Objective
To observe characters in isolated complete vascular ring (CVR) fetuses and to evaluate the trachea area (TA) and vascular ring area (VRA) changes by fetal echocardiography.

Methods
Ninety-two fetuses with isolated complete vascular ring were diagnosed by fetal echocardiography prenatally and confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, from August 2010 to November 2015 in the Department of Ultrasound in Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Fetal Heart Disease Maternal Fetal Medicine Research Important Laboratories. The VRA and TA were measured at the three vessel-trachea view, and the parameters were compared.

Results
The TA was decreased in vascular ring fetuses compared with normal fetuses [(5.27±1.49) mm2 vs (2.39±1.26) mm2]. The VRA of vascular ring fetuses was (48.92±19.10) mm2. Right aortic arch and left ductus arteriosus formed ʺUʺ shaped in 77 cases. Double aortic arch formed ʺOʺ shaped or ʺλʺ shaped in 15 cases.

Conclusions
Fetal echocardiography can accurately diagnosed isolated complete vascular ring. The TA decreased in vascular ring fetuses compared with normal fetuses.

Key words:
Echocardiography; Fetal; Vascular ring; Trachea


Ting Kou Reservior will bring a series of environmental problems.Based on analyzing hydrological regime,ecological environmental effect,water environmental effect caused by the construction of Tingkou Reservior,some environmental effect countermeasures,such as draw off eco-environmental water,long-term monitoring on ecological environment,water source place protection etc.,are put forward.By analyzing the satisfaction level for ecological water based on hydrological data of 52 years,the results the water of Tingkou section can not satisfy eco-environmental water demand at 75% and 95% design frequency.In the multi-year average condition,the water from Tingkou section will be decreased by 30.9% and even worse in low flow years.Possibility of the eutrophication predicted by Vollenweider load model is small,and eutrophication risk only exists in some part of Tingkou Reservior.The results show that environmental effect of Tingkou Reservior is acceptable under strict environmental protection measures.


Two cases of recto-rectal congenital developmental cysts are described in young women (37 and 38 years). One was a duplication cyst of the rectum in association with two epidermoid cysts detected by US exploration in an asymptomatic woman, during pregnancy. The other case was a Tailgut cyst revealed by a retro-rectal abcess. In two cases, a pelvic CT Scan with rectal barium instillation for contrast and MRI exploration, revealed relationships and components of the developmental cysts. The treatment was a complete surgical excision via a Karske's approach, with coccygeal resection.


In order to clarify the effect of structural disorder on electric transport,especially low-temperature resistance minimum,we grown the La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 thin films with various oxygen deficient on LaAlO3(100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition(PLD) technique.The oxygen-deficient film was deposited at very low oxygen pressure(40Pa) without post-growth annealing.Another normal film is also grown at a low oxygen pressure(40Pa),but has a post-growth annealing procedure(6×104 Pa).The structural,magnetic and electric properties are systemically studied.The results show that the oxygen deficiency causes in the lattice structural distortion,and further induces to more magnetic disorder with spin glass-like accompanying the structural disorder.The electric transport measurement shows that the M~I transition temperature Tc increases from 195 K for without post-annealing sample to 335 K for with post-annealing sample about.The effect of structural disorder on low temperature resistance minimum behaviors was systemically studied.For both cases,without post-annealing and with post-annealing,the excellent fitting was given by considering Kondo-like spin dependent scattering,e-e interaction and related factors.The present results will be meaning to clarify the physical mechanism of low temperature resistance minimum in CMR manganites.


Two generalized Minkowski inequalites of determinant for complex matrices are given:|det( A+B)| α≥2 -sα 2 (|det A| α +|det B| α ), Where A be a nxn complex positive definite matrix, B be a nxn positive definite Hermite matrix, α≥1n, s is the number of complex eigenvalues of B -1 A; |det( A+B)| α ≥|det A| α +|det B| α , Where A and B are nxn complex positive definite matrices, and the eigenvalues are real, r([A,B])≤1,α≥1n .


This paper proposes an iterative method of frequency tuning for the burst (fixed frequency rectangular pulse) excitation in FT-ICR spectrometry. Computer simulation of FT-ICR experiment using this excitation method was performed to examine the experimental conditions which converge the excitation frequencies in iteration. Experiment utilizing an FT-ICR spectrometer was carried out to determine the isotope abundance ratio of xenon ions. These results have demonstrated that the method improves appreciably the quantitative performance of FT-ICR spectrometers.


Pressure compensating device for adequate ventilation of the electronic control unit is disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a pressure compensation device is provided which is formed integrally with the connector on the side of the electronic control unit are attached to the electronic controls. The pressure equalization device comprises a ventilation unit having a ventilation opening, which extends through the interior and exterior of the housing of the electronic control unit, are accommodated in the electronic controls; The pressure compensation apparatus also includes a cover that forms with the connector on the side of the vehicle, which serves to achieve the electrical connection to the electronic control unit, is integrally formed, and a barrier that an upper part of the aeration unit simultaneously with the connection of the terminal covers on the side of the electronic control unit and of the terminal on the side of the vehicle.


Ethnopharmacological relevance: This study presents the rich resource of medicinal plants used by the tribes of Ramghat region of Western Ghats (Maharastra, India). It was aimed to identify the important species used in the management of human health and at establishing the plant parts used and the mode of preparation of remedies. These plants create a basis for phytochemical evaluation which can lead to the discovery of biologically active compounds.


The synthetical conditions of 1,1'-ferrocene-dimethanol were investigated using 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid as raw material. The effects of the component ratio, solvent, reaction temperature, time on the product yield have been discussed and the optimum technological conditions have been obtained. using 1,4-dioxane as solvent, the ratio of n(dicarboxylic acid):n(LiAlH4)=1:10, reaction time 4.0h, reaction temperature 90°C, The product yield was 89.9%.


Oxygen has been found to play a dominant role in TiN barrier performance between Si(100) and Al. When TiN is exposed to air prior to Al deposition, interdiffusion of the Si/TiN/Al structure is not observed until heating to a temperature of 560 °C, whereas the barrier fails already below 400 °C when Al is deposited in situ onto TiN.


Objective:To find a treatment for acute cerebral infarction and effective method.Methods:60 patients met the inclusion criteria of acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into an acupuncture group,acupuncture 2 group,drug group,20 patients in each;three groups were treated with conventional western medicine,acupuncture 1 group plus traditional acupuncture,acupuncture2 group plus refreshing yin and yang,by neurological deficit score and activities of daily living scale of assessment to determine clinical efficacy.Results:(1)The three groups can significantly reduce the neurological deficit scores(P0.01);between the two groups,both the acupuncture groups were significantly better than the drug group(P0.01),and the acupuncture group 2 significantly better than acupuncture group 1(P 0.01).(2)The three groups can significantly improve the Barthel Index(BI) score(P0.01);between the two groups,two acupuncture groups was significantly better than the drug group(P0.01),acupuncture 2 acupuncture group was better than group 1(P0.05).Conclusion:refreshing yin and yang through acupuncture can improve the clinical symptoms,improve quality of life,treating acute cerebral infarction in a more effective method.


We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli fepA gene, which codes for the outer membrane receptor for ferrienterochelin and colicins B and D. The predicted FepA polypeptide has a molecular weight of 79,908 and consists of 723 amino acids. A 22-amino acid leader or signal peptide preceded the mature protein. With respect to overall composition, hydropathy, net charge and distribution of nonpolar segments, the FepA polypeptide was typical of other E. coli outer membrane proteins, except that FepA contained 2 cysteine residues. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of FepA with that of three other TonB-dependent receptors (BtuB, FhuA, and IutA) revealed only a few regions of sequence homology; one of these included the amino-termini. An amino acid substitution within the conserved amino-terminal region of BtuB resulted in production of a receptor that had normal binding functions but was incapable of energy-dependent transport of vitamin BIZ. This result suggests that the amino-terminal end of these four polypeptides is involved in interaction with the TonB protein or another step of energy transduction. Three other regions of homology were shared among the four proteins: one near residues 50 to 70, another at about residue 100 to 140, and the last between 20 and 40 amino acid residues from the carboxyl terminus. The function of these three regions remains speculative.


This paper aims to develop a hybrid artificial neural network for Option C Measurement and Verification model to predict monthly building energy consumption. In this work, baseline energy model development using artificial neural networks embedded with artificial bee colony optimization and cross validation technique for a small dataset were considered. Artificial bee colony optimization with coefficient of correlation fitness function was used in optimizing the neural network training process and selecting the optimal values of initial weights and biases. Working days, class days and cooling degree days were used as input meanwhile monthly electricity consumption as an output of artificial neural network. The results indicated that this hybrid artificial neural network model provided better prediction results compared to the other model. The best model with the highest value of coefficient of correlation was selected as the baseline model hence is used to determine the saving.


The triplet lineshape is solved analytically for a paramagnetic molecule slow tumbling both in a disordered and an oriented solution. The algorithm takes into account the autoperators of the liouvillian associated with the spin hamiltonian and gives the spectrum as a linear combination of simple terms. As an intermediate result we obtain the lineshape for an S = 1/2 spin system subjected to an axially symmetric Zeeman interaction. An analytical expansion is obtained even if an orienting potential drives the molecular diffusion.


Discussions on the appropriate international regime to govern trade in biofuels are in their infancy. However, a large number of countries have set minimum blending targets for biofuels. Meeting these targets will require greater production and increased international trade in biofuels. Concerns exist as to whether unsustainable practices will be used to satisfy this growing demand. There is currently no multilateral agreement governing sustainable production and trade in biofuels. In the absence of an international framework, this paper will seek to demonstrate that concerned countries may unilaterally regulate imports of unsustainably produced biofuels in a way that is consistent with international trade rules. Unilateral regulation is to be understood as a stop gap until multilateral agreement can be reached on the interaction between trade in biofuels and issues of sustainability.


A successful and profitable irrigation enterprise is one that manages precious water at both the crop root zone level (soil moisture monitoring and irrigation scheduling) and at the whole farm level (how much water do I have, what are my losses and therefore how much do I have left for crop production?).


RINGFENCED FUNDING for nursing and midwifery research is set to be announced by the Department of Health within weeks, the conference heard.


The utility model discloses a drainage system for the dehumidifier, it includes: the delivery module is used for carrying on said dehumidifier, control module, the integration is in in the said delivery module, it includes a level sensor, the 2nd level sensor, wireless transceiver and with wireless transceiver complex positioner, water drain module locates in the said delivery module, wherein, drainage system passes through for the dehumidifier said water drain module with the water tank intercommunication of said dehumidifier is through a level sensor and the 2nd level sensor sensing water level control wireless transceiver with positioner carries out radio communication to make the delivery module moves towards or keeps away from positioner removes. Compared with the prior art, the utility model discloses utilize the radio communication technique to make the dehumidifier after reaching full water level, can go to the drainage of user appointed place voluntarily, and then get back to original place and continue work, need not to carry out the drainage through the manual method to the dehumidifier, greatly made things convenient for the user


Quality control seeks to collect and analyze large amounts of data to take appropriate corrective actions and ensure that products or services meet quality requirements. This study proposed a methodological framework to analyze the quality control process employing Monte Carlo simulation. The methodology consists of four steps: (i) Establishment of probability distributions, (ii) Construction of the mathematical model, (iii) Running the simulation, and (iv) Analysis of the results. The application of the methodological framework in a carbonated beverage production made it possible to ensure with 99% confidence that one of the most important quality characteristics of the product, the degrees Brix, varies in a range of ± 0.02. The results show the methodology allows to broadly map the process variables behavior and to make decisions on optimal levels for quality monitoring and control


A display device and a driving method thereof are provided to improve image quality by modulating image data using at least one of plural FRC(Frame Rate Control) patterns. An image comparator(603) compares a grayness of image data of a previous frame with a grayness of the image data of a current frame. A memory includes plural data elements having first and second values and includes plural FRC data patterns, which increase the number of data elements having the first value at different ratios. A data processor(601) selects one of the FRC data patterns from the memory according to a compared result from the image comparator and modulates the image data of the current frame by using the selected FRC data pattern.


A method for calculation of the resonant frequencies as well as free spectral range was developed for the high-Q whispering gallery mode disk dielectric resonators. The method is based on application of the size quantization to the dispersion equation derived for an infinite dielectric cylinder. The size quantization is caused by the requirement of the phase balance for standing waves in the resonator.


A new theory is developed to model the hysteresis relation between polarization and electric field of piezoceramics. An explicit formulation governing the hysteresis is obtained by using a saturation polarization, remnant polarization and coercive electric field. A new form of elastic Gibbs energy is proposed to address the coupling relations between electrical field and mechanical field. The nonlinear constitutive relations are derived from the elastic Gibbs energy and are applicable in the case of high stroke actuation. The hysteresis relations obtained using the current model are correlated with experimental results. The static deflection of a cantilever beam with surface-bonded piezoelectric actuators is analyzed by implementing the current constitutive relations. Numerical results reveal that hysteresis is an important issue in the application of piezoceramics.


In this paper,the regularity of the weak solution to the initial value problem for second-order elliptic equations Lu=f in U under some conditions assumptions was discussed.Through some techniques and methods,the interior regularity of the weak solution was described.These techniques and methods include cut off function,flatten out the boundary,finitely covered theorem,sobolev inequalities,interpolation inequalities,etc.


The terrain observation by progressive scans SAR (TOPS SAR) is a new working mode of spaceborne SAR. While maintaining the advantages of SCANSAR's wide mapping band, this working mode solves the scalloping effect and other problems. Aiming at the problem of azimuth spectrum aliasing of spaceborne TOPS SAR echo signals, this paper proposes a spaceborne TOPS SAR full aperture imaging algorithm based on ECs and SPECAN. First, the echo after range walk correction is SPECAN operated to obtain a two-dimensional spectrum without blur, and then the improved ECS algorithm is used for range migration correction and range pulse compression, Finally, azimuth defocusing and scaled Fourier transform (SCFT) are used to realize azimuth focusing. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the algorithm.


The development of limited petroleum resources for use with mankind inevitably explores and seeks to develop oil fields in the deep sea area, under the rise of the oil prices market situation. The use of Oceanic Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology, which operates the power generation facility using the temperature differences between the deep water and the surface water, is progressing actively as a trend to follow. In this study, the application of the Discharged Thermal Energy Conversion (DTEC) was designed and analyzed under the condition that the supply condition of seawater used in the FPSO installed in the deep sea area is changed up to 400m depth. In this case, it was confirmed that the design of the system that can generate more electric power according to the depth of water is confirmed, by thus applying the DTEC system by taking the cooling water at a deeper water depth than the existing design water depth. The FPSO considers the similarity of the OTEC power generation facilities, and will apply the DTEC system to FPSO in the deep sea area to accumulate technology and the conversion to further utilize the OTEC power generation facilities after the end of life cycle of oil production, which could be a solution to two important issues, namely, resource development and sustainable development.


The diagnostic utility of different thresholds of elevated urinary fractionated metanephrine (UFM) for pheochromocytoma‐paraganglioma (PPGL) was evaluated in 10 164 community‐dwelling subjects (2012‐2017). Levels were ≥1.5× the upper normal limit (UNL) in 276 subjects (2.7%) and ≥2×UNL in 138 (1.4%). PPGL was subsequently diagnosed in 59 (mean age 51.9 ± 14.3, 64% female); 58 (98.3%) with UFM ≥ 2×UNL. Positive predictive values (PPV) were 42% for UFM ≥ 2×UNL, 55% for UFM ≥ 2.5×UNL, and 69% for UFM ≥ 3×UNL. The main reason for PPGL screening (52.5%) was adrenal incidentaloma. Mean (median) metanephrine/normetanephrine levels were 6.7 ± 9×UNL (3 × UNL) and 6.1 ± 8.9×UNL (2.5 × UNL). Six patients (10.2%) had an extra‐adrenal tumor (one malignant paraganglioma); one had bilateral pheochromocytoma. Only one patient presented with the "classic triad" (headache, palpitations, sweating). In conclusion, after excluding obvious reasons for false‐positive results, thorough diagnostic assessment for PPGL is justified in all subjects with UFM ≥ ×2UNL. The PPV of milder UFM elevations is very low.


NASA has decided to move forward with two complementary Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) missions, a visible coronagraph and an infrared formation flying interferometer in collaboration with ESA. These missions are major missions in the NASA Office of Space Science Origins Theme. The primary science objectives of the TPF missions are to search for, detect, and characterize planets and planetary systems beyond our own Solar System, including specifically Earth-like planets.


1998 was a year of great progress and promise for immunizations. The FDA approved a live oral tetravalent vaccine against rotaviruses, the leading


Computerized production and inventory management systems, such as MRP (Material Requirements Planning), are being widely used in manufacturing operations today. Increased usage of computerized systems is most likely to continue due to further sophistication and reduced costs of information processing technology. However, implementation of computerized systems, such as MRP, has not been an easy task. Implementation, in general, of any system and specifically of computerized systems, involves a variety of complex technical as well as behavioral problems. There is a vast amount of literature available (see the reference section) that identifies these problems, and possible solutions, relative to the implementation pitfalls, therefore this paper will not go into the detail of listing problems. However, based upon a case study, an implementation procedure is presented which was successful in reducing implementation roadblocks for the company involved in the case study.


A 29-year-old white male noticed vague pain in his right shoulder for about 6 months. The pain became acute following a vigorous tennis match, and a physician was consulted. Physical examination revealed full range of motion of the right shoulder, but pain occurred on internal rotation and abduction. Tenderness. without a mass, was present over the proximal humerus above the deltoid insertion. Radiographs revealed three lucent defects in the proximal humerus above the deltoid tuberosity (fig. 1A). Anteroposterior tomograms localized these benign-appearing defects to the cortex of the anterior surface of the humerus (fig. 18). Despite the benign radiographic appearance, persistant pain over the area caused concern as to the etiology of the defects. The clinicians felt that a low grade osteomyelitis could not be excluded, and for that reason a biopsy was performed. At surgery, radiographs localized the defects to the insertion of the pectoralis major tendon (fig. 1 C). The area was then dissected out, and the cortical defects were shown to be the actual insertion of the tendon into the bone. Biopsy confirmed the penetration of ligamentous tissue into the cortex (fig. 2).


Purpose: In order to classify the involving patterns of maxillary sin tJ s aspergillosis on CT that will be an im portant guidance for functional endoscopic sinus surgery(FESS) and to evaluate CT findings of each patte rn. Materials and Methods: We reviewed CT findings of 37 cases of maxillary sinus aspergillosis which were confirmed pathologically. These were classified into three patterns according to the location : the maxillary pat tern(l), the infundibular pattern (1 1) , and combined pattern( lIl). AII cases were correlated with FESS findings. We also evaluated CT density , presence of contrast enahncement and calcifications , and surrounding bony changes 。f each pattern. Result: The combined pattern was most commonly seen in 24 of 37 cases(64.9%). The maxillary pattern was identified in 8(21.6%) , with 5(13.5%)cases demonstrating the infundibular patttern. These patterns were consist ent with FESS findings. Calcifications were seen in 28 cases(75.7%). 31 cases (a 3.8%) revealed hypodensity and 16cases among them showed peripheral enhancemen t. Central high density with peripheral low density rim was shown in 25%(2/8) of the ma씨lary pattern and 12.5%(3/24) of combined patttern. Surrounding bony changes were noted mainly in infundibular pattern and combined pattern. Erosion of uncinate process showed all cases of both patterns. Erosion or elevation of ethmomaxillary plate was seen in 3 of 5 cases of infundibular pattern and all cases of the combined pattern. Conclusion: CT fidnings of maxillary sinus aspergillosis can be classified into 3 patterns according to their distribution. These classification could be helpful for planning FESS approach. Calcifications are the most characteristic findings of maxillary sinus aspergllosis whereas CT density or enhancement pattern do not con tribute to diagnosis.


Through analyzing the obstruction mechanisms,the obstruction causes of the air heater of sleeve limekiln were found out:there was excess K and Na in the raw material,they were cycle assembled in the roasting process,which make the harmful substances cool and freezing in the air heater,and throw off function of the air heater.There are several countermeasures:using the high quality limestone with low K,Na;trading off two air heaters;reducing the fume temperature entering the air heater.


These two primary documents, never before published and largely unknown even to exist, may not contain startling revelations and indeed may be mere historical curiosities. And yet ... they are new, and the voices are those of two who in the 1890s often found themselves in contention for the championship: Wee Willie Keeler of Baltimore and Kid Nichols of Boston. The Keeler document is a diary for the period September 27 to December 5, 1896 and will benefit from a bit of prefatory explanation. The Nichols document, on the other hand, is more far-reaching, essentially his autobiography boiled down to about 30 handwritten pages. Oddly episodic, it will, to all but a handful of experts, provide fresh detail. To make better sense of what is missing as well as what is there, I have annotated the Kid's memoir in a way that would not have served the Keeler journal.The Diary of Wee Willie KeelerIn October 1896, five members of the best-known athletic organization of the era set off on a journey befitting their stature, if not their upbringing.The five men-Wee Willie Keeler, John McGraw, Hughie Jennings, Joe Kelley, and Arlie Pond-comprised the core of the famed Baltimore Orioles baseball team, threetime defending National League champions. Keeler, the Orioles' right fielder, had just completed a season in which he batted .386. As lofty as that sounds, it wouldn't have been good enough to lead even his own traveling party because Jennings, the shortstop, had hit .401. Kelley, who played left field, finished at .364, his third straight season at .360 or higher. McGraw, normally the third baseman and leadoff man, had been limited by injuries to just 23 games, batting .325 in that occasional duty. Pond, a pitcher when he wasn't taking postgraduate courses in medicine at Johns Hopkins, started 26 games and won 16 times.More than their uniform and ability bound the men, who found common ties as well in their Irish heritage, Catholic religion, youth, bachelorhood, fiery natures and small size. Off the field they didn't look like athletes, averaging just 5-foot-8 and 162 lbs. They were also an unlikely educational mix. Pond, a trained physician, and Jennings, who would eventually earn his law degree, had little intellectually in common with Keeler, a grade school dropout whose lack of formal education is betrayed by the misspellings and utter absence of punctuation throughout his diary.But the deficiencies of book-learning that could prompt Willie Keeler to observe that "we was almost ate into by mosquitos" were more than overcome by his and his friends' competitive instincts. Those instincts, which carried them so far on the field, also prompted their trans-oceanic excursion following the completion of the 1896 season.It was for all five a voyage of exploration of their Irish-English roots, roots that were as personal as they were ethnic. As the diary makes clear, religion was a core part of Keeler's life. The entry for Sunday, October 11, notes that he "went to the Cathedral ... [where] we heard Grace Goldin Sing the Ave Maria." Again on Sunday, Nov. 8, religion surfaces, this time by way of omission. "Overslept ourselves this morning and missed Mass the first time in quite a long while," he confesses.The diary begins on September 27, 1896, the day after the last game of the regular season in which the Orioles went 90-39 to finish nine and one-half games ahead of the second place Cleveland Spiders. In those days the two top teams played a postseason contest for a trophy called the Temple Cup, and although the Orioles' margin of victory during the regular season suggested that the series ought to have been an easy win, Keeler and his teammates were taking nothing for granted. Both in 1894 and 1895 they had won the pennant only to be upset by the runner-up in Temple Cup play. They would not let that happen again: following four exhibition victories against eastern minor-league teams, they dispatched the Spiders in four straight. …


Treatment of the vertical dimension of the face is one of the most challenging areas in orthodontics. The vertical disparities manifests either as deep overbite or open bite and the skeletal and dentoalveolar component defining the discrepancy are subjected to a myriad of arrangement. The treatment for skeletal vertical problems in nongrowing individuals includes dentoalveolar camouflage or orthognathic surgery. The advent of temporary anchorage devices has augmented the scope of camouflage treatment. The simplicity of the clinical procedure in the placement of TADs has rendered it a popular choice for controlling the anchorage; however, the biomechanical variations associated with its use are quite difficult and challenging. The aim of this article is to emphasize the protocols and procedures involved in using TADs for controlling the vertical dimension. The state of the current evidence in terms of treatment outcome and stability is presented.


We shall now discuss the propagation of electromagnetic waves through a hydrogen plasma–an electrically neutral fluid of protons and electrons. This will allow us to develop a specific expression for the dielectric constant as a function of frequency. Maxwell's equations include the charge density  =  ( − ) and the current density = − ( − )  We will be looking for normal modes of the complete system of particles plus fields. If we assume that each field has the form   =  0 ·−), as usual, (or equivalently, take the Fourier transform of the equations) then we find:


Based on Amihud(2002),this paper uses turnover rate as a proxy of liquidity and performs a time-series explorations of liquidity-stock returns relationship on chinas' stock markets.The evidence shows that expected and unexpected market liquidity positively affect on stock excess return over time,which leads to that more liquid stocks experience stronger effects of market liquidity after substitution from less liquid to more liquid stocks.


Objective To evaluate the efficacy of treatment for obstruction of lacrimal passage with silicone intubation.Methods To search the Cochrane Library,EMbase,PubMed,Chinese Biomedical Database,Chinese Journal Full-text Database and Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Database to collect randomized controlled trials(RCT) of treatment for obstruction of lacrimal passage with silicone intubation.The quality of the included trials was assessed and meta-analyses were conducted by RevMan5.0 software.Results A total of 6 RCTs (477 eyes) were identified.208 eyes with silicone intubation and 269 eyes with no silicone intubation.No significant differences were found in the success rate of external or endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with and without silicone intubation.There were no significant differences in postoperative complications.Conclusion Treatment for obstruction of lacrimal passage with silicone intubation can not increase success rate of external or endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.However,a high quality perspective study is still required for further analysis.

Key words:
Silicone intubation;  Lacrimal duct obstruction;  Randomized controlled trial;  Meta-analysis


One of the most important aspects in the success of a restoration is the bond between the tooth and the restoration. There are many luting agents currently on the market with differing formats of adhesion and techniques for use.


CRISPR enables efficient recording of signaling events in cells onto DNA Synthetic biologists have long sought to make cells more like computers. This is not because they think cells will be more efficient than silicon—current microelectronics make excellent computers and are less messy than cell cultures—but instead because synthetic cells can interface with biology to perform biochemical tasks. Synthetic cells might one day be capable of attacking tumors or releasing site-specific drugs inside the human body. But to carry out these tasks, synthetic biologists must be able to program cells much in the same way we program computers—by providing them with decision-making capabilities based on inputs. Indeed, prototypes of many of the genetic parts necessary for turning cells into biocomputers have been constructed, including transcriptional logic gates (1), timers (2, 3), counters (4), memory devices (5, 6), tunable sensors (7, 8), and even in vitro DNA systems that can perform complex calculations (9). On page 169 of this issue, Tang and Liu (10) expand the capabilities of cellular computers by engineering a new memory device that records events directly onto DNA.


A theorem that establishes conditions for the elimination of constant-input limit cycles is used as the basis for a procedure for the synthesis of state-space structures. Three different second-order structures are obtained, and in each, granularity and overflow limit cycles can be eliminated under zero- and constant-input conditions. Detailed procedures are then presented for the application of one of the proposed structures to the design of parallel and cascade filters. The paper concludes with extensive comparisons which show that more economical low-noise and low-sensitivity state-space filter implementations are possible through the use of one of the proposed structures.


Electricity demand forecasting is an important index to make power development plan and dispatch the loading of generating units in order to meet system demand. In order to improve the accuracy of the forecasting, we apply the feedforward neural network for electricity demand forecasting. Inspired by the idea of Artificial Fish Swarm Algorithm, in this paper we proposed one hybrid evolutionary algorithm which based on PSO and AFSA methods through crossing over the PSO and AFSA algorithms to train the feedforward neural network. This proposed method has been applied in a real electricity load forecasting, the results show that the proposed approach has a better generalization performance and is also more accurate and effective than the feedforward neural network trained by particle swarm optimization.


The characteristics and basic principle of high-efficient inclined tank water treatment are introduced.The good results in water treatment system are achieved according to using data proved at Nangang converter work.


Video games, due to their unique nature and relative infancy compared to other software, are just recently being studied with a strong engineering aesthetic like their traditional counterparts. In this case study, we examine the benefits of using a planned, engineered approach to creating a fun and interactive piece of software. This research centers on an original game, developed by the author. Established object oriented software engineering was applied at every step of the development process. End-user testing will measure the game's fun factor, with results being analyzed to determine the relationship between the engineering behind the game and its final playability.


This study examines the extent to which Street effective tax rates (ETRs) provide information about future cash tax payments, and whether the informational role is reduced in settings where analysts are more likely to provide opportunistic Street ETRs. We find higher Street ETRs are associated with greater future cash tax payments after controlling for GAAP ETR, suggesting that Street ETRs provide incremental information about future cash tax payments. Importantly, we provide evidence that the informativeness of Street ETRs is not reduced in cases where analysts have strong incentives to provide opportunistic Street ETRs or provide incomeincreasing Street ETRs. In cross-sectional analyses we find that Street ETRs are incrementally more informative and GAAP ETRs are incrementally less informative in settings where GAAP accounting for income taxes is more complex. Overall, our results suggest that Street ETRs are informative and that, on average, analysts do not make opportunistic adjustments in reaching Street ETRs.


Background: Muscle abnormalities and systemic inflammation have been associated with cancer progression and poor disease outcomes in patients with colon cancer. These factors are easily evaluated and can potentially be modified to improve outcomes. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between computed tomography (CT) derived measures of body composition, including low muscle mass (sarcopenia) and low muscle radiodensity (myosteatosis). It will also examine their association with systemic inflammation and determine whether these factors impact hospital length of stay for patients undergoing resection of their primary colorectal cancer.
Methods: This study included 133 patients with stage I to III colon cancers diagnosed from 2011 through 2018 who underwent resection with curative intent. CT scans were used to identify sarcopenia and myosteatosis using predefined sex-specific and body mass index (BMI)-specific thresholds. The primary measure for systemic inflammation was the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Tumour and patient characteristics were recorded. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay. Associations between body composition and systemic inflammation were examined using linear regression analyses, and their relationship with post-surgical length of stay was determined using logistic regression analyses.
Results: A significant proportion of patients were overweight or obese (60.9%). Sarcopenia and myosteatosis were highly prevalent (41.4% and 39.1% respectively). Muscle mass and muscle radiodensity were not significantly correlated with each other. Male sex (p < 0.001) and higher BMI (p < 0.001) were associated with greater muscle mass. Male sex (p = 0.020) was also associated with greater muscle radiodensity but higher BMI (p < 0.001) was associated with lower muscle radiodensity. Inflammation was present in 39.1% of patients. Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was associated with longer length of stay (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.61, p = 0.019).
Conclusion: Sarcopenia and myosteatosis were prevalent among colon cancer patients, despite many of them being overweight or obese. Systemic inflammation was associated with prolonged length of stay post-surgery and could potentially be utilised to delineate patients with poorer recovery and who may benefit from additional monitoring or interventions to reduce the length of hospitalisation. These commonly collected markers could enhance prognostication and identify patients with a poorer outcome.


A brake for a gas spring rod includes a lock base having an axially extending central aperture and a pair of associated conical surfaces surrounding the aperture. It also includes a pair of clamping members positioned on opposite sides of the lock base, each of the members including a center aperture and a conical surface having an axis offset from the axis of said center aperture. The clamping members are coupled to the lock base by a coupling including a bias spring for moving the clamping members into engagement with the lock base with the respective conical surfaces in contact such that the center apertures are offset from said central aperture of said lock base.


With the accelerating pervasiveness of multi-core platforms in the embedded domains and the on-going need for more computational power and increased integration, multi-core scheduling for real-time and mixed-critical applications is an active research topic. In this paper, we give an overview on the history and the current state-of-the-art on multi-core real-time scheduling. A special focus is put on shared resource access protocols and hierarchical scheduling approaches, both of which are increasingly important due to the higher spatial integration and stronger coupling between the different subsystems, both on the application and on the multi-core architectural level. Moreover, hierarchical scheduling is a promising approach in the area of mixed-criticality systems to enable composability and segregation, which is needed to cope with the complexity of such systems. This survey will be of interest to researchers and practitioners in the field of real-time scheduling for multi-core systems.


Taylor and Francis Ltd QSE100595.sgm 10.1080/ 9518390310001653844 International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 0951398 (pri t)/1366-5898 (online) Sp cial Issue 2 04 & Francis Ltd 7 7March — A l 2 04 R.Shee Fou t Street & Indiana AvenueBox 43191LubbockTX 79409-3191USA rosa.h.she email@example.com Teachers are the single most important resource in any classroom. As a result, few institutions hold as much potential and responsibility for improving schooling as those who prepare, hire, develop and retain teachers. Children's school experiences of success or failure, acceptance or rejection, and equity or bias often depend on the teachers' ability to understand how, when and what is needed for particular children in specific situations. While we currently may have the potential to inspire, we have not consistently demonstrated the capacity to educate a professoriate who can prepare preservice candidates to succeed in diverse settings, nor have we developed reliable and replicable teacher preparation programs that understand how to select programmatic content, experiences and strategies needed to help teachers develop from novice to expert levels and to apply cultural and language dimensions to curriculum and practice. Preparing teachers to meet the needs of our children requires more than designing teacher preparation programs to meet national and state standards and diversity credential mandates; such contributions to schooling become meaningful only when the outcome results in measurable student achievement. Research shows that children who experience exemplary schooling programs display high levels of achievement (e.g. Escalante & Dirmann, 1990; Sheets, 1995, 1999b; Reyes & Halcon, 2001). This scholarship shows that while research may be needed to understand the components and process of successful teaching, it also points out that, in reality, only practitioners can effect change in classrooms. Therefore, the implications of rigorous programs preparing teachers with the capacity to learn how to teach and understandings of the elements of successful professional development interventions are significant to children's achievement outcomes. While the conceptualization of the problems and proposed solutions to improve the schooling of underserved children differ, many scholars place high expectations on the: (1) preparation and development of a qualified, credentialed teacher workforce


This document identifies the set-values and selection basis to support operation of the 200 Area ETF and 200 Area TEDF.


The fundamental study of turbulent structures near a wall is of significant importance due to its dominant role in innumerous engineering applications. In turbulent flows, eddies of different scales interact with each other in a complex phenomenon of a continuous self-sustaining process. Although the presence of patterns of coherent motion seem to be responsible for the maintenance of turbulence, the evolution and the interaction of these structures are still not completely understood. To investigate such phenomena, near-wall turbulent flows over a smooth flat plate in a wind tunnel and inside a square water channel were conducted. The present work employed a high-repetition tomographic PIV technique to measure three dimensional, time-resolved velocity fields. The tomo-PIV processing was optimized in order to improve the algorithm performance and the vector fields accuracy. Conditional statistics of coherent structures, namely, low- and high-speed regions, sweeps, ejections and vortices, were computed, providing quantitative characteristics of these structures. The statistical analyses were performed employing a data post-processing code specially developed for the present work. Results showed vortical structures spread all over the flow, nevertheless, concentrated close to low-speed regions and ejections. Results indicated that vortical structures were indirectly correlated with the process of turbulence production, although they were the main responsible for the turbulent energy dissipation.


A modified version of an indust ry standard wave modeling tool, SNL - SWAN, was used to perform model simulations for hourly initial wave conditio ns measured during the month of October 2009. The model was run with an array of 50 wave energy converters (WECs) and compared with model runs without WECs. Maximum changes in H s were found in the lee of the WEC array along the angles of incident wave dire ction and minimal changes were found along the western side of the model domain due to wave shadowing by land. The largest wave height reductions occurred during observed typhoon conditions and resulted in 14% decreases in H s along the Santa Cruz shoreline . Shoreline reductions in H s were 5% during s outh swell wave conditions and negligible during average monthly wave conditions.


High-yielding cultivation techniques of Nanjing 9108were conducted from author's study,demonstration,analysis, finally proposed high-yielding cultivation countermeasures and management of Nanjing 9108.


Abstract In this paper we present general quantitative estimates in terms of the modulus of continuity and of a K-functional, in approximation by the generalized multivariate Stancu-Durrmeyer-Choquet-Šipoš operators Mn,Γn,x(β,γ) $\begin{array}{} M_{n, \Gamma_{n, x}}^{(\beta, \gamma)} \end{array} $, with 0 ≤ β ≤ γ, written in terms of Choquet and Šipoš integrals with respect to a family of monotone and submodular set functions, Γn, x, on the standard d-dimensional simplex. If d = 1 and the Choquet integrals are taken with respect to some concrete possibility measures, the estimate in terms of the modulus of continuity is detailed. Examples improving the estimates given by the classical operators also are presented.


A mounting bracket for installing traffic signals. The signal housing is mounted between two support arms extending outwardly from a post which is coextensive with and parallel to the signal housing. A sleeve is mounted on the post for adjustment along the axis of the post for adjustment both axially and circumferentially thereon. Locking means, preferably set screws, is provided to anchor the sleeve on the post in adjusted position. The sleeve has a hanger plate extending outwardly therefrom generally parallel to the post, and the plate has a stub shaft projecting from both surfaces of the plate, preferably at right angles thereto. An aperture is provided in spaced relation to the stub shaft for receiving a locking bolt. The hanger plate is engageable with a hook member designed to be mounted on the traffic standard at a desired position by means of mounting straps which circumscribe a component of the standard and the hook member, thereby anchoring the member firmly on the traffic standard, either on the upright or on the cross arm thereof. The hook member comprises a cradle base adapted to be mounted flush against the standard and a support piece extending outwardly therefrom. The support piece has an open-ended recess forming a hook for receiving the free ends of the stub shaft of the hanger plate. An arcuate slot is disposed below the bottom of the recess to accommodate the locking bolt affording angular adjustment of the sleeve on the stub shaft when it is seated at the bottom of the recess. The support piece and the cradle base of the hook member are adjustable to accommodate different angular orientations of a cross arm on the traffic standard.


Abstract In this article we describe the straightforward synthesis of polysubstituted pyrimidines by electrophilic activation of secondary amides in the presence of alkynes. An unusual mechanistic detour leading to pyridine derivatives as products is also presented and briefly discussed.


Abstract The method presented is based on a similarity transformation of the coefficients matrix allowing the transformed variables to be relaxed independently in a recursive fashion.


Several inter‐organ networks have been proposed. In general, gastrointestinal hormone gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), which is synthesized in and secreted from K cells, regulates nutrient absorption via inhibition of gastric contraction and acid secretion. GIP receptor On the other hand, GIPR expresses in not only a gastrointestinal tract but also β cells in the pancreas. Since GIP also modulates glucose metabolism via insulin synthesis and secretion, GIP is also a member of incretin. Recently, the expression of GIP is also confirmed in skeletal muscle. However, there is no evidence for the inter‐organ network between gastrointestine and skeletal muscle. In the present study, we investigated a physiological role of the inter‐organ network between gastrointestine and skeletal muscle via GIP. GIP stimulates myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells. Expression of GIPR was observed in C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes. Knockdown of GIPR induced the down‐regulation of Pax7 in C2C12 myoblasts. In addition, GIPR‐knockdown‐associated depression of myotube formation of C2C12 cells were observed. On the other hand, GIPR‐knockdown stimulated proliferation of C2C12 myoblasts. Therefore, GIP‐GIPR intracellular signal(s) might play a role in the regulation of skeletal muscle volume via the mediation of myogenic differentiative potential.


We describe our approach to interactive storytelling in Augmented Reality environments via the narration of interactive scenes. We present work done in the Geist Project, an interactive Augmented Reality installation at the Castle of Heidelberg, Germany.


Mobile commerce (m-commerce) offers a practical, and complementary solution to credit card transactions. This paper proposes a secure wireless financial transaction (SWiFT) system and describes a prototype implementation. A review of similar m-commerce solutions is included with comparison to the proposed SWiFT system


ABSTRACT Social movement scholars have long been interested in how violence impacts movements. A primary route to that impact is through public opinion. We examine changes in public opinion – in aggregate and within population subgroups – following dramatic sequences of movement-related violence. Using survey data collected in four US cities before and after the 'long hot summer' of urban unrest in 1967, we examine changes in public opinion about whether rioters reacted to legitimate grievances and whether the unrest would be effective in helping the plight of Black Americans. We find that violence expanded the opinion gap between the dominant white 'public' and Black 'counterpublic.' We also find unique opinion patterns among within-race subgroups based on gender and education (Black women and college-educated whites). In effect, violence realigned the structure of public opinion allies for the Civil Rights Movement.


Some results from a series of physiological flow experiments in a model of an atherosclerotic carotid bifurcation are presented. The flow model exactly replicates the lumen of the plaque excised intact from a patient with severe carotid atherosclerosis. Flow visualization (FV) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) are employed as the tools for this study. The complex internal geometry of the diseased artery combined with the pulsatile input flows gives rise to complex flow patterns. The flow fields are highly three-dimensional and chaotic with details varying from cycle to cycle. These flow patterns also include internal jets, three-dimensional shear layers, numerous separation/recirculation zones and stagnation lines. The vorticity and streamline maps confirm this complex and three-dimensional nature of the flow. Planar streamline maps show the three-dimensional flow by the multiple sources/sinks throughout the model. Wall shear stresses (WSS) are estimated to range form about −7 Pa to 34 Pa at the stenotic neck over time with the peak at peak systolic. These WSS also exhibit chaotic behavior during pulsatile flow cycles.Copyright © 2003 by ASME


We have so far shown that amorphous metals have many "unstable" atoms even at the equilibrium state, by local lattice instability analysis (LLIA) which discusses the positive definiteness of atomic elastic stiffness coefficients, Bαij. In the present study, we put our focus on the stability switching by the "probabilistic" fluctuation and the "deterministic" mechanical load. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations on Ni amorphous and evaluated the stability switching under no-load equilibrium as well as uniaxial tension. It is definitely true that the ratio of unstable atoms decreases/increases according to the system energy ; however, it is revealed that one-way change of stabilization or destabilization never occur but both positive and negative stability-switching are activated from their ratio under the equilibrium state. That is, a straightforward image of "stabilization/destabilization of local configuration" is not correct for structural change in amorphous metal but "shuffle of atomic arrangement" which involves atomic stabilization and destabilization simultaneously. In fact, we have proved that (1) both switching drastically increase at the slow-down point just before the stress-strain peak, (2) many stabilization/destabilization atoms can be found in the locally deformed area, and (3) such switching atoms actually feel hydrostatic tension in the dilated local configuration on the way of "shuffle".


"Tipping Points in Humanitarian Crisis: From Hot Spots to Hot Systems", edited by Xiaomeng Shen , Thomas E. Downing and Mohamed Hamza, presents the outcomes of the 4th UNU-EHS/MRF Summer Academy on Social Vulnerability (26 July - 1 August 2009). The Academy participants developed the new "hot system approach" that analyses how the interplay of coupled social-ecological systems increases vulnerability or resilience.


A discussion of the art and architecture of Whitehall Palace. It traces the development of the Palace from its origins, reconstructs various phases of its development, and charts the plans of monarchs to replace the building. There are illustrative plans and diagrams of the Palace.


In code for seismic design of bu ilding(GB50011-2001), the table H.2.3-1 don't adapt to the bottom shears metho d, this paper gives the effect adjust coefficient adapted to the bottom shears m ethod , based on calculating a lots of living examples, used to calculate the h orizontal seismic of the one-story unequal height factory


Layanan jasa seksi ABC information system is a system used by ABC lembaga DEF staff for process of saving and processing data of customer and customer's product. This system facilitated by lembaga DEF to support making a document for testing. Previously seksi ABC lembaga DEF staff still use Microsoft Access and manual record. Therefore seksi ABC lembaga DEF staff require a new information system that quickly and efficiently so that improve customer services. In making this new information system the author uses Microsoft Visual Basic and MySql. The design of information system using prototyping method and using the database design with the concept of context diagram, Data flow Diagram (DFD), flowchart and Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD). The new application system is based on desktop applications and integration with SMS gateway.


The success of AI assistants based on language models (LLMs) hinges crucially on Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF), which enables the generation of responses more aligned with human preferences. As universal AI assistants, there's a growing expectation for them to perform consistently across various domains. However, previous work shows that Reinforcement Learning (RL) often exploits shortcuts to attain high rewards and overlooks challenging samples. This focus on quick reward gains undermines both the stability in training and the model's ability to generalize to new, unseen data. In this work, we propose a novel approach that can learn a consistent policy via RL across various data groups or domains. Given the challenges associated with acquiring group annotations, our method automatically classifies data into different groups, deliberately maximizing performance variance. Then, we optimize the policy to perform well on challenging groups. Lastly, leveraging the established groups, our approach adaptively adjusts the exploration space, allocating more learning capacity to more challenging data and preventing the model from over-optimizing on simpler data. Experimental results indicate that our approach significantly enhances training stability and model generalization.


Thus, John Dewey begins his Human Nature and Conduct. The theme Dewey means to press is familiar enough in his work. Morality seeks to control human nature which resists regulation and so comes to be regarded as a source of evil to be mastered. But given the intractability of human nature, pressure builds to identify some aspect of human nature which is subject to moral control. Dewey writes: "The severance of morals from human nature ends by driving morals inwards from the public open out-of-doors air and light of day into the obscurities and privacies of an inner life. The significance of the traditional discussion of free will is that it reflects precisely a separation of moral activity from nature and the public life of men."2 Dewey sought to draw the contrast between the moral and the nonmoral in a way which avoids "the severance of morals from human nature." He granted that morality is concerned with the regulation of human conduct. Perhaps it would be better to say that Dewey granted that moral questions are questions concerning human conduct, for, on his view, the notion of there being a morality consisting of a system of normative principles which are distinctively moral is part and parcel of the severance of morals from human nature he sought to avoid. Dewey wrote: "Conduct as moral may thus be defined as activity called forth and directed by ideas of value or worth where the values concerned


FIELD: food industry. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods of treatment of food products transported on conveyor belt through climatic chamber. Proposed flexible conveyor belt is made in form of endless loop. Part of belt forms great number of layers placed one onto the other. Belt is made up of relatively displaceable links. Each link contains at least two cross rods and support members located at each edge of belt. Support member projecting upwards from belt plane are designed for supporting upper lying layer of belt. Links are connected for relative displacement along, at least, one side edge of belt. Support members are connected with ends of cross rods of belt or form extension of belt rods. They include support part in form of clamp. The latter projects upwards from plane of belt and it inter connects rods of corresponding link of belt. Climatic chamber for treatment of food products by circulating gas is furnished with proposed conveyor belt. EFFECT: facilitated treatment of food products in climatic chamber. 27 cl, 11 dwg


Background and objectives: Nigella sativa is a delicate floral vegetable belonging to Ranunculaceae family. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the dominant active component in Nigella sativa seed oil which has a variety of pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. However, TQ is a quinone derivative, which may lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species and resulting intermediate toxicity with various adverse effects in vivo, including acute cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and carcinogenesis. In this review we have mentioned several studies on the toxicity properties of thymoquinone and Nigella sativa. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE and Scopus. The search included the following keywords: "thymoquinone", "hydroquinone"," quinone" and "Nigella sativa". Citations within articles were also reviewed to identify the relevant sources. We studied about 170 articles and put aside the articles that were performed on the effect of Nigella sativa and thymoquinone on cancer cell lines. Results:  Since TQ is a quinone derivative, we observed the generation of reactive oxygen species and the toxicity of this substance in some studies. LD50 of Thymoquinone was very higher than Nigella sativa and also LD50 of this substance in oral route was higher than intrapritoneal route of administration. Conclusion: The findings have provided approximate safety information for TQ, which will further help researchers.


This paper describes a differentially detecting capacitive Z-axis SOI accelerometer using a set of vertical comb electrodes. The device structure has only one silicon layer and there are no lower or upper electrodes. Z-axis acceleration was differentially detected by using a set of newly proposed vertical comb electrodes of different movable and fixed heights. The sensing area was 1.1 mm/spl times/1.1 mm/spl times/15 /spl mu/m. The performance of the accelerometer was calculated and measured experimentally to determine its linear capacitance change and voltage output against input acceleration. The measured capacitance sensitivity and its linearity were 1.1 fF/G and 0.21%, respectively.


The homogenization of one kind of nonlinear parabolic equation is studied. The weak convergence and corrector results are obtained by combining carefully the compactness method and two-scale convergence method in the homogenization theory.


Congenital heart defects (CHO) comprise the commonest group of malformations and ventricular septal defect (VSO) is the most prevalent type of CHO most frequently requiring corrective surgery. There has been an increase in the number of Maltese patients operated for this condition over 1930-1994 which has now stabilised. Peri-operative mortality has declined, paralleled by a significant decline in age at surgery. The birth prevalence of VSD requiring surgery is 0.83/1000 live births with a surgical rate of 0.88 operations/lOOO live births including primary operations and reoperations. Approximately 122,000 children are born with this condition annually world-wide at an estimated potential surgical cost of £2,280,000,000. *Department of Paediatrics, St. Luke's Hospital, Gwardamangia, Malta. Correspondence: Or. V.E. Grech. Department of Paediatrics. St. Luke's Hospital. Malta.


This effort to examine the existing and new ways of provision of paratransit service, particularly the coordination of complementary services to improve the overall levels of service and productivity, outlined 3 major areas (costs, financial considerations, and problem resolution), and amplified 2 major areas: cost reductions (vehicles, labor, organizational structure) and increased productivity. Recommendations are presented related to the following issues: reporting costs and operating statistics; dissemination of information to taxi operators and paratransit organizations; consumer information system; personnel training programs; and ways of reducing costs and increasing productivity.


DUE TO THE SHORT SUPPLY AND INCREASED COSTS OF OIL-BASED PRODUCTS INTEREST IN ROADBASES WITHOUT BINDERS HAS INCREASED. THE SPECIAL PROPERTIES AND THE CAPABILITIES OF A GRAVEL ROADBASE ARE EXPLAINED IN THE LIGHT OF PRESENT DAY KNOWLEDGE. DECISIVE ARE THE CONDITION OF THE MINERAL MATERIAL AND THE SURFACE CONDITION, FORM AND COMPOSITION OF THE FILL PARTICLES, AS WELL AS THE PARTICLE DENSITY THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED. ADDITIONAL CONTROLS FOR A MAXIMUM VOIDS CONTENT (NEVER MORE THAN 25% BY VOLUME) ARE NECESSARY, WHEREBY THE E-MODULI FOR THE FINISHED CONSTRUCTION ARE BETWEEN 4000 AND 10000 KP/CM2. BASED ON THE ZTVE-STB 65 AND TVT 72 SPECIFICATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FEDERAL STANDARDIZATION 1966 THE TWO-PART TASK OF DESIGN IS TREATED IN DETAIL, MORE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN LOADING, BUILDING MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND SUB-BASE CONDITIONS (SUCH AS IN LINE WITH THE FRENCH STANDARDS) ARE SUGGESTED, AND REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE STANDARDIZATION IN LOWER SAXONY WHICH TAKES BETTER ACCOUNT OF THE THEORETICAL LOAD CALCULATIONS OF THE LOWER BEARING LAYERS. THE DESIGN OF THE UPPER ROADBASE LAYERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EV-VALUE ON THE BASE AS THE ONLY CRITERION IS QUESTIONABLE, AS THE PAVEMENTS ACT AS A COMPLETE SYSTEM. THERE ARE COMMENTS ON THE RESULTS OF RESEARCH WORKS (LUECKE AND GERLACH) AND THEIR PRACTICAL EXPERIMENTS. EXTENSION OF THE FIELD OF APPLICATION OF GRAVEL ROADBASES IS THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE UNDER CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION CONDITIONS, AND IS BEING TESTED IN PRACTICE, SO THAT IT CAN BE RECOMMENDED FOR GENERAL APPLICATION.


Ubiquitous environments are often considered highly dynamic environments and the contextual information can change at runtime. User interface should provide the right information for the right person at the right time. Certainly, such objective can be achieved only when we deduce the realtime user's requirements in terms of information and present this information to the user according to his current context of use. The specific goal of our research is to improve the adaptation process while improving models at runtime. A fixed model cannot handle the high dynamic in such an environment. The model can progress and change its structure to better deduce the user's requirements. The work reported in this paper introduces a pertinent solution for representing the dynamic construction of a Petri-nets based model. The solution applies the ontology of service (OWL-S), given that the contextual information is defined by the ontology written in OWL. Keywords-Ubiquitous computing; User Interface Adaptation, OWL; OWL-S; Ontology; Modeling; Petri-nets .


Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease which is characterized by a decrease in the bone mass and deterioration in bone micro-architecture. In theory, photoacoustic (PA) imaging analysis has potential to obtain the characteristics of the bone effectively. Previous study demonstrated that photoacoustic spectral analysis (PASA) method with the qualified parameter slope could provide an objective assessment of bone microstructure and deterioration. In this study, we tried to compare PASA method with the traditional quantitative ultrasound (QUS) method in osteoporosis assessment. Numerical simulations of both PA and ultrasound (US) signal are performed on computerized tomographic (CT) images of trabecular bone with different bone mineral densities (BMDs). Ex vivo experiments were conducted on porcine femur bone model of different BMDs. We compared the quantified parameter slope and the broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) coefficient from the PASA and QUS among different bone models, respectively. Both the simulation and ex vivo experiment results show that bone with low BMD has a higher slope value and lower BUA value. Our result demonstrated that the PASA method has the same efficacy with QUS in bone assessment, considering PA is a non-ionizing, non-invasive technique, PASA method holds potential for clinical diagnosis in osteoporosis and other bone diseases.


Aim of the work: Investigation of the histological and histochemical changes in the lung of male albino rats exposed to mobile phone radiation and the possible protective role of vitamin E or Silymarin.
Material and Methods: The present study was carried out on 36 adult male albino rats (Sprague dawly); they were divided equally into 6 groups (C group: control rats; R group: rats exposed to 900 MHz (2h /day) of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) radiation; S group: positive control rats given Silymarin; E group: positive control rats given Vitamin E; R+S group: rats treated with Silymarin post EMF irradiation and R+E group treated with vitamin E post EMF irradiation).
Results: Rats exposed to mobile phone radiation showed numerous histological and histochemical changes; these changes were ameliorated by using vitamin E or Silymarin. Vitamin E showed anti-damaging effect of lung tissue exposed to mobile phone radiation more than Silymarin.
Conclusion: The present study showed that the natural anti-oxidant Silymarin and vitamin E could protect the lung tissue from the damage produced after the exposure to mobile phone radiation. Vitamin E showed significant anti-damaging effect more than the anti-damaging effect of Silymarin.


The scientific evidence that folic-acid-containing supplements prevent the majority of neural tube defects (NTDs) is so definitive that global public health policies have been implemented [1]. Scientific evidence that preceded these new policies included animal model data and observational and controlled intervention studies in humans that evolved into the 'gold standard' randomized, controlled intervention study.


ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the effect of the Free Trade Zone on Value Added Tax and Import Duty. The object of the this research is companies that have been registered with the Batam concession agency which are free from value added tax and import duty. The sample method is done by random sampling. The number of companies sampled in this study were 100 companies. The data used is secondary data in the form of data requested by intermediaries or third parties. The data analysis method used in this study is simple linier regression analysis. The results showed that the application of the Free Trade Zone had a significant effect on the exemption of value added tax and had a positive effect on the exemption of import duty. Keyword : Free Trade Zone, Exemption of Value Added Tax, Import Duty Exemption.


The models developed can be used as a basis to understand, study, and optimize the process. Information obtained from these models can be used to analytically predict temperature distribution, cooling rates, stresses, deformation, phase composition, and possibly the prediction of void formations, all as functions of both position and time. It was demonstrated that nonsymmetrical boundary conditions can lead to bowing of the penetrator blanks and applicable techniques were developed to optimize the quenching process. Experiments for deriving physical and mechanical properties for the uranium-0.75% Ti alloy including data on the heats of transformation have been performed. It is concluded that the contribution of the transformation heat constitutes about 19% of the total heat transfer involved and is, therefore, a significant factor affecting the metallurgical behavior of the alloy during the quenching operation. This behavior is less sensitive to the dependence of the property data on temperature.


In this paper, we solve a discrete bilevel problem with multiple objectives at the lower level and constraints at the upper level coupling variables of both levels. In the case of a multiobjective lower level, we deal with a set of Pareto‐efficient solutions rather than a single optimal lower level solution. To calculate the upper level objective function value, we need to select one solution out of a potentially large set of efficient lower level solutions. To avoid the enumeration of the whole set of Pareto solutions, we formulate an auxiliary mixed integer linear programming problem with a large number of constraints. We propose an iterative exact method to solve it. To find a near‐optimal upper level solution, we apply a metaheuristic. The method is tested on the discrete (r|p)‐centroid problem with multiple objectives at the lower level.


"Mergers: Main developments between 1 September and 31 December 2007"* On 21 September the Commission cleared the proposed acquisition of Finnish mineral fertiliser producer Kemira GrowHow by…


In my study I show you the role of women, their social situation, and their sacrifice in the period of the First World War. I reveal how the big war brought them social recognition, I inspect how they fit into the system of war economy as working women, what role they played in the society of the home front, and how they fought that the hardships of the war be  judged differently by society.


A practical difficulty with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (SDS) is its length. Preferring a shorter measure of social desirability, researchers have devised a number of short forms of the SDS. The present study used confirmatory factor analysis to establish the adequacy of these subscales in measuring social desirability. Results showed that (a) of the six short forms of SDS considered two models (XI and X2) provide the best measures of social desirability, (b) improved measures of all of the models can be constructed, and (c) improved measures of the dimensions, denial and attribution, thought to measure the latent construct of social approval can also be constructed.


Different social movements, through its organizations and networks, have played relevant roles in the formulation of social policies in Brazil ever since the late 1970's. In the context of Public Health, the case of Aids, women's health and the psychiatric reform show the decisive role played by civil society organizations in the design and implementation of public policies which became not only more democratic and contemporaneous, but also more efficient. The same reasoning apply to environmental, educational and cultural public policies. And what has occurred in the area of public safety? What kind of agendas – that is, demands, discourses and practice – have non governmental organizations and social movements had and still have and what are their roles in the design of public policies that deal with violence in the context of public safety? Through three different articles and a research metrology that combined qualitative and quantitative approaches I try to explore the main answers to this question and to discuss two specific cases in which the connection with the themes of violence and criminality are part of the constitutional identity of the groups: the homosexual movement and its responses to homophobia and the group of youngsters in the slums and their responses towards both the crimes young men are perpetrating and the criminalization of their images. In this second case, I analyze the experience of the Rio de Janeiro based group called AfroReggae trying to understand the product of this political actor which enters the scenario in the late 1990's: the young men from the favelas. Civil society organizations have played a very limited role regarding the process of police and public safety reform. I will argue that the reasons for this have to do not only with the resistance of public safety managers to social movements, but also to the characteristics of those movements themselves. I try to show that the innovative initiatives of young slum dwellers in their relationship with the police may represent important contributions to the repertoire of civil society practices for dealing with the police. I will also try to demonstrate that the Brazilian homosexual movement, while including in the agenda against homophobia clear demands in the area of public safety, has produced a model that may inspire new experiences in the country. I will conclude with a proposition of a research agenda on civil society's action in public security and health to answer to violence in Brazil.


Thank you very much for downloading miscue analysis applications to reading instruction. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have look numerous times for their chosen novels like this miscue analysis applications to reading instruction, but end up in harmful downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they are facing with some malicious bugs inside their computer.


Liver disease frequently is mentioned as a cause of vitamin A deficiency (1, 2). However, little evidence to support this opinion is present in the medical literature. Although many instances of coexisting liver disease and keratomalacia are reported, almost all of those recorded are associated with jaundice (3). In other reports no mention is made as to whether or not jaundice is present. Since the occurrence of jaundice without liver disease can lead to vitamin A deficiency, presumably through faulty absorption of the vitamin from lack of bile in the intestinal tract, such coincidence of keratomalacia and liver disease with jaundice may not be ascribed strictly to altered liver function. Moreover, as pointed out by Altschule (3), the diet of patients with liver disease often is restricted by aversion to food and by nausea, flatulence, and diarrhea. Intake of the vitamin may be insufficient in such cases. Recently Lasch (4) has reported that in 10 cases of diseases affecting the parenchyma of the liver, the vitamin A content of the blood was usually lower, whether icterus was present or not, than in 12 cases of non-hepatic diseases. Pathological and experimental data concerning the relation between vitamin A deficiency and altered liver function have been inconclusive. Breusch and Scalabrino (5) found the content of vitamin A to be reduced in livers of persons who died from cirrhosis. In similar analyses reported by Moore (6), the values for vitamin A in different diseased states varied too widely to permit ready interpretation. His data do not include analyses on cirrhotic livers. Kumagai (7) noted that regeneration of visual purple in the frog retina failed to occur after ligation of liver veins and after extirpation of the liver. Ralli (8) and her coworkers described the development of vitamin A deficiency in dogs with the " liver failure " that followed pancreatectomy. However, in acute liver injury induced by chloroform or phosphorous poisoning there was no apparent failure of the rat to absorb and store the vitamin (9, 10). For the most part, experimental studies on this subject have been confined to the relation between vitamin A metabolism and bile flow (11, 12, 13) rather than liver function. It is pertinent, therefore, to determine whether vitamin A deficiency occurs in patients with liver disease whose intake of the vitamin is adequate and who are not jaundiced. The present paper, of which a preliminary account appeared previously (14) reports such studies on vitamin A metabolism in 24 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The patients ranged in age between 38 and 64 years. There were 17 males and 7 females. A history of alcoholism was obtained in 20 cases, and of syphilis in 8, of whom 5 previously were treated with arsenicals. They manifested varied degrees of liver damage. Although 9 had been jaundiced previously, none was jaundiced at the time of testing. Nineteen had ascites on entry to the hospital. Most of the patients showed evidence of malnutrition. There were commonly weight loss and signs of vitamin deficiency, such as peripheral neuritis, glossitis, and pellagrous dermatitis. In a number of patients the injected conjunctivae and gray, lusterless sclerae suggested the specific lack of vitamin A. In several cases keratinized epithelium was obtained by corneal scrapings. In 3 cases keratinizing metaplasia of the pancreatic ducts was seen on pathological examination. None was aware of night blindness on direct questioning, although tests of 19 patients demonstrated night blindness.


The increasing number of avionics functions for communication, navigation, identification, electronic warfare and payload communication require new solutions for antennas and RF systems. The requirements are driven by the overall improvement of the air vehicle performance as well as for the related avionics system performance. However the available installation locations are limited due to access restrictions and antenna interference problems. Therefore new integration areas have to be identified and new integration and installation concepts are required. All these challenges can be solved by the use of structural integrated antennas. Latest research activities are now including solutions for navigation systems as well. Within the NATO Research Group SET-131 together with Fraunhofer FHR and DLR a joint demonstrator about a structurally integrated controlled radiation pattern antenna for satellite based navigation systems, e.g. GPS, has been developed, manufactured and tested and described in this paper.


This study aims to determine whether or not the influence of the role of parents on B2SA food consumption (diverse, nutritious, balanced, and safe) for early childhood during the COVID-19 pandemic. The subjects in this study were parents who have children aged 5-6 years in Desa Cibojong, Kecamatan Padarincang, Kabupaten Serang-Banten. The method used in this research is using the Ex-post facto method with a quantitative approach. The total population of data in this study amounted to 177 consisting of 5 villages, this sampling technique used the purposive sampling technique while the sample data used in this study amounted to 25 parents who have children aged 5-6 years in Desa Cibojong, Kecamatan Padarincang, Kabupaten Serang-Banten. The data was processed with the help of the IBM SPSS 22.0 for windows program. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that there is a significant influence between the role of parents on B2SA food consumption (diverse, nutritious, balanced and safe) for early childhood during the COVID-19 pandemic in Desa Cibojong, Kecamatan Padarincang, Kabupaten Serang-Banten. This can be seen from the significant value obtained at 0.00 < 0.05, which means that Ho is rejected and H1 is accepted.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a context for the compilation of papers and commentaries included in this International Journal of Organizational Analysis special issue on "Scripting the next wave of exigent issues for service‐learning in our unscripted future: when technology, globalism, and community engagement collide."Design/methodology/approach – The authors of this paper are the Guest Editors for the special issue. As such, in this paper, they provide a brief history of why the special issue was created and how it serves as an extension to the first special issue (Vol. 17 No. 1, 2009).Findings – There are five papers and six commentary pieces included in this special issue. Each raises a charge, or challenge, to the reader in terms of moving forward with service‐learning in the uncertain, complex, and highly unscripted environments.Practical implications – The practical implications of this paper are those that relate to future research and practice in the service‐learning domain. ...


Of the BRICS nations none has affected the world of economic development as critically as China. The Chinese aid programs have attracted critics who claim its goals include access to oil and other resources while defenders point to the impact of Chinese concessional loans. In April 2011, China produced a policy paper on foreign aid that outlined its objectives, scope, and principles for assistance. It is difficult to gauge whether China is better at meeting its principles and its policy paper leaves room for doubt about how it will do so. But can China's large donation stream really in the end help the internal development of recipient countries?


An important clue to the meaning of Mark 16,8 has not received adequate attention. The verse is an intertextual allusion to Dan 10,7. Daniel 10–12 establishes a pattern of revelation, concealment, and future revelation, in which the resurrection of the dead is apocalyptically deferred – its truth not confirmable until it happens at the end of days. A similar pattern of concealment and revelation characterizes Mark's gospel. At the end of the gospel, the resurrection of Jesus is announced (and so revealed) in story time, but further concealed in discourse time. In the act of narrating, the message is once again revealed. With the omission of a resurrection appearance, however, the vision of the risen Lord remains concealed until the revelation of the Son of Man at the parousia.


Estimation of regional evapotranspiration is of major importance in hydrological modeling, where the partitioning of available energy into sensible and latent heat fluxes is crucial. Point-based measurements are routinely obtained with micrometeorological methods through a combination of radiometers and eddy-covariance instruments. Notwithstanding closure problems, they are considered to yield reliable flux point values. However, when dealing with heterogeneous semi-arid terrain, these point estimates are not representative for regional values. In this paper the results are presented of an analysis where MODIS images are used for the mapping of energy and water balances of a heterogeneous land surface in a savannah environment on the southern fringe of the Okavango Delta (Maun, Botswana). Despite its semi-arid character, fresh floodwaters arrive through the Delta seasonally and therefore part of the area's vegetation is always transpiring at a potential rate. The model we implemented is governed by remotely sensed values of surface temperature, reflection and vegetation density. The availability of MODIS data provided an opportunity to test the new algorithm by determining the energy balance components on a regional scale for a heterogeneous area and then comparing the results with energy flux measurements using a meteorological flux tower situated in a woodland savannah environment. The results indicate good estimates of net radiation, soil and turbulent fluxes. However, if energy closure problems are neglected, latent heat estimates show significant deviations.


THE question of the proper disposal of domestic sewage is at the present moment exercising the minds of a large number of municipali~ies, and those who are responsible for the public health of the various colonies in this country. The system adopted in most towns in South Africa, viz., removal by pails, is both crude and expensive, and the time is not far distant when public opinion will demand more up-to-date methods, which will be more hygienic, and less expensive, than those which obtain at present. , My presence here to-day is to advocate for municipalities the adoption of a system which only requires to be known to be appreciated, a, system that I am sure, with a little more extended experience, will fulfil almost everything that is demanded by sanitariaus of the present day, not only as the most perfect method known to science, but also on account of its being less expensive than any other method hitherto tried. I allude to the closed septic tank system which has been introduced during the last two years into some of our cantonments in this country. All medical officers who are engaged in public health work, will, I think, recognise the value of this method, which is based on true scientific principles, and the experience gained in England during the last ten years, and in this country within the last two years, will, I think, convince most people that at last we have hit upon a plan of disposal of sewage, which is simple, cheap, and, above all, gives an effluent which shows 90 per cent. purification over the raw sewage. ' For the benefit of those who have not studied the question I shall briefly ~escribe the principles involved in the reduction of the crude sewage, the vital process by which the reduction is brought about, and the chemical changes which take place. I sball then give you a short description of the installation which has been erected in Pretoria. The principle of the septic tank was first of all brought to notice by Professor Warrington in England, and Meintz and Schloesing in France, and the practical details were worked out by Cameron, of Exeter. They showed that purification of sewage by filtration is brought about by the intervention of micro-organisms, and that sewage contains the bacteria


This paper is one of a series whose goal is to stabilize the twisted Arthur-Selberg's trace formula. Here we define the objects appearing in the geometric side of the twisted trace formula. We define also the similar stable and endoscopic objects. We state the principal theorems concerning the stabilization of this geometric side. The proofs will be given in forthcoming papers.


Photoluminescence under intense excitation is studied in GaN. As the excitation density increases, we show the Mott transition between an excitonic recombination to a plasma-type recombination. The carrier density at the Mott transition is given. At and above the Mott density, we show that the carrier temperature is higher than the lattice temperature. The energy relaxation of the hot plasma is shown to be dominated by LO-phonon emission. Coulomb screening and band-gap renormalization are observed from the photoluminescence peak position and the measured renormalization factor is in good agreement with elementary many-body theory. Finally the dependence of the Mott density on carrier temperature is shown to follow a Debye-H\"uckel model.


Experiments are used to evaluate different parameter andparameterization performances to reproduce a radiation fog that is precededby a strong nocturnal cooling rate. The couple Mellor-Yamadaparameterization and the ration of strength of diffusion coefficients betweenscalars and velocity equal one provide the better results. The maximum coolingrate obtained was -5,7oC/11h, being higher than the observed -8,8oC/11h.


Transformation‐induced plasticity (TRIP) steels are known for their outstanding strength and their excellent deformation properties, which are necessary for the improvement of occupant safety elements in air, rail and motor vehicles. One precondition for the realization of the TRIP effect is the creation of a metastable austenitic microstructure through the addition of a number of alloying elements. The great affinity of some alloying elements for oxygen implies the formation of highly stable oxides during thermal processing. In the current study, an extrusion process (derived from the processing of ceramics) with subsequent debinding and pressureless sintering is used to manufacture compact strands from prealloyed and gas‐atomized 17Cr7Mn6Ni TRIP steel powder. The influence of both the debinding temperature and sintering atmosphere on the oxide particle content in the final bulk product are investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and quantitative metallography. Furthermore, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis in association with temperature‐programmed reduction (TPR) experiments, thermogravimetric (TG) measurements and mass/infrared spectroscopy (MS/IRS) serve to monitor the changes in the steel powder surface composition and the effectiveness of hydrogen as a reducing agent.


Uncertainty is a major difficulty in endowing robots with autonomy. Robots often fail due to unexpected events. In robot contact tasks are often design to empirically look for force thresholds to define state transitions in a Markov chain or finite state machines. Such design is prone to failure in unstructured environments, when due to external disturbances or erroneous models, such thresholds are met, and lead to state transitions that are false-positives. The focus of this paper is to perform high-level state estimation of robot behaviors and task output for robot contact tasks. Our approach encodes raw low-level 3D cartesian trajectories and converts them into a high level (HL) action grammars. Cartesian trajectories can be segmented and encoded in a way that their dynamic properties, or "texture" are preserved. Once an action grammar is generated, a classifier is trained to detect current behaviors and ultimately the task output. The system executed HL state estimation for task output verification with an accuracy of 86%, and behavior monitoring with an average accuracy of: 72%. The significance of the work is the transformation of difficult-to-use raw low-level data to HL data that enables robust behavior and task monitoring. Monitoring is useful for failure correction or other deliberation in high-level planning, programming by demonstration, and human-robot interaction to name a few. The data, code, and supporting resources for this work can be found at: https://www.juanrojas.net/research/position_based_action_grammae.


Wetlands are not only a key resource but beneficial to environment and ecological system.Losses and degradation of Wetlands have been evolving into serious environmental problems in the recent decades.In this paper,West Jilin province was selected as study area to analyze the changing processes of wetlands as well as its impacts on the environment.Dynamic changing process of wetlands were studied over the periods of 1930-2000 by using land use data in 1930,1954,1986,1996,2000.The indices of dynamic degree of wetland,contribution degree of wetland into other landscape type in different periods were calculated by using the software of ARCGIS.The spatio-temporal dynamic process of wetland was analyzed.The results showed that from 1930 to 2000,wetland has experienced substantial losses,with an area of 123.7×10~4 ha in 1930 down to 22.8×10~4 ha in 2000,a decrease of 82%.The percentage of wetland occupying total land decreased from 27 percent to 5 percent over the periods.From the point of spatial change of wetland losses,wetlands underwent losses in all periods,but wetland losses have different features in different periods,the Period 1 and period 2 were the major ones in wetland loss;From the point of contribution degree of wetland into other landscape type,wetlands has been not only reclaimed at large scale but degrading rapidly and turning into saline-alkaline land in large quantities, and the reclamation of wetland is the main driving force in the study area.Losses and degradation of wetlands are severely weakening the function of ecological service that wetland provided.Concretely,the Impacts of the wetland losses on the environment and ecology in the study area were prevalent: the regional climate underwent great changes with the features of temperature climbing up and the precipitation declining as well as more natural disasters during the periods of 1930-2000.The function of purifying water performed by the wetlands was undermined.As a result,eutrophication and water pollution have been getting more and more serious.Wetland vegetation and wetland resources as well as biodiversity were seriously threatened.In a word,the change of wetlands deteriorated the ecology and environment in the study area.This study provides recommendations for regional land planning and suggestions for regional sustainable development.


The usage of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) in automotive body structures is projected to grow significantly in the next 5–10 years with the introduction of new safety and fuel economy regulations. This is due to their superior mechanical properties and weight savings potential. These new materials pose significant manufacturing challenges, particularly for welding and stamping. Due to the high strength nature of AHSS materials, higher weld forces and longer weld times are often needed to weld these advanced steels. In this paper, the weldability of Complex Phase 780 (CP780) is discussed in terms of weld current lobes, mechanical properties (shear and cross tension), metallographic cross-section and micro-hardness profile of 1.4 mm electro-galvanized (EG) steel welded to itself in a two-metal stack-up Weld lobes and a full factorial Design of Experiment (DOE) was conducted.Copyright © 2009 by ASME


The method of operational definition of the fact and the place of explosion aboard the plane is offered. The offered method will just allow to define the following data: the fact of emergency at the airplane; type and number of the object injured; exact time of emergency at the airplane; geographical coordinates of the crash object; the place and nature of destructions.