Because of beam hardening in the target, the energy distribution of the x-radiation emitted by a conventional x-ray tube differs from different directions of emission. This fact is generally neglected in dual-energy subtraction imaging. In this paper we study the influence of the non- uniformity of the energy spectrum of emitted radiation on dual-energy subtraction. Experiments with synthetic (aluminum) phantoms and with dual-energy images of humanoid chests (made with a computed radiography system) give more insight in the degree to which dual-energy subtraction is affected by the described effects.


The size of the critical nucleus in the formation of metal deposits from the vapor is very small, probably containing 10 atoms or less. For nuclei of this magnitude the uncertainties concerned with the liquid‐drop model and the concept of surface energy in the Volmer and Weber and Becker and Doring treatment of nucleation become serious. An expression for the density of clusters of atoms is developed using statistical mechanics. From this an expression for the nucleation rate is derived on a kinetic basis. It is also observed that certain orientation effects in the deposit can be explained if the small size of the critical nucleus is taken into account.


In this work, a trial understanding for the physics underling the construction of exchange (hopping) matrix $\mathbf{E}$ in Heisenberg model (tight binding model) for 2D materials is done. It is found that the $\mathbf{E}$ matrix describes the particles exchange flow under short range (nearest neighbor) hopping interaction which is effected by the lattice geometry. This understanding is then used to explain the dispersion relations for the 2D honeycomb lattice with zigzag and armchair edges obtained for graphene nanoribbons and magnetic stripes. It is found that the particle flow by hopping in the zigzag nanoribbons is a translation flow and shows $\mathbf{\cos^2}(q_xa)$ dependance while it is a rotational flow in the armchair nanoribbons. At $q_xa/\pi=0.5$, the particles flow in the edge sites of zigzag nanoribbons with dependance of $\mathbf{\cos^2}(q_xa)$ is equal to zero. At the same time there is no vertical hopping in those edge sites which lead to the appearance of peculiar zigzag flat localized edge states.


The invention discloses a top maintenance house used for maintaining autoclaved aerated block slurry. The top maintenance house comprises a house body, a plurality of radiators are arranged on the house wall of the house body, the outlet ends of the radiators are connected with a drain pipe, a blow-off pipe is arranged on the drain pipe, the two ends of the blow-off pipe are respectively communicated with the drain pipe, the horizontal position of the blow-off pipe is lower than that of the drain pipe, a blow-down valve is arranged on the blow-off pipe, and a steam trap is arranged on the drain pipe between the two ends of the blow-off pipes. By the adoption of the structure, the top maintenance house has the advantages that condensate water and sewage are drained separately, drainage efficiency is improved, and the drainage effect is good; working efficiency of the radiators is improved, temperature in the house rises fast, and the heating-up effect is improved by 300-400%; the constant temperature is convenient to control, and waste is reduced.


Under the guidance of the concept of the Internet Plus, this paper takes the retail industry as the new application domain and builds its O2O business model in order to lead the transformation in retail industry. Choosing the Shopping Mall Indoor Navigation as the using scenario, the emphasis of this paper is to investigate how a life oriented scenario contributes to the transformation of retail industry into O2O Business Model and to know the impact the indoor navigation has on building O2O Model as a scenario-based entrance.


In the paper the design of an aircraft flight controller based on the Dynamic Contraction Method is presented. The control task is formulated as a tracking problem of aerodynamic state variables: velocity of flight and three angles, which are responsible for aircraft flight conditions. The applied DCM method allows to create expected outputs for non-linear and non-stationary objects in spite of incomplete information about varying parameters of the system and external disturbances. The resulting controller has a simple form of a combination of a low-order linear dynamical system and a matrix whose entries depend nonlinearly on certain measurable flight variables. Simulation results for a F-16 model confirm theoretical expectations.


Paper presents a novel idea of failure detection mechanism for complex control environments. The mechanism is composed of several dynamic artificial neural networks that work in parallel in order to detect a failing signal from one of the on-board robot sensors. The simulation results show that the system is capable of detecting a failing control system quickly and efficiently.


Acute necrotizing encephalopathy of childhood (ANEC) is a disease characterized by post infectious (respiratory or gastrointestinal) encephalopathy accompanying with fever and  rapid alteration of consciousness and seizures. Acute encephalopathy following viral infection with seizure and altered of consciousness and absence of CSF pleocytosios with occasional increased level of protein are clinical characteristics of ANEC (1). This disease is nearly exclusively in East Asian infants and children who had been previously healthy (2). Serial magnetic resonance imaging examinations have demonstrated symmetric lesion involving the thalami, brainstem, cerebellum, and white matter in this disease (8). The condition accompanies a poor prognosis with high morbidity and mortality rates. We introduce 3 cases with ANE those referred to our hospital during 2 weeks and created this idea that we have an epidemic.


This user's manual for the Communications Interface Driver (CID) systems is used to describe the operating procedures of the CID. The CID system is a test tool intended to supply or receive a capacity level of communications messages to and from the air traffic control (ATC) and non-ATC ports of the Mode Select (Mode S) sensor. The primary intent of the CID user's manual is to guide the user through the operating procedures of the X.25 communications diagnostic (COMMDIAG) and Time-of-Year (TOY) diagnostic programs, the scenario generator and CID initialization (CIDINIT) data base off-line support programs, the CID real-time program and the scenario list (SCLIST) and extraction list (EXLIST) data analysis programs. The manual also includes the procedures to boot the CID system and to handle the required cabling and baud rate switch setup.


This study was implemented to address the role of Roflumilast in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as to discuss its reaction mechanism in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, mice were administrated with 6 mg dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) per 100 g body weight and fed with 60% high fat diet to induce PCOS. The expression of phosphodiesterases 4 (PDE4) was assessed with RT‐qPCR. The ovary pathology was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and follicles were counted. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was adopted for the estimation of progesterone, testosterone and inflammatory factors and lipid accumulation was observed by Oil Red O staining. With the application of reverse transcription‐quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) and western blot, the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) was resolved. In vitro, Cell counting kit‐8 and flow cytometry analysis were applied for the assessment of cell proliferation and apoptosis. The proliferation‐ and apoptosis‐related proteins were appraised with western blot. Additionally, the expressions of PDE‐4 at both mRNA and protein levels were tested with RT‐qPCR and western blot. Here, it was discovered that PDE4 was greatly elevated in PCOS mice and DHEA‐induced ovarian granulosa cells (KGN). In PCOS mice, PDE4 was negative correlated with progesterone and had positive correlation with testosterone. Roflumilast could enhanced progesterone expression, increased the number of primary follicles, preantral follicles and antral follicles but reduced testosterone and decreased the number of cystic follicles in PCOS mice. It was also testified that Roflumilast could inhibit the release of inflammatory factors and lipid accumulation in PCOS mice. Besides, the proliferation of DHEA‐induced KGN cells was enhanced while the apoptosis was declined by Roflumilast, accompanied by elevated contents of PCNA, Ki67 and antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2. Collectively, Roflumilast inhibited inflammation and lipid accumulation in PCOS mice to improve ovarian function and reduce DHEA‐induced granulosa cell apoptosis.


Assessing learning products of visual art was unlike evaluating other learning products. Due to its relation to visual outcomes, the first assessment required proper sensitiveness and measurable references. The research was intended to be the effort to acquire parameters of visual art assessment, especially of art painting, sculpture, ceramic, and batik assessments. The findings could be used as instruments in various visual art learning activities. Data were collected by distributing a list, interviewing the informants, and having Focus Group Discussion. The respondents were visual art lectures in the Faculty of Arts and Literature in one of the state universities in norther island of Sumatera, Indonesia. They were excellent at visual art and equipped with required sensitiveness. Besides, they also had relevant education with art painting, sculpture, ceramic, and batik. The findings, in the form of assessment parameters, were first, parameters of visual art assessment were form similarity, proportion, spatial depth, technique, composition, content, ambiance, brightness, color harmony, and texture. Secondly, parameters of non-figurative sculpture assessment were technique mastery, proportion, smoothness, expression, volume, space, and idea authenticity. Thirdly, parameters of figurative sculpture assessment were visual anatomy, proportion, motion effect, and drapery. Fourthly, parameters of ceramic assessment were technique mastery/finishing, innovation creativity, novelty, smoothness, expression, harmony, and need (market need). Last, parameters of batik assessment were technique, authenticity, modernity, color harmony, innovativeness, need finishing, and affordability.


Abs t ract.--Main trea t men t s included various combinations of base fertilizer plus urea top-dressings upon which four endomycorrhizal treat m ents were superimposed, e.g_ Glomus mosseae, Go fasciculatus, natural inoculum from a yellow-poplar stand, and no inoculum (control)° Seedlings were grown in the Tennessee Division of Forestry at Pinson. Watering, weeding_ and o t her operations followed nor m al nursery schedules_ Height, diame t er at the root collar, and t aproo t diame t er were greatest when at least two top-dressings of urea were applied during the growing season, regardless of the endomycorrhizal inoculum source. Soil phosphorus con t ent exceeded I00 ppm t hereby masking many initial benefits of mycorrhizaeo Top dry weight and taproot fresh weight were greatest for Glomus mosseae-infected seedlings. Glomus mosseae-infected roots had the greatest arbuscule frequency. The number of hyphal coils in bo t h species of Glomus-infected roots was nearly equal, bu t these were significantly greater than for other inocula sources. Natural inoculum-infected seedlings had more vesicles than other seedlings.


This bachelor work deals with synthesis and characterization of vanadyl complexes with acetylacetonate ligands. Theoretical part describes properties and application of vanadium and its compounds. Experimental part describes synthesis of five ligands and appropriate vanadyl complexes. These newly prepared vanadium compounds were characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance. Structures of two compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.


Urinary tract infection is a major public health problem in terms of morbidity and financial cost and represents one of the most common diseases encountered in medical practice today with an estimated 150 million UTIs per annum worldwide . It remains a commonly diagnosed infection both in community as wells as in hospitalized pregnant mothers and Escherichia coli was found to be the most common pathogen of UTI both in community and hospital acquired infections . The main objective determines antimicrobials susceptibility pattern on Escherichia coli isolates causing urinary tract infection in pregnant women attending Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital. The study was a Cross-sectional descriptive study where systematic sampling was used to recruit the respondents that meet the inclusion criteria 80 pregnant women from trimester 1, 2 and 3 respectively participating in the study. Demographic and risk factors details were obtained through a structured Check List interviews. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and presented in tables and graphs presentation. Coding and verification of the data was done before data analyzed. Analysis was done using SPSS version 15. Chi-square test (2x2) or Fishers Exact Test was applicable at P-value derivation for sociodemographic and risk factors to identify variables associated with UTIs. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern rate of gram negative bacteria ranged from 27% to 92% to be accurate Susceptibility was as Cefriaxozone 74 (92%), Ciprofloxacin 56 (70%), Gentamycin 56 (70%), co-Trimoxazole 55 (69%), Ampicillin 50 (63%), Chloraphenical 40 (50%), Streptomycin 32 (43%) and Tetracycline 22 (27%) respectively. This study recommends that effective identification, isolation and sensitivity tests of uropathogens in pregnant mothers such as E. coli associated with UTI should be done as SOP and the government should expand the existing maternal health programs and put more emphasis on uti treatment components targeting mothers who were established to be at a higher risk. The study was a hospital based study and may not truly reflect findings in the rural areas and the entire state. The antibiotic sensitivity test against bacteria in the laboratory is an in vitro activity and may not exactly reflect the in vivo activity. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 05-08-2018 Date of acceptance: 22-08-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The issues on how to represent enterprise models in XML format are addressed in this paper.Taken the EPC as the core and conformed to the XML design standards and rules,a XML-based representation for enterprise model including data structure definition and XML Schema definition is given,which provides the data storage and format interchange of enterprise modeling tools as well as encapsulates EPC in XML Schema using the CIM-OSA modeling concept.In addition,the data expression methods and data organization ideas about enterprise models are discussed.


Cluster of symmetric multiprocessor systems (SMP Cluster) are becoming increasingly attractive for cost eeective high performance computing. Besides building such platforms, providing programming mechanisms, layers of abstractions , or libraries to enable programmers to gain the power of clusters is another challenging eld of research. In this paper, we discuss mechanisms on how to take advantage of SMP clusters in a parallel object oriented programming environment. Particularly , we discuss node level replicated parallel objects , parallel objects with a representative per SMP node, as a reusable pattern to perform a set of common collective communication/computations.


Houseman ND, Taylor GI, Pan WR. The angiosomes of the head and neck: anatomic study and clinical applications. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000, 105: 2287–313. Lassus P, Husso A, Vuola J, Lindford AJ. More than just the helix: a series of free flaps from the ear. Microsurgery. 2018, 38: 611–20. Lassus P, Lindford AJ. Free temporal artery posterior auricular skin (TAPAS) flap: a new option in facial and intra-oral reconstruction. Microsurgery. 2017, 37: 525–30.


This thesis is an architectural response to, or rather, translation of, a canonical work of modern literature – James Joyce's Ulysses. Understanding architecture to be a very effective communication tool, it questions both how a literary to architectural translation could occur and what such a translation would reveal about both architecture and the novel.
Ulysses is a complex literary labyrinth that has both perplexed and inspired architects and writers alike. The text explores the subtle, nuanced rhythms of an ordinary day in the city of Dublin. Contemplation, of the novel, forces new insights and meaning that become understood through observation of simple aspects of everyday existence.
This work questions how architecture can allow insight into these same observations. By comparing two different styles of translation, literal and free, it results in a series of architectural installations throughout Dublin.
It reveals that neither method results in a perfect translation, and thus the architect or translator must be actively engaged in the translation— resulting in a co-authored piece.
Ultimately, the work concludes that the mere act of observation is enough to understand the rich beauty of simple everyday experiences. It is understood through reading the novel, or through the lived experience of architecture.


Methods addressing spurious correlations such as Just Train Twice (JTT, Liu et al. 2021) involve reweighting a subset of the training set to maximize the worst-group accuracy. However, the reweighted set of examples may potentially contain unlearnable examples that hamper the model's learning. We propose mitigating this by detecting outliers to the training set and removing them before reweighting. Our experiments show that our method achieves competitive or better accuracy compared with JTT and can detect and remove annotation errors in the subset being reweighted in JTT.


And it has a playback mode for audio signals utilizing playback port, a memory module having an input port for the input of the analog signal and a data signal not only power, power is supplied from a separate power source that. The input port may be a USB port or IEEE1394 port, may be utilized with the battery pack / cradle with a female socket for receiving a connector. Input port comprises at least four terminals, i.e. the ground, power supply, and at least two differential data terminals, the differential data terminal transmits a signal in the frequency range 1~480MHz. Input ports are also used for transferring power from the battery pack / Cradle to the memory module.


The invention relates to a system TERAPEUTICO TRANSDERMAL TO MANAGE FISOSTIGIMINA IN PIEN THE LAYER RESIDUAL IMPERMEAABLE TO THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT OF A SUBSTANCE AUXILIARY DISTRIBUTION AND SETTLEMENT IN THE FORM OF DRESSING ACTIVE SUBMITTING MATERIALS FEXTES, matrix SURROUNDED THE DRESSING AND CHAPE RELEVABLE. The matrix contains 10 to 90% by weight of a polymer material SELECTED CONSISTENT IN POLYMER BASED acrylate and / or methacrylates and esters hydrated COLOFORMA, 0 to 30% of plasticisers A BASE OIL AND / OR ESTERS AND APPARATUS SUBJECT It CONTAINS ACTIVE according to production of 15 to 85% by SOLLUCION WEIGHT OF FISOSTIGIMINA.


Considering the historical context from which it was born, the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer (produced by Joss Whedon) was undeniably progressive in terms of its LGBTQ representation. As a whole, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BTVS) is an immensely complex text with content that truly caused people to reconsider what is and isn't queer. This show challenged viewers to redefine the socially constructed notions of acceptable gender and sexual performance. On this front—in acknowledging the way queer relationships were so positively portrayed, and the ways characters like Buffy and Spike resist traditional performances of gender, it seems clear that BTVS aimed to push specific LGBTQ agendas. However, the show has also seen criticism for the death of Tara, the erasure of Willow's bisexuality, and Xander's undeniable gay panic. In many ways BTVS both supports and resists the gay movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. I conclude that—while the show is not perfect—Whedon's adaptive nature and ability to admit his flaws, is one of the many factors that led for BTVS to become so influential. Through the incredibly well-constructed characters like Willow, Xander, Spike, and the transgressive dynamic of the Scoobies as a whole, Buffy the Vampire Slayer produced positive space for the LGBTQ community to find representation, inspiration, and empowerment.


Each company has to reopen different new methods and means in order to maintain high degree of competitive power on the market in the period of economic crisis today. The described and developed method and procedure by the author give every company concrete decisions to reach a better competitive power on the market in the globalization and mostly in the economic worldwide crisis today. The described method sand procedures below was developed by the author 1993 as a president of consulting company "D & M Dobrev Consulting House" for analysis, trading.


Aircraft design is a complicated multistage process,involving many disciplines such as aerodynamics,structure, propulsion and so on. These disciplines are intrinsically coupled to one another.Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) is a kind of optimization strategy for coupled systems. The MDO philosophy pertains to decomposition of a large complex system into several smaller, more manageable subsystems, with the inherent coupling managed by coupling terms and appropriate approximation algorithms. In this paper, the traditional concurrent subspace optimization based on response surface method (RSCSSO) was studied. Then the RSCSSO based on self-adaptive approximation model were developed. In order to reduce the amount of disciplinary analysis and keep the accuracy of the approximation models, uniform experiment design was introduced to replace the disciplinary optimization to obtain a set of design points directly. Since the quality of system level optimum and the speed of convergence largely depended on the accuracy of the approximation model, self-adaptive approximation algorithm was introduced in system level optimization. The accuracies of two approximation models were compared in each iteration and the better model would be used.The proposed RSCSSO algorithm is validated by a hand-launch UAV test case.In comparison with the traditional RSCSSO optimization and the improved RSCSSO developed by us, it can be seen that better optimum is found by improved RSCSSO with much less calculation cost.


Abstract Introduction: The primary goal of remote-access thyroid surgery is to avoid a visible cervical scar. There have been numerous approaches to achieve this with both endoscopic and robotic te...


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mesenchymal stem cells have potential as a regenerative therapy in ischemic stroke. We sought to determine MR imaging findings after mesenchymal stem cell implantation in chronic middle cerebral artery infarcts and to compare brain volume changes in patients with mesenchymal stem cells with those in age-matched healthy controls and controls with chronic stable MCA infarcts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 5 patients receiving surgical mesenchymal stem cell implantation to an MCA infarct from January 1, 2005, to July 1, 2013, with MR imaging immediately and 1 year postimplantation. Images at both time points were evaluated for any postimplantation complications. Structural image evaluation using normalization of atrophy software was used to determine volume changes between time points and compare them with those in healthy and age- and sex-matched controls with chronic, stable MCA infarcts by using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Susceptibility signal loss and enhancement at the implantation site were seen. No teratoma, tumor, or heterotopia was identified. Volumetric analysis showed a trend toward less overall volume loss after mesenchymal stem cell implantation (0.736; 95% CI, −4.15–5.62) compared with that in age- and sex-matched controls with chronic, stable MCA infarcts (−3.59; 95% CI, −12.3 to −5.21; P = .09), with a significantly greater growth-to-loss ratio in infarcted regions (1.30 and 0.78, respectively, P = .02). A trend toward correlation of growth-to-loss ratio with improvement in physical examination findings was seen (r = 0.856, P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative changes consistent with stereotactic implantation were seen, but no teratoma, tumor, or heterotopia was identified. Initial findings suggest a trend toward less volume loss after mesenchymal stem cell implantation compared with that in age- and sex-matched controls with chronic, stable MCA infarcts, with a significantly greater growth-to-loss ratio in the infarcted tissue.


Pioneers take charge of a brand new, and nearly instant, method As the Internet matures, banks will continue to find more and better uses for the medium's slick-looking portals. One of the more impressive of these is the nearly instantaneous origination of home equity loans. True, this is still a fledgling service that has attracted many a pretender to the starting gate. In fact, most bank and mortgage companies that accept applications on-line aren't automated throughout the process. Instead, they require ample human intervention to get the scoring, assessment, and processing completed-- usually within a few weeks. There are a few notable exceptions. Advanced Resource Computer Systems (ARC) Inc., Austin, Tex.; American Management Systems, Fairfax, Va.; and Zoot Enterprises, Bozeman, Mont.; have boldly gone where few can follow, outfitting progressive banks-- and mortgage lenders--with real-time processing solutions that incorporate the Internet. Each of these companies is beginning to get the word out as use of fully automated, Internet-based systems gains momentum. ARC has four installations of its automated underwriting and processing tool, LT2k--and a few deals pending. Meanwhile AMS, as part of a joint venture with the Bank of Montreal, has at least two customers signed up for development of a similar system. Finally, Zoot has three Internet installations (and one in progress) of its Zoot Banking Platform, which includes loan processing capability. (The company also has 40 installations using a client-server version of the product designed for use with branch personnel.) Bright future, slow start Meanwhile, consultants see a rosy future for Internet-based lending. The Tower Group, Newton, Mass., estimates that the on-line loan market will reach $100 billion by 2001 and a 1998 survey from a research organization called Mortech shows that about 5% of all lenders currently do business this way. As always, the hunt is on for credit worthy prospects. Some believe the Internet is the best way to find them, especially given the affluent profile of Internet users. (See p.42 ABABJ, February, Turning Point for Billpay?) Despite this potential, if the move to comprehensive automation has been thus far slow, there is good reason for it, given the complexities of the lending criteria involved. In one sense, first mortgages are more complex because they require more information to substantiate net worth and credit worthiness, lending experts say. On the other hand, mortgages are also simpler because they get processed with standardized risk assessment formulas. "Unlike conforming, first-mortgage loans based on standard '10-O-3' applications, home equity loans have much more diverse lending criteria, making HEL origination in some sense much more challenging [than conforming mortgages] to automate," says Cary Serif, a partner with Andersen Consulting in Chicago. His comments were echoed by others familiar with the still wild and woolly Internet lending space. Charles Ogilvie, executive vice-president of sales and marketing with Security First Technologies, Atlanta, believes that although the Internet will continue to be a gateway for gathering leads, or for pre-qualifying individuals based on their financial profile, it probably won't be linked to an entirely automated operation for most banks. Instead, though, he sees the Internet playing more of a communications role with existing home equity line of credit (HELOC) customers, reminding them of what funds are available and urging them to use this credit when it makes sense. "A lot of people don't use the lines of credit they obtain. Offering a Web page that shows balance information or provides calculators to check out loan options might be a better use of the Internet." Wells Fargo lures Internet users Besides Wells Fargo, the company has already implemented a different version of automated lending for First Union and has a project for SouthTrust under way. …


This paper analyses the impact of the Foreign Direct Investment on the rate of exchange before or not other variables which can influence the rate of exchange in DRC. In order to confirm our hypothesis assigned to this one and reach its objective, we have referred to the following methods and techniques: the analytical method, the method Lesser Ordinary Square through the model of Error Correction and the documentary technique. Thus, on the basis of different reports of the African Bank of Development, the Central Bank of Congo, and finally the World Table of the World Bank and the international financial statistics of IMF from 1984 to 2015, we have come to the results according to which the official rate of exchange in DRC has a negative impact on the foreign direct investment. Our results prove that money depreciation increases the FDI in the welcoming country and consequently the rate of exchange decreases. So, the drop in the rate of exchange leads to a raise of exportations. In the same conditions, a raise of rate of exchange leads to a reduction of exportations.


Early diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) by determination of diastolic dysfunction is challenging. Strain-volume loop (SVL) is a new tool to analyze left ventricular function.

 We propose a new semi-automated method to calculate SVL area and explore the added value of this index for diastolic function assessment.

 50 patients (25 amyloidosis, 25 HFpEF) were included in the study and compared with 25 healthy control subjects. All patients underwent standard echocardiography. SVL area were also assessed.

 Left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved and similar between groups. Classical indices of diastolic function were pathological in HFpEF and amyloidosis groups with greater left atrial volume index, greater mitral average E/e' ratio, faster tricuspid regurgitation (p<0.0001 compared with controls). SVL analysis demonstrated a significant difference of the global area between groups, with the smaller area in amyloidosis group, the greater in controls and a mid-range value in HFpEF group (37 vs 120 vs 72 ml.%, respectively, p<0.0001) (Table 1). Applying a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) classifier, results show a mean area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 for the comparison between HFpEF and amyloidosis groups (Figure 1).

 Strain-volume loops area is efficient to identify patients with a diastolic dysfunction. This new semi-automated tool is very promising for future development of automated diagnosis with machine-learning algorithms.
 Figure 1

 Type of funding source: None


A process for purification of a) at least one leaching when substantially all of the b) removing HCl if the solvent is hydrochloric acid in step a), and redissolving the resulting material in nitric acid; c) Ankonzentrieren the d) separating the formula I Formula II wherein in formula I: R1, R2 independently octyl, n-octyl, phenyl, or phenyl, with the C R3, R4 independently represent propyl, isopropyl, butyl, or isobutyl; ...


The theory of finite Hankel transform and its inversion formula were founded and some properties of finite Hankel transform were proved. By this theory, the general solution of symmetric stress system on axis with finite diameter was got.


Synthesis of poly(p-phenyleneethynylene)s (PPEs)
containing 1,5-diethynyl-3,7-di-tert-butylnaphthalene leads to
novel phenylene-naphthylene-ethynylene copolymers which show strong blue
luminescence in the solid state.


The organic thin film transistor comprising a self-assembled monolayer interposed between a gate dielectric and an organic semiconductor layer is provided. The monomolecular film is a reaction product between a gate dielectric and a precursor to the self-assembled monolayer. The monolayer precursor composition has the formula XYZ Y is straight or is C Z is n is 1, 2 or 3, provided that when Z is -SiCl (CH Method of manufacturing an integrated circuit comprising a thin film transistor and the thin-film transistor is also provided.


To educate the ability of innovation is a weakness of China' s education.There is a gap between the blueprints of building an innovative country and educational situation of undertaking an important mission.The important reason of lag teaching contents, teaching forms and teaching methods is that educational philosophy and concepts are out of date.Moreover, the important step of teaching reform is to change ideas and traditional classroom teaching forms and methods.

Key words:
Innovation talent;  Educational concepts;  Talent cultivation;  Discussion


A full-scale turbojet engine having a two-stage turbine was operated with pentaborane fuel continuously for 11.5 minutes at a simulated altitude of 55,000 feet at a flight Mach number of 0.8. The engine incorporated an NACA combustor designed specifically for use with pentaborane fuel. The specific fuel consumption was initially reduced 32 percent below that obtained with gasoline fuel; however, the occurrence of a 25-percent reduction in net thrust after 8 minutes of operation resulted in a subsequent increase in specific fuel consumption to a value only 11.5 percent lower than that for gasoline.


Tar and nicotine are subtances contained in cigaretes. Nicotine is adictive, while tar is carcinogenic and causing some diseases. Aim of this research was to know the tar and nicotine content of kretek filter cigaretes sold in Nganjuk district. Multiple sampling method was used to collect data. The data obtained were analyzed using Randomized Block Design. Results showed that nicotine content range from 1,10-2,17% and 2 brands contained nicotine more than the standard (maximum 2,0%). The tar content ranged from 0,05-0,175% and all brands contained the tar under the standard (1,5%). Key words : Kretek filter cigaretes, tar, nicotine


SUMMARY The rare Microbotryum scolymi, a micromycete recently discovered in Greece, damages heavily the heads of Scolymus hispanicus, thus is regarded as a potential biological control agent for Scolymus thistles. Description, illustrations, synonyms, host plant range and geographical distribution of M. scolymi are given, together with a key to the Microbotryum species on Compositae.


The utility model belongs to a fruit tree machinery class; in order to fill void, and in order to replace the heavy branching manual work by mechanized operation, the scheme is especially provided. A branching head is added and installed on the front horizontal holder of the suspending upper arm of a vehicle by a hydraulic hoist type mechanical branching vehicle. The hydraulic hoist type mechanical branching vehicle is driven by hydraulic pressure, and the operating angle can be adjusted. When a cutter is rotated and fed, the utility model is provided with two sets of control mechanisms, viz. a control disc arranged on a bucket and a control disc arranged on the vehicle. The accurate work by manual remote control of the aerial branching head can be realized, and the operation control can also be conducted in an aerial work bucket. The hydraulic hoist type mechanical branching vehicle has the advantages that the quality is high, the labour condition is improved, and workers work easily.


We study the spillover effects of immigration enforcement policies on children's human capital, concentrating on language proficiency as one of the most important skills. Exploiting the temporal and geographic variation in the enactment of immigration enforcement policies, we find that English language skills of US-born children with at least one undocumented parent are negatively affected by the introduction of immigration enforcement laws. Our estimates are of comparable size but opposite sign as important childhood interventions aimed at improving skills. The reduction in children's English skills is caused by changes in parental investment behavior. Parents are less likely to enroll their children in formal non-mandatory preschool, substituting formal non-mandatory preschool education with parental time spent at home. Parents also reduce time spent socializing, as a response to immigration laws. We interpret this as evidence that parents' behavioral change is likely driven by increasing fear of being detected and deported. Ultimately, these developments lead to a reduction in children's language skills.


The Stranski–Krastanow growth mode describes the transition from two‐dimensional flat strained layer epitaxy to the formation of islands that can be technologically used as quantum dots. This has so far been utilized for In(Ga)As/GaAs and Ge/Si heteroepitaxy. Here, we investigate multilayer samples of SiGe alloys grown with different germanium content and thicknesses by reduced pressure chemical vapor phase epitaxy and show that a similar transition can be found in the Si1−xGex‐on‐Si system at x ≈ 0.28. Using a combination of annular dark‐field imaging and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy in an analytical transmission electron microscope, we demonstrate that it is the total amount of Ge deposited that determines whether the layers stay flat or roughen, and it is germanium segregation that determines whether and when the transition occurs. While layers with nominally pure Ge roughen at a thickness of ∼0.5 nm, Si1−xGex layers with x ≥ 0.28 stay flat for much longer, until segregated Ge at the surface leads to islanding. Layers below that critical concentration (x ≤ 0.27) can stay flat up to even higher thicknesses, possibly until dislocations will be formed. The critical thickness for the Stranski–Krastanow transition at x = 0.28 is d = 1.7 nm.


participant power hierarchy of Haig (2012), Cipriani (2002) and Ezeifeka (2013). Statistically-significant differences between the two groups are detected using SPSS 22 nd . Findings illustrate fourteen mechanisms of power manifestation in the data examined. Such strategies as code-switching and using scientific facts are found to be the preference of the American group versus others (e


In their working paper, Kumar, Ruenzi, and Ungeheuer (KRU) document that stocks ranked as daily winners or losers in the previous month underperform unranked stocks during the month after the ranking. KRU explain that the ranked stocks experience a large increase in investor attention, which leads to temporary overpricing and subsequent underperformance. Following KRU, we investigate whether the same effect exists in the Korean stock market and find a robust daily winners and losers effect. First, stocks that were both daily winners and losers in a given month underperform those that were neither daily winners nor losers during the following months. Second, stocks that were never a daily winner or loser during the previous month do not exhibit the idiosyncratic volatility puzzle or the MAX effect. Moreover, the underperformance of ranked stocks is robust after controlling for the idiosyncratic volatility and the MAX effect. We suggest that the overpricing caused by excessive attention to daily winners and losers may be the main driver of the idiosyncratic volatility puzzle and the MAX effect. Lastly, we find that retail investors buy daily winners and losers, while both institutional investors and foreign investors decrease trades in the ranked stocks.


This study, drawing on data from a large sociolinguistic interview corpus for three Acadian communities of Atlantic Canada, concerns codeswitches involving verbs of opinion or belief (e.g. guess, think, imagine, believe) in French-English bilingual discourse. The codeswitch itself serves to underscore the speaker's stance as to the truth of the proposition – and, in some cases, to indicate a degree of uncertainty not nuanced by corresponding French language forms. Variation in usage is related to intensity of language contact at the levels of the community and of the individual.


Error Concealment (EC) is a technique at the decoder side to hide the transmission errors. It is done by analyzing the spatial or temporal information from available video frames. It is very important to recover distorted video because they are used for various applications such as video-telephone, video-conference, TV, DVD, internet video streaming, video games etc .Retransmission-based and resilient-based methods, are also used for error removal. But these methods add delay and redundant data. So error concealment is the best option for error hiding. In this paper, the error concealment methods such as Block Matching error concealment algorithm is compared with Frequency Selective Extrapolation algorithm. Both the works are based on concealment of manually error video frames as input. The parameter used for objective quality measurement was PSNR (Peak Signal to Noise Ratio) and SSIM(Structural Similarity Index). The original video frames along with error video frames are compared with both the Error concealment algorithms. According to simulation results, Frequency Selective Extrapolation is showing better quality measures such as 48% improved PSNR and 94% increased SSIM than Block Matching Algorithm.


This paper presents circuit design and operation principle of a newly developed phase-shifted PWM full-bridge inverter for capacitor charging. The proposed inverter system uses for pulse corona occurrence of DeSOx, DeNOx system using magnetic pulse compressor. And the system is designed with ZVS softswitching techniques to achieve high efficiency. To overcome the problem associated with high voltage stress, the high voltage transformer separated with three sections. The performance test of the capacitor charging power supply (CCPS) was carried out with a 2 μF load capacitor at 20㎸ output voltage and the repetition rate is 300pps.


Choosing a pair of running shoes in today's market is enough to boggle anyone's mind. Here are some suggestions from people who have lived through it.


High coal consumption and economizer abrasion issues in running of circulating fluidized bed boiler of a gangue power plant are analyzed.The effects of particle diameter distribution of coal and design of splitter and return feeder on boiler running are discussed.Some improving measures are given,which provide practical bases for design and running of the circulating fluidized bed boiler.


Nowadays, regional history research, carried out on Ottoman History, has turned out to be quite popular and it is seen that history of places such as a city, a village or the like. is tried to be illuminated based upon archieve documents. City of Demirci within Saruhan Region, having witnessed settlement since prehistoric times and then with Saruhanogullari Beylik having entered into the Turkish domination at the beginning of the XIV. Century became a center. When the region fell under the rule of Ottoman Empire in the year 1410, Demirci as the center of this sanjak took place in Ottoman state system under the name of Saruhan Sanjak and, at present it continues its existence as a district of Manisa. Demographical structure of the City of Demirci having been located as the center of Demirci in 16th century, a district of Saruhan Sanjak, constitutes the subject matterof our study. In this regard, comparisons have been made with neighbouring cities. Main resources of our study consist of record books no:115 in Land Registry Record Books Archieve and record books no: 165


Based on the first and second generation communication system,the safety in the third generation mobile communication system using MS-CHAPv2 two-way authentication mechanism is analyzed to improve the security of the system.Then the MS-CHAPv2 two-way authentication mechanism is introduced in details.


The obstacles and difficulties hindering good performance in mathematics by Lower Primary school children seem to originate from inconsistence of instructional methods applied by teachers at the level. These methods don't agree with the ones initially applied by the children's teachers at preschool level. The effect of that could result in denying children a precious start to their future mathematics performance. There is a persistent indication that a discontinuity exists between pre-school learning methods and those in the lower primary schools. Teaching methods of the lower primary should be amended to make allowance for the stages of children's development and provide opportunities to encourage children to improve in their ability to understand and apply mathematical concepts. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the pre-school mathematics programme on mathematics performance in the Lower Primary Schools of the Makuyu Zone, Murang'a South District. The objectives of this study were: - to investigate continuity of teaching methods from pre-school to lower primary school; and to compare the relationship between performance in mathematics of children who had had pre-school education with those who had not. This study used a descriptive survey design to achieve the set objectives. Purposive (deliberately) sampling was used to select a sample population of 60 pupils; a lottery (random choice) method of sampling was applied to get 30 teachers, whereas 10 head teachers were chosen through appointment (deliberate) sampling.  Open-ended questionnaires to collect data from the selected teachers and head teachers were applied; and for the children's responses, an interview schedule was employed. Observational checklists were also used where archival records were to apply. To test the construct validity and reliability of the research instruments, the researchers used 'split-half'.  The researchers pilot-tested the research instruments with a small representative group from the population. The data collected was analysed, using frequency counts and percentages and presentations were done in tables, bar graphs, pie charts and histograms as necessary to present a better picture of the findings. This study recommends frequent mathematics methodology seminars, workshops/in-service training for lower primary mathematics' teachers which will guarantee effective methodological knowledge for teachers to teach mathematics effectively. Children's learning at play should be very much emphasized. To avoid discontinuity this study recommends that in the lower primary male and female teachers should alternate to make the learners get used to male teachers. More male teachers should also get to teach in the preschool level. Key w ords: Preschool; Mathematics Performance; Instructional Methods


This study examined the Junior Secondary School students' thoughts about mathematics and the relationship between mathematics and other variables such as the category of students' school attended, gender and mathematics performance. A sample of 284 students (male = 157 and female = 127) students from public and private schools were involved in the study. The research was conducted in Zaria, a town in Kaduna State of Nigeria and the instruments used were questionnaires. The findings revealed that a relationship exists between students' thoughts about mathematics and type of school, gender and performance.


The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) used the CIDOC-CRM (Conceptual Reference Model) in a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of providing enhanced access to digital cultural and heritage content through a Linked Open Data (LOD) model. Based on the success of the pilot, CHIN will be using CIDOC CRM (among other ontologies) and LOD to modernize Canada's national repository of museum collections data, Artefacts Canada. Artefacts Canada – History and Today Artefacts Canada is Canada's only national repository of museum collections records and images. It began as a centralized "National Inventory" in 1972, and Canadian museums used this central database for their local collections management from the early 1970s until the mid-1990s. A set of core fields was shared, first only within the Network of museums, but later with the public on the Artefacts Canada web application. By the mid1990s, many museums had acquired their own collections management systems and began to manage their data locally, but a core set of their data fields was retained centrally at CHIN for Artefacts Canada. Museums today send batch updates of their data (delimited text), mapped to the Artefacts Canada fields. Artefacts Canada Humanities now contains 4.3 million object records and 1.1 million images, contributed by over 500 museums and galleries across Canada. UTILISATION DE CIDOC CRM ET DE DONNEES OUVERTES LIEES POUR MODERNISER ARTEFACTS CANADA


Abo Arroyo is a tributary of the Rio Grande in central New Mexico. Its alluvial sequence is made up of four informal units, their age defined by 44 AMS radiocarbon dates from 12.8 ka to 0.85 ka. The earliest, unit 1, is terminal Pleistocene to early Holocene (12.8 ka to 9.0 ka), including the Scholle wet meadow (12.3 ka to 11.1 ka) related to the Younger Dryas. After an erosional gap in the record from 9 ka to 6 ka, coarse gravel (unit 2) was deposited in the channel (5.8 ka and 4.3 ka) during the middle Holocene period of aridity. Subsequently, the late Holocene wet period is characterized by fine-textured alluvium (unit 3) (3.5 ka to 0.945 ka) with shells of an aquatic snail, indicating persistent stream flow. An upper 2-m zone of dark-colored clayey silt beds with high amounts of organic carbon and carbonate accumulated from 1.7 ka to 0.945 ka. A record of C4 signatures, previously interpreted to indicate dry conditions 1.4 ka to 0.945 ka, is reinterpreted as an interval of exceptionally wet floodplain conditions with C4 grasses and sedges. Abo Arroyo and other studies indicate three major episodes of late-Quaternary channel entrenchment: 1) from the full-glacial to late glacial-Bølling/Allerød (6.1 ky), 2) during the middle Holocene (2.5 ky), and 3) during the late Holocene Medieval Warm Period (0.4 ky), each erosional event less severe and shorter duration than the preceding one, and all three represent a significant change from wet to dry climate. During the Medieval Warm Period (A.D. 900 to 1300), a shallow channel formed in unit 3 alluvium, bracketed by AMS dates A.D. 1005 in unit 3 alluvium and A. D. 1100 in unit 4 channel fill. The channel cutting occurred with the shift from wet to dry climate, although the downcutting event was preceded by 100 years of landscape adjustment to the long drought. The canyon fill was entrenched again, deep and wide, by arroyo cutting in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The regional 83-year second-century drought (A.D. 100 to A.D. 182), documented by tree rings, shows up in the stable-carbon-isotope record from Abo Arroyo alluvium. The drought was more severe than the 400-year warm period but had little effect on the preserved alluvial record. The less severe but longer-duration Medieval Warm Period resulted in channel cutting at Abo Arroyo and elsewhere in the broad region at that time, but the second-century drought did not. Finally, the similarity of Abo Arroyo and Rio Grande late Holocene alluvial records with parallel stratigraphy, sedimentology, and geochronology illustrates that tributaries and main valleys respond alike and in concert to climate and climate change.


Abstract: Mystic literature (Irfān) in general and Sufi literature in particular has always been alluring to the scholars interestingly working in different fields from literary, religious, philosophical, historical to other fields which may have little in common. Among Sufi theologians, Farid ud-Din Attar Neishabouri is the one whom no one has ever been able to surpass in creating works which have richly furnished Persian literature with mystic ideas and images of Sufis. Attar is a prolific author but, among his works, Mateq at-Tair, or The Conference of the Birds (Darbandi and Davis, 1984) is generally known as his magnum opus which has earned a worldwide reputation. Though all the tales of this book are artfully well made in their own right, the story of 'Sheikh San'an', without doubt, is second to none. Recently a large number of scholars have tried to interpret the tale with the aid of various methods, both traditional and modern, in order to give a better understanding of its implications. This paper is also intended to investigate 'Sheikh San'an', this time, in terms of Roland Barthes's five codes of narrative (proairetic, hermeneutic, semic, symbolic and cultural). The reason to choose this approach is to employ the codes in mystic literature and to verify if it is possible to uncover some esoteric concepts which might have still remained untold about this story.


The good news continued for Teng and Siew Ling. It seemed that since the announcement about the Woodlands train station last year, life was looking up for them.


The objective of the present research paper is to highlight
Agricultural college library budgets under the jurisdiction of Mahatma Phule
Agricultural University, Rahuri. It includes expenditure of library budgets
under varies heads. The present study has various aspects. One of them is the
assessment of the present budgetary status of Agricultural college libraries and
to find out need of change, to suggest practical solutions to the prevailing
problems of the college libraries with the help of the questionnaire method, the
questionnaire was sent to all 49 Agricultural College Libraries along with self
addressed duly stamped envelope with return postage by the researcher. The
respondents were asked to return the questionnaire within 3 Months. Out of 49
only 40 (81.63%) questionnaires were received within a stipulated period.


Abstract We study a family of finitely generated residually finite small-cancellation groups. These groups are quotients of
$F_2$
 depending on a subset
$S$
 of positive integers. Varying
$S$
 yields continuously many groups up to quasi-isometry.


PT Astra International Tbk Daihatsu Solo Baru is a sister company of
PT Astra International DSO in collaboration with Daihatsu Indonesia, whose
activity is in the sales of Daihatsu units (vehicles), the sales of Daihatsu genuine
parts, themaintenanceservices of Daihatsu and Non Daihatsu vehicles, and the
body repair Daihatsu and Non-Daihatsu vehicles. In the activities of body repair,
PT Astra International Tbk Daihatsu is in collaboration with an insurance
company. This collaboration is based on both parties (bilateral) contract, in
which there are rights and obligations of both parties. The aim of this research is
to find out the credit system of body repair vehicle insurance at PT Astra
International Tbk-Daihatsu Solo Baru branch, including the strengths and
weaknesses. Insurance credit system is a kind of very complex operational
activity. Hence, the company must pay more attention to the credit system of body
repair vehicle insurance of PT Astra International Tbk-Daihatsu Solo Baru
branch.
Credit system of body repair vehicle insurance at PT Astra International
Tbk-Daihatsu Solo Baru branch has some interrelated procedures for its
operations. Such system, besides consist of some long series of procedures, also
involves several inter-collaborated functions in order to result in the reliable
documents and accounting notes, and also to create the strong intern control
system.
Insurance credit system applied by PT Astra International Tbk- Daihatsu
Solo Baru branch has several strengths, such as: the separation of functions and
the using of printed entry numbers. As a whole, credit system of body repair
vehicle insurance at PT Astra International Tbk-Daihatsu Solo Baru branch is
good. Even so, to implement such system, it is needed some staffs who are willing
to obey the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in order to bring into reality the smoothness of the company's operational activities and indeed and writer
recommends to add some staffs of admin service department in order to smooth
the credit collecting.
Keywords: accounting system, credit, insurance


Objectve: To evaluate the effects of pigment epithelium derived factor(PEDF) eyedrops in inhibiting corneal neovascularization(CNV) by topical installition on the rat model undergoing penetrating keratoplasty and to investigate its possible mechanism and its clinical significance.Methods: Penetrating karatoplasty were proformed orthotopically from Wistar rats to SD rat' recipients.72 SD rats were randomly assigned to two groups-experimental group and control group,after transplantation.Experimental group was treated with PEDF eyedrops and control group was treated with escipient eyedrops.CNV was observed by the slitlamp biomicroscope examination.The area of CNV was caculated quantitatively.6 animals in both groups were killed respectively at the 1st week,2nd week,3rd week,1st month,2nd month and 3rd month postoperatively.PEDF expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and corneal untrastructural morphology was observed by TEM.Results: The area of CNV was decreased at 1 week,2 weeks,3 weeks,1 month and 2 months postaperatively(P0.01 or P0.05).Significantly increased PEDF expression was also observed in the experimental group by immunohistochemistry staining,as compared with the control group.Conclusion: Topical application of PEDF eye drop can prevent vascular growth of corneal allografts.


A polymorph D of Complex trans-[Fe(abpt)2(NCS)2] was synthesized and structurally characterized. It crystallize in a monoclinic space group P21/c with cell parameter a = 10.803(1), b = 15.926(1), c = 17.451(2) A, β = 106.81(1)o, V = 2874.1(4) A and Z=1 at 293 K. The asymmetric unit contains two unique iron sites (Fe and Fe'); each is located at the crystallographic inversion centers. The main difference in these two molecules is the planarity of the abpt ligand; the dihedral angle between the triazole ring and the uncoordinated pyridine ring is 6.2 and 20.1o for Fe and Fe' complex respectively. The result of temperature-dependent FTIR spectra indicates that Fe undergoes a gradual spin crossover transition in the temperature range of 200 ~ 100 K ( Tc = 145 K), while the Fe' remains at high spin state in the temperature range studied. This shows a definite correlation between the spin crossover character and the planarity of the ligand in this complex; this applies to the known crystal structures of polymorph A and B. The closer to the planar of the ligand abpt is, the easier a spin crossover complex will be. The single crystal diffraction data at 90 K were also studied. Comparing to the structure at 293 K, the Fe-Navg distances change from 2.155(3) to 1.976(3) A at site Fe and 2.163(2) to 2.181(2) A at site Fe', it is consistent with the FTIR measurement. Below 50 K, the Fe site can be excited from low spin to high spin state using a green light laser (532 nm), the light induce exited spin state strapping (LIESST) process was monitored by the CN stretching frequency in the range of 1900-2200 cm.


The tribological behaviour of unprotected thin metallic layers on flexible substrates was studied in sliding contact with magnetic heads. Microscopic investigations of the wear mechanism give evidence, that micro-ploughing of the metallic layer with plastic deformation of the substrate takes place during t he first passes of the magnetic head. Subsequent surface fatigue of the layer system initiates debris, which causes a drastical increase of the coefficient of friction and a sudden decrease of the read out s ignal. Key parameters for improving the lifetime are the reduction of defects and the e volution of reliable lubricating top coatings.


To the Editor, The electrostatic filter suggested by the authors is indeed a good suggestion, but we have two concerns. One is regarding its decreased efficiency in the highly humid conditions of the tropical countries, like India resulting in its questionable efficacy to work for 24 hours and second is uncomfortable fitting of the mask. Electrostatic filter works by attracting the viruses and bacteria to the charged surface, however microbes can pass through the filter dissolved in liquid during high levels of humidity. Authors have suggested that it can be used for 24 hours as compare to the standard N95 masks which are approved for use for 8 hours only, but the efficacy of this filter needs to be tested in tropical climate settings before we can suggest its routine use. The idea behind disposable customised aerosol containment chamber was to facilitate use of a single operation room for multiple procedures. The mask proposed by authors will a surgeon/anesthetist for a day, which promotes and supplements this idea of permitting health care workers to perform multiple procedures in a day. If used together a user can perform multiple biopsies or endoscopies in a single operation room with adequate protection using both the techniques in resource constraint settings.


The queue percentile formulation adopted in the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) is empirically based. It contains an overly simplified functional form and parameters such that the accuracy of the back-of-queue percentile estimates is compromised. In view of this, the author applies the Delta method to derive the uncertainty formulation of back-of-queue through the first-order Taylor expansion approximation, assuming that the source of uncertainty comes from arrival flow, saturation flow and, for actuated controller, green time variability from vehicle actuation. As multiplication of the independent, positive random variables results in a lognormal distributed outcome, the back-of-queue percentile is quantified as a lognormal predictive interval function. The simulation study shows that the proposed back-of-queue predictive interval is much more accurate than the HCM counterpart in most of the cases evaluated based on the Kolmogorov–Smirnov goodness-of-fit test. The proposed formulations can be used to quantify the back-of-queue predictive interval for both pre-timed and actuated control, whereas HCM is indifferent to the type of control. As expected, the variability of back-of-queue from the actuated control is less than the pre-timed control in unsaturated condition. The predictive interval profiles become identical when the degree of saturation approaches to unity and maxes out the green time.


This is an attempt to apply stabilization/solidification techniques to PCS (petroleum contaminated soils) to bind the hydrocarbons in a structure formed by cement, fly ash, and aggregates to produce a construction material suitable for bulk applications. It was found that the addition of PCS reduces both the compressive and flexural strengths of concrete. However, the obtained strength is adequate for structural applications. Concrete containing higher PCS/sand replacement ratio develops lower strength. Given longer curing time, the fly ash presence can reduce such loss. The permeability coefficient of PCS is slightly higher than control.


Morse, Bradley Dean (Ph.D., Technology, Media, and Society; ATLAS Institute) Project Cell & Tell––mHealth in the Urban American Indian and Alaska Native Clinical Setting Thesis directed by Professor Clayton Lewis and Professor Sheana Bull Background and Significance: Project Cell & Tell (C&T) was a mobile health (mHealth) pilot intervention delivered in collaboration with the Denver Indian Health and Family Services (DIHFS) urban clinic. Content for the mHealth project was adapted from a classroom-based health education curriculum called Honoring the Gift of Heart Health (HGHH) and designed to be a standalone mHealth intervention. Short Message Service (SMS; text only) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS; text with images) were used to deliver health information over a five week period using three types of messages: information, quiz, and homework. Each participant received two informational SMSs, two quizzes, and a single homework message per week. The research questions were: (1.) To what extent is the cell phone, as used in C&T, a feasible dissemination tool to increase knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in an urban American Indian Alaska Native (AI/AN) population? (2.) In an urban AI/AN population, to what extent, if any, does the inclusion of text with photo elicitation (MMS) increase health knowledge and motivation more than text messaging (SMS)? (3.) How applicable were the social science ideas about organic intellectuals and counterhegemonic discourse in shaping the intervention? PROJECT CELL & TELL (C&T)--MHEALTH iv Methods: Sixteen people received the SMS intervention and 16 people received the MMS intervention. Following the delivery of messages, SMS participants (4, 25%) attended focus groups, and those in the MMS condition (6, 37%) participated in digital photovoice sessions. Baseline and post-intervention health knowledge surveys were collected from participants. Results: Quantitative analysis suggested a positive trend in health knowledge for both the SMS and MMS conditions. Four specific types of health knowledge constructs were analyzed: heart attack knowledge, heart health knowledge, physical activity knowledge, and nutritional knowledge. Statistically significant increases were found in heart attack knowledge (F(1,21)=8.92, p<.01); both conditions increased knowledge from baseline (SMS = 41.16; MMS = 39.81) to post-intervention assessment (SMS= 43.08; MMS= 43.63). Varying degrees of participant response rates occurred in both conditions. Positive feedback, in focus groups and photovoice sessions, to the C&T messages and delivery system supported the findings that C&T is a feasible approach within an urban AI/AN clinic. Qualitative evidence from the focus groups, photovoice sessions, and received messages during the intervention supports blending social theory and health models for adoption and dissemination of the C&T strategy in an AI/AN clinic. Conclusions: This dissertation project showed that using SMS and MMS cell phone functions to increase health knowledge of cardio vascular disease (CVD) in an urban AI/AN clinic was feasible, that participants who used MMS with photo elicitation gained more health knowledge than those using SMS capabilities, an increase in knowledge regarding signs and symptoms of heart attack by means of mHealth was possible, and blended social theory and behavioral health models could contribute to the cultural adaptation of mHealth strategies to engage underserved AI/ANs. PROJECT CELL & TELL (C&T)--MHEALTH v


NGN is an integrated and open network. It integrates all the existing network environment, ambient access devices and terminal products. NGN, which is based on Softswitch technology, is a service driven network. By separating service from call control, and call control from bearer, it can realize a relatively independent service system and thus enables service independent from the network. Such open service architecture can satisfy the user's demands for services, strength the comprehensive competition ability of the network and realize the sustainable development. Also, NGN solves the separation among the networks. Voice, data and multimedia service can be broadcasted via the backbone network with an IP as its core component, which also solves the bandwidth problem limiting the development of traditional networks.. The main objective of this project is to demonstrate the robust features of providing voice services over NGN architecture. Another objective is to highlight the impact of the convergence between circuit-switched networks and IP networks by means of modeling the gateway adaptation layer. In order to approach these desired objectives, java based software packages were used to build and interconnect the software application components used for simulation purposes. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) which is the selected option for signaling between the application elements, was also implemented using the same technique. After the signaling process has ended, the process of voice transmission begins which depends on several protocols such as the Real Time Protocol (RTP) and the Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP). The above mentioned interconnection guarantees higher users' density, proper interfacing to other networks, accepted voice quality and higher QoS (Quality of Service). Also, the cost was reduced for the voice communication by providing a reliable communication service using the NGN. This communication service enables voice communications between PC to PC, PC to Phone, and Phone to Phone while keeping the cost at minimum by using Personal Computers equipped with modem and sound card. The concluded results from the simple simulation of SIP VoIP application is that working on platforms that support NGN protocol functionalities would definitely serve both service provider and customer side's benefit.


TQM has been widely recognized and successfully implemented in many large enterprises, giving these businesses the edge in both international and local competitiveness through the production of quality products that delight the customer. The thesis serves to lay the foundation for investigating quality strategy of small businesses in Hong Kong, many of which do not have the same management capabilities, incentives and resources as do large businesses.The results, in general, indicate that the enforcement of total quality management (TQM) in these small business concerns has been dissatisfactory. On the whole, enthusiasm was found among them, but there were inadequate and misunderstanding of the TQM concept. However, there are several small wonders who was on the route to total quality management and their lessons of "best practices" is discussed. Recommendation is drawn on the kind of quality strategies small-sized companies may adopt in pursuing their competitive edge.


ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic is hastening the shift of the world of work and study to online, remote, and flexible hours. The political science profession and its attributes of conferencing and workshopping will likely follow suit. To help direct this flow into relationships of reciprocity and scholarly co-creation, this article details the experiences of a successful online workshopping community known as the Normative Theory of Immigration Working Group (NTIWG). For the past 10 years, this voluntary association comprising 88 migration ethics scholars has been meeting routinely and exclusively online to workshop penultimate drafts of research papers. Three workshop conveners here reflect on the joys of group participation and mutual learning and listening. With the intention of smoothing the way for like-minded groups to emerge and solidify, we elaborate our group's animating values and its learned-by-doing rules for scheduling, moderating, and offering feedback online. In the spirit of collectively facing the diversity and equity challenges confronting the future of political science, we conclude by reviewing steps that we are taking to address our own challenges of inclusivity.


In statistical machine learning approaches for question classification, efforts based on lexical feature space require high computation power and complex data structures. This is due to the large number of unique words (or high dimensionality). Choosing semantic features instead could significantly reduce the dimensionality of the feature space. This article describes the use of Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) for question classification based on semantic features to improve both the training and testing speeds compared to the benchmark Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. Improvements have also been made to the head word extraction and word sense disambiguation processes. These have resulted in a higher accuracy (an increase of 0.2%) for the classification of coarse classes compared to the benchmark. For the fine classes, however, there is a 1.0% decrease in accuracy but is compensated by a significant increase in speed (92.1% on average).


This is a report of one case of a design and development research study that aimed to validate an overlay instructional design model incorporating the theory of multiple intelligences into instructional systems design. After design and expert review model validation, The Multiple Intelligence (MI) Design Model, used with an Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Model, was tested for use by four practicing instructional designers. Instruction developed for learners using this model was then evaluated measuring post-test and attitudinal scores with 102 participants. This report also provides a reflection on the lessons learned in conducting design and development research on model validation. The procedures and findings have implications for the processes involved in instructional design model validation through designer use and program implementation. Design and Development Research: A Model Validation Case Design and development research is "the systematic study of design, development and evaluation processes with the aim of establishing an empirical basis for the creation of instructional and non-instructional products and tools and new or enhanced models that govern their development" (Richey & Klein, 2007, p.xv). It is a practical form of research that attempts to test theory and validate practice. Numerous models exist in the field of instructional design that assist designers working in a variety of settings (Gustafson and Branch, 2002). Historically many of these models have not undergone rigorous or systematic review. In recent years, there has been an increased focus on systematically studying the processes involved in the construction, validation, and implementation of instructional design models (Seels, 1994; Richey, 1998; Richey, Klein & Nelson, 2004). Current literature focused on the implementation and systematic validations of instructional design models describe five different approaches to model validation. These include expert review, usability documentation, component investigation, field evaluation, and controlled testing (Richey, 2005; Richey & Klein 2007). This article reports one case of a design and development study implementing some of these approaches to validate The Multiple Intelligences (MI) Design Model, an overlay model used in conjunction with an instructional systems design model. The study specifically measured model use, learner achievement, and program implementation and is an example of design and development research in practice. Instructional Design, Multiple Intelligences, and the Instructional Designer In an effort to better understand this design and development model validation case, we begin with a description of the context related to the development of the model. This includes definitions and background content on instructional design, multiple intelligences, and the instructional designer. Instructional design (ID) is defined as an arrangement of resources and procedures used to promote learning (Gagné, Wager, Golas, & Keller, 2005). ID models are visual representations of the ID process and are used to guide design in many settings and for many purposes (Seels & Glasgow, 1998). They are typically a result of the combination of abstract principles of General Systems Theory and analyses of practitioner experience (Banathy & Jenlink, 2004). Instructional design is the process used to create the type and delivery of instruction. Some see design as problem solving; others view it as a process of reflection-inaction, where designers take on the task of turning indeterminate situations into determinate ones (Tripp, 1991). Learning is the acquisition of the knowledge of a skill, art, or trade, by study, and/or experiences (Lindvall, 1995). It is generally agreed that learners develop understanding for themselves in ways that differ, sometimes quite sharply, from other learners (Winn, 2004). Multiple intelligences can be thought of as a learners' tool that facilitate knowledge acquisition. Gardner (1983) states "I have posited that all human beings are capable of at least seven different ways of knowing the world (p. xi)". Rooted in cognitive brain research, Gardner proposes that people learn in a variety of ways and have diverse strengths and abilities which, if recognized, can be developed to enable learners to reach their potential. He defines intelligence as "the capacity to solve problems or to fashion products that are valued in one or more cultural settings" (Gardner & Hatch, 1989, p. 4). Gardner's seven ways of knowing the world or intelligences are: verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical-rhythmic, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic; and two forms of personal intelligences, one directed toward other persons, interpersonal intelligence, and one directed toward oneself, intra-personal intelligence. While learners bring their own needs, experiences, and tools to a learning situation, instructional designers must incorporate those needs and experiences into instructional strategies helping learners take ownership and responsibility for their own learning (Grabinger, 1996). The significance of knowledge construction for Instructional Technology lies in the building of environments that make it easy for learners to formulate their own understandings of the world (Winn 2004). Instructional design is a process used to create instructional products, programs, and delivery systems. Multiple intelligences theory is built on the premise that learners acquire knowledge based on their learning potential and that people learn in at least seven different ways. The first two phases of this design and development study previously reported (Tracey and Richey, 2007) included the design and internal validation of the MI Design Model. Based on research on instructional design and multiple intelligences, the MI Design Model was designed to be used as an overlay with an ID model. In order to achieve this, the theoretical foundations of multiple intelligences and instructional design were examined to guide the development of such a model. The model components were then determined and an initial model was constructed. The model was then reviewed and validated by experts in the field of instructional design through a three-round Delphi study. The result was a revised and internally validated MI Design Model (Tracey and Richey, 2007). The newly developed model had to now face a usability test by instructional designers and course validation. This article reports on the final two phases of the design and development research study, the process and results of model use by practicing instructional designers and the delivery of instruction developed for learners specifically measuring performance on post-test and instructional appeal. In addition, reflections on lessons learned when conducting design and development research on model validation are presented. Approaches to Model Validation Once designed and validated by subject matter experts (Tracey and Richey, 2007), the MI Design model was ready to be tested using two separate model validation approaches — a designer usability test while instructional designers designed and developed a course and a product impact test measuring learners after they participated in the course. These validation efforts were guided by the following research questions: Designer Usability Study 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the overlay design model incorporating multiple intelligences? Factors to consider included the following: a) Ease of use; b) Ability to overlay the model with an existing design model; c) Capability to meet course intent; and d) The ease of instructional design strategy creation utilizing each multiple intelligence. 2. What is required to facilitate the effective use of the validated design model incorporating multiple intelligences? Factors to consider included the following: a) Guidance required for designer model use; b) Ability to incorporate content accuracy; and d) Ease of use. Product Impact Study 3. To what extent does the design model incorporating multiple intelligences influence post-test performance? 4. To what extent does the design model incorporating multiple intelligences influence learner confidence and attitudes? Factors considered included: a) Learner attitude toward the instructional strategies; b) Learner confidence in ability to apply content; and c) Learner attitude toward training. Designer Usability Study Usability documentation is defined as "information on the extent to which a product, tool, or model can be effectively, efficiently, and satisfactorily used in the context for which it was intended" (Richey and Klein, 2007 p.160). Designer usability documentation is one of three methods of internal design model validation (Richey, 2005) which in this case studied the ease with which the model was used by instructional designers. Similar to other design and development studies, (Forsyth, 1998), this phase included documenting the instructional designer reactions to using the MI Design Model while designing and developing a team-building course. This data, combined with the program tryout and evaluation data provided the basis for final model revisions. This internal model validation step was the third phase of the four phase study; one part of the larger design and development research project. It is important to note that this phase was limited as it included only two designers using the model. Additional validation studies with designers using the MI Design Model are necessary in order to reach conclusions regarding the model. The following section describes the designer usability participants, procedures and results. Participants The designer usability phase of the study consisted of a total of four volunteer instructional designers with Master's Degrees in Instructional Technology. Each designer, chosen from a list of volunteers, was a current practitioner with two coming from busines


Intraoperative tumor/surgical margin assessment is required to achieve higher tumor resection rate in breast-conserving surgery. Though current histology provides incomparable accuracy in margin assessment, thin tissue sectioning and the limited field of view of microscopy makes histology too time-consuming for intraoperative applications. If thick tissue, wide-field imaging can provide an acceptable assessment of tumor cells at the surface of resected tissues, an intraoperative protocol can be developed to guide the surgery and provide immediate feedback for surgeons. Topical staining of margins with cancer-targeted molecular imaging agents has the potential to provide the sensitivity needed to see microscopic cancer on a wide-field image; however, diffusion and nonspecific retention of imaging agents in thick tissue can significantly diminish tumor contrast with conventional methods. Here, we present a mathematical model to accurately simulate nonspecific retention, binding, and diffusion of imaging agents in thick tissue topical staining to guide and optimize future thick tissue staining and imaging protocol. In order to verify the accuracy and applicability of the model, diffusion profiles of cancer targeted and untargeted (control) nanoparticles at different staining times in A431 tumor xenografts were acquired for model comparison and tuning. The initial findings suggest the existence of nonspecific retention in the tissue, especially at the tissue surface. The simulator can be used to compare the effect of nonspecific retention, receptor binding and diffusion under various conditions (tissue type, imaging agent) and provides optimal staining and imaging protocols for targeted and control imaging agent.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of a workplace leisure physical activity program on healthcare expenditures for type 2 diabetes and hypertension treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
We assessed a workplace program's potential to reduce costs by multiplying the annual healthcare costs of patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension by the population attributable risk fraction of non-recommended physical activity levels. Feasibility of a physical activity program was assessed among 425 employees of a public university in Mexico.

RESULTS
If 400 sedentary employees engaged in a physical activity program to decrease their risk of diabetes and hypertension, the potential annual healthcare cost reduction would be 138 880 US dollars. Each dollar invested in physical activity could reduce treatment costs of both diseases by 5.3 dollars.

CONCLUSIONS
This research meets the call to use health economics methods to re-appraise health priorities, and devise strategies for optimal allocation of financial resources in the health sector.


Increases in the number and size of lymphoid follicles (LFs) are present in severe stages of COPD and have not been fully characterized. HLA complex is crucial in enabling the immune system to recognize "self" versus "non-self" antigens and plays a major role in immune responses to cigarette smoke exposure.

 Lung follicles from COPD patients with milder (GOLD I–II) and more severe (GOLD III–IV) COPD were sampled using GeoMX® Digital Spatial Transcriptional Profiling. Data were analyzed and normalized using GeoMx® DSP Analysis Suite.

 Pathway analysis showed that B cell activation pathways had the highest fold enrichment. GOLD I–II compared to GOLD III–IV COPD patients had the highest expression of HLA-Cand its ligands (KIR2DS2, KIR2DS1, KIR3DL1; p<0.0001) which facilitate CD8-mediated cytotoxicity, and HLA-Gand its receptor LILRB4(p=0.01) which are key modulators of immune tolerance. GOLD III–IV COPD patients had the highest HLA enrichment in LFs, with upregulation of transcription factors (HIF1A, IRF1, NFYBand NFYC) and assembly components (CALR, TAPBP, ERP27, MARCHF1, B2M, and CIITA) of HLA (p<0.01). Compared to GOLD I–II, LFs from GOLD III–IV COPD patients had much higher expression of HLAs involved in autoimmune responses to self-antigens and adaptive immune evasion, such HLA-DRA, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DPA1, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-Eand HLA-B(p<0.0001).

 We show for the first time that LFs from patients with severe COPD are characterized by expression of HLAs associated with immune evasion and autoimmune responses, whereas LFs in milder stages of COPD are characterized by induction of immune responses controlled by tolerance mechanisms

 R01 HL 149744-04/06


Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was employed to afford two different chiral copolymer series having opposite chiroptical properties based on 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (MEO2MA) and Boc-L/D-leucine methacryloyloxyethyl ester (Boc-L/D-Leu-HEMA) with varying co-monomer proportions. The random nature of the copolymers was indicated by the reactivity ratios of the two monomers for the two systems (MEO2MA with Boc-L-Leu-HEMA and Boc-D-Leu-HEMA), and further supported by smooth variation of the single glass transition temperature (Tg) determined from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). With an increasing amino acid content in the copolymer, the specific rotation and molar ellipticity values increased, as examined by polarimeter and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, respectively. After Boc-group cleavage under acidic conditions, all the copolymers exhibited cationic nature, as confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), as well as the dual thermo and pH-dependent solubility behaviour in aqueous solution. The temperature induced phase transition of these copolymers was investigated as a function of the copolymer compositions over the pH range from 5.5 to 6.5 using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Furthermore, the chiral recognition ability of the synthesized monomers and homopolymers towards 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (rac-BINOL) was studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy.


Agathilla Westwood is an endemic genus of the family Ichneumonidae in North America, with three species from the United States of America and two from Mexico...


MICROINSURANCE HAS EVOLVED DRAMATICALLY over the last decade as one of the solutions to mitigate risk. Vulnerability to risk is a constant factor in the lives of the poor and a cause of persistent poverty. New impact evidence shows that microinsurance products can provide financial protection, reduce vulnerability, and improve access to critical services for low-income households (De Bock and Ugarte Ontiveros, 2013). Furthermore, innovations in product and delivery have led to more people having access to microinsurance. The main challenge ahead is to keep balancing client value with business viability so the products offer more and more value to low-income clients as the markets develop. The landscape studies covering Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and Oceania (McCord et al., 2013a, b; MicroInsurance Centre, 2013; Oza et al., 2013) identified microinsurance products in a total of 82 countries. The data confirms a significant growth in coverage of lives and properties in all three regions with an estimated total of 262.7 million. The regional spread represents 17 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean (data till 2011), 17 per cent in Africa (data till 2011), and 66 per cent in Asia and Oceania (data from 2010 to 2012). This is very promising; however, looking at the range of products, it becomes clear that more innovation in product design and distribution is needed to address some of the priority risks that low-income people are facing on a daily basis, notably health-related issues, natural disasters and loss of productive assets. Life policies and credit life currently constitute almost 67 per cent of all products sold. Some countries, such as Colombia, Mexico, Peru, India, the Philippines, and South Africa have made notable progress in establishing markets but still need to go beyond life and provide good examples that can be copied and even improved upon, as one of the landscape studies on the evolutionary nature of the microinsurance sector (McCord et al., 2013b: 37) concludes. Michael McCord, Bert Opdebeeck, Katie Biese, and Manoj Pandey in their article on data and landscapes explore the fact that this data is more than statistics by allowing stakeholders to analyse performance and develop better services. When managed well, these simple microinsurance products are viable for providers while offering often better value to clients than informal alternatives. But microinsurance has the potential to do much better in terms of both client value and business viability. There is no silver bullet and plenty of strategies for how to move microinsurance development one step further. This special issue discusses


Adaptive optics (AO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are powerful imaging modalities that, when combined, can provide high-volumetric-resolution, images of the retina. The AO-OCT system at UC Davis has been under development for 2 years and has demonstrated the utility of this technology for microscopic, volumetric, in vivo retinal imaging [1]. The current system uses an AOptix bimorph deformable mirror (DM) for low-order, high-stroke correction [2] and a 140-actuator Boston Micromachines DM for high-order correction [3]. We are beginning to investigate the potential for increasing the image contrast in this system using higher-order wavefront correction. The first step in this analysis is to quantify the residual wavefront error (WFE) in the current system. Developing an error budget is a common tool for improved performance and system design in astronomical AO systems [4, 5]. The process for vision science systems is also discussed in several texts e.g. [6], but results from this type of analysis have rarely been included in journal articles on AO for vision science. Careful characterization of the AO system will lead to improved performance and inform the design of a future high-contrast system. In general, an AO system error budget must include an analysis of three categoriesmore » of residual WFE: errors in measuring the phase, errors caused by limitations of the DM(s), and errors introduced by temporal variation. Understanding the mechanisms and relative size of these errors is critical to improving system performance. In this paper we discuss the techniques for characterizing these error sources in the AO-OCT system. It is useful to first calculate an error budget for the simpler case using a model eye, and then add the additional errors introduced for the case of a human subject. Measurement error includes calibration error, wavefront sensor (WFS) CCD noise, and sampling errors. Calibration errors must be measured by an external system. Typically this error is inferred from measurements of the point spread function (PSF). It can also be estimated by measuring known wavefront errors and comparing to the WFS measurement. Both methods will be used in the AO-OCT system. In this particular system measurement error introduced by the WFS can be caused by low light levels, poor camera sensitivity at the operating wavelength and noise introduced by heat in the uncooled CCD. Also, the gaussian beam profile of the system causes centroids near the edges of the pupil to be dimmer, and thus noisier. The easiest way to estimate measurement error is to compare successive wavefront measurements when the system is stable. This techniques will include vibrations and other systematic errors. Alternatively the measurement error can be estimated from measured signal to noise. This is more complicated but will decouple measurement errors from stability measurements. Ultimately, even if the phase is measured perfectly, performance will still be limited by the fitting error [7]. This error is inversely proportional to the number of actuators of the DM. Basically wavefront errors with spatial frequencies greater than half the number of actuators across the aperture cannot be corrected. For DMs with modal influence functions (like the AOptix Bimorph in the AO-OCT system), this translates to the number of modes which can be corrected. The AO-OCT system over-samples the wavefront, so to some extent, we can measure these out-of-band errors directly. In addition to fitting error, the DM will introduce errors based on the ability of each individual actuator to go to the position demanded by the control system. Generally this voltage step size is limited by the resolution of the drive electronics and can be calculated analytically.« less


The parasite Telenomus alsophilae Viereck oviposits on eggs of its host, the elm spanworm, Ennomos subsignarius (Hubner), during April and May. Peak parasitism occurs about 3 weeks prior to the time host eggs hatch in the field. Development in the host occurs over a 2-month period and parasite adults emerge during June and early


Abstract : Task I - A number of the newest tool materials such as coated carbides, composites (ceramics,) micrograin carbides, and Borazon tools which appeared suitable for machining aerospace alloys were tested. Several of these new tools permitted appreciably higher production rates in the machining of 4340 steel, Ti-6Al-4V alloy and Rene' 41. Task II - Machinability data were developed on the following alloys: (1) HY 180 steel, (2) Gatorized AF2-IDA, (3) P/M Ti-6Al-4V alloy; and (4) Astroloy (as HIP'ed). The table of recommendations prepared from these data provides machining information that is directly applicable to shop usage. Task III - End mill finishing and roughing data were developed on the following alloys: annealed 4340 steel, 217 BHN; annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy, 321 BHN; and 7075-T651 aluminum, 179 BHN.


250 Background: Optimal therapy for Gleason score 7 (GS7) prostate cancer (PC) remains to be defined, with consensus guidelines identifying both prostatectomy (RP) and radiation therapy (RT) as acceptable. The present investigation seeks to compare outcomes between these treatment approaches. Methods: Patients were retrospectively identified for inclusion by clinically localized disease, GS7, and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) less than 30 at diagnosis. Comparison of demographic, tumor, staging, and outcome variables was performed. Disease recurrence was defined as per contemporary society guidelines. Kaplan-Meier method employed for disease control estimates. Results: Between 2003 and 2010, 267 patients were diagnosed with GS7 prostate cancer, of whom 207 were eligible for the current analysis (120 RP/87 RT). Excepting older age for RT patients (median age 73 vs. 62), the groups were well-balanced. For RP patients, 82 patients (60%) had at least one high-risk feature, of whom only four (5%) received a...


All available newly developed nonmetallic polymers were examined for possible usage in developing fire resistant, nontoxic nonmetallic parts or assemblies for aircraft interiors. Specifically, feasibility for the development of clear films for new decorative laminates, compression moldings, injection molded parts, thermoformed plastic parts, and flexible foams were given primary considerations. Preliminary data on the flame resistant characteristics of the materials were obtained. Preliminary toxicity data were generated from samples of materials submitted from the contractor. Preliminary data on the physical characteristics of various thermoplastic materials to be considered for either compression molded, injection molded, or thermoformed parts were obtained.


The following is practically a summary of lightning trouble during the years 1904, 1905, and 1906, on a steel-tower, long-span transmission line in the states of Michoacán and Guanajuato, Mexico.