To the Editor.—
 It was with resignation that I read the paper by Oren et al1 about SIDS and familial occurrence. It is my opinion, as well as that of a number of other forensic pathologists to whom I showed the article, that the five deaths in group I of this article (infants born to families with two or more siblings who died of SIDS) are in all medical probability homicides by smothering. The individual clinical findings of these cases is not given, but from experience, I would say that one or more of these children in each family were brought to physicians and emergency rooms a number of times with a history of apneic episodes, that, if admitted, they never experienced these episodes in the hospital (unless they were alone with a parent), and that they were subsequently brought in dead after suffering a fatal apneic episode.


NADPH oxidases (NOXs) are a family of transmembrane enzymes that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in humans acts both as a cytotoxic agent in autoimmunity and as a signaling molecule in many physiological processes. Human NOXes can produce different ROS species; for example, NOX2 isoform generates superoxide whereas NOX4 isoform produces mainly hydrogen peroxide. The ROS species produced affects downstream signaling, and misregulation produces disease states. A recently discovered prokaryotic NOX, SpNOX, provides an ideal model system to investigate controls on ROS product. SpNOX was previously shown to produce superoxide. Because superoxide spontaneously dismutes at a fast rate, assays that detect hydrogen peroxide cannot be used to assess direct hydrogen peroxide formation. Instead, as in the case of xanthine oxidase, we estimate total electron flux and also superoxide production; we assume that any difference between these values reflects direct hydrogen peroxide production by the enzyme. We estimate electron flux using three assays: i/ monitoring NADPH consumption using absorbance (340 nm); ii/ monitoring NADPH consumption using fluorescence (ex 345/em 454); iii/ monitoring cytochrome c reduction by the FAD of a dehydrogenase‐domain only construct of SpNOX. Superoxide generation from full‐length SpNOX is estimated by the superoxide‐dismutase‐inhibitable portion of cytochrome c reduction, monitored by absorbance at 550 nm. Here we present our findings regarding relative production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide by SpNOX, as a first step toward manipulating ROS product in this model system.


Sir: 1 found the article by Southern ct 01.' most interesting on the diagnostic aspects of hairy leukoplakia. an entity more spoken about in AIDS circles than illustrated histologically. I do not think I am alone in finding the criteria for diagnosis at the H & E level rather fuzzy. However, I feel that the authors are missing the wood for the trees. Hairy leukoplakia is asymptomatic, is not directly treatable, is not specific for HIV infection has, for HIV-seropositive patients, certain prognostic associations which are better specified by blood CD4+ lymphocyte counts: and on the whole it is of greater interest to ERV-researchers than to HIV clinicians and pathologists. So why must 'a clinically suspected hairy leukoplakia occurring in an individual who is not known to be HIV seropositive' be biopsied? And if the H & E appearances are not definitive why must one try to demonstrate EBV by in sitii hybridization? From the viewpoint of patient management, it is more informative to determine HIV serology-and certainly cheaper than in situ hybridization for EBV. Pathologists should shed this prevailing shyness about HIV serology. The global, irreversible HIV epidemic is a fact.


On the basis of the content of tourism products for cities, the importance of building famous tourism products is illustrated, and for the development of tourism industry, it is necessary to build tourism products for cities.


This paper uses the bifurcation theory to characterize dynamic portfolio choices in a DSGE model. It provides theoretical support for the recent methodology developed in Devereux and Sutherland [2009a] and Tille et al. [2010]. While the original method is restricted to general equilibrium models with two or more agents, the bifurcation approach itself can be applied to partial equilibrium settings where interest rates are exogenous. I illustrate this by approximating the strategic asset allocation for a long term investor with intermediate consumption. I also assess the accuracy of the bifurcation method by comparing its result with a more precise global solution method. If find that bifurcation portfolios approximate the true portfolios accurately in a two-countries settings with symmetric preferences, where the actual portfolio decision rules are close to linear.


C. Y. Shi, J. C. He. Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China. Corresponding author: C.Y. Shi, doctor student; E-mail:email@example.com. The steelt eeming time, directly affected by the output parameters of power supply, is one of the most important technical indicators for the electromagnetic steel-teeming system. The location and thickness of the blo cki ng layer in the mol ten steel c hannel directly affect the steel-teeming time. This paper establi shes numerical simulation model and uses hi gh temperature off-line test to prove the accuracy of numerical simulation. Result shows: As the tonnage increase of ladle, the posi tion and thickness of blocking layer are basically unchanged; As the length of molten steel channel extends, the pos iti on of bloc king layer shift upper and thicker; As th e diameter of molten steel channel extends, the blo cking layer is lower and thinner slight; Comparing the molten steel channel in "horn" shape with cylindrical shape, the blocking layer of former is upper and thicker than the latter.


Ethnic issues in Guatemala are commonly analyzed using theoretical frameworks that underscore the role of Maya activism in promoting Mayan identification. However, these frameworks often pay insufficient attention to the local significance of phenotype. In this study, I propose an alternative framework to explain ethno-racial status in contexts of mestizaje. Based on this framework, I investigate whether phenotype, captured by skin color, is a significant dimension of ethno-racial status in Guatemala using nationally representative survey data and regression analysis. I specifically examine the association between skin color and ethnic self-identification, and differences by ethno-racial characteristics in the perception of skin color discrimination and in the desire for a whiter skin color. I find evidence of a direct association between skin color and ladino self-identification, evidence of a greater perception of skin color discrimination by individuals with more indigenous characteristics, and evidence of a direct association between indigenous ancestry, captured by indigenous first language, and the desire for a whiter skin color. These findings reveal the significance of phenotype as a distinct dimension of ethno-racial status in Guatemala beyond ancestry and ethnic self-identification.


Routes to the title compounds are described, either using the selective addition of thiols to the known 6-allylidenepenicillanic acids or by the conjugate addition of Grignard derivatives, derived from 6,6-di-bromopenicillanates, to substituted acrylates and acrylamides, followed by stereoselective reduction of the remaining 6-bromo-group to produce the 6β-substituted penicillanates. The 6β-derivatives containing the acryloyl side-chain were relatively unstable and readily underwent intramolecular rearrangement to the corresponding thiazepinones.


The focused and unique health care management of the immunocompromised patient has grown significantly over the last several decades. Biomarkers of the immune response, such as procalcitonin (PCT), are evolving in clinical utility for the diagnosis of severe bacterial infections such as sepsis, for prediction of sepsis complications, and for therapeutic follow-up. Microbial and fungal infections are among the most common causes of high morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients in the United States; mortality rates can exceed 80%. Several molecular platforms are slated to play a role in advancing the diagnostic capabilities of clinical laboratories. Only time, cost-benefit studies, and practical evidence-based reviews can reveal the ultimate utility of these methods for diagnosis of infections in the immunocompromised population. Rapid testing for genetic resistance markers is an emerging clinical practice that can not only identify the potential for drug resistance but also help distinguish ambiguous breakpoints associated with susceptibility testing. Biomarkers of the immune response, such as PCT, are useful for the diagnosis of severe bacterial infections such as sepsis, for prediction of sepsis complications, and for therapeutic follow-up. Immunocompromised patients are a unique population, for which extreme measures may be required to make relevant diagnoses, prevent infection, or prevent overuse of health care resources.


Chemical investigation of phenolic content of the total ethanolic extract (TEE) of aerial parts of Scabiosa atropurpurea Linn. (Dipsacaceae) led to the isolation of luteolin 7-O-glucoside (1), luteolin (2), 3-Ocaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (Chlorogenic acid methyl ester) (3) and Luteolin-7-O-D-rutinoside (4) for the first time from S. atropurpurea. Additionally, the percentage of total phenolics was determined. TEE showed Antihyperglycaemic, Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant activities. The activity was assessed through decreasing glucose levels, decreasing Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Amino Transferase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels and increasing blood glutathione. A bioguided fractionation of the total ethanolic extract (TEE) proved high activity in the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and TEE.


The correlation function expression for the shear viscosity in an insulator is evaluated by double-time Green functions. It is shown that the relaxation-time expression recently obtained by Rice can be recovered by using the Hartree-Fock approximation for the correlation function.


This articles lets know the Interbehavioural Intervention in the Clinical Context (IICC) as an specific technological procedure derived from the Interbehavioural intervention (II) inscribed in the interbehavioural theory. Concepts are indicated and described, as well as the methodology and pertinent instruments and also the general structure of the procedure operation, there are also shown and explained the guides of intervention and the support procedures. Finally, a resume is given about the investigation carried out to support the intervention.


My first practical experience with protonuclein was on my self. About two and a half years ago I was taken with a se vere attack of acutecatarrhal inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane which rapidly extended down the trachea into the bronchi. It began on a Friday morning with an almost inces sant sneezing accompanied by blocking of the nose, fullness in the head and headache, followed later in the day by a thin, copious discharge from the nose, and an irritating cough. By 5 o'clock p m. the same day my headache waβ severe, my limbs all ached, and on taking my temperature it registered 101°. I had had similar áttacks before, none apparently quite so severe, which always run a course of from one to three weeks. I had tried quinine and other remedies without any appreciable benefit, and was a willing subject to try some thing new. I had a few samples of protonuclein and began to take them ad libitum, starting about 5 o'clock in the evening. By Saturday morning I felt some better and continued taking the preparation through all that day, still ad libitum, and by evening, twenty-four hours after I began its use, felt consid erably improved. I continued taking more during Sunday, when my nose cleared up, and the headache, fever, cough, and soreness in my limbs disappeared. By Monday evening, after three days' treatment, I was practically well and attended a meeting of the Detroit Medical and Library Association. Since then I have always prescribed protonuclein in these acute catarrhal affections, with the same happy result. Experience has taught me that the proper dose for such cases, in the adult, is from six to twelve grains repeated every two to three hours. The treatment should be continued with smaller doses for a few days af ter the disease has disappeared, to prevent a relapse. I have found protcnuclein especially useful in the treatment of broncho-pneumonia in infants and children. In these cases I usually give from two to four grains, according to age, re peated every two to three hours, and find that a recovery takes place in from three to five days. I have had remarkable success in treating pneumonia with this preparation, and will briefly report two cases. Case I.—My mother, aged seventy-two years, on April 8, 1897, suffered a severe chill about 9 o'clock in the evening. Two hours later when I first saw her she complained of pain in the right side; was coughing up bloody mucus, and was very uneasy. Her heart had been irregular for some years but now the pulse was 130 and her temprature 103°. Physi cal examination revealed pneumonia of the right lung. I prescribed two grains of phenacetin and six grains of proto-


We reviewed the 2015 and 2016 Antarctic ozone holes, making use of a variety of ground-based and spacebased measurements of ozone and ultraviolet radiation, supplemented by meteorological reanalyses. The ozone hole of 2015 was one of the most severe on record with respect to maximum area and integrated deficit and was notably longlasting, with many values above previous extremes in October, November and December. In contrast, all assessed metrics for the 2016 ozone hole were at or below their median values for the 37 ozone holes since 1979 for which adequate satellite observations exist. The 2015 ozone hole was influenced both by very cold conditions and enhanced ozone depletion caused by stratospheric aerosol resulting from the April 2015 volcanic eruption of Calbuco (Chile).


Due to its important role, the use of antioxidant compounds has recently grown rapidly. Antioxidant compounds are known to be able to inhibit auto oxidation through radical scavenging mechanism, by donating one unpaired electron in free radical which leads to a reduced number of free radicals. In Indonesia there are many of medicinal plants that have active chemical compounds which are likely to be potential sources of antioxidants, which is neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). This plant has been widely used in various fields including natural pesticides (biopesticide) and natural medicine. The purpose of this research was to identify the active chemical compounds in neem leaves extracts and determine the antioxidant activity of neem leaves and the effective solvents in extracting active compounds of neem leaves. The materials used in this study were Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) from Yogyakarta. There were 5 types of solvents used, including: Ethyl acetate, Ethyl acetate-ethanol, Ethanol, Ethanol-water and Water. Neem leaves is a potential resources for natural antioxidant. In addition to obtaining highest yield using Ethanol-Water as a solvent during the extraction process, this solvent also results better characteristic of extract than 4 other solvents. The properties of the extract that produced by extraction using Ethanol-Water is 2.067 g GAE/g extract, yield 1.39%, flavonoid 0.326 mg QE/g extract, antioxidant activity 226.118 ppm and reducing power 0.778 g BHT/g extract. Therefore, it is recommended that Ethanol-Water as a solvent for the extraction of active compound on neem leaves.Due to its important role, the use of antioxidant compounds has recently grown rapidly. Antioxidant compounds are known to be able to inhibit auto oxidation through radical scavenging mechanism, by donating one unpaired electron in free radical which leads to a reduced number of free radicals. In Indonesia there are many of medicinal plants that have active chemical compounds which are likely to be potential sources of antioxidants, which is neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). This plant has been widely used in various fields including natural pesticides (biopesticide) and natural medicine. The purpose of this research was to identify the active chemical compounds in neem leaves extracts and determine the antioxidant activity of neem leaves and the effective solvents in extracting active compounds of neem leaves. The materials used in this study were Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) from Yogyakarta. There were 5 types of solvents used, including: Ethyl acetate, Ethyl acetate-ethanol, Ethanol, Ethan...


Exposure measurements made during a diagnostic radiological study revealed that heavy set patients pay a higher price in absorbed dose than lighter people.


Two in situ enclosure designs intended for use in larval fish studies were evaluated for their capability to reproduce and track the physical properties of the surrounding water and to maintain the behavioral characteristics of enclosed organisms. The enclosures, which were constructed of porous material, allowed near instantaneous response to natural variations in temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen at all depths. Phytoplankton biomass inside the enclosures was less variable than that observed outside and its size composition was related to the porosity of the material used. Particle sinking rates inside the enclosures were much lower than those previously reported for plastic bags, suggesting a higher degree of turbulence in our enclosures. Newly hatched larval capelin (Mallotus villosus) and Zooplankton stocked into the enclosures exhibited diel migration of amplitude similar to that observed in the field. Zooplankton were more homogeneously distributed than fish larvae although heterogeneity d...


A slightly different version of this study is published in Accident Analysis and Prevention, March 1997, Volume 29, Number 2, pp139-51, and for the abstract see IRRD 888319. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD E201282.


Antenna-arrays for Direction-of-Arrival (DOA) estimate are heavily limited by mutual coupling among sensors and between sensors and the installation environment. Huge efforts are devoted for calibration-based techniques that result not always decisive about compensating these unwanted coupling effects. In this paper we describe a possible application of Rydberg-atoms based sensors in the field of the DOA estimation. A principle fully-dielectric miniaturized 3D interferometer is presented, capable of providing both azimuth and elevation estimate of an incoming electromagnetic (EM) wave front thus overcoming the aforementioned limitations due to metal-based EM sensors (i.e. antennas).


Using a cross-correlation frequency-resolved optical gating apparatus, the phases and amplitudes of ultrabroad-band optical pulses from a taper fiber have been measured for various input pulse peak powers. The measured waveforms have been compared with calculated waveforms using a finite-difference in the frequency domain method, in which no envelope approximations were used and the variation of the taper shape was taken into account. Excellent agreement between the measured and the calculated waveforms was obtained when the additional dispersion of a normal fiber and an objective was considered.


In this paper, we first comment that the bandwidth consumption in the shortest path tree can be reduced in the heterogeneous wireless networks because the routing of the shortest path tree here is more flexible. The shortest path tree in the heterogeneous wireless networks consists of two parts. The first one is composed of the cell and the wireless technology chosen by each mobile host. The second one is comprised of the wired links that connect the root of the tree and the chosen cells. Therefore, we can change the routing of the shortest path tree by selecting different cells and wireless technologies for the mobile hosts to reduce the bandwidth consumption. Explicitly, we formulate in this paper the selection of the cell and the wireless technology for each mobile host as an optimization problem, which is denoted as the Cell and Technology Selection Problem (CTSP) in the heterogeneous wireless networks for multicast communications. The problem is to select the cell and the wireless technology for each group member to minimize the total bandwidth cost of the shortest path tree. We design a mechanism, which includes an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation, a distributed algorithm, and a network protocol, to solve the CTSP. We use ILP to formulate the CTSP, and the network operator can use our ILP formulation to find the optimal solution for network planning. We show that CTSP is NP-hard, which, in turn, justifies the necessity of designing efficient algorithms for suboptimal solutions. We devise an algorithm LAGRANGE, which is based on Lagrangean relaxation on our ILP formulation. Keywords— Heterogeneous networks, wireless


The Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer (FKSI) is a mission concept for a nulling interferometer for the near-to-mid-infrared spectral region. FKSI is conceived as a mid-sized strategic or Probe class mission. FKSI has been endorsed by the Exoplanet Community Forum 2008 as such a mission and has been costed to be within the expected budget. The current design of FKSI is a two-element nulling interferometer. The two telescopes, separated by 12.5m, are precisely pointed (by small steering mirrors) on the target star. The two path lengths are accurately controlled to within a few nanometers to be precisely the same. A phase shifter/beam combiner (via Mach-Zender interferometer) produces an output beam consisting of the nulled sum of the planets light and the stars light. When properly oriented, the starlight is nulled by a factor of 10, and the planet light is undimmed. Accurate modeling of the signal is used to subtract this residual starlight, permitting the detection of planets much fainter than the host star. The current version of FKSI with 0.5 m apertures and waveband 3-8 μm has the following main capabilities: (1) detect exozodiacal emission levels to that of our own solar system (1 Solar System Zodi) around nearby F, G, and K, stars; (2) characterize spectroscopically the atmospheres of a large number of known non-transiting planets; (3) survey and characterize nearby stars for planets down to 2 Earth-radii from just inside the habitable zone and inward. An enhanced version of FKSI with 1-m apertures separated by 20-m and cooled to 40 K, with science waveband 5-15 μm, allows for the detection and characterization of 2 Earth-radius and smaller super-Earths in the habitable zone around nearby stars.


Many of our youth learn about vaping from social media and try it because they are curious and think that it is the cool thing to do with their friends. Different flavors also draw young people to vaping such as menthol, chocolate, cherry and approximately 15,000 others. They think that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. This is not the case. The American Lung Association states that the consumption of nicotine in any form during adolescence and young adulthood causes lasting cognitive and behavioral problems, including negative effects on memory and attention. Also, e-cigarette use may serve as a gateway for preteens and teens to use other tobacco products, including cigarettes, which are known to cause heart disease, lung cancer, emphysema, and premature death. Prevention activities are needed to protect our youth from this serious health issue. Educating youth concerning vaping will result in them making better decisions to vape or not.


A fault tolerant control approach is proposed in this paper for quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) subject to time varying disturbances and actuator faults. The approach is based on a Super-Twisting (STW) control algorithm and a Higher Order Sliding Mode Observer (HOSMO). The HOSMO generates the exact estimates of the unmeasured states and time varying disturbances without any filtration that cause time delays and errors. A continuous control law that eliminates chattering is derived using the STW controller. Asymptotic stability of the control approach is analyzed using the Lyapunov theory. The controller is implemented on a quadrotor and is tested under nominal conditions, time varying disturbances and faulty scenarios. The results confirm the robustness and chattering free tracking performance of the proposed approach.


Zinc and copper levels of femurs, incisors and molars of mice having a normal, optimal supply of the metals were recorded at the ages of 120 and 210 days. At both ages Zn‐leveis were highest in molars, while femur levels were higher than those of incisors. In all three tissues there was a statistically significant decrease with age. Cu‐levels were highest in molars, and incisor‐levels were higher than those of femurs. In femurs and incisors the Cu‐levels were about double with age, while the increase was more than five‐fold in molars. Fourteen mice had combined additional supply of 500 μgZn/g and 200 μg Cu/g in drinking water. Seven of them were killed at the age of 120 days. Seven of them were returned to normal supply of the metals at the age of 120 days and were killed at the age of 210 days. The first seven had slightly higher Zn‐levels than control mice in femurs and incisors, while molar‐Zn was more than doubled. In the older mice that previously had had additional metal supply, this higher molar‐Zn...


This research effort was designed to analyze the current federal career and technical education legislation to determine methods of "operationalizing" the policy at the state and local levels. In performing the policy analysis, organizational and systems viewpoints were consistently used in determining the intent of the legislation and then how to structure a program evaluation system to fulfill the policy goals. The research methodology is a hybrid interdisciplinary method that combined policy and system analyses. Secondary career and technical education legislation served as a test case to develop the program evaluation system strategies and requirements because the researcher was familiar with this segment of education and the policies associated with it. Program evaluation theoretical foundations were presented as means to understand the policy intentions and to develop a conceptual system model. The resulting system model was presented with actual examples of system constructs. Detailed


Access to electricity is a prerequisite for development, included in both the Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Still, universal access to electricity is elusive to large parts of the global population. In Somalia, approximately one-third of the population has access to electricity. The country is unique among non-island countries as it has no centralized grid network. This paper applies a geospatial electrification model to examine paths towards universal access to electricity in Somalia under different timelines and with regard to different levels of myopia in the modeling process. This extends the previous scientific literature on geospatial electrification modeling by studying the effect of myopia for the first time and simultaneously presenting the first geospatial electrification analysis focused on Somalia. Using the Open Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET), the least-cost electrification options towards 2030 and 2040, respectively, are compared. We find that under the shorter timeline, a deployment of mini-grids and stand-alone PV technologies alone provides the least-cost option under all but one scenario. However, under the longer timeline, the construction of a national transmission backbone would lower overall costs if there is high demand growth and/or low cost of centralized grid electricity generation. We also compare different levels of myopia in the modeling process. Here, OnSSET is first run directly until 2040, then in five-year time-steps and annual time-steps. We find that running the model directly until 2040 leads to the lowest costs overall. Running the model myopically leads to a sub-optimal, more costly technology mix, with a lock-in effect towards stand-alone systems. On the other hand, the myopic approach does provide additional insights into the development of the system over time. We find that longer-term planning favors the centralized grid network, whereas short-sighted myopic planning can lead to higher costs in the long term and a technology mix with a higher share of stand-alone PV.


An optimal planning method for regenerative electric heating considering the supply capability of distribution network is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the model of a regenerative electric heating system with a heat pump and a hot water storage tank is established. Then, an optimal scheduling model of regenerative electric heating is constructed, which takes the operation cost as the goal. Finally, a typical integrated energy systems is used as a test system to illustrate the method. The case results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the peak-valley load difference based on the heat storage capacity of regenerative electric heating.


Templates are a language feature of C++ and can be used for metapro- gramming. The metaprogram is executed by the compiler and outputs source code which is then compiled. Templates are widely used in software libraries but few tools exist for programmers developing template code. In particular, error messages are often cryptic. During template instantiation, a compil er looks up names that depend on a template's formal parameters. We use graphs to re present the rele- vant parts of the source code and a graph program for the name lookup and type checking for expressions involving such names. This technique provides compiler writers with a visual way of writing algorithms that generate error messages and forms the basis for a visual inspection of type problems and suggested remedies for the programmer. Our graph program terminates and emits correct error messages.


The invention discloses a system for physiologic parameter examination and a method for test strip recognition and interpretation. A system for physiologic parameter examination includes a housing and a test-strip tray. The housing includes a carrying cavity disposed on a top surface of the housing and including a window. The carrying cavity is configured to receive a portable electronic device having an image-capturing component. The image-capturing component corresponds to the window. The test-strip tray is movably disposed in the housing and located below the carrying cavity. The test-strip tray is configured to carry at least one test strip. The image-capturing component is adapted to capture a test reaction of the test strip through the window. A method for test strip recognition and interpretation applicable to the system is also provided.


A review is given of the literature on Desmanodon and Paratalpa. These two talpid genera can only be identified on the basis of the morphology of the humerus. Two species of Desmanodon, D. ziegleri n.sp. and D. burkarti n.sp., are described from the Lower Miocene of Anatolia. These species are considered ancestral to the Middle Miocene species of Anatolia. D. ziegleri is also a likely ancestor for the European species of Desmanodon. Desmanodon daamsi n. sp. is described from the Lower Miocene of Spain. The Desmanodon/Paratalpa finds from the Calatayud-Teruel basin (Spain) are discussed. The tribal classification of Desmanodon is problematic, since some species resemble Urotrichini, whereas other are morphologically closer to Scalopini. This suggests that the distinction between the two tribes should be re-evaluated. The stratigraphic and geographic distribution of Desmanodon indicates that the genus immigrated into Europe sometime during the Early Miocene.


The question motivating this review paper is, how can
computer-based interactive narrative be used as a constructivist learn-
ing activity? The paper proposes that player agency can be used to
link interactive narrative to learner agency in constructivist theory,
and to classify approaches to interactive narrative. The traditional
question driving research in interactive narrative is, 'how can an in-
teractive narrative deal with a high degree of player agency, while
maintaining a coherent and well-formed narrative?' This question
derives from an Aristotelian approach to interactive narrative that,
as the question shows, is inherently antagonistic to player agency.
Within this approach, player agency must be restricted and manip-
ulated to maintain the narrative. Two alternative approaches based
on Brecht's Epic Theatre and Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed are
reviewed. If a Boalian approach to interactive narrative is taken the
conflict between narrative and player agency dissolves. The question
that emerges from this approach is quite different from the traditional
question above, and presents a more useful approach to applying in-
teractive narrative as a constructivist learning activity.


The National NPS Partitioned and Graded System presented here which is integrated with GIS and RS tools, considering hydrological, climatic, topographic factors, is an effective approach to estimate the pollution load in whole China. The system shows the rule of transportation and transformation of non-point source pollution, and also is a helpful support to estimation of non-point source pollution load in whole china. It includes five grades. The first grade includes 10 regions, which is known as ten major river basins in China. Based on it, the second grade partitioned 80 regions according to the natural division of main stream. Then, considered hydrological and climatic factor, and to keep watershed and administrative boundary, they are partitioned 214 regions in the third grade. Accoreing to hydrological condition, socioeconomic structure and topographic factors which affecting transportation and transformation of non-point source pollution, 322 regions are generated in the fourth grade. Combining the system and macroscopic model, the non-point source pollution loads are computed from low level to high level grade, then load in the ten major river basins and whole china is estimated.


The effects of imperfection in fabrication process on the focusing property of photonic quasicrystal (PQC) slab are investigated. Two kinds of imperfections, in which the radii and the positions of all cylinders in quasicrystal slab independently varied at random, are considered. The results show that the randomness adversely affects on the focusing performance of the quasicrystal lens. And the TE mode is more influenced by disorders than the TM mode. The tolerance of focusing function to radius disorder is smaller than to positional disorder. Our results will contribute to the design of PQC-based focusing devices.


This essay investigates the relationship between a malfunctioning Default Mode Network (DMN) and the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). A deeper understanding of how the DMN affects thos ...


Ordinary African men and women are largely missing from grand narratives of the Second World War. Most histories of the global conflict pay scant attention to Africa and Africans because they focus primarily on the European and Asian theaters, but this lacuna is also due in part to the imperial powers' explicit efforts to downplay and obscure the extent to which they relied on their African subjects to fight and win the war. Faced with severe manpower shortages as the Axis overran much of Europe and Asia between 1939 and 1942, British and French military planners desperately looked to their African colonies to supply combat troops, military laborers, and specialist units. As the tide of the war turned in their favor after 1943, the British and Free French used African formations to augment their overextended forces. Their goal was to "win the peace" by restoring their national honor and reclaiming lost imperial territories before they could fall into the American or Soviet spheres of influence. Mindful that the brutality of the Axis version of imperialism and the egalitarian promises of the Atlantic Charter had made formal empires less reputable after the war, the African imperial powers had good reason to understate the extent to which they had drawn subject populations into a war that did not directly concern them. African soldiers, and the women who interacted with them, are therefore usually consigned to the footnotes of the official histories of the Second World War. In reality, ordinary Africans were deeply involved in every major theater of the war. Indeed, colonial African troops played central roles in two of the major conflicts that historians conventionally date as preceding the formal outbreak of the conflict in 1939. The Italian forces that invaded Ethiopia in 1935 included approximately 40,000 Somalis, Eritreans, and Libyans. One year later, Francisco Franco began his attempted coup d'etat against the Spanish Republican government by sending Moroccan soldiers from the Armee d'Afrique to Spain. Some 62,000 Moroccans had fought on the Fascist side by the end of the civil war, and British and French military observers estimated that they suffered a staggering 40 percent casualty rate.


In the last decade, endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has evolved into an important tool for diagnostic bronchoscopy in daily practice. EBUS has established as a standard for the diagnosis of hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy, as a guidance technique for peripheral pulmonary lesions and for the evaluation of tumor involvement of the tracheobronchial wall or mediastinum. In the meantime, EBUS has also taken a significant role in mediastinal staging in lung cancer patients. However, EBUS plays not only a role in the diagnosis of malignancies, it is also important for the diagnosis of benign disorders.


An algorithm for determining the orientation of a satellite based on information from an Earth sensor and a magnetometer is considered. The effect of instrumental errors of the magnetometer on the accuracy of orientation determination is analyzed. The TRIAD algorithm is compared with an algorithm in which only the heading angle is calculated.


Sewage sludge (SS) has been widely used as organic fertilizer. However, its continuous use can cause imbalances in soil fertility as well as soil-water-plant system contamination. The study aimed to evaluate possible improvements in the chemical and microbiological characteristics of domestic SS, with low heavy metal contents and pathogens, through the composting process. Two composting piles were set up, based on an initial C/N ratio of 30:1, with successive layers of tree pruning waste and SS. The aeration of piles was performed by mechanical turnover when the temperature rose above 65 oC. The piles were irrigated when the water content was less than 50 %. Composting was conducted for 120 days. Temperature, moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), carbon and nitrogen contents, and fecal coliforms were monitored during the composting. A reduction of 58 % in the EC of the compost (SSC) compared with SS was observed and the pH reduced from 7.8 to 6.6. There was an increase in the value of cation exchange capacity/carbon content (CEC/C) and carbon content. Total nitrogen remained constant and N-NO3- + N-NH4+ were immobilised in organic forms. The C/N ratio decreased from 25:1 to 12:1. Temperatures above 55 oC were observed for 20 days. After 60 days of composting, fecal coliforms were reduced from 107 Most Probable Number per gram of total solids (MPN g−1) to 104 MPN g−1. I one pile the 103 MPN g−1 reached after 90 days in one pile; in another, there was recontamination from 105 to 106 MPN g−1. In SSC, helminth eggs were eliminated, making application sustainable for agriculture purposes.


Abstract  Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) seeds contain several squash‐type serine proteinase inhibitors (PIs), which inhibit the digestive proteinases of the polyphagous insect pest Helicoverpa armigera. In the present work isolation of a DNA sequence encoding the mature peptide of a trypsin inhibitor McTI‐II, its cloning and expression as a recombinant protein using Pichia pastoris have been reported. Recombinant McTI‐II inhibited bovine trypsin at 1: 1 molar ratio, as expected, but did not inhibit chymotrypsin or elastase. McTI‐II also strongly inhibited trypsin‐like proteinases (81% inhibition) as well as the total proteolytic activity of digestive proteinases (70% inhibition) from the midgut of H. armigera larvae. The insect larvae fed with McTI‐II‐incorporated artificial diet suffered over 70% reduction in the average larval weight after 12 days of feeding. Moreover, ingestion of McTI‐II resulted in 23% mortality in the larval population. The strong antimetabolic activity of McTI‐II toward H. armigera indicates its probable use in developing insect tolerance in susceptible plants.


Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated RNA synthesis 6 hours after the beginning of incubation of blood lymphocytes in vitro. Dexamethazone in a concentration of 60 mug/ml depressed the RNA synthesis in the blood lymphocytes of donors, treated with PHA, 6 hours after the beginning of cell incubation with the hormone and PHA in vitro. Changes in the action mechanism of the hormone which can lead to the change of sensitivity to glucocorticoids of the same cells at various stages of the cell cycle are analyzed.


At a global level, it is essential that the world transfers from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources to minimize the implications of climate change, which has been clearly demonstrated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007a). At a national level, for most countries, the transition to renewable energy will improve energy security of supply, create new jobs, enhance trade, and consequently grow the national economy. However, even with such promising consequences, renewable energy only provided approximately 13% of the world's energy in 2007 (International Energy Agency, 2009a). Therefore, identifying how to utilize more renewable energy is one of the most pressing challenges facing many countries at present.

Owing to the ever-growing complexity of modern energy systems, energy-system-analysis tools are often used to analyze the potential of renewable energy in future energy systems. As renewable energy becomes more prominent, more energy-system-analysis tools are being created. The key element in this transfer is often to show coherent technical analyses of how renewable energy can be implemented, and what effects renewable energy has on other parts of the energy system. However, when beginning an investigation into the potential of renewable energy, it is difficult to identify which energy-system-analysis tool is the most suitable one for the investigation. As a result, a selection of energy tools will be presented here to illustrate the type modeling that is possible for renewable energy systems and also to illustrate the variety of energy tools that exist. For example, some tools focus on local community energy projects, whereas others consider national energy systems; some tools consider the annual amount of energy being consumed, whereas others focus on the hourly operation of the system. The variety of tools available has led to the conclusion that the optimum tool for a study is very dependent on the initial objectives that have been set.

This article (i) gives an overview/review of a number of different energy tools and models and (ii) provides a deeper description of one of these tools (EnergyPLAN) along with the methodology followed with it. EnergyPLAN has been used to establish how intermittent renewable energy, primarily in the form of wind power, can be accommodated in Denmark while reliably operating the electric grid. In addition, various case studies are presented on individual technologies and complete energy system strategies, which outline how it is possible to reach a 100% renewable energy system in the coming decades.

Keywords:

energy systems analysis;
renewable energy systems;
energy tools;
energy planning;
energy policy;
implementation;
EnergyPLAN


The result of consideration of the case in court is a court decision that has the force of law behind it and is binding on all public authorities and local governments, enterprises and institutions, organizations, officials and citizens throughout Ukraine. In cases established by international agreements, the binding nature of which has been approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – and beyond (part one of Article 18 of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine)2. The Law of Ukraine «On Enforcement Proceedings» (hereinafter referred to as the Law) determines the conditions and procedure for execution of court decisions and other bodies (officials) subject to enforcement in accordance with the law in case of non-execution in a voluntary manner (hereinafter – the Law)3.


In the novel The Color Purple,purple is a color that Alice Walker uses to symbolize the main character:Celie.In color psychology,purple is a complex color.At first,it has two contradictory symbolic meanings just as Celie's personality.Secondly,purple is a color which blends blue and red.In western countries,red symbolized man and blue symbolized woman.However,Celie is a person who has both man's and woman's characteristics.At last,purple is a changeable color.Celie's early misery life is like dark purple which has more of a passive meaning.And her later life turns out to be light purple which symbolizes more of the beautiful things.And the turning of her life may be viewed as awakening of womanism.


Objective:To observe the effect and side effect of sufentanil composite flurbiprofen axetil in the vein automatic control analgesia of burn patients.Methods:Moderate and severe burn patients were 100 cases,50 cases in each group.In sufentanil + flurbiprofen axeti group,there was the intravenous infusion of sufentanil 50ug + flurbiprofen axeti 100 mg + saline,the total amount of 100 ml,after the first sufentanil 5ug loading dose.In sufentanil group,There was the intravenous infusion of sufentanil 100 ug + saline in total 100 ml,after first sufentanil 5ug loading dose.When analgesic effect started at h 4,h 8,h 12,h 24 and h 48,multiparameter were evaluated according to visual analog score (VAS).Observed and recorded the values of the blood pressure,pulse,respiration and pulse oximeter saturation value,side effects.Results:Analgesic effect between A and B was no significant difference(P 0.05);the different periods of nausea,vomiting,drowsiness in A group were significantly lower than in B group(P 0.05).Conclusion:Sufentanil composite flurbiprofen axetil on moderate and severe pain in the early stages of burn patients have a better analgesic effect,and relatively safe,less side effects,and is worthy to recommend.


The international economic cooperation replaces the international trade,which becomes a very important foreign economic activity in China now.Therefore,international understanding education,appears more important in the specialty of the international economy and trade,whose educational purposes,contetnts and levels should be demanding,and the students should master the communicative ways to other nationalities and the students should have the attitudes for understanding others.


The body's requirement for iron is different at different developmental stages. However, the molecular mechanisms of age‐dependent iron metabolism are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the expression of iron transport proteins in the duodenum of Sprague–Dawley rats at five different age stages.


In this paper,we study the changing trend of price function being influenced by supply and demand.We discuss respectively the cobweb model ,differential dynamic model and difference equation model.We also give respectively their solutions and conditions for existence and stability of the periodic solution.


In the disease syringomyelia, fluid-filled cavities, called syrinxes, form in the spinal cord. The expansion of these pathological pressure vessels compresses the surrounding nerve fibers and blood supply, which is associated with neurological damage. We investigate the spinal wave-propagation characteristics, principally to serve as a reference for more anatomically-detailed models. The spinal cord is modeled as an elastic cylinder, which becomes an annulus containing inviscid fluid when a syrinx is included. This is surrounded by an annulus of inviscid fluid, representing the cerebrospinal fluid occupying the subarachnoid space, with an outer rigid boundary approximating the dura mater. The axisymmetric harmonic motion is solved as an eigenvalue problem. We present dispersion diagrams and describe the physical mechanism of each wave mode. We identify potentially damaging syrinx fluid motions and tissue stress concentrations from the eigenvectors. Finally, we determine the dependence of each wave mode on syrinx radius and cord tissue compressibility.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


A connected graph is called Q-controllable if its signless Laplacian eigenvalues are mutually distinct and main. Two graphs G and H are said to be Q-cospectral if they share the same signless Laplacian spectrum. In this paper, infinite families of Q-controllable graphs are constructed, by using the operator of rooted product introduced by Godsil and McKay. In the process, innitely many non-isomorphic Q-cospectral graphs are also constructed, especially, including those graphs whose signless Laplacian eigenvalues are mutually distinct.


Interactive Campus e-Platform and Database which is a classified advertising e-platform is designed and developed, included authentication, admin site and item form of the website. In order to develop a website, few of the different programming languages are needed to perform a different kind of function for a website. In this project, the programming languages that involved are Ruby and Rails, HyperText Makeup Language (HTML), JavaScript (JS), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and Structured Query Language (SQL). Ruby on Rails is a web development framework which provides default structures for a web service, database and webpage. Then, HTML and CSS are the languages that use to create a website such as building and styling the website. SQL is a programming language for managing data. Next, JavaScript is a programming language that makes the functionality and interactively web page which become smarter. It includes a jQuery library. jQuery is cross-platform of JavaScript library for document traversing, animating and effect for rapid web development. Thus, results obtained for this e-platform will be further analyzed, compared and discussed.


The relationship between scattering coefficients of walls and room diffusion was examined. First, using the scattering coefficients of walls and the mean free path in a room, the concepts of equivalent scattering area and average scattering coefficient to express diffusion in a room were introduced. In addition, it was indicated that the time variation of the ratio of specularly reflected sounds to diffused sounds in a whole room.


Objective To observe the morphological changes of bacteriophage f 2 in the plasma after inactivation by acridine orange (AO) and long wave ultraviolet rays (UVA). Methods Bacteriophage f 2 was used as the test virus. The inactivation effects of AO, UVA, and combined use of AO and UVA were detected for the purpose of choosing the optimal condition of inactivating bacteriophage f 2 in plasma. After treatment with AO and UVA under this condition, the morphological changes of bacteriophage f 2 in plasma were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results The titers of bacteriophage f 2 in plasma were significantly reduced after treatment with AO followed by UVA irradiation. The value of T/E of these two agents was higher than 1. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the effective dosage for inactivating the virus was 6 μg/ml AO+4 500 J/m 2 UVA. After inactivation of the virus, changes in shape were found in the majority of bacteriophage f 2 in plasma, from spheriform shape into spindle and silk like ones, with unclear contour and decreased electronic density. Conclusion UVA and AO have synergistic effect on the inactivation of bacteriophage f 2. Treatment with AO and UVA may result in changes in the shape of bacteriophage f 2, from spheriform shape into spindle and silk like ones.


Silicon carbon nitride (SiCN) films were prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition on Si(100) substrate at 300 o C. The compositions, bonding structures, and surface morphology of the SiCN films were investigated by EDX, FT-IR, AFM and SEM. The main bonds in the films were Si-C, Si-N, and C=N. The surface struc- ture of the as-grown SiCN films was changed by a thermal treatment at 600 o C, resulting in formation of silicon nano-


Plantation commodities that are capable of supporting the establishment of some industries are coconut trees ( Cocos nucifera L). Coconut has a broad usability as a raw material for other than food and non food industries as well as household consumption. Utilization of coconu not only as coconut oil but there are several other coconut products sale in the international trade market, such as grated coconut, fresh coconut, coconut charcoal, coconut sugar and coconut oil known as Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO). The purpose of this study was to analyze: (i) the total cost of production, (ii) the amount of physical production, (iii) the selling price, and (iv) the amount of revenue that the UKM pengais Jaya Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) received, so business can achieve break-even point. The study location and sampling was determined by intentionally (purposive) by the leaders of UKM PengaisJaya Virgin Coconut Oil scavengers in the Ampibabovillage. The analytical tool used in this research was the analysis of break-even point. The results showed that the highest break-even point achieved at the product Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) obtained from the sale of product for 1000 ml bottle was Rp. 4,121,007, or approximately 50.64 %, on the second level obtained in bottles of 500 ml equal to Rp 2,409,605 or approximately 29.61 %, and the smallest revenue obtained in the packaging of 250 ml, only of Rp . 1,606,40 or approximately 19.74%.


Mr. Reichle feels that the economic advantages of pursuing nuclear power should prompt Congress and the administration to seek ways of eliminating undue delays and enabling industry to proceed with the design, construction, and management of nuclear plants and facilities. Abundant, low-cost energy, which can only be supplied by coal and nuclear, is vital to growth in our gross national product, he states. While conservation efforts are commendable, we must have more energy if we are to maintain our standard of living. Current energy resources projections into the next century indicate an energy gap of 42 quads with a 3 percent growth and 72 quads with a 4 percent growth. Comparisons of fuel prices, plant capital investment, and electric generation costs are developed for both coal and nuclear energy; these show that nuclear energy has a clear advantage economically as long as light water reactors are supplemented by breeder reactor development and the nuclear industry can demonstrate that these reactors are safe, reliable, and compatible with the environment. Mr. Reichle says excessive regulation and legal challenges combined with public apathy toward developing nuclear energy are delaying decisions and actions that should be taken now. (DCK)


Acidic mucopolysaccharides of Luidia quinaria von Martens are extracted by sodium-hydroxide method and enzyme-decomposition method.The gross products are deproteined by trichloroacetic acid and twice enzymic hydrolysis.The purified product solution is then precipitated in succession with ethanol(42% and 80%) to get acidic mucopolysaccharide fractions Ⅰand Ⅱ,of which the contents of total sugar are 71.6% and 80.4% while the contents of protein are 1.52% and 1.38%,respectively.Fraction Ⅱ is further separated and purified by ion-exchange chromatography(DEAE-52) and Sephadex(G-50) and further analyzed with Sephadex(G-100).The results show that fraction Ⅱ are composed of one components with sulfate.The average molecular weight of this acidic mucopolysaccharide is about 12 kD.


Arrestins are important proteins, which regulate the function of serpentine heptahelical receptors and contribute to multiple signaling pathways downstream of receptors. The ubiquitous β-arrestins are believed to function exclusively as monomers, although self-association is assumed to control the activity of visual arrestin in the retina, where this isoform is particularly abundant. Here the oligomerization status of β-arrestins was investigated using different approaches, including co-immunoprecipitation of epitope-tagged β-arrestins and resonance energy transfer (BRET and FRET) in living cells. At steady state and at physiological concentrations, β-arrestins constitutively form both homo- and hetero-oligomers. Co-expression of β-arrestin2 and β-arrestin1 prevented β-arrestin1 accumulation into the nucleus, suggesting that hetero-oligomerization may have functional consequences. Our data clearly indicate that β-arrestins can exist as homo- and hetero-oligomers in living cells and raise the hypothesis that the oligomeric state may regulate their subcellular distribution and functions.


It's necessary for university scientific research team to establish effective incentive mechanism to realize knowledge sharing.On the point of the combination between the result of the survey on the cause of university scientific researchers knowledge sharing and human resources theory of motivation,this paper provides some specific strategies to promote university scientific researchers knowledge sharing from the power of spirit,material and culture.


Beginnings For the last decade, I (Michael) have attended Christians in English Language Teaching (CELT) conferences (see Wong's article in this issue for more on CELT). There I noticed that the only people who benefitted from the great talks, research, and discussions at those wonderful events were those in attendance. I asked others about potentially creating a periodical where presenters might submit and perhaps publish article versions of their conference contributions, in order to reach a larger audience. Without exception, everyone thought it was a grand idea. At the American Association for Applied Linguistics conference in Costa Mesa, California (AAAL 2007), I spoke with Tom Scovel and Zoltán Dörnyei about this journal possibility, and they were encouraging but said that they could not take on such a new venture. As I shared this update with my friend Xuesong (Andy) Gao at a small Chinese restaurant during AAAL 2007, over some great noodles he challenged me to start the journal myself. I told Andy I would think and pray about it, but I could not imagine doing so alone. At the time I co-edited the CETC Newsletter, published by TESOL, and I responded then that it was my priority. After TESOL closed all its caucuses in 2008, including the Christian Educators in TESOL Caucus (CETC), the Christian English Language Educators Association (CELEA) was formed and it became clear that a new venue for communication was necessary, so I founded CELEA News, another newsletter. It has published two issues a year since 2009 and fills an important role for regular communication with CELEA members. Sometimes I invited CELT presenters to write short versions of their presentations for the newsletter, but it really had no space for longer research or theory pieces, and my desire grew to help others to access some of the riches from those conferences. Later I asked Andy if he would co-edit a journal with me for CELEA, and he thankfully agreed. After several volumes of CELEA News, I was able to pass the lead on the newsletter to my co-editor Jan Dormer, so that I could focus on founding this journal.


Recycling refers to optical techniques used in laser interferometers to enhance their signal response for a given input power. Driven by the quest to detect gravitational waves using interferometers, a host of configurations have been proposed over the last ten years. Here, these techniques are summarised, and their tolerance to wavefront distortion considered along with their applicability to long and mid baseline laser interferometers.


ABSTRACT The amounts of heterogeneous data that an organization is provided nowadays, has made information management a seriously complicated task. In the context of the present work, a platform for information management through document analysis and warehousing is introduced. Workflows employing Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Information Extraction (IE) components are used in order to extract semantic information from documents. This information is warehoused in a way to enable its efficient retrieval as well as further discovery of knowledge with the use of data mining methodologies. Keywords Information Management, Information Extraction, Document Analysis, Document Warehousing, Semantic Annotation, Workflow. 1. INTRODUCTION The rapid rate of growth in the amount of information available these days has led information overload to hit tragic proportions. The situation has grown worse with the propagation of the World Wide Web, which contains vast amounts of unstructured and diverse information. Consuming and exploiting all this knowledge is extremely difficult, yet it can provide tremendous benefits. In the context of the IST project Parmenides (IST-2001-39023), a framework for information management was developed. The Parmenides framework covers all phases of the document lifecycle, from collection to storage and retrieval. Information extraction (IE) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques are utilized in order to achieve semi-automatic semantic annotation. A specialized XML schema accommodates the document metadata and facilitates indexing for efficient knowledge retrieval. All individual components are integrated under a software platform. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2 presents some related work that has been carried out in the area of information extraction and management. The document lifecycle as this is defined in the Parmenides framework is introduced in section 3. Section 4 describes in detail the information management tasks that the user can execute in the Parmenides integrated software platform. Finally, the paper is concluded in section 5.


To develop an engineering-model of hydrogen-fueled ultra-micro combustor for Ultra Micro Gas Turbine (UMGT), we reviewed and summarized the problems in downsizing combustors, and determined a suitable burning method. The key issue to actualize practical ultra-micro combustors is reducing heat loss from the combustor to compressor and turbine. The reduction of heat loss was discussed from 3 different viewpoints; heat-insulation material, high-space-heating-rate combustion, and combustor-insolated gas turbine structure. Use of heat-insulation material induced the heat loss reduction to the surroundings. The heat loss ratio decreased substantially in reverse proportion to space heating rate, leading the idea that it could be reduced by burning at a high space heating rate. By settling the combustor insolated from the compressor and turbine, the heat transfer from the combustor to the compressor and turbine becomes smaller. For a selection of the suitable burning method, comparison between 2 burning methods, flat-flame and swirling-flamer types, was conducted. Synthetically the flat-flame burning method was confirmed to be more suitable for ultra-micro combustors than latter one. Base on them, an engineering-model of hydrogen-fueled flat-flame ultra-micro combustor was developed. To obtain high overall heat-insulation, heat-resistant and strength, the engineering-model combustor had triple layer structure with an advanced ceramic, a heat insulation material and a stainless steel. To simplify heat transfer issue in the combustor, it was isolated from the other components. Furthermore it was designed by considering structure, size, material, velocity, pressure loss and prevention of flashback.


[Objective] To investigate the value of serum and ascites CA199, CA125 and CA153 levels in patients with cirrhosis and to explore possible factors associated with them. [Methods] A total of 54 patients and 32 cases of normal controls were studied. Group I consisted of 31 patients with cirrhosis without ascites. Group II consisted of 23 patients with cirrhosis with ascites. And group III consisted of 32 cases of normal controls. CA199, CA125 and CA153 levels were measured in serum of all the patients and also simultaneously in ascitic fluids of 23 patients. [Results] Serum CA199,CA125 and CA153 levels were elevated in patients with cirrhosis, especially in those with ascites. Serum CA199, CA125 and CA153 levels were correlated with Child-Pugh scores (r =0.39) but it was marginally significant (P 0.05). [Conclusions] The elevation of serum or ascites CA199, CA125 and CA153 can be act as an index in patients with cirrhosis.


We present methods for computing the K-groups of a variety of C∗-algebras associated to lattices in Heisenberg Lie groups, including twisted group C∗-algebras and Azumaya algebras over the corresponding nilmanifolds. A precise formula for the rank of the above K-groups is given, and it is shown that any twisted group C∗-algebra over such a lattice Γ is KKequivalent to an ordinary group C∗-algebra corresponding to a possibly different lattice Γ0. We also give applications of our methods to the calculation of K-groups for certain twisted transformation group C∗-algebras and certain continuous trace algebras whose spectra are tori.


The oxygen conductor yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) is widely used in miniaturized solid oxide fuel cells (µSOFC) and may be suitable for solid state ion emitter applications e.g. as miniaturized ion engines for electric propulsion. Since the YSZ films are not completely free of stress during the growth, cracks in fabricated free-standing membranes are often observed. YSZ thin films were deposited on silicon substrates by radio frequency sputtering. Free-standing YSZ membranes were fabricated by partially removing the Si substrate by anisotropic wet-chemical etching using different masking patterns defined by electron beam lithography. We show how different sizes and etching conditions influence the strain in the fabricated membranes. To characterize these membranes we used optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.


There are two main problems in finding the higher genus superstring measure. The first one is that for $g\geq 5$ the super moduli space is not projected. Furthermore, the supermeasure is regular for $g\leq 11$, a bound related to the source of singularities due to the divisor in the moduli space of Riemann surfaces with even spin structure having holomorphic sections, such a divisor is called the $\theta$-null divisor. A result of this paper is the characterization of such a divisor. This is done by first extending the Dirac propagator, that is the Szeg\"o kernel, to the case of an arbitrary number of zero modes, that leads to a modification of the Fay trisecant identity, where the determinant of the Dirac propagators is replaced by the product of two determinants of the Dirac zero modes. By taking suitable limits of points on the Riemann surface, this {\it holomorphic Fay trisecant identity} leads to identities that include points dependent rank 3 quadrics in $\mathbb{P}^{g-1}$. Furthermore, integrating over the homological cycles gives relations for the Riemann period matrix which are satisfied in the presence of Dirac zero modes. Such identities characterize the $\theta$-null divisor. Finally, we provide the geometrical interpretation of the above points dependent quadrics and shows, via a new $\theta$-identity, its relation with the Andreotti-Mayer quadric.


Quantum Chromo-Dynamics (QCD) is now well established as the theory for strong interaction of quarks and gluon, which construct hadrons. QCD has the typical properties of "asymptotic freedom" and "color confinement". The asymptotic freedom gives the peculiar feature that the quarks and gluon behave as free particles in high energy limit. Therefore in the high energy region the quark-gluon system can be investigated with perturbative QCD (pQCD). On the other hand, the color confinement says that the quarks and gluon never appear explicitly. Instead they emerge as a bound state hadron. The color confinement process is beyond the perturbative treatment of QCD. The experiments which include hadrons are inevitably accompanied by the problem of the color confinement if they are analyzed by QCD. However, in the high energy region, the color confinement problem can be avoided effectively by introducing parton distribution functions (PDFs) and fragmentation functions (FFs). The PDFs and FFs contain all the information of the structure of hadron as the composition of quarks and gluon. Therefore many kinds of high energy processes including hadrons can be comprehensively analyzed in the pQCD framework with the PDFs and FFs. The information of the inner structure of hadron can be approached through the PDFs and FFs. At first, in my thesis I summarize the general theoretical background which is needed for analyzing the high energy experiments in the pQCD framework. As an application of the framework, I analyzed the polarized hard processes, polarized deep inelastic scattering (polarized DIS) and polarized semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering (polarized SIDIS). From the analysis I extracted the information on the spin structure of proton through polarized PDFs (helicity distribution functions) of the proton. The SIDIS process provides an effective way to distinguish the distributions of different quark species, which is not possible by the DIS alone without some additional assumptions. I included polarized SIDIS data published recently by HERMES in the analysis and investigated the description of the spin structure without the assumption.


The cultural industry park,in the way of industry agglomeration and scale development,has a positive impact on the development of residential real estate due to its rich resources of culture,tourism,eco-environment and a series of concessions offered by the government for the construction of the park..Taking Qu Jiang New District of Xi′an for example,this paper analyzes the factors which affect the development of real estate,and discusses the impact of the construction of cultural industry park on the real estate development.It aims to provide references for the industry part to improve the marketization of cultural industry,impulse the development and maturity,promote the transformation of real estate development model,and explore new economic growth point to achieve stable,healthy and sustainable development.


Let $ \xi(t) $ be a random field with values in $ \bR^1$, defined for $ t \in T,\ T$ an arbitrary set. In this paper two-sided exponential estimates are derived for probabilities $ P(T,u) = \bP\{\sup_{t \in T} \xi(t)\break > u \} $: $$ C_1 g_2(u) \l \log P(T,\,u) + g_1(u) \l C_2 g_2(u), $$ where $ g_1(u) $ is a convex function, $u \to \infty \Rightarrow \lim g_1'(u) = \infty$, $\lim [g_2(u)/g_1(u)] = 0$, $C_k$ are positive numbers independent of~u.


Numerical and experimental investigations were performed to study the effects of blade loading on pump inducer performance and flow fields. To compare the performance of inducers with different blade loadings, a three-dimensional inverse design method was applied to control the blade loading distribution of inducers. Firstly, a conventional helical inducer was designed. The blade number is three and the blade angle at the tip was chosen by the conventional design method. Then, two inducers were designed using a three-dimensional inverse design method with different blade loading distributions. One inducer was designed with fore-loading and the other was designed with aft-loading, but both inducers were designed with no leading edge loading. These two inducers have the same design specification as the conventional helical inducer. The CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analyses and water model tests were performed on these three inducers. Both results showed that the inlet backflow characteristics of the 3-D inverse design inducers are improved from those of the conventional inducer. It was also found that the inlet backflow characteristics of inducers that have no leading edge loading are almost same despite different blade loading distributions. The inducer designed with fore-loading showed almost the same suction performance as the conventional inducer. Cavitation visualization and FFT analysis of unstable phenomena were also performed in this study.Copyright © 2002 by ASME


Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is defined as poorly reversible chronic airflow obstruction and is often associated with lower airway symptoms including cough and sputum production and/or dyspnea (1). Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often experience other chronic diseases (called comorbidities), including cardiovascular disease, skeletal muscle dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, depression, and lung cancer (1). The interest in these comorbidities relates to the fact that they contribute to the severity of overall health impairment in individual patients (1), implying that treatment of these comorbid diseases could result in clinical benefit. To date, the possible effect of chronic sinonasal disorders in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been somewhat neglected (2), and is not mentioned in the current version of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy document (3). As a result, only a few studies have assessed nasal symptoms and their effect on health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4–6), and less data are available on the relationship of sinonasal disorders to the frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations (6, 7) or to lung function (8). This is in marked contrast to patients with asthma, in whom the potential importance of rhinitis, sinusitis, and nasal polyps has been acknowledged for more than 10 years in international guidelines (9, 10). The association of sinonasal disorders and asthma may merely reflect common risk factors (e.g., atopy and environmental exposure), but it has been suggested that it could be related to similarities between upper and lower airway epithelial cell behavior, a concept that was called "the united airway hypothesis" (11). According to this hypothesis, treatment of upper airway disease may contribute to integrated care of lower airway disease. In this month's issue of AnnalsATS, Huerta and colleagues (pp. 997–1004) analyzed longitudinal data obtained in 209 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease recruited into the London chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cohort over the course of 8 years to examine the prevalence of chronic nasal symptoms and their relationship to healthrelated quality of life and exacerbation frequency, as well as the description of acute nasal symptoms during the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations (12). The authors reported that chronic nasal symptoms were highly prevalent, occurring in up to 40% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at baseline, and that these symptoms somewhat increased during longitudinal follow-up. Among chronic nasal symptoms, runny nose/nasal discharge was of particular relevance, because its prevalence increased independently of exacerbation frequency and smoking status (12). Runny nose/nasal discharge was more prevalent in subjects with frequent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations (12). At the time of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations, nasal symptoms, especially runny nose/nasal discharge, were increased during the first week of exacerbation, but were not markedly different in the week before exacerbation onset and went back to baseline within a week after the start of exacerbation (12). Acute nasal symptoms were in part related to rhinovirus infection, as nasal symptoms were more prevalent in patients with positive quantitative polymerase chain reaction for human rhinovirus in sputum samples. In a subset of patients, the authors examined the relationship of nasal symptoms to respiratory health-related quality of life (monitored using the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test) in stable state and at exacerbation. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT) scores were higher (indicating worse health-related quality of life) in patients with runny nose/nasal discharge both during stable state and exacerbations (12). These latter findings expand those of a previous report that found an association between chronic nasal symptoms and impairment in health-related quality of life measured by the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (6). Nasal symptoms were increased during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations, especially during rhinovirustriggered exacerbations. Unfortunately, because acute nasal symptoms were also


The semiclassical approximation for the energy transition probability density in a recent sequence of papers depends on the full unitary operator that has driven the transition and on the trajectories of the driven classical Hamiltonian. Neither of these is explicitly given for a transition generated by a general Hamiltonian, even if it is time-independent, so that a sudden transition was presumed. The theory is here generalized for arbitrary driving Hamiltonians, by basing it on a compound unitary operator that combines four evolutions, a pair generated by the original Hamiltonian and a pair generated by the driving Hamiltonian. The supporting classical structure is again that of closed compound orbits, but now these are composed of four trajectory segments, corresponding to the quantum evolutions. Notwithstanding the increased complexity, all underlying trajectory segments are then generated by Hamiltonians that are known a priory. The phase space integral for the smooth classical background, with respect to variations of the pair of energies, is preserved from the previous papers. The quantum oscillations of the transition density again result from the stationary phase approximation of a double Fourier integral over the trace of the semiclassical compound unitary operator. Even though it now combines four evolutions instead of two, the phases of the oscillations agree with the previous results if the driven Hamiltonian is known.


Dear Editor, We read the "Letter to the editor regarding the effect of isolation on athletes' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic." We would like to address the main points of the commentaries and respond to their highlights. Firstly, we agree that those in ethnic minorities have an increased risk of being infected with COVID-19. Although in our study, the participants were all from the same ethnic group and there were no participants from any ethnic minority. The participants were not specifically selected from the same ethnicity but the teams that were contacted to enroll the participants had players from the same ethnicity. We also agree that having symptoms of COVID-19 or the possibility of having positive test results could increase the anxiety levels of participants. In Turkey, all sport events were canceled and the public were strictly restricted from leaving their houses. None of the participants or people who live with the participants had symptoms of coronavirus. Since the health policy ordered that people without any coronavirus symptoms or with the risk of contact with coronavirus patients could not be tested for COVID-19, none of the participants were tested for coronavirus. So, the anxiety levels might be affected by the possibility of asymptomatic infection with coronavirus. The reason for the uneven number of male and female participants is that we wanted to use all gathered data for powerful statistical analysis. The aim of the study was to reach as many athletes as possible in different branches. Reducing the number of male participants in order to equalize the number of participants of different genders could reduce the power of the study and the statistical analysis as it would reduce the total available data. Since the number of participants in both sexes included a large number of participants, we used all the data. We agree that getting the participants to complete the questionnaires more frequently would contribute to the study. Also, having data before the first case of COVID-19 in Turkey and before the isolation period began would provide valuable data to evaluate the effects. Unfortunately, we had to wait for ethical committee approval and we started the study as soon as the approval was received. Due to this, we obtained the results after 2 months. We wanted to publish our results to contribute to the literature on this important subject because the number of participants in the study is high and we believe that it provides valuable information. We are also running several studies with different designs that examine the effects of COVID-19 on athletes, and we will continue to contribute to the literature about these issues.


University campus,which is a kind of man-made landscape,is analyzed the landscape structure in this paper.The patches in the university campus are classified according to the different function,and the flow and transform of material flow,energy flow and information flow are studied.With the theory of landscape ecology,university campus layout should become scientifically and reasonably from the view of general pattern and landscape ecological benefits.Based on the different size of area,the programming models of university campus are designed two kinds,which are the large regional model and the regional model.


Abstract. The robust design of compensators aiming disturbance rejection with time domain specifications is discussed in this paper from a perspective of loop shaping. The constraints to provide robust disturbance rejection are derived as functions of the disturbance reference model, which contains the associated time domain specifications. It is shown that the larger is the distance between the nominal plant model and the reference model to be followed the more restrictive the design constraints are. The problem can be posed as a model tracking compensator and the proposed procedure may reduce the conservativeness normally associated with its design. The plant model is assumed subject to unstructured uncertainties and the design specifications are written in the usual form of loop shape constraints. Hence techniques like H∞ or LQG/LTR can be applied as design tools. In order to illustrate the application of the proposed methodology we consider a multivariable mixture tank as an example.


We analyze the shock formation process for the 3D nonisentropic Euler equations with the ideal gas law, in which sound waves interact with entropy waves to produce vorticity. Building on our theory for isentropic flows in [3, 4], we give a constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial data. Specifically, we prove that there exist smooth solutions to the nonisentropic Euler equations which form a generic stable shock with explicitly computable blowup time, location, and direction. This is achieved by establishing the asymptotic stability of a generic shock profile in modulated self‐similar variables, controlling the interaction of wave families via: (i) pointwise bounds along Lagrangian trajectories, (ii) geometric vorticity structure, and (iii) high‐order energy estimates in Sobolev spaces. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.


On the basis of concept and connotation of urban intensive land utilization and the actual situation of Chang-zhu-tan,this paper firstly constructs Chang-zhu-tan urban agglomeration intensive land utilization indicators,then uses fuzzy math to build an urban intensive land utilization evaluation model and quantitatively determined intensive land utilization level of "3+5" urban agglomeration of Chang-zhu-tan.The results shows that: In addition to Changsha and Yueyang,the other cities of "3+5" urban agglomeration were in a lower level in intensive land utilization;urban agglomerations intensive land utilization level shows an overall upward trend over time;regional differences of urban agglomeration were obvious and relevant to regional economic differences;factors that impacting urban intensive land utilization are related to population,resources,environment,economy and society.


Macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of both autoimmune and fibrotic disorders, and they represent a major part of the inflammatory infiltrates found in the skin and affected internal organs during early SSc (2). Activation of macrophages toward various phenotypes differs according to different stimuli. Macrophages are activated to the M1 phenotype by microbial products or interferon. M1 macrophages represent a major source of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1b, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-6 (3). In contrast, macrophages can be activated toward M2 phenotype by IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10, which are known to be increased in SSc (4). These M2 macrophages have many receptors, such as the hemoglobin scavenger receptor known as the cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163) (5). M2 macrophages are associated with vascularization and wound healing and may play a role in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases by the secretion of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) (6).


Low-level laser biostimulation can be applied in wound therapy to speed up the wound healing,prevent infection and relieve the pain.Although it is still a problem how to select the laser wavelength,power and dose for different wounds because of its unclear mechanism,it has been proved that LLLT has good curative effect and application prospect in wound healing.


Digital down conversion and decimation were implemented in FPGA. Due to completely eliminate Multiplier and digital oscillator which will consume a huge amount of FPGA resources, its complexity is reduced significantly. Combined with pipeline structure in comb stage, its process speed exceeds 100M samples per second. The design has strong reconfigurability and exhibits strong application prospect.


Background: Pain is the main symptom of Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) and aquatic exercise has been indicated as an effective non-pharmacological treatment for KOA symptoms. In general, KOA pain is assessed by simple scales or by multicomponent self-reported questionnaires, mainly the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index. Some studies had reported the effectiveness of aquatic exercise on KOOS pain dimension but not on each pain item.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate how pain items of KOOS questionnaire are affected by 3 months' aquatic exercise program for overweight and obese individuals with KOA (PICO).Method: Eligibility criteria were 40 ≤ age ≤ 65 years; BMI ≥ 28kg/m²; clinical and radiographic KOA. Participants were randomized in aquatic exercise group (AEG) and control group (CG). Pain was assessed by KOOS. Descriptive statistics and Univariate Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVA) were used as primary analyses.Results: Final sample included 48 adults (BMI: 35.0±4.9 kg/m², age: 55±7 years), 23 in the CG and 25 in AEG. Table 1 presents ANCOVA analysis for each item of Pain dimension of KOOS. Significant group effect was found in all pain items (p <.05), except for pain frequency (P1) and pain on bending knee fully (P4). Better group effect was found in the item pain on walking (P5) (p <.001).Conclusions: PICO aquatic program was effective in improving knee pain in seven of nine activities in individuals with KOA.


The OECD is leading global efforts to reach an international consensus around the BEPS Project with the G20 support. Action 1 works on the tax challenges of the digital economy and its proposals have been made with the «inclusive framework» participation that brings together more than 137 countries. The article focuses on the legitimacy, operation, and consequences of all this work for developing countries that, according to estimates of the UNCTAD, lost annually U$100 billion due to tax avoidance schemes by MNEs. The OECD/G20 inclusive framework is designing a new global tax structure and its proposals attempt to introduce new rules on taxing rights allocation and distribution. At the same time, some countries have adopted unilateral measures in order to tax some digital businesses. Finally, the European Union Countries continue to delay the adoption of the CCCTB and DST Directive proposals, and the United States has introduced the GILTI legislation that seeks to tax the global intangible income. Everything seems to indicate that in the next years the international tax architecture will be changed in deep.


The use of video as instructional content has become popular in web-based learning environments. Even though video is an established media, the way users access and interact with video vary among systems and may influence how students experience and engage on courses. Previous studies have focused on analysing the effects on students' engagement, learning performance and interaction behavior of static features, such as the length of the video and the type of use (e.g. main or supplementary material), and also of interactive features, such as quizzes and annotations. Considering that there are fragments of a video lecture that may be of particular interest, in our study we analyzed the effects on interaction behavior and on students' perceived experience of providing an instructional video enriched with an interactive timeline highlighting points of interest. We offered a content test for a control group and an experimental group. In the former, participants used a video player with a conventional timeline. In the latter, participants used a video player with an additional interactive timeline indicating points of interest, corresponding to topic transitions in the lecture, which provided direct access to the point where a topic is introduced. Our findings indicate that the annotated interactive timeline affected students' behavior and improved their personal experience and efficiency in terms of interaction in video-based tasks. The experimental group significantly performed a lower number of clicks to find information and also reported diminished perceived workload scores when compared to the control group. Also, participants in the experimental group presented a more predictable and patterned search behavior than participants in the control group.


Based on the basic connotation of industrial competitiveness, this article draws on the latest relevant research at home and abroad, and cites a set of comprehensive evaluation index system including indicators of competitive strength, competitive potential and competitive situation, competitive environment. According to the data of the cities in the Pearl River Delta cited in the statistical yearbook 2008, the paper analyses the cities' industrial competitiveness in the Pearl River Delta area, and proposes some policy recommendations which could help strengthen key industries' function in pulling the economy, increase the proportion of self-owned intelligence property right and increase the investment in information industry.


We present a new covariant method of construction of the (position space) graviton propagators in the $N$-dimensional (Euclidean) anti-de Sitter background for any gravitational theory with the Lagrangian that is an analytic expression in the metric, curvature, and covariant derivative. We show that the graviton propagators (in Landau gauge) for all such theories can be expressed using the heat kernels for scalars and symmetric transverse-traceless rank-2 tensors on the hyperbolic $N$-space. The latter heat kernels are constructed explicitly and shown to be directly related to the former if an improved bi-scalar representation is used. Our heat kernel approach is first tested on general relativity, where we find equivalent forms of the graviton propagators. Then it is used to obtain explicit expressions for graviton propagators for various higher-derivative as well as infinite-derivative/nonlocal theories of gravity. As a by-product, we also provide a new derivation of the equivalent action (correcting a mistake in the original derivation) and an extension of the quadratic action to arbitrary ${N\geq 3}$ dimensions.


In this paper, the exact boundary controllability of nodal profile is established for quasilinear hyperbolic systems with general nonlinear boundary and interface conditions in a tree‐like network with general topology. The basic principles for giving nodal profiles and for choosing boundary controls are presented, respectively. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Accurate protein binding site annotations are vital for a profound understanding of biological processes and protein interactions. Due to less supporting information a large number of proteins remain uncharacterised. For large sets of unchar- acterised proteins, only amino acid information is available. In this paper, we proposed BSite-pro - a traditional approach - which makes use of protein sequence data for classification of binding sites. The classification procedure requires hand-crafted features from protein sequences. Our results stipulate noteworthy enhancements concerning predicted accuracy and recall upon comparison with previously proposed sequence-based techniques. BSite-pro achieves an overall validation accuracy of 85.06% and recall of 82.17%. Finally, we discuss that using the same feature extraction methods and model, we profitably dealt with two contrasting types of problem i.e. protein active and conserved sites prediction.


We investigate combinatorial properties of aperiodic simple Toeplitz subshifts, as well as spectral properties of Jacobi operators defined by them. More precisely, we derive explicit formulas for complexity, palindrome complexity and, for sufficiently large word length, repetitivity. In addition we give a complete description of the de Bruijn graphs. We characterise alpha-repetitivity and, based on a work by Liu and Qu from 2011, the Boshernitzan condition. These combinatorial results can also be found in [arXiv:1801.08778]. Regarding the Jacobi operators, we show that they have empty pure point spectrum for almost all elements in the subshift. This generalises a result of Grigorchuk, Lenz and Nagnibeda from 2018. In addition the spectrum is shown to be a Cantor set of Lebesgue measure zero. In fact we prove the stronger statement that every locally constant SL(2,R)-cocycle is uniform. To do so, we use the so-called leading sequence condition for subshifts, which stems from a collaboration with Grigorchuk, Lenz and Nagnibeda, see [arXiv:1906.01898]. This approach allows us to establish uniformity of cocycles for simple Toeplitz subshifts and Sturmian subshifts in a unified way. An appendix briefly reviews the connection between Jacobi operators on simple Toeplitz subshifts and Laplacians on Schreier graphs of self-similar groups.


Samples of surface plankton in Lake Nojiri were collected monthly from July 1988 to October 1991. In zooplankton 26 species were found and 25 species in phytoplankton. The seasonal succession of main species was as follows. Thermocyclops hyalinus On the other longispina, Polyarthra vulgaris and Keratella quadrata found from winter to spring. Fragilaria crotonensis crotonensis winter, italica formosa the mid the


Voltage (IR) analysis tools need to be launched multiple times during the Engineering Change Order (ECO) phase in the modern design cycle for Power Delivery Network (PDN) re- finement, while analyzing the IR characteristics of advanced chip designs by using traditional IR analysis tools suffers from massive run-time. Multiple Machine Learning (ML)-driven IR analysis approaches have been frequently proposed to benefit from the fast inference time and flexible prediction ability. Among these ML-driven approaches, the Effective Resistance (effR) of a given PDN has been shown to be one of the most critical features that can greatly enhance model performance and thus prediction accuracy; however, calculating effR alone is still computationally expensive. In addition, in the ECO phase, even if only local adjustments of the PDN are required, the run-time of obtaining the regional effR changes by using traditional Laplacian Systems grows exponentially as the size of the chip grows. It is because the whole PDN needs to be considered in a Laplacian solver for computing the effR of any single network node. To address the problem, this paper proposes an ML-driven engine, SpeedER, that combines a U-Net model and a Fully Connected Neural Network (FCNN) with five selected features to speed up the process of estimating regional effRs. Experimental results show that SpeedER can be approximately four times faster than a commercial tool using a Laplacian System with errors of only around 1%.