Contemporary research equipment is not only extremely complex and very expensive, it is typically fully computerized and most tasks are executed without student participation. This creates a number of substantial educational drawbacks and limitations. The paper presents a virtual multifunctional X-ray laboratory (v-Lab) that helps overcome the above mentioned problems, addresses the demands of distance and blended education and meets learning habits of today's students. The v-Lab enables students to practice concepts, tasks, and equipment operations in a manner that can't be achieved on actual equipment. It employs virtual X-ray equipment that realistically imitates the functionality and design of actual equipment and also includes educational analytical software. Virtual data can be exported to popular software as well. Highly interactive online experiments using virtual equipment have been created for undergraduate students to learn fundamental principles underlying the analytical x-ray methods and become familiar with the design and operation of the X-ray equipment. A variety of visual, audio and traditional learning and assessment resources were integrated with virtual experiments to provide students with "just-in-time" learning opportunities. The virtual equipment has also been used for preparing undergraduate and graduate students to perform various research studies including but not limited to: X-Ray diffraction study of phase transitions in ferroelectric ceramics and nanoscale thin films, qualitative phase analysis of various compounds, nanostructured materials and human kidney stones, etc. Examples of virtual experiments used for teaching crystallography and other science and engineering courses at several US and Russian universities are presented and discussed. An easy-to-use authoring tool enables instructors to customize existing virtual experiments, and create new ones, as well as to add their own samples into the sample collection.


Current research on the medical English curriculum system is in an unsystematic state. According to the modular teaching theory and ESP classification, especially Hutchinson & Waters's (1986) and Jordan's (1997) categories, three modules of medical English curriculum system are put forward for non-English speaking countries to cultivate their international medical students and strengthen their international cooperation. These modules are Medical Humanities English, Medical Occupational English and Medical Academic English. Each of the above modules is independent but related to the others in a sequential relationship. Offering modular medical courses not only provides a language platform for medical students to catch up with the pace of internationalization, but also accelerates the process to study the advanced medical technology through international communications.


Using an atomic force microscope (AFM) modified to perform PiezoAFM we have investigated the piezoelectric response of sol-gel thin film lead zirconate titanate (PZT 30/70, PbZr0.3Ti0.7O3) on Pt-Ti/SiO2/Si, Indium Tin Oxide (ITO)/Glass and Pt/MgO. The films were produced by spin coating a PZT 30/70 sol and firing at 520oC for Pt electrode systems and 600oC for the ITO system. By conducting PiezoAFM hysteresis loops we have shown that the localised piezoelectric response varies for PZT on differing substrates. The degree of asymmetry in the hysteresis loops varies for each substrate, as do the coercive fields. The coercive fields have been found to be +/-8V/μm for PZT/ITO/Glass, +/-22V/μm for PZT/Ti-Pt/SiO2/Si and +25V/μm and –35V/μm for PZT/Pt/MgO. The PZT grown on Pt/MgO, Pt-Ti/SiO2 and ITO/Glass shows an offset or asymmetric hysteresis loop, which was confirmed by the differing fields required for poling during domain modification experiments performed on PZT/Pt/MgO. δ33 values obtained for the PZT thin films investigated range from 65pm/V for PZT/Pt-Ti/SiO2/Si to 40pm/V for PZT/ITO/Glass.


In this article, an optimized tracking control using critic-actor reinforcement learning (RL) strategy is investigated for a class of non-affine nonlinear continuous-time systems. Since the non-affine system is with the implicit control input in dynamic equation, it is a more general modeling form than the affine case, hence this also makes the optimized control more challenging and rewarding. However, most existing RL-based optimal controllers are very complex in algorithm because their actor and critic training laws obtained by implementing gradient descent on the square of Bellman residual error, which equals to the approximation of Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation, hence these methods are difficult to be extended to non-affine systems. In this optimized control, the RL algorithm is produced from implementing gradient descent to a simple positive-definite function, which is derived from HJB equation's partial derivative. As a result, the proposed control algorithm can be significantly simple so as to alleviate the computational burden. Finally, a typical numerical simulation is carried out, and the results also further confirm effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.


The study aimed to analyze the perceptions of the doctors of Hermina Hospital Bogor on BPJS health service quality and satisfaction level of the national health insurance program and to analyze the effects of service quality on the doctors' satisfaction. Questionnaires were utilized to obtain the primary data, while literature reviews were conducted to obtain the secondary data. The data were analyzed by using descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis. The results of this research, in reference to the descriptive analysis of the perceptions of the doctors in Hermina Hospital Bogor on satisfaction and quality service of the National Health Insurance program, indicated that the program is considered unsuitable in its implementation. The results of multiple regression showed that the variables of BPJS service quality have influences on the satisfaction of the doctors of Hermina Hospital Bogor.

Keywords: health service quality, satisfaction, hospital


In order to have a successful Learning Assistant Program it is important to create adequate support tools and resources to adopt and implement the model. The Learning Assistant Model was created at the University of Colorado-Boulder and consists of three essential elements (pedagogy, content, and practice). Our research focuses on the content component, or the weekly content preparation session, in which faculty and their Learning Assistants (LAs) meet to discuss course objectives, content, pedagogical approaches, and student learning. For this study, video recordings of weekly content preparation sessions of various LA-faculty assignments at Chicago State University were analyzed. This data and a review of previous research on observation protocols led us to develop the Preparation Session Observation Tool (PSOT). PSOT is used to develop a better understanding of how the weekly content preparation sessions are fostering different types of partnerships. It is expected that PSOT data can be used by new adoptees of the LA Model and experienced members of LA Programs to analyze their weekly content preparation session in order to improve or change LA-faculty working relationships.


As a core part of autonomous driving systems, motion planning has received extensive attention from academia and industry. However, real-time trajectory planning capable of spatial-temporal joint optimization is challenged by nonholonomic dynamics, particularly in the presence of unstructured environments and dynamic obstacles. To bridge the gap, we propose a real-time trajectory optimization method that can generate a high-quality whole-body trajectory under arbitrary environmental constraints. By leveraging the differential flatness property of car-like robots, we simplify the trajectory representation and analytically formulate the planning problem while maintaining the feasibility of the nonholonomic dynamics. Moreover, we achieve efficient obstacle avoidance with a safe driving corridor for unmodelled obstacles and signed distance approximations for dynamic moving objects. We present comprehensive benchmarks with State-of-the-Art methods, demonstrating the significance of the proposed method in terms of efficiency and trajectory quality. Real-world experiments verify the practicality of our algorithm. We will release our codes for the research community


A novel metal coated long period fiber grating (LPFG) liquid sensor is presented, in which the dual-peak resonance (DPR) combined with the surface plasma resonance is utilized to improve the sensitivity to liquid concentration. Based on the coupled-mode theory, the double-clad structural model is used to analyze the dual-peak resonant characteristics and refractive index sensing properties of this LPFG. The results show that dual resonant peaks are far away from each other, and shift in opposite directions with an increase of surrounding refractive index. In addition, the influence of metal film thickness and grating structural parameters (grating period Λ, average index change σ) on the sensitivity to refractive index is discussed for this LPFG sensor, which provides a foundation for designing high sensitivity liquid LPFG sensors. Experimentally, the silver films were coated on a LPFG by direct current sputtering, and the dual resonant peaks were observed in this LPFG. Then the salt solution concentration monitoring test was performed. The results indicate the metal coated LPFG based on DPR has higher refractive index sensitivity as compared with dual-peak based non-coated LPFG and general single peak based LPFG, the resolution of liquid refractive index is available to 10 −5 for the proposed LPFG with suitable film and grating parameters. © 2012 Society


Augmentation is a method that can effectively improve the performance of GNSS.Considering that public released simulators cannot satisfy the research of various augmentation technologies,this paper proposes an integrated simulation platform for differential and integrity study on GNSS,which can configure parameters such as constellations,pseudorange errors,stations and the user receiver,and is capable of simulating the failure.The simulation data is output in RINEX or SP3 format for the convenience of exchanging data in different analysis software.The evaluation based on GrafNav shows that the performance of simulation data is similar to that of data collected by a real GNSS receiver.Therefore,the simulation platform can effectively support the augmentation research.


During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chen Du-xiu appealed for developing capitalism in China and criticized the thought of populism deeply. Although he made great mistakes in his political inclination and hadn't e-nough knowledge of developing capitalism in China,his criticism to populism in theory was profound and it made a great contribution to the propagation of the scientific socialism. It was also consistent with the CPC's tradition of criticizing populism and had great coherence with Mao Ze-dong's ideas in this period in some aspects. Therefore,Chen's idea will play an important role in Chinese modern thought history and Marxist thought history.


Polyurethane foam, polyether of open-cell type, immobilizing Adogen-364 (trialkyl tertiary amine) has been prepared and its capability for the separation of some metal ions in aqueous solution was examined. Adogen-loaded foam columns have successfully been used in the separation of cadmium(II), iron(III), nickel(II) and copper(II). Typical examples of separations are given.


Description The following postestimation commands are of special interest after arima: Command Description estat acplot estimate autocorrelations and autocovariances estat aroots check stability condition of estimates irf create and analyze IRFs psdensity estimate the spectral density The following standard postestimation commands are also available: Command Description estat ic Akaike's and Schwarz's Bayesian information criteria (AIC and BIC) estat summarize summary statistics for the estimation sample estat vce variance–covariance matrix of the estimators (VCE) estimates cataloging estimation results forecast dynamic forecasts and simulations lincom point estimates, standard errors, testing, and inference for linear combinations of coefficients lrtest likelihood-ratio test margins marginal means, predictive margins, marginal effects, and average marginal effects marginsplot graph the results from margins (profile plots, interaction plots, etc.) nlcom point estimates, standard errors, testing, and inference for nonlinear combinations of coefficients predict predictions, residuals, influence statistics, and other diagnostic measures predictnl point estimates, standard errors, testing, and inference for generalized predictions test Wald tests of simple and composite linear hypotheses testnl Wald tests of nonlinear hypotheses


Steven D Hollon, PhD1; Bruce E Wampold, PhD, ABPP2 Can J Psychiatry. 2009;54(9):637-643. Randomized Controlled Trials Are Relevant to Clinical Practice I think that randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are highly relevant to clinical practice. If I had a serious medical illness, I would want to know that what I was about to receive actually worked and how it fared relative to other treatment options. Saying that something works means that it has a causal effect (relative to its absence), and saying that it works better than other options means that its impact is even larger than those other options. The most powerful method yet devised to determine whether something has a causal effect (or how it compares with other options) is to test it in an RCT. I think that people with psychological disorders deserve the same level of certainty as people with medical disorders; I want to know whether what I do works. I do not defend RCTs because I conduct them, I conduct RCTs because I can defend them. All causal inference starts with observation. If I want to know if a treatment works, I want to know what happens to people who get treated. If I had a serious medical illness, the first thing I would do is talk to other people who had the disorder and find out what they did and how it went. The problem with relying on such anecdotal observations is that I could never know whether what happened was a consequence of treatment. I would be glad if all the outcomes were benign, but that would not tell me that treatment was necessary to produce those happy outcomes. When my son was growing up he played soccer with teammates who were spanked by their parents when they misbehaved. When those parents observed that we did not spank our son, they were curious as to how we expected him to learn right from wrong. Their parents had spanked them when they were young and they had turned out well. Therefore, they believed it was their obligation as caring and responsible parents to spank their children if they wanted them to turn out well. The fact that something happens does not mean that is was caused by what you did. I may decide to talk to people who had been treated and others who had not (if any were still living) and see how each turned out. This is a quasi-experiment in which people are exposed to different treatments and their subsequent outcomes are observed. The problem with this strategy is that it confounds individual differences with differential treatment. Considered medical opinion for the last several decades has been that women going through menopause benefited from hormone replacement therapy. Women who were treated with estrogen did appear to do better than women who were not. The problem with this inference was that women were free to choose whether they received estrogen or not and those who choose estrogen typically took better care of themselves and had better access to health care. When the field finally got around to doing an RCT on adding estrogen, the study was stopped before completion because replacement therapy increased the risk for cancer and heart disease.1 It is not that the doctors providing hormone replacement therapy did not care about their patients or that the women treated with it did not care about their health. We simply did not have the right kind of data to draw an accurate causal inference, and a generation of women suffered as a consequence. Randomization is designed to control for individual differences. If people sort themselves into conditions for reasons related to the differences between them then any subsequent outcomes observed could be as much a consequence of preexistent individual differences as a consequence of treatment. Good intentions are not enough to do right by patients; hard data are needed that speak to the causal potency of a treatment. RCTs remain the single best (but not the only) way to collect such data. RCTs control for spontaneous remission and other factors related to the passage of time, and they control for individual differences that can affect subsequent course. …


The optimization of treatment strategies in pediatric oncology has massively improved survival rates of children with cancer over the last decades. In recent years, however, it became clear that further intensification of conventional treatment modalities may not necessarily lead to additional advancements in outcome, or may be limited by their toxicities. High hopes have therefore been raised on the advent of targeted therapies in pediatric oncology. As a prototypic example, implementation of the kinase inhibitor imatinib directed against BCR-ABL1 fusions in clinical practice has revolutionized treatment of adult and pediatric chronic myeloid leukemia patients, leading to dramatically improved outcome with limited toxicities. While great efforts are being made to establish similar strategies in other pediatric malignancies, a number of challenges have to be overcome to achieve the goal of personalized therapies in children with cancer. First, characterization of genomic alterations in pediatric tumors by massively parallel sequencing revealed that the mutation rate in these tumors is low, compared to adult malignancies, and that the mutation spectrum is heterogeneous in most entities. Taking also the low incidence of pediatric tumors into account, the resulting low patient numbers pose a challenge to establishing clinical trials, in which the potential benefit of such therapies can be examined. Second, many of the genomic mutations that are known to be drivers in pediatric cancers are currently not actionable by available drugs, such as alterations of MYCN or TERT. Third, ethical and economic considerations hamper the transfer of novel targeted drugs from adult oncology to pediatrics. While it is plausible that the safety and tolerability of novel drugs is usually investigated in adult patients first, the transfer of these drugs to pediatric patients is often impaired by economic considerations, which may be due to the low numbers of patients eligible for such therapies. To overcome these hurdles, intensive collaboration between pediatric oncologists, cancer geneticists, pathologists, and pharma industry is needed to ultimately reach the goal of improving patient outcome by personalized therapies in pediatric oncology.


A three‐dimensional guiding‐center plasma model is derived from the Vlasov equation using a method by Frieman, Davidson, and Langdon. In two dimensions the reduction of the description to configuration space occurs only for homogeneous magnetic fields. Macroscopic equations are derived for a homogeneous magnetic field and the stability of nonneutral plasmas is investigated. Sheets consisting of magnetic field lines and charged positively show unstable behavior if k∥/k⊥<a/cs, where a is the E×B drift and cs is the ion sound velocity. k∥ and k⊥ are the wavenumbers parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field. Sheets with electron charges are stable if the phase velocity of the disturbance along B is smaller than the electron thermal velocity.


Our objective was to automate the irrigation of a greenhouse bi-level prototype. The irrigation system consisted of a weighing station and an electric pump which were linked to the automatic control unit of the apparatus. The irrigation system was tested with tomato transplants. Under capillarity action, water added to each plate was absorbed by the soil of each pot. Irrigation solution was delivered according to the weight loss of each plate and the growing rate of transplants. Results obtained show an uniform growth rate of the produced transplants during the controlled irrigation period (1 month).


An institutionally independent organic online learning community (OOLC) founded and populated by London cabbies-in-training, more commonly known to the world and to themselves as `Knowledge Boys and Girls', is described here. Qualitative discourse analysis of message board transcripts and interviews with members was undertaken in an effort to elucidate benefits that accrue to OOLC members. Goffman's theory of region behaviour is enlisted to explain why frank, collegial and sometimes confessional interactions with peers might take place in such an online venue. This article suggests that through such candid interactions among peers, learners create a back-region that allows participants to compare themselves with one another, cultivate friendships and practise for high-stakes assessments. OOLC members take advantage of the pseudonymity provided by their electronic social space to engage in behaviours that, if they occurred in a front-region, might invite damage to a learner's reputation as a pre-service cabbie. The online community BR becomes a sanctuary of sorts for taking social and academic risks, one where potential adverse consequences are few and benefits are legion.


Current tools for interactive knowledge capture have little or no learning aptitude. They are mostly oblivious to the process or strategy that the user may be following in entering new knowledge, unaware of their progress during a session, and ignorant of typical skills expected from a good student. We present an approach to make acquisition interfaces more proactive by extending them with: 1) goals that represent what remains to be learned, 2) strategies to achieve these goals and acquire further knowledge, and 3) awareness of the current status of the body of knowledge learned. The resulting interaction shows that the system is aware of its progress towards acquiring the new knowledge, and moves forward by understanding what acquisition goals and strategies to pursue.


The Gram-Schmidt algorithm produces a pairwise orthogonal set from a linearly independent set of vectors in an inner product vector space V. We give a linear algorithm that constructs vectors with the same span and which have pairwise the same prescribed angle or distance, in all cases where this is possible. Finally, we prove an asymptotic property in the case of an infinite dimensional space V.


During the early years of the Cold War, engineering educators in the United States vigorously debated a rather abstruse topic that, nevertheless, had lasting public policy implications. Did the field called "engineering science", which the newly formed National Science Foundation (NSF) was chartered to support, indeed exist, and, if it did, how should engineering colleges and the NSF support it? My recounting of the public aspect of this debate (which occurred in articles published in the Journal of Engineering Education and magazines of professional engineering societies from 1945 to 1960) will focus on attempts by prominent engineers and a few scientists to come to terms with a perceived epistemological paradox. Although these groups had defined engineering as the application of science in the first half of the century, the NSF and the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) promoted research and teaching in "engineering science" after the war on the assumption that it represented "basic research in engineering". This paper raises the historlographic method suggested by O. Mayr (1976) and examines how historical actors themselves defined and used the term "engineering science" rather than appplying the concept of engineering science to the past as an analytic tool.


Objective To explore the effect of the combination of Weifuchun and retinoic acid on the expression of Rb Gene and C- erbB- 2Gene in the patients with gastric precancerous lesions.Methods One hundred and fifteen patients with gastric precancerous lesions were randomly divided into the observed group(n = 60) and the control group(n =60).the group were all given omeprazole enteric-coated capsules and hydrotalcite tablets,and at the same time the observed group was administrated with Weifuchun(1.436 g every time,tid) and retinoic acid(10 mg every time,tid).The expressions of Rb gene and C- erbB-2gene were detected by immunohistochemistry and compared after 12months treatment.Results The positive rate of Rb gene after treatment in the observed group(87.93%) was significantly higher than that before treatment in the observed group(68.97%) and after treatment in the control group(71.93%)(P 0.05).The positive rate of C- erbB- 2 gene after treatment in the observed group(12.07%) was significantly lower than that before treatment in the observed group(34.48%) and after treatment in the control group(29.82%)(P 0.05).Conclusion Weifuchun and retinoic acid could medicate the expressions of gene Rb and C- erbB- 2.


(1) The visibility of precipitation (V) can be estimated as a function of range applying the measurement geometry of radar beam, minimum detectable dBZ and high resolution measured VPR from the polar radar data at close ranges to each radar. As a first guess we can assume that the measured VPR approximates well enough the average VPR at all ranges. By using Gaussian beam convolution of the VPR at all ranges applying the known lowest elevation angle we obtain a single value for the maximum distance of detection. Probability of precipitation detection at each range is obtained by repeating the convolution procedure for an ensemble of VPRs. The ensemble members can be obtained from the following sources: ‐ Applying old measured VPRs from the same radar. The representativity of VPRs is enhanced by quality weighing each measured individual VPR, diagnosed as precipitation or overhanging precipitation. ‐ By using climatological VPRs applying the actual freezing level height at each time moment. Climatological VPRs are necessary when no precipitation is detected or when the measured VPRs represent clear air echoes. ‐ Applying VPRs from the neighbouring radars. ‐ Generating simulated VPRs from the measured VPR by keeping its shape constant but modifying the ground level dBZ according to the observed PDF of the dBZ values at the lowest level PPI, inside the range from which the measured VPR is obtained.


A method for measuring angular distributions of individual x‐ray line intensities from laser‐produced plasmas is described and applied to measure the strong angular dependence of lines from an aluminum plasma. The data are consistent with calculations made with a simple plasma model incorporating radiation reabsorption and transport in the plasma.


In general, nutrient content in mango leaves was stable for 6–8, 4–6, and 4–5 months in I, II and III flushes, respectively. P, Mg, Mn, Zn, B, Ca, Fe, and Cu contents were high in I flush, whereas N and K levels were low. Mineral levels, in general, followed an intermediate trend in leaves of II flush. Age and flush both affected significantly mineral content of leaves and their effects were more conspicuous on I flush than that of II and III. Leaves of the first flush (6–8 months old) were most suitable for sampling in 'on' year. In 'off' year, 4–6 months old leaves of II flush were more suitable than that of III flush.


Background Motorcycle is the most common vehicle use in Thailand because of topography, traffic jam problem and income of the owner. The percentage of motorcyclists lower than 20 years and over 60 years are increase every year. Among traffic accidents, increasing numbers of motorcycle accidents have been observed and it is the common cause of death in Thai population. This study aimed to identify severity of injury and helmet use in motorcycle patients in Khon Kaen hospital among teenage, adult and elderly groups. Methods This was the retrospective cohort study . The data was extracted from the Electronic Injury Surveillance System that identified the patients who visited emergency department Khon Kaen hospital to treat injuries resulting from motorcycle accident in 1st January 2013–31th December 2104. Helmet use and severity of injuries sustained among those age lower than 20 years, 20–59 years, 60 years and older were compared. Results 3,265 patients were lower than 20 years, 8,510 patients were 20–59 years and 737 patients were 60 years and older. All were treated at emergency department. The helmet used in lower than 20 years group and 60 years and older group were lower than 20–59 years group (RR 0.73; 95% CI: 0.68–0.79) and (RR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.66–0.88). Glasgow coma scale ≤ 7 in lower than 20 years group and 60 years and older group were higher than 20–59 years group (RR 1.64; 95% CI: 1.33–2.08) and (RR 4.16; 95% CI: 3.44–5.00). Admission rate in 60 years and older group was higher when compared to 20–59 years group (RR 1.38; 95% CI: 1.29–1.47 p-value <0.00001) and also in hospital mortality in oldest group was about 1.7 fold when compared to 20–59 years group (RR 1.7; 95% CI: 1.15–2.51 p value = 0.00074). Conclusions The helmet used in younger and older patients were low and because of the older with motorcycle accident were prone to more severe injuries than younger adults. In future, the injury and prevention program should focus on this aged group.


The research, entitled Military Strategy in Resolving the DI/TII Rebellion in Aceh in 1953-1959, aims to (1) describe the implementation of any military strategy used in resolving the DI/TII rebellion in Aceh, (2) explain the impact of the enactment of military-assisted regions. (Militaire Bijstand) and the Application of the Conceptual Wise Principle to the settlement of the DI/TII rebellion in Aceh in 1953-1959. This study uses a qualitative approach with the help of historical methods. The data collection techniques were carried out through documentation, literature review, and interviews. The results obtained from this study are (1) The implementation of Military Assisted Regions (Militaire Bijstand) became the first strategy to be implemented by sending troops and armed equipment to secure conditions in Aceh, then the next military strategy was implemented called the Wise Principle Concept which became a new beginning for settlement of the rebellion in Aceh. The success of this conception was finally proven by the establishment of the Lamteh Pledge agreement, (2) Development after the completion of the DI/TII rebellion occurred from various sectors in Aceh.


Atmospheric pressure plasma jets are a promising tool for a variety of applications. However, the small size of atmospheric pressure plasma jets limits their use to small scale processes and materials treatment. To address this issue, this work describes how to increase the plasma volume without additional power supplies or circuitry. Instead, additional noble gas streams are positioned orthogonal to the jet's direction of propagation which generates new plasma regions along these streams. This approach increases the plasma volume, which also increase the effective area available to interact with surfaces. The resulting augmented plasma is characterized with electrical, imaging, and time-integrated optical emission spectroscopy techniques. With these additional gas streams, the power required to drive the plasma jet increases sublinearly with the plasma volume, making this an attractive method to generate large area plasmas efficiently. The emission intensity of the He-air plasma lines along the plasma jet were compared to those in the added noble gas streams and were found to be similar in magnitude and follow similar trends as the main plasma jet. There does not appear to be a limit on the number of noble gas streams that can be added downstream of the plasma jet and thus volume expansion.


Primary cutaneous diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma is an uncommon and aggressive lymphoproliferative disorder with a rapid growth rate and dismal prognosis. We present the case of a 91‐year‐old female with an unusual manifestation of primary cutaneous diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, mimicking other more prevalent diseases like chronic non‐healing venous ulceration. Dermatopathologic evaluation rendered the correct diagnosis. A discussion of this rare presentation is important for clinician consideration to prevent misdiagnosis and prolongation of proper management in patients with chronic non‐healing leg ulcers.


The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical framework and evaluation strategy for branding entrepreneurial startup disruptive innovation ventures. The theory of disruptive innovation stipulates that innovative startup ventures develop new business models, create new markets, or introduce innovative, lowcost products. Branding is a business strategy to capture the attention and interest of a population segment for a product, place, corporation, or new venture to achieve desired goals. Venture branding will enable entrepreneurs to entice investors, secure funding, and attain venture growth. The paper begins with brief discussions of relevant prior research in the areas of entrepreneurship, branding in general and the relationship between venture branding and venture capital formation, that is, the critical need for effective brand strategies in all startup ventures. Discussions of research on disruptive innovation and venture capital funding follow. The paper concludes with a theoretical framework and guide for evaluating successful disruptive startup brand strategies.


In the paper,it is introduced the trial production process of L80-1 oil casing made with common low alloy steel by quenching and tempering.The results show that the mechanical properties and quality of the casing completely meet the requirements specified in American API standards,and the process of making casing of different grades with one type of steel can make smelting easier.


Abstract In this paper, we study the existence, Hölder continuity and fractional smoothness of the self-intersection local time with respect to fractional Brownian motion:where BH is a d-dimensional fractional Brownian motion with Hurst index . We also consider the case of intersection local time for two independent multidimensional fractional Brownian motions.


The report starts its analysis from the ICOMOS conventions, and lists the criterions that should be obeyed in the exploitation in historic blocks. And then some principles in the experience economy are used in the historic evaluation and analysis, which direct the subject of the exploitation and the rules that be abided in function organization. At last an instance of the protection and exploitation planning in Sanlv Miao historic blocks in Jingdezhen city is illustrated in detail. All the disquisition intends to provide a solution for the problems found in the exploitation of the historic blocks.


The paper presents an approach for using a bidirectional search strategy for inductively learning clauses in a restricted first-order language. The learning target is to find a set of goal clauses that describes the true ground facts of the target predicate. In our example setting we further assume that the background knowledge is also given in the form of true (and false) ground facts for each background predicate. By fixing the number of variables allowed in the derived clauses we show that no explicit negative goal facts are needed in the case of the closed-world assumption since the rules are evaluated from the premise to the head rather than binding the variables of the goal literal first. As a consequence we get an efficient algorithm that tries to minimize the tuples of variable substitutions stored at each step of our covering approach.


Background: Propofol, the most frequently used intravenous anaesthetic, is used for induction, maintenance of anaesthesia and for sedation in patients scheduled for routine elective surgical procedure. Pain on propofol injection still remains a considerable concern for the anaesthesiologist. Objective: Aim of this study was to observe the efficacy of metoclopramide as pretreatment for the prevention of pain caused by the propofol injection in patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia. Materials and method: A total of 80 patients were taken up in the study in the age group of 20 to 50 years of either sex, ASA grade I/II, scheduled for routine elective surgical procedure under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and using propofol as induction agent. The patients enrolled were divided randomly into two groups of 40 patients each. Group A received 10 mg metoclopramide IV diluted in 5 ml saline. Group B received 5 ml of normal saline as placebo before propofol injection. The patients were asked to report their pain according to the scale provided to them in the form of none, mild, moderate and severe after injection of propofol. Results: The overall incidence and severity of pain were significantly less in Group A (metoclopramide group) than in group B (placebo group) (p< 0.05). The incidence of mild and moderate pain in Group A versus group B was 15% vs 45% and 5% vs 25% respectively (p<0.05). The incidence of score '0' (no pain) was higher in Group A (80%) thanGroup B (25%) (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Intravenous metoclopramide is effective for relief of pain on propofol injection without any significant side effects.


Carbon fibre composites are increasingly being utilised across a wide range of industries. Currently there is a gap in knowledge concerning the microand nano-scale structure-property relationships that govern the mechanical properties of the individual carbon fibres and therefore also the behaviour of the composite material. Atom probe tomography (APT) is uniquely placed to address this situation because it provides a combination of highly resolved chemical and spatial information in three dimensions with the ability to detect all the elements (and their isotopes) in the periodic table. APT is thus a very suitable technique for analysis of carbon fibres, which are mostly comprised of light elements (namely C, H, N, and O) that are otherwise very challenging to detect in combination with each other using other microscopy and microanalysis techniques, pushing the limits of detection with respect to spatial resolution, chemical sensitivity and mass resolving power.


While investigating various parameters which we believe affect the quality of holograms, we exposed 649F glass-backed emulsion to a uniform beam of coherent light (He-Ne laser). The developed plate was expected to have a uniform density across its surface. Instead, a series of bands, resulting from reflections from the rear surface of the glass plate, appeared across the surface. Density variations of 0.1 were observed on an average background density of 0.5. The gamma of the emulsion at this density is 3.5.


1 Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, O&N 1, +8 Herestraat 49, box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium 2 Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Liege, Belgium 3 Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore Middlesex, HA7 4LP, UK


The work of Mr. Constantin Brătianu called "The strategic thinking" is full of texture and spirit. Incidentally, the author warns us early in the book that the history of humanity was consumed and is still consumed by thinking and examples are given to confirm such an assumption. It is a book about thinking, but not just any kind of thinking, it is a book about the Strategic thinking


This study is to analyze the effects of climate change on national total factor productivity. Changes in temperature and rainfalls which are the representative climate variables are used as main factors to measure climate change. Not only average values of the variables but those highest values are used as independent variables in the model, in order to consider the characteristic pattern of recent climate change, the high volatilities. The OLS results are corresponding to previous literature that average temperature has a negative relationship with productivities while average rainfalls have a positive relationship. However, the results of panel analysis contradict the argument of the negative relationship between average temperature and productivities since human beings can adapt the climate change. Therefore adaptation capacity is important to forecast the effects of climate changes on economies.


Using the reduced resistor network developed in Part I of this two-part article, we present practical design guidelines from device to architecture levels to achieve ultrahigh-density 3-D vertical resistive switching memory (VRSM). We first design both hexagon and comb arrays using 7-nm FinFET as pillar driving transistors (pillar drivers). Small-footprint pillar drivers are necessary for a high pillar areal density competitive to 3-D NAND. We then organize the arrays into an architecture using the compact staircase and highly conductive wordplane connection (WPC) to maximize array efficiency and chip density. We investigate the memory and selector requirements, tolerance of parasitic resistances, latency, and energy consumption for both hexagon and comb architectures. The results indicate that the hexagon array with large low-resistance state (LRS) and nonlinearity (NL) is required for ultradense 3-D VRSM. Compared to the comb array, the hexagon array benefits from a continuous WP pattern and yields a better tolerance of parasitic resistances and a smaller latency. The energy consumptions of both architectures are similar. Compared to the most advanced 3-D NAND, 3-D VRSM has higher chip density and shows better potential for future ultradense storage.


In Wherever I Go, Myles Lalor gives a sometimes angry but more often funny account of what it was like to be a part-Aboriginal man in outback Australia. He grew up with colour prejudice among his own relatives, was put in a boys' home and ran away, did various kinds of bush work, extended his travels further and further from home as a stockman, truck driver and general rouseabout, settled down in Wilcannia and later did community work in Sydney. With anthropologist Jeremy Beckett, he recorded on tape these detailed recollections of his extraordinary life.


Abstract The effects of five drying methods on kinetics, biocompounds and antioxidant activity of Bacillus subtilis-fermented dehulled adlay (BDA) were evaluated in this study. The Page model (MR = ) was the best-fit model to describe the drying kinetics of all dried BDA. The shortest drying time and highest drying rate were observed in microwave-vacuum drying (MVD). The highest contents of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), triterpenoids, coixol, and coixan were detected in freeze-vacuum dried samples. However, the highest levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were found in hot air-dried BDA. Moreover, higher retention ratios of TMP (71.90%), GABA (94.56%), coixol (63.38%), and coixan (94.29%), as well as the highest coixenolide content were obtained in MVD samples. In conclusion, MVD should be given first priority in large-scale industrial practice due to shorter drying time and high health-beneficial components.


In this paper, an incremental supervised classifier called INC-ALVOT (incremental voting algorithm) is presented. This algorithm allows handle mixed data sets which do not keep in main memory. Besides, it allows that when the classification of a goal object was realize, new objects are incorporated in original database, carrying out a minimal operations for the classification of goal object with the expanded data set. Result obtained with the proposed algorithm and classical ALVOT algorithm on different real data sets is presented. ----


a position of honour to the common flea. He discussed human activities from the behaviour of the zygote to the apparent activities of the spirits of the departed. He described the technique of an accoucheuse in the Book of Genesis, the preparations for war among primitive South Africans, the fate of a swimming somnambulist. All of his evidence led him to the conclusion that the Nous is a much more reliable guide than the Mind and a much more potent force in the regulation of conduct.


AbstractThis research is based on the problem of the low mathematical problem solving ability of students who have a relationship with someone's success in solving a problem that they face. In this case, to overcome this, a class of research was conducted using an open ended approach and ordinary learning. In addition, this research is a quasi-experimental. The population in this study were students of class X MA in Bandung in 2018/2019 academic year. The research sample is all Class X students in one MA in Bandung. Quantitative analysis was performed using the two-difference test and descriptive qualitative analysis was also carried out. The results showed that the ability to solve mathematical problems using the open ended approach was better than those using the usual approach.


Kind of dynamic management method NAND Flash memory, a mapping table establishing a dynamic logic, the logical block table is not used temporarily allocated physical block, then the algorithm by pressing the scroll equal opportunities to find an empty physical block is used by the table rolling dynamic equilibrium NANDFlash frequency of use of physical blocks, a logical operation of each block is an empty physical block taking the logical number assigned thereto, and then added to the logical operation of the mapping table, the mapping table with the logical operation of the system is gradually filled, modified in waste recycling logical block data and the old physical block, to find a new physical block write return; user byte redundant area of each page defined special, only dirty data comparison determines the value of the bytes. High efficiency of the software of the present invention, the use of balanced physical blocks, extend the service life of the NAND Flash memory.


The principal difficulty of constructing well-off society in China lies in the West,especially in rural areas in West China.The major problems facing the rural areas in West China at present are: slow increase of farmers′ net income;widening income gap;slow pace of urbanization;backwardness of science,education,culture and public health care;low level of social security;deterioration of ecological environment.Therefore,in order to speed up the steps of well-off society construction in Western rural areas,we must rely on economic investments,prop-up policies and systematic reforms to enhance human qualities,raise incomes,create more employment opportunities and better the economical and social environment.


The effect on surface-enhanced Raman scattering due to the increase in temperature of the metallic substrate is studied via a simple model for physisorbed molecules. Surface roughness is represented by a spherical or spheroidal island, and the temperature effects on the surface plasmon are accounted for via a slightly modified Ujihara model. It is found that the enhancement ratio in general decreases as substrate temperature increases. For noble metals like silver, this temperature effect is particularly pronounced at scattering frequencies close to that of the surface-plasmon resonance; and for frequencies well below the surface plasmon frequency, the enhancement ratio is relatively insensitive to the change of substrate temperature. A tentative explanation is provided for our modeling results, and the implications from these results are discussed. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.


This article considers the place of the 'everyday' and 'practice' in media ethnography and audience research in cultural and media studies as well as this tradition's relationship to textual analysis. Drawing on an auto-ethnographic study of the author's family, the research considers the way in which they made meanings with the preschool children's television programme Teletubbies. The analysis considers how television viewing is regulated discursively across a number of different sites that constitute 'parenthood'. In this respect, Pierre Bourdieu's concept of 'habitus' is developed to account for the ways in which the textual and discursive address articulates with, develops and reproduces the family's childcare practices. The research also presents a method of analysis that explores the micro-example to 'write singularity' and suggests the benefits of exploring the ways in which meanings are made beyond the moment of reception. As such, a case is made for the need to move beyond conceptualizations of 'the audience'.


Abstract : The plane wave propagation in a half-space due to a uniformly distributed step load of pressure and shear on the surface was first studied by Bleich and Nelson. The material in the half-space was assumed to be elastic- ideally plastic. In this paper, we study the same problem for a general elastic-plastic material. The half-space can be initially prestressed. The results can be extended to the case in which the loads on the surface are not necessarily step loads, but with a restricted relation between the pressure and the shear stresses.


&NA;Hair transplant is the most common cosmetic surgery procedure in men; at our center, we perform nearly 40 transplants a month, with nearly 450 procedures in a year. Current techniques of hair transplant are well established and several authors have had remarkable results using the current techniques of microfollicular hair transplant. Orentreich described hair transplant, Shiell has reviewed current techniques in his paper, whereas Rose reviews the latest innovations in hair transplant including Neograft and robotic procedures. We present our modifications to the process based on our experience of more than 1000 cases in the last 3 years.Microrefined microfollicular hair transplant is a procedure with innovations at each step of the standard microfollicular hair transplant procedure to improve results.The steps of the procedure are as follows:beveled incisions on both ends of the strip to take the graft transection rate to less than 1%;dissecting the strip in a way to leave a layer of fat on top of the galea;slivering of the strip under magnification to ensure less than 1% hair wastage;harvesting of 300 to 400 grafts with follicular unit extraction for the anterior hairline;microzigzagging of all the slits;graft preparation to ensure bare minimum fat at the level of the roots;during implantation, handling of the grafts with the hair end and not the root end; andfast processing and coordinated efforts to reduce operative time to approximately 4 to 4.5 hours for large cases (5000–6000 follicles) and 2 to 2.5 hours for smaller ones.


Let Y ⊂ P n be a reduced curve with hY i= P n , where h idenotes the linear span. For each P ∈ P n the Y -rank rY (P) is the minimal cardinality of S ⊂ Y such that P ∈ hSi. Here we study two extremal behaviors: " existence of P with rY (P) = n " or " rY (P) ≤ ⌈(n + 1)/2⌉ for all P ∈ P n ".


The invention relates to a safety seat for children, which comprises a seat part and a backrest part. The backrest part is connected with the seat part and comprises a first supporting frame, a second supporting frame and a locking component, wherein the second supporting frame can be connected with the first supporting frame in the form of being moveable relative to the first supporting frame; the locking component comprises a bolt-lock piece which is connected with the second supporting frame in sliding form; the bolt-lock piece approximately extends to the first supporting frame along the second supporting frame; the bolt-lock piece comprises at least one bending part capable of elastically deforming and a clamping end part arranged at the tail end of the bending part; by moving the bolt-lock piece towards a first direction, the bending part can be driven to cause the clamping end part towards a second direction to be separated from or clamped in a groove arranged in the first supporting frame; when the clamping end part is separated from the groove, the locking component is in an unlocking state and the second supporting frame moves relative to the first supporting frame; and when the clamping end part is blocked in the groove, the locking component is in a locking state and the second supporting frame is fixed on the first supporting frame.


Abstract Crystals of thrombin have been studied by means of x-ray diffraction. They are tetragonal, space group P42212 with a = b = 87 A and c = 101 A. A second crystal form belongs to the same space group with a = b = 88 A and c = 98 A. These data are in agreement with the known molecular size of thrombin and the "protein density" usually observed in crystalline proteins. The crystals diffract well and appear suitable for a detailed study of the three-dimensional structure of thrombin.


manifestations. (4) Micrococcus deformans responsible for the neuropathies which are the only symptoms common to all cases of rheumatoid arthritis. Stress was laid on the fact that the experience of the author was the reverse of that of the earlier writers who had stated with peculiar unanimity that, unless a focus was found, vaccines were useless (the second group above mentioned is not here in question) and that stock vaccines had not been of benefit. He had found that stock Micrococcus deformans vaccine used alone, in the absence of a discoverable focus, was responsible for a larger proportion of successes than where a combination of vaccines had to be employed. Micrococcus deformans vaccine was extremely toxic in most cases, and minute doses were required. Patients were apt to become extraordinarily sensitive, and this fact constituted the main difficulty in the treatment. Methods of combating the condition of sensitiveness had been described elsewhere.


We examine whether mutual fund managers use information on the economic linkages between an industry and its supplier and customer industries. We analyze a mutual fund's investment in its main industry--the industry where it invests the largest amount of money, and in related industries--the important supplier/customer industries of the main industry. We find that fund managers invest significantly more than the market average in both main and related industries. Investments in related industries relate positively to investments in the main industry and to the closeness of the linkages between the main and related industries. We also find that larger proportions of information-driven trades ("buys" when there is net outflow and "sells" when there is net inflow) are in main and related industry stocks. Finally, we present evidence that funds with higher main and related investments exhibit higher return-based and holding-based performance. Our findings suggest that the positive effect on abnormal fund performance is driven primarily by the level of investments in the related industries. Taken together, our findings indicate that fund managers who use information derived from product market suppliercustomer interrelations have ability and/or exert effort. ∗ Both authors are at the Department of Finance, J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia – 30303. The e-mail address and phone number for Huang are firstname.lastname@example.com and 404-413-7346 and for Kale are firstname.lastname@example.com and 404-413-7345. We thank Vikas Agarwal, Mark Chen, Gerry Gay, Rob Hansen, Simi Kedia, Omesh Kini, Lubomir Litov, Reza Mahani, Vikram Nanda, Andy Puckett, Chip Ryan, Clemens Sialm, Isabel Tkatch, Baozhong Yang, and seminar participants at Alexandria University (Egypt), Cairo University (Egypt), Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Goa Institute of Management (India), Lousiana State University, and Tulane University for comments. The responsibility for all remaining errors is ours.


This paper deals with I-V characteristics of SiC-SBD and rectifying capabilities of four SiC-SBD using a new package under the temperature up to 300°C. As regards of the I-V characteristics, as the temperature increases, the threshold voltage decreases and the reverse current increases dramatically. This increase of the reverse current of the diodes under study leads to the limitation of the rectifying characteristics of the proposed packaging. This study demonstrates the ability of the later to be used in a harsh environment ones the components problems will have been solved.


The possibilities of crosslinking styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) at low temperatures with a series of redox systems made up of different types of reducing and oxidizing agents have been explored (Table 1). Transition metal salts were used as reducing agents. A pronounced decrease in the activation energy of the crosslinking process (Fig. 1) was achieved by adopting this method, therefore the crosslinking reaction could be performed at temperatures as low as 80 °C. The influence of the composition of the redox system on rheometrical properties (Table 2), the crosslinking process (Figs. 2 and 3), crosslinking density (Figs. 4—6, Table 3) as well as on mechanical properties was determined. Moreover, the ageing process of unfilled and filled vulcanizates with silicates under UV irradiation was evaluated (Table 4, Figs. 7 and 8). The possibility of crosslinking SBR at low temperatures with the application of systems containing cumene hydroperoxide, in which the reducing agent had been replaced by an ammonium salt - tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) or tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) was also explored.


Objective: Various nutrients such as glucose and cholesterol affect the expression of hepatic transporters. Although the pharmacokinetics of some drugs is affected by fasting, the fasting effects on drug hepatic disposition via alterations in transporters are unclear. Organic anion-transporting polypeptides and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2/Abcc2) expressed in the liver are involved in hepatic disposition of pravastatin. Methods: An in situ perfused rat liver system was established. The mRNA and protein levels of transporters in the liver were examined by real-time reverse transcription PCR and western blotting. The localization of Mrp2 in hepatocytes was determined by immunostaining. Results: Pravastatin was rapidly eliminated from the perfusate. The cumulative biliary excretion amounts of pravastatin in fasting rats were significantly lower from 10 min compared with control. In fasting rats, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve ( AUC ) 0‒∞ of pravastatin in the perfusate was significantly decreased, and hepatic clearance ( CL h ) and hepatic corrected clearance ( CL cor ) were significantly increased. The biliary clearance ( CL bile ) in fasting rats tended to decrease compared with that in control rats. Protein expression levels of transporters were unchanged after fasting. Confocal microscopy revealed a disruption of Mrp2 and ZO-1 colocalization in the liver of fasting rats. Conclusion: The biliary excretion of pravastatin was inhibited by fasting via decreased Mrp2 localization on the canalicular membrane.


The spray combustion of LOX/GCH4 in the pintle injector is simulated to study the combustion characteristics at a subcritical condition by considering the effects of pintle opening distance and pintle tip angle. To perform the simulation, first, the VOF simulation was used to estimate the LOX sheet thickness and breakup length. Second, the breakup constants for the secondary breakup model were calculated using the results of VOF and the Lagrangian approach was used to estimate the Sauter mean diameter around the injector exit. Finally, the spray combustion of LOX/GCH4 simulation was performed using the estimated SMDs data. Subsequently, the spray combustion characteristics were discussed by considering the individual effects of pintle opening distance at fixed pintle tip angle, and pintle tip angle at fixed pintle opening distance using various contours such as temperature, mass fraction of OH, and discrete phase model evaporation of LOX droplets. Following this, the characteristic velocity and combustion efficiency were shown for various cases. The optimised design of the pintle injector based on the simulated results was summarised for future liquid rocket pintle injectors.


According to the prevalent beliefs, comitative object, cognate object and object of purpose are not present in the syntactical functions of Persian language. However, there is lack of scientific research on this subject. Not only has it been ignored in grammar books, but also it has not been discussed in the essays and articles. The present study seeks to investigate the above mentioned functions in Persian syntax and to show their Persian equivalents by bringing several instances from Persian texts of prose and poetry. Subsequently, the paper aims to show the differences between these functions in Arabic and Persian. Influenced by Arabic, the article introduces new terminology, which did not formerly exist in Persian language.


172 Background: Cabacitaxel has recently been approved by the FDA as second-line chemotherapy for patients progressing during or after first-line docetaxel chemotherapy. However, cabacitaxel treatment is hampered by high costs and toxicity. Carboplatin in combination with docetaxel may also be effective in DRPC. Platinum(II)-complexes have been shown to lower testosterone levels by inhibiting 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17α hydroxylase (Schertl et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2007;133:153-67).

METHODS
Docetaxel failure/resistance was defined according to the Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG2 2007) criteria. Since February 2005, 55 consecutive DRPC pts were treated with at least two cycles of carboplatin AUC5 iv for 30 min on day 1 every 4 weeks (q4w), docetaxel at a dose of 35 mg/m2 iv for one hour on days 1, 8, (15) plus prednisone 2×5mg/day orally after receiving informed consent until disease progression or occurrence of intolerable adverse effects. Efficacy measures were done following PCWG2 recommendations. Free testosterone levels were measured before and during carboplatin/docetaxel chemotherapy (n=25).

RESULTS
Response of prostate-specific antigen (PSAR; ≥50% PSA) was observed in 28/55 (50.9%) patients. At the time of the current analysis the median follow-up time was 11.9 months and 32/55 patients had died. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 7.5 months (CI 95% 5.7, 9.3) and median overall survival (OS) was 17.1 months (CI 95% 10.3, 23.9). In PSAR, PFS was 13.6 (CI 95% 7.8, 19.4) months versus 4.3 (CI 95% 2.9, 5.7) months in PSANR (p<0.001; hazard ratio HR 0.159) and OS was 24.4 months (CI 95% 18.1, 30.8) versus 8.1 (CI 95% 3.4, 12.8) months (p<0.001; HR 0.208). This regimen was reasonably well tolerated, with leukopenia/neutropenia as the most common reversible grade 3/4 toxicity (44.2/40.4%). Median free testosterone levels were 1.05 pg/ml before and 0.26 pg/ml during carboplatin/docetaxel treatment (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that carboplatin/docetaxel may be an important therapeutic second-line treatment option for DRPC patients by inferfering with the testosterone synthesis. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Item recommendation has become a significant means to help people discover interesting items. Meanwhile, plenty of reviews and ratings in recommender system can be utilized to relieve data sparsity problem. However, existing review-based approaches ignore the influence of static preference of user and the static characteristics of item, which could reflect long-term and stationary property, and guide feature extraction from reviews. Moreover, adaptive property, i.e., the importance of the historical records to each user and item, is not fully exploited in previous works. In this paper, we propose an Attention- based Adaptive Memory Network (AAMN) model to leverage historical reviews and ratings systemically. Specifically, we propose an attention mechanism guided by the static features to learn the importance of different historical records, for modeling the adaptive features of users and items. Notably, this paper is the first to bring static features into adaptively extracting semantic information from reviews, which can not only characterize user and item from a global view, but also assist to distinguish the importance of different reviews. In addition to the attention mechanism, we propose a non-linear feature fusing layer and a deep interaction layer to combine the static features and adaptive features, which capture underlying interactions among these features. To further improve prediction accuracy and training efficiency, we propose a dynamic sampling strategy for model training. We conduct extensive experiments on 16 benchmark datasets from Amazon and Yelp. The results demonstrate that our model outperforms the state-of-the-art models.


A photonic approach for simultaneous frequency down-conversion, self-interference cancellation, and image rejection for in-band full-duplex radio-over-fiber systems is proposed based on a dual-polarization quadrature phase-shift keying (DP-QPSK) modulator. The upper dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DP-MZM) of the DP-QPSK modulator realizes the radio frequency (RF) self-interference cancellation and generates the upper and lower first-order optical sidebands of the desired RF signal, whereas the lower DP-MZM generates two optical sidebands of the local oscillator. The optical signals from the two DP-MZMs are combined, and the upper and lower optical sidebands are separated by a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). The two outputs from the WDM are detected at two photodetectors for frequency down-conversion. By combining the two intermediate-frequency (IF) signals at a 90°hybrid coupler, the proposed system can also achieve image rejection. In addition, by changing the bias point of the lower DP-MZM, second-harmonic frequency down-conversion can be implemented. A simulation is performed. A QPSK-modulated RF signal from 5 to 44 GHz is successfully down-converted to 1-GHz IF signal with self-interference and image frequency cancelled, and the EVM of the received IF signal is lower than 15%.


With the vigorous development of e-commerce, higher requirements are put forward for the storage capacity and operation efficiency of the warehousing system to ensure the performance of the entire supply chain in the business process. The factors that affect the operation efficiency and storage capacity of the warehousing system mainly include: storage space planning, shelf design, goods access strategy, stacker scheduling strategy, goods picking efficiency, etc. The main research object of this paper is the optimization of the scheduling strategy of the stacker in the storage system, which can solve the problem of the storage space detention caused by the irregular storage and the empty running time in the scheduling process of the stacker, so as to improve the operating efficiency of the storage system.


This study aims to develop the valid, effective, and practical mathematic learning instrument. The learning approach used in this study is humanistic mathematic learning based on con- structivism assisted by learning CD. The developed learning instruments include: (1) lesson plan, (2) learning CD, (3) students' activity sheet, (4) teacher guideline, and (5) learning test on the subject matter of angle on X grader. The development of the product is conducted by implementing the modification of learning instrument development model by Thia Grajan. Data analyzing technique includes descriptive, passing grade testing, proportion testing, and comparative testing. The result of the study is defined as "very good", hence it can be con- cluded that this learning instrument is valid. The field trial testing shows that the learning implementing this instrument is practical and effective. The practicality of the learning can be seen from: (1) the teachers ability in handling the learning on "excellent" with t5he average score of 3,74 (max 4). (2) positive response from the students, seen from the students interest as many as 93,1%, and (3) positive response from the teacher, all instruments get at least in "good" response. The learning is defined "effective" because; (1) the average learning score is 77,41 and individual passing grade achievement is 80%; (2) the impact of students' activity toward learning result with x y


The timing of sea ice retreat, light availability, and sea surface stratification largely control the phytoplankton community composition in the Chukchi Sea. This region is experiencing a significant warming trend, an overall decrease in sea ice cover, and a documented decline in annual sea ice persistence and thickness over the past several decades. The consequences of earlier seasonal sea ice retreat and a longer sea‐ice‐free season on phytoplankton community composition warrant investigation. We applied multivariate statistical techniques to elucidate the mechanisms that relate environmental variables to phytoplankton community composition in the Chukchi Sea using data collected during a single field campaign in the summer of 2011. Three phytoplankton groups emerged that were correlated with sea ice, sea surface temperature, nutrients, salinity, and light. Longer ice‐free duration in a future Chukchi Sea will result in warmer sea surface temperatures and nutrient depletion, which we conclude will favor other phytoplankton types over larger diatoms.


We all experience entropy and Thermodynamics in day-to-day life, whether or not we recognize it. To some extent, most people have a somewhat intuitive knowledge regarding the interaction and transfer of energy. Despite this, many students struggle with Thermodynamics in classroom settings. The equations and mathematics can be overwhelming and frustrating, in part because it is often hard to visualize thermodynamic interactions. This is especially true for the concept of entropy, which many consider to be one of the toughest thermodynamic principles to comprehend. Today's students have a plethora of distractions available to them. If students feel bored or frustrated with the material, oftentimes they will browse the Internet on their laptops or pull out their phones to entertain themselves. They learn differently, more intuitively, experiencing short attention spans. Therefore, the material and presentation methods should be clear, intuitive and engaging. The primary focus of this paper is to help students to understand, and instructors to explain, the fundamental concept of entropy at the macro level by utilizing intuitive and example-based approaches. This paper seeks to cut through the volumes worth of material written on the subject in order to simplify the topic of entropy to something that is clear and easy to understand. To accomplish this, the paper contributes by (1) introducing examples of spontaneous processes that most people should already understand, (2) providing a brief review of the general operations of heat engines and the Carnot cycle, (3) framing the Carnot cycle in relation to entropy, (4) discussing non-ideal heat engines, (5) showing analogies to help the reader understand the significance of the ratio Q/T as a definition for entropy, (6) adding some brief notes on entropy that are beyond the general scope of this paper, and (7) presenting brainteasers designed to engage students in the classroom. We relate these examples to the idea of the Carnot cycle and to some quantitative formulas. The point of this approach is to provide students with examples that translate textbook explanations to real life and help in comprehension of the material. We believe that when using these intuitive examples students tend to better understand the concept of entropy. This paper should be considered as reporting on work in progress. The presented information is meant to be supplemental in nature and not to replace existing textbooks or other teaching and learning methodologies. The work in this paper has been presented to 35 students in a Thermodynamics classroom setting. Following the presentation, it has been assessed and received very positive feedback. This visual, intuitive and engaging approach to teaching and learning has also been tested in the past for topics in Statics (explaining center of gravity), Calculus (explaining integration and explaining derivation by chain, product, and quotient rules), Differential Equations, Control Systems, Digital Signal Processing, Newton's Laws of Motion, and Computer Algorithms. In all of these cases, students highly praised the approach and found it to be very effective for learning.


The steel industry has a long, reputable history working with LCA and in improving environmental performance throughout all phases of the product life cycle. This includes environmental evaluation and improvement of processes, comparison of products carrying out the same function, and provision of information to customers to counteract misconceptions or to provide information for choices between different products. Developing on this, within the context of IPP, EUROFER is supporting the European Commission's activities and pro-actively investigating new possibilities for the use of LCA and eco-design to meet the requirements of the industry's key customers and to reduce the environmental impacts of steel


Spectroscopic ellipsometry is assessed as a tool for rapid and non-destructive determination of thicknesses and/or Ge concentrations of Si 1-x Ge x epitaxial layers. An algorithm for the extraction of optical constants from ellipsometric measurements carried out on strained uncapped Si 1-x Ge x layers is developed. The smoothness of the extracted spectra of the Si 0.92 Ge 0.08 optical constants indicates very high accuracy even in the region of the weak absorption. Spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of Si capped Si 1-x Ge x layers are interpreted using the established reference data and correlated with results from other techniques. The accuracy of this interpretation for the spectroellipsometric determination of Ge concentration and Si 1-x Ge x layer thickness is numerically predicted. It is suggested that spectroscopic ellipsometry can also be applied to capped Si 1-x Ge x layers if more accurate reference data in the low absorption region become available.


According to a report by the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), up to half of the world's female population have suffered abuse at the hands of those closest to them, at some point in their lives. This report on Domestic Violence Against Women and Girls is a first effort by the UNICEF to establish the global dimensions of domestic abuse. It is also another step deeper into an aggressive campaign to address the root causes of the problems of millions of the world's women and children. Meanwhile, an outcome of the 5-day UN special meeting is a new blueprint to improve women's lives, noting domestic violence as a primary issue with emphasis on abortion, and punishment for marital rape, domestic abuse, and trafficking. In addition, the conference acknowledged the role of men in the process of improving women's lives. Moreover, the issues of welfare for women caught in armed conflict are also discussed with focus on the war in Mindanao, Philippines.


X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to examine the effect of heating under high-vacuum conditions of some transition-metal oxides. Nickel and cobaltic oxides were found to undergo reduction to Ni metal and CoO below 300 °C. This reduction is shown to be caused by reaction with surface carbon-containing contaminants. Removal of this contamination by an in situ oxidation treatment resulted in a well defined surface which was stable to further heating. High-surface-area NiO underwent more extensive reduction than low-surface-area material. In contrast, ZnO was not reduced and only minor changes in the Fe2O3 spectra were observed. The results are explained by reference to bulk thermodynamic data. The findings are important particularly for characterisation of oxide surfaces used in catalytic studies.


From the second half of the 20th century, Ecuador was configured as one of the South American countries with the highest emigration rate. However, since the dawn of this century, the Ecuadorian territory has also become an attractive destination for migrant contingents from different parts of the world, notably the number of immigrants in their provinces. For this reason,this article presents the results of a documentary investigation that allows providing elements for a systematic analysis about the advantages offered by cultural exchanges as a result of current migratory processes (interculturality), based on the approach of international relations , also highlighting the advantages, ruptures and challenges that migration presents in the current historical context.


Finding the Middle Way: The Utraquists' Liberal Challenge to Rome and Luther. By Zdenek V David. (Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson Center Press. Order from The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 2003. Pp. xxiii, 579. $65.00.) Hussite religion (1500-1621) has often been ignored. This book changes that. Ten years of dedicated research have yielded this impressive study adding considerably to knowledge of Central European religious history. The achievements of Bohemian Christianity are vigorously underscored. Utilizing the comparative paradigm of the post-Reformation Church of England, a thorough revisionist study emerges. Attempting to forge a path between Roman and Reformation Churches, David argues that Jan Hus and Hussitism were not Protestant. The corollary-Hussite religion eventually became Roman Catholic-is likewise challenged. I find those arguments refreshing. The book expertly charts the unique development of Utraquist Christianity. Some assertions are problematic. Claiming virtually all Bohemia was Hussite is exaggeration. Distinctions between Taborites as heretics and "Utraquists" (David's term of choice) as mere schismatics is artificial. I do not accept that the term"Hussite" is improper. Jan Hus was a heretic. It is misleading to suggest that Paul De Vooght virtually vindicated Hus. Whatever De Vooght's conclusions entailed, he regarded Hus as heretical. Francis Oakley's suggestion that Hus was almost orthodox is meaningless. A theological hair's breadth separated Francis of Assisi and Valdes, yet the former is a saint, the latter an arch-heretic. Being a little heretical is like being a little pregnant. John Paul II did not recently-and rightly so-lift the stigma of heresy from Hus. David seems undisturbed that his select group of Hussites desired episcopal consecration for their priests but only from bishops in communion with Rome despite the fact that the Roman Church considered Hussites heretical and the Hussite movement going back to Jakoubek of Stribro regarded Rome similarly. Bishops ordaining Hussites were themselves suspect. David suggests the ambiguity is not problematic. Considerable space is devoted to Luther without any clear understanding of what Luther meant by faith (sola fide) either on the part of the Utraquist theologians David champions or of David himself. The same might be said for the red herring of sola scriptura. In my opinion, the theological acumen of BUejovský and Bydzovský, David's heros, put together would scarcely fill a cup when set next to Martin Luther. David argues that papal judgment cannot be admitted in governance while papal sacerdotal power remained indispensable. While theologically popes were necessary, they could not be trusted with administrative and judicial powers. This does not prevent the conclusion that Utraquists needed no authentication from Rome. Curiously, they sought it diligently nonetheless. This clashes with David's repeated declarations that Utraquists were secure in their own identity. …


This paper reviewed recent advances of linear processing techniques for multi-antenna relaying systems with interference. This paper showed that with simple linear processing schemes such as MRC/MRT, ZF/MRT, or MMSE/MRT, multiple antennas can be efficiently exploited to suppress or cancel CCI in dual-hopAF relaying systems. The performance of these schemes depend on the SNR operation point of the system. Specifically, the MMSE/MRT scheme achieves the best outage performance, and the ZF/MRT scheme outperforms the MRC/MRT scheme in the low-SNR regime, while becomes inferior to the MRC/MRT scheme in the high-SNR regime. Moreover, increasing the number of antennas at the relay and using advanced linear processing schemes such as ZF/MRT or MMSE/MRT are effective solutions to mitigate the effect of interference.


Zinc salts fed at relatively high concentrations in the diet have been known to produce deleterious effects. Sutton & Nelson (1938) found that 1 % of zinc as carbonate impaired the growth and general health of rats. Smith & Larson (1946) were, however, the first to study extensively this phenomenon in rats. They established that this condition manifested itself in the following two distinct and unrelated symptoms: (a) an anaemia, of the microcytic, hypochromic type, and (b) an inhibition of growth. The former syndrome could be prevented by supplementing the diet with low levels of copper, and liver extract could partially reverse the adverse influence on growth. van Reen (1953) found that at the 0-5-0-7 % level, zinc reduced liver catalase and cytochrome oxidase and that copper could counteract this influence of zinc. These studies indicated that toxic levels of zinc interfere with the utilization of copper and thus indirectly with the formation of iron-containing enzymes. van Reen & Pearson (1953) concluded, however, that the toxicity of zinc was not primarily due to disturbances in these enzyme levels. Such a conclusion is supported by the fact that serious impairement of growth occurs before reduction in any of the enzymes studied. Thus the underlying mechanisms in zinc toxicosis are not fully known. The situation is complex and although the studies of Smith & Larson (1946) have shown that liver extract is beneficial in zinc toxicosis, the factors responsible have not been characterized, nor is anything known concerning zinc toxicity in other species. In this paper, the results of investigations on zinc toxicity in the lepidopterous insect Corcyra cephalonica St. are presented. Although this organism is much lower in the evolutionary scale, it shows striking similarities (Sarma, 1955) to higher organisms like the rat in its nutritional requirements and metabolism.


The invention discloses a double-bag packaged nimesulide dry suspension. The double-bag packaged nimesulide dry suspension is prepared by the following steps: uniformly mixing 10 to 200 weight parts of nimesulide, 300 to 1,500 weight parts of filling agent, 100 to 500 weight parts of viscosity agent, 10 to 200 weight parts of flow aid, 5 to 10 weight parts of sweetener, and 1 to 3 weight parts of essence; crashing the mixture; screening the mixture with a screen of 30 to 40 meshes; mixing the mixture uniformly; placing the mixture in a novel powder feed device; and performing heat-sealing on the novel powder feed device with a powder-packing double-sealing device. Compared with the prior production technology, the nimesulide dry suspension prepared by the invention is convenient to administrate according to dose, has accuracy dose, and overcomes the defects that the quality is easy to change after single-bag package is unsealed and that the secondary pollution is easily caused by repeatedly sampling.


Knowledge of the development of glacier mass balances and resulting seasonal and interannual runoff patterns is crucial for irrigation, flood risk management and hydropower generation in the whole High Mountain Asia (HMA) region. The newly-developed physically-based coupled snowpack and ice surface energy and mass balance model in Python (COSIPY) is used to investigate energy and mass fluxes of glaciers in HMA in greater detail. COSIPY is an updated version of the former model COSIMA (Huintjes et al. 2015) with updated physics and optimized computational performance.


Sequential firings with fixed time delays are frequently observed in simultaneous recordings from multiple neurons. Such temporal patterns are potentially indicative of underlying microcircuits and it is important to know when a repeatedly occurring pattern is statistically significant. These sequences are typically identified through correlation counts. In this paper we present a method for assessing the sig-


It is pointed out that severe damage could result to the shutters of several science instruments if the sun were to appear in or sweep across the field of view at any time during the mission to Mars in 1971. The problem of accidental viewing of the sun following exit from the earth's shadow is probabilistic and rather difficult to resolve. The studies conducted show that typical probabilities of TV-A viewing the sun are on the order of 0.1%.


This research; the aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of sound education techniques used in the sound education process. It is thought that Turkish music elements will contribute systematically, consistently and scientifically in the process of sound education which is made by using Turkish music melodies formed by benefiting from the Kâr-i Nâtik. The study group of the study; Aksaray Fine Arts High School 12th grade students, random method of 10 people, the experimental and control groups were created by dividing. Voice training program, which consists of audio exercises prepared by expert opinions and Kar-i Nâtik exercises, was applied to the experimental group in 14 weeks period, the program was based on Kar-i Nâtik and the Turkish Music as a traditional teaching method program to the control group. Since one experiment and one control group were included in the study, the equivalence of these groups were investigated and the relationships between the pre-test and total scores were examined. At the beginning and the end of the study, pre-test and post-test were applied to the experimental and control groups by using Performance Turkish Music Voice Training Performance Observation Form. In order to find answers to the basic problems of the study, the relationships between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental and control group students were examined separately for each group. In this study, paired samples t-Test was used for the related measurements. The statistical significance of the difference (p) was tested at a level of 0.01. For data analysis conducted during the development of the Turkish Music Audio Education Performance Observation Form, which is the data collection tool of the research, SPSS 18.0 software was used in the data gathering data of the research and the data obtained from the data collection tools. According to observer evaluations of the students in the experimental group and the students in the control group, there was a significant difference between the mean scores obtained from the final test in favor of the experimental group [t (9) = -16,612, p <.01]. According to this result; Students of the experimental group who took voice training with the practice of Kâ-i Nâtik Foundation have taken the students according to the traditional method of Turkish Music. It has been observed that they are more successful in gaining behavior in sound education with exercises of breathing exercises, makomatical sound exercises, sound and maqam instruction and ornamentation techniques.


Poor CNS drug delivery is a major limiting factor in GBM therapy. Since most recurrences occur peritumorally where infiltrating glioma cells reside, peritumoral BBB disruption may help improve drug delivery and efficacy. LITT, a minimally invasive cytoreductive treatment for brain tumors, may disrupt BBB as evidenced by post-ablation contrast enhancement.

 Patients with recurrent GBM were treated with LITT. The degree of post-LITT peritumoral BBB disruption was measured by the vascular transfer constant (Ktrans) in brain DCE-MRI. Serum levels of brain-specific enolase (BSE) were quantified as an independent measure of BBB disruption. Forty enrollments were planned with equal randomization to weekly low-dose doxorubicin, a BBB-impermeant chemotherapy, either during the BBB-permeable window (Early Dox) or after the resolution of disruption (Late Dox). The primary endpoint is 6-month PFS rate (6-PFS).

 Peritumoral Ktrans peaked immediately post LITT, followed by a gradual decline for the next 4 weeks. Similarly, serum BSE concentrations peaked in 1–3 weeks after LITT before decreasing to baseline by 6 weeks. 41 patients were randomized to Early and Late Dox. 31 patients (14 Early and 17 Late Dox) were evaluable for the primary endpoint. MGMT promoter methylation rate was 28% and 47% in the Early and Late Dox arms, respectively. 6-PFS was 57.1% (8/14) in Early Dox compared to 35.3% (6/17) in Late Dox. PFS was 5.8 (95%CI: 4.1–6.3) months vs. 4.9 (95%CI: 2.4–6.3) months, while OS was 12.8 (95%CI: 7.8–14.5) months vs. 13.6 (95%CI: 10.2–17.1) months, for Early vs. Late Dox, respectively. The most common grade 3–4 toxicities were cytopenia observed in 6 (16%) patients.

 LITT induces temporary peritumoral BBB disruption lasting 4–6 weeks, providing a rare opportunity to enhance local delivery of potentially efficacious but BBB-impermeant therapeutic agents. 6-PFS strongly favors dox given early during the window of BBB disruption, thus supporting the hypothesis.


This study provided unique insight into the Australian consumer's adoption of electric vehicles. The research applied a novel framework, jointly exploring psychological constructs, such as attitudes, in conjunction with vehicle attributes and sociodemographic characteristics. The findings highlight the central role of psychological constructs in decision making and electric vehicle adoption.


This project sought the significance of several less valued tropical fruits that can be processed into wine such as makopa, mabolo, duhat, banana, tomato and bignay. Wine processing in Quirino State University was established by the Quirino Young Entrepreneur's Association (QYEA) a recognized student's organization spearheaded and managed by the agriculture students which main goal is to serve as an avenue for financially challenged students to earn additional allowance while enhancing their entrepreneurial skills. The product's name is JAVEZ which was derived from the name of the first manufacturers. The wines are packaged in bottles with attractive and innovative labels. Initial produce was very limited in volume due to the very limited source of capital which is out of the student's money. During the group's various displays and product exhibits in provincial and regional events, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sought the business plan of the product thus providing the group with additional fund amounting to Php 216,000.00 for the enhancement of the entrepreneurship laboratory, provision of the processing equipment, packaging materials, labels and other materials thereby making the enterprise self-sufficient. Moreover, the laboratory is utilized as a training ground of students taking up entrepreneurship and marketing courses to further develop their skills in wine processing and related activities. The group was able to generate a Return on Investment (ROI) of 50% from the estimated cost depending on the kind of fruit used. Continuous monitoring and evaluation is done by the project management and adviser. A financial journal and income statement is to the auditor and advisers to assure sustainability of the project through profit sharing. All sales are deposited in the bank, in the name of the association care of the president and the treasurer wherein 70% is divided among its members, 20% goes to savings and 10% for maintenance. The QYEA continuously operates as a successful business enterprise, developing future entrepreneurs who create employment contributory to economic development. Wine products produced have been acknowledged by the Department of Science and Technology and the primary producer of local wines in Quirino and nearby provinces. Marketing strategy employed includes the integration of wine's health benefits through word-of mouth, fliers, bulletin advertisements, displaying at "pasalubong" centers and participating in different product exhibits in the country.


The CdSe-based quantum dots (QDs) have been applied to light-conversion nano-phosphors due to tunable emission and pure colors. However, these cadmium-containing QDs was strongly toxic and synthesized in a hazardous solvent. In addition, conventional QD nano-phosphors with a small Stokes shift suffered from reabsorption losses and aggregation-induced photoluminescence (PL) quenching in the solid state. Therefore, there is a need to develop nanophosphors with a large Stokes shift. Here, we demonstrate one-pot synthesis of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) using 3- aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS) and glutathione as protection ligand with a large Stokes shift. The gold nanoclusters with a large Stokes shift can mitigate the aggregation-induced PL quenching and reabsorption losses, which would be potential candidates for "green" nano-phosphors.


Recent years have witnessed an increasing proliferation of biomass technologies since it is recognized as a natural carbon-neutral fuel. While the existing literature has focused on the modeling and planning for biomass, it remains a public interest regarding the role and merit of biomass technologies in future smart grid paradigm. Therefore, we propose an optimal planning framework to determine the sizing of biomass-to-gas (biogas) toward 100%-renewable regional energy system. The proposed planning model aims to minimize the annualized investment and operation costs of various forms of distributed energy resources (DERs) with respect to their physical constraints and a self-sufficiency requirement. In this paper, the production performance of biogas is captured by a detailed model considering the characteristics of anaerobic digestion under different temperature conditions. Due to its essential nonlinearity, a piecewise linearization (PWL) method is adopted to reformulate the nonlinear model into a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP), which can be readily optimized by off-the-shelf solvers. Case studies based on realistic datasets demonstrate that the planning strategy can be effectively improved by taking advantage of biogas toward fully renewable-powered distribution grids. In contrast to the case W/O biogas, about 27% of the total costs can be reduced when incorporating biogas.


THE first edition of Dr. C. S. Myers's book was reviewed in the pages of this journal three years ago. The present edition is issued by a different publisher, viz., by the Cambridge University Press in the place of Mr. Edward Arnold, and the laboratory exercises now appear in a separate volume. The revision of the work has been very thorough, and in many parts important and extensive additions have been made. Certain psychological results appearing in Dr. Henry Head's "Croonian Lectures" of last year have been incorporated in the text, and a most important concluding chapter on the experimental investigation of thought and volition has been added.A Text-book of Experimental Psychology, with Laboratory Exercises.By Dr. C. S. Myers. Second edition. Part i., Text-book. Pp. xiv + 344. Part ii., Laboratory Exercises. Pp. iv + 107. (Cambridge: University Press, 1911.) Price, two vols., 10s. 6d. net.


The design and optimization of a Mono-Energetic Gamma-Ray (MEGa-Ray) Compton scattering source are presented. A new precision source with up to 2.5 MeV photon energies, enabled by state of the art laser and x-band linac technologies, is currently being built at LLNL. Various aspects of the theoretical design, including dose and brightness optimization, are presented. In particular, while it is known that nonlinear effects occur in such light sources when the laser normalized potential is close to unity, we show that these can appear at lower values of the potential. A three dimensional analytical model and numerical benchmarks have been developed to model the source characteristics, including nonlinear spectra. Since MEGaray sources are being developed for precision applications such as nuclear resonance fluorescence, assessing spectral broadening mechanisms is essential.


Driven-dissipative systems in two dimensions can differ substantially from their equilibrium counterparts. In particular, a dramatic loss of off-diagonal algebraic order and superfluidity has been predicted to occur due to the interplay between coherent dynamics and external drive and dissipation in the thermodynamic limit. We show here that the order adopted by the system can be substantially altered by a simple, experimentally viable, tuning of the driving process. More precisely, by considering the long-wavelength phase dynamics of a polariton quantum fluid in the optical parametric oscillator regime, we demonstrate that simply changing the strength of the pumping mechanism in an appropriate parameter range can substantially alter the level of effective spatial anisotropy induced by the driving laser, and move the system into distinct scaling regimes. These include: (i) the classic algebraically ordered superfluid below the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition, as in equilibrium; (ii) the non-equilibrium, long-wave-length fluctuation dominated Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) phase; and the two associated topological defect dominated disordered phases caused by proliferation of (iii) entropic BKT vortex-antivortex pairs or (iv) repelling vortices in the KPZ phase. Further, by analysing the renormalization group flow in a finite system, we examine the length scales associated with these phases, and assess their observability in current experimental conditions.