Wearable activity trackers are electronic devices which are used to monitor fitness, sleep and other physical activities. The popularity of these devices is increasing as their capability to identify and track different type of activities has grown while at the same time they continue to become more affordable. This paper evaluates several machine learning techniques to improve our ability to accurately predict various physical activities like lying, sitting, walking and running using data tracked by such activity trackers. The dataset includes 3656 of Apple Watch and 2608 minutes of Fitbit data. The results show that an XGBoost model achieved the maximum AUC of 0.98 for the Apple Watch dataset, 0.99 on the Fitbit dataset, and 0.98 on the combined dataset.


Objective To explore the early diagnostic value of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) in detection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus (SFTSV),and to have an overview on the level of antibody against SFTSV in healthy population of Ningbo Xiangshan.Methods Local SFTSV strains isolated from African green monkey kidney cells (Vero cells) were used to produce antigen films.SFTSV antibody in blood samples from 265 healthy individuals in Xiangshan were detected by IFA and ELISA.The results of IFA and ELISA were compared with that of micro-neutralization test (MNT).Results Of 265 serum samples,the positive rates of SFTSV-IgG detected by IFA and ELISA were 13.58% (36/256) and 8.68% (23/256),respectively,with a significant difference (x2=9.624,P<0.05).The coincidence rate of MNT and IFA was 89.19% (33/37) which was higher than 70.27% (26/37) of MNT and ELISA,with a significant difference between them (x2=4.097,P<0.05).Both of IgM and IgG were detected positive in 23 samples,accounting for 62.16% (23/37) of IgG positive samples.Conclusions IFA can be used as a complementary method for diagnosis of SFTSV infection when viremia is absent because of its ability to detect IgM and IgG together.IFA is also suitable for antibody detection.High level of SFTSV-IgG antibody in healthy population of Ningbo Xiangshan suggests the epidemic and latent infection of SFTSV in local area.SFTSV-IgM detected positive in healthy individuals means the possibility of new infection in recent years.

Key words:
Bunyavirideae infections;  Antibody level;  Indirect immunofluorescence assay


Most marine crustacean eggs contain a full complement of nutritional resources that fuel the growth and metabolic processes over the course of their development. In terms of biochemical constituents, lipids and proteins play pivotal and central roles in these processes and, accordingly, have been studied extensively in crustaceans. Given the propensity of some ovigerous (egg-bearing) American lobsters (Homarus americanus) to undergo seasonal inshore-to-offshore migrations, thereby exposing their eggs to varying thermal regimes, this study's goal was to assess egg quality over their course of development by documenting changes in total lipids, proteins, and egg size (volume) in lobsters subjected to one of three simulated thermal regimes (inshore, offshore, constant (12°C), N = 5/trt, 15 total) in the laboratory and sampled at five discrete time intervals. Total egg lipids showed a marked decrease over time (r2adj = 0.85, P < 0.0001), early in the fall (average = -26%) and late spring (-62%), compared with stark increases in proteins over the same period (r2adj = 0.63, P < 0.0001, averages = 60%, 34%, fall and spring). Although there were no significant differences in total lipid or protein values (or egg sizes) between eggs exposed to inshore and offshore temperatures (P > 0.05), differences occurred in eggs exposed to a constant temperature, and they hatched almost three months sooner than inshore or offshore ones. Seasonal temperature fluctuations also appear to control the rates of biochemical processes in lobster eggs but may be confounded by other variables.


In this sero-epidemiological study, we investigated humoral immunity to three vaccine-preventable diseases—tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis—among 331 adults (aged 18–60 years) attending vaccination centres for travellers and who had been vaccinated according to national recommendations in France. Serological results showed that the percentage of subjects with antibodies to diphtheria and tetanus decreases with age. Results also confirmed surveillance data on vaccination in France, with 7.6% of the study population (13.4% of those aged 18–29 years) having recently acquired a pertussis infection. These results confirm the importance of following French recommendations for regular boosters for tetanus and diphtheria among adults. They also indicate the need for better implementation of the current recommendations for pertussis-vaccine boosters in adults.


This research aims to analyze how and what teachers learn in community of implementing mathematics textbooks with Lesson Study and Open Approach about addition in number and operations for first grade. The participants were 2 teachers who use the textbook in the classroom using Lesson Study and Open Approach. The mathematics textbooks for this study were Japanese mathematics textbooks (Thai version), and consist of mathematics activities, flow of lesson, and students' mathematical ideas (Inprasitha, 2015b). The data were collected in October 2015 by interview and classroom observation with video recording. The data were analyzed based on communities of practice (CoP) from Wenger, McDermott, & Snyder (2002), and Shulman & Shulman (2004). The result of this research found that how and what teachers learned in community of implementing mathematics textbooks with Lesson Study and Open Approach, are 2 aspects: 1) teachers learned about the content of mathematics from their sharing on the textbook and students' ideas together, and 2) teachers learned how to teach the content, through using the textbook for sharing anticipating students' ideas, observing students' ideas, and reflecting by using evidence from students' ideas that appeared in classroom.


Security of data stored inside storage devices is becoming one of the main issues in computer security now. It is known that the most efficient techniques to protect storage devices are using cryptography. Developing newer and more secure encryption algorithms and modes of operation might be critically important to protect these devices since conventional disk encryption algorithms, such as CBC mode, have shown serious security flaws. In this paper, the IEEE XTS encryption mode of operation for storage encryption (P1619 standard) has been implemented using parallel design. A performance comparison between the sequential and parallel algorithms of XTS mode is presented here. Parallel overheads that prevented from achieving perfect linear speedup are measured and minimized. The parallel XTS algorithm has shown a speedup of 1.80, with 90% efficiency, faster than the sequential algorithm. In these simulations, AES is used as encryption algorithm with 256-bit encryption key.


This study examined the determinants of life
satisfaction among the elderly in Nigeria. A survey
research design was adopted for this study. A total of
194 participants were randomly selected. These
participants were made up of 77 males and 117
females. Their ages ranged from 60-88 years. Four
hypotheses were raised and tested. The findings
revealed that the sample mean for all the participants
was 19 which represents slightly dissatisfied with life.
However, no significant differences were found in life
satisfaction on the bases of gender, age, marital status
and job status. It was concluded that the reason for
the low level of life satisfaction among the elders was
due to the weak nature of the care and support available
to the elderly due to changes in the family system in
Nigeria. It was recommended that the elderly must
be provided financial support both by the government
and family members. They must be helped to realize
that their waning years are not meant to be frustrating
and fruitless. Age-adjusted policies and programmes
that encourage workplace flexibility, lifelong learning
and healthy lifestyles, especially during transitional
periods should be put in place.


This chapter presents the results of a study of Gersonides' notion of dialectic, as presented in his biblical commentaries, and outline its main features. Gersonides is especially interested in dialectic because it is the only method that can be used in sciences that cannot employ absolute demonstrations and demonstrations per signum . Drawing on Aristotles Metaphysics and on his understanding of Ibn Rusds commentaries on the Topics , especially the Middle Commentary, along with his interpretation of the remarks about the usefulness of three types of dialecticdialectic as a method of verification, dialectic as a method of examination, and dialectic as training (i.e., as mental exercise)in his biblical commentaries Gersonides offers a complete theory of dialectic as an investigative tool that makes it possible to acquire true and certain scientific knowledge in metaphysics, politics, and physics. Keywords: Aristotles Metaphysics ; dialectic; Gersonides biblical commentaries


The paper describes some of the different schemes which have been developed for harnessing of wave power with particular reference to those schemes which were considered by the Commission for its proposed wave power station on King Island. Some of the factors which were significant in the selection of the TAPCHAN scheme for the King Island development are described and comparisons are made between the proposed wave power station and other power developments involving both renewable and conventional technologies. It is concluded that while the proposed TAPCHAN development may have some application for isolated island communities as an alternative to diesel generation the large scale use of the technology in larger power systems would not be acceptable on economic or environmental grounds.


Past scholarship has described the Cham Bani religious community as a heterodox and syncretic version of Islam. We argue for a more nuanced interpretation: assertions of orthopraxy and heteropraxy shape contemporary debates in Cham communities in Vietnam. Based on a robust selection of source material—including the positions of government officials, high-ranking clerics, community members, and local activists, along with historicised anthropological accounts, Cham manuscripts, and government documents—our multidisciplinary approach, combining in-depth interviews and historical analysis, suggests religious classifications cannot be viewed as static in Cham communities, especially in the case of the 'Cham Bani', currently best thought of as a Cham particularist religious community.


We present a general architecture for efficient and deterministic morphological analysis based on memory-based learning, and apply it to morphological analysis of Dutch. The system makes direct mappings from letters in context to rich categories that encode morphological boundaries, syntactic class labels, and spelling changes. Both precision and recall of labeled morphemes are over 84% on held-out dictionary test words and estimated to be over 93% in free text.


Objective To investigate the application and effects on cerebral hemorrhage patients with dysphagia by family nursing intervention.Methods One hundred and twelve cerebral hemorrhage patients with dysphagia who were treated in the department of neurosurgery in Quhua Hospital in Zhejiang Province from June 2010 to June 2012 were chosen as the research objects,then they were divided into the conventional care group and the family nursing inter vention group,the conventional care group were given nursing intervention measures under the guidance of conven tional nursing mode,but the family nursing intervention group were given family nursing intervention under the guid ance of nursing intervention measures,the clinical efficacy and health beliefs was compared.Results The clinical efficacy(95.35% vs 81.40%) and health beliefs in the family nursing intervention group were obviously higher than that in the conventional care group(P 0.05).Conclusion Family nursing intervention are conducive to improve the health belief and improve the cerebral hemorrhage patients with dysphagia quality,as a result,it is worthy to be popularized.


Hexacyanoferrates(II) and (III) (mostly their potassium salts) are often used as analytical reagents due to their easily conducted redox reactions and high stabilities under various conditions. In structural chemistry, though, they are of much greater importance and interest not only due to their ability to form extensive hydrogen bond networks, wherein hexacyanoferrate anions are usually hydrogen bond acceptors, but also because of their potential in making new solid electrolytes and metal-organic frameworks. In present research 4, 4'-bipyridinium hexacyanoferrate(II) tetrahydrate (I) and 4, 4'-bipyridinium 4-(pyrid-4-yl)pyridinium hexacyanoferrate(III) trihydrate (II) are prepared and their crystal structures determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound I crystallizes as dark blue triclinic platelets (space group P , Z = 1) with iron atoms in inversion centers. Three structure determining hydrogen bond motifs are present (shown in Figure 1), chains of hexacyanoferrate(II) anions bridged by two water molecules per anion along the b axis, and chains of same anions, bridged by two 4, 4'-bipyridinium cations in two different directions, along the a axis and the [0 1 1] direction. Thus a 3D hydrogen bond network is formed. Compound II crystallizes as light yellow monoclinic needles (space group P21/c, Z = 4). In it's structure 4, 4'-bipyridine is present in two different forms, as double protonated 4, 4'-bipyridinium cations that, together with water molecules and hexacyanoferrate(III) anions form a complex 3D hydrogen bond network where N―H∙∙∙O, O―H∙∙∙N and O―H∙∙∙O hydrogen bonds are present, and wherein, along the a axis, channels are situated, and as single protonated 4-(pyrid-4-yl)pyridinium cations that form long N―H∙∙∙N hydrogen bonded chains inside the channels.


An improved unbalanced grid fault ride-through control strategy is proposed to meet the low voltage ride through(LVRT) requirements based on the analysis of power characteristics of a full rated converter for direct-driven permanent magnet synchronous generator(PMSG).According to the power characteristics,the relationship among dc-link capacitor voltage,power absorbed by interface reactors and grid-side power output is studied.The information of grid voltage drops is introduced into generator-side converter control to achieve coordinated control of grid-side converter and generator-side converter.The soft control strategy on dc-link capacitor voltage is adopted to suppress double-frequency active power ripple at the expense of a certain voltage fluctuations which is still within the safety range.The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy can enhance direct-driven PMSG's unbalanced grid faults ride-through capability.


A subject to biological tissue ultrasonic transducer (transducer) method for determining the probability that faces the (2) in real time (100), A step (101) to be transmitted to the interior of the biological tissue through the ultrasonic transducer ultrasonic signals, and the step (102) for receiving an ultrasound signal backscattered by the biological tissue through the ultrasonic transducer, at least two instantaneous parameters of backscattered ultrasound signals, calculating E, LIN, and step (103) for calculating the ATT, the prediction value P to the presence of acoustic properties of biological tissue of interest (104 includes a), a step (105) for estimating the likelihood that biological tissue of interest is opposed to the ultrasonic transducer, the predicted values, at least two instantaneous parameters (E, LIN, ATT) It is calculated using the estimated (105), the predicted value or is made according to at least one intensity condition based on at least one of the two instantaneous parameters .The


Canada was one of the first countries in the world to criminalise cannabis in 1923. It was not until the late 1960s and an associated upsurge of youthful cannabis use that the government and various stakeholders seriously interrogated the appropriateness of this punitive prohibition. Nevertheless, despite numerous opportunities for law reform for over four decades, cannabis possession continues to be illegal and as a result, hundreds of thousands of Canadians have received criminal records under these laws. This article reviews federal attempts at cannabis law reform and uses data spanning several decades to examine the characteristics of individuals convicted of cannabis possession and the implications of criminalisation on their lives.


The particular family of liquid crystalline filters is presented. Their basis application is multiresolution image analysis (wavelet transform). That filter creates polarized beam of light, which constitutes the Haar wavelet. Simulation of such a filter by means of 4 X 4 matrix is presented as well as experimental results. The picture of the filter in polarized light is shown below in Fig. 2. In cooperation with phase shifter the polarization of the light beam may be rotated in the filter to extract image's features.


This thesis is concerning the improvement of thrust by employing ejector at the end tube of pulse detonation engine (PDE). There are two ways of improving the thrust of PDE, one is to choose higher performance engine component and the other is in to improve the mechanism of detonation initiation. But sometimes those steps required more advanced and sometimes more complex mechanism. This thesis suggest a simpler and easier way to improve thrust in PDE by employing ejector of different geometries at the open end of detonation tube. Therefore the objective of this thesis is to improve the performance of the PDE so that stable detonation can be achieved at a reasonable repetitive rate. In this study the improvement on thrust generated by the installation of ejector is quantified. The study is conducted in High Speed Reacting Flow Laboratory (HiREF), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The PDE is operated with propane as fuel and oxygen as the oxidiser at the frequency of 5Hz. The four ejectors tested in this study namely straight, convergent, divergent and convergent-divergent ejectors. All ejectors have similar length and inlet diameter which are 400 mm and 130 mm respectively. The maximum augmentations for each ejector were measured using load cell. The highest improvement on thrust generated which is 12.6% higher than the baseline configuration has been achieved with the use of convergent ejector that is installed at downstream position. The study shows that the ejectors are very sensitive with its axial position to the open end of PDE.


Pola Negri, Vilma Banky, Jetta Goudal: What links these seemingly unrelated starlets of early Hollywood cinema other than the coincidence that all three emigrated from Europe to America during the ...


This paper in the form of story discusses a college student's information search process. In this story we see Kuhlthau's information search process: initiation, selection, exploration, formulation, collection, and presentation. Katie is a student who goes in search of information for her class research paper. Katie's class readings, her interest and reflection on the topic, and the instructor's guidance really help her to focus on the topic of her research. The librarian's service is also quite helpful by providing needed and timely service. When we compare the service to Grover's model of service, we see that the problem was diagnosed by two people—the instructor and the librarian. The course instructor had already provided the student feedback about narrowing the topic and the advice to refer to primary sources as well. So it was an easy diagnosis for the librarian when the student seeks the librarian's help in finding primary sources. Here the librarian seemed very caring and helpful, which made the student to go back to the librarian for help.


Huge amounts of digital data have been created across years due to the increasing digitization in our everyday life. As a consequence, fast data collection and storage tools have been developed and thus data can be collected in huge volumes for various research and business purposes. The collected data can come from multiple data sources and can be of heterogeneous kinds thus forming heterogeneous multi-source datasets. These data could thus be analyzed in order to extract valuable information that serves research and business purposes. Data mining has been known as an important task in discovering interesting and valuable information from datasets and has gained a great interest across time. Different approaches in the domain of data mining have been proposed, among which pattern mining is the most important one. Pattern mining, including sequential pattern mining, discovers statistically relevant patterns (or sequential patterns) among data. This domain has grown to be very important where its challenges include discovering important patterns with a limited complexity of the mining process as well as avoiding redundancy among the resulting patterns. Multiple data sources could provide various kinds of data such as descriptive and sequential data which makes the mining process complex. Although these data are multi-source and heterogeneous, there could be problems of data similarity on a data source level which leads to the loss of valuable information and thus limits the number of extracted frequent patterns. The aim of this PhD thesis is to mine data from a heterogeneous and multi-source dataset in order to obtain rich and valuable information and compensate the loss of valuable patterns due to the problem of similarity among patterns. This goal is intended to be reached with a limited complexity of the mining process and with avoiding the redundancy among the resulting patterns. Many approaches have been proposed to mine multi-source data. These approaches either integrate data from multiple data sources and perform a single mining process, which significantly increases the complexity of the mining process and generates a large and redundant set of sequential patterns, or they mine sources separately and integrate the results which could lead to a probable loss of patterns that could have only been extracted when managing different data sources together. For this sake, we propose G_SPM, a general sequential pattern mining algorithm that takes advantage of the multi-source nature of data in order to mine patterns of a new form, named general patterns, that are more general but with higher data coverage than traditional sequential patterns, and they are rich as they contain various kinds of information. These patterns allow to compensate the loss of patterns caused by the problem of similarity among them. G_SPM adopts a strategy of selective mining among data sources where an indispensable source is mined first, and additional sources are mined only when similarity among patterns is detected which allows to limit the complexity of the mining process and avoids redundancy among the resulting patterns. The experimental results confirm that G_SPM succeeds in mining general patterns from multi-source data with a limited complexity of the mining process, and it succeeds in handling the problem of similarity among the patterns and compensating their loss. In addition, it outperforms traditional approaches in terms of runtime and redundancy of the resulting patterns.


In this paper, the authors present a model for autonomous driving behavior useful for creating ambient traffic as well as experiment- specific scenarios for driving simulation. The model follows roadways, obeys rules of the road, reacts to other vehicles and traffic control devices, and supports a range of behaviors such as passing, lane changing, and navigating through intersections. The model is established with parameters reflecting the personality of the driver. It also responds to behavior-oriented directives.


Horizontal root fractures are defined as those that involve cementum, dentin and pulp, comprising from 0.5 to 7% of injuries in permanent dentition on dental trauma. Diagnosis is made through clinical findings and radiographic exams, the latter frequently being limited by the position of the fracture line. Treatment varies according to the displacement of crown portion and vitality of the fragments. Authors describe clinical cases of maxillary right central incisor with horizontal root fractures in dental clinic, Jeju National University Hospital.


Letter, Willard J. Templeton to Brother James, Near Knoxville, Tennessee, February 5, 1864; 6 pp., transcribed by Joseph Hreschak and Katelyn Sirois.


Dear Editor-in-ChiefAn estimation of about 650,000 Chinese were living with HIV/AIDS in 2005 (1); MSM (men who have sex with men) have also become high-risk groups in the infection and spread of HIV/AIDS. In recent years, MSM accounted for the proportion of all new HIV-positive individuals jumped from 12.2% in 2007 to 32.5% in 2012 (1). AIDS high-risk groups, particularly MSM cardinality estimation, are an important foundation for the comprehensive and objective HIV testing analysis and master the basic situation of MSM to analyze and forecast HIV epidemic trends (2).On the international, the cardinality estimation methods of AIDS high-risk groups mainly include two types of direct and indirect method (3-4). Most estimated methods cannot be used as statistical inference or not suitable for investigation on sensitive questions, so our team chooses multiple sources of CMR method as our experimental way for the advantages (5). This study selected twostage random sampling method. Twenty-eight activities, 10 MSM VCT outpatient clinics, and 7 MSM websites in Beijing were selected in the first phase of random sampling; the second phase selected people from places which had been extracted before, at last, 1774 MSM were randomly selected from VCT outpatient clinic, MSM websites and activities. Sample size has been given by estimate formula according to Jianfeng Wang, Ge Gao (6). The participants among MSM have Beijing household registration and lived in Beijing more than six months. Moreover, the closure of the research field about one month guaranteed that this condition meet the demands.This study collected 1774 samples; the youngest was 16 years old, and the oldest was 49 years old. Of recycling 1774 samples, 519 samples were from MSM activities, 752 samples came from VCT outpatient clinic, and 503 samples originated in gay website. Qualified questionnaires were 1766, of which the percent of pass was 99.5% Overall, 516 samples were from MSM activities, 747 samples came from VCT outpatient clinic, and 503 samples originated in gay website. In which 18.9% of respondents' domiciles were Beijing. The MSM who seek sexual partners in actual venues, MSM activities and gay website was significant. Three sources including actual venues, MSM activities and gay website were shown in Table 1.Estimated cardinal numbers among MSM population of Beijing:(ProQuest: ... denotes formula omitted.)Asymptotic variance Var(N ) was calculated by using different inner product of orthogonal projection and SAS programming iterative calculation, the result was as follows: Var(N )=7682 . N 95% confidence interval of MSM population is calculated as follows: N ±1.96 Var(N ) =-63226~93340. The cardinal number of MSM in Beijing was estimated to be 78283 (70601-85965).According to NBS(National Bureau of Statistics) statistical yearbook in 2013 (7), the total resident population of Beijing was 20.693 million in 2012, of which 10.681 million were men, 15~49 years old of the population were 13. …


Certain aspects of reproductive biology of Botia dario from Sivasagar district, Assam were carried out. The sex ratio (M:F) of B. dario was 1 : 1.36. The ova diameter ranged from 0.5 to 0.77 mm with a mean of 0.6 + 0.1. The species is high fecund and the ranged from 8000 to 49600 in fishes ranging from 7 to 13.9cm (mean 10.51 + 2.01) and in body weight from 4.8 to 32.1gm (mean 15.82 + 8.62). The relationship between fecundity (F) and total length (TL), total body weight (BW) and total gonadal weight (GW) were found to be linear with the r values 0.94, 0.96 and 0.95 respectively. The gonadosomatic ratio (GSR) ranged between 2.05 and 12.58 with mean of 7.37 + 3.5 in case of female and in case of male ranged between 0.5 and 2.5 with mean of 0.94 + 0.5. The GSR showed highest peak in the monsoon and lowest in the pre-monsoon season. The relationship between GSR and TL, BW and GW were also found to be linear with the r values 0.7, 0.75 and 0.71 in case of male and 0.67, 0.66 and 0.84 respectively in case of female.


resection (C-EMR) was launched as a procedure of choice for the treatment of nonpedunculated colorectal polyps; however, for lesions of > 20mm, piecemeal EMR has been associated with significant incomplete resection rates. The sequence from incomplete resection to colon cancer is well documented in the literature. Therefore, techniques that increase the rate of en bloc R0 resection with EMR are of the utmost importance. To this end, modified EMR techniques such as precutting EMR or anchoring EMR (A-EMR) have been proposed. A-EMR was first described in the last decade [1, 2], but what is this technique and what is its merit? A small incision is created with the tip of the snare in the submucosa of the mucosal area surrounding the polyp. Subsequently, the snare tip is anchored in the defect, with the aim of both preventing slippage of the snare and widening the diameter of the open snare. So, what is already known about this technique? A multicenter French retrospective study [3] evaluating 141 sessile or flat lesions of 10–30mm showed that the A-EMR technique was very effective for lesions of 10–20mm. For lesions of <20mm specifically, the en bloc R0 resection was 82.8%; however, the proportions of en bloc R0 resection were lower for larger lesions, reaching only 50% for lesions of > 30mm. Complete transmural perforation was observed in three out of 141 cases, all of which were treated endoscopically. It is worth noting that no perforations occurred with lesions of < 20mm. Data arising from this study are promising, indicating that A-EMR might be considered as a valuable alternative to endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).


We describe new versions of high-harmonic gyrotrons with axis-encircling electron beams developed on the basis of two (80-keV pulsed and 30-keV continuous wave) experimental setups. Selective operation at the second (0.267 THz) and at the third (0.394 THz) cyclotron harmonics was observed in the 30-keV gyrotron. Cavities with periodic phase correctors, where a far-from-cutoff axial mode with a decreased diffraction Q-factor is excited in a gyrotron-like regime, are designed to improve the operation at the third harmonic, as well as to achieve the fourth-harmonic operation at frequencies up to 0.65 THz. At the pulsed gyrotron setup, a sectioned cavity with a decreased diffraction Q-factor was experimentally tested.


To test the hypothesis that antibodies against the chromosomal β‐lactamase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (aβab) might act as β‐lactamase inhibitors in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic lung infection with P. aeruginosa, we compared in a rat model of chronic lung infection the efficacy of treatment with ceftazidime in β‐lactamase‐immunized (group I) and non‐immunized (group II) rats. Chronic lung infection was established with alginate‐embedded P. aeruginosa producing high amounts of β‐lactamase in 133 Lewis rats. Prior to infection, group I (66 rats) was immunized three times at 2‐week intervals with purified β‐lactamase in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) and group II (67 rats) received IFA. Ceftazidime treatment was initiated after challenge and continued for 10 days, after which the rats were sacrificed and the lung bacteriology and pathology were analysed. Rat serum was analysed for the β‐lactamase inhibitory activity and aβab‐specific IgG and IgG subclasses titres. β‐lactamase inhibitory activity was found only in sera of rats belonging to group I and it was used to divide these rats into two subgroups: rats whose sera inhibited ≥75% of β‐lactamase activity (responders) and rats whose sera inhibited ≤25% of β‐lactamase activity (non‐responders). The responder subgroup had significantly smaller pathological areas in the lungs and lower cfu/ml lung homogenate compared to the non‐immunized group (p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively) and compared to the non‐responder subgroup (p=0.008 and p=0.0001, respectively). On the day of challenge, significantly higher titres of aβab‐specific IgG and IgG subclasses antibodies were found in the responders compared to the non‐responders (p < 0.0001). In the responder subgroup the avidity of IgG aβab was significantly higher than in the non‐responder subgroup (p=0.0003). Our study showed that aβab with β‐lactamase inhibitory activity raised by immunization with β‐lactamase can improve the outcome of treatment with ceftazidime of resistant P. aeruginosa in a rat model of chronic lung infection.


Three recent clinical trials have changed the way postmenopausal hormone treatment is viewed. One of the trials was ended because of increases in breast cancer risk related to the treatment. Further, the decrease in the risk of heart and blood vessel disease, that was expected, was not found in any of these trials. Major health organizations have responded and suggested that use of this type of therapy be discontinued for health promotion and most disease prevention purposes.


A rotor (10) of an electric motor is provided in which a cylindrical rotor core (16) that is formed by stacked magnetic steel sheets (19) and includes permanent magnets (24) is crimp-fixed to a rotor shaft (14). The rotor core (16) is directly fixed, in the axial direction of the rotor shaft (14), between a flange portion (12) that is provided on an outer periphery of the rotor shaft (14) and abuts against one axial end surface (17a) of the rotor core (16), and a crimping member (18) that is crimp-fixed on the rotor shaft (14) while pressure-contacting the other axial end surface of the rotor core (16).


Based on the intrinsic property of orientation and interval of fingerprint textures in a local region of fingerprint images, the concept of the orientation field and the frequency field is proposed. Then, a fast and effective fingerprint enhancement algorithm is designed using dedicated Garbor filter based on the information of orientation field and frequency field in a fingerprint image. The algorithm will not only utilize the information in a local specified region of fingerprint images, but also the associated information of adjacent neighborhood regions with four directions. Based on the combination analyses of specified region and its neighborhood regions, a single Gabor filter with the best orientation direction and other optimal parameters will be selected in the new adaptive fingerprint enhancement algorithm for the regular regions in fingerprint image, and a combination multi Gabor process will be implemented for the non-regular regions, such as the poor image quality regions or the regions with the ridge in abruptly changed direction. The experimental results show that compared with Lin Hong′s algorithms, the algorithm requires less computational processing and provides better enhancement result.


processing assembly (1) comprising a container with flexible walls (2) for the separate packaging of at least two elements (A, B), one of which at least one is liquid (B) and contained in a sachet (4) , said bag being capable of opening in response to pressure exerted by the user on the said sachet via the flexible walls of the container, so as to cause contacting said elements. The pouch (4) is arranged freely inside the container (2). The invention also relates to the use of such an assembly (1) and a method of treatment, in particular cosmetics.


3D modeling process and shaped conductor of head face of helical rotor is described, and the constructing method of critical curves of head face is explained in detail. The processing principle of helical rotor is discoursed in paper and the four-axis tool path of the helical rotor based on ball cutter is deduced in UG environment. The Dynamic Process Simulation of tool path is finished, which Verify the feasibility of tool paths


About twenty years ago, the so‐called "infall" theory had been thoroughly worked out by Hoyle and by Alfven. They reasoned that, since the sun moves through clouds of interstellar hydrogen gas, the neutral hydrogen must fall in toward the sun under the influence of the gravitational field. On its way toward the surface of the sun, the hydrogen encounters a strong flux of ultraviolet radiation and, because of the small rate of recombination, it becomes completely ionized. Thus the inner solar system is filled with a dilute, highly conducting plasma. At about the same time the infall theory was worked out, it became rather generally accepted that the corona of the sun has a temperature of 1 or 2 million degrees. In fact, Hoyle tried to account for the heating of the corona in terms of the energy released by the hydrogen falling into the sun.


As the reversal of the duty of evidence in the European countries grows, the risk of liability for providers and producers of railway systems and system components considerably increases. The providers and producers have to protect themselves through good self organisation.


This law school casebook examines how society uses law to impact the realities of existence for poor people. It explores an emerging orthodoxy ; that government welfare programs harm more than they help. The first section focuses on conceptualizing poverty law theory through exploring current poverty, the historical legacies influencing welfare policy, and competing public policy perspectives on welfare. The second section examines poverty law practice, including challenges for poverty lawyers and the constitutional issues related to due process, equal protection, and the unconstitutional conditions dilemma. The third section discusses welfare reform and its focus on family and work.


Discrete dynamical systems are widely used in biological and entomological applications to model interacting populations. The manuscripts included in this thesis present global dynamic results for three different population models. Manuscript 1 presents basic concepts and definitions for general systems of difference equations in order to lay the theoretical foundation for the remaining sections. Manuscript 2 discusses competitive systems of difference equations with the form xn+1 = b1 xn α1 + xn + c1 yn , yn+1 = b2 yn α2 + c2 xn + yn n = 0, 1, 2, . . . , where the parameters b1, b2 are positive real numbers and α1,α2, c1, c2 and the initial conditions x0, y0 are arbitrary nonnegative numbers. In particular, the special cases when α1 = α2 = 0 and when α1 = 0 and α2 = 0 are investigated. The global behavior of the system in these cases is fully characterized. Global results are also established for general competitive systems of difference equations that have a particular orientation of equilibria and certain local stability characteristics. In Manuscript 3, the system of difference equations xn+1 = α xn 1 + β yn , yn+1 = γ xn yn xn + δ yn , n = 0, 1, 2, . . . , is analyzed, where α, β, γ, δ, x0, y0 are positive real numbers. The system was formulated by P. H. Leslie in 1948 and models a host-parasite type of prey-predator interaction. Manuscript 3 provides the most complete dynamical analysis to date of this classic model. A boundedness and persistence result along with global attractivity results for various parameter regions are established. Numerical evidence of chaotic behavior is also presented for particular solutions of the system. Finally, Manuscript 4 discusses structured models of difference equations with the forms: yn+1 = M ( f1(y (1) n ), . . . , fk(y (k) n ) ) t , n = 0, 1, 2, . . . , y0 ∈ R+, (I) and xn+1 = A xn + k  =1 f(cxn) b, n = 0, 1, 2, . . . , x0 ∈ X+, (II) In (I) and (II), M ∈ Rk×k + , A is a bounded, linear operator on an ordered Banach space X with positive cone X+, and for each  ∈ {1, . . . , k}, b ∈ X+, c is a positive, bounded linear functional on X, and f : [0,∞) → [0,∞) is a continuous function with f(0) = 0. Conditions are established under which there is a oneto-one correspondence between positive equilibrium points (persistence states) of (I) and (II). Under these conditions, and when X = R, the stability type of the zero equilibrium (extinction state) of (I) is shown to be the same as that for (II). Particular attention is given to the case when k = 2. The utility of this analysis is that the dynamics of model (II) on a high dimensionality state space X can be reduced to model (I), where the dimension of the state space is the same as the number k of nonlinearities that appear in (II).


intense and homogeneous fires with the loss of landscape-level diversity.Restoration activities in these forests should focus on restoration of diverse landscape patterns. It is the low-severity fire regime forests that have been most affected by fire suppression activities.Fire regimes in these forests were historically typified by low-intensity surface fires at relatively short return intervals (often less than 10 years).In the absence of f i re ,h e rb a ceous surfa ce fuels have been replaced by dense understory tree and shrub in-growth and the development of fuel ladders that facilitate crown-killing fire.In some areas, prescribed fire can be used to restore healthy conditions,but in many areas the threat of catastrophic fire is too great.Here,mechanical t reatments are nece s s a r y.Such tre a t m e n t s should,in priority order,reduce surface and ladder fuels,and thin crown density.It is important that big trees be retained.These trees are fire resistant and important to maintaining conditions under which prescribed fire can then be used to maintain healthy forest conditions. Agee argued that a national fire policy


The one of "horse dances", commonly known in Indonesia as jaranan, kuda lumpingor jathilan, is a branch of ceremonial musical performances during which a group of artists led by a pawanganalogous, hence not perfectly corresponding, to the one of the shaman – and accompanied by an ensemble of musicians, undergo a series of voluntary possession by the spirits of the ancestors. In the present article – which will be completed with a second part in the next issue of this journal – the author problematizes the Sundanese version of this phenomenon: kasenian reak. The analysis is developed in relation to the polar tension between the concepts of tradition and innovation, touristification and orthodoxy, artistic performance and ritual ceremony that the practice has experienced evolving since the construction of independent and the consequent cultural policies.


OF THE DISCLOSURE Aerosol packaged spray adhesives including a 10-35% by weight dispersion of crosslinked dispersed insoluble high strength milled rubbery polymer in organic liquid together with tackifier resin and a small amount of soluble elastomer which sprays without forming rubbery strings or nonadherent mist. This application is a continuation-in-part of our co pending application Ser. No. 453,825, filed May 6, 1965, now abandoned. This invention relates generally to aerosol packaged ad hesives. More particularly, the invention relates to aerosol packaged high solids content adhesives having a high elastomer content. There has been a considerable demand for high strength aerosol packaged adhesives which can be sprayed on ma terials such as paper, cardboard, cloth, or foamed plastics. Prior to the present invention, such adhesives which pro vided good resistance to shear and peel contained less than about 5% by weight elastomeric material. The low solids contents at which such adhesives are conventionally packaged are not only wasteful of solvent and propellant, but result in a thin spray in which the volatiles soak into porous substrates. As a result, substrates such as paper are made translucent by the volatile liquids and other fragile objects tend to be otherwise injured by the solv ents used. In order to provide aerosol adhesives having a reasonably high solids content it has often been attempted to add an inert solid filler. However, compositions con taining such fillers do not provide the desired high strength adhesive bonds. When it was attempted to add elastomeric materials to the adhesives it was found that the materials would gum up and flow out of the container in rubbery strings rather than as a usable spray. It was also found that elastomeric materials agglomerated within the con tainer into a semisolid mass or irreversibly separated into two or more phases, thus rendering the material unspray able. Highly cross-linked or "gelled" elastomers have been known in the adhesives art for some time: see for exam ple Stevens U. S. Patent No. 2,673,845, granted Mar. 30, 1954. Previous to this, Finn Patent No. 2,537,982, granted Jan. 16, 1951, concerned self-toughening adhesive cements comprising elastomers such as copolymers of butadiene and acrylonitrile. Finn also observes that theretofore rubbery butadiene-acrylonitrile polymers had been vul canized in adhesive compositions, and discusses the diffi culties or problems in respect thereto. More recently, Hendricks et al., Canadian Patent No. 586,489, issued Nov. 3, 1959, based on a United States filing date of Apr. 18, 1955, discloses adhesive cement compositions contain ing highly cross-linked elastomers for general spray ap plications. However, none of these earlier efforts con cerned themselves with the specific problems of providing elastomeric based adhesives, at high solids content, (e.g., above about 10 percent) in areosol containers which can 0.


In this paper an exact and complete analysis of average design complexities of Lloyd-Max's scalar quantizers, scalar compandors and scalar quantizers designed using the hybrid model is carried out. The average design complexity depends on arithmetic complexity, memory complexity and implementation complexity. It is demonstrated that for a fixed number of quantizaton levels N, scalar compandors have the smallest and the Lloyd-Max's scalar quantizers have the largest complexity. Furthermore, it is shown that for a fixed number of quantizaton levels N the average design complexity of hybrid scalar quantizers is significantly smaller than the average design complexity of Lloyd-Max's scalar quantizers. Combining this result with the fact that the performances of hybrid scalar quantizers are almost equal to the optimal performances of Lloyd-Max's scalar quantizers, the usability of recently developed hybrid model is confirmed.


Calderon{Ryaben'kii potentials provide the foundation for the dif- ference potential method, which is an e-cient way for solving bound- ary value problems in arbitrary domains. This method allows us to re- duce a uniquely solvable and well{posed boundary value problem to a pseudo{difierential boundary equation. The general theory of Calderon{ Ryaben'kii potentials is considered via the theory of distributions. The deflnition of Calderon{Ryaben'kii potentials is based on the notion of a clear trace. The criterion of the clear trace is formulated. Partial difier- ential equations of the flrst order and the second order are considered as particular examples. On the basis of the Calderon{Ryaben'kii potential theory, a solution of the active sound control problem is obtained in a general formulation. For the flrst time, the solution of the problem takes into account the feedback of the active shielding sources on the input (measurement) data. The exact transfer of the boundary conditions from the original boundary to an artiflcial boundary is also considered.


The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed "emergency remote teaching" across education globally, leading to the closure of institutions across all settings, from schools through to universities. We draw on the quantitative and qualitative findings from a large-scale international survey (N=2,483) conducted in the immediate aftermath of closures, implementation of lockdown measures, and the shift to online delivery in March 2020. We report how those teaching the discipline of computer science (CS) across all educational levels (n=327) show significantly more positive attitudes towards the move to online learning, teaching and assessment (LT&A) than those working in other disciplines. However, while CS practitioners across all sectors/settings consistently noted the potential opportunities of these changes, they also raised a number of wider concerns on the impact of this shift to online, especially on workload and job precarity. More specifically for the discipline of CS, there were concerns raised regarding the ability to effectively deliver technical topics online, as well as the impact on various types of formal examinations and assessment.


The world market for electronic systems will reach $1 Trillion within a year and with further exponential growth over the next five years. The growth in areas such as telecommunications has increased the demand for creating single chip solutions to system. This has been achieved by integrating a number of complex sub-systems, including standard interface blocks (e.g., analog/digital converters), reused design cores (e.g., memory or microprocessors), embedded software, and new, innovative, custom designed "user blocks", into a single chip. Today, system-on-a-chip (SoC) has become a reality. However, the complexity of SoC makes it very difficult to achieve the desire test coverage without affecting the design schedule.


In most industrial automation systems, all machines and equipment must operate smoothly and continuously to maintain the system performance. Therefore, all kinds of unexpected failures of the system cannot be accepted. For this reason, the maintenance processes are the essential operations performed periodically to avoid system failures. Of course, this operation takes time and resources, but it cannot be avoided. It is known that most automation systems compose of electrical motors. They are the core devices for robots and other movable machines. Each motor produces meaningful parameters such as temperature, vibration, speed, noise, and power consumption. This paper presents the design and development techniques of the IoT-based embedded device that can be used for real-time monitoring and analysis of the unexpected operations of motors. The proposed device continuously senses and analyzes motor parameters to monitor and predict unexpected operations. We focus on temperature and unbalanced phenomenal measurement of the motors. The unbalanced parameter is implicitly measured from the speed changes using the time measurement of the sensing signals. The proposed device also supports wireless real-time data exchange to the server. The device and server exchange their data using the WebSockets protocol. The data sent to the server can be used for storage, processing, and monitoring. In this work, we also develop a web-based application that allows users to control and monitor the parameters of motors in real-time. The experimental results show that the proposed method can detect the unbalance operations and temperature of the motors at different operations. Therefore, the proposed system can be used in real-world applications that require abnormality detection, abnormal condition warning, and prediction of mechanical devices.


The recently launched Cluster II mission provides for the first time the possibility to instantaneously obtain spatially distributed measurements of field-aligned currents from a fleet of satellites. We present the "elementary current method" that combines such measurements mapped to the ionosphere with two-dimensional ground magnetic data, to calculate actual (not equivalent) ionospheric currents, without the need of further assumptions. If additional two-dimensional measurements of the ionospheric electric field from coherent scatter radars are available, the ionospheric Hall and Pedersen conductances can also be inferred. The applicability of the method is demonstrated for a passage of the Cluster II spacecraft over the Multi-Instrument Array for Ionosphere-Magnetosphere Coupling Studies (MIRACLE) network of ground-based instruments in northern Fennoscandia on February 1, 2001, using preliminary but realistic orbit parameters. The geophysical situation of ionospheric electrodynamic parameters that we model during this passage refers to a real event of a plasma vortex propagating eastward over the MIRACLE field of view, as studied by Kosch et al. [2000]. The application of the elementary current method to the simulated ground magnetometer and satellite measurements calculated from this model shows that the modeled ionospheric currents, as well as the Hall and Pedersen conductances, can be reconstructed by the method to good accuracy.


Continuous technological improvements have led to paradigm shift in industrial production. New concept, named Industry 4.0, is becoming more and more present in manufacturing companies. Even though advanced technologies are in the focus of Industry 4.0, there is a necessity for organizational improvements as well. Since organizational innovations represent a prerequisite for introduction of advanced technologies in manufacturing companies, there is a need to investigate which are the most appropriate in this context. Particularly, the focus of this paper is on manufacturing companies from developing country. For this purpose, data taken from European Manufacturing Survey are used. In this paper, Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was employed to determine the weights of criteria, while Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE) was employed to rank organizational innovations. It was found that in the context of Industry 4.0, organizational innovations related to work organization and design and training and continuing professional development of employees and management of complex systems are the most appropriate for manufacturing companies from developing country.


Serial sections of 60 bovine embryos (23 timed specimens) from 17 through 34 days gestation were examined to determine the processes and sequence of notochord development. Head notochord formed during days 18 through 21 as the ventral‐most layer of cells from Hensen's node became intercalated as the notochordal plate between the endodermal cells of the primitive open gut. The notochordal plate responded to contact by the neural plate during day 20 with hypertrophy of notochordal cells and a ventral curving of the notochordal plate margins to form the notochordal ridge which appeared as a dorsal evagination of the gut, but was not endodermal. Formation of the head notochord into a rod (without a notochordal canal or pit) occurred during days 20 and 21 reuniting the endodermal layer ventral to the notochord. Body notochord formed during days 21 through 32–33 caudad from the level of somite pair 6 by accumulation of notochordal cells from Hensen's node directly into a rod surrounded by a basal lamina without contact or penetration of the gut endoderm. Bovine notochord was, thus, formed by two methods. After formation by both methods, the notochord enlarged by proliferation of its own cells. Dorso‐ventral undulations of the notochord became distinct by the 27th day. The processes involved in bovine notochord development were different from descriptions published concerning other species in that 1. two methods of formation were found, and 2. notochordal plate formation preceded notochordal ridge production rather than vice versa.


1 Raffles Medical Group Clinic, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2 Faculty of Medicine, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Korle-Bu, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana, Diagnosis and Treatment of HIV Infection Unit, University Hospital, Verona, Italy, 5 Infectious Diseases, Hopital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium, 6 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia


A non-viral gene vector based on hydroxyethyl ultra-low molecular weight chitosan nanoparticles (HE-ULMWCh NPs) has been synthesized. The HE-ULMWCh is used to form nanoparticles with an enhanced green fluorescence protein (pEGFP) encoding plasmid that possesses diameters of 30–50 nm and a molecular weight of less than 2 kDa. The cytotoxicity assay shows that this new gene vector is significantly less cytotoxic than polyethylenimine whilst still retaining the characteristics of a cationic polyelectrolyte. Cellular uptake of HE-ULMWCh NP–pDNA nanocomplexes shows that HE-ULMWCh NPs can readily enter into cells via endocytosis and then be delivered to lysosomes. pDNA can be easily released from HE-ULMWCh NPs in the acidic vesicles of lysosomes, therefore resulting in a significant increase in the transfection efficiency in three different cell lines compared to naked pDNA. The in vitro results using the new gene vector are further confirmed by in vivo transfection in which HE-ULMWCh NPs provided 3.2 fold greater transfection efficiency than naked pDNA. The HE-ULMWCh NPs can therefore be concluded to be a promising delivery system for in vitro and in vivo gene transfection.


Consolidation and technological change are restricting the marketing alternatives for independent, small-volume produce growers. The following are some of the forces restricting small growers: contracting, bar coding, precut processing, increased globalization, HACCP, and efficient consumer response (Epperson and Estes, 1999; Kaufman et al., 2000 forthcoming; Shaffer, 1999). As a result of these and other forces, small volume produce growers tend to be limited to direct outlets (for example, farm stands, PYO, farmer's markets). Little attention, however, has been given to the marketing choices made by small-volume growers (an exception is Estes, 1985). The focus of this paper is a study that examines the characteristics of the farmer's operations and their choices of market outlets. The objective of that study was to generate information about the marketing activities of small-volume growers who had, as one of their options, access to organized farmer's markets.


Pell's equation (y2 − Dx2 = 1) is a problem that has challenged mathematicians for hundreds of years, from 628 in India to finally being solved in 1657. Furthermore, it has very wide applications, from rational approximation, to square roots, to finding solutions for polynomials and cryptography when generalized. Therefore, it is interesting and necessary to try to learn more about it, especially in trying to find a pattern that most or all solutions follow, since it is seldom researched. This paper attempts to gain a deeper understanding to solutions of Pell's equation by first finding the amount of solutions and then finding all solutions of Pell's equation with D = 2, 3 and 5. Then, it will be found that all solutions exist in the form of geometric sequence with two variables. However, if the two variables are separated they will only be geometric sequences with the same common ratio if and only if the values of D and number of terms is small.


Periodical management is an important section in library management.This paper has a brief review and summary on the application of ILAS System in periodical registration management.


Gradient descent methods have not typically been applied to the design of phase coded sequences because their derivations require O(N2) computations. Previous papers have shown computational simplifications which reduce the number of computations for designing sequences with good autocorrelation and cross-correlation properties to O(N logN). In this paper, we present derivations and algorithms for designing sequences with specific autocorrelation, cross-correlation, and spectral properties, and show how sequences can be designed to also have these properties be good simultaneously. Sequences with autocorrelation and cross-correlation constraints meet the known bounds. Adding spectral constraints degrades the correlation properties of the designed sequences, and we quantify those effects by example.


Cities in the United States are in a time of transition. Post-World War II patterns of growth have begun to play themselves out, and new patterns are emerging. Although low-density, car-dependent development on the urban fringe continues, more emphasis is being placed on higher-density, mixed-use development around transit stations, in city centers, and in suburban subcenters. In a reversal of historical trends that saw middle-class people flee distressed urban cores, many central cities are attracting new residents (especially younger people). In both central cities and suburbs, Americans are increasingly demanding more walkable and transit-friendly neighborhoods and in general are looking for higher quality urban places in which to live, work, and play. Concerns over the environmental and public health effects associated with urban sprawl, tighter government infrastructure budgets, the emergence of the creative economy, and a growing awareness of the destructive implications of social inequality are causing community leaders to question conventional models of urban growth and development. All these issues will almost certainly continue to gain in importance in the coming years and contribute to this new phase in the evolution of US cities.


The contamination, enrichment and source of arsenic (As) and other heavy metals in the soil and plants of famous coal mining city of central India, Korba are described. The black carbon and Fe in t ...


Purpose: To study the effect of Ocimum sanctum (OS) on selenite-induced morphological and biochemical changes in isolated rat lenses as well as on cataract incidence in rat pups. Methods: Transparent rat lenses were divided into normal, selenite-only, and four treated groups. Selenite-only and treated group lenses were subjected to oxidative stress in vitro by incorporating sodium selenite (100 μ M) in the culture medium. The effect of OS (70, 140, 280, and 560 μ g/ml) was studied on the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) in selenite-challenged lenses. The lowest concentration of OS offering significant modulation on these two parameters was determined. Subsequently, the effect of prior and cotreatment with the lowest effective concentration of OS was studied on TBARS, GSH, and on lens antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), catalase (CAT), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Changes in lens protein profiles under different incubation conditions were analyzed by SDS gel-electrophoresis. In vivo, cataract was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (25 μ mole/kg b.w.) to 9-day-old rat pups. The anticataract effect of OS (5 and 10 mg/kg b.w.) injected intraperitoneally 4 hr prior to selenite challenge was evaluated by the presence of lens nuclear opacity in rat pups on the 16th postnatal day. Insolubilization of lens proteins post–selenite injection was monitored for 4 days. Results: The lenses in the selenite-only group developed cortical opacities in 24 hr. OS showed different degrees of positive modulation in selenite-induced morphological as well as biochemical changes. The lowest effective dose of OS that significantly modulated glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances was found to be 140 μ g/ml. At this dose, a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme levels and preservation of normal lens protein profile was observed. OS at the dose of 70 μ g/ml did not show any significant protection with respect to either morphology or biochemistry of lenses. In vivo, 5 and 10 mg/kg of OS reduced the incidence of selenite cataract by 20% and 60%, respectively, and prevented protein insolubilization as well. Conclusions: Aqueous extract of OS possesses potential anticataract activity against selenite-induced experimental cataractogenesis. The protective effect was supported by restoration of the antioxidant defense system and inhibition of protein insolubilization of rat lenses as well.


Path planning is the key technology for UAV to achieve autonomous flight. Considering the shortcomings of path planning based on the conventional potential field method, this paper proposes an improved optimization algorithm based on the artificial potential field method and extends it to three-dimensional space to better achieve flight constrained 3D online path planning for UAVs. The algorithm is improved and optimized aiming at the three problems of goal nonreachable with obstacle nearby (GNWON), easy to fall into local minimum, and path oscillation in traditional artificial potential field method. First, an improved potential field function with relative distance is used to solve the GNWON, and an optimized repulsive potential field calculation method based on different obstacles or threat models is proposed to optimize the planned path. Secondly, in order to make the drone jump out of the local minimum trap, a method of setting heuristic sub-target points is proposed. For local path oscillation, a method using memory sum force was proposed to improve the oscillation. The simulation results show that the improved optimization algorithm in this paper effectively makes up for the shortcomings of the traditional artificial potential field method, and the designed 3D online path planning algorithm for the UAV is practical and feasible.


The steam power system(SPS)should be operated under the optimal scheme to meet the varying demand for steam and power and to reduce cost and save energy for petrochemical industry.A mixed integer linear program(MILP)model was presented for multi-period operational optimization of utility system.The objective function of the model was to find the minimum annual operational cost of utility systems during the multiple periods,by considering fuel cost,feed-water cost,maintenance cost and startup/shutdown charge.An improved particle swarm optimization(PSO)was employed to obtain the optimum solution of the MILP model.This improved PSO utilized two linearly changing inertia weights to make particles have the tendency to reach global optimum.The application of the proposed optimization approach was illustrated through one case study.


Mental visual imagery and language are the two main types of representation used by humans. These two modes of mental representations are not exclusive from each other. In fact, the importance of mental imagery in human cognition comes in part from the interactions between mental image and language. Several cognitive neuroimaging studies have attempted to unravel the neural bases of these interactions. A consistent result from these studies is that mental images generated from verbal description elicit activations in both visual and language cortices. Visual cortex regions include occipital areas of the so-called dorsal and ventral routes, whereas language areas concern both the temporal and frontal cortices, e.g., both the comprehension and production poles of language. Interestingly, it was also found that language areas are more likely to address a representation when language is the only source of information than when imagery and language are used in conjunction, which demonstrates a modulation of th...


A Furuta pendulum is a serial connection of two thin, rigid links, where the first link is actuated by a vertical control torque while it is constrained to rotate in a horizontal plane; the second link is not actuated.   The second link of the conventional Furuta pendulum is constrained to rotate in a vertical plane orthogonal to the first link, under the influence of gravity.   Methods of geometric mechanics are used to formulate a new global description of the Lagrangian dynamics on the configuration manifold $(\S^1)^2$.    In addition, two modifications of the Furuta pendulum, viewed as double pendulums, are introduced.   In one case, the second link is constrained to rotate in a vertical plane that contains the first link; global Lagrangian dynamics are developed on the configuration manifold $(\S^1)^2$.   In the other case, the second link can rotate without constraint; global Lagrangian dynamics are developed on the configuration manifold $\S^1 \times \S^2$.   The dynamics of the Furuta pendulum models can be viewed as under-actuated nonlinear control systems.  Stabilization of an inverted equilibrium is the most commonly studied nonlinear control problem for the conventional Furuta pendulum.   Nonlinear, under-actuated control problems are introduced for the two modifications of the Furuta pendulum introduced in this paper, and these problems are shown to be extremely challenging.


This study examined the effect of monetary policy on value of stock traded in Nigerian Stock Exchange. Specifically, we ascertained the effect of monetary policy rate, liquidity ratio and loan to deposit ratio on value of stock traded using the Autoregressive Distribute Lag (ARDL) based on annual data from 1986 to 2017. Our findings showed that monetary policy rate, liquidity ratio and loan to deposit ratio have no significant effect on value of stock traded. Monetary policy rate maintained a negative relationship with value of stock traded, while liquidity ratio and loan to deposit ratio positively correlated with value of stock traded. We are vehemently of the view that expansionary monetary policy that guarantees adequate liquidity in the economy should be pursued vigorously by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Adequate level of liquidity offers firms' in the stock market better access to financial resources which will increase their revenue and thus appreciation in their stocks trading.


The sanitation agent container, which was selected in a trade off study, employs two chambers, a rigid outer container and an inner flexible bladder. The bladder contains the sanitation agent formulation and its release is controlled by a manually operated valve. The outer container holds a high pressure vapor. There is no void in the bladder which makes the package operation independent of orientation and therefore usable in zero gravity. Foam is developed by a low boiling point fluid or dissolved in the product. When the product is dispensed at atmospheric presure, the evolved gas or vapor whips up a goam in the valve. The sanitation agents were initially formulated with freons which produces an excellent foam. However freon is incompatible with the life support system and was replaced with carbon dioxide dissolved at high pressure. The CO2 system may limit high temperature exposure to prevent leakage or package distortion. The sanitation agents have been shown to be effective in cleaning soils from personnel and material.


Leadership as a concept in the management of organizational life has a strategic position and is a social phenomenon that is always needed in the life of the group. Having a strategic position because leadership is a central point of the whole process of the organization's activities. So in any organization to achieve the goals set previously, will be successful if the organization is able to perform management functions properly. The purpose of this study was to describe the types of leadership part of the field of medical services, the field of medical and nursing support services, the field of nursing care, finance, the public and the public service in the District General Hospital in Makassar Power management function execution. This research is a descriptive observational study, the method is intended to get an idea of the type of leadership in the implementation of management functions at the Regional General Hospital Power Makassar 2012. The results of this study suggest that the type of leadership in the areas of planning (planning) at the General Hospital of Power Makassar is the type in which the democratic leadership of 42 employees who were respondents, 38 people (90.5%) said it was democratic. In the field of organizing (organizing) 23 people (54.8%) stated that the type used is democratic leadership. In the area of implementation (actuating) there were 33 people (78.6%) of them stated democratic and in the field of supervision (controling) there were 33 people (78.6%) stated that the type used is democratic leadership. From these results it can be concluded that the type of leadership that is used is the type of democratic leadership. In improving the performance of subordinates should be leadership in management adjusted to the circumstances at hand.


Considering the existence of asymmetric information environment between the Government and the business incubator managers,this paper has established game model about them to argue the interactive strategy,the incubator manager's incentive contract structure and the most effort level. The paper shows that a factor for the profit incentive contract can cause incubator managers to make the most optimal level of distribution efforts,and under the environment,the managers' focus on the scale and success of enterprises to the balance. When the ration between the marginal effort level to expand the scale and the level to upgrade the success of enterprise equals the ration between the average revenue returns and the average income of management,the contract is the Pareto optimal contract.


Teachers' participating in the construction of literature resources is an effective measure for university library to improve the efficiency and quality of acquisitioning work.This paper expounds the significance,guiding thought,target and organizational guarantee of teachers' participating in the construction of literature resources,probes into the main contents and methods of teachers' participating in the construction of literature resources,and puts forward some measures for teachers' participating in the construction of literature resources.


Location-based social network as one of the platforms in this field has been providing services and facilities to enhance user experience to explore their surroundings and new places. Among current services, point of interest (POI) recommendation and activity recommendation draws significant attention of users, which makes it a potential field of the study. However, despite of all the developments performed in this field, activity recommendation system still requires further improvements, since only a few related studies concentrated on this topic so far. In order to develop the activity recommendation system, in this work two approaches are presented, using different ideas by extending existing location-based collaborative filtering (CF) recommendation models. One of them focuses on the temporal feature of the data and the other one emphasizes on the correlation between activities to estimate the probability of selecting each activity. The proposed methods are evaluated on a medium-scale real data set obtained by combining the Gowalla and Foursqaure. The experimental results confirm that both methods remarkably outperform the basic CF model.


An important ingredient in improving Multi Photon Laser Scanning Microscopy, MPLSM, is the development of efficient exogenous two-photon fluorescent (TPF) probes. Here we report on a new class of two-photon fluorophores, specifically designed in order to maximize their efficiency in potential MPLSM applications. The fluorophores possess a symmetric Donor-Acceptor-Donor (D-n-A-n-D) structure with varying conjugation length and have strong donors and acceptors. We have studied the two-photon excitation (TPE) properties of these fluorophores and found the following properties: (1) Very large two-photon absorption coefficients (6 > 1000 GM); (2) Peak TP excitation wavelength which are strongly shifted to the red ((lambda) 1 micrometer); (3) Large fluorescence quantum efficiency; (4) Large Stokes shifts of the fluorescence bands. These properties make them particularly suitable for imaging thicker samples, relying on the large improvement in TPE cross-sections and the reduced attenuation at both the excitation and emission wavelengths. We also describe TPE fluorescence anisotropy experiments revealing the tensorial shape of the fluorophores.


A new, method is reported for the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanosphere using ultrasonic method. Characterization reveals that the material is mesoporons with a small particle size. The template method gives spherical samples; uniform particle size is obtained when n-octylamine is used. Three stage weight loss occurs in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide samples, while the other templates show two stage weight loss. Amorphous and mesoporous silica samples have identical infrared speetra. The assynthesized sample shows type II nitrogen adsorption curve, while the calcined samples show type IV adsorption curves.


Health and longevity is the the first prerequisite in Canon of Medicine. In this paper, to explore the illumination and guidance in current the ageing population and human longevity, we investigated the theoretical origin of longevity in the Canon of Medicine, studied the effects of different physiques and regions on longevity by tracing the documentary records, as well as analyzed the practice for longevity in Canon of Medicine.


Para phenyl diamine (PPD) is an aromatic amine derivative of Aniline that is widely used as a cosmetic product, particularly in hair dye preparations. PPD acute poisoning leads to respiratory distress, rhabdomyolysis, muscle necrosis and renal failure. Cardiac complications are rarely reported in the literature. We will present a case of PPD poisoning presenting as myocarditis, associated to rhabdomyolysis with a fatal outcome. A 22-year-old man was hospitalized for ingestion of a hair dye. At admission it had a severe edema of the face and neck. Laboratory exams showed renal failure, increased serum lactate deshydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase and troponine T. Toxicological screening showed the presence of Paraphenyl Diamine in blood and stomach. The patient died in the tenth day due to a cardiogenic shock. A forensic autopsy was performed. The pericardium was spotted by multiple hemorrhagic petechiae. The myocardium and the epicardium had multiple hemorrhagic areas. Histological examinations revealed the presence of acute inflammation of the myocardium and epicardium associated with severe ulceration of the endocardium. Inflammatory infiltrate consisted mainly of neutrophils with frequent micro abscesses in the myocardium and epicardium. Death was attributed to Paraphenyl Diamine poisoning complicated with rhabdomyolysis and acute myocarditis. Keywords: para phenyd diamine, poisoning, hair dye, myocarditis. Language: en


The invention relates to a planetary gearset that can be shifted, in particular a machine tool planetary gearset, comprising a drive shaft for connecting the planetary gearset to a drive, an output shaft for connecting the planetary gearset to a component to be driven, a central shaft, which is arranged between the drive shaft and the output shaft and by means of which a rotational motion of the drive can be transferred from the drive shaft to the output shaft, wherein the central shaft is coupled directly to the drive shaft and the output shaft in a first shifting state of the planetary gearset, and wherein the central shaft is coupled directly to the drive shaft and indirectly to the output shaft by means of a planetary assembly; arranged between the central shaft and the output shaft in a second shifting state of the planetary gearset. According to the invention, the central shaft is supported in such a way that the central shaft can be moved axially, wherein the central shaft assumes a first position in the first shifting state, in which first position the central shaft is coupled to the drive shaft and to the output shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and is uncoupled from the planetary assembly, and wherein the central shaft assumes a second position in the second shifting state, in which second position the central shaft is coupled to the drive shaft and to the planetary assembly in a rotationally fixed manner.


The increase in solid waste generation is a problem affecting a noticeable deterioration of the environment. Good handling and use of them is crucial to improve the quality of life in cities. In this paper comparatively analyzed the management of municipal solid waste in the cities of Barranquilla and Madrid. For information were consulted various sources from municipal web pages, documents press, through scientific journals, popular articles, interviews with technical experts and visits to treatment centers. The results show significant differences between the two municipalities analyzed, noting the importance of the legal regulations, infrastructures that allow development and public awareness acquired in environmental education programs and related factors contributing decisively to the successful management of solid waste urban.


A simple technique is devised for making prisms with submul- tiple or half angles. As an application of these prisms, methods are sug- gested to measure the angles of the Pechan and Pellin-Broca prisms without using expensive spectrometers, autocollimators, and angle gauges. © 2002 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.


The case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with marked dysgeusia to all food and symptomatic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is described. She eventually turned out to have metastatic small cell lung cancer. The case study explores the interesting constellation of dysgeusia, SIADH and lung cancer.


In mature cheese, the developement of flavor and texture is largely controlled by intricate biochemical reactions. In these reactions ,the proteins, lactose and fats inthe curd are degraded principally by the activities of starter cultures and their enzymes. The dairy researchers developed the enzyme modified cheese (EMC),which are defined as concentrated cheese flavor produced enzymaticaly from cheese of various ages and are used as an ingredient in processed food. An important objective of the present study was an attempt to relate the sensory properties of EMC to the level of key flavor active ingredients. Enzyme modified cheese are natural flavor ingredients manufactured through the addition of a complement of proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes. In this study six different enzyme modified cheese slurry were prepared using two different cultures Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis and Lactococcus lactis subps cremoris (R704) or Lactobacillus casei (R82), lipase, proteases or bovine pepsin and compared with control one . The results of these trials showed that the using of lipase with bovine pepsin is better than using lipase with protease, Also using culture R82 gave a better results than culture R704 depending on the chemical constituents and sensory point of view.


Although awareness of the prevalence of Asperger's syndrome has increased, people with the condition often have difficulty accessing services. This paper describes the development of a service in Liverpool designed specifically for people with Asperger's syndrome.


This paper presents a robust and real time method of license plate localization based on level sets. The proposed algorithm consists of three steps: (1) medial axis transformation of selected level sets, (2) identification of sub-strokes, and (3) a multi-resolution window-based analysis for plate localization. Experiments show the effectiveness of our algorithm.


There are several methods for enumeration of bacterial colonies. An increased area of focus in Microbiology is the automation of counting methods. Several obstacles need to be addressed for methods that count colonies present, for example on Petri plates. These obstacles include: how to handle confluent growth or growth of colonies that touch or overlap other colonies, how to identify each colony as a unit in spite of differing shapes, sizes, textures, colors, light intensities, etc. This method is designed to provide a degree of accuracy in counting that could be correlated to the counts that would be obtained using a well-trained operator. A colony counter is used to count colonies of bacteria or other microorganisms growing on an agar plate. This method is used to overcome these obstacles are thresholding, segmentation, Watersheding, edge detection and morphology operators. This method provides high degree of accuracy. In the other form this counting problem has vast applications in Pathological & Medical Labs and Fishing, Dairies, Pharma Industries, Testing Assisted Genetic Toxicology, Semi-Automated Grain and Cell Counting etc. Some other examples of technologies that may be used for quantification of microbial growth include: ATP Bioluminescence, Spiral Plating, Membrane Filtration, Direct Epi-fluorescent Filter Microscopy, Membrane Cytometry, Fluorescence Flow Cytometry, and Latex Agglutination.


Abstract
This paper discusses the application of a computerized hospitalwide information system to enhance the process of multidisciplinary discharge care planning at the Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. The author defines the process components of discharge care planning as developed by the Nursing Department for use with the Clinical Center Medical Information System and incorporates a discussion of the computer application which paralells each component. The specific involvement of each discipline with the content development is emphasized in relation to the communication and documentation aspects of an information system. Resulting computer printouts and their application are highlighted within the framework of the American Nurses' Association (ANA) statement on continuity of care and discharge planning programs. The implications for increased multidisciplinary applications of information systems is presented.


Although the world now has largely become a global village, some bicultural individuals still find it challenging to be accepted into certain societies. Building on this argument, this article analyzes the struggles faced by the bicultural character in The Bamboo Stalk (2015), a novel written by the Kuwaiti writer, Saud Alsanousi. Jose is the son of a Filipino maid and a wealthy Kuwaiti man. Upon birth, he was disowned by his paternal family and was forced to leave for Manila with his mother, to be raised in poverty. In this article, the theory of graft by Colin Richards and selected concepts on biculturalism are appropriated to explore the manifestations of the grafted individual's identity construction, demonstrating how grafting carries a negative impact in the formation of the individual's social, religious and national identities. The narrative depicts the protagonist's dilemma and identity crisis, revealing the circumstances that has led to the formation of his split identity. While the grafted individual finds it challenging to ascertain his identity that lies between two vastly different and incompatible cultures, the majority societies in the two cultures do not accept him for who he really his. This paper therefore highlights the experience of the bicultural in establishing a clear grafted identity as presented in Alsanousi's work .


Background: Exercise training promotes vascular adaptation (restoration of endothelial function and angiogenesis) in type2 diabetes (T2D). Since eNOS uncoupling/O2- are increased in T2D, exercise m...


Immunodeficiency due to MASP-2 deficiency is a rare, genetic immunodeficiency due to a complement cascade protein anomaly characterized by low serum levels of MASP-2 and a variable susceptibility to bacterial infections (e.g. pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumococcal pneumonia, skin abscesses and sepsis), and autoimmune diseases (e.g. inflammatory lung disease, cystic fibrosis, systemic lupus erythematosus). In many cases it remains asymptomatic.


To observe unknown disturbance and states in a system rapidly and exactly, a finite-time linear extended state observer(FT-LESO) is proposed. The observer is with desired observation performance, simple structure, and is easy to design. Suppose the states are unmeasurable, the observer design problem is transformed to an output-feedback control problem of a system with disturbance. To solve the control problem, a linear finite-time output-feedback control method is presented. An analytic relationship between the controller s parameter and state vector s 2-norm of the closed-loop system is derived. Based on the control method, an FT-LESO is proposed. An analytic relationship between the FT-LESO s parameter, observation error s convergence speed, and steady observation error is obtained. And a sufficient condition is derived to ensure the observation error is finite-time bounded and can converge to a specified range no slower than exponential convergence. This sufficient condition provides a theoretical basis for designing an FT-LESO. The FT-LESO is demonstrated by a numerical simulation. Simulation results are coincident with theoretical analysis. The proposed FT-LESO is effective.


In this paper, three re-readings and re-interpretations are put forward concerning a few lines of the Yenisei inscriptions. (1) Line 3 of the 3rd Elegest inscription (E-53) is transcribed as kok t(a)ηr(i)da bul(i)t k(a)ru (a)lk(i)nur torum(i)s and understood as "The cloud(s) became visible in the blue sky to disappear over again". (2) The 10th line of the Abakan inscription (E-48) is transcribed as (a)rdami b(a)r uc(u)n (a)k(i)ninta: ku tutup: (a)tka t(a)gm(i)s b(a)g(i)m: (a)siz: (a)r b(a)si yita (a)c(ig)-a and interpreted as "In consequence of his virtue he achieved reputation in his battle. Alas my beg! What a pity! Commander! Alas! Pity!". (3) The 14th line of the same Abakan inscription (E-48) is transcribed as y(e)ti uri ogl(u)η(u)zka: bukm(a)d(u)k: k(a)η(i)c(i)m: (a)lp kusci (a)bci tus(u)rg(a)k (a)rt(i)η(i)z tolki t(a)s(i)n b(a)ηku tik(a)r m(a)n yita and interpreted as "Daddy who passed away without having enough of his seven sons! You were a brave fowler and a hunter! You were the dexterous hunter!...


The phosphorescence, fluorescence, and absorption spectra of the isotopic benzenes C6H6, C6H5D, p‐C6H4D2, and sym‐C6H3D3, present as dilute guests in a C6D6 host crystal at 4.2°K, are obtained with sufficient spectral resolution to ascertain the magnitude of the crystalline site effects. The relative vibronic intensities in fluorescence and phosphorescence are compared. Two site effects are emphasized: site splitting of degenerate fundamentals and orientational effects. The former can occur for the isotopes C6H6 and sym‐C6H3D3, while the latter is possible only for isotopes with less than a molecular threefold rotation axis. The observations show that both site‐splitting and orientational effects do occur as a general rule on vibronic and vibrational states in benzene isotopic mixed crystals. An empirical correlation between the magnitudes of the site splitting, orientation effect and site (gas‐to‐crystal) shifts for in‐plane and out‐of‐plane modes is noted. The phosphorescence of C6H6 and sym‐C6H3D3 has ...


High resolution modelling of snow transport in complex terrain using simulated wind fields M. Bernhardt, U. Strasser, G. E. Liston, and W. Mauser Department for Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany Cooperative Inst. for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, USA Received: 10 June 2008 – Accepted: 12 June 2008 – Published: 11 July 2008 Correspondence to: M. Bernhardt (email@example.com) Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.


Fidalgo L.G., Saraiva J.A., Aubourg S.P . , Vazquez M., Torres J.A. ( 2014): High pressure effects on the activities of cathepsins B and D of mackerel and horse mackerel muscle. Czech J. Food Sci., 32: 188–193. We determined high pressure processing (HPP) effects on the activities of cathepsins B and D in the muscles of mack erel (Scomber scombrus ) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus ). In mackerel, the cathepsin B activity decrease reached 40% at 450 MPa while in horse mackerel, low and intermediate pressures (150 and 300 MPa) caused an activity increase (30%) but at 450 MPa a decrease of up to 60%. In both species, cathepsin D activity increased after a 300 MPa treatment (up to 2-fold for mackerel and 60% for horse mackerel) and decreased on a 450 MPa treatment. The activity increase is probably due to HPP damage of lysosome releasing enzymes into the fish muscle. Based on the HPP effects on the activities of cathepsins B and D, 450 MPa may be used to reduce the proteolytic activity of cathepsin B prior to chilled or frozen storage of these fish species.


FIELD: medicine. SUBSTANCE: invention refers to medical equipment and is applicable for single injections. A needle-free disposable injector with a body, which comprises at least one compression rod with a piston cylinder unit, with a plunger, controlling the piston, with a release device and with a pre-strained, blocked compression rod actuated by the release device by a spring-loaded energy storage device. The compression rod can slide along at least one release element of the release device and be pushed out. An upper free end of the single compression rod has a radially projecting cam having at least a support surface directed towards an axial line of the injector, and a bearing surface facing from the axial line of the injector. The release device interacts with a spring-loaded energy storage device, which actuates the piston cylinder unit. Coupling of the facing inner wall of the release element and the bearing surface of the compression rod has at least partially a higher friction coefficient than coupling of the facing coupled surface of the plunger controlling the piston operation and the support surface of the compression rod. EFFECT: invention enables providing the required hold-down pressure when applying the device. 6 cl, 9 dwg


The invention provides a lamp foot stand connecting structure, which is used for installing a lamp case onto a support frame or an installing surface. The lamp foot stand connecting structure comprises a lower foot stand, an upper foot stand, two fixing devices, a first regulating device and a second regulating device, wherein the fixing devices and the first regulating device are fixedly connected with the lower foot stand and the upper foot stand, the first regulating device is regulated so that the upper foot stand can rotate relative to the lower foot stand by using the fixing devices as the center axis for regulating the lamp light irradiation angle of the lamp, the upper foot stand is detachably fixed and arranged onto the lamp case through the second regulating device, and the second regulating device is used for regulating the installing position of the lamp case on the upper foot stand. In the lamp foot stand connecting structure, the lamp light irradiation angle of the lamp arranged on the upper foot stand can be regulated through regulating the first regulating device, and the installing position of the lamp case on the upper foot stand can also be properly regulated according to requirements.


Unlike conventional neuromorphic chips fabricated with C-MOSFETs and capacitors, those utilizing p-STT MTJ neuron devices can achieve fast switching (on the order of several tens of nanoseconds) and extremely low...


This chapter of CONΣERV IT deals with the following questions in aquatic conservation: - What is conservation biology? - Do fish populations get extinct or extirpated? - Is it bad that related populations rescue each other? Extirpation


A recent study at the Prince of Wales Hospital (PoW) compared health outcomes and user satisfaction for conventional clinical pathways with a shortened pathway incorporating day of surgery admission (DOSA), early discharge and post acute care domiciliary visits for two high volume, elective surgical procedures (herniorrhaphy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy). This paper quantifies cost differences between the control and intervention groups for nursing salaries and wages, other ward costs, pathology and imaging. The study verified and measured the lower resource use that accompanies a significant reduction in length of stay (LOS). Costs of preand post-operative domiciliary visits were calculated and offset against savings generated by the re-engineered clinical pathway. Average costs per separation were at least $239 (herniorrhaphy) and $265 (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) lower for those on the DOSA pathway with domiciliary post acute care. Introduction A study carried out at PoW in 1995–97 compared health outcomes (readmission rate, infection and complication rate), cost and patient satisfaction for a traditional (control) pathway and a reengineered (intervention) pathway. The latter included pre-admission assessment by patient health questionnaire, admission on day of surgery, early discharge and enhanced patient education (Caplan et al, 1998). This paper quantifies cost differences between nursing salaries and wages, pathology services, imaging, ward costs and overheads for control and intervention (re-engineered) groups of patients undergoing two common elective surgical procedures, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and inguinal or femoral herniorrhaphy. The cost components are consistent with those used in national and state level DRG costing studies. In NSW hospitals, coding of separations and cost modelling are performed retrospectively. Many hospital costs are not attributable to individual patient-care episodes and are defined as "overheads", averaged out and then allocated over weighted separations. For this reason, it is rare that the nature of the relationship between LOS and cost per separation is made explicit.


Abstract The mitogenome of the beaubrummel damselfish, Stegastes flavilatus Gill, 1862 (Genebank accession number KP136922), has a total length of 16,816 bp. It encodes 13 protein-coding, two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. Base composition is 28.6% A, 26.0% T, 29.8% C, and 15.7% G and 45.5% GC content. The gene arrangement was found to be the same of other pomacentrid mitogenomes.


To determine the mechanism of fatty acid modulation of rabbit pulmonary artery large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+(BKCa) channel activity, we studied effects of fatty acids and other lipids on chan...