Among the plasmatic coagulation factors, factor XIII is special in several ways. Its ordinal number, XIII, is the highest, since it is the most recently discovered. While the other enzymes in the clotting cascade are serine proteases, which cleave proteins, activated factor XIII is a transglutaminase, which crosslinks proteins to each other. International conferences on factor XIII took place in Marburg in 1982, 1991, and 1995, where new findings on biochemistry, physiology, and clinical importance of factor XIII were communicated. During the past years, research on factor XIII has been stimulated by the foundation of a new subcommittee of the Scientific and Standardization Committee (SSC of the ISTH) and a Working Party of the European Thrombosis Research Organization (ETRO). Some outstanding examples of the progress recently made are now presented in this issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis. The biochemistry of factor XIII and its physiological significance are summarized by Jan McDonagh. A contribution by Vivien Yee et al expertly describes new models of the molecular structure obtained by x-ray crystallography. Factor XIII is the only protransglutaminase in plasma and is stabilized there by formation of a tetramer of the two proenzyme subunits (subunits A) with two carrier proteins (subunits B). The genes coding for the A or B subunits have been fully elucidated, and gene defects leading to congenital factor XIII deficiency can be characterized, as described in the contributions of Akitada Ichinose et al and Hanna Mikkola and Aarno Palotie. Dimers of subunit A are also found in cells, mainly megakaryocytes and platelets, monocytes and macrophages, and cells in the placenta. However, the physiological significance of factor XIII in these cells awaits further elucidation. A contribution by Róza Adány deals with the expression and distribution of cellular factor XIII; Dana Devine and Paul Bishop provide data on the role of platelet-associated factor XIII. In recent years, new findings have stimulated interest in effects and interactions of coagulation factors beyond their role in producing clots. A good example is the interaction of thrombin with various types of cells, mediated by a specific receptor. In the case of factor XIII, there are many direct and indirect interactions with connective tissue proteins and cells; some researchers even suggested calling factor XIII a connective tissue factor, not a coagulation factor. Daniel Aeschlimann et al review this exciting field. Factor XIII plays a pivotal role in the stabilization of fibrin and its resistance against premature fibrinolysis. This can be clearly demonstrated by the bleeding tendency of patients with congenital factor XIII deficiency. This is illustated by the preliminary results of a Europewide ETRO questionnaire on congenital factor XIII deficiency. Rudolf Egbring et al report that an acquired factor XIII deficiency occurs frequently, as clinical research facilitated by new, broadly applicable assay methods has shown. Examples are status after major surgery, liver disorders, and various inflammatory and malignant diseases. Pilot studies, presented by Gernold Wozniak et al and Reinhard Lorenz et al, suggest that factor XIII may have an important therapeutic potential in the support of wound healing. This issue of Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis will hopefully stimulate basic and clinical research and help to improve the understanding of the structure, biochemistry, and physiology of factor XIII, as well as of the evaluation of potential clinical applications by new study concepts.


It has been reported from our department that a few agents, such as nicotinamide have a marked stabilizing effect in vitro on metoclopramide which is relatively unstable compound. In order to study the effect of these stabilizers on the action of metoclopramide in vitro, the fate of this compound combined with and nicotinamide, respectively, was studied and furthermore, the change of the biological activity of metoclopramide due to these stabilizers was studied by using the isolated stomach strip of rat. The blood concentration of metoclopramide was measured by using Bakke's method at the various time after intravenous injection of the mixed metoclopramide solution with the stabilizers. In order to study the excretion of the drug, rabbits were anesthesized and catheterized into bladder for withdrawal of urine. After intravenous injection of the mixed metoclopramide solution, urine was collected for 5 hours and the conjugated forms of metoclopramide as well as the free form were determined by using Arita's method. In the biological study of the metoclopramide combined with stabilizers, the contractability of the isolated rat stomach strip was observed by using polygraph recorder. The results were following: 1. When metoclopramide was administered with nicotinamide as stabilizer, the blood concentration of the unchanged from and the rate of the clearance of this compound were very similar to that of metoclopramide alone. On the other hand, other stabilizers, , brought about 40% decrease in blood concentration of the unchanged form at 15 min after intravenous injection however, the rate of clearance of metoclopramide with was very slow. 2. In the case of urinary excretion, the excretory pattern of the metabolites of metoclopramide with or nicotinamide was very similar to that of metoclopramide alone. But metodopramide plus group showed the maked depression of excretion for first 1 hour. 3. In composition of metabolites, when metoclopramide was administered with or , the sulfonate conjugation was predominant. But the glucuronic acid conjugation was predominant in metoclopramide plus nicotinamide gronp. 4. In the experiments on the biological activity of the metoclopramide, this compound exhibited the marked contracting effect in isolatd rat stomach strip. Specially, the meetoclopramide combined with showed the strong contraction of the isolated strip, suggesting the potenciating effect of on the action of metoclopramide in the isolated strip.


A t-stretch spanning tree (tree t-spanner) T of a graph G is a spanning tree such that the distance between any two vertices in T is at most t times their distance in G. Given a graph G and an integer t ≥ 2, the tree t-spanner problem decides the existence of a tree t-spanner in G. We solve the tree t-spanner in outerplanar graphs with the introduction of the S-partition problem in graphs which is defined as follows: given a graph G, a weight function w : V (G) → N, a set S ⊆ V (G) of special vertices, and an integer t, decide whether there exists a partition of V (G) into V1, . . . , V|S| such that for 1 ≤ i ≤ |S|, G[Vi] is connected, Vi contains exactly one vertex from S and cost of Vi, which is the sum of weights of vertices in Vi, is at most t. We then present a linear-time reduction from tree t-spanner in outerplanar graphs to supply-demand partition in trees by using S-partition in trees as an intermediate problem. As a consequence, we obtain a linear-time algorithm for tree t-spanner in outerplanar graphs.


Non‐detergent sulfobetaines (NDSBs) are a new group of small, synthetic protein stabilizers, which have advantages over classical compatible osmolytes, such as polyol, amines, and amino acids: they do not increase solution viscosity, unlike polyols, and they are zwitterionic at all pH ranges, unlike amines and amino acids. NDSBs also facilitate the crystallization and refolding of proteins. The mechanism whereby NDSBs exhibit such activities, however, remains elusive. To gain insight into this mechanism, we studied, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the effects of dimethylethylammonium propane sulfonate (NDSB‐195) on the dynamics of ubiquitin, on which a wealth of information has been accumulated. By analyzing the line width of amide proton resonances and the transverse relaxation rates of nitrogen atoms, we found that NDSB‐195 enhances the microsecond–millisecond dynamics of a β4‐α2 loop of ubiquitin. Although those compounds that enhance protein dynamics are generally considered to destabilize protein molecules, NDSB‐195 enhanced the stability of ubiquitin against guanidium chloride denaturation. Thus, the simultaneous enhancement of stability and flexibility by a single compound can be attained. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


A method of manufacturing a pod containing a substance to be infused for the preparation of drinks, characterized in that mixed or is covered at least a portion of the substance to be infused with a structural component placed at a first temperature above its point melting; one brings the resulting assembly to a second temperature below the melting point of the structurant component ensuring the cohesion of the tablet. The pod thus obtained has the advantage of not requiring packaging.


The convergence of nanotechnology with biotechnology will be one of the hot topics of AusBiotech 2006. Dr John Kapeleris takes a look at recent developments on nanotechnology and how they may be put too use in the biotech world. (editor abstract)


The number of WCPT member organisations is now 106, with the physical therapy associations from Argentina, Macau, Mauritius, Pakistan, Paraguay, Ukraine, Oman and Slovakia officially admitted to membership at the WCPT General Meeting in Amsterdam in June.


FIRST SECTION LINKING RELIEF TO REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS VOICE Recommendations on the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development COM (2001) 153 ....................................................... 2 by Paolo Dieci, Giovanna Brambilla, Giovanna Solari (CISP) and Olivia Lind Haldorsson (VOICE)............................. 2


Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) are a large family of proteolytic enzymes,which play important roles in degradation of extracellular matrix dependent upon zinc ion.The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases(TIMPs) are a large family of multi-functional genes,and they specifically inhibit MMPs.MMP-2 and MMP-9 are typical represents of matrix metalloproteinases. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are expressed in the endometrium.TIMP-1 is a specific inhibitory factor of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 is a natural inhibitor of MMP-2.MMPs play important roles in process of embryo implantation.This article systematically reviewed relationship of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 with chronic endometritis and infertility.


Industrial location responds to many factors, including geography, transport, logistics and ease of integration into global value chains, domestic market size and agglomeration potential, labor and management skills, policy quality, and more recently ICT readiness (digitization, robotics, AI). On most of these measures, African countries do not perform strongly. Certain industries can of course, draw on a rich and diverse natural resource base. As the Africa Mining Vision emphasizes, resource-rich African countries can encourage forward and backward linkages, especially to small and medium size enterprises, in these industries. Tourism, another rapidly-growing export sector, can also stimulate local industrial and service firms.


IN 1924 I was confronted with the problem of taking over and developing a course in research in secondary education. There was very little written at that time that one could refer to for help in determining the organization of such a course. No one had, or even has to date, told what research in education demands. In analyzing the problem confronting me I asked myself the question, "What do persons undertaking educational research in education have to do? What are the procedures and processes that educational research as an activity involves?" A method of obtaining an answer to these questions was to find out what procedures and processes others have used who have already undertaken and completed a piece of research. To do this I read twenty-one Teachers College Contributions to Education, listing as I went along all the different operations that were performed (as nearly as could be determined from the description of the research) from the initial analysis of the problem to its appearance in book form. The Contributions used were Nos. 146-167, with the exception of No. 164, these being the last ones published at that time.


The invention relates to a method for carrying out dynamical speed change on listened music. The beat of common music is 40-200 BPM (beats per minute), the heart rate (HR) of common persons at a static state is 60-100 times/minute, and the heart rate (HR) is up to 100-180 times/minute or higher when the persons carry out strenuous exercise or the body is abnormal; and the listening of music with proper speed is beneficial to health. When the music with proper speed does not exist, the listening of music after the dynamical speed change is carried out on the listened music is beneficial to health. A system used in the method for carrying out dynamical speed change on the listened music is composed of a service center, a computer, a communication device, a client system and a client scientific environment.


This paper investigates the stylistic features, contexts and choices made in  the language of Kenyan dramedies with specific focus on the interpersonall functions. One   episode from each of two dramedies aired weekly on two different television stations in Kenya is purposively selected. The clause, the group and the word which are the entry conditions for the mood; person, comment and attitude, and lexical register respectively are studied to find out the choices made between the terms of the system. The findings reveal that the style of Kenyan dramedy is conversational, informal, has simple syntax, overt ungrammaticality, exaggerated mispronunciation, malapropism, register borrowing and register mixing among others and serves the purpose of entertaining, informing and educating. Keywords: Dramedy, language, style, select and system.


Based on summarizing the application of quadratic law load such as fan and pump systems,and comparing the current driving schemes,a new driving system for cascade brushless doubly-fed machine was presented,including the machine's working principle and the speed control scheme.The simulation result proves feasibility of this speed control shchem for the cascade brushless doobly-fed motors.


In Ecuador, the popular and solidarity economy system seeks to dynamize the country's economicsovereignty, strengthening and encouraging the actors of the system so that they can carry outprocesses of production, distribution and commercialization of goods and services of these actors.In effect, the qualitative foundations, based on the exegetical methods, documentary analysis andbibliographic review used allowed determining that, in order to achieve the goals pursued by thepopular and solidarity economy system, public policies connote importance and transcendencewithin the economic sovereignty and its system, since they encourage, make effective, promoteand encourage to fulfill the goals pursued by these organizations of the Popular and SolidarityEconomy system, consequently, the strengthening of the country's economic sovereignty.


It is well known that color appearance depends on the visual environments. In this experiment, Apparent color and hue-shift in the small visual angles were investigated quantitatively employing the color-matching method. Four observers with normal color vision and visual acuity participated in this experiment. The results showed that Munsell Chroma decreased, on the other hand, Munsell value increased as the decrease of the visual angles. Namely, color perception shifted from chromatic color to achromatic color. It was also made clear that color appearance of yellowish and bluish especially changes in the small visual angles. We are confident that in the visual environments involving small visual angles, these results are useful both for the basic study and for the practical applications.


The article examines the specifics of the Chinese containment measures of the COVID-19 pandemic and their social consequences at the beginning of 2021. The author analyses empirical psychological research results on distress and anxiety of people in times of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, and explores to what degree the individual feelings of anxiety in contemporary China are conditioned by the traditionally prevailing absence of faith in higher transcendent forces on the one hand, and social isolation on the other. It proceeds from Xu Fuguan's interpretation of the origins of a traditional Chinese concept of "concerned consciousness" (youhuan yishi 憂患意識). The author shows that this concept can be compared to the feeling of anxiety, but highlights important differences which separate it from the anxiety as developed and understood in the framework of modern Western philosophy. The paper aims to provide some preliminary answers to the questions of whether and in what way such a traditional feeling of anxiety in the sense of a "concerned consciousness" manifested itself in the period of social isolation that was implemented as a part of the government measures for the COVID-19 pandemic in China. These questions are being investigated through an analysis of philosophical studies on concerned consciousness on the on hand, and a contemporary case study on the other. The results show that the specifically Chinese kind of anxiety, which is rooted in concerned consciousness, is tightly * Téa SERNELJ, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. Email address: firstname.lastname@example.com Azijske_studije_2022_1_FINAL.indd 155 12. 01. 2022 14:36:21 156 Téa SERNELJ: Anxiety, "Concerned Consciousness" and Their Manifestation... linked to the relational nature of Chinese ethics and the corresponding understanding of individual identity. In addition, it is connected with the traditional understanding of human destiny, which is not fatalistic or determinist, but rather based on autonomous decisions based on the social responsibilities of a free human self.


Abstract Thaksin Shinawatra's electoral success, through the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, has led to a debate: was the party's electoral landslide based on the appeal of its policies or the power of money? On one side of the debate, the party's success was seen to result from its policies that reflected the interests of widely divergent sectors of the electorate. On the other side, TRT was held to be no different from "old-style" political parties that relied on money politics (vote buying, buying members of parliament and other kinds of patronage). This article explores the nature of TRT's successes and failures by examining the operation of TRT in north-eastern Thailand. It is argued that it is wrong to single out policies or money as a source of TRT's success because the party relied on both strategies to win elections.


There are no relevant references on Jujube trees damage caused by Bradybaena similaris.In 2004,Bradybaena similaris in Yuncheng firstly attacked some jujube orchards.In order to decrease damage,life cycle,feeding habits were observed,and effective control measures were suggested.


A recent systematic review reported that pre-exercise hypohydration (PEH) impairs skeletal muscle performance. The extent to which PEH influences muscular performance-related outcomes remains to be quantified using standard meta-analytic procedures. PURPOSE: To determine the magnitude of the effects of PEH on leg and arm muscle strength, muscle endurance and anaerobic capacity, and jumping ability using a meta-analytic approach. METHODS: Studies were located via database searches and cross-referencing. Inclusion criteria: standard measures of muscular performance; hydration level in the euhydrated control group 1% BW and > 0.5% than control BW. Exclusion criteria: diureticsand caloric restriction-induced BW loss. Results were analyzed using a random-effect model for mean weighted summary effects and a random-effect (method-of-moments) analog to the ANOVA for subgroup analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-seven research articles were retrieved, among which 12, 5, 7 and 5 met the inclusion criteria for muscle strength, muscle endurance, anaerobic capacity and jumping ability, respectively, providing 32, 8, 11 and 16 effect estimates. Mean BW decrease in experimental groups was 3.0 ± 1.3%, 3.2 ± 0.4%, 3.2 ± 1.2% and 2.5 ± 1.2% for muscle strength, muscle endurance, anaerobic capacity and jumping ability, respectively (range: 1.0 to 5.7%). Mean muscle strength fell by 5.2% (95% CI: 3.6 to 6.7%) with PEH relative to control, with leg (5.8%, 95% CI : 3.2 to 8.5%) and arm (4.8%, 95% CI: 2.9 to 6.8%) strength declining similarly. PEH resulted in a mean decrease in muscle endurance of 12.7% (95% CI: 1.7 to 23.7%) and a decline in anaerobic capacity by 5.7% (95% CI: 1.5 to 9.9%). When pooled together, results of studies indicated that the decline in muscular performance is not significantly different between studies with BW losses ≤ or > 3%. PEH did not alter jumping ability compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: PEH of 1.0 to 5.5% BW does not affect jumping ability, but decreases leg (-6%) and arm (-5%) muscle strength, as well as muscle endurance (-13%) and anaerobic capacity (-6%) in a significant and practical manner. BACKGROUND Muscle strength, endurance and anaerobic capacity all play major roles in the athletes' capacity to perform high-intensity-related exercise; A recent systematic review reported that pre-exercise hypohydration (PEH) impairs skeletal muscle performance; How PEH influences jumping ability has never been systematically evaluated and could have important implications in sports involving jumping movements; The extent to which PEH influences muscular performance-related outcomes remains to be quantified using standard meta-analytic procedures. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY To determine the magnitude of the effects of PEH on maximal leg and arm muscle strength, muscle endurance and anaerobic capacity and jumping ability using a meta-analytic approach. METHODS Location of Articles PUBMED and SPORTDiscus database searches and cross referencing from key research articles, especially that of Judelson et al. (Sports. Med., 2007. 37: 907.). The last literature search was completed on May 1, 2010. Inclusion Criteria Standard and recognized measures of muscular performance; Hydration level in the euhydrated control group 1% BW and > 0.5% than control BW. Diureticsand caloric restriction-induced BW loss. Exclusion Criteria Equation for Calculating % Change in Performance % change in performance: Hypohydrated performance (Experimental group) Euhydrated performance (Control group)/Euhydrated performance x 100. STATISTICS Random-effect model for mean weighted summary estimates; Random-effect meta-regression for relationships between variables and analog to the ANOVA (both method-of-moments technique) for subgroup analyses; Variance and inverse variance calculated for all performance-related variables; When provided, the standard error (SE) of the difference between scores was used; When SE not provided, it was calculated from the exact p value provided; When only p ≤ X was reported, p was considered equal to X, where X is any p value ≤ 0.05; When only p > 0.05 was reported, ES was estimated with the formula (√(SD (A) + SD (B)) – (2 x R x SD (A) x SD (B)))/√N. Where SD is standard deviation. R was taken as 0.50; 95% CIs were calculated and results were considered non significant when the CI included 0; Unless otherwise noted, results are presented as mean ± SD; All statistics were computed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 2.2.048, SPSS version 12.0.0 and SPSS macros provided by Dr. David B. Wilson. RESULTS 37 manuscripts identified: 12, 5, 7 and 5 met the inclusion criteria for muscle strength, muscle endurance, anaerobic capacity and jumping ability, respectively, providing 32, 8, 11 and 16 effect estimates; 180 athletes represented (8% women, 92% men). Age, weight and height of subjects 23 ± 2 yrs, 76 ± 7 kg and 177 ± 5 cm, respectively; Mean sample size was 8 ± 2 subjects; Mean BW decrease across all experimental groups was 3.0 ± 1.2% (range 1.0 to 5.7%); When pooled together, results of studies indicated that the decline in muscular performance was not significantly different between studies with BW losses ≤ or > 3%; Meta-regression results showed no association between % BW loss and any of the performance-related outcomes. Muscle Strength Mean muscle strength fell by 5.2 ± 4.5% (95% CI: 3.6 to 6.7%) with PEH relative to control (Figure 1.) Black and green squares represent % changes in arm and leg strength, respecdtively, for each included study. The blue bars represent 95% CIs. The red diamond represents the weighted mean effect. Mean muscle endurance fell by 12.7 ± 15.9% (95% CI: 1.7 to 23.7%) with PEH, compared with the control group (Figure 3). Figure 1. Black and green squares respectively represent % changes in arm and leg strength for each included study. The blue bars represent 95% CIs. The red diamond represents the weighted mean effect. Muscle Endurance Figure 3. Green squares represent % changes in muscle endurance for each included study. The blue bars represent 95% CIs. The green diamond represents the weighted mean effect. Muscle Anaerobic Capacity Mean muscle anaerobic capacity decreased by 5.7 ± 7.1% (95% CI: 1.5 to 9.9%) with PEH, compared with the control group (Figure 4). Figure 4. Green squares represent % changes in anaerobic capacity for each included study. The green bars represent 95% CIs. The green diamond represents the weighted mean effect. Jumping Ability Mean jumping ability decreased non-significantly by 0.34 ± 3.60% (95% CI: -2.10 to 1.42%) with PEH, compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS PEH of 1.0 to 5.5% BW does not affect jumping ability, but does impair leg (-6%) and arm (5%) muscle strength, as well as muscle endurance (-13%) and anaerobic capacity (-6%) in a significant and practical manner. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -50 -30 -10 10 30 50 Change in muscle strength (%) Weighted mean effect 0 Leg and arm muscle strength declined significantly with PEH, but the extent of the decrease between muscle groups did not differ significantly (P = 0.55) (Figure 2).


A new methodology based on the shadow projection has been developed to study any multipulse rectifier's dynamic behavior under balanced and unbalanced conditions. The proposed methodology calculates the DC average voltage and instantaneous values under balanced and unbalanced supply voltage conditions for multiphase Transformer Rectifier Units (TRUs). The calculation of the developed algorithms is more practical than the classical methods and other approaches based on Fourier series or symmetrical components that are difficult to apply under unbalanced conditions. Furthermore, classical methods are not simple to determine the limits of the integrals and calculate them to obtain the average value, so a more friendly and practical methodology has been developed to analyze rectifiers operating under supply voltage sags. This new methodology has been validated by simulation for a 12-pulse TRU in series and parallel connections, and it has also been validated for a 36-pulse TRU in parallel connection using interphase inductors. The accuracy of the calculations is validated by the experimental results for 12-pulse TRUs, series, and parallel connection, and 18-pulse TRU in series connection.


Chapter 10 examines Bazin's 'myth of total cinema' in light of a major trend
 in recent world cinema to focus on monumental landscapes, in films by
 Byambsuren Davaa and Luigi Falorni (The Story of the Weeping Camel/
 Ingen nulims, 2003), Abderrahmane Sissako (Timbuktu, 2014), Mikhail
 Zvyagintsev (Leviathan/Leviafan, 2014), Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Winter Sleep/
 Kış uykusu, 2014), Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra (Birds of Passage/
 Pájaros de verano, 2018), and Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles
 (Bacurau, 2019). Taken together, these films testify to the remarkable
 convergence among filmmakers from the most disparate corners of the
 globe in resorting to expansive landscapes as a totalising cosmos and a
 sealed-off stage for the drama of existence, where realism manifests itself
 by means of real locations.


Abstract Objective Specific language impairment (SLI) is a developmental disorder when a child has difficulty in producing or understanding spoken language for no apparent reason. The study attempts to carry out an in-depth review of electrphysiological findings in individuals with SLI. Study design Review of literature was carried out to review and critical analyse the electrophysiological findings in individuals with SLI. Results The results of the review showed contradicting results in this population. Some studies have reported a statistically significant difference in morphology, latency and amplitude of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) between the children with SLI and the control group. This suggests that children with SLI may have auditory processing problems at the level of brainstem, sub-cortical and cortical areas. While few other studies showed no abnormalities in auditory processing in children with SLI, with intact waveform morphology, latency and amplitude of AEPs. Conclusion AEPs were observed to be more variable lacking uniformity because of the heterogeneous nature of SLI. However, further studies need to be conducted to evaluate the auditory processing abilities using auditory evoked potentials in children with SLI.


.............................................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1: Introduction ........................... .................................................................................................. 1 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Gregor Mendel ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.1.2 The Double Helix .......................... ................................................................................................. 4 1.1.3 The DNA fingerprint........................ ... .......................................................................................... 6 1.1.4 Narborough: An Illustrative Case Study of t he First Use of DNA Technology to Identify an Offender ........................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1.5 Implications for Law Enforcement Agencies.. .... .......................................................................... 9 1.2 Historical and Institutional Framework and Co ntext ....................................................................... 11 1.3 The UK National DNA Database................................................................................................ 12 1.4 The New Zealand Police ....................... ............................................................................................ 13 1.4.1 The History of New Zealand National DNA Dat abank ............................................. .................. 15 1.4.2 The Science Behind ESR ....................................................................................................... 17 1.5 Legislation ............................................................................................................................. 18 1.5.1 Limitations for the New Zealand Police with the Legislation ....................................................... 20 1.6 New Zealand Police Forensic Process ...................................................................................... 22 1.7 Financial Considerations .................... .. ......................................................................................... 24 1.8 Police Legitimacy in the Eyes of the Public . ..... ............................................................................. 24 1.9 Impact of New Technology on Police Organisatio nal Framework ..................................... ................... 27 1.10 The CSI Effect on the Public ................................................................................................... 28 1.11 The Research Question (and its conceptual cont ext) ....................................................................... 30 Chapter 2: Methodology........................................................................................................................ 35 2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 35 2.1 Researcher's Access to the Police ............................................................................................ 38 2.2 Grounded Theory ....................................................................................................................... 40 2.3 Difficulties with the 'Official Data' ....... .......................................................................................... 42 2.4 Legislation and the Forensics Process ....... . .............................................................................. 43 2.5 Police Case Files ........................... ................................................................................................. 44 2.6 Sampling .................................... ................................................................................................. 46 2.7 Procedure ................................... .. ............................................................................................ 48 2.7.1 Stage 1 ................................... .. ............................................................................................ 48 2.7.2 Stage 2 ................................... .. ............................................................................................ 49 2.7.3 Stage 3 ................................... .. ............................................................................................ 50 2.8 The Analysis ................................ ................................................................................................. 52 2.0.9 Limitations of this Data Set .............. ............................................................................................ 53 2.11 The Interview Participants ....................................................................................................... 56 2.12 Discussion: the Fit between the Method, the Research Question and the Theory ...................... 57 Chapter 3: Literature Review ................................................................................................................. 60 3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 60 3.1 The Ethics Surrounding the Use of DNA ....... ................................................................................. 61 3.1.1 The Application of DNA Evidence in the Cour t Room ............................................ . ..................... 62 3.1.2 The Impact of the DNA Database on Civil Lib erties ............................................ ............................. 65 3.2.3 Police Use of DNA to Identify Offenders ... .. ............................................................................. 68 Chapter 4: Police Use of DNA to Investigate Burglar y ............................................................................... 76 4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 76 4.1 Capturing of Data ...................................................................................................................... 77 4.2 Volume Crime................................. ................................................................................................. 79 4.3 Burglary in New Zealand ..................... .. ....................................................................................... 80 4.4 Illustrative Case Histories .......................................................................................................... 8 8 4.4.1 Tracking the Results ...................... .. ......................................................................................... 9 1 4.4.2 Interview Results .................................................................................................................... 92 4.5 Interview Results for Volume Crime .......... ..................................................................................... 99 4.6 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 101 Chapter 5: The Operational Use of DNA ............. ...................................................................................... 104 5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 104 5.1 What Do You Think of DNA? ................... . .. ............................................................................... 105 5.2 In What Ways do you Think DNA Technology Aids Investigations? .......................................... 109 5.3 Do you Consider DNA to be All You Need for a Successful Investigation? ......................... ............. 113 5.4 Do Police Officers Know How to Interview? ... .. ........................................................................ 116 5.5 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 118 Chapter 6: The Use of DNA to Investigate Serious Cr ime ........................................................................ 121 6.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 121 6.1 Serious Crime .......................................................................................................................... 122 6.1.1 Rape ................................................................................................................................. 124 6.1.2 Sexual Exploitation of a Person with Signif icant Impairment .................................. ....................... 127 6.1.3 Aggravated Robbery ........................ ........................................................................................... 128 6.1.4 Robbery .............................................................................................................................. 129 6.1.5 Wounding with Intent ............................................................................................................ 130 6.1.6 Other Sexual Violation .................... ........................................................................................... 130 6.1.7 Unlawful Sexual Connection ......................................................


Objective To study the best preparation process for anshenning soft capsule.Methods The uniform design and multiple stepwise regression analysis were applied to investigate the influences of the ratio between extract and diluents,suspending agent and wetting agent on the physical stability of the content by using sedimentation ratio and the fluidity evaluation of the content suspension as test indexes.With the comprehensive evaluation about the disintegration and the disintegration under the accelerated trials of the soft capsule as the marker,the ratio between gelatin and glycerol,gelatin and water,the temperature of gelatin melting were investigated to test their influences on the solubility of capsule shell.Results The final formulation of anshenning soft capsule was ascertained as follows:the ratio of the medicine powder to soybean oil was 1:1.5,beeswax as the suspending agent accounting for 4% of the suspension,lecithin as the wetting agent accounting for 2% of the suspension.The final formulation of capsule shell was fixed as follows:gelatin:glycerol:water = 1:0.5:1(W/W).Conclusion The uniform design and regression model can be used to precisely predict the test results,and optimize the preparation process of anshenning soft capsule.


Abstract Morton's neuroma is a localized mass of perineural fibrosis involving the plantar digital nerves of the feet. It is a common condition poorly imaged with conventional techniques. Recently, ultrasound imaging has been used with encouraging results for the evaluation of this 'crippling, though innocent mass' in the foot. More sophisticated methods, such as neurophysiology or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning have proven themselves to be inaccurate, inconvenient or unduly expensive. This prospective study was designed to compare the results of ultrasound with operative and histological findings, thereby indicating the diagnostic value of ultrasound. Twenty neuromata were followed up in 16 patients for at least one year. The average size of neuromata found was 7.4 mm in diameter. The technique showed 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity.


Abstract INVESTIGATIONS on the ability of growing and laying chickens to tolerate cane final molasses have been reviewed by Ewing (1951) and Scott (1953). In general, as with young chicks, earlier reports have shown that the growing chicken can make effective use of levels ranging around 5 percent of total ration, whereas concentrations in excess of 10 percent tended to induce diarrhea and were uneconomical. Similarly, it was concluded that mature chickens cannot efficiently utilize comparatively high levels of molasses. In contrast, two papers have recently presented studies which tend to refute these earlier reports. It was found that optimum results to 6 weeks of age, as determined by growth rate and cost of feed per unit of gain, may be obtained on concentrations of cane final molasses ranging from 7.5 to 23.0 percent, while other lots of chicks safely tolerated levels as high as 34.5 percent of total ration (Rosenberg, 1955)… .


Continuous-fibre-reinforced plastic products show shape distortions when they are released from the mould after forming at elevated temperatures. The residual stresses and the resulting spring-forward of a curved product can be modelled, but this requires the three-dimensional thermo-elastic properties of a laminate. These are predicted for a woven fabric reinforced plastic using micromechanics. To verify the modelling, a dilatometer test set-up is developed to measure the dimensional changes due to temperature changes of curved strip specimens made of carbon/PEI 5H satin weave fabric laminates.


type="main"> This paper examines analysts' earnings forecasts during the period of uncertainty following a change of chief executive officer (CEO). It distinguishes between forced and non-forced CEO changes, and examines whether analysts utilize their information advantage to reduce the heightened uncertainty of a forced change of CEO. Examining a sample of Australian companies followed by analysts between 1999 and 2009, we find that forecasting accuracy is lower and earnings forecasts are more optimistic for firms experiencing forced CEO turnover compared to firms not undergoing such a change. However, dispersion is not statistically different. The results suggest that forced CEO turnover events provide a challenge to the forecasting environment for analysts. During CEO changes, investors should be aware that forecasts are less accurate and have an optimistic bias.


To study the thermal field of a new implantable magnetic levitation blood pump.The Computer-aided design tool was used to design a magnetic levitation blood pump.After the blood pump′s mode was simplified,the thermal field of the blood pump was analyzed by the finite element analysis software.Results showed that at the standard state,the motor reached thermal equilibrium at 250 s after the pump running.The highest temperature of the blood pump was on the motor winding which was 38.4 ℃,followed by the core part of the motor which was 38.3 ℃.The whole blood pump′s temperature was less 2℃ above the inlet blood temperature.At the maximum state,the motor also reached thermal equilibrium at 250 s after the blood pump running.The highest temperature of the blood pump was still on the motor winding which was 39.963℃.The maximum temperature of the pump′s shell contacting with blood flow was 39.3 ℃.The blood pump′s temperature meets the requirement at the standard state.The blood pump′s temperature could not meet the requirement at the maximum state,but it can be resolved by reducing the motor heat,changing single motor to dual motor and increasing blood flow under the top shell.


The DB's rationalisation measures have also affected the staff training programme (1975 budget: 761 million DM; 1976 budget: 635 million DM), hence the need to define new guidelines. Key areas on which future efforts will be concentrated are: in-service training, restructuring, among others. From the standpoint of quality, emphasis will be placed on staff motivation, greater involvement in productivity schemes, development of a corporate safety and customer-oriented attitude.


The applications and specifications of ultra high purity hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) aqueous solution for electronic industry are briefly introduced. The processes for refining H2O2 aqueous solution with ultrafiltration method,freezing crystallization method,extraction method,reverse osmosis membrane method,adsorption method,distillation method and resin method are reviewed. It is pointed out that the current development trend for refining technology of H2O2 aqueous solution is integration of the above methods. Meanwhile,the preparation processes of ultra high purity H2O2 aqueous solution for electronic industry by integrating multiple unit operations are emphatically introduced.


"From the introduction" The conference was intended to provide a forum for the exchange of information between experts in electro-optic methods and applications-orientated engineers involved in process control, assembly operations, testing and quality assurance. Electro-optic methods can be used to rapidly, accurately and nonintrusively measure many important physical and chemical properties. Product quality and production efficiency are increasingly becoming the key sources of industrial competitiveness; electro-optic sensing methods are playing crucial roles in the control of processes ranging from automobile and aircraft assembly to chemical refining and advanced material processing.


Demonstration of the pathway to lead to the neuronal death may provide new strategy for the resistance of the persisting and recurring epilepsy seizure and for the protection of brain neuronal.Glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity and necrosis is a primary contributing mechanism but seizures also activate programmed(apoptotic) cell death pathways.Status epilepticus in the immature brain results in neuronal injury in the hippocampal formation,but the mode and mechanism of death are poorly understood.Experiments results show that the immaturity of the neuronal is one factor causing the apoptotic mode.In the PTZ group,NOS may participate in the seizure generation in the early stage,while in the latter stage it may be involved in cell apoptosis by inducing the activation of NF-κβ.


THE INVENTION CONCERNS A METHOD AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING SON STEEL BUILDING OBJECTS IN RUBBER. THIS IS A PROCESS THAT ON REMOVAL LAYER ZINC ON A WIRE brass FIT DRAWING AND tHEN ON drawn WIRE FOR BRINGING IN DIAMETER DESIRE, WHEREIN WE MADE A QUANTITY OF ZINC BETWEEN 0.1 AND 1 gram PER KILO STEEL AND WE THE DRAWING MADE WITH ZINC CONTINUOUS OPERATION. DEVICE FOR CARRYING WITH CELL PREPARED ZINC IMMEDIATELY uPSTREAM OF A drawing machine. APPLY IN PARTICULAR TO THE SON OF MANUFACTURING STEEL BUILDING TIRES.


F rom the early pioneering work of Alex Leighton and his colleagues in Stirling County 40 years ago (1) to the recent community studies in Ontario (2,3), Quebec (4) and Edmonton (5), psychiatric epidemiology has played a key role in furthering our understanding of the prevalence, distribution and course of psychiatric disorders while adding a uniquely Canadian perspective. The contribution of psychiatric epidemiology has not, however, been limited to population studies. Advances in clinical epidemiology have not only improved the quality of research design but have also had a major influence on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric problems. The development and implementation of more sophisticated assessment instruments have heightened the ability to detect psychiatric disorders accurately and have improved the validity of many studies. More recent advances in the coordination and utilization of data and information systems are beginning to have a positive effect on program evaluation and service planning, though much remains to be done in this area. A common theme in recent developments has been the gradual integration of epidemiological principles and concepts into general psychiatric practice and research. Increasingly, hypotheses derived from community studies are being tested by researchers from a variety of different orientations and perspectives while epidemiologists are now active as both participants and leaders in studies, such as randomized controlled trials of specific treatments, that are far removed from traditional epidemiological surveys. A feature of the evolution of psychiatric epidemiology in Canada has been the influence of local social and cultural characteristics in shaping much of the work that has taken place. In addition to the larger population studies, the efforts of many researchers who have conducted smaller studies, often addressing local or regional issues, have added to our overall understanding of the psychiatric status of Canadians and their communities and have paved the way for further studies of service utilization and treatment effects. Despite this rich range of activities and interests, the distances between centres often made contact and collaboration difficult. This led to the idea of creating a national organization that could bring together clinicians, teachers and researchers working in different parts of the country. As a result the Canadian Academy of Psychiatric Epidemiology (CAPE) was founded in 1984. Its initial goals were to foster collaborative activities between members from different professional backgrounds who shared common interests, to improve the quality of teaching of psychiatric epidemiology,


Background. The randomized EORTC 10981-22023 AMAROS trial investigates whether breast cancer patients with a tumor-positive sentinel node biopsy (SNB) are best treated with an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or axillary radiotherapy (ART). The aim of the current substudy was to evaluate the identification rate and the nodal involvement. Methods. The first 2,000 patients participating in the AMAROS trial were evaluated. Associations between the identification rate and technical, patient-, and tumor-related factors were evaluated. The outcome of the SNB procedure and potential further nodal involvement was assessed. Results. In 65 patients, the sentinel node could not be identified. As a result, the sentinel node identification rate was 97% (1,888 of 1,953). Variables affecting the success rate were age, pathological tumor size, histology, year of accrual, and method of detection. The SNB results of 65% of the patients (n = 1,220) were negative and the patients underwent no further axillary treatment. The SNB results were positive in 34% of the patients (n = 647), including macrometastases (n = 409, 63%), micrometastases (n = 161, 25%), and isolated tumor cells (n = 77, 12%). Further nodal involvement in patients with macrometastases, micrometastases, and isolated tumor cells undergoing an ALND was 41, 18, and 18%, respectively. Conclusions. With a 97% detection rate in this prospective international multicenter study, the SNB procedure is highly effective, especially when the combined method is used. Further nodal involvement in patients with micrometastases and isolated tumor cells in the sentinel node was similar—both were 18%. The concept of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is based on an orderly pattern of lymphatic drainage from the primary tumor to regional lymph node basins. The first lymph node to which a tumor drains, the sentinel node, is detected with the aid of blue dye and/or a radioactive tracer and subsequently removed. The pathological status of the sentinel node is used to decide whether an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) should be performed. Patients with a tumor-negative sentinel node can be spared a completion ALND and the associated side effects. In 1994, Giuliano et al. first reported the SNB procedure in breast cancer. The This study has been presented at the 31st San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 2009. The Author(s) 2010. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com First Received: 19 June 2009; Published Online: 19 March 2010 M. E. Straver, MD, PhD e-mail: email@example.com Ann Surg Oncol (2010) 17:1854–1861 DOI 10.1245/s10434-010-0945-z


The induced representations of the κ‐Poincare group for the massive case and the massless case are described. It is shown that it extends many of the features of the classical case.


A virtual environment that contains no other agent than the avatar representing the user may be useful for some applications, but it seems very 'empty'. Multi-user VEs for example 'Active Worlds' (COF inc) or 'Onlive Traveler' (OnLive! Technologies) overcome this, but it seems unlikely that every agent one might want in a VE will necessarily be played by a human avatar. Thus there is a role for virtual agents.


A n attempt has been to investigate the effect of thermal radiation on free convective  heat transfer flow of nanofluid fluid in a non-uniformly heated corrugated pipe in the presence of a constant heat source.The non-linear governing equations have been solved by using perturbation with the slope d of the boundary of the pipe as  perturbation parameter. The effect of thermal radiation and waviness of the boundary on all flow characteristics are discussed graphically. The stress and Nusselt number on the boyndary have been evaluated numerically for different variation. It is found that higher the amplitude of the non-uniform boundary temperature reduces the axial velocity and enhances the secondary velocity and temperature. Higher the dilation of the boundary larger the velocity and temperature in the flow region.


Recent empirical literature finds that institutions as a group outperform the rest of the market, before costs. This paper argues that institutional strategy in small stocks during 1980s and 1990s was largely driven by factors other than expectations of stock returns. We propose a decomposition of institutional excess return into three components: stock picking within a particular class of stocks, capital allocation across stock classes, and class timing. The capital allocation component is dominated by small stocks - institutions consistently avoided small stocks, and small stocks consistently underperformed the rest of the market, which contributes around 30 basis points to the total institutional excess return of 100 basis points per year. However, the underperformance of small stocks is dominated by stocks with low return on equity (ROE) and new stocks for which accounting data is not available yet. We show that institutions consistently avoided all groups of small stocks without much regard for ROE: For the sample period 1982 - 1997, only 3 basis points of institutional excess return come from underweighting of low-ROE and new stocks, while the remaining 25 basis points come from allocating capital away from small stocks without any regard for ROE. Had institutions avoided small low-ROE and new stocks while still allocating the same share of their capital into the two smallest size quintiles, they would have increased their excess return over the rest of the market by 17 basis points per year, which is a significant part of 100 basis points of historical excess return. This provides suggestive evidence that institutions avoided small stocks for reasons that were not related to their expectations of small stock returns.


Objective: The automatic telephone dialer is developed for automatically give reminders and psychological counseling when drug-dependent patients take mobile phone with GPS positioning function approaching or entering the high-risk environment. The equipment can reduce the labor intensity of health care workers, and reduce the relapse rate of patients.Methods: Based on VC++ programming, computer automatically access to the Access database to get the telephone number of drug-dependent patients and sent the telephone number via the serial port to the telephony circuit which processes the voice signal when call is connected。The voice signal is stored on the computer.Results:The test results show this system can manage large quantities of telephone numbers dial-up and storage the voice messages on the computer. Conclusion: The system can be used for drug-dependent patients in the behavioral interventions and psychological counseling, which will improves the efficiency of the operating staff.


Geochemical sediment of
the tropical Pinang River, Malaysia was carried out with the aim at documenting
elemental concentrations and pollution level assessment. Concentration of
selected heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn), rare earth elements, TOC and
grain size distribution of sediments were determined at 100 m sampling interval
along the river. Sediment size showed a positive correlation with ∑REE and Mn
and medium correlations with TOC, Zn, Cu, Cr and Pb contents showing enrichment
in the clay size fraction. Results of enrichment factor and geoaccumulation
index showed that most of the elemental sources were natural (especially REE)
and mostly likely represented background values. However, pollution load index
revealed the higher levels of Cr, Cd, Zn and Pb, and, therefore, indicating to
the anthropogenic sources (i.e. fishing
activities) especially in the downstream locations. Thus, the Pinang River is
classified as moderately to highly polluted.


From the perspective of perceived differences in technology and value between mobile commerce and Internet-based electronic commerce, the study establishes the model of consumers' usage transfer behaviour from online to mobile channel. Based on a sample of 323 respondents, we conduct logistic regression analysis. The results indicate that perceived differences in technology, namely, perceived differences in end user devices and communication network, have significantly positive impacts on transferring usage from online to mobile channel. The results also show that perceived differences in value, that is, perceived differences in convenience perceptions, personalisation perceptions, and risk perceptions, influence consumers' usage transfer from online to mobile channel significantly. Among all the factors, the effect of perceived difference in risk perceptions is negative. Managerial implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed to promote consumers' usage transfer from online to mobile channel and enhance consumers' use of mobile services.


The merits of composition structure are used efficiently for building of high-rise. long span and massive. Currently, the research of CFT (Concrete Filled steel square Tube) used steel square tube have located high level. But. the research about steel square tube beams and SC beams that used steel square tube which have variety merits about. structural torsion, local burkling and lateral burkling are lock. In accordance, the purpose of this study are furnishing basic data about steel square tube beams and SC beams for efficiently researching about SC beams. throughout comparison flexural strength of RC beam which has same sectional dimension.


Troponin I, a key myofilament protein, plays a critical role in regulating force generation in striated muscle by acting as a Ca2+-dependent molecular switch. Domains contributing to the functional...


The thermal conductivity measurement of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) which plays an important role in thermal management of MOF-based gas separation, storage, and thermal energy conversion (e.g. adsorption heat pumps), has been a challenging task for decades. However, direct thermal conductivity measurement of single-crystal MOF is currently limited by their small crystal sizes, since no sophisticated approach has ever been reported. In this study, the Raman-resistance temperature detectors (Raman-RTDs) method was developed for in situ measuring the thermal conductivity of single-crystal ZIF-8, whose system error resulting from the thermal contact resistance between sample and RTDs can be eliminated. According to the dependence of thermal resistance of MOFs on the laser spot location, the thermal conductivities of single-crystal and polycrystalline ZIF-8 were derived to be 0.21 ± 0.03 W/(m·K)) and 0.64 ± 0.09 W/(m·K)), respectively. The proposed in situ thermal conductivity measurement method in this work may be further extended to other types of microscale particles.


BA Legal Studies and Philosophy Honors (dual), 2013 Scripps College, Claremont, CA Dean's List, Fall 2009-Spring 2013 Phi Beta Kappa – Theta of California, 2012 (Junior year inductee) IES Abroad: Rome, Italy – Fall 2011 Thesis: "Rawlsian Foundations for Justification and Toleration of Civil Disobedience." Funded by the Harrison Fellowship Program, Salvatori Center, Claremont McKenna College I defend Rawls's theory of civil disobedience as unique in its capacity for justification and government toleration. I argue that the case for civil disobedience is further strengthened when read in the light of Rawls's later theory of the overlapping consensus. Appealing to a shared conception of justice, Rawlsian civil disobedients ground their actions in those principles to which the state is committed and so ought to receive some degree of toleration by the state. Readers: Rivka Weinberg, Paul Hurley


Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is one of the most important species in agro-forestry and horticulture. Turkey is an important C. sativa gene centre and fruit production region. The present study aimed to measure the variations in fruit width, length, thickness and weight in four different natural C. sativa populations in Turkey and determine the loss of fruit traits due to damage by chestnut weevil (Curculio elephas (Gyllenhal, 1836)) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Fruits were collected from four populations (Istanbul-Bahçeköy, Çanakkale-Bayramiç, Balıkesir- Erdek and Bursa-Uludağ) of phenotypically healthy sweet chestnut trees, measurements were taken, and the fruits were classified into those damaged by C. elephas and those not. Analysis revealed significant differences among and within the populations in all fruit traits, and between the sound and damaged fruits, with the average fruit width, length, thickness and weight being 24.8 mm, 23.1 mm, 15.3 mm and 3.4 g, respectively. Bursa-Uludağ population had the highest healthy fruit ratio (70%), with some individuals in the population yielding healthy fruits at ratios > 90%. In the Balıkesir-Erdek population, however, where the percentage of damaged fruits was the highest (54%), it was determined that some trees suffered more than 90% damage in contrast to the Bursa-Uludağ population. In the fruits infested by C. elephas, the approximate percentages of loss in fruit width, length, thickness and weight were 6, 4, 7 and 30%, respectively. The fruit weight loss percentages varied between 25% and 32% among the populations.


Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury is caused by the loss and subsequent return of blood flow. It is a limiting factor in the success of liver transplantation. Reperfusion initiates inflammation and recruitment of neutrophils, which are main effectors of liver damage in IR. The Phosphodiesterase‐4 (PDE4) inhibitor rolipram is anti‐inflammatory, since PDEs degrade cAMP, and higher cAMP levels are known to dampen inflammatory signaling. Isoform PDE4B2 is strongly expressed in the brain, in neutrophils and activated monocytes, and in Kupffer cells in the liver. Here we show for the first time that PDE4B2 antibody also stains blood vessel cells in the liver.


Transparency and accountability are key elements of media policy in Cana- da. A long tradition of public consultation is embedded in the various pro- cesses that have shaped Canadian media, especially broadcasting. Public consultation is complemented, however, by other aspects of the policy pro- cess: federal-provincial negotiations, Supreme Court rulings, and direct lobbying of policy-makers by industry and civil society organizations. This article reviews some of the highlights of the process, with special emphasis on a landmark study of Canadian broadcasting by the parliamentary Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which reported in 2003. This study and the government's subsequent response underlines the importance of transparency and accountability for actors who are otherwise once re- moved from the centres of decision-making: artists, creators, journalists and ordinary citizens.


We present the concepts and tools for a numerical computation of a cortical proto-column. The aim is to make efficient simulations of the neuronal network available in order to study the signal processing in such a column due to realistic inputs and to compare the solutions with experimental results. To this end, we generate synthetically complex neurons with a threedimensioinal structure which show realistic morphological properties as found for the different cell types in a cortical column. These cells are generated by a software program called NeuGen (see www.neugen.org). This software tool implements a concept to generate several classes of realistic cells. A concept for the synaptic connectivity within a cortical column has been developed and extracted from experimental findings. According to this concept the generated cells are connected to construct a three-dimensional synaptically connected network that resembles a cortical proto-column. The so generated column consists of up to 1000 complex neurons. For the electrophysiology of the cells, we implement a simple model as given by Mainen and Sejnowski (see ModelDB). Due to the computational effort of the numerical simulation of these networks, we implement a new concept for solving the resulting equations given by a multi-compartmental model. The concept incorporates a new discretization approach which is similar to the standard Hines' approach (see NEURON), but is more accurate, and leverages the concepts of parallelization. Therefore, we are able to simulate large networks as represented by a proto-column. We present numerical simulations for the cortical column with a stimulus given by the thalamus. We also show how to visualize the network in a three-dimensional dynamical setting.


In this thesis I seek to demonstrate that the legal and
 customary norms defining the permissible use of lethal force by
 police are more restrictive than those defining the permissible
 use of lethal force by military personnel. I argue that in many
 cases this asymmetry can rest on a foundation provided by the
 moral norms of individual self- defense, but that the strength of
 this foundation is contingent on the context in which lethal
 force is used. Provided that three contextual asymmetries between
 police and military operations hold, we can morally justify the
 asymmetric legal and customary permissions granted to these two
 institutions on the basis of threat, liability, necessity, and
 proportionality. However, there are limits to the moral grounds
 these norms can provide. In cases where the three contextual
 asymmetries begin to break down, the moral foundation offered by
 the moral norms of individual self-defense weakens. In cases of
 contextual equivalence, we are forced to adopt one of two
 conclusions. Either we accept that our legal and customary norms
 are without moral foundation in such cases, or we must find
 alternative moral reasons to morally justify the asymmetry. In
 the final section I briefly draw out the strengths and weaknesses
 of both positions and offer some discussion of what other moral
 reasons we might use to shore-up the moral foundation for the
 asymmetry in the legal and customary norms regulating the
 permissible use by military and police institutions.


PURPOSE: A device and a method for performing analog beamforming are provided to reduce a memory, the operation quantity of a system, and the number of hardware devices for transmitting ultrasonic signals. CONSTITUTION: A device for performing analog beamforming comprises a delay control part(707) outputting first control information showing delay times of first unit time and second control information showing delay times of second unit time about an ultrasonic signal at a position within a predetermined scan area; a first analog device which delays or passes a received ultrasonic signal based on the first delay control information for the first unit time; a second analog device which delays or passes an ultrasonic signal which is delayed or is passed based on the second delay control information for the second unit time; and a combiner(704) adding up ultrasonic signals postponed by the second analog device. [Reference numerals] (701) One dimension transducer arrangement; (702) Switching part; (703) Receiving signal delaying part; (704) Analog combiner part; (705) Switching control part; (706) Control part; (707) Delay control part; (708) Clock generation part; (709) AD converter; (710) Digital beam forming part; (711) Residue signal removal part; (AA) Input scan start command; (BB) Image information


10.0 ADJOURNMENT The Crest Forest Municipal Advisory Council meeting facility is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assisted listening devices or other auxiliary aides or services are needed in order to participate in the public meeting, requests should be made through the Municipal Advisory Council Secretary at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting. Secretary's telephone number is (909) 387-4833 and the office is located at 385 North Arrowhead Ave, 5 floor San Bernardino CA 92415-0110


Nowadays, in the scientific community, there is no unambiguous definition for the concept of "New Physics". So Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, chief researcher at the Institute for Nuclear Research Valery Rubakov, who received Hamburg Prize in Theoretical Physics 2020 believes that despite all efforts, no experimental indications of a "new Physics" have yet been received. In his article "Higgs Boson", he writes: "This is actually already starting to cause concern: is it right we all understand, it"s quite possible, however, that we still haven"t reached the "new physics" in terms of energy and in the amount of data collected. I hope that new, revolutionary discoveries will be associated with of the Large Hadron Collider which, through year begins to work on full energy 13-14 [TeV]." To the question: "What could be a new Physics?", V.Rubakov replies: "Theorists have no unity on this subject. One option is the composite nature of scalar fields that provide spontaneous symmetry breaking, which has already been mentioned. Another common possibility is supersymmetry, which we will only talk about that predicts a whole zoo of new particles with masses in the region of hundreds of GeV several TeV. Very exotic options are also being discussed, such as additional dimensions of space (say, the so-called M-theory)."[1]. Academician Rubakov wrote these words in June 2012, but even today, in 2020, new revolutionary discoveries have not been obtained at the LHC, although the energy was reached in the collision of 13 TeV proton beams, which means that theoretical physics, unlike experimental physics, is in a state of crisis and is not even able to comprehend the achievements of experimental Physics. Our article will be entirely devoted to the interpretation of the achievements of experimental Physics and Astrophysics obtained at the beginning of the 21 st Century. "New Physics", based on the recognition of quantum vacuum (dark matter and dark energy) as a galactic and intergalactic medium, which, according to the observations of the Planck Space Observatory published in March 2013, makes up 95% of the total mass energy of the observed Universe (the remaining 5% is accounted for by ordinary baryonic matter), these achievements are truly revolutionary [2]. It is correct to write the term "new Physics" in quotation marks, since this Physics originated earlier than the Modern Relativistic Physics of Albert Einstein and the Quantum Physics of Niels Bohr, which currently dominates Theoretical Physics. The philosophical Foundation for new Physics was laid by the great philosopher and thinker of the 18 th


Advancements in linear compressor technology and reliability now allow potential applications to include compression of clean and specialty gases as well as refrigeration. Configurations that use a gas bearing system and require no oil in their operation are especially appropriate for specialty gases. Such configurations overcome the life limitation and maintenance issues of the contacting piston seal designs of existing compressors. Linear compressors that combine gas bearings and oil-less operation with the ability to modulate capacity or flow rate have special potential for applications in the medical and chemical industries. Recent work is demonstrating prototypes with reliable non-lubricated (oil-less) operation and the likelihood oflong life. This report presents examples of several different linear compressor designs and their widely divergent applications. These linear compressors include machines with a compression ratio up to 26:1 in a single stage, and up to several kW in input power. With this range of compression ratios and power, it appears likely that linear compressors can meet a wide range of industrial and commercial needs.


Objective To study the constituents of Salsola collina.Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated by analyses of spectral data and physicochemical properties.Results Three compounds were isolated and identified as tricin-7-O-β-D-apiosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside(Ⅰ),tianshic acid(Ⅱ),and n-hentriacontanol (Ⅲ).Conclusion CompoundⅠis a new compound named collinoside,compoundⅡis isolated from S.collina for the first time.


The stages of geodetic and cartographic monitoring of geographic space for construct infrastructure of the spatial dates and its kinematics are considered.


The thermal decomposition (333 K) of initiator 2,2'-azobis[2--methyl-ω-hydroxyoligo(oxyethylene)propionate] [AIB-OOE(400)] in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), in acrylonitrile (AN) and in the mixture DMF/AN with the composition x A N = 0.52 and 0.87 (x A N - the mole fraction of acrylonitrile) was studied by volumetric method. A priority of the experimental determination of the order of decomposition reaction in relation to the initiator was established. It has been found, that the differential kinetic equations (7) and (9) can be used for this purpose. After the determination of the order equal to 1 for all solutions, the kinetic constant k d (l) was determined from the integral equation (15). The differential equations (8) and (10) cannot be used for this purpose (k d I ≠ k d II). The method used allows to avoid diversities of meaning, occurring in the literature, in determination of the reaction order and thermal decomposition rate constant for the azo-initiators.


D o you often think that proof by induction is a proof technique introduced to torture novice mathematicians? Perhaps you believe that the problems seem artificial and lack any application to real life? I'd like to present some examples to counter these common impressions. Here is a brief description of mathematical induction: You have an infinite sequence of statements (one for each positive integer n). You know that the first statement is true. You know that for any positive integer k, if the kh statement is true then the k+ I st statement is true. What can you conclude? Since the first statement is true, the second is true. Since the second statement is true, the third is true. Since the third is true, the fourth is true, and so on. Hence all the statements are true! (For another description of induction, see the accompanying song by Larry Lesser.) Now we are ready to tackle our first problem: You enjoy doing origami (i.e., folding things like cranes or boxes out of paper) and you are a purist. So you don't use scissors, rulers, etc.-it's just you, the square sheet of paper, and your ability to reason and think creatively. You have decided that in order to fold your latest and greatest new origami model you simply must be able to divide the side of a square sheet of paper into n equal pieces for any given positive integer value of n. How can this be accomplished without resorting to "unacceptable" methods? This question was actually inspired by a technique for dividing the side of a piece of paper into thirds and fifths given in a wonderful book, Origami for the Connoisseur, written by Kunihiko Kasahara and Toshie Takahama. Here is the technique for dividing a side into thirds: Let A, B, and S be three of the comers of the square piece of paper as shown in Figure I. For simplicity's sake, let's assume that the dimensions of the square are lxl. Locate the midpoint, P, of the side AB of the square by folding comer A to comer B and creasing the paper. Fold comer S to point P as shown in Figures I and 2. Let R be the point shown in Figure 2. The distance from point B to the point R can be shown to be 2/3. Then locate the midpoint T of BR by folding point B to point R as in Figure 3. Then BT= 113.


The dynamic correlation of stock markets in various countries has attracted the attention of scholars and financial investors. In this paper, the dynamic conditional correlation model and the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model are combined to analyze the dynamic conditional correlation coefficient matrix of the stock data of China, the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan, aiming at the five indexes of the Shanghai Securities Composite Index, the Dow Jones Index, the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index, the Frankfurt DAX Index and the Nikkei Index. The results show that there is a certain correlation between the stock markets of various countries, especially the correlation coefficient of the yield of the FTSE index and the GDAXI index reaches 0.96, which a strong correlation. The conclusions of this study can provide constructive suggestions for global economic recovery.


Similar code, also known as cloned code, commonly exists in large software. Studies show that code duplication can incur higher software maintenance cost and more software defects. Thus, detecting similar code and tracking its migration have many important applications, including program understanding, refactoring, optimization, and bug detection. This dissertation presents novel, general techniques for detecting and analyzing both syntactic and semantic code clones. The techniques can scalably and accurately detect clones based on various similarity definitions, including trees, graphs, and functional behavior. They also have the general capability to help reduce software defects and advance code reuse. Specifically, this dissertation makes the following main contributions: First, it presents Deckard, a tree-based clone detection technique and tool. The key insight is that we accurately represent syntax trees and dependency graphs of a program as characteristic vectors in the Euclidean space and apply hashing algorithms to cluster similar vectors efficiently. Experiments show that Deckard scales to millions of lines of code with few false positives. In addition, Deckard is language-agnostic and easily parallelizable, with the potential to scale to billions of lines of code in different languages. Second, it describes a novel application of Deckard to bug detection. In particular, it introduces a general notion of context-based inconsistencies as indicators of clone-related bugs and formalizes three concrete types of such inconsistencies. The formalization is then applied to the clones identified by Deckard, and many previously unknown bugs in large projects are discovered. These bugs exhibit diverse characteristics and cannot be detected by any single previous bug detection technique. Third, the disseration presents EqMiner, a practical technique to detect functionally


This text covers the Better Municipal Education Program ( Programa Melhoria da Educacao no Municipio ), which has been carried out in Brazil since 1999 and is the result of a partnership established between Fundacao Itau Social, the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), the National Union of Municipal Education Directors ( Uniao Nacional dos Dirigentes Municipais de Educacao – Undime), and the technical coordination at the Center for Studies and Research in Education, Culture and Community Action ( Centro de Estudos e Pesquisa em Educacao Cultura e Acao Comunitaria – Cenpec).  The Program was created with the goal of supporting Brazilian municipalities in training education managers to be able to plan, implement and assess educational projects that guarantee that all children and young people have access to and remain in a quality learning system. Defense of public and quality education for all as a social right has gained ground and legitimacy in debates between the government and civil society. Municipalities have taken on a new and fundamental role: strengthening their educational spaces, integrating different actors in the task of educating, expanding learning spaces beyond the school. In its five years, Programa Melhoria has been used in 1,037 municipalities across Brazil and has come up against the most varied experiences, including: the challenge of learning in reading and writing and curricula that consider local realities. The text highlights positive points, in relation to learning among the managers of the 140 municipalities that took part in an evaluative study, as well as the 105 that took part in the Program in the state of Sao Paulo: the opening up of space to community participation; definition of clear targets; a perspective geared towards the city's potential; creation of a locally and globally oriented curriculum; the use of actions to complement the school; investment in teacher training; diagnosis, monitoring and assessment of actions; sustainability of actions and training of management teams. The conclusion is reached that the actions developed by the Program point to new perspectives and to new possibilities for education, not just beyond the school space, but in having this space interact with other educational spaces in the city.


The city is a place of intersecting cultures, identities and ideas that also serves as fertile ground for learning within the context of study abroad. Using the notion of the flâneur, this article problematizes students' engagement with the spaces and places of the city with special attention to the mediating role now played by technology.  We interweave a theoretical discussion with empirical examples from two urban study abroad locales and with suggestions for practice. We argue that despite the complex array of resources the student employs to take on the foreign city, it is only the savvy wanderer who picks up on the subtle differences that we elusively refer to as a city's "character" or personality and who understands their own shifting role of spectator, wanderer, and performer—thus entering into a relationship with place.


We present a reference model for the representation and visualization of folksonomies as graphs. We discuss the formal representation of folksonomies and derive a hypergraph structure that is core to any visualization approach. We split this hypergraph into subgraphs that can guide the development of folksonomy visualizations. We use these subgraphs to classify existing graph visualizations of folksonomies from the literature and web. We found that most works display the interrelated set of tags, while the relations between resources and/or users are largely neglected by current visualization approaches. Based on these and further findings, we discuss research challenges and potentials for future graph visualizations of folksonomies.


In petroleum exploitation, the frictional resistance has a great influence on the cost and speed of horizontal drilling. Support Vector Machine(SVM) is an efficient supervised machine learning method, and Support Vector Regression(SVR) is the application of SVM in function regression. This paper designed friction predictive model by analyzing data of horizontal drilling. The support vector regression is used to analyze the data of the horizontal drilling and find out the main parameters and the degree affecting the frictional resistance. Compared with the predictive results of existing nonlinear multivariate models, the frictional resistance prediction based on SVR has a significant advantage in accuracy. This research has guiding significance in actual production when we evaluate and reduce the costs of construction and accelerate construction progress.


Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the major cereal crop in India on which the food security rests. Determination of the best selection criteria is the most important aim in wheat breeding programs. To achieve high yield potential in wheat, hybrid breeding is a major innovative technique. A total of 17 newly developed CMS lines and seven restorer lines, were used as a experimental material with the objective to identify diverse cross combinations and classify morphological and morpho-physiological traits. Genotypes were evaluated for twenty one traits viz., growth habit, foliage colour, time of ear emergence, ear waxiness, flag leaf length, ear shape, ear density, presence of awns, awns length, awn colour, ear colour, grain colour, grain shape, days to heading, days to maturity, plant height (cm), peduncle length (cm), number of tillers/plant, relative water content (%), canopy temperature (%) and chlorophyll content (%). Sufficient variability was exhibited by most of the phenological traits. The genotypes were also evaluated for variability parameters for eight metric traits. Significant genotypic differences were observed for all the traits studied indicating considerable amount of variation among genotypes for each character. The estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were moderate for peduncle length. High estimates of heritability were exhibited by most of the traits except chlorophyll content, canopy temperature and number of tillers/plant. Based on Euclidean cluster tree analysis, genotypes were grouped in five clusters in such a way that genotypes within each cluster had higher similarity than between clusters i.e. the genotypes within the cluster had much smaller distance than the genotypes belonging to different clusters. Maximum divergence was present between clusters IV and V, followed by II and IV, clusters III and IV and cluster III and V. Cluster I was highly desirable as it consisted of genotypes which were good in respect to one or more traits and at least comparable in respect to other traits.


The determination of Co-EDTA species is critical to the understanding of radionuclide migration in the environment, as well as determining efficiencies of various complexed-Co treatment technologies. A new, simple column-oxidation separation methodology was devised to determine the fraction of uncomplexed Co(II), Co(II)-EDTA, and Co(III)-EDTA in an aqueous mixture. A Dowex 50W (H + ) ion-exchange resin, and the oxidative conversion of residual Co(II)-EDTA to Co(III)-EDTA using H 2 O 2 , allowed the separation of species fractions. Only atomic absorption spectrophotometric measurements were required after separation of the fractions. Analysis of individual Co species separated from mixtures ranging in concentration from 3 x 10 -5 to 3 x 10 -3 M total Co resulted in average recoveries of 97 ± 4%.


Abstract— –Estimation of lowest excited triplet and singlet state dissociation constants of some nitro‐aromatic acids and bases, from shifts in their phosphorescence and absorption spectra, respectively, indicate that intramolecular charge transfer to the nitro group is much more important in the lowest excited singlet state than in the ground or lowest excited triplet states. As a result, the effect of a nitro group on the acidity of the lowest excited singlet state of an acid or base is more exaggerated than that on the ground or lowest excited triplet state of the same compound. Furthermore, the basicity of the nitro group is greatly enhanced in the lowest excited singlet state. On this basis the increased rate of photoreduction of nitrobenzene in acidic solutions is found to be thermodynamically unfeasible in the lowest excited triplet state. Although the reaction is thermodynamically feasible in the lowest excited singlet state, the short lifetime of that state may make the reaction kinetically unfeasible. Rate‐Hammett acidity profiles are therefore inadequate to alone establish the mechanism of photoreduction of nitrobenzene.


We present simulations for coupling between a single mode waveguide and modes of a multimode waveguide. The phase matching curve has turning points where a sudden transition occurs between a double resonance and no resonance.


Coherent, broadband fiber lasers produce pulse trains with <1 femtosecond relative timing uncertainty and <1 mHz relative frequency uncertainty. These sources can advance many applications including optical frequency metrology, ranging LIDAR, and broadband molecular spectroscopy.


To ask the question, "Does evidence law matter?," is often to assume that some sets or groups of people believe it is important while others are challenging that view. However, another assumption regarding the nature of this question is possible—that the question is asked because legal academics believe that evidence law both does and does not matter, and that those academics also believe that these are irreconcilable beliefs. What is of particular interest is how legal academics reached this point and why they believe that evidence law both does and does not matter. Consideration of these aspects of evidence law scholarship and study reveals that evidence law can be understood as something both rational, irrational, and non-rational. It can be perceived as permitting practitioners and scholars to both accommodate paradox and accept the conflict of an abstract rule of law imposed by "concrete" persons. This stands at odds with progressive reform efforts which attempt to define, codify, and ultimately reconcile the inherently dichotomous nature of evidence law. In order to achieve real progress in the area of evidentiary reform, the idea of progress will have to be abandoned.


We appreciate the comments raised by Giugliano, Ceriello, and Esposito (1) on our study (2). When we wrote that participants in the highest score of the Mediterranean food pattern had lower levels of risk factors, we meant in terms of comparisons between extreme values (score = 0 vs. score = 9), not grouped categories (as shown in Table 1 of our study). Average levels of factors (all of them considerably below the cut-off point for the metabolic syndrome) across grouped …


The construction of hundreds of kilometres of roads around the world every year results in the consumption of large amounts of raw materials and the depletion of natural resources. In addition, technologically advanced countries such as Australia are currently facing a major issue regarding the waste materials produced daily by their citizens. The disposal of these waste materials is a critical issue faced by municipalities in modern cities. Currently, using waste materials in civil and construction engineering is of great interest to researchers and industry. This study investigates the impact of using waste polyethylene terephthalate to modify asphalt mixtures following Australian design guidelines and criteria. Different types of asphalt are used to investigate and determine the mechanical properties of modified asphalt mixtures. The Marshall stability, Marshall flow, Marshall quotient, and wheel-tracking tests were tested. The Marshall stability, Marshall flow, and MQ of the Marshall test results exhibited significant improvements when using PET in modified SMA and AC mixtures. It can be seen that the 8% PET produced a mixture with the highest stability of 19.78 kN. The lowest rut depth was about 2.08 mm for samples modified with 8% PET.


Understanding phylogeographic patterns of widespread species can provide insights into their speciation processes and guide the conservation and management measures. In the present study, Cyt b sequences were used to investigate the phylogeographic structure of the Opsariichthys acutipinnis-evolans complex in southeastern China. The gene tree revealed six major lineages (lineage A-F) which were distributed allopatrically, with lineage B distributed in the western part (middle Yangtze and Pearl River) and the other lineages in the eastern part (lower Yangtze and coastal waters of southeastern China). Dating of the lineage diversification revealed the early eastward-westward divergence separating lineage A, B, and C during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene (3.00, 2.61, and 2.12 Ma, respectively), possibly due to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and subsequent orogenies in southeastern China. The following northward-southward diversification resulted in the separation of lineage D, E, and F in the early-middle Pleistocene (1.33 and 0.95 Ma), likely associated with the enhanced succession of glacial cycles during the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition. Although the genetic divergence of 0.017–0.070 among lineages indicated possible different species, morphological characters failed to separate them. Therefore, they were treated as a species complex. Given the distinct genetic divergence of the various lineages, they were suggested as different evolutionary significant units.


Tomography tries to reconstruct an object from a number of projections in multiple directions. Many application domains can be imagined, but we will focus on high throughput applications, and will therefore try to reduce the number of necessary projections, while being able to generate good quality reconstructions. We apply several forms of Neural Networks, an Artificial Intelligence method. These networks are especially suited for solving underdetermined problems, and therefore well suited to our problem. Many different variants of Neural Networks are developed since its introduction; some simple, while others can consist of many nodes in many hidden layers increasing its training complexity. We will here focus on the simpler forms of Neural Networks: a feedforward (multilayer) perceptron. We present some experimental results, which demonstrate the capabilities of reconstructing high quality images using relatively simple Neural Networks.


The utility model discloses a novel valve having two water outlets, which is composed of a handle 1, a valve rod 2, a body 3 and a valve core 5, wherein the body 3 is provided with a water inlet 11 and two water outlets 4, the two water outlets 4 are horizontal with each other, the water inlet 11 is vertical to the two water outlets, the valve core 5 is provided with two water entrances 6 vertical to each other, the water inlet 11 and the water outlets 4 of the body 3 are provided with screws and connected with a water inlet pipe 7 and a water outlet pipe 8. The valve has the advantages that 1 the valve can save material that one valve can supply water to two water pools, 2 the valve has simple operation that the valve can be closed or can supply water to another water pool by rotating the handle.


Conjugated polymers and their derivatives are of great importance for their applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Here, Bulk Heterojunction (BHJ) photovoltaic device having the structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PCBM/graphene/Al has been fabricated and examined under both dark and illumination conditions. Absorption study confirms the formation of P3HT:PCBM BHJ. Raman spectra show the similar modes for P3HT:PCBM BHJ as pristine P3HT. I-V behavior of the device is found to be very similar to the Schottky behavior under both dark and illumination conditions. Higher change in reverse current as compare to forward current under illumination condition suggests the device exhibit photovoltaic behavior. Double logarithmic J-V characteristics curve shows an overall power law trend, resulting in Ohmic conduction at lower voltage and trap charge limited conduction (TCLC) with the increase in the voltage.


Testing is the activity meant to demonstrate that systems are fit for purpose and to detect their defects. On interactive systems, checking the fitness for purpose requires proper knowledge of the users' activities and profiles as well as of the context of use. Moreover, defects may be present in software, input/output device hardware or in the way interaction techniques are handled. Comprehensively testing interactive systems thus requires a large set of skills provided by usability experts, software engineers, human-factor specialists, etc. So far, these stakeholders conduct testing activities using processes from their respective areas of expertise that do not take advantage of others stakeholders' expertise effectively. This paper discusses the contribution of each stakeholders in current testing activities and highlights that a common view of the interactive system under test can serve as a mediating tool for each stakeholder to share information and identify/execute more relevant test suites.


HES is a database of all in-patient hospital activity in NHS hospitals across England. It includes daycare, inpatient, maternity and mental health episodes. It does not currently include outpatients, A&E and private hospital episodes.