Objective To calculate the typical time taken to complete protocols and reviews, to track how often reviews are updated and compare with Collaboration policies, to feed back any gaps in documentation of dates to individual Cochrane Collaborative Review Groups, and to suggest changes to presentation of reviews and to edito-rial processes. Methods Data were extracted either from The Cochrane Library or a specially constructed database to calculate the age of reviews and protocols, and the frequency of updating of reviews. Issue 1, 2003, with 1 596 re-views and 1 200 protocols, was used as the index issue. Results Median number of issues between a protocol and its completed review being published on The Cochrane Library is 5 (1.25 years). 65% of protocols have appeared on The Cochrane Library for no longer than two years, but the number of protocols more than two years old is probably increasing. One-third of reviews have been substantively updated, but generally only once and often within several months of the first publication of the review. The number of out--of-date reviews is probably increasing. Conclu-sions While the stage between publishing a protocol and the completed review is usually completed in no longer than two years, the number of out--of-date reviews and protocols requires continuing attention. How up-to,late a review is depends on when the evidence base was last searched and when additional relevant evidence has been integrated into the review. This needs to be reflected in the information provided to readers of Cochrane Reviews and some alterna-tive ways of presenting the components of this information are given. More accurate and complete reporting will also allow the Collaboration to track progress against policy.


The equations of motion for a marine riser undergoing large deflections and rotations are derived using a modal discretization approach. Shear effects based on nonlinear elastic theory are included in the formulation. The dynamic response of a typical marine riser system to the excitations of ocean waves and currents is studied. The hydrodynamic loading on the riser is represented in general terms using the Morison equation.


In chemical product development, challenges lie in the determination of appropriate ingredients and parameter settings that lead to the desired product attributes. This relies heavily on the past knowledge and experience of the domain experts to generate feasible product candidates for verification. In this paper, a fuzzy-based association rule mining model (FbARM) is developed to provide knowledge support during chemical product development. Fuzzy-based association rule mining is applied to discover hidden relationships between parameters and the resultant product quality, followed by the use of fuzzy logic to generate recommendations on parameter settings. The feasibility of the FbARM is verified by means of a case study in a personal-care products manufacturing company. The results demonstrate the practical viability of the FbARM, while the learning ability of the FbARM allows a continuous improvement of the fuzzy rules, which is of paramount importance in responding to the changing requirements of the chemical industry.


By using the multicomponent seismic data acquired with ocean bottom cable(OBC)systems by China National Offshore Oil Corporation(CNOOC)in Yinggehai basin,the physical processes to produce ghost reflection and reverberation and the principles to suppress them were analyzed,and the appropriate stacking coefficients were calculated by the average energy algorithm and by the tool to obtain ocean bottom reflectivity through autocorrelation respectively.Then the pressure component in the OBC data was stacked with the vertical displacement component in order to eliminate the ghost and reverberation,resulting in quite good suppression effects.This suppression method may lay a foundation for the subsequent high-precision migration imaging and geological interpretation.


This study presents a reconsideration of Levinas's concept of the feminine. This reconsideration is facilitated by a philosophically informed analysis of Levinas's Talmudic readings on that subject. The innovation of this research is in its methodology, which combines the two corpora of Levinas' writings as important components of an integrated system of thought. Two main phenomena are derived here from Levinas' Talmudic readings and raise main principles of his ethics. In the heart of the discussion on Eros we find a statement of the differentiation between feminine and masculine in Levinas's thought, and its implication for gender and for the ethics of otherness. In the center of Levinas's terminology of maternity we uncover his phenomenology of pregnancy, and its ethical implication regarding responsibility to the other. The extreme responsibility committed to the other since there is a immanent conflict between parents and their child. The character of Levinas's discussion as described here obligates us to reconsider the philosophical question: are Levinas's concepts of the feminine exclusive to women?


This paper examines a seemingly anomalous situation in southern Brazil where the dunefields on Santa Catarina Island (e.g. Joaquina Beach) migrate to the NNW, almost completely the opposite direction (c. 160) to the dunefields immediately to the south (e.g. Pinheira Beach), and some much further to the north (e.g. Cabo Frio) which migrate to the SSW. A variety of mechanisms are examined to explain the differences in dunefield migration including grain size variations, topographic effects on local winds, shoreline orientation, and regional wind field changes. The mean grain sizes of the two beaches, Pinheira and Joaquina, are not sufficiently different to restrict aeolian sediment transport in either place, nor to account for a lack of transport from the NNE to the SSW in the case of Joaquina. Some topographic steering of the wind is likely but could not account for the long‐term average difference in migration trends of the island dunefields compared to the mainland dunefields. While the orientation of the shoreline to prevailing winds is an important control on beach and dune sediment transport, it is not the dominant controlling mechanism. An analysis of the regional wind patterns demonstrates that there is a major shift in the regional wind field near the island such that the dominant island winds blow from the SW/SSW while those further south blow from the NE. It is concluded that this is the predominant reason for the divergence in the direction of migration of the dunefields. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


The lack of freely available standardized datasets represents an aggravating factor during the development and testing the performance of novel computational techniques in exposure assessment and dosimetry research. This hinders progress as researchers are required to generate numerical data (field, power and temperature distribution) anew using simulation software for each exposure scenario. Other than being time consuming, this approach is highly susceptible to errors that occur during the configuration of the electromagnetic model. To address this issue, in this paper, the limited available data on the incident power density and resultant maximum temperature rise on the skin surface considering various steady-state exposure scenarios at 10$-$90 GHz have been statistically modeled. The synthetic data have been sampled from the fitted statistical multivariate distribution with respect to predetermined dosimetric constraints. We thus present a comprehensive and open-source dataset compiled of the high-fidelity numerical data considering various exposures to a realistic source. Furthermore, different surrogate models for predicting maximum temperature rise on the skin surface were fitted based on the synthetic dataset. All surrogate models were tested on the originally available data where satisfactory predictive performance has been demonstrated. A simple technique of combining quadratic polynomial and tensor-product spline surrogates, each operating on its own cluster of data, has achieved the lowest mean absolute error of 0.058 {\deg}C. Therefore, overall experimental results indicate the validity of the proposed synthetic dataset.


Truth in psychoanalysis and in genealogy This paper aims at outlining the issue of truth as seen in Foucault's late research and in psychoanalytical theory, represented herein by Lacan. The issue of the subject is analyzed in respect with its ethical dimension.


The invention relates to a production method of a high-precision ultralong oxygen-free copper strip and belongs to the technical field of oxygen-free copper strip production, processing and manufacturing. The production method of the high-precision ultralong oxygen-free copper strip comprises: (1) selecting electrolytic copper as a raw material, adding the electrolytic copper into a melting furnace, smelting the melting furnace, allowing molten copper to flow into a crystallizer added with an electromagnetic oscillation coil, performing electromagnetic deoxidization of the molten copper and horizontally casting a blank by electromagnetic continuous casting in the electromagnetic continuous casting crystallizer added with the electromagnetic oscillation coil, cooling in the electromagnetic continuous casting crystallizer, crystallizing to form strip copper blanks, and stretching by an ingot leading machine; (2) milling a strip blank by a double-sided miller; (3) performing reversible coarse medium rolling of the copper strip; (4) performing primary trimming by a thick strip longitudinal shearing machine; (5) annealing in a bell type bright annealing furnace; (6) cleaning surface on a thick strip degreasing cleaning line; (7) finely rolling in a four-roller reversible fine rolling machine; (8) annealing a finished product in the bell type bright annealing furnace; (9) cutting the finished product by a thin-strip longitudinal shearing machine; (10) packing in a packaging machine and performing physical and chemical examination; and (11) performing incoming inspection and storing.


A traditional burn wound treatment (especially used in the Ohio/Pennsylvania regions by the Amish) using Arctium spp. (burdock), has been associated with diminished pain, reduced skin grafts, minimal scarring, few bacterial infections, and decreased healing time. This study investigated the potential antimicrobial and cellular effects of burdock. Reverse transcribe with unlabeled dNTPs and special RT primer oligo. Microarray Assays Growth inhibition assays analyzed the antimicrobial activity of 8 accessions of burdock against prevalent burn wound colonizers: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudamonas aeruginosa. Burdock demonstrated the most antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, followed by S. epidermidis and E. coli. There was significant variation of inhibition between bacteria, but minimal variation among burdock accessions or species. Cellular effects were studied through yeast genome expression profiles using microarray hybridization, but incomplete results limit f h l i b d k' i l l i i fl i d i Stop RT reaction and degrade RNA . Hybridize cDNA to microarray. Wash away unbound cDNA. Then add 3DNA capture reagent to bind to cDNA on microarray. Wash away unbound 3DNA, Scan microarray Figure 1 Microarray analysis was used to monitor the changes in yeast Figure 4. Growth inhibition of S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and E. coli, and P. aeruginosa. Zone of inhibition is reported as the average over all trials without differentiating between burdock accessions. Error bars represent standard error Although there was a significant difference (p<0 006)


The medical profession is one of the noblest professions in the world. However, corporatisation and commercialization of medical profession has made it like any other business and the medical profession is increasingly being guided by the profit motive rather than that of service. Such a situation gave rise to unethical practices and negligence. When business motive comes to the force, service to the patients takes place as last row. Today like every thing in the society Hippocrates noble profession has become commercialized and people are not only suspicious but downright sceptical of their practice. Therefore, if there is a rashness or negligence on the part of the doctor while treating a patient he is being made liable under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.


What happens when you look at the holidays through the lens of a patent draftsperson? We were intrigued by sleighs and decided to present you with various sleigh drawings. Past and present and some insight as to how were they created?


Superior hole-transporting mobility and excellent photoconductive properties of aryl amine-containing polymers place them among the most studied materials for optoelectronic applications. Solution processability, however, is a significant limitation to highly arylated polymers particularly for multi-layer organic light emitting devices prepared via spin coating. In this work, the preparation of perfluorocyclopentene aryl ether amine polymers demonstrated improved solubility, but has showed increased thermal stability. Octafluorocyclopentene was used as a coupling agent to prepare a new class of aryl ether amine-containing monomers ultimately yielding high molecular weight, optically transparent step-growth polymers. Herein, this work will present strategic routes for monomer/polymer synthesis, characterization, and viability as a new class of processable coatings or bulk components for the broad area of organic electronics applications.


A rapid method of generating dynamic permission tree for Web database application is presented in this paper,which uses a range of integrated optimization techniques including the implementation of a TreeView component in client Web browser,the design of database tables supporting dynamic rights allocation,and the rapid algorithm of generating permission tree through a single visit to the database.By allocating reasonable computational load among computing units,this method effectively reduces the waiting time for interaction and communication,and also takes efficient algorithms to fully tap the potential of each computing unit.The method has been adopted in the development of DAG system,and has reached a satisfying engineering effect.Through the overall comparison to current research findings,this method is proved a fast and efficient technology,which has a relatively high value for research and development.


This research has the overall objective to design a strategic plan for tourism development in Silver Stone, Pichincha Region, province of Manabi; the information gathered was obtained through literature and field research, for which three specific objectives were raised. It was identified that the problem that prevents the promotion of tourism in Silver Stone is the poor development of tourism due to various components such as non-existent tourist infrastructure, inadequate signage and lack of tourist potential. As for results, the first phase was determined through participatory, external and competitive diagnosis, using tools such as evaluation matrices of external factors, internal factors evaluation, competitive profile and SWOT matrix, confirming the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; in the study phase of a nonexistent market tourism in the community was found; On the demand of the visitor profile was established, determining their tastes and preferences in the development of tourism in rural areas; the design phase and phase strategies of control and monitoring is based on analyzing the results of the first phase, as SWOT analysis and study of PLANDETUR. In conclusion strategies were established according to the tourism situation Silver Stone, so thirteen eight programs and projects with reference to the methodology proposed in the PLANDETUR 2020 and the results of research are proposed.


Chinglish,or China English,is the interlanguage used by Chinese as the result of mother tongue interference and thinking mode difference,which sound inappropriate to native speakers.With the target of English compositions,Chinglish is studied from the aspect of lexicon,syntax,and text.It is pointed out that Chinglish is the result of Chinese thinking mode and Chinese western culture difference.It is proposed that it is helpful to improve students' writing skill by training English thinking mode with an introduction of English and American culture.


The purpose of this study was to isolate the platelet membranes from 10 adult obese aged 28-15 years and from 10 age-matched of normal weight, followed by the evaluation of 5-HT 2A platelet membrane receptors using an adequate chemiluminescent methodology. We tested a selective 5-HT 2A agonist: 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine(DOI) labeled into our lab by the active ester of: N-(4-aminobutyl)- N-ethyl-isoluminol (ABEI), in binding experiments on platelet membranes isolated in both groups of adults. The binding experiments revealed only the 5-HT 2A receptor subtype and the Scatchard analysis of the data binding showed a higher number of 5-HT 2A sites in obese vs. normal subjects.For lack of an adequate 5-HT 2A human antibody,we chose an indirect way, in order to test the chemiluminescent agonists synthesized into our lab.Thus,we performed binding experiments on membrane aliquots from Sf9 cells where the human recombinant 5-HTj A receptor was expressed and we checked a selective5-HT 1A agonist R(+)-8-hydroxypropylaminotetralin.HBr (8-OH-DPAT), chemiluminescent labeled into our lab, by the active ester ofN-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethyl-isoluminol) (ABEI-H). The present study shows a higher density of 5-HT 2A platelet receptors in obese adults vs. control subjects,proving that the chemiluminescent tracers are suitable for binding receptor experiments with good reproducible results. Using the chemiluminescence like an unpolluted strategy in receptors experiments, less expensive than the classical radioactive methodology, we obtained some promising results in adult obese.These data could be completed in further studies concerning adult obesity during clinical trials involving appetite-suppressant drugs.


Waste is a product of society and one of the biggest challenges for future generations is to understand how to sustainably dispose of large amounts of waste. The main objective of this study was to determine the possibility and conditions of the decentralized combustion of non-hazardous municipal waste. The analysis of the combustion properties of a mixture of wood chips and 20–30% of municipal solid waste showed an improvement in the operating parameters of the combustion process. Analysis also confirmed that the co-combustion of dirty fuels and biomass reduced the risk of releasing minerals and heavy metals from fuel into the natural environment. Approximately 55% of the heavy metals passed into the ash. The analysis of municipal solid waste and fuel mixtures containing municipal solid waste for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons showed the risk of increasing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in flue gases.


Benzyl chloride and tin powder were used to prepare dibenzyltin dichloride according to a literature procedure. In this study, IR spectroscopy, HOMO-LUMO energy gap, NBO analysis, polarizability, some geometrical parameters, natural charge and electrical potential of atoms, global hardness, electronic chemical potential, global electrophilicity index, and molar volume of dibenzyltin dichloride were calculated. DFT calculations were performed at the B3LYP and B3PW91 methods with LanL2DZ basis set on the title compound. The title compound presents a total dipole moment of 4.2996 and 4.3235 Debye at the B3LYP and B3PW91 methods, respectively. Moreover, the HOMO– LUMO energy gap of 0.16988 and 0.17155 a.u. were obtained for the title compound using B3LYP and B3PW91 methods, respectively. The infrared spectrum of (C6H5CH2)2SnCl2 was studied and analyzed. A good correlation was found between calculated and experimental data. Characteristic vibrational bands of the dibenzyltin dichloride associated with the Sn-C and Sn-Cl stretching vibrations were also identified.


Objective A method for determination of equol in human urine samples by high performance liquid chromatography was developed.Method Column of Hypersil ODS2-C18(250×4.6mm,5μm) was used with mobile phase V(acetonitrile): V(methanol): V(water) =20:30:50,flow rate of 1 ml/min,column temperature 25℃,detection wavelength by dual absorbance detector at 205nm.Results The linear range was 0.1~25μg/ml,the limit of detection 0.1g/ml,the relative standard deviation(RSD) 0.8%.The recovery was 99.72%,and the RSD was 0.13%.The correlation coefficient for the linear equations was 0.9990.Couclusion The method was simple,rapid and accurate.It has been applied to determine equol in urine.


Maintenance is one of the major contributors of fixed cost or cost of ownership in a refinery or a chemical plant with a typical cost of $40–$70 million per annum. In order to reduce such huge cost, focus should be directed on the whole cycle of preventive maintenance (PM) which includes scheduling, wrench time (direct time working crew spends on maintenance), indirect time resulted due to different practical reasons such as work permits, weather disruptions, site availability, and corrective repairs. In this article, a stochastic modeling approach is proposed to schedule PM activities for an oil refinery considering both maintenance direct and indirect time uncertainties. The model is based on the minimization of total adjusted tardiness times and subject to limited amount of multiple-skill-level maintenance crew, specific time horizon and budget limit. The PM activities requires different crew skill set and prioritized based on expected cost due to risk of equipment failures when PM is delayed beyond its due date. The tardiness time is adjusted based on PM activity priority level. A real-life example where uncertainties are quantified using historical data will be used to demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach.


CuTe is prepared from the elements by annealing at 470 K for 24 d and characterized by single crystal XRD, HRTEM, and DFT calculations.


This title framing on "Study of Baul Community Family Relation and their Philosophy: An Overview of West Bengal" has been taken, because different problems can be solved by this subject. To focus the Baul Community Family Relation and their Philosophy is main object and for this the subject Peaceful Co-relation among Baul Community and Society has been chosen here. Though the existence Society has a value, yet especially importance has been given on value-added process which can be more valuable in our Society by Baul traditional, conceptual and spirituality. It has been shown how the Baul Songs, Dresses, Musical Instruments and their Behavioral approach are. It has also been discussed here about their Birth, Age, Population, Livelihood, Jobs, location. A gap between Baul Community and Society has been focused here. Another part of their Cosmic Energy, Cosmic Love and Cosmic Sex have been approached here in which form they believe. It has also been shown that they have National, International and Worldwide Value Ethically, Philosophically and Commercially. It is matter of thinking how such unknown common matter can widely spread out at home and abroad and how it is possible to strengthen the structural unit of our country in the sphere of applicability of Ideology, humanities, fraternities and equalities. I want to show these here. It has also been known that economically many backward families have not got their socio-economical respect yet now, but I have indicated that they get these in their lives. It has been seen that Indian folk culture and the Bauls Community are co-related and they maintain a socio environmental balance of mankind. Earning livelihood, taking responsibility of the family and properly maintaining the family is very difficult in this time to the poor people. The way of earning a normal income has been found out and even there is a possibility of being a remarkable way in folk culture. And the concept to give pleasure to the family has been hidden in it. It is a suitable folk unit for the developing and under-developing countries like us. It has a far-spreading result which is able to strengthen the Economical, Political, and Social bound in our society. As the concept is very ideal for this country, because most Bauls are Illiterate, Below Poverty, some of them are Addicted, some family members are involved in Quarreling every day, lead an Unhappy life and they have Little Social Respect comparatively. The fundamental argument and importance of family life and philosophical observation of Bengal's Baul has been presented here. The importance of analysis of philosophical observation and the family life of Bengal's Baul has come to say about fundamental thinking, fundamental theory is nothing. Here 'Fundamental' indicates 'True or 'False'. The rest theories of world stand on this theory and those are derivative theory. It has also been seen that in the conflict between True and False the victory of truth is ideal for society formation. But it varies from man to man. So the presentation of fundamental theory depends on some fixed men, places and fixed thinking, which is ideal for those men of those places.To present this theory it is not only difficult, but complicated too. So I am trying to present the main matters of Bauls' family life and their philosophical aspect by accepting the truth and application. The Baul community is still now at swinging situation in the sphere of their social respect.The Baul community separate from their main stream and is trying to form a new society coming out from their traditional social system, which has become a mixed community. It is understood from the customs, manners, evil practices into the culture of pure Baul community that the tradition of Baul culture will be ruined like other folk culture for negligence. As the Baul society remains at the marginal level of total social system and a huge personal income is not seen among them in such developed eco-social system. So they will go to the level of negligence, unhealthy position. They are seen to take part more on sexuality for believing on physiology. As a result too-much reproduction, a sexual relation with other women, to form more families, haphazard maintaining system of families, negligence of education of their children, unconfined life-lead, even a game of hidden the truth is going on in this society. Cosmic energy, cosmic love and cosmic relation – these three together is mission and vision of Baul community which is coming in front of humanity gradually. But this concept is being faded out that cannot be understood. 'Be simple, be soften, Be man co-related with man. 'Sahaj Hao, Saral Hao, Manush Dhare Manush Hao'. It is understood that those who believe in this Man, those who are inspired by this idealism are very soften, simple and very ordinary man. Though they have nothing, yet they are maker of perfect man. They can change and rectify the structure and system of country. They are the policy maker of our society and they have its main theory of society making policy in their hand. They are also minstrel poet (Charan Kabi) and they deliver the speech of equality, fraternity and liberty without hesitation and bravely. They are now drowned. It is said if full of human resource is utilized; the blessing golden pot of society will be full. According to the poet, 'Emon Manob Jamin Roilo Patit, Abad Korle Phalto Sona'. So today the time has come to co-relate among all; e.g self, group, community, Government and other organizations. As it has been got honored as social value, so the Bauls theory can be started in the level of basic, advanced and corporate level. In an international field it has spread out and it is able to bring honor for country. The economical development, socialization and understanding have been increased among persons, families and society. To involvement in different constructive works in society has been increased. In some fields they have taken a Role of Leadership. Overall they have turned into an Icon.


Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of loop electrosurgical excision procedure(LEEP) and cold knife conization(CKC) for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN).Methods:A retrospective analysis on clinical data of CINⅡ-Ⅲ patients treated by(96 cases) or cold knife conization(78 patients) were performed.The operative time,blood loss in operation,amount of bleeding during removal of callus and wound healing time of patients in both groups were observed.Results:The blood loss in operation(13.5±2.6 mL),operative time(12.8±1.9 min) of LEEP patients were less than or shorter than the CKC group(26.4±3.7 mL;24.9±2.5 min)(P0.01).The amount of bleeding during removal of callus and wound healing time of patients in both groups was no statistical difference.Conclusion:Compared with CKC for the treatment of CINⅡ-Ⅲ patients,LEEP has the advantage of less bleeding and shorter operative time,which is worthy of promotion.


IT is one of the hard facts of life that tyres tend to skid more readily under wet road or runway conditions — this is a most unsatisfactory basic situation and merits the greatest possible effort to make a substantial improvement. The problem has been studied basically by various bodies including N.A.S.A.


Street in Chicago's financial district. The gunman, 59-year-old Anthony DeFrances, had been demoted last Friday and requested a one-on-one meeting with the company's CEO, 54-year-old Steven LaVoie. During the meeting, DeFrances allegedly took out a firearm, and the two men began to struggle for control of the weapon. DeFrances shot LaVoie in the stomach and head before turning the gun on himself. The entire building was then placed on lockdown, with employees told to remain on their respective floors. According to police, DeFrances was apparently angered over the fact that he was demoted and targeted LaVoie for personal reasons. LaVoie is listed in critical condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.


Renal stone disease, also known as nephrolithiasis, has become an important cause of childhood morbidity and healthcare expenditure worldwide. Consequences of renal stones include pain, urinary tract infection (UTI), urinary obstruction and renal damage that can even lead to renal failure. The term 'nephrocalcinosis' refers to deposition of calcium within the renal parenchyma and is distinct from nephrolithiasis which refers to stones in the renal tract. Although nephrocalcinosis occurs less frequently than nephrolithiasis in children, the two can co-exist.


This paper examines a mechanism that underlies both the political business cycle and the cycle in non-economic policies executed by politicians. We show that if rational voters suffer from forgetfulness (a noise in the memory). then government expenditure on the production of public good increases as elections approach. Hence, the model describes a cycle that is observed in the government expenditures of democratic societies. Unlike previous models, this model does not require that the government have information superiority over rational voters with respect to its competency. According to this model, incumbents transfer resources from the beginning of their terms of service and use them near the end of their terms. We also find that the less concave the production function, the wider the cycle. Copyright 1993 Blackwell Publishers Ltd..


Existing monetary arrangement works very well, and our financial system is getting stronger and well capitalized. However, sound monetary and fiscal policies, are not enough. For faster growth and better living standard, there is a great need to carry out structural measures. The dialogue with the EU helped to identify those measures and implementing them will require more time and external assistance.


We present new formulas for the Legendre–Fenchel transform of functions. They conce following three operations: inverting a strictly monotone convex function, post-composing an trary function with a strictly monotone concave function, multiplying two positively valued str monotone convex functions.  2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


This paper presents a NLOS (non-line-of-sight) path loss model for low-height antenna links in
rectangular street grids to account for typical D2D (device-to-device) communication link situations in
high-rise urban outdoor environments. From wideband propagation channel measurements collected in
Seoul City at 3.7 GHz, we observed distinctive power delay profile behaviors between 1-Turn and 2-Turn
NLOS links: the 2-Turn NLOS has a wider delay spread. This can be explained by employing the idea that
the 2-Turn NLOS has multiple propagation paths along the various street roads from TX to RX, whereas
the 1-Turn NLOS has a single dominant propagation path from TX to RX. Considering this, we develop
a path loss model encompassing 1-Turn and 2-Turn NLOS links with separate scattering and diffraction
parameters for the first and the second corners, based on the Uniform Geometrical Theory of Diffraction.
In addition, we consider the effect of building heights on path loss by incorporating an adjustable
"waveguide effect" parameter; that is, higher building alleys provide better propagation environments. When
compared with field measurements, the predictions are in agreement.


An active compound bacterial fertilizer consists of activating agent, organic compound fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, biological enzyme preparation, pH valve regulating agent and fertilizer matrix. It composition mainly contains lots of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter, microbial bacteria, also contains trace elements of manganese, zinc, copper, iron and magnesium. Besides, it also contains complete nutrient components necessary for growth of plant and lots of microbial active bacteria so that it can activate microorganisms in the soil, can promote plants to absorb nutrientsof said fertilizer, and can improve the texture of soil. Said invented product can be used as base fertilizer and additional fertilizer for upland field, marshy field, fruit tree and vegetable, etc.


Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is the standard of care for the management of patients with severe three‐vessel and left main coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the optimal strategy for management of patients with CAD and severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction [ejection fraction (EF) ≤35%] is not clear. A meta‐analysis of observational studies was performed to determine the operative mortality and long‐term (5‐year actuarial survival) outcomes among patients with severe LV dysfunction undergoing CABG.


In this paper,Western developed countries'education of humanities sciences including school-running model,cultivating objects,curriculum,teaching methods,etc. has been discussed and the status quo of marginalization of medical humanities education in China has been analyzed. Based on the discussion and analysis,the proposals for the reform of medical education in humanities sciences in China are given with the modern teaching theories and methods as the reference.


Compressible potential flows over nonlifting, hovering helicopter blades are described by suitable linear and nonlinear equations of motion for subsonic and transonic cases, respectively. Analytical and numerical results are presented for the linearized subsonic three-dimensional flow in the tip region. When the tip Mach number is transonic, the flowfield is calculated using a computational method that is a formal extension to three dimensions of recently developed nonlinear two-dimensional relaxation schemes. Calculations are presented for rectangular blades with 6% thick biconvex sections. Calculations show the relative importance of tip Mach number and aspect ratio on the growth and extent of shock waves in the tip region, and indicate a significant reduction in shock strength with decreasing aspect ratio. ELICOPTER rotor blades that can operate at high tip Mach numbers without the penalties usually associated with super-critical flow would permit high-forward speeds at relatively low-advance ratios. As the advance ratio decreases, the portion of the retreating blade that is stalled would be diminished, the portion of the retreating blade that is unstalled could operate at smaller angles of attack, and the advancing blade could generate lift without also generating an excessive rolling moment. Vibratory loads would be diminished, and severe unsteady pitching moments on the lifting portion of the retreating blade would decrease if that portion could usefully operate at higher tip speeds and smaller angles of attack. The design of rotor blade geometries that can support a transonic flowfield that is nearly shock-free requires a method for computing the detailed pressure distribution on the blade for a specified rotor geometry and advance ratio. However, the unsteady aerodynamic environment of a lifting rotor that is operating at or near the critical Mach number is extremely complicated. It is easy to appreciate the difficulty of describing such flowfields when one recalls that we do not yet have an adequate model for describing the details of the flow about a lifting, hovering rotor operating in an essentially incompressible flow. Our purpose here is therefore to focus on a portion of the high-speed rotor problem that is sufficiently limited to allow for some analytical and numerical treatment, but which retains important linear and nonlinear features of the flow. We consider a two-bladed nonlifting and hovering rotor operating in the range of tip Mach numbers where compressibility effects are important. The pressure distribution near the rotor tip is studied. In this region, the flowfield is fully three-dimensional, and blade element (strip) theory is in no sense a reasonable approximation to the rotor aerodynamics. It is assumed that the flow is inviscid. The flow is steady relative to a coordinate system attached to the blades. Analytical and numerical results presented here are based on suitable approximations to the full three-dimensional potential equation for compressible flow. When the tip Mach number is subcritical, the potential equation is the usual acoustic


2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black m ark it is an indication that the film inspector noticed cither blurred copy because o f movement during exposure, or duplicate copy. Unless we m eant to delete copyrighted materials th a t should no t have been filmed, you will find a good image o f the page in the adjacent frame. If copyrighted materials were deleted you will find a target note listing the pages In the adjacent frame.


Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with liver failure complicated by Candida infections so as to provide evidence for clinical treatment. Methods The clinical data of 393 patients with liver failure complicated by Candida infections, who were treated in 302 Hospital of PLA from Jan. 1985 to Sept. 2011, were retrospectively analyzed. Results Of the 393 pa- tients, middle-aged males accounted for the largest proportion. Totally 379 patients (96.44%) were affected with acute-on-chronic liver failure and chronic liver failure. Viral hepatitis was the main etiology, and HBV infection accounted for the largest proportion (74.05%). Bacterial infections were found in 137 patients before being complicated by Candida infections, mainly in peritoneal cavity (42.06%) and gram-negative bacilli were the main pathogenic organisms. Candida infections were mainly found in the oropharyngeal region (43.03%), and then in lungs and digestive tract. Fungal culture results showed that the most common strain was Candida albicans (76.54%), and next were Candida tropicalis (8.64%) and Candida glabrata (4.69%). Conclusions The condition of patients with liver failure is severe and dangerous, often accompanied by complications, and difficult to treat. For patients with liver failure complicated by Candida infec- tions, antifungal treatment has a poor therapeutic efficacy with a high mortality rate.


............................................................................... pag. 4 Riassunto .............................................................................. pag. 5 Introduction .......................................................................... pag. 9 1. Biosensors .............................................................................. pag. 9 1.1 Introduction to biosensors 1.2 Nanotechnology meets biosensors 1.3 From life science to proteomics: the nanobiotechnology 1.4 Nanobiotechnological applications 1.4.1 Nanoparticles 1.4.2 Nanosensors 1.4.3 Nanosurfaces 1.5 Micro and nanoarrays 1.6 In situ methods for protein arraying 1.6.1 Protein in situ arrays (PISA) 1.6.2 Nucleic acid programmable protein array (NAPPA) 1.6.3 Puromycin-capture from mRNA arrays 1.6.4 DNA array to protein array (DAPA) 2. Protein scaffolds .................................................................. pag. 20 2.1 What are scaffolds? 2.1.1 Scaffolds with α-helical domains 2.1.2 Scaffolds with β-sheet domains 2.1.3 Scaffolds with irregular secondary structures 2.2 Coiled-coil domains 2.2.1 The structure 2.2.2 The hydrophobic core 2.2.3 Electrostatic interaction 2.2.4 Number of helices, orientation and oligomerization 3. E/K: a de novo designed coiled-coil .................................... pag. 30


..................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................. v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... x LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................ xii


Route choice is one of the most difficult travel choice dimensions to analyze and to interpret. Moreover, when facing a route choice situation, road users are influenced by a lot of unobserved factors such as habit, inertia and personal preferences which lead to a choice that might be different from the expected "shortest" one when looking with an objectivity lens. This is crucial for the effectiveness of using ITS (Intelligent Transport System) or ATMS (Advanced Traffic Management System) technologies, which need high precision data to provide route information to the users. Thus, a lot of researchers have explored in depth route choice behavior in order to understand its key determinants. In this study we focus on route switching behavior, namely the analysis of whether road users, moving between the same OD pair, use the same route or change depending on the level of satisfaction of several elements that are not directly known to the researcher. The aim of this paper is to understand which determinants lead road users to switch between different routes during a period of two weeks. Several past researches faced on the route switching behavior, and can be divided into two main groups: the first group used GPS data to improve the knowledge about the attributes which affect the route choice behavior, comparing the observed routes with the simulated ones (Abdel-Aty, et al., 1994; Li, et al., 2005; Spissu, et al., 2011; Arifin & Axhausen, 2011; Levinson & Zhu, 2013); the second group used data from questionnaires and laboratory experiments to understand the effect of the information provision on the route choice behavior (Khattak, et al., 1995; Mannering & Kim, 1994; Polydoropoulou, et al., 1996; Srinivasan & Mahmassani, 2003; Jou, 2004; Xu, et al., 2010; Ben-Elia & Shiftan, 2010). However, limitations can be recognized in previous literature: (i) the route switching behavior was analyzed only in relation to the provision of external inputs (like route information); (ii) none of the studies used high resolution data in modeling applications. The objective of this paper is to analyze in depth route switching behavior from a pure behavioral perspective, focusing only on the actual choices of the road users. Indeed, while the previous works were based on understanding a response to a specific input (route information provision), in this research we want to explore route switching in a normal day by day case, considering the inter and intra personal factors that the road users actually consider when making a route choice. So we can merge the two research fields which already approached route switching and close the gap between them in order to study route switching behavior without external stimuli and high resolution data. This is important because this kind of data provide very precise information about the chosen routes (with low respondent's burden) and also the users are not forced to think about the answer and do not perceive any lack of realism on the choice situation (which could happen in case of providing questionnaires or other techniques), so their answer is not influenced from other factors which can introduce bias in the data. To this end, we used data acquired during a survey, named "Casteddu Mobility Styles" (CMS), conducted by the University of Cagliari (Italy) in the metropolitan area of Cagliari between February 2011 and June 2012. Each participant was asked to carry a smartphone with built-in GPS in which an application called "Activity Locator" – implemented by CRiMM (Centre for Research on Mobility and Modeling) – had been installed (Meloni, et al., 2011). A total of 8831 trips were recorded by 109 individuals, of which 4791 referring to the car driver mode. Each GPS track (consisting of a sequence of referenced position points) was then treated with map-matching techniques that allowed associating each "GPS point" to a link of the network, thus creating the observed route database. Because of the density of the network where the map-matching was performed, as well as the precision of the registered GPS points, it happens that a starting place of a trip is not ever associated to the same node of the network; so, two trips which start from the same location could have different starting nodes, although they are pretty close. This affects the analysis, because becomes harder to identify analytically if two trips have the same origin or destination and, then, to build the database to perform the modeling analysis. In order to avoid this problem, the starting and ending nodes were firstly merged in clusters, so to make it possible to identify trips with the same origin-destination pair. Several values of the cluster's radius were tested to find the best in terms of data quality, aggregation and precision. The reference value is 100 meters for both the origins and the destinations, which consist of a total of 864 trips related to 77 users and 187 origin/destination couples. However, also other different sizes of the clusters will be tested in order to verify if the dimension affects the results of the analysis. We tested the effects of several variables, main related to three categories: objective characteristics of the route (like travel time, distance, percent of congested roads, number of traffic lights, number of turns, roads' category), socio-economic information of the users (like gender, age, driving experience, household's characteristics, monthly expenditure for transport) and activity-based data (like departure time of the trip, motivation of the trip, day of the week, pre-trip activity, place of departure/arrival of the trip). Binary logit models were tested in order to understand what is the contribution of each determinant in leading the users to switch with respect to the previous choice for the same OD pair. Because of the characteristics of the data, binary mixed logit models were also estimated in order to better understand the behavior of the users, taking also into account of the panel effect. Results suggest that road users will switch to routes which are shorter or after encountering high friction factors along the previous route. Differences between commute and non commute trips can be found, because it's well known that the former are more influenced by the experience and the knowledge of the network. Abdel-Aty, M. et al., 1994. Models of commuters' information use and route choice: initial results based on southern California commuter route choice survey. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Issue 1453. Arifin, Z. N. & Axhausen, K. W., 2011. Investigating commute mode and route choice variability in Jakarta using multi-day GPS Data. Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich, IVT, Institut fur Verkehrsplanung und Transportsysteme. Ben-Elia, E. & Shiftan, Y., 2010. Which road do I take? A learning-based model of route-choice behavior with real-time information. Transportation Research Part A , Volume 44, p. 249–264. Jou, R.-C., 2004. Real time traffic information and its impacts on route switching behavior of expressway drivers. Journal of advanced transportation, 38(2), pp. 187-223. Khattak, A. J., Schofer, J. L. & Koppelman, F. S., 1995. Effect of traffic information on commuters' propensity to change route and departure time. Journal of Advanced Transportation, 29(2), p. 193–212. Levinson, D. & Zhu, S., 2013. A Portfolio Theory of Route Choice. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, Volume 35, pp. 232-243. Li, H., Guensler, R. & Ogle, J., 2005. An Analysis of Morning Commute Route Choice Patterns Using GPS Based Vehicle Activity Data. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Issue 1926, pp. 162-170. Mannering, F. & Kim, S.-G., 1994. Statistical analysis of commuters' route, mode, and departure time flexibility. Transportation Research Part C, 2(1), pp. 35-47. Meloni, I., Spissu, E. & Bhat, C. R., 2011. The effect of personal cap and trade mileage policies on individual activity travel patterns: the Activity locator project. Transportation Letters: The International Journal of Transportation Research, 3(4), pp. 293-307. Polydoropoulou, A., Ben-Akiva, M., Khattak, A. & Lauprete, G., 1996. Modeling Revealed and Stated En-Route Travel Response to Advanced Traveler Information Systems. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Volume 1537, pp. 38-45. Spissu, E., Meloni, I. & Sanjust, B., 2011. Behavioral Analysis of Choice of Daily Route with Data from Global Positioning System. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Issue 2230, pp. 96-103. Srinivasan, K. & Mahmassani, H., 2003. Analyzing heterogeneity and unobserved structural effects in route-switching behavior under ATIS: a dynamic kernel logit formulation. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 37(9), pp. 793-814. Tawfik, A. M., Rakha, H. A. & Miller, S. D., 2010. An Experimental Exploration of Route Choice: Identifying Drivers Choices and Choice Patterns and Capturing Network Evolution. 13th International IEEE, Annual Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems. Xu, C., Wang, W., Li, Z. & Yang, C., 2010. Comparative study on drivers' route choice response to travel information at different departure time. s.l., CAR'10 Proceedings of the 2nd international Asia conference on Informatics in control, automation and robotics, pp. 97-100. Zhu, S. & Levinson, D., 2010. Do people use the shortest path? An empirical test of Wardrop's first principle. Minneapolis, 4th International Symposium on Transportation Network Reliability.


From gain measurement, laser parameters such as rotational temperature, inversion densities, absolute population densities, and excitation and deexcitation rates are determined as functions of the discharge current. The rotational temperature is well defined in both bands and is very close to the gas translational temperature. It is found by rate equation analysis in an ordinary discharge condition, the rates of excitation to the lower laser levels are much larger than those to the upper laser levels. The deexcitation rates of the lower laser levels are evaluated and found to be the most important processes in maintaining the laser gain in both bands.


Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) are autoimmune demyelinating diseases involving the central nervous system, affecting the spinal cord and optic nerves. There are few reports of paraneoplastic NMOSD associated with malignant melanoma. Here, we report a rare case of anti‐aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody‐positive NMOSD associated with malignant melanoma. A 61‐year‐old Japanese woman was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and lung metastasis four years after a diagnosis of anti‐AQP4 antibody‐positive NMOSD. When diagnosing and treating patients with NMOSD, physicians should be aware of the development of malignancy for at least several years.


Abstract Service trade is an important part of international trade.Since the late of twentieth Century,the international transfer of service industry for international service trade with the rapid development of information technology gradually spread in the world,which has become a new hot spot in the current international trade.It is important to promote the development of trade in services for Guangdong Province,actively attract Multi-National Corporation investment in the service industry,to undertake international service outsourcing,and vigorously promote the imports and exports of service industry,to promote the transformation of trade structure adjustment and growth mode.


Introduction the district of Humla and the rationale of the study Honey from Apis cerana cerana kept in traditional hives in remote areas of the Himalayas has potential in specialist niche markets, but lack of appropriate harvesting, processing and storage may mean that honey quality is poor. Whilst many beekeeping extension projects focus on frame or top-bar technology experiences of the authors in remote Himalayan areas and work with honey hunters in South India (Keystone 2002) suggest that simple improvements to harvesting / processing may suffice for most farmers. To date studies of Nepali honeys have been carried out (Shrestha 2000, Joshi 1999, Joshi et al 2000), but no investigations on the effect of very simple small changes in harvesting and processing upon honey quality have been attempted.


Following research on the negative impact of support from teaching assistants (TAs) on pupils' academic progress, there was a clear need for schools to fundamentally reassess the way they use TAs. This article reports on findings from a collaborative project aimed at developing and evaluating alternative strategies to using TAs. Practitioner-led development trials were structured using a coherent and empirically sound model. Over the year of the intervention, schools made marked improvements to the ways TAs were deployed in classrooms, prepared for lessons and interacted with pupils. The study led to much-needed guidance on how to review current practice and make substantive changes to TA use, as part of wider school improvement.


Kaposi's sarcoma of the penis is an initial manifestation of AIDS and the practising urologist should be aware of this form of presentation. We report 2 young intravenous drug abusers with this tumor in the male genitourinary system. The clinical course is unfavorable; therefore prompt diagnosis and management, based on the early recognition of the lesion, must be achieved.


The objective of this study was to explore select dimensions of projects of two Bolivian health care centers for women La Casa de la Mujer (the Womens House) in Santa Cruz and the Center for Information and the Development of Women (CIDEM) en El Alto to bring into focus some issues and general challenges in womens health. Among other findings the investigation determined that: In La Casa de la Mujer it has been discovered that working with the woman alone is not sufficient. Problems and rights related to reproductive health are constituted at the family socio-cultural economic and political levels. This study describes and analyzes La Casa de la Mujers strategies for involving men and for changing the socio-political context in which women live. The center also works with schools to transform future generations by educating children on gender and reproductive health. In CIDEM reproductive health care is seen as much more complex than simple medical service; it is necessarily linked to education and training and to the relationship between the health professional and the patient. CIDEMs methodology of care is based on empowering people to be active subjects in their own life stories. (excerpt)


The physics of the mysterious and stealthy neutrino is at the heart of many phenomena in the cosmos. These particles interact with matter and with each other through the aptly named weak interaction. At typical astrophysical energies the weak interaction is some twenty orders of magnitude weaker than the electromagnetic interaction. However, in the early universe and in collapsing stars neutrinos can more than make up for their feeble interaction strength with huge numbers. Neutrinos can dominate the dynamics in these sites and set the conditions that govern the synthesis of the elements. Here we journey through the history of the discovery of these particles and describe their role in stellar evolution and collapse, the big bang, and multi-messenger astrophysics. Neutrino physics is at the frontier of elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology. All of these fields overlap in the neutrino story.


A cell searching device of a wireless communication system and a method thereof are provided to use one IFFT(Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) unit for signals received through plural antennas, thereby reducing complexity as improving communication quality. Plural FFT units(110) transform received plural signals into frequency domain signals. Plural inverse randomizers(112) inversely random the frequency domain signals, respectively. A delay unit delays output of one of the inverse randomizers(112) at predetermined samples. An adder adds output of another one of the inverse randomizers(112) to the output of the delay unit, and arranges signal subcarriers of the other of the delayed signals so that the signal subcarriers are located at a no-signal subcarrier position of one of the frequency domain signals. An IFFT unit(116) inputs output of the adder to transform the output into time domain signals. A maximum value searcher(118) searches maximum values of IFFT-signals. A decider(120) determines whether a preamble is obtained, by deciding on the searched maximum values.


Seasonal variations in herbage mass, crude protein content and in-vitro organic matter digestibility of both the warm-season (summer-growing) native perennial grasses, Aristida mrnosa R.Br., Bothriochloa macra (Steud) S.T. Blake, Dichanthium sericeum R.Br. (Camus), Sporobolus elongatus RBI., Chloris truncata R.Br. and Eragrostis leptostachya Steud, and the year-long-green perennial grasses Stipa variabilis Hughes and Danthonia linkii Kunth were investigated at three sites on the North-West Slopes of New South Wales. These preliminary data were used to assess the relative grazing value of the dominant grasses in the region, although these initial rankings can only be confirmed by diet selection and animal production studies. The eight grasses tested were classified into three groups with respect to their green leaf mass per unit basal area throughout the year: (i) Aristida ramosa, Bothriochloa macra, Dichanthium sericeum and Sporobolus elongatus had low amounts of green leaf in winter and their green leaf mass in summer was related to rainfall. (ii) Chloris truncata and Eragrostis leptostachya showed considerably less seasonal variation in the amount of green leaf and had a higher percentage of green leaf than (i). (iii) Stipa variabilis and Danthonia linkii had the lowest variation in green leaf, and in winter and spring they generally had higher green leaf masses than the other groups. Among the warm-season and year-long-green grasses the green leaf crude protein content varied between 5 and 15% throughout summer and autumn and from 6 to 17% in winter and spring. In all seasons dead leaf crude protein contents were around 5% and dead stem crude protein contents were consistently less than 6%. Irrespective of species the digestibilities of the green leaf portions were higher in spring and summer (60 to 80%) than in autumn and winter (50 to 60%). At each of the ~ites the digestibility ofDanthonia linkii green leaf material was generally higher than 60% in all seasons, but that ofStipa variabilis green leaf was always less than 60%. Estimates of green stem digestibility ranged from as low as 25% for Avistida ramosa in autumn to around 60% for most other species in spring. Digestibilities of dead leaf ranged from 30 to 55%, those of dead stem ranged from 20 to 40%. These results indicate that Danthonia linkii is potentially valuable for grazing and that Aristida ramosa is an undesirable pasture species. Of the other grasses tested Chloris truncata and Eragrostis leptostachya may produce some green forage in autumn and winter but at these times the green forage production of Aristida ramosa, Bothriochloa macra, Dichanthium sericeum and Sporobolus elon- gatus is limited by low temperatures.


This article shows that RISC performance estimates, when compared to alternative conventional CISC (such as VAX, S/360, etc.) approaches, seem impressive. While there have been critical appraisals of the RISC approach, the comparative performance evaluations provide formidable, although qualified, evidence in its favor. The purpose here is to evaluate and compare RISC-type designs with non-RISC instruction-set extensions using a level playing field: with similar compiler strategies, without compatibility considerations, and with similar implementation constraints. The author also deal with instruction set evaluation. The data presented is based on five benchmark programs discussed later. Instruction sets have many attributes as well as constraints. The key to careful instruction set evaluation is to consider key attributes and the tradeoffs possible among them in light of implementation constraints.


The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the intervention to increase the biosecurity levels of poultry farms in Nong Khai province, Thailand. Research participants were 80 farms from three districts. The research was conducted from July to October, 2013. Before, during, and after the interventions, we studied the results of the two parts: The first part involves the factors affecting changes in farmers' behavior to improve the biosecurity levels, the second involves the biosecurity levels as well as morbidity and mortality number of chickens both before and after the interventions. The results showed that factors contributing to the success of the interventions to enable farmers make improvements to increase the biosecurity levels in their poultry farms were education, locations of the poultry production clusters and network, leaders of the clusters, gender, performance of government officials, poultry diseases and epidemics on farms, and combine works between the researcher, government officials and farmers. Moreover, it was found that after the interventions, there was a statistically significant increase (P<0.05) in the biosecurity levels of poultry farms in Nong Khai province. At the same time, when biosecurity increased, the morbidity and mortality number of chickens in poultry farms decreased significantly (P<0.05). This phenomenon indicated that many combine factors affect the success of intervention for improving biosecurity level in poultry farms and biosecurity levels affected to morbidity and mortality number of chickens in poultry farms.


The utility model discloses a photovoltaic solar silk screen printing device which comprises a machine frame (200), a base plate structure (800), a material-feeding input mechanism (100), a silicon chip bearing and locating mechanism (300), a silk screen printing head mechanism (500), a fine adjustment mechanism (700), a scraper and ink reclaiming knife mechanism (400), a material-feeding output mechanism (600) and an electrical control system and the like. According to the photovoltaic solar silk screen printing device, an overprinting position of a silicon chip can be corrected through an optical positioning device, and accordingly the high-quality silk screen printing effect is achieved. Due to the fact that the silk screen printing head mechanism is composed jointly of a main body and a base structure which can be separated from each other, maintenance operation is facilitated, and a large space can be provided between the main body and the base structure. In addition, the photovoltaic solar silk screen printing device has the advantages that the whole photovoltaic solar silk screen printing device is compact in dimensions and easy to maintain, a silk screen printing head and a silk screen are convenient and rapid to clean, the device is compact, and a plurality of silk screen printing machines can be made up simultaneously to form an array so as to improve silk screen efficiency, and the like.


Through profound study of the 3-round encryption characteristics of advanced encryption standard (AES), a new 3-round differential path with an existing probability to of 2-22 has been derived. Based on this path, a novel method was proposed for impossible differential cryptanalysis of 8-round AES-128. The analysis method requires 287 pairs of chosen plaintexts, about 299 words of memory and 296 encryption/decryption computations. According to the analysis process, it is found that the confusing level of the MixColumns transformation in AES algorithm is insufficient, which provides a theoretical basis to improve the AES security.


The principle and design method of ecological restoration in lake aquatic-terrestrial ecotone were inquired with the aquatic-terrestrial ecotone of Erhai Lake as study object. Based on the analysis of current ecological status the type of the aquatic-terrestrial ecotone was classified, the restoration object and the design method of the aquatic-terrestrial ecotone were suggested; and the ecological restoration of whole succession series and half succession series was designed in aspect of the physical fundus, ecological restoration and the structure of landscape. The suitable restoration modes were inquired, based on the eco-environmental functions and the human utility of the ecotone of Erhai Lake, which could provide reference for practice of the eco-restoration of aquatic-terrestrial ecotone of the same type.


In their interesting paper on this subject, Turcot et al. [1] mention as a limitation of their study the 'lack of detail with respect to different characteristics of the noise exposure experienced in the mining and forestry industries "versus" other industries'. It struck me that they considered the subjects of their study who were exposed to excessive noise and vibration as one homogeneous group, even though the spectrum of frequencies of the exposure pattern of the two groups must have been very different. It is not mentioned whether their mining worker subjects worked in open cast mines or underground, which would have implied an even more markedly different exposure pattern. It would be of great interest and also of value with regard to prevention, if the authors would pursue the aims of their study by investigating the effect on hearing loss of the different exposure patterns of the two groups 'versus' each other. The fact that they found significant differences in hearing loss also at lower frequencies such as 500 and 100 Hz would seem to point to a strong correlation with vibration energy exposure effects, such as hand-arm vibration. Taking the differences of exposure pattern resulting from the different tools used by the two groups in consideration, such a study would be likely to throw some more light on its hypothesized additional effect on hearing loss.


Primordial germ cells(PGCs) isolated from gonads of stage 19 by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation were cultured in DMEM medium in vitro.Then the second passage PGCs were induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells by different induction media.Specific markers and structures were detected by histochemistry method.The results showed that induction medium RA and IBMX were the best ways to induce PGCs into neuron-like cells,and almost 80%-85% cells exhibited typical neuron-like phenotype after induction.Special Nissl body was found by histochemistry.The effect of induction medium RA+IBMS,RA+BHA+DMSO and RA+BHA+DMSO+IBMX were better than that of induction medium BHA+DMSO.Under the same induction medium,about 80%-85% neuron-like cells could be detected no matter what PGCs were cultured 24 h,48h or 72 h in vitro.


We previously established an infection model for BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) in primary human renal proximal tubule epithelial (RPTE) cells. Use of these cells is limited by their inability to be passaged extensively. Here, we describe RPTE cells immortalized with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), which can serve as a model system for acute or persistent BKPyV infection. ABSTRACT We previously established an infection model for BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) in primary human renal proximal tubule epithelial (RPTE) cells. Use of these cells is limited by their inability to be passaged extensively. Here, we describe RPTE cells immortalized with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), which can serve as a model system for acute or persistent BKPyV infection.


Summary form only given. High-power electron beams have a wide variety of applications including electron beam welding, electron-beam-pumped KrF lasers, and the production of bremsstrahlung radiation for radiography and weapons effects studies. One of the present research areas of high-power electron beam diodes is to develop an intense radiographic source with a submillimeter-diameter spot size with an endpoint energy of a few hundred keV. At the heart of this technology is the electron-beam diode where electrons are accelerated by strong diode electric and magnetic fields. To make an intense X-ray radiographic source with a submillimeter-diameter spot size, it is desirable to operate in a pinched-beam mode. To do this, it is necessary for the diode to draw enough current at, or below, the desired endpoint voltage so that the beam will be strongly pinched (i.e. V/spl Gt/V/sup t/). Since the SCL current is a strong function of the diode geometry and the critical current is a very weak function of the diode geometry, choosing the appropriate diode geometry is an ideal way to achieve this goal. Some preliminary designs that theoretically achieve this goal and available experimental data will be presented.


We prove that the Grothendieck standard conjecture of Lefschetz type holds for a complex projective 3-dimensional variety fibred by curves (possibly with degeneracies) over a smooth projective surface provided that the endomorphism ring of the Jacobian variety of some smooth fibre coincides with the ring of integers and the corresponding Kodaira–Spencer map has rank on some non-empty open subset of the surface. When the generic fibre of the structure morphism is of genus , the condition on the endomorphisms of the Jacobian may be omitted.


This paper proposes the design of Vehicular Cyber-Physical Systems (called VCPS) for smart road services in vehicular networks. Our VCPS realizes mobile cloud computing services where vehicles themselves or mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets of drivers or passengers in vehicles) play a role of both cloud server and cloud client. First, this paper describes the architecture of vehicular networks for VCPS and the delay modeling for the interactive navigation and accident prediction, such as a mobile node's travel delay along its navigation path in vehicular networks. Second, the paper explains two VCPS applications as smart road services through the vehicular cloud, such as (i) interactive navigation service for the efficient driving and (ii) pedestrian protection service against road accidents.


Logistics providers are taking an active part in developing competitive advantage by co-ordinating different customers' logistics solutions into an efficient and effective configuration. We are presenting some of the basic strategic and physical factors of importance for TPL (third party logistics providers) when co-ordinating their customers. It seems that possibilities to co-ordinate different customers are dependent not only on customers', customers' customers, and suppliers' activities but also on their attitudes and behaviour reflected in their strategies. The dimensions of main importance for co-ordination are used as a basis for finding suitable customer profiles. Finally we discuss how the logistics providers effectively cope with the dynamic interaction and the network fit between customers. For the covering abstract and the URL of the conference see ITRD E205769. (A)


Efimov states are a sequence of shallow three-body bound states that arise when the two-body scattering length is large. Efimov showed that the binding energies of these states can be calculated in terms of the scattering length and a three-body parameter by solving a transcendental equation involving a universal function of one variable. We calculate this universal function using effective field theory and use it to describe the three-body system of ${}^{4}\mathrm{He}$ atoms. We also extend Efimov's theory to include the effects of deep two-body bound states, which give widths to the Efimov states.


The status of offshore oil and natural gas technology is reviewed, particularly as it pertains to deepwater and Arctic frontier areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Offshore platforms, pipelines, tanker loading systems, and subsea support systems are discussed. Research and development activities of the petroleum industry, the U.S. Government, and the governments around the North Sea are briefly discussed.


This innovation deals with a kind of joints for flared pipes. The inner bearing surface of-a tightening flange (3) is in contact with the outer side of the flared end while the bearing face of an insert (5) is in contact with inner flank of the flared end. For improving tightness of the flared end, on the inner side of the fastening flange a circular shoulder is provided, and correspond-ingly, a notch is provided on the insert, therefore, material of the pipe is deformed in accordance with the shape of the fastening flange shoulder during adjusting.


This article summarizes the status of determining the components of observable modeling that may need upgrading in navigation software to take advantage of the higher accuracy potentially available through 32-GHz (Ka-band) range, Doppler, and delta-differential one-way ranging (delta-DOR) measurements. Areas investigated include (1) high-precision station-location models, (2) Earth-orientation models, (3) a light-time solution, and (4) spacecraft dynamics modeling. JPL software used for radio very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) applications in geodynamics and astrometry was a reference for high-accuracy station-location models, and JPL software used in precision gravity-field determination provided other insights to improved observable modeling. The study reveals that station-location models in the navigation software are complete to the centimeter level, with the exception of the ocean loading and diurnal and semi-diurnal variations in UT1 and polar motion. Since the last updates to the station-location models in the navigation software (1991), it has been established that there are additional centimeter-level models of tidal terms in UT1 and polar motion that should be added. Improvements in the light-time solution implemented in the gravity-reduction software should be realized in the next-generation navigation software, in which extended numerical precision in representing time exists. The higher-order dynamical models in the gravity-analysis software are being implemented in the navigation software for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission.


Compositional analysis of 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide (PPO) and styrene homopolymer blends was accomplished using infrared spectrometry and pyrolysis gas chromatography. In infrared measurements the 1030/700 cm−1 absorption ratio provides percent PPO in the blends within ±3% of the actual value but with a σ% of ±10. In pyrolysis GC measurements, four peaks resulting from the fragmentation of the PPO molecule have been investigated for quantitation. One of these peaks provides results with ±2% of the PPO present with a σ% of 7 when the percent PPO in the blend is above 20.


Six samples of complex composition were synthesized, using as raw materials aluminum, magnesium and titanium oxide and also zirconium silicate. The samples were thermally treated at temperatures in the range 1250-1350°C. The sinterability was determined on the thermally treated samples by measuring me shrinkage at firing, water absorption and apparent density. By X-ray diffraction it was found that me two equilibrium components, tialit and mullite, were formed. Besides of these there are unreacted raw materials which show that the reactions totally are not. The texture of the samples examined by electronic microscope was uniform and shows the presence of some grains with a predominantly prismatic shape and with dimensions less than 5 μm.


We synthesized ternary tellurides EuMTe3 (M = Bi, Sb) using a low‐temperature flux method. These compounds crystallize in the Pmmn space group with layered structure. A superstructure modulation along the b‐axis was observed. Physical property measurements revealed that these compounds are antiferromagnetic semiconductors. Finally, a strong spin–orbit coupling with possible novel quantum interference between localization and weak antilocalization effects was suggested in the present system. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


Asynchronously compensated consensus algorithm is proposed to solve the dynamical consensus problem of discrete-time second-order multi-agent systems with communication delay. By analysing the consensus convergence of two coupled agents according to frequency-domain analysis, the authors come to the conclusion that the asynchronously compensated algorithm can endure larger communication delay than the synchronously coupled consensus algorithm. In addition, sufficient conditions are gained for multiple discrete-time second-order agents with communication delay under leaderless and leader-following consensus algorithms, respectively. Numerical examples illustrate the correctness of the results.


Scopolamine, a non‐selective muscarinic antagonist at M1 and M2 receptors, has been shown to cause hyperactivity and memory deficits in rodents. However, the relative role of activation at M1 and M2 receptors is unclear. The effects in rats of a putative M1 antagonist 3‐quinuclidinyl‐xanthene‐9‐carboxylate hemioxalate hydrate (QNX) were assessed in a paradigm that measures locomotion and habituation, a form of non‐associative learning, to a locomotor activity box. On day 1, subcutaneous administration of QNX (1.0 mg/kg) elicited a large (370%) increase in locomotion. On day 2, control animals demonstrated habituation 24 hr after their first exposure to the locomotor box, as shown by significant decreases (−47%) in locomotor activity, while on day 2 the locomotor activity scores of animals that had been treated on the previous day with QNX did not differ from the day 1 scores of control animals. The selective M1 agonist 4‐(m‐chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)‐2‐butynyl‐trimethyl ammonium chloride (McN‐A‐343, 10.0 mg/kg) significantly attenuated both the QNX‐induced locomotion and habituation deficit, while neither the non‐selective muscarinic agonist oxotremorine (0.125 mg/kg) nor the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine (0.06 mg/kg) had a significant effect on these behaviors. These data suggest that, in this model, the M1 cholinergic receptor mediates both locomotion and habituation. Furthermore, M1 agonists can be identified by reversal of both QNX‐induced locomotion and memory decrement in this paradigm.


It was a pleasure to read Dr. Andrew Hogan's article on the social and medical models of disability.[1][1] As someone who works at the intersections of public health, disability studies, gender studies and psychology, I was delighted to see Dr. Hogan's eloquent summary of the history of the


Communication affects employees' awareness of the State's social security policies, from awareness to employees' behavior. The article presents the current status of participation in Voluntary Social Insurance in Vietnam in the period of 2018 to 2022. Based on the data collected through the Social Insurance Summary Report of Vietnam Social Insurance, the research team has assessed the difficulties in increasing the percentage of employees participating in Voluntary social insurance. The mentioned difficulties include a lack of knowledge about Voluntary Social Insurance, unstable income, or incorrect understanding of policies that have reduced the attractiveness of Voluntary Social Insurance. To overcome the above difficulties and strengthen communication to increase the participation rate of Voluntary Social Insurance in Vietnam, the research team has oriented to apply mass media to support communication through various channels such as advertising, newspapers, Social media, radio, and television. In the research results section, the authors have pointed out the importance, influence, application, and content of mass communication channels in the communication of Voluntary Social Insurance policies.


The doctoral thesis deals with the topic of real options in relation to the application of this approach to investment decisions in the field of advanced manufacturing technologies. To the objectives of the thesis belongs the clarification of issues related to the applicability of the real options in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of investments, main feature of which is their flexibility, that largely affects the approach of performance measurement of these investments and in particular in a situation of increased uncertainty. The main result of the Doctoral thesis is a summary procedure and methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of AMT investments using real options as a suitable tool for the quantification of flexibility value of these investments, including the support of developed mathematical and analytical model for determining the overall volatility of the underlying investments, to support accurate determination of the real option value. As a part of methodology for AMT investments evaluation, self-evaluation model is presented, which aims to identify and quantify firms' potential in field of real option implementation and usage within management system.


In pathogenesis and clinic of arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and their complications, one of the important aspects is the violation of the structure and function of the endothelium. In these diseases, it appears as the primary organ of the target, as the endothelial lining of the vessels participates in the regulation of vascular tone, hemostasis, immune response, migration of blood cells to the vascular wall, the synthesis of inflammatory factors and their inhibitors, and performs barrier functions. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is characterized by a shift in the endothelium towards decreasing vasodilation, proinflammatory state and prothrombotic properties. Currently, ED is considered as a universal mechanism for the formation and progression of any vascular pathology, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes. In routine clinical practice, the detection of ED is not carried out, but it must be understood that endothelial dysfunction is one of the first manifestations of vascular pathology, which appears long before the clinical manifestation of cardiovascular diseases. The review provides data on the functions and dysfunctions of the vascular endothelium, and also presents the modern concept of ED as the central link in many chronic diseases.


This paper proposes a development of a support management system (SMS) for an aggregator managing electric vehicles (EVs), in order to present optimal and profitable energy bids in a day-ahead market (DAM). The EVs allow bidirectional energy flow, i.e., grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging. The development of the support management system takes into account an augmented level of uncertainty regarding DAM prices, driving requirements and availability periods of EVs from driving patterns of European drivers. The uncertainty is modeled by means of a set of convenient scenarios simulated by a Kernel density estimation (KDE) subsequently reduced by a K-means algorithm. The development of the SMS is based in a stochastic optimization problem (SOP) rewritten as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) approach. An advanced interaction between the owners of EVs and the EVs aggregator (EVA) is assumed, being the EVA in charge of decisions of charging and discharging only during the periods of idling of EVs. The results show that the aggregation of EVs is profitable for the aggregator achieving a positive value, covering battery degradation (BD) cost and without any changes in the usual driving patterns of the EV owners. Also, the results show that better-performing batteries can be crucial in the increment of expected profit of the EVA.


When HVDC system operates in the monopolar mode and uses the earth as a return path,partial grounding DC may flow into close-by power transformers with neutral-point grounded,which would make the transformer work under DC bias and bring about a lot of unfavorable consequences to the equipment,even to the grid as a result.The causes of DC bias and its impacts on the transformer are analyzed,and countermeasures are proposed,some of which have already been applied in engineering applications and have obtained good effects.


High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) is employed to analyze reversible changes in the geometrical structure of the molecular switch tetra-tert-butylazobenzene (TBA) adsorbed on Au(111), which are induced by UV-light and thermal activation. In the submonolayer regime, TBA adsorbs in the planar trans configuration. UV-light exposure at 3.5 eV leads to pronounced changes in the vibrational structure of the TBA molecules in direct contact with the Au(111) surface, which we assign to a trans to cis isomerization. The reverse process, that is, the cis to trans isomerization, can be stimulated by thermal activation. An intensity decrease of vibrational modes as a function of photon dose allows calculation of an effective cross section of σ eff ≈ 2 x 10 -21 cm 2 for the trans to cis isomerization.


"'Let's Fight till Six and Then Have Dinner,' Said Tweedledum" WHEN, after the lapse of a suitable time for evaporation and crystallization, I put to paper a few stray thoughts concerning my two sh...


Reconstruction of a spectral density function from a finite set of covariances can be performed by maximizing an entropy functional. The method of the maximum entropy on the mean is used For computing a discrete version of this spectral density and allows one to give a new interpretation of these reconstruction methods. In fact, the authors show that the choice of the entropy is directly related to a prior distribution. In particular, they consider processes on Z/sup 2/. Steepest descent procedures permit the numerical computation of discrete realizations for a wide class of entropies. To ensure the nonnegativity of the solution related to the Burg entropy, they present a new algorithm based on a fixed-point method and the Yule-Walker equations to compute this solution. Then, the solution of the dual problem is obtained as the limit of the trajectory of an ordinary differential equation. >


Construction of Escherichia coli – nocardioforms shuttle vector pAR1 was achieved using the recombinant DNA technology. Developmental strategy included following cloning and fusion steps. Firstly, insertion of kanamycin resistance cassette into the suicide vector pEcoR251 was performed. This was followed by ligations of a nocardial replicon from the pCY104 and EcoRI endonuclease from the pEcoR251, lacking ampicillin resistant determinant. New recombinant plasmid was engineered with a positive (suicide) function and a single selectable marker expressed in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Plasmid pAR1 was relatively small ~5.0 kb in size.


Background: Infertility has increased in recent years. About half of all infertility cases are due to male factors. Objectives: The present study aimed to diagnose infertile individuals by examining sperm volume, density, motility, count, pH, luteum hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology, and percentage of sperm DNA damage. Methods: This study was performed on semen samples of 96 individuals, of whom 45 were fertile and 51 were infertile. Sperm parameters were evaluated based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria among fertile and infertile individuals. Results: Volume, concentration, and motility were significantly lower in infertile individuals than in fertile individuals, and LH, FSH, and the percentage of sperm DNA damage were higher in infertile individuals than in fertile individuals. Conclusions: By examining the quality and analysis of semen in men, it is possible to identify infertile people and follow the necessary and appropriate treatment strategies.


The embodiment of the utility model provides a wide-range micro-control leak detector, which comprises at least two flow meters, a three-way valve, a cut-off valve, a pressure meter and an embedded computer, wherein, the flow meters are connected in parallel and have different ranges; the inlet of each flow meter is connected with an electromagnetic valve; when the electromagnetic valve is opened, the flow meter which is connected therewith starts flow detection; the inlet of the three-way valve is connected with the outlets of the two flow meters for controlling an air path; the inlet of the cut-off valve is connected with the outlet of the three-way valve; the outlet of the cut-off valve is connected with a measured object for controlling the air path of the measured object; the pressure meter is connected between the outlet of the three-way valve and the inlet of the cut-off valve for detecting the pressure of the measured object; and the embedded computer is used for collecting the transient flow rate values of the two flow meters and the transient value of the pressure meter and calculating the leakage rate and the measurement error of the measured object according to the transient flow rate values and the transient value of the pressure meter. The wide-range micro-control leak detector has a large measurement range and can rapidly and accurately measure micro-leaks and greater leaks. The wide-range micro-control leak detector can realize automatic measurement and overcome human errors of the detector.


The ability to recover and purify water through physiochemical processes is crucial for realizing long-term human space missions, including both planetary habitation and space travel. Because of their robust nature, distillation systems have been actively pursued as one of the technologies for water recovery. One such technology is the Cascade Distillation System (CDS) a multi-stage vacuum rotary distiller system designed to recover water in a microgravity environment. The CDS provides a similar function to the state of the art (SOA) vapor compressor distiller (VCD) currently employed on the International Space Station, but its control scheme and ancillary components are judged to be more straightforward and simpler to implement into a more reliable and efficient system. Through the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Life Support Systems (LSS) Project, the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in collaboration with Honeywell International is developing a second generation flight forward prototype (CDS 2.0). A preliminary design fo the CDS 2.0 was presented to the project in September 2014. Following this review, detailed design of the system continued. The existing ground test prototype was used as a platform to demonstrate key 2.0 design and operational concepts to support this effort and mitigate design risk. A volumetric prototype was also developed to evaluate the packaging design for operability and maintainability. The updated system design was reviewed by the AES LSS Project and other key stakeholders in September 2015. This paper details the status of the CDS 2.0 design.


Circadian rhythms, cell cycles, segmentation, etc. are a few examples of biological phenomena where rhythmicity is of import. Many different biological circuits can be constructed that give rise to stable limit cycle oscillations deterministically. There have been several studies focusing on the topologies or the optimization of interaction strengths in circuits that give rise to limit cycles over a broad range of frequencies or at constant amplitudes. However, the fact that a cell is subjected to internal and external noise has not been accounted for very well. In this study, we hope to understand whether the response of a circuit to stochasticity is a factor in determining which topology efficiently achieves a certain biological function at a certain system size, and if the parameters are optimized to achieve a robust response from the circuit. We do this by studying different network motifs, like the repressilator, or the Goodwin Oscillator.


| Goats are preferred as a source of good quality meat and milk. Their production efficiency can be improved and increased by introducing highly fecundity goats. The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of BMP15 fecundity gene by PCR-RFLP and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in four goat breeds in Egypt (Zaraibi, Baladi, Damascus, and Alpine) and their association with litter size. The genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood, and 141 base pair fragment encoding BMP15 exon 2 was amplified, purified and sequenced. The sequencing data analysis revealed four SNPs for high litter size does and three SNPs in low litter size. Three SNPs in BMP15 exon 2 at nucleotide position 757 A>C, 762 G>A and 769 G>C in Alpine, Zaraibi, and Baladi respectively. These nucleotide changes associated with amino acid substitution. Furthermore, one novel non-synonymous mutation has been detected in all higher litter size studied goat breeds and lead to change amino acid where Glutamic acid>Glutamine. The SNPs and amino acid substitutions were detected and repeated in higher and lower litter size animals, which can be used as marker-assisted selection for both traits in the four goat breeds under study.


Forced displacement has a huge impact on society today, asmore than 68million people are forcibly displaced worldwide. Existingmethods for forecasting the arrival of migrants, especially refugees, may help us to better allocate humanitarian support andprotection. However, few researchers have investigated the e ects of policy decisions, such as border closures, on the movement of these refugees. Recently established simulation development approaches have made it possible to conduct such a study. In this paper, we use such an approach to investigate the e ect of policy decisions on refugee arrivals for the South Sudan refugee crisis. To make such a study feasible in terms of human e ort, we rely on agent-based modelling, and have automated several phases of simulation development using the FabFlee automation toolkit. We observe a decrease in the average relative di erence from 0.615 to 0.499 as we improved the simulation model with additional information. Moreover, we conclude that the border closure and a reduction in camp capacity induce fewer refugee arrivals and more time spend travelling to other camps. While a border opening and an increase in camp capacity result in a limited increase in refugee arrivals at the destination camps. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to conduct such an investigation for this conflict.


Low-temperature oxidation (LTO) of magnetite is an alteration process which occurs under normal atmospheric conditions, causing maghemitization. The use of magnetic properties as palaeoclimate proxies requires improved understanding of how humidity and temperature affect such processes. We exposed natural magnetite, with grain size ranging from <1 to ∼30 μm, to different humidity conditions at room temperature and 70 °C for 1 yr. Changes in room temperature setups were very minor, but in all 70 °C setups alteration was detected by magnetic and mineralogical properties. Lowering of the Verwey transition temperature (Tv) turned out to be the most sensitive indicator of LTO, and also lattice constants correlate well with the shift of Tv. Thermomagnetic curves and XRD-results indicate that LTO affects the entire volume of the particles rather than only surface layers. The sample exposed to high relative humidity (rH) >90  per cent at 70 °C showed the strongest degree of LTO with an increase of the oxidation degree by ∼3 per cent according to Tv, and it was the only setup where partial alteration to hematite was indicated by Mössbauer analysis. The sample with extremely dry conditions (rH of ∼5 per cent) at 70 °C, and the sample that was exposed to cycles of high and low humidity in 2-weeks alternation at 70 °C, both revealed a smaller degree of LTO. The smallest change of the high temperature setups was observed for the sample with intermediate rH of ∼13 per cent. The results suggest a non-linear sensitivity of magnetite alteration to humidity conditions, high humidity strongly favours alteration, but alteration is strongly reduced when extreme humidity alternates with dry conditions, suggesting an importance of seasonality in natural weathering.