various IoT devices and protocols. Making predictions and finding density patterns over such data is a challenging task. In order to find the density patterns and make analysis over real-time dynamic data, the machine learning (ML) based algorithms are widely used to deal with the IoT data. In this article, the authors proposed an efficient ML-based cluster analysis mechanism for finding density patterns in IoT dynamic data effectively. In this proposed mechanism, the k-means and GMM models are used for clustering data analysis. The proposed mechanism has been implemented on ThingSpeak Cloud platform for analysing the data efficiently on daily and weekly basis. Finally, the proposed mechanism acquired superior results than the existing benchmarked mechanisms over all the performance evaluation metrics used for analysis over IoT dynamic data.


Purpose – This paper seeks to explore the effect of mood states and gender on the relationship between health‐related information and variety seeking (VS) behavior among food products.Design/methodology/approach – Two experiments were conducted to examine the moderating effects of mood states and gender on the relationship between health‐related information and VS.Findings – The results indicate that sad people incorporate more VS than happy people when health warnings and nutritional labeling are absent, but sad and happy people tend to converge to similar levels of VS when health warnings and nutritional labeling are present. Moreover, males incorporate less VS than females when health warnings are present, while females incorporate less VS than males when nutritional labeling is present.Practical implications – In the absence of health warnings and nutritional labeling, it is a wiser way for leading brands to cultivate positive consumer moods by utilization of humorous ads, so that they do not search f...


Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is a tropical tetraploid (2n=72) annual plant species in Malvaceae family, which originated from West Africa. It has natural and considerably unique nutritional characteristics, in particular its high contents of vitamin C and anthocyanins. It is a multi-purpose plant used for a myriad of purposes, from health to other uses in different countries such as Sudan, West Indies, Mexico, Germany, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China. Roselle is considered as a relatively new crop in Malaysia since its commercial planting only started in 1993. The roselle industry had faced many ups and downs; however, its planting has now spread to many states with total planted area of about 100 ha annually. Research done in UKM had discovered that some roselle selections contain high contents of hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a potential anti- obesity compound. These three important nutritional characteristics together have pushed roselle to gain wider acceptance by the growers and consumers. At present, there are only two introduced varieties available to growers, named variety Terengganu and variety Arab. The latter variety yields higher, both in terms of fruits and calyces. Crop improvement efforts through conventional breeding have been little attempted since hybridization is very difficult due its cleistogamous nature of reproduction. To overcome the reproductive obstacle, a mutation breeding programme using both varieties was initiated in 2006; however, only variety Arab responded favourably to radiosensitivity and dosimetric tests. Seeds of variety Arab were then treated with gamma radiation from 60 Co source using LD50 dose of 80 Gy. Selection and evaluation were done from M2 through M6 generations at UKM, Bangi and at TFirdauce, Tasek Gelugor, Penang. As a result of this mutation breeding programme, six potential selections were identified and further evaluated. In 2009, UKM launched three of these selections as new varieties to help promote the roselle industry in the country. These three new varieties are named UKMR-1, UKMR-2 and UKMR-3.


Following structural and syllogistical confederational concatenation is studied with concomitant and consummative properties: Finite-Dimensional Quantum Model For The Stock Market, Discrete Nature Of The Quantities Used In Finance, Spectral Representation Of Bessel Processes With Constant Drift, Credit Spreads, And Stochastic Volatility In Finance, Quantum Structure In Cognition, Non Classicality Of The Membership Weight Structure, Minimal Length Uncertainty And The Quantum Model For The Stock Market, Superpositions Of Probability Distributions, Quantum Finance: The Finite Dimensional Case, Foreign Exchange Market As A Lattice Gauge Theory, Classical Logical Versus Quantum Conceptual Thought, Adaptive-Wave Alternative For The Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model Key words: Spectral Representation Of Bessel Processes, Quantum Conceptual Thought, Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, Quantum Structure In Cognition The full paper: http://www.iiste.org/PDFshare/APTA-PAGENO-648791-654990.pdf


PURPOSE: A dedicated channel operating/compensating system for the advertisement and question survey in a bi-directional TV and a method thereof are provided to make the efficient advertisement or question survey possible at a lower cost. CONSTITUTION: A dedicated channel operating/compensating system for the advertisement and question survey in a bi-directional TV comprises an operator server, an advertiser or questionnaire informant terminal(10), a viewer or the questionnaire respondent terminal(20), and a database part(200). The operator server receives, registers and stores plural contents information for the advertisement and question survey and question survey vicarious execution agreement information from the advertiser or questionnaire informant terminal in a database part. The advertiser or questionnaire informant terminal is connectable to the operator server through a bidirectional TV net or the Internet. The viewer or the questionnaire respondent terminal displays advertisement/questionnaire contents information received through a dedicated channel of the bidirectional TV net. The database part comprises an actual result DB(240) and a statistics DB(250).


The use of the magnetic field data to perform indoor positioning gained an accelerating interest during the last few years. The ubiquity of the magnetic field data makes it a potential candidate for indoor positioning and localization. Additionally, the availability of the embedded magnetic sensor in the smartphones makes it an infrastructure-less approach that requires no additional infrastructure to perform positioning. Despite that, the magnetic field-based positioning is relatively new than those of Wi-Fi, radio frequency identification, and ultra-wideband based approaches and faces many challenges and necessitates a comprehensive investigation of the associated problems for wide applicability. For example, smartphone heterogeneity, mutation of the magnetic field data due to change in the user's height, time, and device, and low discernibility are a few of the problems that require substantial investigation before the practical deployment of the magnetic field data for indoor positioning and localization. This study contributes by endeavoring a comprehensive analysis of the opportunities and challenges of using the magnetic field data for indoor positioning and localization using smartphones. The pros and cons of the magnetic field data are highlighted through the experiments conducted in various indoor environments using multiple smartphones. The research thus helps in understanding the practical considerations for deploying the magnetic field data for indoor positioning and localization.


An evolving software system is incrementally modi ed, changed by its developers during the development and maintenance phases [1]. Before the developers start working on a change they need to identify which parts of the source code implement the feature, and should be touched rst during the change. In practice, what they do is a concept location task (also known as feature identi cation/location) which is the process that identi es where a software system implements a speci c concept [2]. There are many existing approaches to support developers in concept location tasks starting from simple pattern matching (so-called `grep' techniques) to more sophisticated methods like IRbased techniques or dependency analyzes [3]. However, none of the existing approaches consider when there is a database in the architecture, which adds further source artifacts or dependencies. Here, we investigate a concept location approach for data-intensive systems, as applications with at least one database server in their architecture which is intensively used by its clients. Speci cally, we introduce a static technique to identify the location(s) in the source code where a given SQL query was potentially sent to the database server.


A fairness-aware resource allocation scheme in a cooperative orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM) network is proposed based on jointly optimizing the subcarrier pairing, power allocation, and channel-user assignment. Compared with traditional OFDM relaying networks, the source is permitted to retransfer the same data transmitted by it in the first time slot, further improving the system capacity performance. The problem which maximizes the energy efficiency (EE) of the system with total power constraint and minimal spectral efficiency constraint is formulated into a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem which has an intractable complexity in general. The optimization model is simplified into a typical fractional programming problem which is testified to be quasiconcave. Thus we can adopt Dinkelbach method to deal with MINLP problem proposed to achieve the optimal solution. The simulation results show that the joint resource allocation method proposed can achieve an optimal EE performance under the minimum system service rate requirement with a good global convergence.


The research aims to analyze the factors of corn price, corn demand, and the elasticity of corn demand in Boyolali Regency. The basic method used in this research is analytical-descriptive. The selection of the research location was purposive, with Boyolali Regency chosen as the location due to the consistent increase in corn demand. The results of the data analysis using multiple linear regression reveal the equation Ln Qd = -367.983 - 0.191 Ln X1 + 0.541 Ln X2 + 0.875 Ln X3 - 0.729 Ln X4 + 27.253 Ln X5 + e. This model has an R?² value of 21.9%, indicating that 21.9% of the corn demand in Boyolali Regency cannot be explained by the variables of corn price, rice price, soybean price, per capita income, and population, while the remaining 78.1% is explained by other variables not studied. Based on the F-test, the combined effect of corn price, rice price, soybean price, per capita income, and population on corn demand in Boyolali Regency is not significant. The t-test for individual variables also indicates that corn price, rice price, soybean price, per capita income, and population have no significant effect on corn demand in Boyolali Regency at both 99% and 95% confidence levels. The coefficient of price elasticity is -0.191, indicating inelasticity as it is less than one. Rice price has a positive cross-elasticity value of 0.541, signifying that rice is a substitute good for corn. Soybean price has a positive cross-elasticity value of 0.875, also acting as a substitute for corn. The coefficient of income elasticity is -0.729, indicating that corn is an inferior good due to its negative sign.


The invention discloses a method and a device for controlling the backlight of a mobile terminal, wherein the method comprises the following steps of: adopting a predetermined regulation to determine the backlight time of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is triggered, and controlling the duration time of the backlight of the mobile terminal according to the determined backlight time. The backlight of the mobile terminal is controlled by dynamically calculating the current backlight time of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is triggered, therefore, the method can shorten the duration time of the backlight as far as possible under the condition of meeting the requirements of users, then the electricity waste of the mobile terminal is reduced, and user experience is enhanced.


Objectives. Among American Indians (AIs), an important relationship has been theorized between cultural identification and substance abuse, including smoking. We investigated the relationship between cultural identification and smoking among AI adults. Design. Using the Orthogonal Cultural Identification Scale (OCIS), we examined the relationship between AI and White cultural identification and cigarette use in a sample of AI recruited at an urban Indian center (n=217). Results. We found that high AIs identification predicted smoker status and high White identification predicted non-smoker status when controlling for age and reservation residence. Orthogonal cultural identification status (categorized as high White/high AI, high White/low AI, low White/high AI, or low White/low AI) did not predict smoker status when controlling for age and reservation residence. OCIS item analysis revealed that positive responses to the individual OCIS items 'My family lives by the American Indian way of life,' 'I live by the American Indian way of life,' and 'I am a success in the American Indian way of life' predicted smoker status when controlling for age and reservation residence. Conclusions. Our data suggest that, among some groups of urban AIs, recreational smoking is associated with AI cultural identification.


In this paper, a new and powerful method for blind audio source separation for single channel convolutive mixtures in a noisy environment is presented. This method is based on independent sub-band analysis (ISA) in which Hilbert spectrum is employed. In the proposed algorithm, the adaptive EEMD is offered to transfer the signal to the special intrinsic mode functions (IMF). We used the local margin spectrums (LoMS) as artificial observations. Unlike using the EMD method, these observations of the proposed method do not contain any phantom sources. In order to make these independent observations, the Fast ICA method is used. A computer simulation is used to evaluate and compare the performance of the proposed method to the performances of two other methods: the Hilbert-Huang EMD, and the Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) based methods. These comparisons are based on Mutual orthogonality (MO) and Output SNR (OSNR) criteria. This simulation shows that the proposed algorithm improves the performance of the BSS system in a noisy environment.


The introduction of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) within the healthcare practice can be beneficial in order to integrate and centralize heterogeneous patient information. However, there are still some problems that hinder the successful use of EMR. The concern for patient privacy is one of them. The aim of this paper is to present the results of a study that assesses attitudes of 1st year medical students towards computer security and the EMR. An anonymous questionnaire was given to the students at the beginning and at the end of the academic year of 2003/ 2004 for them to comment on several security related scenarios. 238 questionnaires were answered at the beginning of the year whilst 222 were answered at the end of the year. The students feel, at the end of the year, that they understand better what computer security is and how to protect patient privacy information. This shows that teaching computer security to medical students, the future users of EMR, can greatly influence the success of EMR integration and therefore improve and fasten healthcare treatment.


Abstract Calceolaria polyrhiza is a perennial herb distributed in southern South America. The species is highly polymorphic and includes four described morphotypes that were previously considered different species. We performed a detailed study of the karyotype of each morphotype considering at least two localities for each one, with the aim of contributing to the taxonomic delimitation of the Calceolaria polyrhiza complex. In addition, a principal component analysis and a mapping of chromosome traits onto a phylogeny of nuclear DNA sequences were performed. This detailed karyotypic study has revealed specific markers, which have allowed to characterize each morphotype. 'Prichardii' morphotype was consistently polyploid. 'Mendocina' and 'Lanceolata' morphotypes had the highest total heterochromatin amount, with two pairs of chromosomes carrying NORs. 'Mendocina' samples showed the most asymmetrical karyotypes. 'Polyrhiza' morphotype had the most symmetrical karyotypes of the four morphotypes and the simplest fluorescent chromosome banding pattern. Thus, the four morphotypes could be characterized by chromosomal data and, together with the phylogenetic analysis of molecular data, could be considered taxonomic units in the process of diversification.


Abstract The memory of the therapeutic praxis of Jesus Christ, narrated and celebrated in the heart of communities of believers, configures the personal and collective identity and recreates it in each social-historical situation. This memory has the power of questioning discourses and practices that move away from the message of life in fullness that they involve; it invites change and encourages ways of life in harmony with the path of a great community of memory which in its diversity, has sought to walk in the steps of the Resurrected. The healing encounters are therefore a manifestation of the love and mercy of God and they aim to make men and women open themselves up to this reality and allow themselves to be transformed by it, putting it at the centre of their lives and with the possibility of transforming all dimensions of life. Then, communities and every person become mediators of healing and salvation. In this article I aim to reflect the most significant dimensions of the therapeutic praxis of Christ in order to illuminate mission and transformative spirituality as healing and reconciliation (mercy, proximity, living touch, compassionate gaze, listening, dialogue and liberating word, forgiveness). The summons to heal and reconcile gradually intertwines with a way and style of life and a way of committing to history by welcoming the Spirit of God that acts and reveals itself therein. ********** The call and sending of Christians of all times to 'take charge' of human vulnerability in the way of Jesus Christ remains a challenge today. The invitation to make true the banquet of the kingdom necessarily entails facing, receiving and healing the pain and the suffering of humanity, the misfortunes and imbalances of personal and collective existence. It also involves a commitment to enable disunited minds and purposes to come together in agreement once again (reconciliation) and to end all kinds of lies, enmity and conflict. The mission to heal and reconcile is an incentive, then, for God's tender mercy, lived in fullness in Jesus Christ, to be extended to all Christians, reaching every woman and every man. It is an invitation to follow, i.e., an invitation to God's Trinitarian love to be incarnated in every believer; it is an offering for Christ's free life-giving love to be embodied as broken bread and shed blood on behalf of the whole humanity and, especially, in favour of the disinherited and marginalized people of the entire universe; a call for the breath of the Holy Spirit to illuminate the shadows, strengthen in weakness and restore communion in one love. This summons of continuing, completing and communicating the mysteries of Christ in the specific histories of people generates a way of being and living that makes God's compassionate tenderness transparent and mediates for others the gift of health and reconciliation, that is, God's salvation in Christ through the Holy Spirit. This mission calls to develop a healing and reconciling spirituality that affects all existence and is expressed in the way of living, doing and suffering history according to the Spirit of God that lives in us. (1) We are therefore talking about following in Christ's footsteps, thanks to the action of the Holy Spirit, in the concrete history we are creating according to the will of our Father, which is none other than the kingdom. In the changing conditions of reality, God's readiness to heal the wounds of humanity and restore broken relationships, starting with the victims, leads to living a liberating and saving experience of God which, taking root inside, manifests itself in new forms of humanity. We are invited to live the experience of discipleship and to grow in the life of the Holy Spirit in the chiaroscuro of existence, and more specifically, in communion with the pain and wounds of humanity. The bleeding realities, the hurting faces, the victims and the excluded constitute an opportunity and grace to experience the God of compassionate affection. …


ABSTRACT Gold nanoparticles (AuNps) are often employed in different detection paths based on the catalytic growth mechanism; AuNps could act as catalyst for the reduction of AuCl4− and result in the enlargement of the original AuNps. However, there are few probes based on the anti-catalytical growth of AuNps in previous studies. In this article, we proposed a simple colorimetric sensor for the detection of glutathione (GSH) based on the anti-catalytical growth of AuNps, the strong affinity of GSH make it readily combine with AuNps or metal ions (AuCl4−), and thus inhibit the catalytical growth of AuNps through the specific property of GSH. Therefore, the UV absorbance of detection system could be used to estimate the concentration of GSH, and the probe exhibits highly sensitive and selective detection of the concentration of GSH with a wide linear from 13 to 800 nM within 20 min. Meanwhile, a good linear relationship with correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9795 was obtained. It is believed that this research could broaden the choices of GSH detection methods.


A series of end-member experiments in sand and natural permafrost sediments have been conducted within ORNL's Seafloor Process Simulator at 275-277 K and 10 MPa to determine the effects of methane flux on hydrate accumulation. Methane flux through a 60 cm long, 4.8 cm diameter sediment column was controlled by flow of methane-saturated water and/or bubbling of free methane gas. Initial experiments were conducted in commercially available black sand (< 500 micron grain size) and Ottowa sand containing Snowmax. Methane saturated water was cycled through the sediment column at ~10 ml/min; in these water flow experiments no hydrate formation was visible in the column within 3-6 hours. Temperature and conductivity data collected within the sediment also did not show conclusive evidence of hydrate formation. However, in experiments where free methane gas was bubbled through the sediment column (with or without water flow) hydrate formation was visibly observed within 10-40 minutes in sediment void spaces. A single experiment in which the sediment column was placed at the gas-water interface within the vessel also formed hydrate in the sediment over a similar time scale. Substituting an inert gas phase (nitrogen) did not stimulate hydrate formation in the same manner observed in free methane gas experiments; similar to the water flow only experiments, hydrate formation was not observed over the several hour timescale of the experiment. These results suggest that free methane gas within the sediment, either as bubbles or at the water-gas interface, greatly increases the likelihood that hydrate will nucleate, therefore decreasing the observed induction time. Introduction: The effects of differing rates and mechanisms of methane flux (free gas vs. methane saturated water) on hydrate nucleation and accumulation in sediment systems was investigated at the mesoscale using ORNL's 72 liter Seafloor Process Simulator (SPS; Phelps et al. 2001). The effects of heterogeneous fluid flux and sediment conditions has been noted in field observations (Ruppel et al. 2005, Borowski, 2004, Gorman et al. 2002) but few laboratory experiments have focused on the effects of varying methane flux on hydrate accumulation within sediments. This study addresses the effects of varying forms of methane flux on hydrate accumulation in mesoscale synthetic and natural sediments to better understand the rate and distribution of hydrate accumulation. The results of these experiments will provide input to reservoir-scale models of hydrate accumulation and estimates of potential resources. The SPS is a unique experimental facility, ideally suited to the determination of rates, thermophysical and mechanical properties of methane hydrates that are relevant to understanding their resource potential, environmental significance and their effects on the mechanical stability of the seafloor. Not only can the physical conditions be controlled, but the size and design of the vessel permit direct observation of the hydrate formation processes, and investigation of how these processes are influenced by the heterogeneities that can be expected in nature. Recent work has demonstrated that kinetic studies conducted within the SPS result in faster nucleation times, smaller standard deviations in the results and lower overpressures required for hydrate formation compared to parallel experiments conducted in a 450 ml Parr vessel (McCallum et al. 2006). Methods: A series of experiments have been conducted within ORNL's 72 liter Seafloor Process Simulator (SPS) to investigate the effects of varying the type and rate of methane flux on hydrate accumulation. The effects of free gas and water flow were investigated in a series of sediment column experiments at 1500 psi (10.3 MPa, 900 psi or 6.2 MPa above the stability point) and temperatures between 275 and 278K. Hydrate accumulation was observed in both synthetic sediments (Ottawa sand and black sand), as well as natural samples of permafrost sediments from the Hot Ice-1 GIP were investigated within the SPS. The SPS vessel was reconfigured to hold the core materials in a glass column for strict control of sediment experiments (Figure 1a). Initial experiments were conducted in commercially available Ottawa sand and black aquarium sand (<500 micron grain size) with and without Snowmax® (a natural protein used as a nucleator in snowmaking operations). Sediments retrieved from the Hot Ice 1 JIP permafrost production project were also investigated in collaboration with NETL. Cores were received from Alaska, shared with NETL, logged into custody and a subset of cores remain frozen. The sediment bearing columns were bounded top and bottom with glass beads to equilibrate and disperse fluid flow through the sedimentary materials (Figure 1b). Vessel water (methane saturated due to communication with the headspace gas) was Figure 1. (A) Flow-through sediment column experiments within the SPS. A 60 cm glass column (diameter 4.8 cm) was filled with sediment and glass beads as spacers and suspended within the SPS. Methane-saturated water flow was controlled by an external HPLC pump; methane gas was injected into the sediment in some experiments (vessel measurements in inches). (B) Sediment column design. Ottawa sand, black sand, or permafrost sediments from the HotIce-1 field experiment were packed into the column and separated from the glass beads using filters and O-rings. Thermocouples and a conductivity meter were inserted to monitor the sediments for fluctuations indicative of hydrate formation. removed from the vessel and circulated through an HPLC pump and the reinjected directly into the sediment containing glass column at rates between 0.1 and 9.9 ml min (Figure 1A). Methane flux was controlled by flow of methane-saturated water and/or bubbling of free methane gas through a 60 cm long, 4.8 cm diameter sediment column. Effluent water exiting the column was collected within a separate vessel in the SPS such that any fines exiting the sedimentary column were not redistributed throughout the SPS to avoid issues with turbidity. This experimental design allowed flux experiments to be conducted using recirculated waters that were in equilibrium with vessel PT conditions and the methane gas headspace without any volume change after hours of operation. Free methane gas or nitrogen was also introduced in some experiments through a diffuser placed in or below the sediment. Thermocouples placed within the sediment column as well as the body of the vessel monitored temperature variations. A conductivity meter was also tested within the sediment column; however no definitive response to hydrate formation was recorded. A boroscope was inserted through one of several ports into the SPS enabling close-in photographs with near 20um resolution. Lower resolution photographs were also taken thru the Lexan/Sapphire windows using our Nikon digital camera with C-mount adapted lenses providing resolution. Results: The initial series of experiments examined hydrate accumulation within commercially available black sand (< 500 micron grain size) with 200 mg of Snowmax (a natural protein which acts as an ice/hydrate nucleator) added to the sediment under methanesaturated flow conditions. In these experiments without a free methane gas phase, no hydrate formation was observed within the 3-6 hour timeframe of the experiments. In experiments where free methane gas was bubbled through the sediment column (with or without water flow) hydrate formation was visibly observed within 10-40 minutes (Figure 2 a and b). An experiment in which the sediment column was placed at the gas-water interface within the vessel also formed hydrate within the sediment over a similar time scale. We also conducted an experiment in which nitrogen gas was bubbled through the sediment along with flow of methane saturated water. Similar to the water flow only experiments, hydrate formation was not observed over the timescale of the experiment. Figure 2. Boroscope images of hydrate formation within the sediment columns containing Hot Ice-I permafrost sediments (A and B) and synthetic black sand sediments (C and D). Hydrate was first observed as a film around bubbles in void spaces, then later grew into sediment pore spaces. A second set of experiments was conducted using permafrost sediments collected during the Hot Ice-1 JIP. No nucleators were used in these experiments. Again, hydrate formed readily when free methane gas was present in the system, but was not observed in when only methane-saturated water was used. The results of the full series of experiments are summarized in the table below. Discussion: These results suggest that free methane gas within the sediment, either as bubbles or at the water-gas interface, greatly increases the likelihood that hydrate will nucleate, therefore decreasing the observed induction time. This kinetic affect is likely due to super-saturation of methane surrounding bubbles as the gas diffuses into the surrounding solution, thus increasing the likelihood of hydrate nucleation. Bubble surface area alone is not a significant catalyst for hydrate formation, as demonstrated by the failure of hydrate to nucleate in the presence of an inert gas phase. These experiments also represent a significant improvement in experimental design within the SS, allowing fluids at equilibrium with vessel PT conditions and methane partial pressures to be recirculated through a sediment column, or in the future through the entire vessel volume. Neutron Scattering Experiments: Preliminary experiments using a single crystal sapphire pressure cell specifically designed for neutron characterization studies of gas hydrates have also been initiated. A system has been designed to allow for methane hydrate synthesis and growth within the sapphire vessel for use in neutron scattering experiments. Methane hydrate was synthesized within the vessel with and without sediments. This exper


The principal objective of the study is to investigate the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards on teachers' creativity. Teachers' creativity is used as dependent variable while intrinsic and extrinsic rewards are used as independent variables. The data are collected from 150 respondents through questionnaires. The principal component analysis (PCA) is applied to check the data validity. The reliability analysis is also performed to make the data reliable. Ordinary least square regression method is used to analyze the impact. The study reveals a positive impact of intrinsic rewards on teachers' creativity. The extrinsic rewards also have positive impact on teachers' creativity. It is concluded that rewards enhances creativity behavior of employees. The study recommends increasing intrinsic and extrinsic rewards to enhance teachers' creativity. Keywords: Intrinsic Rewards, Extrinsic Rewards, Teachers Creativity DOI : 10.7176/JRDM/56-03 Publication date :June 30 th 2019


This is the second of a two-part paper on the SimpleFSM, a domain-specific language, developed to simplify the application develoment for the SIP communication systems. While Part I describes the development of the SimpleFSM and its syntax, Part II gives some details of the SimpleFSM DSL integration with the Java SIP servlet architecture utilizing JRuby, a Ruby implementation for the Java Virtual Machine. Finally, a more complex converged application is developed and implemented using the developed DSL.


Recent measurements and theoretical calculations suggest that H3+ ions in their ground vibrational level recombine much more slowly than in the vibrational levels υ ≥ 3. Using these results as a guide, we have investigated the impact of modified H3+ chemistry on the structure of the Jovian ionosphere for both a solar EUV ionization source and a high-altitude ionization source, associated with the electroglow. The results are sensitive to the value of the H3+ recombination coefficient, k10, adopted for υ = 0. For the solar EUV source of ionization, and a value of k10 = 2 × 10−8 cm³ s−1 equal to the published experimental upper limit, we find that H+ is the major ion at the peak of the ionosphere, similar to previous results. However, given the current uncertainty in k10, an ionosphere dominated by H3+ cannot be ruled out. A value of k10 ∼ 10−10 cm³ s−1 will produce an ionosphere that consists mainly of H3+. By including a high-altitude source of ionization we find that H3+ is the major component of the upper ionosphere, for all values of k10 less than or equal to the experimental upper limit. Thus, our calculations suggest that the topside plasma scale height measured by the radio science experiments may be indicative of electron temperatures ∼3000–5000 K or greater, consistent with current models for calculation of electron temperature. Our results may also help shed some light on the Voyager low-energy charged particle observations of H3+ ions in the magnetosphere. We also reemphasize the fact that H2 molecules in the Jovian upper atmosphere must be vibrationally excited.


Background and Objectives:Although there are a number of reports concerned with the role of immunity in the sudden onset of progressive sensorineural hearing loss, there are only a few references dealing with the involvement of immuneme- mediated mechanism in sudden deafness. This study was performed to define the alteration of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in a group of patients with sudden deafness. Materials and Methods:The study was carried out prior to the start of and after the steroid therapy. Thirty two patients (18 men and 14 women;mean age, 43.19 years were compared with 15 healthy control subjects (7 men and 8 women;mean age, 44 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their responses to the steroid therapy. Results:A decreased number of both CD4 + helper cells (38.44% vs 42.36%;p<0.05 was observed in the patient group compared with those in the control group. In the group of patients who showed good response to the steroid therapy, there was a tendency toward normalization of the CD4 + (pretreatment, 34.41%; posttreatment, 43.91% cell counts, with a slight decrease in the CD8 + population (pretreatment, 20.66%;posttreatment, 19.16%. However, there was no significant increment in patients with the poorer response when there was a increase in the CD4 + (pretreatment, 32.12%;posttreatment, 38.6% cell counts after the steroid therapy. Conclusion:These results demonstrate that there is significant abnormality in the subpopulations of lymphocytes in patients with sudden hearing loss, suggesting the immune system as a possible etiopathogenic factor in this entity. (Korean J Otolaryngol 2000;43:582-7


Urban community health service (the following is short for CHS) is a complex socio-economic system, there are some negative feedback structures that limits to achieve the function of CHS, only remove the restricted factors in the structure, can lead to harmonious development between the CHS organization and community residents. Based on the system research in the concrete CHS center and CHS station, the paper analyzed the dilemma of urban CHS in Jiangxi province, built the limit-to-growth archetype of restricting to CHS development by the method of system archetype. Under the guide of systematic scientific principles, the paper established structure model by the means of the feedback complexity principle of system dynamics, and proposed the corresponding countermeasure to improve the development of CHS, which achieve the purpose of analyzing the CHS development in a system scientific method.


ANZJP debate papers are a valuable opportunity to briefly present scientific arguments on a contentious topic in order to promote further discussion. Indeed, diversity of opinion and scientific discourse are to be actively encouraged and are a fundamental basis for improving the scientific endeavour. The onus on both sides of a scientific debate is to present reasoned, evidence-based logical argumentation. Authors should methodically and respectfully present scientific arguments, according to accepted conventions of logical argumentation (Foegeding, 2017). Such logical argumentation includes responding to accurate representations of the points being addressed, based on the evidence presented by interlocutors. Critically identifying and responding to reasoning, and evidentiary and logical errors in argumentation is necessary. Respectful discourse is essential for effective communication. Rhetorical elaborations, such as references to literature, can enliven articles when designed to highlight the issues (Looi et al., 2020). However, debate articles may not so much present considered arguments, but rather seek primarily to either contradict, without argumentative justification, or, alternatively, address an exaggerated, inaccurate caricature in the form of a straw-man or hollowman construction (Looi et al., 2020). These responses can been accompanied by ad hominem attacks, as well as the failure to respond to arguments raised (Looi et al., 2020). Debate articles can also use unexplained, illdefined terminology as well as fail to proffer a comprehensible argument to which a reasoned response could be made, as in the following sentence where none of the terms used were defined previously, and it is therefore not clear what the authors are saying, for example, 'The total number of hospital beds is an unreliable indicator for mental health planning due to noncommensurability bias, terminological variability, ecological fallacy, risk of surrogation and objectification' (Rosen et al., 2020). While clinical academics may be well equipped to respond, less experienced authors and early career trainees/psychiatrists may be deterred should they become subject to such tactics, which are potentially off-putting and, at worst, may discourage scientific debate. Debates are predicated on reasoned, evidence-based logical argumentation and mindfulness that '... it is easy for scientists to personalise their results and take offence to criticism ... adding respect to criticism keeps the focus on the science and not the scientist' (Foegeding, 2017).


Despite centuries of criticisms of luxury, the sector continues to grow, rapidly, globally, and especially in countries that previously lacked any such market. Structural changes in the types of sales and consumers affect the concept of luxury for consumers. In contrast with traditional perceptions of luxury consumers as a homogeneous group of "happy few," multiple, contrasted segments now emerge among luxury clientele, who perceive the meaning of luxury very heterogeneously. In this setting, researchers need new criteria to define luxury. These criteria also must account for the ever increasing role of the Internet in luxury marketing and sales. In addition to posing new questions and research avenues, this editorial offers a brief overview of the seven papers in this special issue, which is an outgrowth of the 2014 Monaco Symposium on Luxury, organized by INSEEC Business School and the International University of Monaco.


Gonads and sperm pathways of five adult male  Metachirus nudicaudatus  in the reproductive phase were used to describe the morphology of scrotum, testicle, and spermatic tract.  M. nudicaudatus  has a scrotum pre-penis which contains the testicles permanently. The scrotal skin is not pigmented and has few hairs and glands. The parietal vaginal tunic is slightly pigmented. The testicles are oval and connected to the epididymis by testicular-epididymal pedicle; they are surrounded externally by the testicular capsule and supported by a stroma of connective nature. Interstitial cells are the predominant elements in abundant intertubular tissue. The seminiferous tubules are wide, meandering and surrounded by a fibro-elastic coat, containing myoid cells. The seminiferous epithelium is composed of spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells interspersed. The seminiferous tubules converge toward the end of the testis capitata, getting coated only support cells, featuring a transition region between the seminiferous tubules and straight tubules, occupied by a type "valve" structure that partially blocks the tubular lumen. Straight tubules together to form a single efferent ductule, which runs a small intra-testicular extent, penetrates through the tunica and the pedicle testis-epididymis. The flexuosa part of the efferent ductule forms a separate lobe in the medial part of the body of the epididymis. The epididymis is enveloped by a capsule and epididymal comprising the epididymal duct, which is quite entangled. The epididymal duct is lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with simple principal, basal, apical and "clear halo" cells. The main cells are prevalent and have morphological and histochemical differing characteristics along the duct, enabling to characterize nine different epididymal areas. In the lumen of the seventh area (top of tail) that starts the pairing of sperm. This phenomenon coincides well with morphological change and a larger amount of neutral muco-substances is secreted in that area.  Vas deferens  has three parts: fair-epididymal, abdominal and funicular part, based on histological and histochemical changes of the epithelium and surrounding components. The  vas deferens  has no bulb and even crosses the ureter before flowing into the urethra. The spermatic cord contains the vas deferens, testicular artery and veins, lymphatic vessels, nerves and developed cremaster muscle. Its components have structural changes in the proximal, middle and distal region, with a peculiar admirable network.


Abstract

Rasashastra and bhaishajya kalpana is one of the branch of ayurveda that deals with the pharmaceutical processing, preparation of compound medicines and therapeutic utility of herbal drugs, metals and minerals. Agnikumar Rasa is one such kharaliya herbo-mineral formulation mentioned in various Ayurvedic text. It is primarily used in the management of Agnimandya. According to Ayurveda, Agni has an important role inthe physiological functions of the body. Even there are reference to be used in disease such as Ajirna, Gulma, Visuchika, Grahani, etc. Amongst all formulations termed as Agnikumar rasa have been quoted by most seers and are well acclaimed in the management of agnimandya-janyaroga. Though variation is observed in the description of these kharaliya rasayana and compilation of these will help to study in comparative manner.


To reveal a temporal change of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) asymmetry, a multipoint satellite-ground beacon experiment was conducted along the meridional plane of the Thailand-Indonesia sector. The observation includes one station near the magnetic equator and four stations at the off-equator latitudes. GRBR-TECs from 97 polar-orbit satellite passes in March 2012 were analyzed in this study. Successive passes captured the rapid evolution of the EIA asymmetry especially during the geomagnetic disturbances. The penetrating electric field during geomagnetic disturbed days is not the cause of an asymmetry. Such rapid evolution of the EIA asymmetry was not seen during the nighttime when meridional wind mainly controlled the asymmetric structures. The EIA asymmetry had a quasi 3-day variation at 21 LT, which probably suggests the forcing from the lower atmosphere. Precise capturing of the crests' locations and the asymmetry evolution enhances an understanding of the temporal change of the EIA asymmetry in local scale. It leads to a future local modeling of the TEC prediction in Southeast Asia.


BUMDes Kayu Bawang which is located in Gambut, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan is one of the BUMDes that has received village funds and has initiated several business activities such as duck farming, savings and loan businesses and building blocks. The success of BUMDes Kayu Bawang depends on BUMDes management related to planning, organizing, actualizing, controlling and evaluating (Yuliani, 2017). These five things have not been implemented optimally in the management of BUMDes Kayu Bawang so that the business unit they have started has failed. The failure of the business unit at the Kayu Bawang BUMDes is also related to the transparency and accountability of the financial management of village funds. Where the preparation of financial reports on BUMDes is the main obstacle due to the limited ability of human resources in managing BUMDes. Therefore it is necessary to design an appropriate application, training and assistance in the planning and preparation process of the BUMDes Kayu Bawang financial report. The right technology aplication is needed so that BUMDes Kayu Bawang can compile financial reports in an integrated manner in the context of transparency and accountability. The Ministry of Finance's Guidelines on BUMDes Financial Reports state that reports prepared by BUMDes managers must comply with Financial Accounting Standards.Keywords: BUMDes, Financial Reports, Financial Accounting Standards


On a cold, damp late-April day in east London, the family, friends, colleagues and admirers of muscle physiologist Roger Woledge came together to remember his life and scientific contributions at a celebratory symposium at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Woledge died unexpectedly in March


SBS is Sryrene-Butsdi-cne-Sryrene Block CoPolymer with the characteristic of rubber and thermoplastics.We can use the modified asphalt concrete to the comprehensive renovation project of Zongyang Jinshan road.To make certain that the construction quality of SBS Modified asphalt concrete,this paper detailed explains the technical realization plan of road surface modification from the three aspects,that is,the hot mix modified asphalt mixture and the surface pressure spread and basic level processing.


Fabric and composition of a series of Upper Permian high-volatile to low-volatile bituminous coals of the Sydney basin have a marked effect on stress sensitivity of permeability, and thus on the reservoir characteristics of the coal. The coals vary in composition from end members of predominantly bright-banded coal comprised mainly of the microlithotype vitrite and the maceral vitrinite, to dull coal composed of significant amounts of ash, inertinite group macerals, and the microlithotype inertite. The brighter coals are more extensively fractured with one or, more commonly, two or three regularly spaced fracture sets (cleats) spaced at 5-20 µm. Fusinite and semifusinite, common macerals in the dull coals, are characterized by phyteral porosity (mainly cell lumens) and fabric- selective intergranular porosity. The permeability of tested samples varies significantly with composition and effective stress. The fabric of the samples is the most important factor in determining permeability and stress sensitivity of permeability. Coals with the highest permeability are those with at least one well-developed, throughgoing fracture set; these samples generally include abundant vitrite bands. The lowest permeability samples are nonbanded, with an attrital fabric and significant authigenic mineralization. At ©Copyright 1997. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.1Manuscript received April 1, 1996; revised manuscript received December 4, 1996; final acceptance June 16, 1997. 2Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. This study was financially supported by a grant from CSIRO (Syndal) and by The Earth Resources Foundation, University of Sydney. Samples and some data were provided by Pacific Power Ltd., Sydney. I thank Paul Gamson, formerly of CSIRO, for overseeing the permeability analyses and facilitating some of the study. I thank K. Wright of the Earth Resources Foundation, University of Sydney; J. Enever of CSIRO; J. C. Close of Meridian Oil; and Chris Clarkson of University of British Columbia for their comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Reviewers Andrew Scott, Roger Taylor, and W. Ayers are thanked for their thoughtful comments.


Obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) negatively affects all clinical features, and a 5 to 10% weight loss has shown promising results on reproductive, metabolic and psychological level. Incorporating a healthy diet, increasing physical activity and changing dysfunctional thought patterns in women with PCOS are ke y po y po ints in losing weight. The present study is a longitudinal randomized controlled trial (RCT) to study the effecti venven ess of a three-component 1-year cognitive-behavioural lifestyle intervention in overweight/obese women with PCOS. We will also explore whether mobile phone applications are effective in supporting behavioural change and sustainable weight loss. The primary aim of the 12-month intervention is to explore whether a three-component 1-year cognitivebehavioural lifestyle intervention is effective to decrease weight, when compared to usual care. We expect that CBT provided by a multidisciplinary team, especially combined with SMS, is effective in developing a healthy lifestyle and achieving a long-term weight loss in women with PCOS. Losing 5– 10% body weight will improve various PCOS characteristics. Consequently, we expect to show that CBT provided by a multidisciplinary team improves reproductive and metabolic outcomes, as well as quality of life, while at the same time being cost-effective in women with PCOS.


A method and apparatus for drying and pyrolysing carbon-containing materials to produce valuable products including char, oil, gas and thermal energy. The present invention involves a method whereby carbon-containing material 1 is maintained in a heated region predominantly free of oxidizing gases to promote pyrolysis reactions, and the thermal energy required to drive the process is provided via the combustion of a proportion of the volatilized matter with an oxygen containing gas in the same chamber 3. The arrangement of the chamber 3 eliminates the need for any form of solid physical barrier between the concurrent pyrolysis and combustion reactions occurring in the process, and also avoids any requirement for external means of recirculating the gaseous volatilized matter. The present invention also relates to a method for improving the transfer of thermal energy from the combustion to pyrolysis zones via radiative and convective heat transfer mechanisms.


University students as members of Generation Z (late 1990s and early 2000s) have rich experience in living the digital life. Previous studies show that Generation Z cares about their privacy and is more apt than older generations to implement complex privacy and security measures, but they are also more willing to compromise their privacy if they see any benefit. The aim of this research was to examine digital privacy protection attitudes, knowledge and skills of university students in Croatia. Obtained results suggest that respondents appreciate their digital privacy, have a cautious attitude toward protecting their data and are self-initiative regarding learning about digital privacy. However, their knowledge about digital privacy is not comprehensive and uniform, nor are their strategies of digital privacy protection. Privacy protection on social networks gives a better impression, which can be connected with the practice of frequent use of social networks and the need to maintain a certain image online. The above is also supported by data that the majority of respondents consider the publication of content in which they appear without their consent to be a very serious violation of their privacy. Furthermore, 65% of respondents would like to receive additional education on digital privacy.


Based on the equal-time Wigner function for the Klein-Gordon field, we discuss analytically the mechanism of pair creation in a classical electromagnetic field including back reaction. It is shown that the equations of motion for the Wigner function can be reduced to a variable-frequency oscillator. The pair-creation rate results then from a calculation analogous to barrier penetration in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. The Wigner function allows one to utilize this treatment for the formulation of an effective transport theory for the back-reaction problem with a pair-creation source term including Bose enhancement.