Perhaps one of the most important skills to develop in approximate dynamic programming is the ability to write down a model of the problem. Everyone who wants to solve a linear program learns to write out min x c T x subject to Ax = b, x ≥ 0. This standard modeling framework allows people around the world to express their problem in a standard format. Stochastic, dynamic problems are much richer than a linear program, and require the ability to model the flow of information and complex system dynamics. Just the same, there is a standard framework for modeling dynamic programs. We provided a taste of this framework in chapter 2, but that chapter only hinted at the richness of the problem class. In chapters 2, 3 and 4, we used fairly standard notation, and have avoided discussing some important subtleties that arise in the modeling of stochastic, dynamic systems. We intentionally overlooked trying to define a state variable, which we have viewed as simply S t , where the set of states was given by the indexed set S = {1, 2,. .. , |S|}. We have avoided discussions of how to properly model time or more complex information processes. This style has facilitated introducing some basic ideas in dynamic programming, but would severely limit our ability to apply these methods to real problems.


Numerous factors contribute to success of a total knee replacement (TKR); including surgical instruments, operational methods, positioning of prosthesis, cementing techniques, surgical experience and limb alignment. Limb alignment of±30 has been rationally thought to be an acceptable alignment and clinical studies have to certain extent validated these assumptions. However these alignment boundaries still remain a hypothesis, as±30 is an arbitrary value; therefore need validation. In this work, the main objective was to analyze the pattern of relative stress distribution in TKR if the axial alignment is gradually increased or decreased including the range of±3°. This work shows an application of digital modeling of limbs and implants, where CAD has been applied to design and assembly of femur, tibia and knee implants. The analysis was carried out at different alignment positions in Ansys workbench 14.0. It was found that within±4° the rise in stress across the model surfaces is not much, however beyond±5°...


Cloud computing, a remote technology that enlightens with several on-demand services. Cloud computing developed with a principle of sharing resources available as per the company needs. Prominent cloud services utilized today are networking, storage, servers, software's, etc. Cloud computing's distributed nature and advanced features create a remarkable footprint in the IT field. It is fair to say without cloud technology the next technical era can't exist. However the cloud computing widely spaced, simultaneous some serious challenges still exists. As per the real-time scenario, there are several challenges still alive, but among which privacy and security are prominent to take concern. Among which the trustworthiness of third-party providers increases the attention on developing an enhanced cloud system. In this paper, we proposed an improved double encryption-decryption (IDED) method for a secure cloud system. The main intention of the proposed work is increasing the privacy and security for the cloud users. The principle applied to the proposed methodology is double encryption and double decryption. The encrypted files are decrypted to view the original data using the keys. These keys are available only to the authenticated users which ensures the system's privacy and security in all manner. The mechanism is processed under the query system of sending and response from the data authority.


In this multi-elemental study, 34 elements (Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Hf, K, La, Mo, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb, Zn and Zr) were analysed in Slovenian coals from operative (Velenje) and non-operative (Kanižarica and Senovo) coal mines and an imported Indonesia coal using k0-Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (k0-INAA) and compared to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Weaker regressions between both methods ICP-MS and k0-INAA are obtained for following elements: Cs, Co, Eu, Se, Sm and Tb with low concentration (below 1 mg/kg). The k0-INAA data are comparable to the ICP-MS data for the majority of elements. The levels of major elements measured with k0-INAA are as follows: Ca>Fe>K>Na>Sr>Ba. Minor and trace elements, as well as rare earth elements (REEs), are comparable with coal values worldwide. Data of trace elements in coal are important since they are related to air emissions. According to our data obtained with both methods (ICP-MS and k0-INAA) we can conclude that concentrations of trace elements, which impact to human health and are combusted (Indonesian and Velenje coal) in Slovenia are comparable to world averages coal. Izvleček V tej raziskavi smo izmerili s k0-INAA (instrumentalno nevtronsko aktivacijsko analizo) metodo nekaj izbranih slovenskih premogov iz velenjskega premogovnika in ne operativnih premogovnikov: Kanižarica in Senovo. Prav tako smo s to metodo analizirali vzorec iz Indonezije (uvožen premog) in ga primerjali z že objavljenimi rezultati pridobljenimi z ICP – MS (masna spektrometrija z induktivno sklopljeno plazmo) metodo. S k0-INAA metodo smo določili naslednje elemente: Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Hf, K, La, Mo, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb , Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb, Zn in Zr. Rezultati meritev pridobljeni s k0-INAA metodo so za večino elementov, obravnavanih v tej raziskavi, primerljivi z rezultati meritev pridobljenih z ICP-MS metodo. Slabše regresije med metodami ICP-MS in k0-INAA dobimo le pri nekaterih elementih (Cs, Co, Eu, Se, Sm and Tb) za katere so značilne nizke koncentracije (pod 1 mg/kg). Koncentracije glavnih elementov merjenih s k0-INAA metodo v premogu se znižujejo kot sledi: Ca> Fe> K> Na> Sr> Ba. Elementi z nizkimi koncentracijami in elementi redkih zemelj (REE) so primerljivi z vrednostmi premoga po vsem svetu. Podatki slednih elementov v premogu so pomembni, ker so povezani z emisijami v zraku. Glede na naše podatke pridobljene z obema metodama (ICPMS, k0-INAA) lahko zaključimo, da so koncentracije slednih elementov, ki vplivajo na človekovo zdravje in jih sežigamo (premog iz Velenja in Indonezije) v Sloveniji primerljivi s povprečnimi vrednostmi svetovnih premogov. GEOLOGIJA 62/2, 219-236, Ljubljana 2019 https://doi.org/10.5474/geologija.2019.010 220 Tjaša KANDUČ, Timotej VERBOVŠEK, Rok NOVAK & Radojko JAĆIMOVIĆ Introduction The chemical analysis of coal includes, as well as, proximate (Khandelwal and Singh, 2010, Yi et al., 2017) (moisture, volatile compounds, ash content, fixed carbon) and ultimate analyses (carbon, hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and nitrogen), the analysis of major, minor and trace elements. Usually, these elements are measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (Finkelman et al., 2018) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (k0-INAA) (Wagner and Matiane, 2018, Lin et al., 2018) methods. Other methods for determining trace elements include inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (Finkelman et al., 2018), hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HAAS) (Chen et al., 2011) and X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) (Chen et al., 2011). It is widely known that these trace elements can occur in a wide variety of chemical forms or modes of occurrence, which determines the environmental, economic, technological impact, which in some cases can be significant (Finkelman, 1995, 2018). Twenty-five potential harmful trace elements (PHTEs) are typically present in coal in inorganic and organic forms (Radenovič, 2006). Among them As, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb and U are all potential air pollutants (Gürdal, 2008). Ketris and Yudovich (2009) include rare earth elements, yttrium, and scandium (REY + Sc) in the table of coal Clarke values, which has been a highly useful tool for making geochemical comparisons of coals globally. Indonesian coals are generally low in ash and sulphur, but have high content of volatile matter. They are classified as low rank coals with low caloric value. The sulphur content varies from 0.1 to 1 % (Internet 1). Elemental composition (wt %, dry basis) of TOT S varied for Velenje samples from this study from 1.4 to 3.9 %, Kanižarica from 1.6 to 2.2 % and Senovo 1.9 % (Burnik Šturm et al., 2009). The geological composition of the Velenje basin is described in detail in Brezigar et al. (1987). The origin of the Velenje basin is related to the transtention between Šoštanj and Smrekovec faults. In the pre-Pliocene basement of the basin, Triassic carbonates and dolomites prevail on the northeastern side of the Velenje fault, while Oligocene to Miocene clastic strata, consisting predominantly of marls, sandstones and volcanoclastics are dominant on the south-western side of the fault. The alkaline, calcium-rich environment during formation of Velenje basin also caused a relatively high degree of gelification, which is significantly higher than the degree of gelification observed in other lignites (Markič & Sachsehofer, 1997; Šlejkovec & Kanduč, 2005; Markič & Sachsehofer, 2010) as well as coals investigated in our study. A well known relation between alkalinity and gelification was clearly ascertained in the case of the Velenje lignite. Lignite samples with the highest calcium contents were also the samples with the strongest gelification (Markič & Sachsenhofer, 1997). The macroscopic description of the lignite samples, in term of lithotypes, was determined following the lithotype classification criteria for brown coals (lignites) provided by the International Committee for Coal Petrology (ICCP, 1993) and are described by Burnik Šturm et al. (2009). All of the samples from the Velenje excavation field -50/C in this study are classified as gelified detrital lignite (Kanduč et al., 2018). The lithological columns for Senovo, Kanižarica and Trbovlje are also presented in Burnik Šturm et al. (2009) and references therein (Brezigar, 1987; Kuščer, 1967; Markič et al., 1991). The macroscopic description of the lignite samples in terms of previous petrological (Markič & Sachsenhofer, 1997), geochemical and isotopic studies of light elements C, H, O, N, S (Bechtel et al., 2003; Kanduč et al, 2005; Burnik Šturm et al., 2009; Kanduč & Šlejkovec, 2005; Kanduč et al., 2012; Kanduč et al., 2018; 2019, Liu et al., 2019) were performed in the frame of various research projects. For example, three different lithotypes (xylitic, gelified and matrix) of Pliocene lignite for the Velenje basin, Slovenia, were investigated to establish the variations of biomarker compositions in solvent extracts and stable isotope composition of carbon and nitrogen in bulk material (Liu et al., 2019). All of these studies were focused on the Velenje basin since it is currently the only actively mined basin in Slovenia and is one of the biggest underground coal mines in Europe. All three of the Velenje lithotypes reflect the composition of the original plant material in the paleomire (Markič & Sachsenhofer, 1997). Arsenic speciation studies and the different forms of calcite present in the coal suggest that bacterial activity was a significant factor during sedimentation of the basin (Kanduč & Šlejkovec, 2005; Kanduč et al., 2018; Kanduč et al., 2019a). The analysis of other geological matrixes such as coalbed gas (Kanduč & Pezdič, 2005; Kanduč et al., 2012, Sedlar et al., 2014) and groundwater (Kanduč et al., 2014; Kanduč et al., 2019b) reveal more evidence of bacterial activity during sedimentation of the basin. 221 Multielemental composition of some Slovenian coals determined with k0-INAA method and comparison with ICP-MS method In the study of Kanduč et al. (2019a) organic and inorganic coal samples from -50/C excavation field of Velenje basin were measured using ICP-MS and revealed that the concentrations of the majority of the analysed elements were either equal to or below the global average for coal. Exceptions were Mo (7.76 ± 4.76 μg/g, 3.5 times higher) and U (5.24 ± 3.23 μg/g, 1.8 times higher) in organic-rich samples. It was found that higher than normal are concentrations of U (5-15 ppm – in comparison to 0.5-10 ppm concentrations in world coals), and of Mo (5-20 ppm – in comparison to 0.1-10 ppm in in world coals). Both elements are presumed to be organically bound (Markič & Sachsenhofer, 2010). This study aims to present results of major, minor and trace elements measured using k0INAA method in coal samples collected from operative (Velenje) and non-operative (Kanižarica and Senovo) Slovenia coal mines. The study also analysed an Indonesia coal supplied by the thermal power plant Moste. Additionally, one of the objectives was to compare k0-INAA and ICPMS methods used to analyse the same coal samples (Kanduč et al., 2019a, Supplementary material) from Velenje coal mine and perform a statistical analysis (PCA-Principal Component Analysis) of all data (Velenje, Senovo, Kanižarica, Indonesia coals) measured with k0-INAA method. Methods Sampling locations were taken from a local borehole database in the local coordinate system from the Velenje coal mine. Coordinates were then transformed to Gauss-Krüger D48 Slovenian national coordinate system and indicated on a hill-shaded relief map generated using the ESRI ArcGIS mapping software (Fig. 1). Figure 1A was produced using data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission SRTM data at 90 m spatial resolution. A more detailed map (Fig. 1B),


For longer distances single mode coupled 1310 nm or 1550nm FP or DFB lasers are used. A couple of companies are working on the 1310 nm VCSEL to replace the FP and DFB lasers to reduce cost and gain performance. The main advantages of the 1310 nm VCSELs are lower chip cost, lower packaging cost, lower power consumption and a very low threshold current. The extremely short opto-mechanical design gives an excellent HF-performance for 2.5 Gbps up to 10 Gbps applications. The flexboard interconnection avoids mechanical overdeterminations.


Doxorubicin efficacy in cancer therapy is hampered by the dose-dependent side effects, which may be overcome by reducing the drug's dose and increasing its efficacy. In the present work, we suggest that the activation of the nuclear factorB (NFB) pathway and of nitric-oxide (NO) synthase increases the doxorubicin efficacy in human colon cancer HT29 cells. To induce NFB, we took into account the effect of doxorubicin itself and of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor simvastatin; as NFB inhibitors, we chose the sesquiterpene lactones parthenolide and artemisinin. Simvastatin increased the NFB activity and NO synthesis, elicited the tyrosine nitration of the multidrug resistance-related protein 3, and enhanced the doxorubicin intracellular accumulation and cytotoxicity. Simvastatin potentiated the effect of doxorubicin on the NFB pathway and the inducible NO synthase expression. The effects of simvastatin were due to the inhibition of the small G-protein RhoA and of its effector Rho kinase. Parthenolide and artemisinin prevented all of the statin effects by inducing RhoA/Rho kinase activation. On the other hand, they did not reduce the NFB translocation and doxorubicin intracellular content when RhoA was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA). It is interesting that RhoA siRNA was sufficient to increase NFB translocation, NO synthase activity, doxorubicin accumulation, and cytotoxicity also in nonstimulated cells. Our results suggest that artemisinin, a widely used antimalarial drug, may impair the response to doxorubicin in colon cancer cells; on the contrary, simvastatin and RhoA siRNA may represent future therapeutic approaches to improve doxorubicin efficacy, reducing the risk of doxorubicin-dependent adverse effects. Anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin, epirubicin, and their derivatives, are drugs widely used in the treatment of solid and hematological cancers. However, their efficacy is limited because of their dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, an important adverse effect which impairs patient outcome and survival (Bonadonna and Monfardini, 1969). Moreover, resistance to these drugs commonly arises in the cancer cells due to genetic and epigenetic alterations that affect drug sensitivity (Gottesman et al., 2002). We have shown previously that statins revert doxorubicin resistance in different cancer cell lines (Riganti et al., 2005, 2006). Statins are competitive inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase, which catalyzes the ratelimiting step in cholesterol synthesis. Therefore, statins dramatically decrease both cholesterol and isoprenoid intermediates, impairing the isoprenylation and activity of different enzymes, such as the small G-protein families Ras and Rho (Dulak and Jozkowicz, 2005). Rho GTPases play a key role in the regulation of tumor growth, migration, and sensitivity to anticancer drugs (Fritz and Kaina, 2006). Some of these functions are dependent on the activity of the transcription factor nuclear factorB (NFB) (Fritz and Kaina, 2006). NFB is composed of protein dimers, such as the hetThis work was supported with grants from Fondazione Internazionale Ricerche Medicina Sperimentale, Compagnia di San Paolo, Regione Piemonte (Ricerca Sanitaria Finalizzata CIPE A201 2004/2005 e 2006), and Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca. Sophie Doublier is recipient of a Research Fellowship funded by the Fondazione Internazionale Ricerche Medicina Sperimentale, Torino, Italy. C.R. and S.D. contributed equally to this work. Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org. doi:10.1124/mol.108.045286. □S The online version of this article (available at http://molpharm. aspetjournals.org) contains supplemental material. ABBREVIATIONS: NFB, nuclear factorB; I B, inhibitor of B; IKK, I B kinase; NOS, nitric-oxide synthase; PgP, P-glycoprotein; MRP3, multidrug resistance-related protein 3; siRNA, small interfering RNA; iNOS, inducible nitric-oxide synthase; eNOS, endothelial nitric-oxide synthase; FBS, fetal bovine serum; EMSA, electrophoretic mobility shift assay; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; BSA, bovine serum albumin; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; PI, propidium iodide; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3phosphate dehydrogenase; FACS, fluorescence-activated cell sorting; MG132, N-benzoyloxycarbonyl (Z)-Leu-Leu-leucinal. 0026-895X/08/7402-476–484$20.00 MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY Vol. 74, No. 2 Copyright © 2008 The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 45286/3362039 Mol Pharmacol 74:476–484, 2008 Printed in U.S.A. 476 http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/suppl/2008/05/07/mol.108.045286.DC1 Supplemental material to this article can be found at: at A PE T Jornals on A uust 7, 2017 m oharm .aspeurnals.org D ow nladed from erodimer p50/p65, and regulates the expression of genes involved in inflammation, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis (Greten and Karin, 2004). In resting cells, members of the inhibitory I B family proteins bind directly to NFB dimer in the cytoplasm, preventing its nuclear localization. NFB is free to translocate and bind to DNA on the target genes when I B is phosphorylated by the I B kinase (IKK) complex, ubiquitinated, and degraded by S26 proteasome (Greten and Karin, 2004). Statins, by inhibiting RhoA and its effector Rho kinase, can activate the IKK/NFB pathway (Kraynack et al., 2002; Rattan et al., 2003). In addition, doxorubicin can induce NFB translocation in cancer cells via different mechanisms (Lin et al., 2007; Yu et al., 2008). By activating NFB, statins and doxorubicin may enhance the transcription of the inducible nitric-oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) (Greten and Karin, 2004), one of the three NOS isoforms that catalyze the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline and NO with a 1:1 stoichiometry (Nathan and Xie, 1994). NO is a signaling molecule involved in the control of cellular growth, differentiation, and apoptosis (Greten and Karin, 2004). We have suggested previously that NO is implicated in the doxorubicin cytotoxicity in HT29 cells (Riganti et al., 2005) and reverts doxorubicin resistance via the tyrosine nitration of P-glycoprotein (PgP) and multidrug resistance-related protein 3 (MRP3), two ATP-binding cassette transporters that recognize doxorubicin as a substrate. Such a nitration reduces the drug efflux in doxorubicin-resistant cells (Riganti et al., 2005, 2006). The aim of this work was to investigate whether statins and RhoA silencing may improve the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin via the enhanced activation of NFB/iNOS pathway on human colon cancer HT29 cells. To reduce the NFB activity, we used parthenolide and artemisinin, two natural sesquiterpene lactones. The former is a well known NFB inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties (Wong and Menendez, 1999; Yip et al., 2004). The latter is an efficient antimalarial drug (Mohanty et al., 2006) and modulates the immune system response by inhibiting the cytokine-induced NFB translocation (Aldieri et al., 2003; Li et al., 2006). Materials and Methods Materials. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) and RPMI 1640 medium were supplied by Lonza Verviers SPRL (Verviers, Belgium); Falcon plastic ware was used for cell culture (BD Biosciences Discovery Labware, Bedford, MA). Simvastatin was purchased from Calbiochem (La Jolla, CA). Electrophoresis reagents were obtained from Bio-Rad Laboratories (Hercules, CA); the protein content of cell monolayers and cell lysates was assessed with the BCA kit from Sigma Chemical (St. Louis, MO). When not otherwise specified, all other reagents were purchased from Sigma. Cells. Human colon cancer cells (HT29 cell line) were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 1% penicillin/ streptomycin, and 1% L-glutamine and maintained in a humidified atmosphere at 37°C and 5% CO2. Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay. Cells were plated in 60-mm diameter dishes at confluence, and 10 g of nuclear proteins extracts was used to detect NFB translocation as described previously (Riganti et al., 2006). Western Blot Analysis. Western blot detection of I B , phospho(Ser32)-I B , IKK / , phospho(Ser176-180)-IKK / , glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, MRP3 and nitrated MRP3, neuronal NOS (nNOS), iNOS, or endothelial NOS (eNOS) antibodies was performed as reported previously (Riganti et al., 2005, 2006). In addition, 30 g of nuclear proteins obtained as described previously (Riganti et al., 2006) were probed with anti-p50 (from mouse, diluted 1:250 in PBS-BSA 1%; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA) and anti-p65 (from rabbit, diluted 1:500 in PBS-BSA 1%; Santa Cruz Biotechnology) antibodies. IKK Activity Assay. IKK activity was measured as described previously (Riganti et al., 2006). Measurement of NOS Activity. Cells grown at confluence on 35-mm diameter Petri dishes were detached by trypsin/EDTA, resuspended in 0.3 ml of HEPES/EDTA/dithiothreitol buffer (20 mM HEPES, 0.5 mM EDTA, and 1 mM dithiothreitol, pH 7.2), and sonicated. NOS activity was measured in 100 g of cell lysates with the Ultrasensitive Colorimetric Assay for Nitric Oxide Synthase kit (Oxford Biomedical Research, Oxford, MI). Results were expressed as nanomoles of nitrite per minute per milligram of cell protein. Doxorubicin Accumulation. Intracellular doxorubicin accumulation was measured as described elsewhere (Riganti et al., 2005) using a spectrofluorimeter (LS-5; PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences, Waltham, MA). Excitation and emission wavelengths were 475 and 553 nm, respectively. Fluorescence was converted in nanograms of doxorubicin per milligram of cell proteins using a calibration curve prepared previously. Extracellular Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity. After a 6-h incubation under different experimental conditions in the presence of 5 M doxorubicin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured in the extracellular medium and in the cell lysate a


Abstract By methods of vibration spectroscopy and X-ray analysis ferroelectrics M5Nb3OF18 (M = NH4, K, Rb) have been studied at various temperatures. In Rb5Nb3OF18 crystal, alongside with reversible ferroelectric phase transition (Tc = 600 K), destructive transformation was shown to develop resulting in the destruction of oxofluoroniobate chain in the structure due to the break of Nb—O—Nb bridge bonds and chemical reactions occur.


Cement matrices, doped with {sup 137}Cs, were investigated to establish their physicochemical properties, mainly {sup 137}Cs leach-rate. Experiments were carried out in leachant media with different degrees of aggressiveness on the cement matrix, e.g., distilled water, Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} and NaCl solutions. A series of six cement samples, which were orthocylindrically-shaped, were treated in each of three leachant media. For each sample, the surface area exposed leaching relative to the total surface area was increased from 1:6 to 6:6, at increments of 1/6 of the total surface area. Expected higher {sup 137}Cs leach-rates of the samples immersed in the more aggressive environment show very specific behavior and functional relations with respect to the exposed surface area. Radionuclide leach-rate coefficients did not exhibit linear behavior. Instead, leach-rate values were best fit by exponential equations to describe cement matrix behavior in the leachants. Different empirical equations were established to describe {sup 137}Cs leach-rates in the various leachants as a function of the relative surface area of the cement matrix exposed to the leachant.


The properties of flame resistance,hygroscopicity and crease resistance of silk fiber and its products have been greatly improved after treatment with modification,which has attracted popular attention.This paper starts from the yellowing,poor wear-resistance and color fastness problems of the silk fiber and its products in the wearing and washing process to discuss the application of the physical modification,chemical modification and blending modification with nanoparticles in the modification of silk and its products,summarize the effects of various modification methods on silk fiber and its products.The results show that currently,the single modification method adopted is still difficult to obtain the silk products with perfect performance.The modification of silk fiber and its products will develop towards the combination of multi-methods in the future.


The search for alternative sources, such as the use of crowdfunding, becomes reasonable under the conditions of funding shortage. International experience study, peculiarities of crowdfunding usage and the development of scientific and methodological approaches of its adaptation to Ukrainian realities are relevant to research. The objective of the article is to generalize theoretical aspects and to study the experience of practical implementation of the co-financing principles in Ukraine and in the world, to identify the factors that influence the development and efficiency of the crowdfunding services. The article deals with the issues of introducing an innovative method of fundraising; it is crowdfunding, which allows carrying out co-financing of various projects that mainly have a social orientation. Studies show that in most cases, the Crowdfunding funding schemes are used in creative activities, social projects, educational projects, projects aimed at the implementation of innovative information technologies, environmental projects, sports projects, business projects, and political projects. The meaningful notion of the crowdfunding and its classification features are investigated and specified, its strengths and weaknesses are analyzed. The international experience of the crowdfunding platforms operation is considered. Analysis of statistics on the development of crowdfunding shows a significant increase in its popularity over recent years, due to the high availability of this funding scheme, and makes it possible to involve a wide range of small investors who are interested in the end result.The promising directions of crowdfunding services development in Ukraine are determined. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the possibilities of use of crowdfunding in the social sphere.The study shows that crowdfunding has a significant potential for development in Ukraine and should become an alternative to traditional sources of funding, especially in the social field.


As we deal with the effects of climate change and the increase of global atmospheric temperatures, the accurate tracking and prediction of ice layers within polar ice sheets grows in importance. Studying these ice layers reveals climate trends, how snowfall has changed over time, and the trajectory of future climate and precipitation. In this paper, we propose a machine learning model that uses adaptive, recurrent graph convolutional networks to, when given the amount of snow accumulation in recent years gathered through airborne radar data, predict historic snow accumulation by way of the thickness of deep ice layers. We found that our model performs better and with greater consistency than our previous model as well as equivalent non-temporal, non-geometric, and non-adaptive models.


In this paper we study a nonlinear elliptic equation involving p(x)-growth conditions on a bounded domain having cylindrical symmetry. We establish existence and multiplicity results using as main tools the mountain pass theorem of Ambosetti and Rabinowitz and Ekeland's variational principle.


ABSTRACT The resulting decisions also have no significant influence in some aspects. This can be understood, for example, through the tradition of polar al-mu'tabarah use as a tool in solving contemporary problems. This tradition is firmly held by pesantren and NU circles in Indonesia, even though these two Indonesian Islamic entities have begun to adopt the system of manhajiy, no longer qawly, as some of the past. The use of medieval fiqh books as a reference in the settlement of social problems is considered to have substantive weaknesses, especially in terms of differences in time, sociological, psychological, and cultural. Keyword: The concept of maslahah, KH perspective. MA. Sahal Mahfudh


Globally, among democratic and non-democratic countries, women are subjected to discrimination in all spheres of life. In fact, women comprise two thirds of the world's illiterate and 21% of the world's National Parliaments calling into question the credibility of democracies as pillars of equality and justice. This reality motivates the central question of this essay: Do the dimensions of education affect gender political equality across democratic nations? Education teaches women invaluable skills such as critical thinking, multi-tasking, and research that allow women from all different backgrounds the ability to think independently. As a result, women can voice their opinions confidently and participate in government more consistently. I hypothesize that education, in terms of access, attainment, equal educational content, and pro-gender equality curricula directly affect gender equality in politics. As I develop my argument, I consider the complexities of education: while the majority of the literature focuses on women's access to education and completion rates, I also consider how having equal educational content and curriculums that introduce gender equality affect the outcomes of increased political representation in government. I test these hypotheses quantitatively, on a data set across 54 democratic countries observed from year 2000 to year 2010. The findings revealed that access, attainment, and pro-gender equality curricula have a positive and significant effect on gender political equality, while the equal educational content measurements did not support the hypothesis. Thus, in order to answer the equal educational content hypothesis, further research needs to be conducted to better address its effect on gender political equality. In addition to a conclusive answer to the research question, this paper contributes solutions to promote a more consistent and fair educational system across the world that ensures both gender and political equality.


Compared to the political elite and the general public,there is different social attribute on the basis of the same natural quality,namely,the class nature,mass character,advanced nature and Party spirit.Nowadays there are some de-criterion phenomenon in the body consumption for some political elite,that is,excessive "three business consumption","have a concubine" and the transfer of funds abroad.In response to this phenomenon,the Chinese Communist Party had carried out a series of physical discipline,and has achieved certain results.However,because the system is not perfect,this phenomenon still exists.Therefore,it is necessary to correctly handle the relationship between private and public spheres,have the implementation of check and balance of power and the implementation of people's democracy necessary and inevitable.


As MOSFET channel lengths approach the nanoscale, the reliability of semi-classical models of transport decreases. However, we have not yet, nor perhaps ever will we, reach the point where effects related to scattering such as mobility degradation and electrostatic screening can be neglected. To offer additional insight into transport phenomena in these deeply scaled devices, simulation tools that treat quantum transport without sacrificing the realistic treatment of scattering are needed. In recent years we and colleagues have been developing a unique non-equilibrium Green's function approach "Schrodinger Equation Monte Carlo" (SEMC) that provides a physically rigorous approach to quantum transport and phase-breaking inelastic scattering via real (actual) scattering processes such as optical and acoustic phonon scattering. Quasi-one-dimensional SEMC codes previously have been applied to model transport in systems such as quantum well lasers where the potential varies only along the nominal direction of transport, although with a fully three-dimensional (3D) treatment of scattering. In this paper, the development of a "SEMC-2D" code for electrostatically self-consistent treatment of quantum transport within devices with, additionally, quantum confinement normal to the direction of transport, is reported along with illustrative simulation results for nano-scaled SOI MOSFETs geometries.


In recent years the investment risk assessment has become a fixed point in any financial analysis, in particular at the stage of the feasibility study of an investment project submitted along with an application for co-funding by the monies from the EU's structural programmes funds. The government institutions' guidelines involved in the implementation of investment projects co-financed by the community funds do not specify strictly the risk measure among their many recommendations, but they only indicate the magnitudes of the financial analysis which affect the measure [1]. Hence, authors in their papers are allowed some latitude in interpreting investment risk [2, 3]. This paper shows its author's original approach to defining the investment risk measure as some probability of exceeding a pre-determined maximum unit price for gas storage service. The real gas storage unit price is determined in the form of distribution of a random variable. The main assumption to calculate this magnitude is to discount the investment outlays up to the end of a USG facility operation. The proposed model of calculating investment risk assessment is in compliance with the aforementioned guidelines and it corresponds well with the proposals of other authors [2].


The authors of "ALK-Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer: Ready for Prime Time," in this issue of ONCOLOGY, address the newest developments in the field of targeted therapies for advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


The early evolution of planetary systems is expected to depend on various periods of disk matter accretion onto the central star, which may include the accretion of metal-rich matter after the star settles on the main sequence. When this happens, the accreted material is rapidly mixed within the surface convective zone and induces an inverse mean-molecular-weight gradient, unstable for thermohaline convection. The induced mixing, which dilutes the metal excess, may also have important consequences on the light elements abundances. We model and analyze this process, and present the results according to various possible accretion scenarios. We give a detailed discussion of the different ways of treating thermohaline mixing, as proposed by previous authors, and converge on a consistent view, including the most recent numerical simulations. We show how the observations of light elements in stars can be used as tracers of such events.


In this paper, a finite memory structure (FMS) filtering with two kinds of measurement windows is proposed using the chi-square test statistic to cover nominal systems as well as temporarily uncertain systems. First, the simple matrix form for the FMS filter is developed from the conditional density of the current state given finite past measurements. Then, one of the two FMS filters, the primary FMS filter or the secondary FMS filter, with different measurement windows is operated selectively according to the presence or absence of uncertainty, to obtain a valid estimate. The primary FMS filter is selected for the nominal system and the secondary FMS filter is selected for the temporarily uncertain system, respectively. A declaration rule is defined to indicate the presence or absence of uncertainty, operate the suitable one from two filters, and then obtain the valid filtered estimate. A test variable for the declaration rule is developed using a chi-square test statistic from the estimation error and compared to a precomputed threshold. In order to verify the proposed selective FMS filtering and compare with the existing FMS filter and the infinite memory structure (IMS) filter, computer simulations are performed for a selection of dynamic systems including a F404 gas turbine aircraft engine and an electric motor. Simulation results confirm that the proposed selective FMS filtering works well for nominal systems as well as temporarily uncertain systems. In addition, the proposed selective FMS filtering is shown to be remarkably better than the IMS filtering for the temporarily uncertain system.


The requirement of altruism is a defining feature of morality. This apparently makes acting partially, e.g. regarding loved ones, morally wrong and forbidden. The question arises how do we apply or use effective altruism in practice. This paper will seek to answer that question with Kant's categorical imperative, by defending an interpretation of altruism in terms of two subsidiary principles: moral love and moral respect. I will argue that Kantian moral altruism is not merely a matter of logical consistence or even a deconstruction of humanity by reason alone; it must be valued in a more specifically non-formalistic sense that is, moral respect and love. I will also argue that as independent values implied in humanity formulation. Moral respect and love are compatible and can be illustrated the effective altruism.


The invention relates to a structure of a package substrate and a packaging method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of semiconductor packaging. The structure comprises a common substrate (20), a super-high-density substrate (10), a high-density chip (51), a low-density chip (53), and an encapsulated layer I (310). The super-high-density substrate (10) is embedded into the encapsulated layer I (310). The super-high-density substrate (10) is in inverted connection with the high-density chip (51). A plurality of substrate outer metal electrodes (110) are formed outside the vertical area of the super-high-density substrate (10). The substrate outer metal electrodes (110) are connected with the common substrate (20) through blind holes II (150), the upper surfaces thereof are in inverted connection with the low-density chip (53), and the lower surfaces of part of the substrate outer metal electrodes (110) are connected with part of pads of the super-high-density substrate (10). The packaging structure is implemented by means of wafer level packaging. Integration of a super-high-density substrate and a common substrate is realized. The packaging reliability is improved, and thus, the product yield can be improved.


Background: The Endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has become increasingly popular in the treatment of suprasellar meningiomas, which often cause visual symptoms due to compression of the anterior optic apparatus. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on patients who underwent EEA optic nerve decompression and resection of suprasellar meningiomas between January 1st 2005 and December 1st 2018 at McMaster University. Results: The mean age of our patients was 59.8 years. We treated 9 male and 23 female patients, with a mean follow up of 6.29 years. 23 patients (71.9%) presented with visual symptoms, with a mean duration of 8.65 months. In our patient cohort, 95.5% had stable or improved visual acuity postoperatively. Less than six months of visual decline was more likely to be associated with postoperative improvement of visual acuity, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.0222 (95% CI: 0.0017–0.289, p<0.05); as well as visual field (OR:0.0625; 95% CI, 0.0042–0.915, p<0.05). Additionally, the absence of RAPD was associated with improved postoperative visual acuity (OR: 0.0675; 95% CI, 0.0354–0.706, p<0.05). Conclusions: Endoscopic endonasal approach can achieve good visual outcome in patients harboring suprasellar meningiomas. Symptom duration of less than six months and absence of RAPD were positive predictor of postoperative visual outcome.


(57) Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for filling contact of the substrate surface, vias, trenches, and other patterns, a pattern having a particularly high aspect ratio. In general, the present invention is that prior to the next metal deposition, a method for removing oxygen from the surface of the oxidized metal layer. Metal is oxidized, the nitrogen, is treated with a plasma consisting of hydrogen, or a mixture thereof. In one aspect of the present invention, the metal layer (22) is Ti, TiN, Ta, TaN, Ni, NiV, or V, wet layer followed by (28), CVD of aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu) such as electroplating, it is deposited using either CVD techniques or electroplating. Metal layer (22) is able to expose the oxygen or air, followed by 2 or more are treated with nitrogen and / or hydrogen plasma cycle, remove the oxidation of the surface of the metal layer (22) or reduced, forming a growth nucleus of the metal layer followed by (28, 30).


In this paper, we establish two combinatorial bounds related to the separation problem for sets of n pairwise disjoint translates of convex objects: 1) there exists a line which separates one translate from at least n — co√n translates, for some constant c that depends on the "shape" of the translates and 2) there is a function f such that there exists a line with orientation Θ or f(Θ) which separates one translate from at least ⌈3n⌉/4-4 translates, for any orientation Θ (f is defined only by the "shape" of the translate). We also present an O(n log (n+k)+k) time algorithm for finding a translate which can be separated from the maximum number of translates amongst sets of n pairwise disjoint translates of convex k-gons.


The variation of casting hot spot with proceeding of solidification and components of casting-mold system is studied by the technique of numerical simulation of solidification.The result shows that the thickest part of casting is not exactly the last part of solidification in the casting, while the last part of solidification is not exactly casting hot spot at the early stage of solidification.The location, size, shape and number of casting hot spot change with geomitric, physical and technological factors of the casting-mold system such as thickness of the casting secondary wall and with the passage of time in the course of the solidification.The former is known as the systematic property of hot spot and the latter, dynamic property.Only when the properties of hot spot are grasped completely and accurately, can it be fed more effectively.By doing so, not only sound castings can be obtained, but also riser efficiency can be improved.


Follows a circle of friends from 1919 to 1943 in Chicago, Paris, London, and India. Follows a circle of friends from 1919 to 1943 in Chicago, Paris, London, and India.


The peak age for use of alcohol and illegal drugs parallels the peak childbearing years. An estimated 5.5% of pregnant US women use illicit substances during pregnancy and 16.3% use alcohol. Infants born to substance abusing mothers are at increased risk of HIV/AIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome small head size and low birth weight while those of women who drink heavily during pregnancy are susceptible to severe birth defects. Only 4% of substance abuse programs report medical professionals as the most common referral source. This in part reflects the fact that fewer than 10% of US medical schools offer training in substance abuse or alcoholism. Other barriers include lack of available treatment services responsibilities for child care poverty and a fear of criminal prosecution that may cause many pregnant women to conceal their drug use from medical providers. Salient policy practice and research issues include provider education about womens substance use patterns public education to counteract the social stigma of womens substance abuse and to increase awareness of its dangers during pregnancy assurance of appropriate screening and effective care for women with substance abuse problems problems with access to treatment and counseling for women enrolled in managed care organizations elimination of long waiting lists for entry to treatment facilities and identification of substance abuse program components that are effective among adolescents.


This research investigates internetworking challenges that need to be addressed to enable seamless mobility in next-generation heterogeneous access environments. The primary objective of this dissertation is to explore the issues related to mobility management in diverse wired/wireless networks. Handoff management is one of the most important issues for mobility across heterogeneous wireless networks. In this work, we investigate and propose various handoff management solutions for achieving smooth mobility across different access technologies such as cellular (UMTS, GPRS), Wireless LANs, etc.
It is imperative to design architectures that efficiently and cost-effectively integrate various wide area and local area wireless networks. In this research, we develop a handoff management approach based on soft handoff techniques that achieves a low-latency network transition between cellular and Wireless Local Area Networks.
Discovering available wireless networks is an initial and essential requirement of a handoff procedure. Many wireless devices provide hardware and software support for many network access interfaces. However, switching the right interface on at a particular time, is one of the key factors that contributes to the power efficiency of the wireless device. To address this issue, we developed and investigated a cell-id based location-management technique that has a low wireless discovery time, and increases the battery time of wireless devices by eliminating the need to keep all interfaces on at all times for discovering available wireless networks.
With the increasing deployment of a variety of wireless access networks, wireless devices face the challenge of selecting the most suitable network from a set of available access networks. There exist a wide set of criteria that affect the selection of an appropriate access network. In this research, we investigated various factors that can influence a handoff decision for mobile users. We also developed and demonstrated how a wireless device can implement network selection using a numerous parameters such as the Quality of Service (QoS) offered by each network, the cost of services, the minimum QoS requirements of applications actively running on the mobile device, the preferences specified by the end-user, and other dynamic factors such as the wireless signal perception of the mobile device, and the power requirement of each network interface.
The proper execution of a handoff for switching access networks plays a significant role in the success of mobile services for end-users. To provide efficient support for mobile multimedia applications as well as for seamless network connectivity, it is important that handoff delays are minimized. In this dissertation, we explored the use of Mobile Agent technology for implementing fast handoffs. We investigated and developed a handoff implementation technique that makes Mobile Agents migrate over the wired network from one network access point to another and carry with them the required service parameters necessary to enable a wireless device to quickly reestablish network connectivity and services through the new network. We conducted experimental tests in a real wireless networking testbed which revealed that by deploying Mobile Agents, it is possible to achieve much lower handoff delays as compared to conventional messaging techniques.


The sine-Gordon equation is solved in a laboratory reference using the method of Darboux transformation.Using the Liouville theorem,explicit expressions of the single soliton solution and the breather solution are derived from the Darboux matrix in the case of a null spectral parameter.


Since 1979, we have investigated marine and non-marine sources of particulate carbon in the marine atmosphere from measurements of carbon concentration and isotopic composition 13 C/ 12 C). Aerosol samples were collected, mostly during the Sea/Air Exchange (SEAREX) Program experiments, in the northern and southern hemispheres (Sargasso Sea, Enewetak Atoll, Peru upwelling, American Samoa, New Zealand, Amsterdam Island). The concentration and the isotopic composition of particulate carbon of marine origin are about the same in both hemispheres (C mean =O.O7 μgC m -3 , δ 13 C mean C = -21‰) This component is primarily associated with large sea-salt particles (diameter > 3 μm). Particulate carbon of continental origin displays a variable isotopic composition (δ 13 C range: - 23 to - 28‰,) and is primarily found attached to the smallest aerosol particles (diameter < 1 μm). This continental component shows little temporal variability, but its concentration is much lower in the southern hemisphere (0.06 μgC m -3 ) than in the northern hemisphere (0.45 μgC m -3 ). Also, the northern hemisphere samples appear strongly depleted in 13 C compared to those from the southern hemisphere. This can be explained on the basis of our isotopic data over various continental areas (Paris region, Ivory Coast, Congo) as due to the predominance in the northern hemisphere of carbonaceous aerosols of anthropogenic origin derived either from industrial combustion processes or from biomass burning. On the other hand, our data set from the southern hemisphere appears to reflect primarily natural land-derived biogenic emissions. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1986.tb00184.x


ABSTRACT: Traditional community organizing processes and tactics are being applied throughout American cities in order to transform inner-city public schools. This paper utilizes a theory of change to demonstrate how the growing "education organizing" movement seeks to improve both schools and communities by focusing on problem issues, cultivating social capital, developing indigenous leaders, building power, and demanding greater public accountability. We apply a series of indicators to highlight both community and school outcomes achieved by a variety of groups to date, with a case study of several local affiliates of the national Industrial Areas Foundation. Specifically, we find that education organizing has made a qualitative difference in the lives of students, parents, teachers, and school administrators; this process has turned former adversaries into allies for change. However, certain school outcomes, such as increased student achievement, and advancements in curriculum and instruction, are lagging behind expectations. Overall, education organizing achievements stand out significantly against the backdrop of urban disinvestment, poverty, and segregation. Importantly, while education organizing flows from overall community organizing, successes in schooling help overall community development efforts.


Anil's Ghost tells the story of Anil Tissera who, having lived abroad for approximately fifteen years, returns to her home country, Sri Lanka. As a forensic anthropologist who works for the United Nations Human Rights Centre, she intends to investigate political murders. On the island, she is unexpectedly confronted with relatives of murder victims including the miner and artificer Ananda Udugama, whose wife was abducted and presumably killed, and the epigraphist Palipana, whose brother was murdered and whose niece Lakma witnessed the murder of her parents. Anil also becomes acquainted with the local archaeologist Sarath Diyasena and his brother Gamini, who are both haunted by the suicide of Sarath's wife. As a novel that relates specifically to the civil war in Sri Lanka, Anil's Ghost raises ethical issues. Yet critics of the novel have thus far treated Ondaatje's ethical concerns somewhat cursorily or viewed them mainly in terms of globalized ethics. For instance, in an article that deals with Anil's 'diasporic identity,' Heike Harting broaches the novel's 'ethical (although rather schematic) critique of the failure of global justice' (43). Likewise Katherine Stanton focuses on the novel's 'concern with justice in a globalized world' (40) and Teresa Derrickson on 'the need for human compassion and the need for global justice' (149). Margaret Scanlan, who addresses the subject of terrorism, refers to Anil's 'ethical obligation to name' the body of a Sri Lankan murder victim (3). Antoinette Burton discusses Ondaatje's postcolonial interest in reclaiming untold, unofficial stories about the nation's history, but wonders whether his narrative opens up 'the kind of "ethical space for historiography" which contemporary politics demands' (52). I would suggest that another important ethical dimension of Anil's Ghost can be seen by reading Anil's and the other characters' personal and traumatic histories of loss and love in the light of contemporary psychoanalytic theory. In what follows, I offer a psychoanalytic consideration of the characters' repression of traumatic experiences, as well as their expression of buried affects and bodily drives. As we will see, an analysis of the characters' unconscious minds goes hand in hand with a more formal literary analysis because the novel's poetic discourse contains traces of the characters' moods, such as sadness or fear, and of their life and death drives. In keeping with Julia Kristeva's psycholinguistic writings, in


A new technique is reported here for the rapid propagation of Narcissus cultivars involving the induction of shoot and root apices from small pieces of leaf base tissue, inverted scape sections, and from ovaries, in axenic culture. Shoot and root apices were obtained on the above explants of all nine Narcissus cultivars tested. The optimal medium contained modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) inorganic salts, the organic constituents recommended by Ziv et al. (1970), and higher-than-normal growth regulator levels. Proliferating shoot apices were induced on a medium containing 4.4 × 10−5 M (10 mg/litre) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 5.3 × 10−6 M (1 mg/litre) naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Plantlets grew optimally if transferred to a medium containing 9.0 × 10−6 M (2 mg/litre) BAP and 2.0 × 10−7 M (2 mg/litre) NAA. The induction of roots on plantlets grown in vitro required a half-strength salt and sucrose solution without growth regulators.In 5 months, 2620 plantlets were produced from two leaf base explants...


System for installing a tube (10) in a wall opening (12), with a tube (10) for insertion into the wall opening (12), a space forming means (16; 50, 55; 50, 90; 50, 100) for producing a chambered space (21) between the tube (10) and the wall opening (12), expanding injection grout (20) having an expansion volume from 3.0 to 3.50: 1 in the chambered space (21) for introducing into the chamber by the generating means (16; 50, 55; 50, 90; 50, 100) generated chambered space ( 21), and a filler pipe (19) for filling of the expanding Verpressharzes (20) in the through space-producing means (16; 50, 55; 50, 90; 50, 100) captive space created (21) and for use in the space forming means (16; 50, 55; 50, 90; 50, 100) characterized, in that the space forming means comprises a tubular sleeve (100) having three lobes (110, 120, 130) which are different in width, which, for placing on the tube (10) and for introducing between the wall opening (12) and the tube (10 ) includes.


The social complexion of Toronto's urban landscape has been irreversibly altered since the 1960s as new waves of migrants from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Central and South America have replaced traditional white European migrant flows. We examine the very different residential settlement patterns of Toronto's three largest racial minorities – Blacks, Chinese and South Asians. Unlike previous studies based on aggregate level data and "ecological" correlations, we assess the capacity of conventional spatial assimilation theory to account for these differences with "locational attainment" models estimated with micro-data from the 1996 Census of Canada. We conclude that the residential settlement patterns of South Asians and, strikingly, Blacks fit the expectations of the conventional spatial assimilation model rather well. Initial settlement is in disadvantaged immigrant enclaves from which longer-term, more successful migrants subsequently exit as they purchase homes in more affluent neighbourhoods. Although Toronto's "black neighbourhoods" are decidedly poorer than other minority neighbourhoods most Blacks do not live in these neighbourhoods. In contrast, Chinese immigrants move quickly to purchase homes in somewhat more affluent and enduring ethnic communities. We show that rather than being historically novel, however, the Chinese are replicating the settlement pattern of earlier Southern European, especially Italian, immigrants and for much the same reasons – relative advantage in the housing market and low levels of language assimilation.


The Purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the Smart reading program, Smartree, in an elementary English class. Recently in Korea, the use of smart technologies in education has become an issue with the introduction of a new educational platform and increased social interaction between teachers and students. The Smart learning paradigm is converging with technology and social learning. This study examines an English reading method using smart technology and how it affects the improvement of elementary students' reading ability, we also suggest effective reading methods related to Smart learning suitable for this new educational trend. The results showed that the use of a tablet PC based Smartree reading program had meaningful effects on both improvements of cognitive reading ability and changes in affective attitude.


Purpose – This study aims to investigate the rule‐based decentralised control framework for a swarm of UAVs carrying out a cooperative ground target engagement mission scenario.Design/methodology/approach – This study is to investigate the rule‐based decentralised control framework for missions which require high‐level cooperation between team members. The design of the authors' control strategy is based on agent‐level interactions. Different to a centralized task assignment algorithm, the cooperation of the agents is entirely implicit. The behaviour of the UAVs is governed by rule sets which ultimately lead to cooperation at a system level. The information theoretic measures are adopted to estimate the value of possible future actions. The prediction model is further considered to enhance the team performance in the scenario where there are tight coupled task constraints.Findings – The simulation study evaluates the performance of the decentralised controller and compares it with a centralised controller...


The re-designed two-dimensional, multi-wire proportional chamber (MWPC) detector based on the He-3 operation gas has been developed for the multifunctional reflection spectrum detection requirements in China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), which is under construction in Guangdong province, China. This efficient thermal neutron detector with large area (200 mm x 200 mm active area), two-dimensional position sensitive ( 65% in the wavelength of 1.8 angstrom) and good n/gamma discrimination would meet some requirements in CSNS. The neutron detector consists of a MWPC detector and a high-pressure gas vessel. The wire readout structures of the detector and the gas purity device have been optimized based on previous design and testing. The re-designed MWPC detector with an absorber thickness of 10 mm and 8.5 atm operating gas mixture of He-3 and C3H8 was constructed. Using the non-return valve manufactured by Swagelok, the gas purity device was developed to clean the water and remove gas impurities. The effective cycle time can be up to 50 min per sequence. The performance of the position resolution and the two-dimensional imaging accuracy by the traditional center of gravity readout method was studied with an X-ray radiation source and the neutron source. At the end of this year, the detector will be mounted at CSNS and studied using the neutron source.


This study identified and compared a deep understanding of the concept of an information system (IS) with the various levels of understanding of a group of undergraduate IS students. The aim was to identify aspects of the concept of an IS that were educationally critical to that development of a deep understanding. The study was significant in that the educationally critical aspects of the concept of an IS have not been researched previously. Yet, without addressing these aspects in teaching and learning the development of a deep understanding is unlikely.
The nature of a deep understanding of the concept of an IS was established from the literature. For effective practice, an IS should be conceptualised as a social system supported by embedded information technology. A group of undergraduate students were interviewed and completed questionnaires about their understanding of the concept of an IS before, during and after a year of study. The student data was analysed using phenomenographic research techniques. Six qualitatively different levels of understanding of the concept of an IS were described. The students' levels of understanding were found to differ from the desired understanding with respect to a number of educationally critical aspects. These differences involved both social and technical aspects of an IS and the relationship between the social and technical aspects.
The identification of the educationally critical aspects of the concept of an IS was significant in that learning tasks can now be designed which enhance students' likelihood of developing an appropriate understanding.


Based on the description to the situation of psychological counseling and political education work among college students and the distinction of psychological problems and ideological education problems,to explore how to coordinate and complement the college psychological counseling with political education work to improve the effectiveness of the work.


Objective
To explore the potential changes of connexin Cx36 in hippocampus and cortical neurons of rats with hyperthermia-induced convulsion.

Methods
Rats were divided into 2 groups according to the random number table method: normal control group and experimental group.Febrile convulsion model was elicited through immersion in warm water.The experimental group was generated following febrile convulsion model: hyperthermia group and febrile convulsion group.Among normal control group, hyperthermia group and febrile convulsion group, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence labeling techniques were used to examine the expression of Cx36 protein in the hippocampus and cortex area.One-Way ANOVA was used to compare the mean of multiple sample, the LSD test was used to compare the two means. Tamhane′s test was used when variance were uneven.

Results
The incubation period, seizure duration and temperature were (4.39±0.08) min, (5.38±0.07) min, (41.87±0.06) ℃ after hyperthermia-induced convulsion, respectively. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of Cx36 protein in the hippocampus and cortex area decreased gradually after 10 times of seizure in normal control group, hyperthermia group and febrile convulsion group, and the febrile convulsion group decreased most obviously.Compared with normal control group and hyperthermia group, respectively, in febrile convulsion group Cx36 expression obviously decreased in the hippocampus and cortex in rats with 1, 5, 10 seizure times induced by hyperthermia, and with the increase of number of induced convulsion, the expression of Cx36 was significantly decreased in the cortex (0.104± 0.012) and CA1 (0.091±0.011), CA3 (0.090±0.011) and DG (0.092±0.012) areas of hippocampal neurons compared with the normal control group (0.212±0.017, 0.167±0.013, 0.159±0.014, 0.171±0.013) and the hyperthermia group (0.189±0.006, 0.144±0.008, 0.129±0.005, 0.165±0.011) (all P<0.05). Furthermore, the extent of reduction in Cx36 expression seemed to correlate with the number of seizures.

Conclusion
With the increase of thermal seizure frequency, Cx36 expression of rats was decreased obviously which may lower convulsion threshold and lead to recurrent seizures.

Key words:
Febrile seizure; Cx36; Rat; Hippocampus; Cortical neurons


Gram-negative bacterial infection is a serious condition in neonates which could lead to septicemic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation and death. LPS, the cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria is a potent stimulator of the host immune response system, mediated by binding to toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 and CD14 receptors. Neutrophils are the first line of innate defense which possess antimicrobial and acute inflammatory activities. Neonatal neutrophils, though incompletely characterized, are suggested to be functionally immature and compromised in their bactericidal capacity compared with adults. We performed a comparative genome-wide expression array analysis on purified (>95%) human cord blood (term delivery) neutrophils upon challenge by LPS for 4 hours at 100 ng/mL. With the criteria of 2-fold differences and statistical significance (P To validate the upstream signal cascade of LPS-induced regulation of NR4A2, neonatal neutrophils were pretreated with specific TLR-4, p38MAPK or NF-κB inhibitors, and stimulated with LPS, followed by quantification of target gene expression by qPCR (n=6 in each group). Our results showed that LPS-induced NR4A2 expression was significantly decreased (all P To compare the capacity and developmental regulation of LPS-induced responses of NR4A2-associated signals, purified cord blood neutrophils from preterm (gestational age 33-36 weeks) and term (37-40 weeks) neonates, and peripheral blood from healthy male adult (age 25-30 years old) were evaluated (n=10 in each group). LPS-induced expression of NR4A2 and associated molecular signals (EGR1, PPARG, NF-κB, ATOH8, G0S2, GPR84, IL-8, PTGS2, TNF-α, CAMK2G and GCH1) were measured by qPCR. Our result showed that expressions of these target genes were significantly up- or downregulated in LPS-activated neutrophils of neonates and adults. However, at the basal level, expressions of EGR1, GOS2, IL-8 and PTSG2 were significantly lower (P In summary, we reported the expressional profile and deregulated target genes in neonatal neutrophils upon stimulation by LPS and identified the downstream NR4A2 immune cascade that could be regulated by LPS, p38MAPK and NF-κB signals, as well as the developmental status. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Abstract This article describes how establishing a nurture group in a challenging infant school had a profound effect on whole school development. Since May 2000 the nurture group has been the hub of an evolutionary process, which the author was able to experience at first hand as the nurture group teacher. Under her guidance, all mainstream classrooms became increasingly nurturing and the impact of the nurture group practices became entrenched in the policies and practices of the whole school. This has had a significant, positive impact for a number of the most vulnerable pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and their mainstream peers. The mainstream application of these principles supported the school's evolution from special measures in 1997 to its current position, judged by Ofsted as a good school, representing good value for money and very effective in helping pupils with special educational needs.


The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of storage temperature in controlling ethylene production through the activity and gene expres-sion of ethylene biosynthetic enzymes of ' Irwin' mango during fruit storage. Ethylene evolution and activities of ethylene biosynthetic enzymes, 1-aminocyclo-propane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase were investigated using fruit harvested at commercial maturity and stored at 20 and 13°C, together with gene expression of these enzymes. Just after harvest respiration was high although it soon decreased. A climacteric peak was observed after 6 days at 20°C or 8 days at 13°C. Peak ethylene evolution occurred after 2 days at 20°C or 12 days at 13°C although ethylene evolution steadily increased after 4 days at 13°C. Highest activities of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase were recorded after 2 at 20°C and 8 days at 13°C, coinciding with ethylene climacteric peaks. Expression of both ACC synthase and ACC oxidase genes was higher for fruit stored at 13°C than at 20°C. The dynamism of ethylene biosynthetic enzyme activity and gene expression of those enzymes indicated enhanced effectiveness at lower storage temperatures.


Abstract In this present work, forced convection heat transfer from a heated blunt-headed cylinder in power-law fluids has been investigated numerically over the range of parameters, namely, Reynolds number (Re): 1–40, Prandtl number (Pr): 10–100 and power-law index (n): 0.3–1.8. The results are expressed in terms of local parameters, like streamline, isotherm, pressure coefficient, and local Nusselt number and global parameters, like wake length, drag coefficient, and average Nusselt number. The length of the recirculation zone on the rear side of the cylinder increases with the increasing value of Re and n. The effect of the total drag coefficient acting on the cylinder is seen to be higher at the low value of Re and its effect significant in shear-thinning fluids (n < 1). On the heat transfer aspect, the rate of heat transfer in fluids is increased by increasing the value of Re and Pr. The effect of heat transfer is enhanced in shear-thinning fluids up to ∼ 40% and it impedes it's to ∼20% shear-thickening fluids. In the end, the numerical results of the total drag coefficient and average Nusselt number (in terms of JH−factor) have been correlated by simple expression to estimate the intermediate value for the new application.


A description of a laboratory experimental and measuring complex is given, including a linear aquatic environment in the form of an extended cylindrical reservoir (hydro wave) and an experimental pool equipped with a system for generating test hydroacoustic signals, a set of electroacoustic and acoustoelectric transducers, and a system for amplifying and digitizing received signals. The results of experimental studies of hydroacoustic piezoelectric sensors and the features of the propagation of the waves generated by them in the described laboratory complex are presented. These results include: an assessment of the sensitivity of sensors, an assessment of the frequency characteristics of sensors, a study of the frequency response of a system of two sensors fixed at the ends of a horizontal hydro-wave guide, a comparison of the results of measurements of the frequency response of sensors in a pipe and a pool, a comparison of signal pulling over time in a pipe and a pool, a study of operation sensors in sonar mode. The most significant results illustrating the behavior of hydroacoustic signals and the potential of the measuring complex are the established possibilities for determining the resonance features of electroacoustic transducers and the detail of the characteristics of the reflection of acoustic signals from objects in an aquatic environment. The main investigated characteristics of hydroacoustic sensors are the sensitivity and frequency characteristics of the investigated sensors, the amplitude-frequency characteristics of the system from the transmitting and receiving transducers, and the features of the transducers' operation in the sonar mode. According to the research results, the characteristics of the sensitivity of the sensors and the assessment of the spread of the sensitivity indicators for representatives of the same type of different parties were obtained. The study of the frequency characteristics of the sensors was focused on the study of the dependence of the module and the phase of the sensor resistance on the frequency and on the determination of the resonance characteristics of the sensors. The presence of resonances (resistance minima) and antiresonances (resistance maxima) in several frequency regions was established. When examining the transducers in sonar mode, a glare structure of echo signals from the components of a complex object (a sphere suspended by a thread), separated by time intervals of 12.3 microseconds, was clearly observed. The delay of the signal reflected from the filament in relation to the signal reflected from the front wall of the sphere is due to the distance by two radii of the sphere, covered by the signal reflected from the filament. Carrying out research in two experimental situations (linear hydro wave and experimental pool) allows assessing the degree of adequacy of the results obtained in the sense of comparing similar experiments in different conditions.


Disclosed is a method for determining the position of a traffic sign, where vehicles with sensors each adapted to detect traffic signals, comprising: receiving a plurality of recognition answers related traffic sign of vehicles over wireless data transmission, each detection message the type of the detected traffic sign and a position indication includes; Determining detection message likelihood functions for the detection messages; wherein the respective detection message likelihood function provides a rule for determining likelihood values for positions of the road sign; wherein the respective detection message from the likelihood function included in the message depends detection position information, the respective likelihood function of characteristics of the sensors depends on the measurement of which the respective message detection is based; Determining the position of an observed traffic sign based on detection messages; wherein the determining comprises: forming a position-likelihood function based on a summary of message detection likelihood functions; Determining the position of the observed traffic sign considering the position likelihood function.


Examples of disclosure. Breach of confidence. The public interest as a defence. Special influences on public sector employees. The Witnesses (Public Inquiries) Protection Act 1892. Unfair dismissal. The action for wrongful dismissal. Overview and recommendations.


In 1978, at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, the Sintez telescope, was put into operation. The goal of creating of this experimental telescope was to develop technologies for creating segmented optics, as well as a system for controlling the spatial position of mirrors, including the ability to compensate for turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere thanks to the fast movements of each mirror along two axes. At the beginning of 2018, a decision was made to restore it with the creation of a new optics and control system. In this work, we present a detailed description of the telescope restoration and upgrade process and the first results.


On a mesoscale the pore structure in natural rocks is strongly inhomogeneous. With an increase of the scale size one may find that the pore structure has preferred orientation ( texture) which leads to anisotropy of permeability and tortuosity. In this paper the Biot theory _was applied to an orthotropic fluid saturated porous medium. Such a medium supports four different wave types: fast quasilongitudinal, two quasishear and slow quasilongitudinal waves. The properties of the orthotropic frame are described by the nine independent elastic constants of the dry frame. Pore structure characteristics such as tortuosity, permeability and shape factor become directiondependent and in the coordinate system collinear with the acoustical axes each of these parameters is represented by a second-rank tensor with the only non-zero elements on the diagonal. Our results show that the velocities of quasilongitudinal and two quasishear waves depend mostly on the properties of the frame and are not sensitive to the permeability and tortuosity directly ( the frame stiffnesses, permeability and tortuosity are indirectly related due to dependence on pore structure; however they can formally be considered as independent parameters). Thus by measuring these velocities one can determine the frame elastic constants. The slow wave velocity, on the contrary, depends mostly on the pore geometry. Its angular dependence in a wateror air-saturated solid allows us to recover the components of the permeability and tortuosity tensors. This approach opens new possibilities for determination of such characteristics of porous materials as preferred pore orientation and tortuosity which have been previously inaccessible experimentally and thus to retrieve information about the pore structure.


We report on modeling and bench test results targeted at better understanding of valved glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs), a common current surgical treatment for glaucoma. A simple equivalent circuit is described to model fluid mechanical behavior of the aqueous humor in an eye with glaucoma, both before and after implantation of a valved GDD. Finite element method simulations (FEM), based on the lubrication-von Ka/spl acute/rma/spl acute/n model, are then performed to analyze the valve's mechanical and fluidic performance. Using nanoporous membranes to mimic the in vivo fibrous capsule, we have developed a microfluidic bench test to simulate the aqueous humor flow and the post-implantation fibrous tissue encapsulation around the GDD back plate. Our numerical and bench test results show that, contrary to the prevailing belief, the valve significantly contributes to the total pressure drop even after fibrous capsule formation. Furthermore, we show that bypassing the valve through a simple polyimide tube insertion will dramatically lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) after fibrous capsule formation. This may offer a new treatment option in some patients with advanced glaucoma.


In this paper, a novel IEEE 802.11p make before break handover scheme is proposed. IEEE 802.11 based Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) does not provide handover mechanism because cellular like centralized control is not possible. In order for IEEE 802.11 Station (STA) to communication with Access Point (AP), association procedure is required. Similarly, in order to handover to a new AP, re-association with the new AP is required which causes some delay until the commencement of communication with the new AP. Since IEEE 802.11p STAs are normally vehicles and make connection with other vehicles and Road Side Units (RSUs), association procedure with a communication party can be skipped in IEEE 802.11p. By exploiting simple association procedure and multi-channel operation of IEEE 802.11p, a novel and seamless IEEE 802.11p Make Before Break (MBB) handover scheme is proposed. The proposed scheme utilizes two IEEE 802.11p communication channels for seamless handover. By exploiting the proposed scheme, seamless connected car control is possible.


Videogames have gained great interest in the computer science community, this interest has expanded to the area of health. This situation is because the results obtained with gaming experiences in the rehabilitation therapies. Most rehabilitation activities (such as physical and mental exercises) are monotonous and boring for patients. It is essential to generate and maintain the motivation of patients. The Pervasive Games (PG) is a proposal that helps patients to increase and maintain their motivation. This article presents an exhaustive review of 101 final studies, which seeks to identify the specific use of PG in the rehabilitation of patients. The objective of the review is to identify and classify the applications that are given to the PGs within the area of health. This research will help to propose a basis and strengthen the use of PG as a rehabilitation tool in some procedures.


This article argues that as land becomes scarce and rents rise the period of unfettered exploitation of frontier regions, and their use for siting major noxious facilities, is drawing to a close. The factors leading to the formation of local-national coalitions that successfully oppose environmentally deleterious initiatives of both capital and the state are described for the Israeli case. A number of recent cases where such coalitions managed to block development initiatives in Israel's remote periphery are briefly reviewed to illustrate this process. It is suggested that the Israeli case is but one point in a global trend. Thus, it seems that the availability of sites for noxious facilities is decreasing also on a global scale. Several planning and policy implications of this change are advanced.


GENETICSJoining a growing list of "biobank" projects around the world that aim to link genes and common diseases, researchers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last week announced a plan to collect DNA from 100,000 people, specifically children. ([Read more][1].)

 [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/312/5780/1584a


The article opens the current observation on lacunology studies where lacunae are regarded as results of change, innovation, substitution and transfer. Lacuna can be interpreted as empty place in contrasting languages, zero verbalization in the written and oral discourse, null transfer or the explicit substitute instead of the lacunar original. The paper has revealed how lacunae, rare words or hapaxes, can found in texts and corpus data. In terms of translation debates it relates to domestication and foreignization area of translation techniques. Lacunae are very closed off and inaccessible and only the ''outside'' parts of the lacunar artifacts or phenomena, often implicit, so translations must preserve lacunae to be lacunae or reveal the lacunae thus eliminating them. The ''inside'' and the ''outside'' of lacunar artifacts and phenomena depend upon a translator. The commentary can be added in the book, a footnote added in the article and the extensive commentary may be missed in speech. Thus, the techniques of elimination and adding work or fail.


subcutis 80-100 fim thick, composed of ap? pressed, periclinal, hyaline hyphae, 4 fim diam at septa, but cells often inflated 10-15 fim diam. Columella of hyaline, gelatinous, subparallel hy? phae, 2-4 fim diam at septa, walls 1 fim thick, cells becoming inflated to 15 fim diam; inflated cells thin-walled; numerous medallion clamps present on uninflated hyphae. Etymology: Latin, columella (a small pillar). Distribution, habitat, and season: hypo? geous under Pinus ponderosa during May. Known only from the type locality. Collection examined: California: San Ber-


CRYEBIS 2 is completed. The project is described. Main features are: 50 keV-3.5 A decelerated electron beam, 5 T-1.6 m long superconducting solenoid at 2.3°K. The gun to reach 104 A.cm-2 has been tested, and SILFEC 3, a smaller scale model of CRYEBIS 2, has been extensively used with a CW electron beam and joined cycles up to 6 kV-1 A. The deceleration of electrons is reliable (from 10 keV to 1.8 keV) and the produc-tion of atoms of metal species by means of a laser has been tested.


The first lecture set the scene for the series by outlining the early development of aerial archaeology and explaining the principles by which archaeological sites are revealed from the air. Attention was drawn to the contribution of a number of early pioneers of aerial survey in Britain, Europe and around the Mediterranean, which included both familiar names (such as O.G.S. Crawford and J.K.S. St Joseph) and less familiar ones (such as Carl Schuchhardt and George Allan), with various examples to illustrate their work. Particular emphasis was placed on the important role of warfare in the development of aerial photography generally. The two World Wars facilitated more widespread appreciation of the value of the aerial perspective, promoted understanding of how to read aerial photographs, demonstrated the potential of stereoscopy, and brought about quite dramatic improvements in both cameras and aircraft. It was also noted that many eminent archaeologists were involved in aerial photographic interpretation for military intelligence in World War Two precisely because of their familiarity with aerial photographs as a result of their archaeological work. Finally, the three main principles that lie behind the discovery of archaeological sites from the air were explained (Wilson 2000, 38–80):


Global Climate Models (GCMs) can provide essential meteorological data as inputs for simulating and assessing the impact of climate change on catchment hydrology. However, downscaling of GCM outputs is often required due to their coarse spatial and temporal resolution. As an effective downscaling method, stochastic weather generators can reproduce daily sequences with statistically similar statistical characteristics. Most weather generators can only simulate single-site meteorological data, which are spatially uncorrelated. Therefore, this study introduces a method for multi-site precipitation downscaling based on a combination of a single-site stochastic weather generator, CLIGEN (CLImate GENerator), and a modified shuffle procedure constrained with multi-model ensemble GCM monthly precipitation outputs. The applicability of the downscaling method is demonstrated in the Huangfuchuan Basin (arid to semi-arid climate) for a historical period (1976–2005) and a projection period (2021–2070, historical, the representative concentration path (RCP) 2.6, RCP4.5, RCP4.8 scenarios) to generate spatially correlated daily precipitation. The results show that the proposed downscaling method can accurately simulate the mean of daily, monthly and annual precipitation and the wet spell lengths, and the inter-station correlation among 10 sites in the basin. In addition, this combination method generated the projected precipitation and showed an increasing trend for future years. These findings could help us better cope with the potential risks of climate change.


Plants used for medicinal practices which were discovered since prehistoric stone ages are termed Medicinal plants, which are also referred to as medicinal herbs, since plants produces bioactive chemical compounds (phytochemicals), this research however, is concerned with the extraction using Soxhlet extraction technique, phytochemical screening using various test methods, which reveals the presence of anthraquinones (free anthraquinones and combined anthraquinones), carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, steroids/ terpenes, phenolic compounds and tannins, and absence of alkaloids for extracts of senna occidentalis and also, thin layer chromatography profiling which gives probable foundation for further structural elucidation amongst others. This research shows the presence of potent secondary metabolites present in the leaves of senna occidentalis (leaves).


This paper models and simulates a government-contractor principal-agent weapon system repair model. Insights are derived as to how government repair contracts should be constructed so as to induce optimal contractor behavior. The paper's general conclusion is that the best contracting approach combines a lump-sum payment that does not vary with the number of units repaired, expensive item cost-sharing, and a contractor-provided availability guarantee. Provided there is intercontractor competition, this type of contract performs well even if the government is poorly informed about weapon system break patterns or repair costs.


Objective: To develop a system to reduce the patient's discomfort and provide hearing protection for the clinical team from the noise from dental handpieces. The specific aim of this part of the study was to reduce the handpiece noise in the frequency range from 2.5kHz to 11kHz by at least 6 dB. This would mean that the power of the noise would be reduced to only a quarter of its original value so the frequency would then be barely audible against background sound.


Spanish mountains have been affected by the expansion of shrubs and forests since the mid‐20th century. This secondary succession in vegetation has some positive effects, but also drawbacks, such as an increase in fire risk, loss of diversity in land use, a reduction in landscape and cultural value, less water available in river channels and reservoirs, constraints on livestock farming, a reduced number of local species and loss of biodiversity. This paper analyses the potential for grazing domestic goats to help control the spread of several species of shrubs such as the common broom (Cytisus scoparius), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and roses (Rosa sp.) that are commonly found in degraded pastures in the Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain. Using experimental plots, the effects of two levels of stocking density (4·5 and 9 goats ha−1 y−1) are compared with other land management systems used in the region: burning, mechanical clearing and trimming. The combined use of goats with support from burning, clearing and trimming controls the spread of shrubs. The most efficient treatment was found with nine goats ha−1 y−1. Goat grazing also changes the distribution of shrubs, transforming a dense and continuous coverage into separate clumps and thereby enabling livestock to graze more easily. Maintaining a mixed structure of shrubs and pastures is the best treatment due to the low population density of the Cantabrian Mountains, as this enhances the biodiversity, controls fire risk and enriches the landscape; it also allows extensive livestock grazing as a main economic resource. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Along with the development of green consumption,the green product becomes people's new demand.In order to satisfy this kind of demand,enterprises have to implement the green marketing.As one kind of mainstream marketing in this century,it is the unification of enterprises' benefit,consumers' benefit,social benefit and ecology benefit,forms one kind of new consumption idea.This article discusses the barrier to which at present the green marketing in China faces,proposes strategy of implementing green marketing.


ISSN: 1082-6084 (Print) 1532-2491 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/isum20 Time Trends and Policy Gaps: The Case of Alcohol Misuse Among Adolescents in Lebanon Lilian Ghandour, Rima Afifi, Sonia Fares, Noura El Salibi & Alissar Rady To cite this article: Lilian Ghandour, Rima Afifi, Sonia Fares, Noura El Salibi & Alissar Rady (2015) Time Trends and Policy Gaps: The Case of Alcohol Misuse Among Adolescents in Lebanon, Substance Use & Misuse, 50:14, 1826-1839, DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2015.1073320 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10826084.2015.1073320


BACKGROUND
Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) has been widely reported as an efficient strategy to enhance anaerobic digestion. However, the role of MEC during acidogenesis for treatment of sulfate-containing wastes remains unclear as so far. In this study a pair of electrodes was placed into an acidogennic reactor to form a MEC-based acidogenesis to investigate its performance in sulfate-containing wastewater treatment.

RESULTS
MEC obviously improved anaerobic acidogenesis to treat sulfate-containing wastewater. Higher COD removal and sulfate reduction were obtained in the MEC-based acidogenesis even under high sulfate loading conditions. MEC accelerated the conversion of substrate to acetate, indicationg the acidogenesis was enhanced. From Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, exoelectrogenic bacteria were enriched in anodic biofilm.

CONCLUSION
The syntrophic metabolism between anodic exoelectrogenic bacteria and anaerobic fermentative bacteria enriched might accelerate the anodic decomposition of complex substrates as well as cathodic sulfate reduction, then providing a positive environment for sulfate reduction during acidogenesis.


In article author considered main types of threats of economic security of Russia; carried out systematization of initial basis of research without which it is impossible to develop effective strategy of restriction in this sphere. From the point of view of practical realization, its main postulates are provisions that danger is conscious, objectively existing, but isn't inevitable probability of negative impact which is only under certain conditions transformed to threat and according to an axiom about potential danger in one kind of activity it is impossible to reach absolute safety. Author paid attention to need of the comprehensive analysis of the categorial device on this perspective and identification of basic elements of system of threats causing emergence of the whole range which restriction demands expeditious development of complex strategy of safety. Respectively formation of the mechanism of providing economic security of economic model of any level doesn't only assume implementation of actions for definition of a problem, a quantitative assessment of scales of the expected damage, but also identification of structure of threats, their differentiation and the analysis in a number of parameters. On this basis author reasoned situation that in the analysis of any system as object of management it is necessary to distinguish the special classification signs of the first level defining intrinsic type of the threat demanding restrictive influence, and also universal classification signs of the second level differentiating revealed segments on subtypes depending on less significant lines and properties. In this context the structural composition isn't only allowing by means of the offered option of criteria approach to reveal, simulate, but also to systematize main types of threats of economic security of Russia at this stage of genesis of its economic model. Use of such criteria as «source», «nature» and «probability» of emergence, and also «character of a consequence» and «extent of regulation» of threat of economic security, respectively, allows to differentiate the studied phenomenon on following types of threats: external and internal, natural and anthropogenous, potential and real, considerable and insignificant, adjustable and unregulated. Need of development of complex state strategy which main tools have to be in conditions of resource deficiency, this sphere focused on restriction of destructive influence, first of all, from the most problem segments locates in the conclusion.


Excerpt Molds are fungi that are ubiquitous, easily recognized and readily classified as belonging to one of three main groups the prototypes of which are known as penicillium, aspergillus and muco...


Most present day quality programmes are failing to strike the right balance between the concepts of ownership and action, the conference heard.


A PRAM(Phase change RAM) device having a confined cell structure and a method for manufacturing the same are provided to lower effectively reset current by filling stably a hole with GST(GeSbTe). A lower electrode(42) of a pattern type is formed on a semiconductor substrate(40). An insulating layer(43) is formed on the semiconductor substrate including the lower electrode. The insulating layer includes a hole for exposing the lower electrode. A phase change layer(46) of a plug type is formed in the inside of the hole. The phase change layer is formed by depositing selectively a phase change material according to an AL-CVD process. An upper electrode(44) is formed on the insulating layer including the phase change layer. The lower electrode is formed with a metal material.


Nine varieties of wheat were tested to find out the best combinations by vector analysis. It was concluded that the ideal values to the extent of 86 per cent can be obtained in the second back cross of 5310 x $409 while using $310 as the recurrent parents and further selection may be practised to set a line still closer to the ideal.


The Hartree-Fock equations for a general open shell atom are described. The matrix equations that result when the single particle orbitals are written in terms of a linear combination of analytic basis functions are derived. Attention is paid to the complexities that occur when open shells are present. The specifics of a working FORTRAN program which is available for public use are described. The program has the flexibility to handle either Slater-type orbitals or Gaussian-type orbitals.


The limited power budgets of sensor networks necessitate in-network pre-processing to reduce communication overhead. The low power consumption of analog signal processing (ASP) is well-suited for this task. However, adoption of ASP is restrained by the longer design time relative to reconfigurable/reprogrammable digital processing. Our solution is to enable ASP reconfiguration through the use of a field-programmable analog array (FPAA), which allows wireless sensor network developers to rapidly prototype and test ASP designs. In this paper, we present an FPAA designed for use in wireless sensor networks, and we describe its incorporation and use within a sensor node.