Our aim was to develop a diagnostic system that could classify breast tumors as either malignant or benign to provide a faster and more reliable method for patients. In order to accomplish this, we built two systems: one is based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) with a resilient back propagation and the other is based on fuzzy logic. We used the dataset provided by the University of California Irvine (UCI) Machine Learning Repository: the Wisconsin Diagnostic Breast Cancer (WDBC) dataset which describes characteristics of the cell nuclei presented in the images. The dataset is composed of features computed from digitized images of a Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA) of the breast mass. The system is based on ANN and was built using a feed-forward neural network with a Resilient Back Propagation (Rprop) algorithm that used to train the network, the number of hidden layers and hidden neurons determined by performing experiments and selecting the highest architectural accuracy. In order to obtain general architecture and to identify the accuracy of this system, we used ten-folds cross validation. The second system is based on fuzzy logic, and we built a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS). The decision tree was used to define the membership functions and the rules. The experiments were performed on two types of FIS: Sugeno-type and Mamdani-type. For the system based on ANN, Feed-Forward Neural Network presented the highest accuracy at 97.6%. While for fuzzy system, Sugeno FIS showed the highest accuracy at 94.8%. Since breast tumors, both malignant and benign, share structural similarities, the process of their detection is extremely difficult and time consuming if it is to be manually classified. Laboratory analysis or biopsies of the tumor is a manual, time consuming process yet it is accurate system of prediction. It is, however, prone to human errors. Consequently, a need of creating an automated system to provide a faster and more reliable method of diagnosis and prediction for patients is rising. In this paper, we developed two kinds of artificial intelligence systems that can help physicians to classify breast cancer tumors as either malignant or benign.


In this paper we first generalize the concept of the admissible subset introduced by Solomon,and then using admissible subsets,we define a class of generalized symmetry groups S(l,m)which are the wreath product of the symmetric group Sl by the symmetric group Sm.The aim of this paper is to determine conjugacy classes of S(l,m),to compute the number of conjugacy classes and the order of a conjugacy class.Besides,we define generalized alternate groups A(l,m) and determine A(l,m)-conjugacy classes of the generalized symmetric group S(l,m).


This paper analyzed the heat transfer with impact of slip condition an oscillatory blood flow through a stenosed artery. We derive the equations for the mixed convection problem of blood flow as nonlinear partial differential equations and the exact solutions solved by analytically. The Effects of various parameters particularly magnetic field on the blood flow through stenosis have been examined. The computational results are presented graphically for the temperature, velocity, flow rate and skin friction.


The calcium looping thermochemical thermal energy storage is one of the
best high-temperature heat storage schemes for 3th concentrating solar
power photothermal power, but its application is restricted by the
inherent low solar absorptance and poor cyclic stability of CaCO3/CaO.
Herein, the solar absorptance of CaCO3 particles is enhanced by doping
Mn-Fe oxides, meanwhile, awns of setaria faberis and microcrystalline
cellulose are used as bio-templates to generate pores inside the
particles. The test results show that the prepared particles possess
adequate anti-crushing strength, high cyclic stability, high solar
absorption, and high carbonation rate. In addition, the carbonation
kinetic equation of the composite porous particles is studied with the
influence factors such as CO2 partial pressure, reaction temperature,
and particle morphology taken into consideration. is of great
significance for the design and regulation of the carbonator achieving
highly stable heat output in the CaL thermochemical heat storage system.


PURPOSE: A device for binding a tool for a robot is provided to efficiently use power by precisely transmitting the operation of a robot hand and an ATC(Auto Tool Changer) to a vacuum pump hand. CONSTITUTION: Vacuum pump hands(50) are installed at both ends of first tool support bar(10). A second tool support bar(20) is coupled with a plurality of first tool support bars by an angle(60). The second tool support bar is inserted into one side of a tool coupling unit(30), and is coupled with a slide block(130) and a fixing pin. A robot hand and an ATC are connected to the other side of the tool coupling unit, transmits the movement and pressure of the robot hand to the second tool support bar.


Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and the incidence of adverse reactions of total body irradiation plus cyclophosphamide (TBI/CY) and busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (BU/CY) in the treatment of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods By searching the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and screening randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quality evaluation and data extraction were performed for the included literature, and meta-analysis was performed for RCTs included at using Review Manager 5.2 software. Results A total of 10160 patients were enrolled in 15 RCTs, including 5211 patients in the TBI/CY group and 4949 patients in the BU/CY group. Meta-analysis showed that there was a statistical difference in transplant failure rate (OR = 1.56, 95% CI (1.23, 1.97), P = 0.0002, I2 = 56%, Z = 3.69), transplant mortality (OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.24, 1.68), P < 0.00001, I2 = 76%, Z = 4.80), transplantation long-term disease-free survival rate (OR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.09, 2.12), P = 0.01, I2 = 0%, Z = 2.50), and transplantation adverse reactions (OR = 1.28, 95% CI (1.08, 1.52), P = 0.004, I2 = 0%, Z = 2.85). Conclusion Meta-analysis showed that TBI/CY combined pretreatment regimen was more effective than BU/CY regimen alone in the treatment of pediatric hematologic transplantation, with a lower incidence of adverse reactions and significant long-term survival efficacy.


The attitude detection system installed in the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) had insufficient angular precision for limb observation. While the SMILES observation provides extremely low-noise emission spectra, the large error in the tangent height of limb viewing due to the poor knowledge of the attitude often limits the accuracy of the SMILES products, such as volume mixing ratio of atmospheric molecules. The attitude data from a ring laser gyroscope (RLG) installed in a nearby experiment unit, Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI), is used to improve the tangent-height error. We create a customized attitude data set from the RLG data initialized with information from the SMILES star sensor. Applying this customized RLG attitude, we can know the tangent height of limb observations with an improved precision of less than 140 m.


Photoreaction of hydrazodicarboximide with β-keto esters in acetonitrile in the presence and absence of triethylamine afforded intriguing heterodiquinane-based tricycles in moderate yields, together with both rearranged and dimeric products.


ABSTRACT Despite the ongoing conflict between farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria, researchers are yet to substantially focus attention on ways of empowering victims of the conflict through skills acquisition. This study attempts to fill this gap by assessing the effectiveness of theatre for development as a communication intervention strategy for positively influencing the perceptions, knowledge and behavioural intentions related to painting, weaving and fashion and design of victims of the conflict between farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria. A quasi-experiment was utilised with 470 participants. Theatre for development was found to be an effective communication intervention strategy for positively influencing the participants regarding the three arts and crafts examined. The implications of these results for human capital theory and the theory of planned behaviour are explored, and recommendations are made.


A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided to restrain the generation of contact hole failure by forming a contact hole at an overlapped portion between conductive layers. A first insulating layer(315) is formed on a substrate. A first conductive layer(310) is formed on the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer(325) is formed on the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer(320) is formed on the second insulating layer. The second conductive layer has a first portion(330a) overlapped with the first conductive layer. A third insulating layer is formed on the second conductive layer. A third conductive layer(330) is formed on the third insulating layer. The third conductive layer has a second portion(330b) overlapped with the second conductive layer. A contact hole(340) is formed at least one out of the first and second portions in order to be used for connecting electrically two conductive layers overlapped with each other.


Anaerobic digestion, despite its preferable use as a treatment for high organic matter polluted waste streams, is susceptible to inhibitors, salt included. Therefore, two different experiments were conducted to observe the responses of bacterial and archaeal communities to hypersaline environments. In the first experiment, salt was added gradually, while in the second experiment, salt was added rapidly (so-called salt shocks were performed). The results of the gradual addition of salt showed a recovery of methane production after the salt concentration decreased. The NaCl concentration of 28.2 g/L seems to be the limit between stable operation and occurrence inhibition. The specific biogas production varied between 0.490 and 0.562 m3/kgtCOD during the stepwise salt addition, depending on the salt concentration, while the maximal achieved COD removal was 79.8%. The results of the rapid salt addition showed good recovery of the bacterial community, while a reduction of salt-sensitive species was observed in the archaeal community. The trend of specific biogas production during rapid salt addition was stable with an average value of 0.590 m3/kgtCOD, and it was observed that higher concentrations of up to 39.4 g/L of NaCl were tolerated. The maximum COD removal achieved during rapid salt addition was 83.1%. In conclusion, certain bacterial and archaeal communities were well-adapted to the hypersaline environment and remained active during the anaerobic digestion of substrates with high salt concentration.


The actual situation of the MECAB di Alessandro Boeris company is far from the best possible situation. Nowadays, it has many criticalities and problems that can be solved with the application of simple tools and employees' commitment, they are mainly evidenced in the warehouse area and the cost analysis. The objective is to enhance the working environment and increase the productivity. The used methods are quality tool and methodologies of simple application such as 5S, quality circles or One-Point Lesson. They are applied in critical areas to prove their power and the achievable results. The results reached in the few months of this thesis are in accordance with the objectives concerning the working environment and productivity. However, it is just the start of the company enhancement regarding the countless possibilities. As a conclusion, it is possible to see the power of the methodologies and tools, and it is strongly suggested their spread over the entire company. In spite of the long application time required the reachable results can truly improve the nowadays situation. In addition, there are other areas with different problems to the object of this thesis that can bring huge results in terms of waste reductions that can be analysed in the future.


Test flights were conducted to evaluate the capability of Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) to provide the accuracy and integrity required for International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Category (CAT) 3 precision approach and landings. These test flights were part of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program to evaluate the technical feasibility of using DGPS based technology for CAT 3 precision approach and landing applications. A United Airlines Boeing 737-300 (N304UA) was equipped with DGPS receiving equipment and additional computing capability provided by Stanford University. The test flights were conducted at NASA Ames Research Center's Crows Landing Flight Facility, Crows Landing, California. The flight test evaluation was based on completing 100 approaches and autolandings; 90 touch and go, and 10 terminating with a full stop. Two types of accuracy requirements were evaluated: 1) Total system error, based on the Required Navigation Performance (RNP), and 2) Navigation sensor error, based on ICAO requirements for the Microwave Landing System (MLS). All of the approaches and autolandings were evaluated against ground truth reference data provided by a laser tracker. Analysis of these approaches and autolandings shows that the Stanford University/United Airlines system met the requirements for a successful approach and autolanding 98 out of 100 approaches and autolandings, based on the total system error requirements as specified in the FAA CAT 3 Level 2 Flight Test Plan.


Using a constructivist approach, in-depth qualitative interviews with 49 men were analyzed to identify academic and social barriers to their success in engineering. Three themes were identified: "Invisible Man" syndrome in the classroom, lack of support with few same-race peers and faculty, and difficulty translating curriculum into personal interests. Findings have implications for broadening STEM participation.


The U.S. public and higher education curriculum development process has become increasingly customer-centric in the past decade. In embracing this customer-centric approach, academia is imitating the process and success of industry. Weidmer and Harris (1997) summarize this new emphasis: "Customers are the students, parents, and the community, and quality schools of the 21st century must begin the process by understanding the needs of this customer base". Recently, some new measures taken by educators, point toward their customer-centric inclination. This paper analyzes the customer-centric and producer-centric approaches from industry, and draws an analogy to similar approaches used for curriculum development in academia. This paper not only analyzes the impact of the two approaches, and discusses their implications on the educational system, but it also traces the philosophical roots U.S. education has embraced from its western European roots. Based on these discussions, we forecast an important accountability driven direction for educational institutions. Push and Pull Approaches To understand the concept of customer-centric and producer-centric approaches, two terms need to be described. The first is the producer-centric approach, hereafter referred to as the push approach. Push approach is used for production of goods or services in anticipation of customer orders. This approach worked well for production-driven systems in which customers' needs were not incorporated into product design. Henry Ford's famous quote "You can have any car you want, as long as it is black, and model T", is a good indicator of the industrial psyche behind a push system. Push philosophy was very successful circa World War II. The reason for this success was due to producers' markets; anything manufactured in that era was consumed. Figure 1 illustrates the concept of a push system, where producers decided what to manufacture based on their judgment of true customer needs. Product design was given to manufacturing, and the finished product was shipped to market. Customers bought the product due to lack of choice in the marketplace, and producers had a complete control over quantity, quality and cost. [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] However, beginning in the 1970s, conditions changed. Consumers started demanding options, and a new customer-centric market developed. This customer-centric approach to production was called the pull approach. The quantity and the quality of the product developed were based on the market needs. In this approach, the production became a make-to-order process where customers informed producers about the needs, and the producers produced only what was needed. Figure 2 illustrates the concept of a pull system. Today the process starts with customers conveying their needs to producers through surveys, focus groups, and brainstorming sessions. Producers design and produce products, meeting customers' quantity, quality, and cost needs. The results of implementing a pull system are higher customer satisfaction, lower inventory, lower cost, and a constantly changing product design to meet changing customers' needs. [FIGURE 2 OMITTED] Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. The push system is more effective in dealing with fluctuating demand. Producers can store finished products in anticipation of demand or can create a new demand by supplying products in the finished goods inventory. Producers control the pace of product development. Any design changes are made infrequently, and done only when the current design becomes completely obsolete. The downside of this system is the promotion of monopoly due to producer's control on the product, and dissatisfaction among consumers for not getting what they want. On the other hand, the pull system forces producers to invest heavily into research and development in order to meet ever-changing customer's requirements. …


The single-use bioprocessing is an attractive new approach of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Digital identification of single-use bioprocess components is critical to facilitate their asset management, to document electronic pedigree, and to provide authentication. This identification can be achieved using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. In this study, we critically analyze the challenges for the gamma-sterilizable RFID tag technology to retain the reliable read/write ability of the tags after their gamma irradiation. In RFID tags, the gamma radiation induced loss of device performance (i.e. the ability to reliably write and read data from an integrated circuit (IC) memory chip) originates from two independent sources such as (1) radiation effects on the non-charge-based storage memory material and (2) radiation effects on the performance of analog and digital circuit components of an IC memory chip device. Our interdisciplinary knowledge of product design, analytical instrumentation, RF engineering, and Six Sigma statistics has resulted in the design and implementation of the tag interrogation concept that insures the high reliability of tag read/write after the gamma irradiation.


Research on both formal (i.e., required) and informal (i.e., discretionary) voice has attracted significant amount of interest over the past decade. Although so far different literatures have identified various antecedents and consequences of this construct, inconsistent findings largely due to different operationalization of the construct in different literatures, highlight the need for new research to identify existing empirical and theoretical gaps and opportunities. This symposium seeks to provide empirical evidence and theoretical development to advance our knowledge of antecedents and consequences of formal and informal voice as well as underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions of these effects. Following the presentations of four empirical papers we intend to engage in an insightful group discussion that will contribute to the existing research on voice and will offer directions for future research." When and Why Individuals Voice Their Moral Concerns at Work? Presenter: Burak OC; UWA Business ...


In aim of the article is to show the policy of the government of Peter the Great in modernization of natural and economic resources of Derbent and its district. On the basis of the analysis of written and literary references the main actions for the development and modernization of the natural and economic resources of the Derbent region ofDagestanare studied. Plans for reconstruction of Derbent trade harbor in view of its important economic and strategic importance had a more large-scale and consecutive character. The research shows that former trade value of the city was restored, it became involved in the Russian east trade on the west bank of theCaspian Sea. Besides, as a result of complex measures, the economy of Caspian Dagestan and Derbent in particular received a new impulse for development, separate perspective branches of economy (wine growing, saffron and oil production) were improved with the consideration of the last achievements, including foreign. Many efforts in this aspect were made directly by Peter I, who was interested in the development of domestic production of wine, oil, spices, wool.


The relationship between physique and metabolic fitness was examined in a sample of 413 boys and 343 girls 9–18 years of age from Phase I of the Québec Family Study. Physique was assessed using the Heath‐Carter anthropometric somatotype. Indicators of metabolic fitness were plasma triglyceride levels (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), and blood glucose levels (GLY). The sample was divided into three age groups, 9–12, 13–15, and 16–18 years of age. A partial canonical correlation analysis was used to quantify the relationship between the standardized somatotype and metabolic fitness variables (z‐transformed) with age as the covariate. In both boys and girls the first canonical correlation is significant (P ⩽ 0.001) and indicates a relationship between the physique and metabolic fitness variables. By age group, the 16–18 year old boys, and the 9–12, 13–15, 16–18 year old girls demonstrate significant canonical correlations (P ⩽ 0.03). Overall, 8% to 19% of the variance in metabolic fitness can be explained by the Heath‐Carter anthropometric somatotype. The makeup of the canonical variates is similar for all age groups. Generally, the physique domain is characterized by a positive loading for ectomorphy and negative loadings for endomorphy and mesomorphy. The metabolic fitness domain has a positive loading for HDL‐C and negative loadings for TG, LDL‐C, and GLY. The results suggest that in youth 9–18 years, a physique characterized by high endomorphy and mesomorphy is associated with higher levels of TG, LDL‐C, and GLY, and lower levels of HDL‐C. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:341–350, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Abstract The authors conducted a survey of distance librarian-administrators at Association of Research Libraries member libraries who plan for and manage distance learning library services. Survey questions included: What resources and services do ARL libraries currently offer to distance learners? What changes are being planned for in the immediate future? With libraries experiencing flattened budgets, what will be the impact on distance learners? Findings from the survey will inform librarian-administrators and library deans/directors of the current state of, and emerging trends in, distance learning library services.


Owing to the global promotion of e-learning, combining recognition technology to facilitate learning has become a popular research topic. This study uses eye-tracking to analyze students' actual learning situations by examining their attention during the learning process and to provide timely support to enhance their learning performance. Using cognitive technology, this study can analyze students' real-time learning status, which can be utilized to provide timely learning reminders that help them achieve their self-defined learning goals and to effectively enhance their interest and performance. Accordingly, we designed a self-regulated learning (SRL) mechanism, based on eye-tracking technology, combined with online marking and note-taking functions. The mechanism can aid students in maintaining a better reading state, thereby enhancing their learning performance. This study explores students' learning outcomes, motivation, self-efficacy, learning anxiety, and performance. The experimental results show that students who used the SRL mechanism exhibited a greater learning performance than those who did not use it. Similarly, SRL mechanisms could potentially improve students' learning motivation and self-efficacy, as well as increase their learning attention. Moreover, SRL mechanisms reduce students' perplexities and learning anxieties, thereby enhancing their reading-learning performance to achieve an educational sustainability by providing a better e-learning environment.


. Indexing for psorosis is usually performed on Pineapple sweet orange. Partial purification of citrus psorosis virus (CPsV) was achieved from leaves of Pineapple sweet orange and Eureka lemon but infectivity on Chenopodium quinoa was usually low. We tested 14 citrus species and cultivars as psorosis indicators and as sources for CPsV purification. Typical psorosis symptoms on seedlings inoculated with isolate 90-1-1 were recorded and infectivity assayed on C. quinoa, with the following results: 1) At 30 days post infection Temple mandarin, Cleopatra mandarin and Eureka lemon were as good as Pineapple sweet orange indicators of psorosis. Trifoliate orange, Troyer citrange, King of Siam mandarin, rough lemon, Malvasio mandarin, Duncan grapefruit, sour orange, Rangpur lime, Madame Vinous sweet orange and Ellendale mandarin were poor indicators; 2) Leaf material from Temple mandarin and rough lemon was in general more infectious than that from Eureka lemon and Pineapple sweet orange. King of Siam mandarin, Duncan grapefruit, Cleopatra mandarin, sour orange and Rangpur lime consistently produced less infectious material; 3) Survival of Temple mandarin was shorter than rough lemon and Eureka lemon was longer than rough lemon. Two conclusions were reached: a) Temple mandarin, Cleopatra mandarin and Eureka lemon could be used as Pineapple sweet orange for psorosis indexing; b) rough lemon could advantageously replace Eureka lemon and Pineapple sweet orange as source of material for CPsV propagation.


The peculiarities of human perception of different information, which sometimes lead to erroneous estimates of the real world. It is shown that as one of the models describing the process of converting the signals in the mind, is a linear system, with easy to understand and most developed mathematical tools of analysis. As proof of the linearity of the instrument is proposed to use a mental technique for transmitting messages. Find a simple analytical dependence that establishes a connection between the inductor and the percipient.


Elephant ranges in Asia overlap with human-use areas, leading to frequent and often negative two-way interactions, a fraction of which result in human fatalities. Minimizing such negative interactions rests on gaining a mechanistic understanding of their patterns and underlying processes. In Chhattisgarh (India), a rewilding population of 250–300 elephants that have recently expanded their range from neighbouring states through dispersal has been causing annual losses of >60 human lives. Using logistic regression models, we examined the influences of eight plausible predictors of the occurrence of elephant-related human fatality incidents. We found that 70% of incidents occurred in areas with high-intensity habitat use by elephants; the other 30% were in areas of intermediate and sporadic elephant habitat use. The probability of human fatalities was high along the roads connecting settlements and in areas with frequent house break-ins by elephants, and this probability was also affected by the spatial geometry of forest patches. Immediate practical options to minimize fatal interactions include community-based early-warning systems and the use of portable barriers around settlements. Judicious landscape-level land-use planning aimed at maintaining the resilience of remnant intact elephant habitats will be critical to preventing the dispersal of elephants into suboptimal habitats, which can create complex conflict situations.


The experimental case study presented here explores the use of CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning) for the complex task "writing a summary from aural input". This is a common task in Applied Language Studies bachelor programmes that combines several language and cognitive skills and is therefore likely to cause cognitive overload. The aim is to find out to what extent students can be supported in the management of this overload by an online learning module which scaffolds them and helps them develop the necessary language use strategies.
In the experiment, 10 students in the Applied Linguistics bachelor programme (CEF-level B2-C1) at University College Ghent were observed while working on two tasks in an online learning module (Deutsch-Uni Online). Their activities were recorded using the Morae Software that allows for synchronous registration of audio (think-aloud protocols) and video, combined with screen and keystroke logging.
As strategy use is of paramount importance for the execution of a complex task and varies considerably between individual students, it was one of the main concerns in this study. The students' actual strategy use was observed and matched against their self-reported use of strategies as obtained from a pre-test questionnaire which is inspired by Oxford´s Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (SILL) [3]. An interesting finding is that strategy use in an online environment is also influenced by the level of online and pc literacy. Even among this relatively homogeneous group of "Net-geners", considerable differences at this level were found.


The study of blood vessels in the eye using intravascular fluorescein has become a practical clinical technique within the past decade. Photographic recording of the passage of dye through the retinal and choroidal vessels provides diagnostic and therapeutic clues to a wide variety of ocular disorders. It also has provided an objective method to distinguish papilledema from pseudopapilledema. Vascular leakage associated with edema of the disc produces leakage of fluorescein which is revealed by continued fluorescence of the disc after the dye has passed through the eye. This book admirably reviews the problems which were solved to reach the current level of development of retinal angiography. Its technical descriptions and literature review are unexcelled. The quality of the reproductions is excellent. Ten pages are devoted to disorders of the optic disc. We may note, however, that the methods and apparatus of the author are those of one manufacturer. He does


The imaginary language is, today, a question based on the discussions about the possibilities of communication. This study aims analyze the search for clues that aimed to understand how the beings deal with their communicative competence and the frustration caused by the non-communication. Nowadays we have the necessity of reveal the mysteries of a language with ontological bases, in order to pursue a new paradigm. It will have to incorporate new rules into a new model, which will be broader and generous, where the symbolic/imaginary language shows its importance and concreteness. By studying this proposal this text aims to show a communication by the imaginary as an agreement and clarify some of its assumptions.


Objective To investigate the prevalence rate of internet use and internet addiction disorder(IAD) among the adolescent,and provide evidence for prevention measures.Methods An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted for investigation of internet use and addiction among 23388 adolescent from Henan province by using stratified and cluster sampling method.Results The net surfing rate of adolescent was 70.6 %.The net surfing rate of male students(77.8 %) was significantly higher than the female(63.6 %,P0.01).The tendency IAD rate was 12.1 %,and it was 18.1 % for male and 6.2 % for female(P0.01).The IAD rate was 2.2 %,and it was 3.5 % for male and 0.9 % for female(P0.01).The main intentions of net surfing were chatting,amusement and playing game,etc.Conclusion The prevalence rate of net surfing is high in adolescent.IAD has affects on mental health and learning of adolescent.Family,school and society should collaborate to prevent and control IAD.


This paper propose a methodology to identify the dynamic material properties of the HAZ near the base metal in a resistance spot weld at various strain rates. The mechanical properties of the HAZ of SPRC340R were obtained by fabricating thermal simulated HAZ specimens which have similar hardness and microstructure as the actual weld HAZ near the base metal. The thermal simulated HAZ specimens are fabricated using the Material Thermal Cycle Simulator (MTCS). Then, dynamic tensile tests are performed at various strain rates of 0.001 /sec to 100 /sec. Finite element analysis of tensile-shear tests were done under the static and dynamic loading conditions to verify the validity and effectiveness of thermal simulated HAZ properties. Load and displacement curves were obtained with and without applying the material properties of HAZ. The curves are compared to the experimental data. The amount of errors between the analysis and experiment were reduced when the material properties of thermal simulated HAZ were applied to the HAZ. The comparison demonstrates that the dynamic material properties obtained from thermal simulated HAZ specimens are valid for the analysis of spot welded specimens.


The issues regarding character values, particularly in practical aspects, have been a fundamental problem in education, mainly among the students. These issues can clearly be observed in some phenomena contrary to the goals of education. The effort to retrieve character values from some Muslim scholars (Ulama) who have made significant contributions to the society (Ummah) is urgently required. The aim of this study is to highlight the patterns of ideas on character education between two influential Muslim scholars: Ahmad Dahlan (a Malay Muslim scholar) with his reform movement during the colonial period of Indonesia and al-Zarnūjī (a Middle Eastern Muslim scholar) with his educational concept popularly used among Islamic boarding institutions (pesantren) in Indonesia. To gather the theoretical framework from both, literature study from secondary sources was undertaken to analyse the character values proposed by both scholars. The results revealed that Ahmad Dahlan emphasised a reform from hypostatization (jumud) to dynamic thinking. On the other hand, al-Zarnūjī proposed an earnest effort for cultivating spiritual noble character values through niyyah (intention), muwāḍabah (perseverance) including ta'ẓīm (respect), wara' (Godliness) and tawakkal (trust in God) for perfection in adab (courtesy) as the main performance indicator for individual character development. Thus, the integration of these different emphases will create 'tawazun' (balance of concepts) between 'critical dynamic thought' and 'individual noble character'.


This paper reports that utilization of an n-CdSe photoanode in an electrolyte containing the ferro/ferricyanide redox couple (adjusted to pH = 13) gives rise to an overlayer on the electrode composed of [Cd(CN)Fe(CN)[sub 6]][sup 2[minus]/1[minus]]. This layer is found to be effective with respect to suppression of electrode photodecomposition processes. Enhanced interfacial charge-transfer rates are observed which give rise to excellent monochromatic (488 or 633 nm) cell output parameters for light intensities up to 400 mW/cm[sup 2]. Monochromatic maximum optical to electrical energy conversion efficiencies of 20% derive from fill factors typically in excess of 0.7 and limiting quantum yields for electron flow [gt] 0.6. This provides for limiting photocurrents as high as 100 mA/cm[sup 2] under ideal conditions. The electrode response is found to be very sensitive to the nature of the etchant pretreatment employed and the spectator cations present in the supporting electrolyte. These parameters are found to affect the amount and microstructure associated with the interfacial overlayer. A novel wavelength dependence of the electrode stability is associated with photoaquation processes in the cyanometalate overlayer which modulates overlayer charge-transport properties.


On December 5, 1985, P&L Sportswear Inc., Boston's largest garment factory, without giving advance notice, closed its doors and sent home 349 workers, most of whom were uneducated Chinese females (ah mou) from Boston Chinatown. Although the 1984 Mature Industries Act entitled displaced workers to job retraining and English language courses, in the case of the P&L workers, the state neglected to fulfill this promise to Massachusetts' working class. After six months of state inaction, the ah mou traded their sewing machines for picket signs and transformed into powerful labor activists. This paper explores how the ah mou defied cultural traditions and social conventions to organize themselves as a political force. Furthermore, this paper narrates how the 1986 Boston Chinatown garment workers, by projecting their own voice and by making themselves visible to the greater Boston community and the state, cultivated a space for Asian America in the United States. Author's Note Kalina Yingnan Deng is a junior at Wellesley College, where she is studying philosophy with emphases in political and social thought as well as in urban studies. Currently, she serves as an AsianAmerican Women's Political Initiative 2013 Fellow in the Massachusetts State House and as a Just Business? Fellow for the Babson-Olin-Wellesley consortium, in which she works to develop best practices for corporate social responsibility. And true to her Mississippi roots, in her free time, Kalina Yingnan loves listening to blues guitar legends and baking her own bread.


Over the last two to three decades, a good deal of increasingly sophisticated work has beerhdone on Indonesian economic history during the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. An important area of work has been an analysis of the structure of production of export crops with special reference to the ~Cultivation System. A recurring theme in this work has been the allegedly growing impoverishment of the Javanese peasantry because of the operation of non-market constraints and coercive forces.


The aim of this work was to study spatial and temporal variation in biomarkers in autochthonous Mytilus galloprovincialis sampled inside and outside Mar Piccolo of Taranto, a typical polluted semi-enclosed basin of the Mediterranean Sea characterised by scarce hydrodynamism. Mar Piccolo of Taranto represents a site of Italian National Interest because of the high level of pollution. A battery of biomarkers (lysosomal destabilisation, catalase, metallothioneins, acetylcholinesterase, air survival) was applied to assess pollution-induced stress effects in authoctonous mussels. The responses were analysed comparatively in two different seasons, summer and winter, in order to assess possible changes in the pollutant-induced stress syndrome throughout the year. No significant difference inside and outside Mar Piccolo was observed for metallothioneins. By contrast, the dramatically decreased acetylcholinesterase values and strongly increased catalase activity in organisms taken from Mar Piccolo in winter indicate an increased risk of exposure to anticholinesterase compounds during this season. The results suggest the importance of temporal variability in biomarker responses throughout the year for monitoring possible seasonal changes in the pollutant-induced stress syndrome of organisms living in a certain environment and, in turn, more properly detecting changes in ecotoxicological risks.


Abstract The physical dimensions of people in archeological photographs in Palestine from before 1948 and in Western tourist landscape photography have played a role in forms of local documentation. The study discusses how this component affects readings and perceptions of photographs. It addresses Jewish propaganda photographs in which pioneers were intentionally enlarged and centered in photographs. It discusses forms of visual empowerment in relation to constructed dimensions of people as a form of Zionist defiance of British colonialism in Palestine.


Research suggests greater obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity in African-Americans than Caucasians. However, the underlying mechanisms causing this ethnic disparity are unknown. To evaluate possible mechanisms, we compared the size of the tongue between African American and Caucasian OSA patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), controlling for age, body mass index (BMI) and apnea-hypoxia index (AHI). Given prior evidence of more severe OSA in African Americans, we hypothesized these patients would have larger soft tissue volumes compared to Caucasians.

 Upper airway soft tissue volumes, (total tongue, tongue fat, lateral walls, pterygoids, total soft tissue) were quantified using MRI and compared between Caucasian (n=133) and African American (n=175) patients with moderate OSA. Analyses were conducted using regression models controlling for age, sex, BMI and AHI.

 Among all OSA patients, African Americans had higher BMI than Caucasians (40.0±8.6 vs. 37.1±8.1 kg/m2, p=0.0024) and a higher proportion of females (66.3% vs. 36.1%; p<0.0001). There were no significant differences in age (p=0.143) or AHI (p=0.314). Controlling for these covariates, there were no differences between African American and Caucasian OSA patients in tongue fat volume (mean [95% confidence interval] difference = 479 [-3156, 4115] mm3; p=0.794). However, African Americans had a 13,286 (6,439, 20,132) mm3 larger total tongue volume compared to Caucasians (p=0.0002). Larger volumes in African Americans were also observed for the soft palate (p<0.0001), retropalatal lateral walls (p=0.003), pterygoid (p=0.034) and total soft tissue volume (p=0.0003).

 African Americans were observed to have larger volumes of the tongue, soft palate, retropalatal lateral walls, pterygoids and total soft tissue volume compared to Caucasians, although there were no differences in AHI and tongue fat volume. The study contributes to the overall understanding of ethnic-specific pathology of OSA and can potentially influence how African Americans and Caucasians are diagnosed and treated specifically for the disease.


Abstract The metabolic role of selenium is largely determined by the reactions catalyzed by selenium-dependent enzymes. At present, two Secontaining glutathione peroxidases are known, one of which exclusively reacts with H2O2 and with a large variety of other hydroperoxides, however not with esterified phospholipid hydroperoxides. The second GSH peroxidase is an interfacial enzyme acting on lipid hydroperoxides including phosphatidyl-choline and cholesterol-hydroperoxide. Recently, a 5-deiodinase activity has been identified as a selenoenzyme which is responsible for the production of active thyroid hormone (T3) from its pro-hormone (T4). A plasma selenoprotein P has been isolated and sequenced which contains as many as 10 selenocysteine residues per molecule. Its function is still unknown. In spite of this increasing information, selenium deficiency in animals and man cannot be simply explained on an enzymological basis. Animal experiments showed that selenium is depleted from these proteins with differe...


It is disclosed a method for manufacturing a mirror (124) for a lithography system (100), with the following steps. In a first step a), an expected heat flow distribution (518) on the mirror (124) is determined. In a second step b) a plurality of heating zones are HZ1-HZ13) is formed (on the mirror (124) in response to the determined thermal current distribution (518). In a third step c) is a respective heating zone (HZ 1-HZ13) having a respective heater (HE1 HE13) for heating of the respective heating zone (HZ 1-HZ13) in response to a detected temperature of each heating zone (HZ 1-HZ13) or expected thermal power distribution (518) on the mirror (124) provided.


In stereo image hiding, the stereo visual masking model can guide us choose confidential information's location and intensity while keeping the subjective quality unchanged. The existing models have considered the combination of binocular noise amplitude based on the conventional 2D-JND model. However, when the images shown to the two eyes are sufficiently different, the binocular rivalry will occur. Binocular rivalry is a brain visual information processing mechanism different from binocular combination, only one eye can be perceived, and the other eye is suppressed. This paper investigated stereo visual masking under unconscious binocular rivalry. We added invisible noise gratings with incompatible orientations in a pair of stereo images and designed psychophysical experiments using Staircase-Method, measuring the binocular just noticeable noise amplitude in different background luminance and noise orientation pairs. The results show that binocular views with incompatible binocular noise orientations can always have a higher masking threshold than the compatible orientations. Besides, we analyzed the trend of masking threshold varied with the orientations and calculated the threshold increment caused by binocular rivalry. This work provides a novel method for information hiding: We can use binocular stimuli with incompatible orientations to trigger unconscious binocular rivalry and the masking effect to hide more information in the suppressed view. 


Shortly after the synthesis of epinephrine, studies were carried out on the comparative actions of the synthetic and the natural substances. Chemically the artificial base was identical with the natural substance in all respects except that it was optically inactive while natural epinephrine is levorotatory. Beberfeld 1 studied the comparative actions of racemic synthetic epinephrine and the levorotatory natural base in rabbits and concluded that they were exactly equivalent. Cushny 2 found in dogs that the natural epinephrine was twice as active on the blood pressure as the synthetic isomer and concluded that the dextrorotatory substance was devoid of action on the blood vessels. Since 1908 when the dextro-component became available, several observers have reported on the comparative activities of the isomers. Practically all agree that the d-isomer has a relatively weak action. The following ratios of activity have been reported in dogs: 1:12 to 1 :15, by Cushny 3 ; 1:15 by Abderhalden and Müller 4 ; 1:15 to 1:20 by Tiffeneau 5 ; and 1:30 to 1:40 by 'Fromherz. 6 Richaud, 7 however, concluded that levo-epinephrine was only slightly more active than the racemic form so that in therapy the synthetic substance should give approximately the same effect. His method, however, for estimating quantitative reactions is not entirely acceptable. In rabbits Launoy and Menguy 8 found a ratio of activity of 1 :30, while in cats Tainter 9 reported a ratio of 1 :20. The method which has been used almost exclusively for the study of comparative actions of these isomers has been the pressor response in experimental animals. Cushny 3 has pointed out that the comparative activities of optical isomers may not be the same on different organs.


Progress in neurophysiology and neurogenetics as well as previous neuropathological findings have all improved our knowledge of the pathophysiological characteristics of peripheral nerve disorders. 1-3 Thanks to these improvements, the indications of nerve biopsy have decreased during the past decade, making this invasive procedure unnecessary in the vast majority of patients with peripheral neuropathy.


Considering the unprecedented population aging problem and health-related difficulties in India, the study attempts to explore the health-related discrepancies among male and female elderly, with the help of a composite health indicator. The composite health indicator is formulated using the underlying characteristics of different health dimensions and expressed by a single health index as the representative of the overall health status of the elderly. Findings suggest that individual characteristics like, education and marital status have the greater exploratory power of gender health difference than the household characteristics. Socioeconomic variables like education levels, social groups, religious groups and geographic region influence almost similarly in constructing overall health of elderly across gender, however, almost after a decade the health difficulties has accelerated among the higher income classes both for men and women elderly.


Abstract Three strains of rainbow trout were monitored for 14 months after being stocked as fingerlings in Porcupine Reservoir (80 hectares), Cache County, Utah. The Sand Creek, Ten Sleep, and Shepherd of the Hills strains had no significant differences in survival to the creel, catchability by month, or vulnerability to different fishing methods or gear. Estimated survival to the creel ranged from 6.5 to 7.6%. The Sand Creek and Ten Sleep strains grew faster than the Shepherd of the Hills strain in the reservoir; however, differences were not large enough to be of management importance. Because no differences among strains were found, strain selection, at least until additional field information is obtained, should be based on hatchery criteria.


We consider the system of equations 1 < i, j ' < k, where k > 2, mi , . . . , m* are natural numbers, x i , . . . , z* € Sn, e. is the identity substitution in the symmetric group Sn of degree n. We prove that if Qn is the number of solutions χ = (χ ι, . . . , χ k) of the system, then there exist natural numbers hd where d\m, m = m\m2 . , . ra*, and a real number /IQ such that


Density level sets are mainly estimated using one of three methodologies: plug-in, excess mass, or a hybrid approach. The plug-in methods are based on replacing the unknown density by some nonparametric estimator, usually the kernel one. Thus, the bandwidth selection is a fundamental problem from an applied perspective. Recently, specific selectors for level sets have been proposed. However, if some a priori information about the geometry of the level set is available, then excess mass algorithms can be useful. In this case, the problem of bandwidth selection can be avoided. The third methodology is a hybrid of the others. It assumes a mild geometric restriction on the level set and it requires a pilot nonparametric estimator of the density. One interesting open question concerns the performance of these methods. In this work, existing methods are reviewed, and two new hybrid algorithms are proposed. Their practical behaviour is compared through extensive simulation study.


The variable structure control for course-keeping of ships is investigated by using the variable structure control theory and computer simulation technique. According to the purpose and requirement of the accurate course and small rudder in navigation, the quadratic optimal control technique is used to design the sliding mode hyperplane, and the exponential approaching law, which satisfies the condition of reaching sliding mode hyperplane, is designed and the corresponding control law is deduced. Meanwhile, the PID controller is designed and the correlative parameters are adjusted well for comparing with the variable structure controller. By theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, it is shown that the variable structure control is correct and feasible and the control effect is better than PID control for ship course-keeping.


ABSTRACT Local councils governing Auckland, New Zealand, underwent restructuring in 2010, amalgamating eight local authorities and establishing the Auckland Council as a unitary authority. Key objectives for Auckland's amalgamation included achieving reform and a single direction in governance, facilitating democratic representation of local communities, overcoming prevalent problems of fragmentation in governance and addressing lack of engagement from local communities. Qualitative interviews with key public and private sector stakeholders suggest the amalgamation effected changes to collaborative practices in anticipation of the restructure and after the amalgamation occurred. The creation of one council eased many collaborative processes. At the same time, the amalgamation strained collaboration in several ways.


The majority of prior coded computation works treat stragglers as erasures over an erasure channel and ignore their partial computations. The whole speed of a computation network will still be limited due to different processing speeds of worker nodes. This paper presents a novel coded scheme for this problem to effectively leverage partial stragglers. It simultaneously embeds the maximum distance separable (MDS) codes and codes in the universally decodable matrices (UDMs) into the system. By imposing constraints on coding parameters, the coefficient matrix corresponding to any first kAkB products of encoded submatrices from worker nodes is full rank, when two input matrices are partitioned into kA and kB block-columns, respectively. Thus, it only requires the minimum kAkB products performed by worker nodes (including stragglers). Analysis results show that our scheme can achieve not only the optimal utilization of partial computations of worker nodes, but also the optimal straggler resilience capability.


Cardiac function is often evaluated quantitatively using two-dimensional echocardiography to analyze shape attributes, such as the heart wall thickness or the shape change of the heart wall boundaries. A review of previous work in detecting the heart wall boundaries is presented, along with how this problem can be viewed from a computer vision perspective. The principles of echo image sequence analysis and high-level analysis are described. It is suggested that one promising approach is to use multiple-resolution processing by using a large window smoothed image for the initial detection of major edge segments, followed by smaller and smaller windows until a complete boundary is found.<<ETX>>


This report describes significant changes in the serum plasmin and urine fibrinolytic activity observed in dogs dying of the hemorrhagic syndrome following large dose whole body irradiation. Although fibrinolysis has been the subject of speculation in the pathogenesis of the postirmdiation hemorrhagic syndrome in goats (1), no studies of the relation of large doses of whole body irradiation to changes in fibrinolytic enzyme activity have come to our attention.


Introduction 1. De-stalinisation, Ideology and Leisure Policy 2. A Brief History of Cultural Enlightenment 3. Changing Content - Changing Goals? 4. Policy and Practice: Party and State 5. Policy and Practice: House of Culture Staff and the Public 6. The Effectiveness of Cultural Enlightenment 7. Conclusions: the Death of Communist Cultural Enlightenment? Bibliography.


Purpose: To explore whether 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT (PET/CT) or the combination of mpMRI and 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT (com-MRI/PET) can improve the detection of csPCa. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 54 patients who underwent both mpMRI and PET/CT before radical prostatectomy. Regions of interest (ROI) on imaging from mpMRI, PET/CT and pathology were marked. A lesion was defined when ROI was marked in the same location on continuous imaging at any of the imaging setting. All lesions were recorded by Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS), miPSMA expression score (MI-ES) and pathology results and analyzed. The diagnostic performance was analyzed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Specific improvement for lesions with different PI-RADS score and were analyzed by net reclassification improvement (NRI). Results: Totally, 90 lesions from 54 patients were analyzed, among which 66 lesions were csPCa. ROC analysis showed improvement of com-MRI/PET comparing with mpMRI for csPCa detection (Δ area under the curves (ΔAUC) 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01–0.12; p<0.05). With calculated cutoff, com-MRI/PET has a significant overall improvement compared with mpMRI (NRI, 21.9%, p<0.01), with an improvement on sensitivity (89% versus 76%, p<0.01) and no sacrifice on specificity (96% versus 88%, p>0.05). Diagnostic improvement for csPCa detection happened on lesions with PI-RADS 3 (NRI 66.7%, P<0.01). Conclusions: The com-MRI/PET improves the detection of csPCa for lesions with PI-RADS 3.


The application of deterministic mesoscale models to identify sources of pollution provides an effective new tool in regulatory management. Such models provide spatially and temporally varying fields of wind and turbulence as forced by local terrain, surface heating patterns, and background flow. Lagrangian particle dispersion model integrations can then be used to estimate the resultant distribution of pollution from point and area sources. The deterministic modeling work presented in this paper, representing the February 11-12, 1987 high sulfur event during WHITEX, shows that the Navajo Generating Station plume was a major contributor to the high sulfur during this period. This work also suggests that there was a small contribution from a northern source and a small contribution from the smelters in southern Arizona at night.


This paper reports the findings of a test on students' application of thematic structure to E-C translation.The test is made among the tertiary level English majors of Guizhou University.The results show the positive role that thematic structure plays in analyzing the internal structure of the source passages at the sentence level and of larger context.The paper also proposes some suggestions to further studies.


manuscripts and chapters in English concerning Confucian ethics. Some of these have an overtly historical/textual approach, while others are explicitly comparative (often between Confucius 孔子 or Mencius 孟子 and Aristotle), and some seek to put ideas from the classical period into conversation with issues in contemporary ethics. Some projects begin from within a more "analytic" orientation, while still others identify themselves as belonging to the "continental" tradition. Theorists have argued that Confucian ethics is best understood as a species of deontology, as a distinctive form of virtue ethics, and as care ethics, to name a few. The project of trying to figure out the best alreadypresent Western category to use for Confucian ethics is one that has occupied a great deal of time and effort in contemporary circles, and which may, as Stephen Angle has argued, be an example of the "unhealthy hegemony" of Western frameworks in comparative or crosscultural philosophy.1 As I see it, the project of Confucian Role Ethics (CRE), however, is not trying to intervene in that discourse. While Roger Ames and others use CHAPTER ONE


Purpose

The quality of the relationship between leaders and their followers appears to be one of the critical determinants of employees' commitment at work. For instance, it has been empirically established that the impressions that managers convey of themselves to their subordinates, is a critical factor in the leader-follower relationship. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between leaders' intimidation impression management (IM) and subordinates' affective job commitment in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The design adopted for this study is the cross-sectional survey design. The questionnaire was utilized to generate data from a sample of 306 employees from the six major telecommunication companies in Nigeria. The Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient was used as the inferential test statistic for assessing the relationship between leaders' intimidation IM and subordinates' affective job commitment.

Findings

The results showed that leaders' threat, warning, fear-arousal, and discomfort-arousal all had significant but weak association with subordinates' affective job commitment. The study thus found that as leaders apply intimidation IM strategies, workers' sense of emotive attachment to their organization only improves minimally.

Research limitations/implications

Data were generated from employees, indicating that the outcome is based on their perception which may be skewed.

Practical implications

The outcome of the study will help managers in the Nigerian telecommunication industry to avoid the pitfalls that are associated with the arbitrary and excessive use of intimidation as an IM tactic. Rather, they would be guided to encourage good quality leader-member-exchange between them and their subordinates in enhancing individual and organizational performance.

Originality/value

This is the first main work to examine and identify the nature of the predictive effect of leaders' intimidation IM on subordinates' affective job commitment in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.


This paper aims to study the contemporary geography textbooks produced in Quebec in their internal configurations. Studied from a diachronic perspective, that is, from 1957 — the moment of their modernization — to 2005 — the last major curricular reform in Quebec —, these "configurations" refer to disciplinary definitions, either implicit or explicit. Consequently, our approach recognizes textbooks as a format for disciplinary knowledge. To carry out the analysis, we focus on the textbooks' explicit content, but also, in some cases, on its subtexts. The results highlight the importance of a three-stage history, namely that of 1) a "still" classical geography (1957–1980), 2) a geography that integrates a so-called experimental method (1980–2005) and 3) a formalized approach centered on territorial issues (since 2005). https://doi.org/10.32316/hse-rhe.v32i2.4669


6 India is the second largest consumer and third largest producer of fertilizers in the world. During 2020-21, India produced 37.7 million tonnes and consumed 67.7 million tonnes of fertilizer products. The production of fertilizers requires various natural resources like natural gas, rock phosphate, sulphur and potash. In addition to processing these raw materials into fertilizer products, industry also procures intermediates like ammonia, sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid for production of fertilizers. Therefore, there is storage of large quantities of these chemicals. Manufacturing processes involve operation at high temperatures and pressures and treatment of various hazardous chemicals in various steps of production. Therefore, impact of fertilizer production on environment is an important consideration. Fertilizer industry has always been sensitive to the impact of its activities on environment. Over the years, a number of measures have been taken by the fertilizer plants for resource conservation and minimizing impact of production processes on environment. There have been continuous revisions of standards for emission, effluent discharge and solid waste disposal to ensure safer environment. These measures included both intervention through process improvement and also implementation of end of the pipe solutions. Fertilizer industry has always been meeting standards prescribed by regulatory authorities at any given time. Plants have also adopted voluntary environment standards as responsible corporate citizens. As a result of these efforts, the emissions and effluent discharge to environment have been reduced substantially. Ammonia is the key intermediate for producing nitrogen based fertilizers. Production of ammonia is Reducing Environmental Footprint from Fertilizer Production


The article shows the basic directions and forms of development of small business, the factors of economic growth. Besides, this article describes the system of government support of small business, the problem of capital concentration, interplay of capital, man-hour and labour productivity.


Objective: The present work aimed to develop a simple, rapid, specific and precise liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometric (LC–MS/MS) validated method for quantification of pomalidomide and internal standard (ISTD) Fluconazole in human plasma. Methods: 50 µl of 0.1% formic acid was added to plasma samples prior to liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using 2.5 ml of ethyl acetate. Chromatographic separation was achieved on Xterra, RP 18 , 5 µ (50 x 4.6 mm) column using a mixture of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water to methanol at a ratio of 12:88, v/v as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.50 ml/min. The LC eluent was split, and approximately 0.1 ml/min was introduced into Tandem mass spectrometer using turbo Ion Spray interface at 325 °C. Quantitation was performed by transitions of m/z 260.1 precursor ion to the m/z 148.8 for pomalidomide and m/z 307.1/238.0 for fluconazole. Results: The concentrations of nine working standards showed linearity between 9.998 to 1009.650 ng/ml ( r 2  ≥ 0.9968). Chromatographic separation was achieved within 2 min. The average extraction recoveries of three quality control concentrations were 53.86% for pomalidomide and were within the acceptance limits. The coefficient of variation was ≤15% for intra-and inter-batch assays. The %CV of ruggedness ranges 1.32 to 4.03. The % stability of short term and long term stock solution stability studies was found to be 99.01% and 98.49% respectively. Conclusion: The results obtained for specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, ruggedness and stability studies were within limits. Thus the validated economical method was applied for pharmacokinetic studies of pomalidomide.


ur times highlight the need for determining wchich values concerning heritage protection would be appropriate for different cultures. International documents of great importance, like the Nara Document of Authenticity (1994),1) UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001)2) and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003),3) all drew attention to the importance of maintaining the local traditions and local attitude to the issues of safeguarding and conservation, including cultural differences in the perception of authenticity. The end of the twentieth century saw an increase in understanding of the problems related to the protection of the cultural wealth of humanity, as well as a general appreciation of the importance of the role of world heritage conservation, in its immense complexity. However, on the other hand the tendencies of globalisation within the area of heritage protection could be observed in terms of the unification of techniques, materials and aesthetics. The problems connected with the remounting and restoration of Chinese hanging scrolls are a perfect example, in which local tradition clashes with global standards of heritage safeguarding.4)


Apricot and peach are species with a short dormancy, being able to start growing season even in February; the resistance of the trees to frosts and late frosts during this period is reduced. The risk is even higher in the south-east of the country where the probability of thermal amplitudes is very high, both during February and March. Although it is an important phenomenon, the information's of how to protect trees from frost are relatively limited. There is a need for information to support orchards owners to approach this issue. The purpose of this paper was to apply measures and methods to combat this phenomenon in intensive apricot and peach orchards, measures that contribute to "saving" fruit production.


The mixture of titanium tetrachloride and oxygen for the formation of titanium nanoparticles in a plasma reactor is examined.
A coupled model for the simulation and control of nanoparticle in a plasmachemical reactor with simultaneous chemical reaction,
nucleation, condensation and coagulation is proposed. The population balance model describes how the particle size distribution
evolves with time. The population balance model was solved numerically and the effect of the wall temperature on the average particle
diameter was investigated in order to ascertain whether the model can be used to control nanoparticle size distribution. Numerical
modeling was conducted in order to describe the mechanism of nanoparticle formation. Comparison was made by another software.


The strike and dip of the reflecting interfaces in the vicinity of a well can be derived from VSP data recorded with a three-component downhole seismometer. The method relies on measuring the polarizations in the direct and reflected compressional waves. The mathematical relation which is the basis of the method is exact only when the seismometer is positioned at the depth where the interface intersects the well. At that depth the polarization of the reflected wave cannot be measured because of interference with the direct wave. The orientation of the normal to the reflector can be determined to within 2 degrees when the polarizations of the direct and reflected waves are determined within 100 m of the reflector.If the direct and reflected waves can be identified without multidepth processing, only measurements at a single depth are required to determine the reflector orientation. Error analysis and statistical refinement can be achieved by measuring the polarizations at several seismometer depths, source azimuths, or source offsets. The method is robust in the sense that the error in the interface orientation cannot exceed the error in the measurement of the polarizations. The method should be useful in structurally complex areas provided the reflections can be observed at depths above the depths of generation.


In maize fields, few studies have been conducted to identify the temporal trend of soil salinity and formulate optimal irrigation plans under climate change. Therefore, the main goals of this study were to predict changes in soil salinity over 2022–2050 and to formulate an optimal supplemental irrigation plan preventing soil salinity in a South African rainfed maize field. The study used the Global Climate Model (GCM) MPI-ESM1-2-LR to obtain future climate data for the study area from 2022 to 2050 and applied the HYDRUS-1D model to project the effects of these future climate data on soil salinity over the same period and to identify the best irrigation plan under climate change. Two key findings were revealed: first, the combined use of GCMs (i.e., MPI-ESM1-2-LR model) and soil-water models (i.e., HYDRUS-1D) was a powerful tool to identify soil salinity trends and formulate optimal irrigation plan under climate change. Second, in addition to rainfall amount, supplying a limited supplemental irrigation amount equal to 8% of the actual evapotranspiration of maize at the mid-season stage of maize growth can significantly reduce soil salinity (<1.7 dS m−1) and enhance soil moisture under climate change by 2050. These findings will be useful for preventing soil salinity in rainfed maize fields.


This report summarizes findings from evaluations of four programs two in Kenya and two in Tanzania that support orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC). The report focuses on the outcomes emerging issues and lessons learned. Implications of the findings are offered to provide guidance to OVC service providers donors and policy-makers.


Although it may have gone largely unnoticed, there is considerable confusion in handbooks of physical data as well as in chemistry textbooks and periodic tables concerning the relative sizes of silver and gold atoms. Values quoted for the ionic or covalent radii for the most common oxidation state +1 are either approximately equal for the two metals or larger for gold than for silver.1-4 The Pauling covalent radii for the two metals are essentially equal, which is due to the fact that the "metallic radius" in the close-packed cubic lattices happens to be virtually the same [the lattice constants are 4.0862 (Ag) and 4.07825 A (Au),5 and the nearest-neighbor interatomic distances are 2.889 (Ag-Ag) and 2.884 A (Au-Au) for coordination number 12].6 On the other hand, recent theoretical calculations including relativistic and correlation effects consistently predict that gold should be significantly smaller than silver, a phenomenon which is generally referred to as the "relativistic contraction".7-9 In more qualitative terms, the concept of the "Lanthanide contraction",7,8 employed successfully for other radius discontinuities in the periodic table, also points in the same direction.10 It appears, however, that no attempt has been made to settle this simple question by an experiment which can give unambiguous results. The most straightforward approach to this problem would be a comparison of metal-to-ligand bond lengths in a set of complexes involving (a) the same ligands and counterions, (b) the same coordination number and geometry, (c) an isomorphous crystal lattice, and (d) equal experimental conditions. More often than not these conditions are not fulfilled, since Ag(I) and Au(I) cations form compounds which differ significantly in their basic structure,11,12 such that a direct comparison is not meaningful. We have now discovered that the pair of title compounds meets all criteria on which to base the desired direct comparison, and from accurate single-crystal work we find that gold(I) is indeed much smaller than silver(I), by almost 0.1 A.12 The two reference complexes are readily prepared from AgBF4 and two equiv of Mes3P in dichloromethane (95% yield, mp 193 °C) or from equimolar quantities of (Mes3P)AuCl, Mes3P, and AgBF4 in CH2Cl2 (98% yield, mp 232 °C), respectively. The products can be obtained as large, transparent, isomorphous crystals (trigonal, space group P3121, Z ) 3), which are stable to air, moisture, and light at ambient temperature.13 Their analytical and spectroscopic data are in full agreement with the proposed compositions.14 Selected crystal data for [(Mes3P)2M]BF4 presented in Table 1 show the close crystallographic resemblance of the two unit cells, which suggest a very similar crystal field environment for the individual components. Both compounds are ionic in the crystal with no significant sub-van der Waals contacts between the ions. The cations have a crystallographically imposed 2-fold axis passing through the metal atom perpendicular to the P-M-P axis and relating the two phosphine ligand propellers, which thus have the same directionality (leftor right-handed propellers).14 The metal atoms are essentially linearly two-coordinate with bond angles which deviate from perfect collinearity by less than 0.3°. Selected distances and angles are compared in Table 2. The structure of the cation of the gold complex is shown in Figure 1, and Figure 2 offers a superposition of the structures of the gold and silver complexes. It is obvious from this diagram that there is almost perfect agreement of all details except for the M-P distance, which is smaller for M ) Au than for M ) Ag by 0.09(1) A. Assuming a covalent radius of


The purpose of the study was three-fold: First, to determine the perspectives of the international and Turkish military cadets at Turkish Military Academy (TMA) towards multicultural learning environment and cultural diversity. Second, to analyze to what extent the multicultural learning environment affects the language development of both international and Turkish cadets. Third, to identify the observations and suggestions of language instructors about the best practices to be applied in multicultural learning setting. A questionnaire and two proficiency tests were applied on 80 cadets for quantitative data. Qualitative data was gathered from 13 language instructors studying at TMA. It was found that the perspectives of the cadets towards multicultural learning setting were positive. However, the international cadets' language proficiency developed more than the Turkish cadets. Analysis of the interviews with the language instructors provided important insights into the issue. Key Words :  cultural diversity, international student, multicultural learning, TMA.


This study analyzes the influences of transformational leadership on employee performance through the mediating role of trust and commitment. Although these indirect interrelations are very important for enhancing employee performance, prior research has not usually explored them. The study confirms these influences empirically, basing the analysis on a sample of 25 Vietnamese firms with 326 employees. The results reveal that (1) transformational leadership influences employee performance positively through employee trust and organizational commitment; (2) employee trust influences employee performance, both directly and indirectly through organizational commitment; (3) organizational commitment influences employee trust positively. Keywords: Transformational leadership, employee trust, organizational commitment, employee performance


Objective:To evaluate the diagnosis,therapy and clinical results of subacromial impingement syndrome.Methods:In this series,there were 1 shoulder of type Ⅰ acromion;typeⅡ 3 shoulders;type Ⅲ 8 shoulders.All patients were treated with acromioplasty.Results:10 of patients were followed up for average 9 months.There were significantly difference between pre-operation and post-operation(p0.05)using UCLA grade.Conclusions:The acromioplasty were effective method of subacromial impingement syndrome.


Nasal Distortion in Short-Distance Photographs: The Selfie Effect The selfie, or self-photograph, has rapidly become one of the major photographic modalities of our time; in 2014 alone, there were over 93 billion selfies taken on Android phones per day.1,2 Despite the ease with which selfies are taken, the short distance from the camera causes a distortion of the face owing to projection, most notably an increase in nasal dimensions. According to a poll by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, 42% of surgeons reported patients seeking cosmetic procedures for improved selfies and pictures on social media platforms.3 We present a mathematical model to describe the distortive effects, prove the increased perceived nasal size in selfies, and calculate the magnitude of this effect from different camera distances. No patient intervention or contact was made during this study and was therefore exempt from institutional review board review.


Background: The mechanism by which interaction between Aβ and Zn2+ induces Aβ aggregation and cell toxicity is elusive. Results: Zn2+ and Aβ40 form metastable neurotoxic oligomers. Conclusion: Aβ40 binding to Zn2+ leads to formation of small neurotoxic oligomers that become benign upon further self-assembly. Significance: We provide a structure-function analysis of Zn2+-stabilized Aβ40, a neurotoxic species that may contribute to the pathology in AD. The roles of metal ions in promoting amyloid β-protein (Aβ) oligomerization associated with Alzheimer disease are increasingly recognized. However, the detailed structures dictating toxicity remain elusive for Aβ oligomers stabilized by metal ions. Here, we show that small Zn2+-bound Aβ1–40 (Zn2+-Aβ40) oligomers formed in cell culture medium exhibit quasi-spherical structures similar to native amylospheroids isolated recently from Alzheimer disease patients. These quasi-spherical Zn2+-Aβ40 oligomers irreversibly inhibit spontaneous neuronal activity and cause massive cell death in primary hippocampal neurons. Spectroscopic and x-ray diffraction structural analyses indicate that despite their non-fibrillar morphology, the metastable Zn2+-Aβ40 oligomers are rich in β-sheet and cross-β structures. Thus, Zn2+ promotes Aβ40 neurotoxicity by structural organization mechanisms mediated by coordination chemistry.


I read with interest Daniel Fisher and Nikolaos Parisis' [1] analysis of the peer‐review process and how it influences the career of scientists, and I agree with many points raised by authors. I would like to add another point to their arguments, namely how impact factor and number of citations can fail to reflect the originality of work and thus might influence the career of scientists, particularly junior researchers.

By way of example, a PubMed search for "HIV, HCV, and Mimivirus" in January 2016 returned 295,809 hits for the first keyword, 44,796 for the second, and 250 hits for the third. In …


As explained by Kitchener in a previous issue of Cytopathology (2015;26:4‐6), primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is likely to be introduced in the UK for all women aged 25–64 years following pilot site studies already in place. This will be necessary when the prevalence of cervical cancer and its precursors declines when vaccination takes effect but there is a risk in abandoning cytology as a primary test: a risk that would be most apparent in the present unvaccinated population in which the prevalence of cervical cancer and its precursors is exceptionally high. HPV testing is more sensitive than cytology but has a significant false‐negative rate that could be detrimental to a successful screening programme if introduced without cytology backup. Accurate cytology would be needed for triage and could be compromised if HPV‐negative tests were excluded from examination.


Sound-pressure field of a propeller consists mainly of (i) thickness noise caused by volume displacement of the air by the blades and thus is defined by the blade geometry and (ii) loading noise due to forces that the blades impose on the air and thus determined by blade loading which may be steady or unsteady. However, the possible contribution of an additional noise source due to non-linear effects (iii) needs to be considered in case of high tip speeds. Broadband noise is not included. This report deals with a comparative study of propeller acoustic codes developed by various GARTEUR partners (AS, DAP, DLR, FFA, NLR and ONERA) and their comparison with experimental results. Two propellers are chosen for this study. One propeller (HARTZELL) represents the conventional general aviation type while the second (R3/1) is an unswept research propeller with enhanced transonic effects at high speeds compared to swept wing.


The HTCVD set-up consists of a graphite susceptor heated by induction in a home-built vertical cold-wall reactor working at low pressure [1-3]. The precursors used are ammonia NH3 and aluminium chlorides AlClx species formed in situ via Cl2 reaction with high purity Al wire. AlN films were deposited on 55 mm diameter graphite susceptor between 1200 and 1600°C (Figure 1). The influence of deposition temperature on growth rate, surface morphology, grain size and crystalline state is presented. Growth rates of up to 250 μm.h were reached at 1600°C.


Case Report A 62-year-old male with paranoid schizophrenia, depression, and neurolepticinduced extrapyramidal symptoms presented to the emergency department with complaints of coughing blood. He had intermittent dark bloody expectorations, with no associated fever, chills, or increase in sputum production. He denied any previous exposure to tuberculosis. A tuberculin skin test was negative. History was relevant for asbestos exposure. He denied any foreign body ingestion. A postero-anterior chest radiograph (Figure 1) initially was interpreted by the emergency physician as showing no acute lesion. The patient was discharged on doxycycline for possible acute bronchitis. A radiologist reviewed the chest x-ray and reported a round metallic opacity near the right hilum. A computed tomographic imaging of the chest (Figure 2) also revealed a metallic foreign body, probably a coin, which laid in the bronchus intermedius on the right, distal to the origin of the bronchus to the right upper lobe. Bronchoscopy was performed and a penny was removed.


Abstract : The continuous absorption spectra of small molecules have been examined using Laser Induced Photodissociation Spectroscopy (LIPS). In this technique, molecules are photolyzed using a flashlamp-pumped tunable dye laser; the atomic products of the dissociation are then monitored by time-resolved resonance absorption spectroscopy in the vacuum ultraviolet. Results obtained by LIPS for the molecule Br2 will be discussed with an emphasis on the measurement of the wavelength-dependent relative absorptivities into excited states.


This article is a prelude to an experimental study of the preference concept in economics. I argue that a new empirical approach called experimental philosophy of science is a promising approach to advance the philosophy of economics. In particular, I discuss two debates in the field, the neuroeconomics controversy and the commonsensible realism debate, and suggest how experimental and survey techniques can generate data that will inform these debates. Some of the likely objections from philosophers and economists are addressed, and possible ways of operationalizing different preference concepts are illustrated.


This paper presents a low-complexity technique for simultaneous determination of modulation types and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in wireless communication systems. The proposed approach exploits the extracted features of patterns observed in signals' asynchronous amplitudes histograms, for the simultaneous determination of these quantities using support vector machine. Features extraction has been performed by a well-known technique called principal component analysis which is used to extract the most significant features before being supplied to the artificial intelligent system. Simulations for three commonly-used modulation types have been conducted under real-world channel conditions. The results conclude that the presented approach can accurately identify the modulation types with 99.83% accuracy despite the existence of real-world channel impairments. Furthermore, the algorithm is capable of SNRs estimation over a broad range of 0–30 dB with average estimation error of 0.79 dB. The proposed paper exploits the simplicity of generating asynchronous amplitudes histograms to enable cost-effective and reduced-complexity implementation in cognitive wireless systems.


This paper describes a new line of color polarizing elements employing high stability dichroic dyes as the chromophore. In addition to providing multicolor digital and graphic display information the importance of dichroic dye chromophores lie in their ability to withstand elevated temperatures and humidity. The main emphasis of this paper therefore, focuses on endurance performance comparisons between dichroic dyes and conventional iodine chromophores. Spectral transmission curves are also presented illustrating a custom color capability achieved through the additive and subtractive mixing principles.


We developed a route for the tris(mono-ferrocene-functionalised β-diketonato) manganese(iii)-complex catalysed diastereoselective oxygenative aminoperoxidation of unactivated alkenes using molecular oxygen in air.


(57) [summary] humidification wipes (22), a dry toilet tissue (24) two-way compact take-out apparatus (20). Take-out device (20) comprises a first compartment for humidifying wipes (2). Humidifying wipes (22) can be placed on the first removable tray (50) in the compartment. Dry toilet tissue (24) can be partially positioned within the second compartment of the take-out device supporting a roll bar (40). Take-out device can be attached to a conventional toilet tissue fixture using the mounting device (320).


in acute spinal cord injuries remains outside the registered indications. David Woodhouse, FRCOG, FRACOG, FSSE Medical Director. Upjohn Pty limited PO Box 46, Rydalmere, NSW 2116 Bracken MB. Shepard MJ, Collins WF, et at. A randomized, controlled tnal of methylprednisolone or naloxone in the treatment ot acute spinat-cord Injury. Results ot the Second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study N Eng! J Med 1990: 322: 1405·1411


This A Wi-Fi router is a device that performs the function of a wireless access point, it is used to provide
access to the internet or a private computer. It is the hardware device that provide basic infrastructure for a home
or small office network.Proposed to make a single impression semi-automatic family mould to design top and
bottom cover for Wi-Fi router to make it more aesthetic, to reduce material cost, better heat dissipation, and to
reduce the tooling cost, to make the product more competitive in the market.It is proposed select the suitable plastic
material, to modify the existing plastic product design and to develop a suitable two plate family mould of one
impression each using SIEMENS NX software. It is also proposed to make detailing of mould parts and its assembly
for manufacturing using SIEMENS NX software. The analysis was done in AUTODESK MOLDFLOW. The mould
cost, raw material cost and processing cost per component are to be estimated to find the cost per component and to
compare it with the existing component part.


The examinations of the extent of sinter reduction were carried out in simulated conditions of a blast - furnace at the temperatures of 950 and 1100 °C. Two cokes with different reactivity were applied. An analysis was carried out to determine whether it was possible for the CO 2 , formed in situ as a result of sinter reduction by means of CO, to react with coke. It was shown, that at the temperature of 950 °C the reaction of CO 2 with coke did not occur. The reduction ofiron- bearing materials at that temperature occurs by way of indirect reduction without the participation of coke carbon. With the growth of temperature up to about 1100 °C the reaction CO 2 + C = 2CO becomes an important process influencing the course of the reduction and coke consumption. The effect of coke reactivity on the course of direct reduction was also analysed. Increasing of coke reactivity results an increase in the amount of coke for the reaction CO 2 + C = 2CO. The type of packing of the reduced sinter and coke influences the rate of the material reduction.


A finite element model for the straightening process of continuously cast slabs with liquid core is presented. The passage of a strand section through the straightening zone is simulated in three-dimensional geometry with a time dependent load procedure. The model accounts for visco-elastoplastic material properties. Since ferrostatic pressure is included, bulging and unbending deformations are obtained simultaneously. Contact boundary conditions are prescribed at the rollers. Temperature profiles in the shell are considered in an approximation. The section of computation is long enough to capture the entire unbending deformation. Features of pure one point unbending are deduced from computations where bulging is suppressed with a continuous strand guide. The following unbending systems are studied: one point straightening, five point straightening without intermediate rollers, four point straightening with intermediate rollers, and continuous straightening. The results are interpreted in terms of elementary bending modes. Conclusions for the design of unbending systems are derived.


The invention relates to a digital television set information processing device and a digital television information accessing method. The device comprises a random access storage and a nonvolatile storage. The method includes the following steps: receiving information on changes of set information; storing the set information into the random access storage; checking whether the nonvolatile storage has free space or not; if the nonvolatile storage has free space, dumping the set information from the random access storage into the free space of the nonvolatile storage; if the nonvolatile storage has no free space, clearing the nonvolatile storage; when the nonvolatile storage is cleared completely, dumping the set information from the random access storage into the nonvolatile storage, wherein the set information at least contains either channel information or screen display set information.


A nonlinear dynamic analysis model is estabilished on the basis of "lumped mass" approach, which takes the influence of the fluid flow within the pipe into consideration. Numerical results are compared with the published works, and the effects of internal fluid flow, internal pressure, dyanmics as well as the nonlinear characteristics on the behavior of flexible risers are discussed. From this work, some useful conclusions are drawn.


Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the essence of disabled parents`` experiences of raising children. Method: Five families, which were composed with parents with physical disabilities and children, were participated into this study. One-time interview was conducted with mother of each family and it was recorded, coded, and analysed using method of Giorgi``s phenomenological study. Result: Three superordinate themes, nine subordinate themes, and 22 concepts were derived. The essence of disabled parents`` experiences of raising children was "disabled parents`` growth with their children despite of prejudice." This represented that even though disabled parents faced with diverse kinds of difficulties, they put their heart and soul into raising their children and they encouraged their children to have their feet on the ground firmly. Finally, disabled parents went out into the world with their children. Conclusion: The current study illustrated how those stories about raising children could be interpreted from the perspective of the family relation, and suggested possible ways to support disabled parents for raising children.


Research suggests that entrepreneurs tend to seek to maximize utility when considering whether to pursue a new venture opportunity. However, when choosing whether to persist with their current venture or not, utility maximization may not be of primary importance. Using a conjoint experiment, this article examines the difference between policies in start-up decisions versus persistence decisions. The analysis of the decisions of 135 entrepreneurs indicates that the manner in which entrepreneurs use expectancy and value in persistence decision policies is significantly different to the way that they use expectancy and value in general opportunity pursuit decision policies. The results offer novel insights into the entrepreneurial decision-making process.


The 500-MWe Indian pressurized heavy water (PHWR) incorporates many new features as compared to the earlier 220-MWe PHWRs. To evaluate the new design features like primary heat transport (PHT) system configuration with two loops, four primary circulating pumps (PCPs) and four passes through core, addition of a pressurizer (surge tank) in the PHT system along with a feed/bleed system and their safety-related implications, simulation model development and transient analyses are necessary. To mitigate the swell and shrinkage in the PHT system and to avoid high/low PHT system pressure during transients, a 30 m/sup 3/ pressurizer along with feed/bleed system is also included in the PHT pressure control system for the 500-MWe PHWR. At the same time, a reactor stepback is also actuated during the one PCP trip transient after tripping the corresponding (same side) PCP in the other loop. The corresponding PCP in the healthy loop is tripped to avoid unsymmetrical flow and pressure distribution in the two identical loops. A detailed transient analysis is required to study the individual contributions of various systems and provisions such as pressuriser, feed/bleed, and reactor step/set back in mitigating the consequences of the malfunction.


The Arab revolts of 2011 raised new questions regarding democracy. On the one hand, a new kind of democracy is apparently born: the democracy of the multitude. On the other, Islam has been a major actor in the Arab revolts and presumably will play a growing role in the future. The article investigates if there is a new political model put forward by the foreseeable Islamic developments of the revolts. If we take for granted that there is not only one kind of democracy and that there is much more space for Islamic organizations in the present and future political arena of the Muslim countries, then it will not sound like a heresy to ask whether there is an Islamic way to democracy. In order to demonstrate this original point of view, it is necessary to deal with the principles of Islamic political thought. The Arab revolts promise to renew and update these principles. The article will try to peruse this revision from the point of view of Antonio Gramsci and his theory of hegemony.


Abstract. We show that the Kadison-Singer problem is equivalent to the (strong) restricted invertibility conjecture of Bourgain-Tzafriri. We also show that these two problems are equivalent to two problems in frame theory holding simultaneously: (1) the Feichtinger Conjecture, and (2) the R Conjecture. Next, we show that Bourgain-Tzafriri restricted-invertibility principle holds on random subspaces. This extends the principle in several ways and shows that slightly weaker versions of the conjectures hold.


The recent studies in business management literature have highlighted the significant and prominent role of market orientation in enhancing business performance. However, the literature provides little empirical evidence about the mechanism to enhance business performance in the tourism industry of Thailand through the synchronization of market information and leadership behaviours. Therefore, to fill this gap, the present study was conducted with an aim to assess the direct effect of i) service leadership on service quality, ii) market orientation on service quality, iii) service quality on business performance and indirect effect of iv) service quality in the relationship of service leadership with business performance and market orientation with business performance. By collecting the data from 453 tourists from different places in Thailand including beaches, malls, hotels and restaurants, the study found empirical evidence to support all proposed hypotheses. First, the service leadership is proved to be an important antecedent of service quality. Second, the market orientation has significant impact on the business performance. Third, business performance is significantly predicted by service quality. Finally, the service quality mediates between the relationship of service leadership with business performance and market orientation with business performance. The study also provides the practical implications for owners and managers of the businesses that are related to tourism industry in Thailand.