A large number of collaborative filtering algorithms have been proposed in the literature as the foundation of automated recommender systems. However, the underlying justification for these algorithms is lacking, and their relative performances are typically domain and data dependent. In this paper, we aim to develop initial understanding of the recommendation model/algorithm validation and selection issues based on the graph topological modeling methodology. By representing the input data in the form of consumer--product interactions as a bipartite graph, the consumer--product graph, we develop bipartite graph topological measures to capture patterns that exist in the input data relevant to the transaction-based recommendation task. We observe the deviations of these topological measures of real-world consumer--product graphs from the expected values for simulated random bipartite graphs. These deviations help explain why certain collaborative filtering algorithms work for particular recommendation data sets. They can also serve as the basis for a comprehensive model selection framework that "recommends" appropriate collaborative filtering algorithms given characteristics of the data set under study. We validate our approach using three real-world recommendation data sets and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed bipartite graph topological measures in selection and validation of commonly used heuristic-based recommendation algorithms, the user-based, item-based, and graph-based algorithms.


Fully biodegradable composites made from two polymer blend matrices (SEVA-C: starch and a copolymer of ethylene vinyl alcohol; and SCA: starch and cellulose acetate) and short Alfa fibers were developed and processed by conventional injection molding into standard tensile specimens. For each kind of matrix, the influence of the reinforcement load was evaluated, using fiber amounts from 0 to 30% (wt/wt). An optimization study was carried out for the composite SEVA-C with 10% Alfa fiber. The obtained results establish that the produced biodegradable composites present a significant improvement in stiffness for both matrices. Improvements in the tensile strength were observed only for the Alfa fiber reinforced SEVA-C. However, for both matrices, the reinforcement causes a significant loss in the material ductility. Results from design of experiments (Hadamard plans) were used to explain the influence of the injection molding conditions on the mechanical behavior of the obtained composites, mainly on the stiffness values. POLYM. COMPOS., 27:341–348, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers


A call signal generating device, whose pair of output terminals is connected to a telephone set, includes a rectifier rectifying an inputted high frequency signal and maintaining an output polarity in one of two polarities; and a polarity reverser generating a call signal by periodically reversing the output polarity of the rectifier and supplying it to the telephone set via the pair of output terminals.


Peace and prosperity of the South Asia region is mostly dependant on the relationship of India and Pakistan. The Nuclear tests openly started nuclear politics in the South-Asian region, which force us to look at Indo-Pak relationship from a different perspective. Terrorism is another main factor, which has affected adversely the relations of both nations. India and Pakistan have common socio-cultural heritage. Film sector, Art, Sport, education, Sindhi Sufi tradition, drama visitors exchange programs are all socio-cultural paths for both side common man to come together. But all these paths are now disturbed. The cultural heritage of the subcontinent was held to ransom by the hostile relation between India and Pakistan. In that perspective the Socio-Cultural relations has tried to critically analyze in the paper.


AbstractThis review describes the different duties of icebreakers and their technical development during the last few decades. The development of icebreakers has been remarkable in recent years with regard to hull form, propulsion machinery and general design. Depending on the operational requirements of the vessels, totally different technical solutions are applied.


Abstract The most important chemical reactions during the process of soybean protein foods are the intermolecular reactions among the residues exposed on the surface of the protein molecules through the denaturation process. In native soybean protein molecules, most amino acid residues responsible for the reactions—such as cysteine (‐SH), cystine (S‐S), and hydrophobic amino acid residues—are buried in the inside region of the molecule, inaccessible to water. These residues become reactable with each other through the exposure from the inside by heat denaturation during processing. The unique textures of soybean protein foods, such as tofu, kori‐tofu, yuba, and texturized products produced by extruder, etc., are the results of both the intermolecular interchange reaction between the exposed ‐SH and S‐S groups and the intermolecular hydrophobic reaction among the exposed hydrophobic amino acid residues. The exposure of amino acid residues is also important for the hydrolysis of soybean proteins by enzymes,...


Brief bio: Lauren Serpe is a Research Officer with the Applied Research Center at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in Washington, DC. Lauren manages both quantitative and qualitative research projects at IFES, including national pre-election and post-election public opinion surveys, special population surveys, focus groups, and evaluations of IFES programming. Since joining IFES in 2007, Lauren has conducted fieldwork in Kosovo, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Lebanon, Paraguay, Morocco, Tunisia, Liberia, and the United States. Lauren is involved in the entire survey process from research strategy development, to questionnaire design, fieldwork implementation, data analysis, and presentation of survey results. Prior to joining IFES, Lauren worked with the Institute for Social and Economic Development, a refugee technical assistance organization. Lauren received an MA in International Politics from American University in Washington, DC, and a BS in Journalism and Strategic Communications from the University of Kansas. She is a native English speaker and is fluent in Spanish. Co-Author 2: Rola Abdul-Latif; 1850 K St, NW; Fifth Floor Washington, DC 20006; (202) 350-6741 email@example.com


As far as the relation between planning and politics is concerned, Jerusalem represents an exceptional urban case to study. Jerusalem is a symbolic and tangible focal point in the Israeli Palestinian conflict, earning its position in urban studies and planning literature as one of the most ethno-nationally divided, polarized and contested cities (Bollens 2000; Klien 2001; Dumper 2014; Shlay and Rosen 2015). Competing religious and political narratives have affected Jerusalem's development and over the past half-century Israeli ethno-national principles have held a significant role in forming the contemporary city. For anyone contemplating about what our urban world can become under forces of extreme nationalism and exclusionary planning policy, Jeruaslem is an important lesson and cautionary warning for a growing number of contested cities. It is with these developments that Shaping Jerusalem engages with in further rigour and detail.


This paper focuses on customers' perceptions regarding three key aspects in Jordanian e-banking services: service quality, system quality, and information quality. The importance of these topics is likely to keep on growing in the near future, as customers become more demanding. Descriptive, analytical approach was used in this study; data were collected through questionnaires that were physically distributed to a random sample of 295 banks' customers in Jordan. The model achieves an acceptable fit and explains 79.6% of its variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the research hypotheses by using SPSS. The results of the study indicate that service quality has the highest impact on customer satisfaction followed by system quality and information quality. However and in order to meet current and future customers demands, banks in Jordan should strive to exceed their customers' expectations, because of the ongoing growth in use of smart phones, mobile banking, and e-commerce further fuels the market growth. Therefore, banks as service providers should strive for excellence.


Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a heterogeneous spectrum of disorders that require selective therapy on the basis of each patient's specific clinical features, predominantly prognostic subgroups, age, and performance status. Factors associated with the clinical and biologic nature of MDS need to incorporate the two primary discerning features of the disease—the defective differentiation of the patient's hematopoietic cells that results in marrow failure and expansion of the abnormal clone for those patients who undergo evolution to or toward acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To aid the grouping of relatively similar prognostic subsets of patients with MDS for clinical trial design and analysis, the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) has often been used, and it employs the statistically weighted variables of marrow blast percentage, cytogenetic categories, and number of cytopenias. Guidelines for the management of MDS have been generated by using evidencebased data. For lower-risk disease (IPSS low and intermediate-1), therapy is aimed predominantly at hematologic improvement, whereas treatment for higher-risk disease (intermediate-2 and high) focuses on altering disease natural history. In the past decade, additional clinical and cytogenetic variables and methods have been generated regarding the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of MDS patients. These methods include the WHO morphologic classification of MDS and prognostic systems that incorporate this morphologic categorization as well as patients' need for RBC transfusions. These and other reports have demonstrated the heterogeneity that persists within MDS and have indicated the need for further dissection of the disease. Two such articles accompany this editorial. The article by Schanz et al describes a large cohort of patients with primary MDS, untreated as well as treated, for whom outcome analysis was evaluated. Schanz et al used the IPSS for MDS to categorize these patients' diseases, with major focus on determining the impact of modification of the cytogenetic risk groups on clinical outcomes. Good-, intermediate-, and poor-risk cytogenetic categories, as described by the IPSS, were modified by subdividing the poor-risk category into more refined subgroups. By using this method, the authors demonstrated that patients from more highly selected cytogenetic subgroups experienced differing clinical outcomes associated with prognostic impact that were similar to those generated by high marrow blast counts. Of interest were the findings that these subgroups maintained prognostic utility for those patients who were subsequently treated with lowor high-intensity therapies. To collectively investigate the numerous potential additional prognostic variables, the International Working Group for Prognosis in MDS has analyzed databases from 15 institutions worldwide and recently developed a revised IPSS. Considerable value was generated by further subdividing the cytogenetic subgroups as well as including clinical parameters in addition to marrow blasts (including depth of cytopenias, age, performance status, and marrow fibrosis). Incorporating the growing number of molecular variables implicated in the pathogenesis of MDS into newer prognostic systems should prove useful for improved assessment of the clinical disparity between patients with MDS and for management of their diseases. Patients with del(5q) MDS have a distinctive form of the disease with a remarkably high responsiveness to the drug lenalidomide. However, the durability of the responses and the potential for AML evolution of these patients are quite variable. Long-term outcomes are poorer in patients with del(5q) MDS with additional cytogenetic lesions than in those with del(5q) MDS alone. The article by Jadersten et al demonstrated that a substantial subset of patients with lower-risk del(5q) MDS have TP53 mutations with intramedullary cell overexpression of p53 protein as assessed by immunohistochemistry. The relatively high incidence of this molecular abnormality was detected by using sensitive next-generation sequencing techniques. Patients with mutated TP53 were also shown to have poorer erythroid and cytogenetic responses to lenalidomide and a higher potential for AML evolution. The levels of p53 increased during disease progression. These findings, with prognostic and therapeutic implications, indicate the existing heterogeneity even within an MDS subtype possessing a single cytogenetic abnormality. More to the point regarding the multifaceted biologic lesions underlying MDS subsets, additional molecular features in del(5q), such as ribosomal biogenesis dysfunction and altered microRNA levels, also contribute to the phenotype of these patients. Patients with del(5q) have haploinsufficiency of the ribosomal protein RPS14, which activates p53 and causes marrow cell apoptosis, an effect that is blocked by lenalidomide. In addition, the thrombocytosis experienced by these patients likely relates to the decreased levels of several microRNAs (miR145, miR146). Despite the relatively straightforward morphologic features of MDS subgroups, the heterogeneity of their clinical outcomes appears to be associated with a variety of molecular abnormalities. By using microarray technology, distinctive gene expression profiles of MDS marrow CD34 cells were demonstrated in patient subsets (eg, those with stable disease compared with those whose disease evolved to AML within 14 months) together with a poor-risk gene expression signature associated with the propensity of patients with MDS to undergo AML evolution. Other gene expression profile studies have shown that among the most significantly deregulated gene pathways in early MDS were immunodeficiency, apoptosis, and chemokine signaling, whereas advanced MDS was characterized by deregulation of DNA damage response and checkpoint pathways. Recently, TET2 gene mutations were found in approximately 20% of patients with MDS and were associated with improved prognosis. Telomere dynamics are altered in MDS; telomeres shorten along with disease progression, which leads to genetic instability and susceptibility to additional molecular alterations as the disease persists. Editorials


AbstractThe silicone elastomer latex in corporated with polyethylene glycol and colloidal silica produced controlled release film coating on potassium chloride tablets. The release pattern of potassium chloride from coated tablets was dictated by the composition of the coating. Significant formulation variables included the loading level of polyethylene glycol, the molecular weight of the polyethylene glycol used, and the silicone to silica weight ratio in the coating. Non-formulation variables such as coating weight, drying temperature, dissolution medium pH and aging were shown to alter there leaser ate of the active ingredient from coated tablets.


Many of the known expressions for the M ary phase shift keying (MPSK) symbol error probability (SEP) are of dubious nature because they are based on an infinite series representation that diverges. In this note, an exact and convergent expression is derived for the MPSK SEP. Some numerical comparison is provided with the known expressions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


BACKGROUND: Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complexes are a key regulator of pancreatic beta cells mass and function. DEP‐domain containing mTOR‐interacting protein (DEPTOR) is a common part of mTOR complexes and whether DEPTOR loss in islet &bgr; cells affects insulin‐secreting function has never been identified. OBJECTIVE: To assess the alternation of insulin secretion by silencing DEPTOR gene in pancreatic &bgr; cells NIT‐1 and to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Three siRNA sequences for silencing DEPTOR gene were designed and constructed, which were transfected with lipofectamine into NIT‐1 cells. There were six groups: blank transfection group (NIT‐1 cells plus Lipofectamin), negative control group (NC‐FAM), positive control group (GAPDH), siRNA deptor 1 group (siRNA deptor385), siRNA deptor 2 group (siRNA deptor766), and siRNA deptor 3 group (siRNA deptor1275). The transfection efficiency was determined by fluorescence microscope. The relative expression level of DEPTOR mRNA was detected by quantitative‐PCR. Insulin secretion in the cell conditioned medium was determined by insulin ELISA kit. The expression level of DEPTOR downstream key protein was detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Specific green fluorescence accumulated in a punctated pattern under fluorescence microscope, indicating that the effectiveness of transfection was eligible. Quantitative‐PCR results showed two (siDEPTOR385 and siDEPTOR766) of the three siRNA sequences could significantly disrupt the expression of DEPTOR mRNA, which had significant difference with negative control group (P < 0.05). The ELISA results showed that the total amount of insulin secretion in the effective transfected groups was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Western blot assay results showed the grey levels of p‐s6 and p‐4EBP‐1 proteins were significantly elevated, while p‐AKT of those former was slightly decreased. These findings suggest that siRNA technology can effectively silence the DEPTOR gene in NIT‐1 cells, which improves &bgr;‐cell insulin secretion in a manner of mTORC1 activation.


Several efforts have been made to develop strategies in order to provide mechanisms that increase the availability, reliability, and maintainability of this type of network. The article introduced the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) for software fault classification that is hybrid approach. ANFIS can be viewed either as a fuzzy inference system, a neural network or a fuzzy neural network (FNN). Framework is provided for combination of both numerical information and linguistic. This intelligent system is used for modelling and classifying the fault types. The proposed methods give better results in software fault detection in WSNs.


This article is divided into four sections. Section one draws a sketch of the developments in German dialectology during the past 30 years. Section two establishes the distinction between the description of dialects focusing on the linguistic system, dialect sociology referring to usage and evaluation, and dialect pragmatics. Section three proposes research perspectives within the framework of a 'new dialectology'. The concluding section four introduces an empirical project in co-operation of several universities (Munster, Bonn, Hamburg, Bielefeld, Potsdam, Frankfurt/Oder) designed to research into the current linguistic situation in northern Germany.


Abstract : A variety of microstructure-probing techniques using high intensity x-rays from synchrotron radiation were employed for a comprehensive study of the short-range-order structures and interfaces in layered semiconductors grown by epitaxy. These layered materials are important for novel electronic and opto-electronic device applications. The experimental approaches were based on our extensive experience in using the measurements of x-ray fluorescence, absorption, reflectivity, and electron yield to probe the local structures about selected atomic species and interfaces in compound and multilayer semiconductors. Emphasis was placed on determining the local environment surrounding the impurity atoms, as well as the local structures around the interface, for various compound semiconductors and multilayers prepared by our collaborators at IBM. The results obtained may be viewed as a good example of successful university-industry collaboration sponsored by ONR. Efforts were also devoted to converting observations made in the laboratory to become service tools in the field for further investigations of multilayer semiconductor electronic materials.


. Binary stars provide us with the means to measure stellar mass. Here I present several lists of known O-type stars with reliable mass estimates that are members of eclipsing, double-lined spectroscopic binaries. The masses of young, unevolved stars in binaries are suitable for testing the predictions of evolutionary codes, and there is good agreement between the observed and predicted masses (based upon temperature and luminosity) if the lower temper- ature scale from line-blanketed model atmospheres is adopted. A final table lists masses for systems in a wide variety of advanced evolutionary stages.


The present research on Discomycetes in the Kvarner region has produced the first Croatian record of S. barlae, the first record of the genus Scutellinia in the Croatian North Adriatic. This European species is relatively poorly known as it has been so far recorded in only ten localities situated mostly in the Mediterranean area. Collections of the species were examined in detail through a proposed standardised procedure and compared with other collections outside Croatia as well as with the similar species S. minor. Although S. barlae and S. minor inhabit quite different bioclimatic areas, their closest localities in Croatia, are only 45 km distant. The January mean air temperature isotherm of 0 °C clearly separates all so far known localities of these two species.


It is generally accepted that variability is one of quality's greatest threats, and consequently, the purpose of most quality tools, including Six Sigma, is to reduce variability. The sigma metric measures process performance and is often compared to pr..


From the Publisher:
Mastering Microsoft Works for Windows 95 is a step-by-step guide to Microsoft's integrated software package. Perfect for home or office use, this practical and unintimidating book helps the beginner or expert perform all of the essential tasks. Handle business correspondence with ease. Use the word processing tool to create everything from memos to polished presentations. You'll learn to set margins and tabs, format text, use borders, change fonts, and add pictures to your documents. Make number-crunching a breeze. Use the spreadsheet tool to simplify budgeting, invoicing, and other numerical tasks. Find out how to enter formulas, insert rows and columns, format your spreadsheet - even turn your data into eye-catching charts. Manage your lists efficiently. Use the database tool to generate inventory lists, print mailing labels, or compile an address book. Straightforward directions show you how to streamline data entry, extract data, and prepare useful reports. Save time with integrated computing. A special chapter shows you how to combine key elements from all three modules, simplifying form letter jobs and other complex tasks.


Confrontation between the government and President Saakashvili's team is on the rise. Tbilisi's Agricultural University has become another bone of contention between the opposing camps and this may be a sign of what is to follow in a larger standoff. The cancellation of the Agricultural University's accreditation by the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science has brought students out onto the street in protest. Nonetheless, the government stands firm on its decision, now offering the university a chance to solve its problems and to then reapply for accreditation. Agricultural University: Failed Dialogue and a Bit of Untold History


19 fresh granite samples collected were prepared and analyzed for whole-rock major and trace elements concentrations including Rare earth elements. The studied area covers Tanjung Raya, Belinyu, Mangkol, Tanjung Beriga, Menumbing, and Toboali.
These granites are classified as monzo-granites which can be divided into two groups based on degree of magmatic fractionation (Rb/Sr). The group I occupies the samples from Menumbing, Belinyu, Tanjung Beriga and Toboali while the second one are the granites from Tanjung Raya and Mangkoi. The group I granites are characterized by low Rb/Sr and Sm/Nd, high Th/U, moderate Eu negative anomaly and are LREE rich while the second one show higher Rb/Sr and Sm/Nd, strong Eu negative anomaly, and are Y-rich. As a result, the group I show higher total REE contents (240-558.3 ppm), except the West Belinyul sample, i.e. 154 ppm whilst the total REE contents in the second group range from 152-303 ppm). This implies that REE in these granitic magmas are depleted with an increasing degree of magmatic fractionation.


Two of Svalbard' Trollkjeldane (Troll Springs) have a luxuriant vegetation of charophytes. This article is based on material collected in the Trollkjeldane by Sissel Aarvik, of the Office of the Sysselmann (Governor) of Svalbard, on 28 August 1992 and 16 August 1993. Chara canescens is described, based on living material. The Svalbard specimens have been named Chara canescens f. spitsbergensis comb. nov., which is synonymous with Chara aspera f. spitsbergensis Nordstedt. An imperfect charophyte is described here as a new subspecies of C. canescens: Chara canescens subsp. hoelii, named after Adolf Hoel, who first collected specimens of this subspecies. It is believed that this subspecies originates from Chara canescens, presumably by a genetic reorganization or a mutation of the species. A new subspecies is justified because of the ecorticate internodes, the incomplete or lacking cortex of the branchlets, the occurrence of accessory branchlets and the special bulbils found in this taxon. These are interpreted as characteristics with positive selective value in the special environment of the spring, where asexual reproduction by bulbils presumably has the same selective value as the parthenogenic reproduction by oospores in Chara canescens f. spitsber- gensis.In a growth experiment, the best growth of C. canescens f. spits- bergensis from the springs was obtained in water with relatively low salt content.Growing tourism in Svalbard threatens to the springs; more active protection must be evaluated. There is also an urgent need to survey the springs in more detail.


The settings and changes of Bei-di Jun were closely related to the activities of minority northwest in Qin and Han dynasties.Bei-di Jun was established after Qin Dynasty eradicated Yi-qu nationalities of Pre-Qin Dynasty.During the Western Han Dynasty,the Bei-di Jun was nvaded frequently by the Huns.Untill Han-Wu Emperor beated the Huns,Bei-di Jun didn't reach its peak.But it has to migrate repeatedly because of the uprising of Qiang nationality in Eastern Han Dynasty.


9038 Background: Previous clinical trials demonstrated that alectinib (ALEC) had a longer time-to-progression than crizotinib (CRZ) in 1st-line settings. Information on long-term overall survival (OS), however, is still limited with a few studies having reported that the sequential strategy of "CRZ followed by other ALK-inhibitor" can provide extended OS. In Japan, ALEC was approved for a 1st-line setting earlier than in other countries. Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients who received CRZ or ALEC between May 2012 and Dec 2016. Patients were divided into two groups according to the first-administered ALK inhibitor, the CRZ or ALEC group. In order to evaluate the efficacy of the sequential strategy of "CRZ followed by ALEC", the combined time to treatment failure (TTF) was calculated in the CRZ group as defined by the sum of the "TTF of CRZ" plus the "TTF of ALEC" if patients were treated with ALEC followed by CRZ. In the ALEC group, the "TTF of ALEC" was calculated. The primary endpoint is the comparison between the combined TTF in the CRZ group with the TTF in the ALEC group. Results: Of 864 patients enrolled from 61 institutions, 840 patients were analyzed. Median age was 61 (range, 20-94); 56% were female; and 95% had adenocarcinoma. There were 535/305 patients in the CRZ/ALEC group. In the CRZ group, 282 patients received ALEC after CRZ failure. The combined TTF in the CRZ group was significantly longer than TTF in the ALEC group; median, 34.4 vs 27.2 months (mo); hazard ratio (HR), 0.709 [95%CI;0.559- 0.899]; P= 0.0044. However, there was no significant difference in OS between the patients who received ALEC after CRZ in the CRZ group and the patients in the ALEC group; median, 88.4 months vs. not reached; HR 1.048 [95%CI;0.758-1.451]; P= 0.7770. In the whole population, the CRZ group had a significantly shorter OS than the ALEC group; median, 53.6 mo vs not reached HR, 1.821 [95%CI;1.372-2.415]; P< 0.0001. Conclusions: The combined TTF in the CRZ group was significantly longer than TTF in the ALEC group, however, OS benefit of sequential therapy of CRZ followed by ALEC was not shown. Clinical trial information: UMIN000028605.


If one tries to recover the historical constitution of Brazilian Standard Portuguese, the accessible documentation in archives is very generous, since the history of reading and writing is a history of power, is a history of fews. But when one desires to rebuild the formation process of non-standard dialects of the same language, the chances are completely different, are only based on cues. This paper aims to point out and describe linguistic characteristics of some votive offering, a sort of ex-vote, and to show that they can be useful sources of research in those cases.


Information technology and its driving cost performance imperative have changed traditional labor to capital relationships and opened up new opportunities for strategic use of the technology. Different forms of interconnection realized through improved interconnection and larger more accessible data bases are often the basis for deriving strategic advantage. A search strategy based on electronic integration can help organizations find potentially strategic applications.


The interplay between electronic coupling, spectral linewidth, and rate of electronic energy transfer between chromophores is examined in the context of a quantum electrodynamical (QED) model. The QED framework properly allows us to identify the partitioning between the near and far zone mechanisms for transfer of energy between chromophores dispersed in condensed phase (liquid or solid) host media. The extent to which coupling is modified by the medium is investigated. A general QED treatment of higher multipole contributions to the coupling between transition moments is also derived, whence interactions involving electric dipole, quadrupole and octopole as well as magnetic dipole and quadrupole interactions are examined explicitly. A new formulation is presented wherein expressions for the multipolar coupling tensors are obtained in terms of spherical Bessel functions, providing a clear, compact representation of the retarded coupling interaction and its distance-dependence. The irreducible tensor formu...


This paper addresses the question of efficient business models in the Swedish wood-building industry, seen from the public customers' point of view. The building industry is currently ongoing rapid ...


HREE different kinds of hybrid sterility of males occur within the superspecies Drosophila ptzulistorum Dobzhansky and Pavan, and a fourth one will he described in the present paper. The superspecies consists of at least five races or incipient species (DOBZHANSKY and SPASSKY 1959). The F, hybrids between these races are fertile if females and sterile if males. This is a sterility of the genic type, since the degenerative changes begin before meiosis, and the meiotic metaphases show at least some paired chromosomes ( DOBZHANSKY, unpublished observations). The second kind of sterility occurs in males in backcross progenies. This sterility depends upon the genetic constitution not of the males themselves but rather of their mothers. As a rule, all the sons of a female carrying any mixture of the chromosomes of the parental races are sterile, even though some of these sons themselves carry only the chromosomes of a single race (EHRMAN 1960). This sterility operates via a maternal effect, the genes responsible being distributed in all three pairs of chromosomes which D. paulistorum possesses. The sterilities of the F, hybrid and of the backcross males are due obviously to different causes, since F, hybrids are sons of pure rather than of hybrid mothers. The different causation is shown also by the fact that the two kinds of sterility are sometimes dissociated; although in most crosses both the F, and the backcross males are sterile. in some exceptional cases the F, may be sterile and backcrosses fertile, or vice versa ( EHRMAN 1962a). The third kind of sterility is known thus far only in hybrids between strains of the Transitional race, the ancestors of which were collected at Santa Marta and at Mesitas, Colombia, respectively. The male progeny from the cross Santa Marta female x Mesitas male are sterile, while the reciprocal cross gives fertile progeny of both sexes. When the hybrid females from the Santa Marta female x Mesitas male are backcrossed to Mesitas males, sterile male progenies are obtained in six successive generations (EHRMAN 1963, 1964a). In the seventh backcross to Mesitas, fertile sons are finally obtained. The sterility appears to be due to interactions between the Santa Marta cytoplasm and the Mesitas Y chromosome. Whatever factor is transmitted by the Santa Marta cytoplasm, it is eventually overcome by the Mesitas genome. The following working hypothesis is worthy of testing: Suppose that the Santa Marta strain carries a substance, or an associated microorganism, a symbiont or


Objective
To investigate the application value of the modified Overlap method in digestive tract reconstruction of totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (TLTG).

Methods
The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 50 patients with gastric cancer who underwent TLTG with Overlap anastomosis between January 2016 and December 2016 in the Tangdu Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University were collected. Twenty-six patients using classic Overlap method and 24 patients using modified Overlap method were respectively allocated into the classic Overlap group and modified Overlap group. All the patients underwent D2 lymph node dissection. Patients in the classic Overlap group underwent totally laparoscopic catastalsis side-to-side esophagojejunostomy. During digestive tract reconstruction in the modified Overlap group, there was no esophageal transection before anastomosis, and gastric fundus traction fully exposed to the lower esophagus. Esophagus was spun anticlockwise, and a hole was opened at the left posterior esophageal wall. Transection of jejunum was 25 cm away from Treitz ligment, and opening a hole at mesenteric margin was 6 cm away from distal jejunum to transected end of jejunum. Esophagus-distal jejunum side-to-side anastomosis was done using 60 mm linear stapler, and then laterally closing openings and transecting esophagus. Observation indicators: (1) intra-and post-operative recovery: total operation time, time of esophagus-jejunum anastomosis, volume of intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph node dissected, time to anal exsufflation, cases with complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay; (2) follow-up and survival. Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative tumor-free survival and tumor recurrence or metastasis up to March 2017. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as ±s and comparison between groups was analyzed using the independent-sample t test. Comparison of count data was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.

Results
(1) Intra- and post-operative recovery: all the 50 patients underwent successful TLTG using Overlap method, without conversion to open surgery. Total operation time and time of esophagus-jejunum anastomosis were respectively (278.6±14.9)minutes, (46.5±4.4)minutes in the classic Overlap group and (253.3±12.8)minutes, (20.4±2.3)minutes in the modified Overlap group, with statistically significant differences between the 2 groups (t=5.459, 22.482, P 0.05). Two patients in the classic Overlap group were respectively complicated with esophagus-jejunum anastomotic fistula and pancreatic leakage, 2 patients in the modified Overlap group were respectively complicated with pulmonary infection and subcutaneous emphysema, and they were improved by symptomatic treatment. (2) Follow-up and survival: 41 of 50 patients were followed up for 3-15 months, with a median time of 7 months, including 20 in the classic Overlap group and 21 in the modified Overlap group. During follow-up, patients had tumor-free survival, without tumor recurrence and metastasis.

Conclusion
Compared with classic Overlap method, the modified Overlap method can simplify the anastomotic procedures, shorten operation time and achieve similar efficacy, and it is also a simple and effective method for digestive tract reconstruction after TLTG.

Key words:
Gastric neoplasms; Radical resection; Esophagojejunostomy; Laparoscopy


Abstract The evolution of Design as a discipline witnessed a controversial attitude towards the role of aesthetics in the work of designers. Following the functional creed, in many technical academic entourages evolved the idea that a designer job is anything but developing an aesthetic language. In the meantime, in the not-academic world, outsiders think that Design is largely about "making things beautiful". Based on these grounds, the authors have in recent past years started to teach their students to consider the aesthetics of their design by reflecting on the form-giving issue. To introduce it smoothly into a technical university environment, they choose to avoid words such as "beautiful" or "attractive", rather they speak of "language of products" and of making products "recognizable". The authors apply this approach in their teaching through the development of specific exercises and tools. In this article, the overall meaning of this kind of experience is discussed to highlight faults and possible further developments in the perspective of an ever-evolving design discipline.


Traditional network-level quality of service (QoS) techniques are efficient from a network perspective, but they have not provided a QoS that is satisfactory to users. This paper proposes a dynamic class-based scheme to enhance user-perceived voice quality. Its main strength lies in its careful consideration of users' perception of quality and mapping it to specific values of multiple network parameters such as delay and packet loss rate. It then dynamically assigns higher priority to voice traffic that are closer to delay and loss tolerance so as to improve their chances of meeting deadlines and loss constraints, which in turn increases the quality of voice traffic transmission over IP network yielding QoS satisfaction both for VoIP users and service providers.


Introduction: Satisfaction with care during labor and birth has been associated with various obstetric variables. The purpose of this study was to determine which labor and birth procedures are significant predictors of maternal patient satisfaction in a large cross‐sectional sample. Methods: An observational, cross‐sectional study of 1660 women giving birth in Chilean public hospital facilities was conducted from 2012 to 2013. Data were collected from 9 different hospitals in 8 regions of Chile using 2 instruments, including the American College of Nurse‐Midwives Intrapartum Care Data Set and a locally validated measure of maternal well‐being. Women were eligible if they arrived at the labor and delivery unit during early labor (2‐3 centimeters dilated) and spent at least 4 hours in labor at the facility. In the current analysis, odds ratios were calculated using ordinal logistic regression for association with a less optimal well‐being score (possible outcome values were optimal, adequate, and minimal). Odds ratios were adjusted for age, education, single status, and parity (nulliparous vs multiparous). Stepwise regression was used to identify the procedural factors that were significantly associated with labor and birth care satisfaction. Results: Factors significantly associated with lower satisfaction were cesarean birth (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1‐1.7), pharmacologic pain management (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.02‐1.7), continuous fetal heart rate monitoring (OR. 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2‐1.8), and episiotomy (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1‐1.7). Nulliparity was also associated with minimal maternal satisfaction (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0‐1.5). Greater satisfaction was associated with accompaniment by a companion of choice during labor (OR, 0.49: 95% CI, 0.40‐0.60). Discussion: This study is one of the first to provide empirical evidence that maternal patient satisfaction is negatively affected by many common obstetric procedures in the Latin American context. These findings are consistent with World Health Organization recommendations regarding judicious and necessary, rather than routine, use of obstetric interventions.


An acoustic wave device in which the propagation path of the surface acoustic wave device is folded to increase the wave propagation path length in order to make better use of the total chip space.


Broadband quarter waveplate can be treated as a circular polarizer providing true dark in the display system. Broadband quarter wave plate consists of two waveplates with different alignment direction using coating technique is proposed and fabricated. The reflection spectrum shows a good dark state


Objective To compare the two kinds of interventions for colorectal cancer surgery affect the quality of daily life. Methods 56 cases of colorectal cancer patients, 28 cases were randomly divided into two groups and a control group of 28 cases. The control group with oral fluoxetine 20 mg, once daily. Observation group to be on the basis of a comprehensive heart care interventions, two groups of patients are eight weeks time to observe the effect of interventions on colorectal cancer comparing two postoperative quality of everyday life. Results After 8 weeks of treatment, both groups of patients with SAS and SDS scores than before treatment decreased significantly(P0.05), and the decrease in the observation group than in the control group was significantly better(P0.05). Conclusion Fluoxetine combined heart heart nursing intervention can effectively improve the status and quality of life of colorectal cancer patients, improve patient compliance with treatment and improve prognosis, worthy of clinical application.


1. The vexatious fact of society Part I. The Problem of Structure and Agency: Four Alternative Solutions: 2. Individualism versus collectivism: querying the terms of the debate 3. Taking time to link structure and agency 4. Elision and central conflation 5. Realism and morphogenesis Part II. The Morphogenetic Cycle: 6. Analytical dualism: the basis of the morphogenetic approach 7. Structural and cultural conditioning 8. The morphogenesis of agency 9. Social elaboration.


In this study, a novel acoustic doublet meta-material lens has been designed and tested to demonstrate both a far-field focal point and ultra-long collimation characteristics past the Fresnel zone. The switching of the two behaviors can be adjusted by a simple linear mechanical translation of one of the lens units. The doublet lens can focus the sound wave beyond 38λ away from the experiment's lens, which is farther than any existing ultrasonic transducer or meta-lenses lenses. In terms of collimating behavior, the doublet lens is a unique metamaterial lens that experimentally demonstrates a long and narrow collimating beam over 70λ. Besides the design and characterization, the meta-lens have been used to detect real objects, including inorganic and organic matter. A subwavelength spatial resolution has been demonstrated. The detection limit was 0.26λ in the monostatic setup and 0.62λ in a bistatic experimental setup. This lens demonstrates super-resolution detection capabilities at distances of 42λ and can enable ultrasonic diagnostics deep within a material or a biological tissue. The experimental performance of the doublet meta-material lens illustrated its potential to apply acoustic metamaterial elements in a practical imaging application, including the detection of biological tissues


Access to kidney transplantation (KT) may be limited by HLA sensitization. It is clinically relevant to know both level of HLA-immunization and potential sensitizing events in the history transplant candidates [1–3]. Pregnancy is a frequent sensitizing event in female transplant candidates. Women exposed to foreign paternal HLA can generate specific HLA antibodies (HLA-Ab) and memory B cells (mBc) [4, 5], which can be re-stimulated upon antigen reencounter after TR.
 We aimed to study the existence of mBc able to produce HLA-Ab in female KT candidates with previous pregnancies, to compare them with HLA-Ab in their serum and to analyse them in the context of molecular HLA mismatch between mother and father.

 We selected eight HLA sensitized women awaiting KT, who fulfilled these criteria: minimum of one successful pregnancy before KT (12–44 years before) from a single partner, HLA-Ab (HLA class I or II) and availability of a DNA sample from the father of their children. All women in the study cohort and the father of their children were HLA typed by next-generation sequencing (NGS®) for HLA–A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQB1/A1 and DPB1. We used peripheral blood mononuclear cells cryopreserved before KT. We cultured them with a polyclonal stimulation cocktail consisting of a Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist and a proleukin for 10 days. We examined concentrated culture supernatants (SN) derived from activated cells, purified IgG and identified HLA-Abs using single antigen beads (SAB) on Luminex. Then, we compared the HLA-Ab profiles of SN and serum. We also studied the paternal molecular HLA incompatibilities with the HLAMatchmaker software.

 After 10-day polyclonal stimulation, mBc increased from 29.90% (day 0) to 65.29% (day 10) (Figure 1), and antibody-secreting cells (ASC) from 0.08% (day 0) to 29.37% (day 10). SAB analysis revealed 211 HLA-Abs in serum and 116 HLA-Abs in SN: 98/211 (46.5%) of total HLA-Ab were serum-exclusive [78/98 (52.9%) class I and 25/98 (34.3%) class II] and only 3/116 (2.59%) HLA-Ab were SN-exclusive, all class II. Finally, we found 113/327 (34.6%) HLA-Ab shared by serum and SN: 65/113 (57.5%) class I and 48/113 (42.5%) class II.
 Seven of eight women had Pregnancy-Induced Antibodies (PIA) in serum (20 HLA-Abs: 10 HLA class I and 10 HLA class II) and 4/8 women had PIA in SN (8 HLA-Abs: 2 HLA class I and 6 HLA class II) (Table 1). The HLAMatchmaker analysis showed that antibodies were reacting against incompatible paternal epitopes: in 6/8 women for HLA class I and 5/8 women for class HLA II in serum, and in 2/8 women for HLA class I and 4/8 women for HLA class II in SN.

 We describe the study of the memory B cell compartment and the specific HLA-Abs produced by them with Luminex technology in KT female candidates with previous pregnancies. We found that the HLA-Abs secreted by these memory B cells followed a restricted pattern in number and intensity compared with serum HLA-Ab. The study of paternal HLA molecular mismatch incompatibilities explains many of these HLA-Abs decades after pregnancies. The entire value of this tool for risk stratification in HLA-sensitized patients awaiting TK is currently a matter of study.


In this article a real-time visual feedback system for strength self-training is proposed, with which users, especially beginners can understand comparison between exact motion and theirs. Using a camera-based motion capture and a normal LCD, the system does not require any additional devices to wear. Such the easy installation of the system benefits of the users who practice not only in a gym but also at his/her home. The performance and usefulness of the system are evaluated by a user test.


Like other disciplines,editing science also has its academic border.The former world of editing largely studied a micro editing science based on the theory of "two-style edition".This delimited the scholarship of edition within a very narrow space,covering a much more limited domain than the reality did,which considerably affected the scientificity and growth of editing science.Now it is high time to extend frontier of the scholarship to a macro editing science in terms of the "theory of five-style edition",re-establish its theoretical system and expand its disciplinary covering so as to exploit practical scientificity and activate strong vitality out of the editing science to bring to an end the current embarrassing situation of weak impact and low acceptability.


Gene action and combining ability effects for yield and its components of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) were studied through 10 × 10 half-diallel analysis. Forty five single crosses were developed by crossing 10 lines of okra viz., P1(IC282248), P2(IC27826-A), P3(IC29119-B), P4(IC31398-A), P5(IC45732), P6(IC89819), P7(IC89976), P8(IC90107), P9(IC99716) and P10(IC111443) in a half-diallel manner during summer. All 45 F1s along with their 10 counterpart parental lines were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications during early kharif (June to September) of the same year at the Vegetable Research Station, Rajendranagar, Andhra Pradesh, India. Combining ability analysis following Method-II and Model-I of Griffing's approach revealed the preponderance of non-additive gene action for plant height, internode length, days to 50% flowering, first flowering node, first fruiting node, fruit length, fruit weight, total number of fruits/plant, number of marketable fruits/plant, total yield/plant, marketable yield/plant, fruit and shoot borer infestation on fruits and shoots and Yellow vein mosaic virus infestation on fruits and plants and additive gene action for number of branches/plant and equal importance of both additive and non-additive gene action for fruit width. The parental lines P5(IC45732), P6(IC89819) and P7(IC89976) were high general combiners for total and marketable yield per plant and other yield associated traits. The crosses C23(IC29119-B × IC99716), C17(IC27826-A × IC111443), C42(IC89976 × IC111443) and C43(IC90107 × IC111443) were superior specific combiners for total and marketable yield/plant and other yield-related traits, which could be exploited for the production of F1 hybrids. The cross C42(IC89976 × IC111443), having one of the parents with significantly positive general combining ability effect for total and marketable yield/plant, could be utilized in recombination breeding. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Quantum trajectory simulations based on jumps are widely used in quantum optics, as a path to the numerical solution of a master equation, and for the physical insight they provide in the form of simulated photoelectron counting sequences for output fields. In their most commonly encountered version [1,2,3], quantum trajectory methods are tied to the Lindblad propagator of a Markov open system dynamic [4] and simulate a Davies photon counting process [5]. Although various non-Markovian trajectory equations have been written down [6,7], these are less widely used and, more importantly from a fundamental point of view, lack an immediate measurement interpretation drawn from photoelectron counting theory [8,9]. In this talk we formulate quantum trajectories for a subset of non-Markovian open systems where the non-Markov character arises from coherent feedback with time delay, as, for example, in a cascaded system [10] with backscatter and coupling in both directions. The formulation builds upon the standard treatment of photoelectron counting for free outgoing fields [11] and thus retains a clear measurement interpretation. The main idea is to numerically model both the open system and that part of the environment required to transmit the feedback signal; only those photons that have without doubt irreversibly escaped the system are viewed from the point of view of jumps. In broad terms the approach is the one taken by Imamoğlu [12] but allows for the fact that photons eventually leave the system through propagation rather than Lindblad/Davies-style absorption.


The density of uranium in the seawater is only 3.3 mg/m3, but its total amount 4.5 billion tons is 45, 000 times of annual demand of nuclear fuel in the world. The target of this study is the cost-down of the collection of theuranium from the sea to three times of the market price and cheaper than the recycle fuel by nuclear reprocessing. In this study, the high performance adsorbent deformed to the race is proposed with its mooring system, and thefeasibility of the cost down is shown in the Kuroshio influenced basin offshore the west coast of the Okinawa Island, based on the field test on the adsorption ratio of uranium and the quantity and kind of the adhered creature and the water channel test on the drag force on the adsorbent due to waves and currents.


Abstract A new Mo(V) monophosphate BaMo4O8(PO4)2, with a layer structure, has been isolated. It crystallizes in the space group I4m , with a = 7.475(1) A and c = 11.156(1) A. The close relationships between the structure of this phase and that of the mixed-valent Mo(III)-Mo(IV) phosphate Cs3(MoO)4(PO4)3 are remarkable. Both phosphates are characterized by Mo4O16 octahedral units built up from Mo4O6+4 cubes, forming identical [Mo4P2O16]∞ layers parallel to (001). The layer structure of the present Mo(V) monophosphate derives from the intersecting tunnel framework of the intermediate valent Mo monophosphate by just suppressing the PO4 tetrahedra along one direction and by translating two successive [Mo4P2O16]∞ layers by (a + b)/2.


Abstract : This grant funded the proceedings of the 8th Heterogeneous Computing Workshop (HCW 99), which was held on April 12, 1999. HCW '99 was part of the merged symposium of the 13th international Parallel Processing Symposium and the 10th Symposium on Parallel and Distributed Processing (IPPS/SPDP 1999), which was sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society Technical Committee on Parallel Processing and held in cooperation with ACM SIGARCH. Heterogeneous computing systems range from diverse elements within a single computer to coordinated, geographically distributed machines with different architectures. A heterogeneous computing system provides a variety of capabilities that can be orchestrated to execute multiple tasks with varied computational requirements. Applications in these environments achieve performance by exploiting the affinity of different tasks to different computational platforms or paradigms, while considering the overhead of inter-task communication and the coordination of distinct data sources and/or administrative domains. Topics representative of those in the proceedings include: (1) network profiling, (2) configuration tools, (3) scheduling tools, (4) analytic benchmarking, (5) programming paradigms, (6) problem mapping, (7) processor assignment and scheduling, (8) fault tolerance, (9) programming tools, (10) processor selection criteria, and (11) compiler assistance.


Pressure-sensitive adhesives which contain preferably from 60% to 85% by weight of graft copolymers for use as polymeric pressure-sensitive adhesives, and from 15% to 40% by weight of plasticizers such as phthalate or phosphate plasticizers. The graft copolymer consists of from 5% to 30% by weight of a graft base and from 70% to 95% by weight of grafted-on monomer units. The graft base is a copolymer with from 40% to 85% by weight of ethylene units and from 15% to 60% by weight of vinyl acetate units and optionally up to 10% by weight of monomer units of other unsaturated compounds. It may be replaced wholly or partially by other graft bases. The grafted-on monomer units consist of from 30% to 80% by weight of units of vinyl esters of short-chained carboxylic acids, especially vinyl acetate, from 20% to 70% by weight of units of vinyl esters of relatively long-chained carboxylic acids, for example vinyl laurate, and/or units of esters of alpha , beta -unsaturated carboxylic acids with relatively long-chained alcohols and/or units of esters of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids with relatively long-chained alcohols, from 0.5% to 15% by weight of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone units and from 0 to 20% by weight of other olefinically-unsaturated copolymerizable monomer units.


EU Regulation 536/2014 ("Regulations") is due to take practical effect across the Eurozone by the end of 2017 at the earliest and no later than October 2018 following the implementation of procedural requirements. It will replace the EU Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC. The Regulations are designed to reverse what regulators described as a downward trend in the conduct of clinical trials within Europe because of the "lengthy and cumbersome application process and the failure of the pre-existing regime to accommodate the global scope of clinical trials." The purpose of the Regulations is to simplify and harmonise the administrative provisions governing clinical trials in the EU. With pleasing Pharmaceutical companies high on the political agenda, the pertinent question that arises is whether patient and public interests will be overlooked to cater to industry concerns? This article will outline the changes effected by the Regulation. It will evaluate the impact these changes will have on patient safety in the context of Phase I or First-in-human (FIH) trials by examining the TGN1412 clinical drug trial (also known as the Northwick Park drug trial). The second part of this article will discuss whether there is a place for the Regulations in the post Brexit landscape. The continuing uncertainty surrounding Brexit means that it remains difficult to come to any definitive conclusions but there are significant issues that require closer examination at this time.


1show that in patients with hypertension and stable coronary artery disease included in the multicountry CLARIFY registry, non-fatal and fatal outcomes decreased as blood pressure was reduced to a 120–139 mm Hg systolic or a 70–79 mm Hg diastolic range over 5 years of treatment. Blood pressure reductions to less than 120/70 mm Hg, however, were accompanied by a marked increase of cardiovascular risk that involved cause-specifi c events such as myocardial infarction and heart failure, only sparing stroke, whose risk remained similar to that seen at the higher blood pressure values. This fi nding warns against an extensive extrapolation of the results of the SPRINT trial


Under the requirement of airworthiness regulation,one aircraft must have a good ditching performance. In the past,tests were implemented to evaluate the aircraft ditching performance,however tests have really some disadvantages: vast investment and time-consuming. This paper applied numerical simulation technique to research aircraft ditching performance. The Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics( SPH)method was introduced to simulate sea waves and a aircraft ditching model was then built. In consideration of influences of the state of landing gear and attitude angle on ditching performance,seven simulation conditions were designed,the corresponding acceleration responses and attitude angle changes were simulated. Under the condition that aircraft should get a lower drag force and smaller change in amplitude,a final conclusion of optimum ditching attitude,viz landing gear retraction with attitude angle of 12°,was drawn from the comparative analysis of simulation results,which is valuable to aircraft ditching solution.


Express companies have become an indispensable part of our daily life.How to better serve for the social and economic life,these companies' networking should be taken as the issue which can not be ignored.The paper first defines the importances and ways of network construction of express company and etc.And then analyzes the modern express delivery company how to improve its own network and enhance management.


The sound field distribution in a room is the consequence of the acoustic properties of radiating sources and the position, geometry and absorbing characteristics of the surrounding boundaries in an enclosure (boundary conditions). Despite there existing a consolidated acoustic wave theory, it is very difficult, nearly impossible, to find an analytical expression of the sound variables distribution in a real room, as a function of time and position. This scenario represents as an inhomogeneous boundary value problem, where the complexity of source properties and boundary conditions make that problem extremely hard to solve. Room acoustic simulation, as treated in this thesis, comprises the algebraical approach to solve the wave equation, and the way to define the boundary conditions and source modeling of the scenario under analysis. Numerical methods provide accurate algorithms for this purpose and among the different possibilities, the use of discrete-time methods arises as a suitable solution for solving those partial differential equations, particularized by some specific constrains. Together with the constant growth of computer power, those methods are increasing their suitability for room acoustic simulation. However, there exists an important lack of accuracy in the definition of some of these conditions so far: current frequency-dependent boundary conditions do not comply with any physical model, and directive sources in discrete-time methods have been hardly treated. This thesis discusses about the current state-of-the-art of the boundary conditions and source modeling in discrete-time methods for room acoustic simulation, and it contributes some algorithms to enhance boundary condition formulation, in a locally reacting impedance sense, and source modelling in terms of directive sources under a defined radiation pattern. These algorithms have been particularized to some discrete-time methods such as the Finite Difference Time Domain and the Digital Waveguide Mesh.


Through comparing the characteristics between hydraulic elevator and traction elevator,their various advantages are expounded and the wide application of hydraulic elevator in modern social fields is summarized by citing that the main factors of restricting the development and application of the hydraulic elevator are high installation power and high power consumption,within which energy-saving becomes the hot research topic in recent years.Then the principle and characteristics of secondary regulation system are introduced in the text,in which hydraulic elevator governing system based on secondary regulation is presented based on analyzing hydraulic elevator system under throttle governing,as well as the process of the system is explained.Finally,advantages in energy conservation and high control accuracy are analyzed,which solve the problems of power loss and low control accuracy of hydraulic elevator system based on throttle governing.


Most finger vein recognition systems use palmar finger images. There is some work on the dorsal view, but the remaining views have not been sufficiently investigated yet. All major public available finger-vein databases contain only images from the palmar view and only one smaller database has images from the dorsal view. We aim to fill this gap and evaluate the performance using other perspectives than dorsal and palmar. Therefore, we established a new finger vein data set that consists of videos showing the vein structure all around the finger. We carried out several experiments utilizing common finger-vein recognition algorithms to quantify the recognition performance of each single projection. We further analyzed if a fusion of different views can improve the recognition performance of the system.


The periodic irrelevance of social science may be far easier to explain than we have thought. For in the face of ambiguous claims, little time, and unsatisfactory data, most practical people, among them public policy analysts and planners, friends and co-workers, have to learn not only about feasible outcomes and stable relationships of cause and effect but about value in our possible worlds, about potential significance, import, consequentiality. Practical people in our lives help us learn what to want, what to care about, and what we should care for, too. Yet as long as social scientists treat value as essentially irrational, an epiphenomenal dependent variable, or merely the expression of preferences, they will ignore, if not fail to understand entirely, the demands and opportunities of practical judgment and deliberative rationality, the heart of practical inquiry in the applied professions.


The bachelor thesis deals with the "Construction of the Humprecht castle with the characters Jan Humprecht Cernin and Carlo Lurago". In the first part of the bachelor thesis are restoration research and restoration documentation. The second part of the bachelor thesis contains the research of Richard Wiesner senior wallpaintings works.


Noise measurements on a 0.1 scale SR-2 propeller in a single and counter rotation mode, in a pusher and tractor configuration, and operating at non-zero angles of attack are summarized. A measurement scheme which permitted 143 measurements of each of these configurations in the Langley 4- by 7-meter low speed tunnel is also described.


An Electro-hydraulic servo control system was proposed to solve the problems of pressure regulator in large-flow mixed gas control valve.The mathematical model of the pressure regulator was established.Based on fuzzy control strategy,the performance of the system was simulated in MATLAB.The simulation results show that adopting fuzzy control strategy,the stability and dynamic performance of the system are improved,and the requirement of pressure regulating in large-flow mixed gas control valve is satisfied.


The [alpha] and [beta] decays of [sup 169[minus]173]Os were studied using [sup 114]Cd([sup 58]Ni,[ital xn]) and [sup 140]Ce([sup 36]Ar,[ital xn]) reactions. For [sup 169,171]Os new [alpha] rays and [alpha]-coincident [gamma] rays were observed; for [sup 170[minus]173]Os [beta]-delayed [gamma] transitions could be identified for the first time. Evidence for isomeric states in [sup 171,173]Re was found. The nuclear structure in the daughter isotopes is interpreted in terms of single-particle states in the frame of the Nilsson model.


A number of diacetylene containing acrylate and methacrylates have been synthesized and the interaction between their propagating radicals and the diacetylene groups was studied by ESR spectroscopy. In the case of polymerization at 70°C using AIBN as an initiator, the propagating radicals of methacrylates are temporarily trapped with the diacetylenes with rapid exchange of the electron, thus showing strong signals of the propagating radicals. Gamma irradiation of the frozen state produces a blue color in samples, and the ESR signals were found to be those of uninteracted acrylate and methacrylates. From a comparison of spectral widths, there seems to exist an intramolecular interaction between the radicals and the diacetylene group at the frozen state. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


This paper provides an improved 1D mid-span program to quickly grasp the off-design characteristic of modern axial turbines. The improvements are mainly focused on cooling, diffuser and the calculation of choke condition. Disk cooling and blade cooling air mixing are considered in detail. A 1D diffuser model that considers the effects of area change, heat transfer, and friction is added so that a realistic boundary condition at the turbine outlet can be obtained. A choke routine that enables the assessment of choked flow up to limit load conditions is introduced to avoid the shortcoming that the calculation method fails to converge near or at the initial choking mass flow rate. Flexible modules for losses, deviation, and mixing models are built-in to increase the accuracy and versatility of the program. This work is of great value because few programs take cooling and diffuser into account in such detail when calculating turbine performance in the form of maps. The salient issues presented here deal first with the construction of the turbine performance prediction program. The validation of the code is first performed on public data for a five-stage low pressure turbine (LPT). The results show that the efficiency relative errors with the experimental value is in the range of −(0.11%−1.64%), which is within acceptable limits. Then, the performance of GE PG9351FA transonic axial turbine is estimated using this program. This industrial axial turbine is predicted for the first time in a form of turbine performance maps in open literature and the obtained performance map is very useful for the simulation of gas turbine.


This research is to know what the labelling of outer drugs of the shake parem having a benefit for the consumers especially for the advanced age of the member Worokawuri Yogyakarta City. The data collecting method was used an interview, observation, survey and documentation. The analysis method was used a description method. The research result could conclude that the advanced age of the member Worokawuri Yogyakarta City needed the labelling in order to use it correctly for the shake parem based on the information in the container. Key Words : The labelling benefit for the consumers.


Static loading tests on steel columns and composite columns were carried out in order to investigate basic properties of torsion. Moreover, the results of loading test were compared with theoretical analysis and F.E.M. (Finite Element Method) analysis, considering nonlinear material properties. From the comparative works, following conclusions were obtained. At the test, the failure of steel columns was determined by local buckling. Composite columns had much higher bearing capacity than steel columns because local buckling of steel column was prevented by filled concrete. Torsional moment on yield point and torsional rigidity in the theoretical analysis and the results of F. E. M. analysis had almost corresponded to those of loading tests.


In recent years,a large state-owned coal enterprises have responded to the relevant state policies,established a large or even the King get coal enterprise groups,but in the rapid expansion of the same time,the financial risk corresponding to off increase.Continue to increase the pace of foreign expansion,resource integration,mergers and acquisitions,to study the significance of the financial risk of the coal enterprises,how to prevent and reduce financial risk,in order to achieve the purpose of the development of large coal groups.


In the conditions of a changing environment, the assessment of the state's energy security management process is an important component of ensuring the sustainability and stability of the state's energy system. Effective assessment involves the application of system methods and assessment tools that will allow to determine potential threats, security requirements, risks and vulnerabilities of the energy system. Therefore, some methods are based on the development and use of key indicators of management efficiency, which allow monitoring the dynamics of the development of the energy system and identifying opportunities for improving its condition. Others are based on the analysis of threats and weaknesses of the energy system, which allow to identify potential threats to the energy system, assess the probability of their occurrence and establish the level of risk. Considering today's challenges, the search for the most effective methodology for evaluating the state's energy security management process deserves special relevance.To systematize methods for evaluating the state's energy security management process and propose the most effective of them, which will make it possible to recommend it for use at the state level. In the research process, such methods as grouping were used, which made it possible to distribute indicators according to the main groups of methods; scientific abstraction -to highlight themain methods; comparison -to determine the methodology that most fully reflects the real state of energy security of the state.The methods of assessment of the state energy security management process have been studied. It was determined that the assessment of the state's energy security management process is a complex task that requires the use of various methods and approaches. Methodologies for evaluating the state's energy security management process have been systematized. The methods of integral assessment, economic analysis, identification of the level of energy security, methodological advice and identification of threats are highlighted. It has been established that each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of a specific one of them depends on the task, the object of research and the available information. Attention is focused on the importance of ensuring the reliability and objectivity of the obtained results, which can be achieved through the use of relevant data and information, as well as the application of scientific methods and standards.


Omar Khayyam's Algebra is the masterpiece of combining algebra with geometry,it is outstanding in Arabian mathematics.On the source of it,there is very little discussion interiorly.We make comparisons with relevant treatises of ancient Greece,ancient China and Arabian mathematicians in content and method of Algebra,and finally get some preliminary cognition.Omar Khayyam gave the geometrical demonstrations after algebraic solution and wrote the cubic equation as the form of homogeneous equation.It shows the influence of geometrical algebra in ancient Greece;Comparing with The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art,we find that the arithmetic of extraction in Algebra is similar to the method of ancient Chinese mathematics and different from the method of ancient Indian mathematics.Hence we infer that the content of The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art exerted the indirect influence on the Arabian mathematicians through the route of China-India-Arabia.And he inherited al-Khwarizmi's solution to quadratic equation.In fact,Omar Khayyam learnt wildly from other's strong points,had absorbed the rational factor from both the east and western mathematics source wisely,thus finished his algebra work creatively.


We demonstrate simultaneous multicolor two- and three-photon imaging of bacterial filaments using a single high-power femtosecond Yb-fiber laser. Our experiments demonstrate the superior signal-to-background ratio obtainable with three-photon imaging deep below the sample surface.


For individuals living with HIV, AIDS presents an existential a well as medical crisis. HIV-positive gay men participated in intensive clinical interviews to discern how, if at all, they ascribed meaning to AIDS and their HIV infection. The study used phenomenological research methodology and was informed by the theoretical perspectives of assumptive world theory (Janoff-Bulman 1992) and humanist-existential psychology (Frankl 1959, Lifton 1980).


From emphasizing the relationship between course teaching and nurse work, regulating teaching content according to the character of nursing speciality, regulating teaching method according to course content, the paper expound the necessity, feasibility of teaching reform and its concrete methods for the subject.


Cobalt phosphates with open framework present various physical performances in relation to their structures. In fact, the development of new materials that could potentially be ionic conductors or ion exchangers led us to examine the Co-P-O and A-Co-P-O crystallographic systems (A: monovalent cation) and their different methods of synthesis. This work consists first of all in highlighting the crystalline phases of cobalt phosphates. Indeed, many works related to the discovery of some of these materials with interesting properties, in particular ionic conductivity, motivated our research and encouraged us to collect several cobalt phosphates and to correlate structure-physical properties in particular electrical properties. crystal lattice. In addition, these modelizations are based on the structural data of the crystal. Since the measurements are often performed on ceramics, it is also necessary to take into account the effect of the relative density of the ceramic: effect of the microstructure.


A general framework is described whereby, using production functions, the rate of return on additional agricultural R & D can be calculated. This enables existing procedures to be critically reviewed. Illustrative results are given which indicate that the rates of return found in previous studies tend to be overestimates. It is also pointed out that these studies usually refer to well in the past, when the level of the agricultural research investment was generally lower and rates of return consequently larger than might now be expected. It is, however, concluded that the production-function approach needs extension and refinement, and better values of key parameters determined, before it could be used quantitatively as a determinant of research policy.


Medicare's current approach to hospice permits patients to choose a well-defined end-of-life care benefit, but it has tradeoffs in terms of eligibility, distinctions between curative and palliative therapy, and the segregation of hospice care from other services.


Family scientist Kevin Roy reviews the books So Rich, So Poor and Ain't No Trust. The books examine the consequences of welfare reform policy for low-income families and the next steps in dealing with rising social inequality.


This paper discusses hyperfeed, FlightAware's core flight data processing engine written in Tcl. Developed incrementally over the course of a decade, hyperfeed is responsible for ingesting all of FlightAware's 40+ data feeds, aggregating the data together, resolving inconsistencies, filling in gaps, detecting and filtering out unreliable or bad data, and producing a single data feed that represents an all-encompassing coherent view of worldwide flight traffic as understood by FlightAware. These results are visible to millions of users through the website, mobile apps, and various APIs. Hyperfeed is a high-performance, highly parallel and concurrent system that can easily saturate 32+ cores of a modern high-end machine, and it's all written in Tcl. It can run for weeks or months at a time and is only restarted to pick up software updates. It consists of a dispatcher process which routes incoming messages to child interpreters, which do work in parallel while sharing data and communicating state when necessary through a centralized PostgreSQL data store. Read-committed and linearizable/serializable transactional semantics from PostgreSQL are relied upon to guarantee correctness under contention.


The problem of testing for symmetry of a continuous distribution about a specified median is considered. The runs test proposed by McWilliams (McWilliams, T. P. (1990). A distribution-free test for symmetry based on a runs statistic. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 85(412), 1130–1133) is modified by conditioning on the number of observations greater than the specified median. Simulations show that the modified test slightly outperforms the unconditional one in terms of power and is quite robust for possible misspecification of the median.


The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has recently completed a safety analysis report (SAR) for the high-flux isotope reactor (HFIR). Because [open quotes]severe[close quotes] (core melt) accidents were an element of the HFIR's design basis, the SAR included analyses of such scenarios. A model using the MELCOR (Ref. 2) severe accident code has been developed for analysis of selected events that lead to core damage. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the calculation of the noble gas source terms to the environment following a postulated large-break loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) at the HFIR.


The goal of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is to classify optical patterns corresponding to alphanumeric or other characters. OCR involves several steps including segmentation, feature extraction, and classification. Each of these steps is a field unto itself, and is described briefly here in the context of a Matlab implementation of OCR. By using this project, system can be designed to help the visually handicapped people for solving real life problems. KEYWORDS—MSER, Canny Edge, OCR, Connected component labelling, TTS (text to speech) System.


The most popular methods for the solution of a non-stiff, but otherwise general, initial-value problem for an ordinary differential equation are the Adams, Runge--Kutta, and extrapolation methods (A, R-K, and E, respectively). If one could select at each step the best fixed-order R-K code for the step, the resulting algorithm would compete with A codes in derivative evaluations and present important advantages. Four codes based on different approaches have been written and studied. The RKSW code is rather successful. The earlier RKSG code is also described in some detail. Contrasting the ways these two codes handle a given task illuminates the construction of R-K codes which vary their order and the construction of mathematical software from a collection of goals and algorithmic ideas. (RWR)


Cloud computing is one of the emerging area in the business world that help to access resources at low expense with high privacy. Security is a standout amongst the most imperative difficulties in cloud network for cloud providers and their customers. In order to ensure security in cloud, we proposed a framework using different encryption algorithm namely Extended hill cipher and homomorphic encryption. Firstly user data/information is isolated into two parts which is static and dynamic data (critical data). Extended hill cipher encryption is applied over more important dynamic part where we are encrypting the string using matrix multiplication. While homomorphic encryption is applied over static data in which it accepts n number of strings as information, encode each string independently and lastly combine all the strings. The test results clearly manifests that the proposed model provides better information security.


The aim of this study is to find out the difference between Operating leverage position of non-life insurance companies and life insurance companies. The researcher has chosen the OICL(Oriental Insurance Company Ltd) to represent the non-life insurance companies and LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) to represents the life insurance companies.To analyze the leverage position of the sample companies, leverage ratios such as Operating Leverage Ratio, Net Leverage Ratio and Debt Equity Ratio are used in this study. The required data is collected from the secondary source (Annual Reports and past records of the company). The data is collected from 2015-to 2019. After calculate the leverage ratios of the companies the researcher compares them with each other and find the differences between both the companies. For this purpose, One-Way ANOVA statistics is used and find the results.


The convergence speed of the standard Least Mean Square adaptive array may be degraded in mobile communication environments. Different conventional variable step size LMS algorithms were proposed to enhance the convergence speed while maintaining low steady state error. In this paper, a new variable step LMS algorithm using the accumulated instantaneous error concept is proposed.


Here we report a nanoparticle label based on apoferritin nanovehicle loaded internally with markers for sensitive electrochemical DNA detection. The central cavity structure, the dissociation and reconstitute properties at different pHs of apoferritin provide a facile method to load and release markers. Hexacynoferrate(III) was used as model marker to load into the cavity of apoferritin protein cage. The loaded nanoparticle surface was functionalized with amino-modified DNA probe. Electrochemical DNA hybridization assay based on the hexacynoferrate loaded apoferritin nanovehicle could detect 23 atmol DNA targets in 50 ul sample solution. The concept could be readily extended to load other redox and fluorescence markers for bioassay applications. The new nanoparticle labels hold great promise for multi-target detection (in connection to nanoparticles loaded with different markers) and for enhancing the sensitivity of other bioassays.


Abstract : There are many military tasks where forces must be exerted to perform critical activities. Most of these activities are dynamic in nature and hence require the individual to exert forces in a range of postures and configurations to complete the task. The reliance on static strength capability is inadequate in such cases because of the dynamic nature of the activity and the variance in the strength capability as a function of the position of the limb in space and/ or the speeds of movements involved. The primary objectives of this project were: (1) to develop a dynamic strength battery to assess dynamic strength capabilities of individuals and then to correlate static and dynamic strength measures; and (2) establish appropriate strength and anthropometric distributions and a demonstration of the computer accommodated model program. The first phase in this project was geared towards the development of a test battery for assessment of dynamic strength of trunk, arms, and legs for appropriate range of motion. The second phase of the project had two goals: (1) to develop an exclusion model; and (2) to establish appropriate strength and anthropometric distributions. Keywords: Body composition, Age, Sex, Height, Weight.


Special Session on Grid and System Software.- TeraGrid: A Foundation for US Cyberinfrastructure.- Globus Toolkit Version 4: Software for Service-Oriented Systems.- System Software for China National Grid.- Session 1: Grid Computing.- CGSV: An Adaptable Stream-Integrated Grid Monitoring System.- Performance Modeling and Analysis for Resource Scheduling in Data Grids.- Study on ?-Calculus Based Equipment Grid Service Chain Model.- A Performance-Based Parallel Loop Self-scheduling on Grid Computing Environments.- A Resource-Based Server Performance Control for Grid Computing Systems.- IBP: An Index-Based XML Parser Model.- A Stochastic Control Model for Hierarchical Grid Service.- Service-Based Grid Resource Monitoring with Common Information Model.- Distributed Gridflow Model and Implementation.- Session 2: Peer-to-Peer Computing.- A Secure P2P Video Conference System for Enterprise Environments.- Adaptive Query-Caching in Peer-to-Peer Systems.- Design and Deployment of Locality-Aware Overlay Multicast Protocol for Live Streaming Services.- Session 3: Web Techniques.- Dynamic Thread Management in Kernel Pipeline Web Server.- QoS Aware Service Composition with Multiple Quality Constraints.- Session 4: Cluster Computing.- Performance Modelling and Optimization of Memory Access on Cellular Computer Architecture Cyclops64.- TCP-ABC: From Multiple TCP Connections to Atomic Broadcasting.- A Parallel File System Based on Spatial Information Object.- Topology-Aware Multi-cluster Architecture Based on Efficient Index Techniques.- A Parallel Routing Algorithm on Circulant Networks Employing the Hamiltonian Circuit Latin Square.- An Efficient Load Balancing Algorithm for Cluster System.- Session 5: Parallel Programming and Environment.- A Greedy Algorithm for Capacity-Constrained Surrogate Placement in CDNs.- An Improved Scheme of Wavelength Assignment for Parallel FFT Communication Pattern on a Class of Regular Optical Networks.- A Parallel O(n27n/8) Time-Memory-Processor Tradeoff for Knapsack-Like Problems.- Improving Parallelism of Nested Loops with Non-uniform Dependences.- A Static Data Dependence Analysis Approach for Software Pipelining.- A Dynamic Data Dependence Analysis Approach for Software Pipelining.- A Parallel and Distributed Method for Computing High Dimensional MOLAP.- An Improved ACO Algorithm for Multicast Routing.- Performance Modelling of Pipelined Circuit Switching in Torus with Hot Spot Traffic.- An Incremental Compilation Approach for OpenMP Applications.- Enhanced Congestion Control Algorithm for High-Speed TCP.- Advanced Software On-Demand Based on Functional Streaming.- Can Out-of-Order Instruction Execution in Multiprocessors Be Made Sequentially Consistent?.- Efficiently Passive Monitoring Flow Bandwidth.- A Heuristic for Scheduling Parallel Programs with Synchronous Communication Model in the Network Computing Environments.- A Formal Model for Network Processor Workload.- Coping with Data Dependencies of Multi-dimensional Array References.- Session 6: Network Architecture.- QoS-Based Dynamic Channel Allocation for GSM/GPRS Networks.- Distributed Active Measuring Link Bandwidth in IP Networks.- Preferential Bandwidth Allocation for Short Flows with Active Queue Management.- A New Self-tuning Active Queue Management Algorithm Based on Adaptive Control.- Research on Multi-agent System Automated Negotiation Theory and Model.- Adaptive Congestion Control in ATM Networks.- Session 7: Network Security.- Secure Password Pocket for Distributed Web Services.- The Modified DTW Method for On-Line Automatic Signature Verification.- A Secure On-Demand Routing with Distributed Authentication for Trust-Based Ad Hoc Networks.- Probabilistic Packet Filtering Model to Protect Web Server from DDoS Attacks.- An Identity Authentication Protocol for Acknowledgment in IEEE 802.15.4 Network.- A Design of the Digital Content Distribution System Based on the Public Key and the Hierarchical Web Caching Structure.- Session 8: Network Storage.- Cluster-Aware Cache for Network Attached Storage.- Design and Implementation of a SAN Agent for Windows NT Architecture.- MagicStore: A New Out-of-Band Virtualization System in SAN Environments.- A Content Delivery Accelerator in Data-Intensive Servers.- A Systematic Scheme to Resolve QoS Dissatisfaction for Storage Cluster.- Secure Anonymous Communication with Conditional Traceability.- Session 9: Multimedia Service.- Real-Time Video over Programmable Networked Devices.- A New Raid-Disk Placement Method for Interactive Media Server with an Accurate Bit Count Control.- A New Region of Interest Image Coding for Narrowband Network: Partial Bitplane Alternating Shift.- Using Route Probing to Derive Link Traffic Load with Edge-Based Measurements.- Scheduling Multicast Traffic in a Combined Input Separate Output Queued Switch.- A QoS-Based Scheduling Mechanism for Overlay Aggregate Traffics.- Session 10: Ubiquitous Computing.- Energy Conservation by Peer-to-Peer Relaying in Quasi-Ad Hoc Networks.- Developing Energy-Efficient Topologies and Routing for Wireless Sensor Networks.- The Efficient Transmission Scheme in Wireless Crypto Communication.- Constructing k-Connected k-Cover Set in Wireless Sensor Networks Based on Self-pruning.- GCMPR: Gateway-Centric Multi-path Routing for Internet Connectivity of Wireless Mobile Ad Hoc Network.- A Semantic and Adaptive Context Model for Ubiquitous Computing.- Research of Survival-Time-Based Dynamic Adaptive Replica Allocation Algorithm in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks.


This paper reports on responses by Malaysian executives from Japanese electrical and electronic manufacturing
companies on the level of job satisfaction amongst executives in Selangor, Malaysia. 35.1% of the executives were found to be highly satisfied, 31.8% moderately satisfied and 33.1% dissatisfied with their jobs. The study finds that relationship between age groups, duration of service and gender versus job satisfaction are significant at 95 % confidence level. The older executives who have
more work experience showed a higher level of job satisfaction compared to the younger executives. In terms of gender, male executives experienced a higher level of job satisfaction compared to female executives. This could
be attributed to the Japanese work culture that emphasizes
the seniority - merit wage/ promotion and masculinity work culture. We suggest that promotion and salary increment policy should be geared towards a performance based system thus creating a healthy competitive environment that promotes excellent performance.


Metal silicide (Pd2Si, Ni2Si, CoSi, FexSi, and Cu6.69Si) catalysts supported by SBA‐15 have been prepared by a chemical vapor deposition method under a H2 atmosphere using (CH3)2SiCl2 as the Si source. Of the SBA‐15‐supported metal silicide catalysts, Ni2Si/SBA‐15 presented a modest activity, notable selectivity to styrene (>90 %), and high stability with respect to the selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene, which is attributed to the active‐site isolation and electron transfer in the silicide. Furthermore, Ni2Si/SBA‐15 also has a high selectivity to diphenylacetylene and 1,4‐butynediol, which demonstrates that Ni2Si/SBA‐15 is a promising, low‐cost catalyst alternative to noble‐metal catalysts as a selective hydrogenation catalyst.


The University of Luxembourg conducts the project of Basic Motor Qualifications (MOB AQ) in order to gather more information on the motor status and potential deficiencies of young students at the age of 8 years. The MOB AQ-concept is an innovative competence oriented concept to evaluate basic motor qualifications of students permitting PE teachers to foster students individually. The first step of the project is to elaborate competence-oriented test items according to the MOB AQ-approach (Kurz & Fritz, 2007) and according to quality criteria of standardized tests. A next step is to use the test battery in a project phase to establish a diagnosis for pedagogical purposes in several school classes of the class level 3 in elementary school in Luxembourg. In opposition to usual approaches based on abilities and the statistical legitimating of minimal standards, the MOB AQ-approach fixes normatively basic motor qualifications as minimal requirements for students to be able to participate in the movement culture. In accordance to the MOB AQ-approach, a basic motor qualification can be described as a motor task that (1) is sufficiently complex; (2) is related to a specific context or domain, and (3) can be codified in a binary way. First, MOB AQ-test-items in accordance to classical test-criteria will be developed. Secondly, results of the use of MOB AQ-testbatteries will deliver results about the basic motor qualifications of Luxembourgish students and their background.


Today's capitalist markets proclaim gated communities to be safer, friendlier communities, as consumers yearn for private utopias. However, many issues including the privatisation of public space, social control, urban governance, social exclusion and social capital are of concern for those questioning this new phenomenon. Evidence suggests that the safe, caring gated community ideology is not only misleading but can also lead to the creation of landscapes of exclusion, loss of social capital and community tolerance, and increased social exclusion.


Industrial work practices are carried out by the Business World/ Industry World (DU/DI) with competence in accordance with their fields to add provisions in the future where competition is getting tougher. This article is to find out the magnitude of the contribution of industrial work practices to the interest of students in the heavy equipment technology major. The type of research used is ex-post facto. The results of his research using test statistics show that the variable results of industrial work practice learning (x) and the variable majoring in heavy equipment technology (y) respectively indicate that there has been an increase in interest in the contribution of students majoring in heavy equipment technology.


The present invention (A) optical path and forming a first metal layer on the first protective layer of chemical conversion, the first selectively photo-curing the protective layer, a photo-curing the first protective layer and the non-photo-curing the coded first protective layer in step, (B) step, (C) the build-up layer to form a build-up layer on the first passivation layer, combining the first protective layer to a carrier to form a first circuit layer by patterning the metal layer the forming a second protective layer, and (D) and forming a first opening portion for exposing the first circuit layer a first pad portion of the first protective layer to remove the carrier, the photo-curable protective layer reduce operating costs by using and, at the same time as the separation of the carrier provides a method for producing a printed circuit board in which the first opening portion is formed. Photocuring, the open portion, the carrier


Acoustic impedance transitions in human or animal bodies or other media are measured for identification and diagnostic purposes by exposing the body to acoustic energy pulses to produce echo pulses which are detected. The echo pulses are processed to indicate the relative specific acoustic impedance of the exposed body as a function of the time/distance relationship of the echo pulses relative to the medium, thereby to enable the determination of the relative extent and position of irregularities in the body, for example.