Technical Activities in the NMSG have conducted a sustained effort to develop a standards-based capability for coalitions to interoperate their national command and control (C2) and simulation systems collectively. This form of multinational interoperability can have a great impact on the effectiveness of coalition military operations. The technical basis for C2SIM is the second generation of SISO standards for C2-simulation interoperation. This is being built by converging first generation capabilities (MSDL and C-BML) in a way that is designed to be extensible to many domains. The second generation must be tested before it is standardized; the experience gained also will be needed for a STANAG. C2SIM must have compelling tests to provide confidence. MSG-145 has stimulated development of a 24x7 demonstration and testing capability called the C2SIM Sandbox and is using it to conduct demonstrations at multiple events where C2SIM is exposed to military operators, culminating in CWIX. This paper describes testing achieved at CWIX 2018, including the role of the C2SIM Sandbox in its development, and also plans for distributed experimentation and advanced testing in CWIX 2019, including effectiveness of server-imposed cyber effects. Preparing for SISO standardization as a basis for a STANAG requires showing value to the operational military community. Hence, it is expected to perform additional tests within a broader scope including Federated Mission Networking (FMN) in order for M&S to be fully addressed in its spiral 4 specifications. Distributed Development and Testing for Multinational Interoperability 13 2 STO-MP-MSG-159 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE 1.0 INTRODUCTION Over the past ten years, a new approach has been developed to integrate coalition command and control (C2) systems and simulations into a complex system of systems. Teams from twelve NATO nations have worked together toward a vision that a coalition will be able to assemble such a complex system rapidly in a standards-based environment called Command and Control – Simulation Interoperation (C2SIM), with the result that each nation uses the national C2 system with which it has trained and that its forces are represented by a national simulation built around its capabilities and doctrine [1]. The resulting technology is being developed under auspices of the NATO Modelling and Simulation Group (NMSG) and standardized by the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) [2]. This emerging capability is now advancing toward military operationalization. More details can be found in [3] and [4]. Military command and control (C2) in a coalition environment, where each nation is likely to have different doctrine, equipment, and C2 information system (C2IS, also called C2 system), presents many challenges. The difficulty is even greater where the national forces in the coalition are capable of incorporating simulations to increase the functionality of their C2IS. This paper reports on progress in developing standardized methods for military coalitions to interoperate C2 systems and simulations as a system-of-systems, resulting in improved functionality, timeliness, and cost savings [5]. Simulations are useful as C2 system elements for course of action (COA) analysis and to stimulate training and mission rehearsal (including wargaming) [6]. Coalitions consist of military forces from multiple nations; generally, each national force has its own C2 and simulation systems, which complicates the problem of operating as a cohesive whole. The goal of C2SIM is to enable an environment where national C2 systems can exchange information freely and each nation's military operations can be represented accurately, with each nation's force representing their own military operations by means of their own simulations. In developing C2SIM technology and standards, we look forward to a day when a newly-formed coalition, operating over a shared network, can "plug in" their C2 and simulation systems to the network and work together rapidly and seamlessly to train, analyze COAs, and perform mission rehearsal. As a result, the coalition will able to perform these functions as a cohesive whole and do so more rapidly and efficiently. Within such a force, the C2 systems may function as a group using a C2 interoperation capability such as the Joint Consultation, Command and Control Information Exchange Data Model (JC3IEDM) [7] and the simulations may function as a group using an interoperation capability such as Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) [8] or High Level Architecture (HLA) [9]. Alternately, it is possible for all systems to share information through the C2SIM capability, although the resulting system may have less detailed time resolution. We refer to the totality of systems interoperating under C2SIM as a coalition, just as a collection of simulations interoperating under the HLA is called a federation. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows: Section 2 describes the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) activities that are essential for C2SIM; Section 3 provides an overview of the NATO role in producing and validating the current C2SIM technology. Section 4 describes the distributed development environment known as C2SIM Sandbox that is used by NATO MSG-145 to deploy and test C2SIM; Section 5 describes how this capability can be used for operational training under cyber-active conditions; section 6 describes C2SIM testing in NATO Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXploration, eXperimentation, eXamination, eXercise (CWIX) 2017 and 2018. Section 7 describes MSG-145 plans for continued and expanded testing of C2SIM in an operational environment and Section 8 concludes the paper. Distributed Development and Testing for Multinational Interoperability STO-MP-MSG-159 13 3 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO AUSTRALIA AND SWEDEN 2.0 SISO C2SIM ACTIVITIES SISO's mission is to develop, manage, maintain, and promulgate user-driven Modelling and Simulation (M&S) standards that improve the technical quality and cost efficiency of M&S implementations across the world-wide M&S community. SISO seeks to foster the open exchange of information and technologies to support the advancement and standardization of M&S-related technologies and practices. Its work is done by companies or other organizations and by individuals volunteering their efforts. 2.1 First Generation Standards: MSDL and C-BML SISO's development of C2SIM standards began with two loosely coupled, parallel efforts to standardize the C2 to simulation technologies. These were the Military Scenario Development Language (MSDL) [10] and the Coalition Battle Management Language (C-BML) [11]. MSDL provides for consistent initialization/startup data for both C2 and Simulation systems participating within a coalition. The object standardized by MSDL is the scenario file, which provides a specific description of the situation and course of action at a moment in time for each element in the scenario. C-BML grew out of a US Army experiment that sought ways to replace the natural language of battlefield C2 with an unambiguous language that can be used as input to software [6]. The C-BML standard defines standard XML data composites for tasking (orders and requests) and reports. NATO M&S Technical Activities described below have helped to shape C2SIM. For example, experimentation in MSG-048 determined that, for an effective operational capability, the SISO C-BML focus on Orders, Requests and Reports needs to be supplemented with initialization via MSDL in order to address the full scope of C2SIM. 2.2 Second Generation Standard: C2SIM NATO MSG-085 successfully demonstrated technical and operational relevance, and in so doing built considerable experience that helped in completing the C-BML Phase 1 standard. However, MSG-085 also produced clear results [12] indicating a need for more work by SISO. MSDL and C-BML were developed separately and are less than perfectly suited to working together; an integrated standard is needed. Also, CBML Phase 1 requires extension in order to be used for the full spectrum of military operations. MSDL and C-BML each had been intended to move forward to at least one more version. The Product Development Groups responsible for the two standards saw significant benefit in combining their efforts in the second phase of each. They therefore proposed a new, unified effort to replace the second phase of MSDL and C-BML: a single C2SIM Product Development Group for C2-simulation interoperation, to include other systems dependent on the same information (e.g. autonomous or robotic systems), which is planned to consist of four documents: (1) The C2SIM Standard, consisting of overall standard structure with procedures and message flow for initialization and tasking/reporting; (2) The C2SIM Core Ontology, which contains a set of data classes defining logical data model (LDM) that are expected to be needed by all, or nearly all, domains that implement C2SIM; (3) a Guideline document for implementing C2SIM, and (4) an example Maneuver Warfare extension to the Core, providing for interoperability similar to that embodied in MSDL and C-BML. After the SISO C2SIM Standard is adopted, a variety of additional extensions are likely to be considered. For example, there is ongoing interest in expanding C2SIM to autonomous systems [13]. Distributed Development and Testing for Multinational Interoperability 13 4 STO-MP-MSG-159 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE 3.0 NATO C2SIM ACTIVITIES SISO has neither technology development capability nor military forces that can evaluate technologies; for C2SIM these roles are performed by national teams from NATO. The need for C2SIM interoperation is particularly acute in coalitions. Differences among coalition partners' C2 systems make use of a single system impractical, while


SUMMARY Globin biosynthesis was studied in both erythroid precursors and reticulocytes of three individuals with heterozygous αthalassaemia. In contrast to the finding of equal or nearly equal α and β chain synthesis in the marrow of patients with heterozygous β‐thalassaemia previously examined, our studies showed equal degrees of unbalanced globin synthesis in both reticulocytes and nucleated erythroid cells of αthalassaemia heterozygotes. Greater stability and less susceptibility to proteolysis of the excess β‐chain formed in αthalassaemia may explain our findings.


In November 2021, global leaders are gathering in Glasgow at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Climate change poses current and future threats to human health, and COP26 will be the "last best chance" to avert dangerous climate change as the world accelerates towards a critical tipping point of a 1.5°C temperature rise above preindustrial levels.13 Countries need to rapidly increase their efforts, but there is little evidence of concrete policy action that meets the scale of this challenge. Australia is one of two countries in the world that have not set a firm target for net zero emissions.4


Objective Understanding the present status and trend of nursing quality evaluation of China in order to pro-vide evidence for improving nursing quality.Methods The literature retrieval analysis method is applied in this research.The literatures were retrieved from Chinese journals full-text database(CNKI)(1979—2008) and analyzed with statistic method.Results(1) 238 literatures of nursing quality evaluation were retrieved.(2) Literatures published on core journals accounted for 59.40%.(3) The literatures were published on 29 categories of journals.(4) Evaluation of specialty and community nursing quality accounted for 5.04 % and 1.26%.Conclusions(1) Nursing quality evaluation has been paid attention but system of nursing quality evaluation as a whole need to be developed.(2) The evaluation of specialty and community nursing quality should be further researched.


Neurological complications of myeloma are relatively common, and include those associated with various metabolic disturbances, hyperviscosity, amyloidosis, peripheral neuropathy, and, occasionally, cranial nerve palsies. Spread to the central nervous system most commonly presents as compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina. We report a relative rare case presenting acute paraparesis initially due to thoracic cord compression by extramedullary extradural plasmacytoma. This 70 year-old man complained of epigastralgia, back pain, and gait disturbance. He fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of myeloma, and later experienced sphincter disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the tumor compressing the spinalcord at the Th4 level, so, decompressive laminectomy was performed. The tumor extended extramedullary from the Th4 lamina and compressed the dural sac from behind. Microscopic examination indicated plasmacytoma.


Ruben Berrios THE locus of this paper is the Polish economy which has undergone the deepest and most prolonged crisis ever experienced by a so-called socialist country in peacetime. The Polish economy cannot be easily analysed because it has aspects of both socialist and capitalist modes of production. The socialist or non-private ownership of the means of production refers to state control of Commanding heights of the economy', the large number of public goods, the existence of subsidies on basic consumption and use of central planning. Non-socialist features include a large part of labour, which is self-employed or engaged in private enterprise, over two-thirds of agriculture, which is in the hands of private farmers, and the non-participation of the working class in planning and management. Although the social relations of production cannot be defined as capitalist, the social impact of these relations has features similar to those of capitalist economies.1 The roots of the Polish economic crisis lie in the system itself, i e, the crisis is systemic or structural in nature. Poland's economy has proved inefficient at managing its misguided reforms for over two decades. By the end of the 1980s Poland was still trying to find its way out of the economic catastrophe resulting mainly from mistakes of economic policy that can be traced to the 1970s.2 At the beginning of the seventies, the Polish bureaucracy under Gierek's rule undertook an overly ambitious programme of capital accumulation, modernisation of industry basid on imported technology from the west and the supply of more consumer goods. The plan attempted to accelerate industrial production with imports financed by foreign credits to be paid later with exports.


Chondroid syringomas are rare skin adnexal tumors which occur mostly in 20-80 year olds and commonly in the head and neck region with a male predilection. Here, we describe a 50-year old female patient presenting with subcutaneous swelling in the forehead. Fine needle aspiration revealed features of chondroid syringoma which was confirmed on subsequent histopathological examination. The present case highlights the importance of aspiration cytology for rapid, cheap and accurate diagnosis of these cutaneous neoplasms thus avoiding the necessity of invasive procedures.


Background: The initiation of breastfeeding within 1 h of birth has various benefits and has been found to reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity. Objective: This study is designed to assess the prevalence and determinants of timely initiation of breastfeeding among mothers in a resettlement colony of Delhi. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a resettlement colony of East Delhi among mothers with infants <6 months of age. Mothers were enrolled from Anganwadi Centers using systematic random sampling, and a questionnaire was used to record information on feeding practices. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: The prevalence of the initiation of breastfeeding within 1 h of birth was 51.7%. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, the factors which were found to be significantly associated were type of delivery (p<0.005), place of delivery (p<0.005), and advice on the initiation of breastfeeding at the time of delivery or postnatal period (p<0.005). Conclusions: In this study, the prevalence of the initiation of breastfeeding is better than the national average. It was higher in children born in government health institutions. This study suggests that the importance of the early initiation of breastfeeding should be emphasized during antenatal care visits through trained skilled health professionals in public and private health sector. Key words: Initiation of breastfeeding, Pre-lacteal feeding, Slum


This solo work for organ was commissioned by Christopher Batchelor as part of the 2013 London Festival of Contemporary Church Music, with funds from the PRS for Music Foundation. The work is in memory of Jonathan Harvey who I assisted as amaneunsis on his final choral composition in summer 2012, 'Plainsongs for Peace and Light'. My work refers to a couple of Harvey pieces – quoting a plainsong in 'Plainsongs for Peace and Light' and a chord pattern from 'The Angels' (choral work from 1995).
The work was first performed by Michael Waldron on 15 April 2013 in St Pancras Church, London, as part of choral evensong, and broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. It was awarded a British Composers Award in 2014.


It is often assumed in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis that the magnitude distribution has an upper limit Mmax, which indicates a limitation on event size in specific seismogeneic conditions. Accurate estimation of Mmax from an earthquake catalog is a matter of utmost importance. We compare bias, dispersion and computational properties of four popular Mmax estimators, introduced by Kijko and others (e.g., Kijko and Sellevoll 1989, Kijko and Graham 1998, Kijko 2004) and we recommend the ones which can be the most fruitful in practical applications. We provide nomograms for evaluation of bias and standard deviation of the recommended estimators for combinations of sample sizes and distribution parameters. We suggest to use the bias nomograms to correct the Mmax estimates. The nomograms of standard deviation can be used to determine minimum sample size for a required accuracy of Mmax.


The arguments for performing groundbreaking surgery on foreign patients who cannot get the surgery and follow-up care in their home countries and who cannot pay for it. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.


Aim To investigate the early diagnosis value of combining measurement of cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), myoglobin (Myo) and thrombus precursor protein (TpP) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)accompanying ST-elevation. Methods Blood samples were drown from 52 patients within 2 h, 3~4 h and 5~6 h after chest pain attack. Fluorescent immunoassay was used for quantitative determination of cTn-I, CK-MB and Myo; while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine TpP level. Results 38 patients were diagnosed as AMI, while 14 as non-AMI. The positive rate of both TpP and Myo within 2 h, 3~4 h, 5~6 h in patients with AMI were significantly higher than those of patients without AMI (P=0.025~0.000); while the positive rate of both CK-MB and cTn-I only within 5~6 h after attack were significantly elevated in patients with AMI compared with non-AMI (P=0.000). The sensitivity, accuracy, and negative predictive value of the diagnosis of AMI by TpP were better than those by Myo, CK-MB and cTn-I within 2 h after attack (P0.05~0.01), but there were no significantly different between TpP and Myo 3~4 h after attack, and there were no significantly different among the 4 marker 5~6 h after attack. The specificity of the diagnosis of AMI by cTn-I was best among the 4 marker. Conclusions TpP is a sensitive diagnostic indicator of AMI, while cTn-I is a specific diagnostic indicator of AMI, and the combining measurement of cTn-I, CK-MB, Myo and TpP have early diagnostic value for AMI.


This paper describes EMULA, an experimental interactive system for the emulation of sensory robots. EMULA was constructed as a bridge between an existing language for driving actual robots and an existing geometric modeling system. The modeling system was extended to handle mechanisms, such as robots, and an emulation language was introduced to indicate certain specifiic physical effects, including sensory feedback, grasping and releasing of parts, and gravity. EMULA allows manipulation programs to be tested by users in interactive terminal sessions or in batch mode. Monitoring functions are provided to record actions, store selected views, and check for collisions.


To the Editors: In recent studies, patients with low CD4 cell count showed an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A hyperproduction of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsPCR]) have been hypothesized in these patients. Few data exist regarding the role of immune reconstitution in the onset of CVD, another condition that could be related to an increase of circulating proinflammatory factors. Aimed at the detection of subclinical atheromasic lesions in patients who experienced immune reconstitution, in the present study, we evaluated 263 patients starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) at baseline and after 12 months, with color Doppler ultrasonography of the epiaortic vessels, a well-validated technique, considered the gold standard for the detection of premature vascular lesions. The patients were subjected to color Doppler ultrasonography of the epiaortic vessels using a last-generation power color Doppler instrument with 7.5 mgHz probes (ACUSON sequoia 512). Ultrasonography was performed by physicians specifically trained on carotid vessels and had at least 15 years experience with the ultrasound color Doppler technique and about 10,000 documented epiaortic examinations. They were blinded to the patient's treatment history and status and unaware of the diagnosis of the other colleagues. The patients were placed in a supine position after at least 10 minutes of acclimatization in a comfortable room. They were informed that the investigation was noninvasive. The 2 common carotids, the bifurcations and at least the first 2 cm of the internal and external carotid vessels were examined in the short and long axis during the telediastolic phase (T wave of the electrocardiogram). During the investigation, the head of the patient was hyperextended and extrarotated from the opposite side. The morphological investigation of the plaques was performed using both ultrasonography and the ultrasound power color Doppler to better characterize the profile of the plaque and the intima media thickness. An intima media thickness >0.9 mm and/or the presence of atherosclerotic plaques were considered pathologic findings. After 12 months of ART, patients with <50 CD4 cell count per cubic millimeter at baseline were divided into 3 groups based on CD4 at follow-up: group A: patients with <100 CD4 (# 41); group B: patients with 100–200 CD4 (# 50); and group C: patients with >200 CD4 (# 62). The CD4 cell count was detected on 2 separate occasions, measured sequentially at least 4 weeks apart. TABLE 1. Distribution of Demographics, Risk Factors for CVD, and Antiretroviral Therapies Among the Groups


The theory of chaos is nowadays receiving a great deal of attention among social scientists. Many attempts are being made to offer a raeaningful interpretation and application of notions of chaos in social systems. The present paper aims to link chaos theory to spatial interaction analysis by focusing attention on the conditions under which a general utility function related to a dynamic logit model for spatial interaction analysis will exhibit chaotic behaviour. In addition, the present paper will also analyze the impact of this dynamic logit model upon a more general spatial system, notably a LotkaVolterra system in the context of a transportation network including congestion phenomena. Time lags will also be incorporated in order to account for non-instantaneous effects in prey-predator type of interactions. Finally, it will be shown that under certain conditions on the parameters of the spatial system concerned a so-called Hopf bifurcation will take place. In other words, unstable system's behaviour may emerge for particular lag values reflecting the influence from the past. The theoretical analysis in the paper will be illustrated by means of various simulation experiments.


The design of interfaces suitable for recommender and search applications on mobile devices is a complex and extensive task. Not only does one have to allow for the simple adjustment of filter settings, one also has to cope with technical and physical limitations like the reduced screen size and the lack of comfortable input methods most users are accustomed to. In this paper we consider the scenario of a user looking for a movie to watch at a cinema. To adjust context parameters in this scenario, we present a novel minimalistic interface that is based on touch gestures. We abandon conventional control elements in order to enhance usability and to devote the screen space to content instead of dispensable elements. Eventually, we evaluate our approach by means of a small user study with positive results.


With the growing interest in alternative energy sources coupled with the need to reduce plastic wastes, the study on the catalytic pyrolysis of shampoo sachet (SS) and polystyrene (PS) blend to produce oil is very timely. Parametric studies were done to know the effect of different experimental conditions such as the feedstock ratio, catalyst dosage and temperature. It was found out that the highest oil yield was achieved under a 2:3:1 SS:PS:Bentonite ratio and a temperature setting of 330-378°C. Moreover, an increase in the amount of PS in the feedstock resulted in an increase oil yield percentage. Also, bentonite was observed to be a good catalyst in the pyrolysis process. However, the need for further studies is recommended to obtain the optimal conditions for producing the highest amount of oil.


Stability assessment of surrounding rock of underground engineering is complicated with complex nonlinear characteristics;while a deterministic method to describe the stability status of local rock mass system hasn't been proposed.Therefore,based on catastrophe theory,an instability criterion for judging energy dissipation catastrophe of local rock mass system of large-scale underground excavations is put forward after the explanation of the concepts of excavation disturbed effect and local rock mass instability.Then,plastic dissipative energy density(PDED) and representative plastic dissipative energy(RPDE) are defined on the basis of energy dissipation principle.The criterion is used to judge the stability status of local rock mass system through catastrophe eigenvalue D of RPDE and determine the local damage position that results in instability.Finally,a case study is further illustrated with the simulation of excavation of a large-scale underground caverns group of Jinping I hydropower station;and it is shown that the criterion can reflect the instable behavior of surrounding rock system and satisfy engineering excavation practice,which is valuably referenced for underground excavation.


Foramina or openings in the skull are very important as they allow passage of important structures likes nerves and blood vessels through them. Various people have studied variations in foramina as these variants have been found to be related to many disease states, which can be either acquired or inherited. Out of various skull foramina, we studied three atypical foramina named lacrimal, emissary sphenoidal & parietal in 103 dried human skulls. We looked for their presence unilaterally/bilaterally, their numbers, dimension and comparison bilaterally. Lacrimal foramen was absent bilaterally in 41% of the skulls while present unilaterally in 29% with an average size of 0.86 mm. Emissary sphenoidal foramen was absent bilaterally in 49%of the skulls, present unilaterally in 20% with an average size of 0.87 mm. When compared bilaterally 11% of the skulls showed difference of more than 0.5mm in emissary sphenoidal foramen while it was multiple in 2% of the skulls studied. Parietal foramen was absent bilaterally in 20% of the skulls while it was present unilaterally in 29% with an average size of 0.91 mm. When compared bilaterally 15% of the skulls had difference of more than 0.5mm.The foramen studied showed variation in different parameters observed which might be due to genetic, nutritional, environmental differences or some disease conditions. Knowledge of presence and variation in its anatomical parameter can be crucial for surgeons and anesthetists.


Rice husk, an agricultural waste from the rice milling, can be used as an alternative resource to produce silica. In this study, silica was obtained from burning rice husk at 750 °C for 3 h followed by alkaline extraction (NaOH) and acid precipitation (HCl). Bio-composite films were prepared by adding different rice husk silica contents (1%-5%) to the rice starch. The rice husk silica/rice starch films were achieved by a solution casting method. The results showed that the tensile strength of composite films having 3-5% rice husk silica was higher than that of the rice starch film. As the rice husk silica content increased, the transmittance values of the composite films decreased. The rice husk silica was used as a bio-filler in the rice starch film for preparing environmentally friendly bio-composite films in packaging


In remote sensing applications, accurate registration is very important for image data fusion and other applications.Images acquired by the multispectral CCD camera in CBERS-02B remote sensing satellite have 3 characteristics:the size of image is very large;the discrepancy of images nature is small;their postural distance is in a fixed range.Aimed at these characteristics, a reliable registration method based on small-window and many times of matching calculations is presented.Some small window images symmetrical gotten from a large image do NCC matching calculate with the reference map.Then there are many matching results.Those mismatching points are eliminated by some algorithm.The average of remaining matching results can produce sub-pixel accuracy registration between multispectral images.Real multispectral CCD images of CBERS-02B remote sensing satellite were registered by this registration method in simulation experiments, and the results indicated that this algorithm is feasible and practical.


Based on the principles of composite material mechanics and Finite Element Method(FEM),structural responses of multi-geogrid-reinforced asphalt concrete pavement are analyzed.Under the effect of driving load,several influence analyses were pointed out such as the stress and displacement,with different number of geogrids and different moduluses of the geogrids,so as to achieve optimize road design aims.


Abstract : The Generalized Assembly System (GAS) combines a number of features which have either been talked about in the past or have actually appeared in one form or another in working assemblers. The motivation for designing GAS is threefold. First, combining these features in one system, while desirable in itself, will provide a far more powerful assembly mechanism than any which is currently available. Second, mechanisms within GAS already provide a large part of what is needed to construct translators; one should capitalize on this fact by designing translators as the top level of the assembly system rather than as self-contained entities or preprocessors. Third, GAS is intended to be as much a research tool as it may be a practical assembly system for everyday use. A general description is presented of both the GAS language and the organization of the GAS processor. (Author)


Background : Ureteral stent placement is a routine urological procedure. However, patients inserted with ureteral stent exhibited increased urinary symptoms that compromise patients' quality of life. Objective : To assess the efficacy of alpha blockers (Alfuzosin) in the management of ureteral stent related urinary symptoms. Methods : Total of 60 patients after ureteral stent insertion was randomly divided into two equal groups; 30 in alfuzosin group and the remaining 30 in control group. Urinary symptoms questionnaire was filled after two weeks and results were statistically analyzed. Results : Urinary symptoms like urgency, frequency and flank pain were significantly less in the alfuzosin group when compared with control group. Conclusion : Alpha blocker (Alfuzosin) was found to be effective in reducing ureteral stent related urinary symptoms. Journal of Gandaki Medical College Vol. 10, No. 1, 2017, page: 28-30


The incorporation of waste tire beads at a concentration of 40 g/L into conventional activated sludge tank, led to the attachment of 50 mg/g biomass on the surface of tyre beads at steady state. Thus, 2000mg/L of attached growth was available in addition to the existing 2000~3000mg/L of suspended growth biomass in the hybrid reactor. Biofilm thickness was 255μm and its activity was in the range of 40~70 mg2/g·h, which was comparable to that of suspended growth.


Preliminary results from a systematic investigation of obsidian by electron microprobe and the Ar/Ar method show that hydration can adversely affect Ar/Ar ages, but this effect can be mitigated by specialized sample preparation. Volcanic glass can be a problematic material for Ar/Ar geochronological studies, in part due to hydration and the resultant element mobility of Ar and other elements. The No Agua Peaks volcanic complex was chosen for this study due multiple obsidian flows displaying varying degrees of hydration. The twofold purpose of this study is to understand the effects of hydration on Ar/Ar ages of glass as well as to determine which sample preparations yield the most accurate and precise age for obsidian. Multiple sample preparation methods including five and twenty-four hour ultrasonic baths in distilled water, as well as air abrasion and five and twenty-four hour ultrasonic washes in hydrofluoric acid were performed on sample splits. Samples were characterized using an electron microprobe to assess hydration and chemistry. To determine the effects that the extraction method has on the apparent age of a sample, furnace and CO 2 laser incremental heating were performed on splits, as well as a two-step laser extraction and laser fusion. Microprobe results show that the hydration process does not cause significant element mobility, and most water is concentrated within the hydration rinds. Results also indicate that preparation by air abrasion, any HF treatment or a 24-hour ultrasonic rinse in distilled water can remove hydration rinds from an obsidian core, thereby increasing the quality of the data. Different argon extraction methods yield the same age for different splits of the same sample within uncertainty. Two eruptive periods at 4.08±0.07 Ma and 3.72±0.11 Ma represent chemically different magmas, which are separated by a paleosol at the No Agua Peaks complex. Preparation methods that include HF decrease the yield of 40Ar*, decreasing the accuracy and precision of the apparent age for a given sample. So far, furnace step-heating has produced encouraging results for displaying the effects for argon loss and the true eruption age. The preparation and extraction methods presented begin to permit the dating of young and poorly constrained volcanic events, which can be used to predict future volcanic hazards


Allylic sulfinic acids have been prepared by cleavage of trialkyltin allylic sulfinates with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Allylsulfinic acid prepared in this way could be trapped as the sodium salt or observed by NMR and UV spectroscopy to undergo spontaneous decomposition to propene and sulfur dioxide at ambient temperatures. The corresponding reaction of 1-methylprop-2-enylsulfinic acid was regiospecific, yielding (E)- and (Z)-2-butene (E:Z = 82:18). Acidolysis of E/Z mixtures of trimethyltin 5-methylcyclohex-2-enylsulfinate with [ 2H]-TFA followed by desulfination indicated that the latter process proceeded with γ-syn deuterium migration, consistent with a concerted, retro-ene mechanism. A detailed kinetic investigation of allylsulfinic acid desulfination supported this conclusion. This reaction obeyed a first order rate law (k 297K = (5.5 ± 0.1) × 10 -4 s -1 in toluene) with a large, negative activation entropy (ΔS ≠ = -146 ± 17 J K -1). The rate of desulfination was essentially independent of solvent. The volume profile (ΔV ≠ = -5.5 ± 1.0 cm 3 mol -1, ΔV = 15 ± 5 cm 3 mol -1) is comparable to that of a retro Diels-Alder reaction and taken together with the above evidence and a relatively small deuterium kinetic isotope effect (k H/k D = 2.5 ± 0.1) strongly supports a concerted desulfination, proceeding via a relatively compact, early transition state. © 1995 American Chemical Society.


In this study, we investigated diverse testing tools for searching nature of science, and developed new testing tool for integrating diverse sights of the tools. We investigated viewpoints of science of high school students and science teachers. Most of them tended to have neutral viewpoint slightly tended to hypothesis-deductivism. This ten dency is not differ according to students' academic course and gender, and teachers' sex and school levels. The sub-cat egories of the testing tool were six; objectivity of knowledge, theory/experiment/law/model, scientific research method, patterns of change in science, classification of science and non-science, progressive theoiy. There were not differ form science teachers and students on philosophical viewpoints on science. But on the viewpoints of patterns of change in sci ence and classification of science and non-science, students were differ from science teachers.


Proximity of a person (BOD1) causes a change in the capacitance value of a sensor capacitor (CX) having a pair of capacitive plates. Said change is detected by:-charging said sensor capacitor (CX) by coupling it to a voltage supply (40), wherein said voltage supply (40) is disconnected from a tank capacitor (C2) during said charging,-transferring charge from said sensor capacitor (CX) to a tank capacitor (C2), wherein said voltage supply (40) is disconnected from said tank capacitor (C2) during said charge transfer,-repeating said charging and charge transfer several times,-monitoring the voltage (VX) of said tank capacitor (C2), and-determining at least one value which depends on the rate of change of the voltage (VX) of said tank capacitor (C2). The capacitance of the capacitive sensor is typically low, typically in the order of 100 pF to 1 nF. The capacitance of the tank capacitor (C2) may be several orders of magnitude higher than the capacitance of the sensor capacitor (CX). The large tank capacitor (C2) acts as a part of a low-pass filter which effectively filters out signal noise.


A free-standing and binder-free ultrathin (around 10 μm) 1D structured anode was reported, which was the first time copper–silicon core–shell nanotube arrays were fabricated using silicon nanowire arrays as the template. Within this design, cone-shaped copper nanotube arrays act as both the supporter of amorphous silicon and the current collector for the electrode.


It is important to maintain a certain amount of melt during sintering of iron ores to improve product yield and strength of sinter product. Spreading phenomena of the initial melt within adhering layer in pseudo-particles are essential to achieve efficient agglomeration. Penetration tests have been conducted to demonstrate the spreading behavior of the initial melt. Paired samples consisting of ore tablet and initial melt tablet were heated and penetration length was measured. Penetration behavior of melt during sintering was discussed on a base of capillarity. Determining factors of penetration were morphology of the ore surface before and after dehydration and chemical composition of ores. Product yield and the strength of sinter were reflected by the penetration length of blended ores in a sintering plant.


The program reflects some good intentions, mainly an emphasis on science and mathematics that many other general education programs lack (this is perhaps to be expected at a school with technical roots). Yet the program attempts to produce reasoned thinking in students using a scattershot "smorgasbord approach," which permits students to choose from among 714 courses, rather than requiring the focused rigor that improving thought processes requires. The fact that general education at NC State requires two science courses does not mean students must take two rigorous science courses.


Reactor decommissioning is a huge system engineering, which requires optimal design and effectiveness analysis. In this paper, the decommissioning engineering support system (DEXUS) in Japan Fugen NPS is presented. VR technology is used to construct a virtual 3D working scenario and demonstrate the decommissioning schedule simulation, and based on this, the VR technologies adopted by Fugen and CGNPC (China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co. Ltd) are compared. The simulation system based on VR provides analysis tools for decommissioning engineering, offers evidences for making decision and finding key problems of decommissioning, what's more, and it can contribute to the operation training and the decommissioning data management.


With introducing the concept of the number of micro-damage in unit volume,macro damage parameter and microvoids volume are unified together,and a new kind of quadratic micro-voids damage evolution equation is acquired.The effect of inertia is considered during the expansion of voids.The expansion of surface and inertia will play a dominant role during the different stage of expansion of voids respectively.After taking the impact experiment of 921 steel as reference and comparing the curves of free surface velocity,the model is proved to be correct since their results are matched well.


ion in this way is the basis for knowledge: the sensible phantasms represent the individual material thing and the intellect abstracts the form of the thing from the phantasms. These phantasms are "images of individuals, and exist in corporeal organs" (Q 85, Art 1). But just as Aristotle had said that, while the images serve as the means of sensing and knowing, they are not what is known or sensed, so St. Thomas says "the intelligible species is not what is actually understood, but that by which the intellect understands" (Q 85, Art 2). In this respect, both Aristotle and St. Thomas anticipate a fundamental issue between Arnauld and Malebranche: whether ideas as the means of knowing can represent, without themselves being the objects of knowledge. It is also the same difference which appears between Arnauld and Malebranche as appears between St. Thomas and Plato: are the ideas, the forms which are the means of knowing, separate existences? For St. Thomas, what is "primarily understood is the thing, of which the species [which are secondarily understood] is the likeness." However -and it is at this point that St. Thomas' theory may open the way for divergent versions of the theorythe intellect "knows directly only universals"; it knows indirectly the particulars represented by the phantasm and the abstracted species (Q 86, Art 1). II. DESCARTES: OBJECTIVE REALITY OF OBJECTS IN THE UNDERSTANDING In Meditation III , the principle, 'there must be as much reality in the efficient cause as there is in the effect', is illustrated by the idea of a stone or the idea of heat. The stone (efficient cause) does not transnfit "en mon idte aucune chose de sa rdalit6 actuelle ou formelle" (p. 434; AT, VII , 41). 9 All ideas are the work of the mind, in the sense that their formal reality is a product of mind, not of external obiects. But in order for an idea (which is "une mani6re ou fa~on de penser ''1~ to contain some specific objective reality, it must acquire that objective reality from some cause "dans laquelle il se rencontre pour de 9 The text used for Descartes is the French text, as reprinted in Oeuvres philosophiques, ed. by F. Alqui6 (vol. I, 1963; vol. II, 1967). References to the Meditations and to the Objections and Repfies are in volume II of this handy edition (accompanied by Descartes' letters relevant to his books). I give the Adam and Tannery reference, to the Latin versions, as AT, followed by volume and page. ~o This is a very important phrase (in the French version only) since it is tantamount to denying ideas as special entities. Both Arnauld and Locke seized upon this concept of ideas and made it basic to their theories. In the definitions at the end of his reply to the second set of Objections, Descartes defined 'idea' as the form of thought. 'Thought' was defined as "tout ee qui est tellement en nous, que nous en sommes immtdiatement connaissants" (p. 586; AT, VII, 160). Included in pens#e are the operations of the will, the understanding, the imagination, and the senses. Descartes explains that he speaks of knowing our thoughts immediately as a way of excluding those things which follow from and depend upon our thoughts, such as voluntary movement towards the good or towards truth. The definition of 'idea' as the form of all thought which is apprehended immediately, is found also in the Port Royal Logic, in Arnauld's book on ideas, and of course in Locke. The Port Royal Log/c stressed that this was a general definition, meant to counteract the tendency to treat ideas as images only (see Part I, chap. I of the Logic). In replying to the Objections of Hobbes, Descartes remarked that unlike Hobbes, who took 'idea' as applying only to images depicted on the corporeal fantasy, he (Descartes) takes the term 'idea' "pour tout ce qui est congu imm/ediatement par l'esprit" (p. 611; AT, VII, 181). IDEAS AND KNOWLEDGE 149 moins autant de rtalitd formelle que cette idte contient de rdalit6 objective" (p. 440; AT, VII, 41). Descartes gives no details of how the objective reality of ideas gets in the mind, beyond a rather specific account of t/ie physiology of sensation. There may not be a consistent doctrine of idea-genesis in Descartes' works. A passage in his Notae in Programma even seems to rule out the causal basis of ideas which the Meditations requires for objective reality. 11 Nevertheless, the doctrine of the objective existence of ideas in the understanding is reaffirmed in some of his Replies to critics of the Meditations. In the restatement of the proofs for God, at the end of the replies to the second set of Objections, "la r~alit~ objective d'une idde'" is defined as the entity or being of the thing represented by the idea, in so far as that entity is in the idea (vol. II, p. 587; AT, VII, 161): In his replies to the fourth set of objections (those of Amauld), commenting upon problems raised by Arnauld about privative ideas, Descartes says that in suggesting that the idea of cold is "le Jroid m~me, en tant qu'il est objectivement darts l' entendement" (p. 644; AT, VII 206), Amauld is taking ideas formally. Descartes then says that ideas are nothing but Jorms when they are taken as representing things (p. 673; AT VII, 232). What was the contrast between formal and objective, in the vocabulary of the Meditations, becomes, in his reply to Amauld, the difference between material and formal. Alqui6 thinks that in this reply to Arnauld, Descartes is forcing himself to follow the vocabulary of the Schools, where "les idtes retiennent les formes des choses, independamment de leur mati~re" (pp. 673-674, n. 1). The difference of ideas, in so far as they represent objects, is a difference of form, a form which captures the being of the thing itself. The most detailed statement of this doctrine is found in Descartes' reply to the first set of objections, made by the priest Caterus. Caterus raised the question, "qu'est-ee qu'&re objectivement darts rentendement?" (p. 509; AT, VII, 92). Caterus argues that this notion of objective existence is a mere name, an extrinsic denomination which adds nothing to the reality of the object. In his reply, Descartes says that to be objectively signifies nothing other than "~tre dans l'entendement en la mani~re que les objets ont coutume d'y 6tre" (p. 520; AT, VII, 102). For example, what is the idea of the sun? It is "la chose penste, en tant qu'elle est objectivement dans rentendement" (p. 520). The sun as an object external to my mind is of course not in my mind. The phrase, "to be objectively in the understanding," does not signify the sun's action on me (although the efficient cause must be there, before the objective reality can be in the idea) but only the being of the object in my understanding. The idea of the sun "est le soleil m~me existant darts l'entendement," not of course formally but only objectively (p. 521; AT, ibid.). Alqui6 thinks that Caterus and Descartes are not understanding each other, that Descartes is trying to say something new with an old, indeed a scholastic, vocabulary. For Caterus, who was a Thomist, Alqui6 says "il n'y a pas de place, darts la connaissance, pour ce que Descartes appeUe tree idle" (p. 509, n.). We know things, not ideas, and there is no need for any intermediary. Alqui6 reads Descartes as saying we are unable to have a direct presence of things to our mind: "La chose n'est jamais connue que par l'intermtdiaire de l'id~e" as the representative or image of things (p. 520, n.). I do not see that Descartes has denied direct presence, but then Alqui6 does not say what such presence of objects to a mind would be. Alqui6 does go on to point out that for a Thomist, Descartes' talk of ideas would be read as 'species', and of course for the xl AT, VIII-2, 358-359. In the Haldane and Ross translation, this is found on p. 442 of vol. I. Not yet published in Alqui~'s edition (to be included in vol. 3). 150 HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY Thomist the intelligible species is not "une image ou substitut de l'object rtel, mais l'object lui-m~me considtr6 darts Faction qu'il exerce sur le sujet." What Alqui6 does not ",allow is that Descartes' idea as objective reality is a later version of the Thomist doctrine, despite the very close similarity of language, and despite his recognition that in the reply to Amauld, Descartes has translated the objective reality talk into the scholastic talk of knowledge by forms. The notion of objects being in the understanding when they are co~ized is not for us easily acceptable. In so far as it is a way of saying objects are known, it may be clear enough. The difficulties arise (Kenny TM thinks there is even a contradiction in Descartes' formulation of the theory) when we attempt to understand the ontic aspect of the theory. Ideas or forms are not third entities in knowing: the sun in the understanding is the scholastic's way of stating direct realism. When Caterus says that being an object of thought makes no change in the sun's reality, Descartes quite rightly pointed out that of course being known is an extrinsic attribute of that which is known. He reminded Caterus that he was speaking of the idea of the sun. His analysis, as we have seen, is that when I co~ize the sun, the sun is in my understanding. It is ditticult for me not to think that in replying this way to Caterus, Descartes knew he was close to the Thomistic doctrine. The question is not what happens to the sun, but what the idea of the sun is, how the sun is known. As we saw above, the answer Descartes gives to Caterus is that the idea of the sun is the thing thought, in so far as it exists in the understanding. 'Thing' in that remark (res in Latin, chose in French) has to mean 'the sun'. The distinction Descartes is interested in is that between the sun itself in the sky (where being known is purely extrinsic to the sun) and the sun as known, as in the understanding (where the understanding is affected by the sun, if our perception is veridical). The doc


[1] Wolfsberger, L. D., Wagar M., Nitsch P., Bhagwat M. S., and Zygmanski P. "Andular dose dependency of MatriXX and its calibration" J. Appl. Clinic. Med. Phys. 11, pp. 241 – 251 (2010). [2] Han Z., Ng S. K., Bhagwat M. S., Lyatskaya Yu., Zygmanski P. "Evaluation of MatriXX for IMRT and VMAT dose verifications in the peripheral dose regions" Med. Phys. 37 , pp 3704 – 3714 (2010). The increased degree of complexity of IMRT and VMAT plans necessitates the use of advanced two-dimensional dosimeters for QA. One of the most widely used 2D detectors (MatriXX) is an array of ionization chambers which are periodically read during plan delivery. As a result, a time sequence of two-dimensional dose distributions is recorded. When the movie frames are integrated, a cumulative dose distribution is obtained. Although the ionization chambers are not expected to exhibit strong angular dependence, the measured dose distribution is often found to significantly differ from the planned dose distribution, a phenomenon referred to as "angular dependence" of the device [1]. We show that there are numerous factors that impact the measurement accuracy of the MatriXX and the angular dependence is only a manifestation of the fact that the planning systems are not designed to accurately account for the presence of a layer of high-Z materials lying posterior to the ionization chambers (both primary attenuation and scatter). Innovation/Impact: In this work we identify the origin of the aforementioned discrepancies and show how these effects can be eliminated by per-frame post-processing of the measured data.


This chapter discusses the law and theory of inchoate offences, which are those that seek to deal with defendants who have taken steps towards the commission of an offence but who have not (yet) committed it. The two best-known examples are attempts and conspiracies. In attempt cases, the defendant has gone beyond mere preparation and taken steps towards carrying out a complete crime. Conspiracy involves agreeing with others to commit an offence. The Serious Crime Act 2007 offences involve encouraging or assisting a person to commit an offence. With all of these inchoate offences the defendant has not him or herself performed the actus reus but is sufficiently close to doing so, or persuading others to do so, for the law to find it appropriate to punish them. The second part of the chapter shows that there is much debate about the justification for inchoate offences.


The Ranging Mode (R-Mode), a maritime terrestrial navigation system under development, is a promising approach to increase the resilient provision of position, navigation and timing (PNT) information for bridge instruments, which rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The R-Mode utilizes existing maritime radio infrastructure such as marine radio beacons, which support maritime traffic with more reliable and accurate PNT data in areas with challenging conditions. This paper analyzes the potential service, which the R-Mode could provide to the mariner if worldwide radio beacons were upgraded to broadcast R-Mode signals. The authors assumed for this study that the R-Mode is available in the service area of the 357 operational radio beacons. The comparison with the maritime traffic, which was generated from a one-day worldwide Automatic Identification System (AIS) Class A dataset, showed that on average, 67% of ships would operate in a global R-Mode service area, 40% of ships would see at least three and 25% of ships would see at least four radio beacons at a time. This means that R-Mode would support 25% to 40% of all ships with position and 67% of all ships with PNT integrity information. The relatively high number of supported ships compared to the total radio beacon coverage of about 9% of the earth's surface is caused by the good coverage of busy ports and areas such as the coast of China, North Sea and Baltic Sea. These numbers emphasize the importance of marine radio beacons for the R-Mode system.


Quasi ID crystals of tin and indium oxide have been prepared by vapor phase technique. Structural characterization has been performed by transmission electron microscopy in correlation with the study of the electrical gas sensing properties in presence of different concentrations of carbon monoxide and acetone as function of the working temperatures. Tin dioxide nanowires showed superior gas sensing performances, carbon monoxide introduction at low concentrations produces remarkable and fast variations in the conductance also when working at temperatures around 100degC


This paper studies the COVID-19 pandemic as an exogenous shock to investor uncertainty and examines the effects of uncertainty on stock liquidity. Analyzing data from Chinese listed firms, we find that stock liquidity dries up significantly in response to an increase in uncertainty resulting from regional pandemic exposure. The underlying reason for the decline in stock liquidity during the pandemic is a combination of earnings and information uncertainty. Funding constraints, investor sentiment, inattention rationales, and aggravated macroeconomics are excluded. Our findings also add to the discussions on the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial markets.


Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry for large scale applications (LST-PIV) is applied to a convection cell to measure the large scale flow structures in forced convection. The technique is capable to capture the three-dimensional instantaneous flow field in a measurement volume. In order to validate the implementation of the Tomographic PIV algorithm and to demonstrate that the large scale flow structure in the convection cell can be predicted properly, the data is compared to planar PIV data.
The LST-PIV reveals the same global flow structure as with planar PIV. The rms value of the difference between the LST- and planar PIV data amounts to 0.0088 m/s whereas the volume averaged velocity in the measurement volume is 0.11 m/s. However, small regions exist in which the differences are as large as 0.0182 m/s. It is concluded that the larger differences between the two sets of data are mainly caused by the not yet fully converged flow statistics and to a small extend by disturbance of the inflow due to particle injection.


This re-audit of paediatric exodontia under general anaesthetic assessed seventy one patients' GA records across three boroughs in the directorate Bury, Oldham and Rochdale between 02/01/2020 to 17/03/2020. It assessed compliance with Pennine Care local guidelines including: • The justification for GA • Attendance at a dedicated POA • Pre-operative radiographs and their justification • Pre-operative restorations • Were patients caries free following GA? • Were guidelines adhered to when extracting FPM's including orthodontic considerations? • Were first permanent molars balanced/compensated where appropriate? • Were all poor prognosis deciduous teeth extracted under GA? • Was appropriate consideration given to balancing/compensating extractions? • Record keeping standards • Were patients appropriately discharged/reviewed? Results were varied and showed good compliance with some parts of the guidelines such as 70/71 (98.6%) patients having dedicated POA in the re-audit. The percentage of patients with a dedicated oral health appointment rose from 13.9% (11/79) for Cycle 1 to 38.0% (27/71) for Cycle 2 which is a 24.1% improvement. The percentage of patients without documented justification for a lack of radiographs dropped from 26.5% (9/34) for Cycle 1 to 9.1% (3/33) for Cycle 2. This shows a 17.4% improvement. There were improvements in the numbers of patients having appropriate balancing extractions for unilaterally carious deciduous canines: 6/9 (66.7%) for Cycle 1 and 11/13 (84.6%) for Cycle 2. This shows an improvement of 17.9% 24/26 of patients (92.3%) in Cycle 2 who had planned extraction of FPM's had pre-operative x-rays and there were some improvements in the number of patients with documented orthodontic considerations compared to Cycle 1. For example: The number of patients with documented assessment of crowding rose from 16.7% (4/24) in Cycle 1 to 85.2% (23/27) in Cycle 2. This is a 71.8% improvement. The percentage of patients who were advised of the risk of future mesial tipping or malocclusion of the second permanent molars rose from 8.3% (2/24) in C1 to 57.7% (15/26) in C2. This is a 49.4% improvement. 94.3% (67/71) of patients were caries free following completion of GA in the re-audit whereas the target is 100%. However, some of these findings appear to be record keeping errors. Greater consistency is needed regarding record keeping as well as the post-operative review/discharge process. A greater awareness of the guidelines would be helpful.


In acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) alloreactive donor T cells selectively damage skin, liver, and the gastrointestinal tract while other organs are rarely affected. The mechanism of this selective target tissue infiltration is not well understood. We investigated the importance of alloantigen expression for the selective organ manifestation by examining spatiotemporal changes of cellular and molecular events after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). To accomplish this we established a novel multicolor light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) approach for deciphering immune processes in large tissue specimens on a single-cell level in 3 dimensions. We combined and optimized protocols for antibody penetration, tissue clearing, and triple-color illumination to create a method for analyzing intact mouse and human tissues. This approach allowed us to successfully quantify changes in expression patterns of mucosal vascular addressin cell adhesion molecule–1 (MAdCAM-1) and T cell responses in Peyer's patches following allo-HCT. In addition, we proofed that LSFM is suitable to map individual T cell subsets after HCT and detected rare cellular events. We employed this versatile technique to study the role of alloantigen expression for the selective organ manifestation after allo-HCT. Therefore, we used a T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mouse model of GVHD that targets a single peptide antigen and thereby mimics a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched single antigen mismatched (miHAg-mismatched) HCT. We transplanted TCR transgenic (OT-I) T cells into myeloablatively conditioned hosts that either express the peptide antigen ovalbumin ubiquitously (βa-Ova) or selectively in the pancreas (RIP-mOva), an organ that is normally not affected by acute GVHD. Of note, at day+6 after HCT we observed that OT-I T cell infiltration occurred in an alloantigen dependent manner. In βa-Ova recipients, where antigen was ubiquitously expressed, OT-I T cells infiltrated all organs and were not restricted to gastrointestinal tract, liver, and skin. In RIP-mOva recipients, where cognate antigen was only expressed in the pancreas, OT-I T cells selectively infiltrated this organ that is usually spared in acute GVHD. In conditioned RIP-mOva the transfer of 100 OT-I T cells sufficed to effectively infiltrate and destroy pancreatic islets resulting in 100% mortality. By employing intact tissue LSFM in RIP-mOva recipients, we identified very low numbers of initial islet infiltrating T cells on day+4 after HCT followed by a massive T cell migration to the pancreas within the following 24 hours. This suggested an effective mechanism of effector T cell recruitment to the tissue of alloantigen expression after initial antigen specific T cell encounter. In chimeras that either expressed the model antigen ovalbumin selectively in hematopoietic or in parenchymal cells only, transplanted OT-I T cells infiltrated target tissues irrespective of which compartment expressed the alloantigen. As IFN-γ could be detected in the…


Abstract Background Because of COVID-19 public health restrictions, telemedicine has replaced conventional outpatient follow up for most patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorders treated with biologic drugs. Innovative solutions to facilitate remote therapeutic drug monitoring are therefore required. Low-volume intracapillary blood sampling can be undertaken by patients at home and samples returned by post to central laboratories. Methods We sought to report the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on requests for therapeutic drug monitoring and the equivalence, acceptability and effectiveness of low-volume intracapillary fingerprick sampling compared to conventional venepuncture. Drug and antidrug antibody levels were measured using standard ELISAs. Results Therapeutic drug monitoring requests for adalimumab (96.5 [70.5 - 106] per week to 52 [33.5 - 57.0], p < 0.001) but not infliximab (184.5 [161.2 - 214.2] to 161 [135 - 197.5], p = 0.34) reduced during the first UK stay-at-home lockdown compared with the preceding six months. Fingerprick sampling was equivalent to conventional venepuncture for adalimumab (Figure 1), infliximab, vedolizumab, and ustekinumab drug and anti-adalimumab and -infliximab antibody levels. The median (IQR) volume of serum obtained using intracapillary sampling was 195µL (130–210). More than 87% (90/103) patients agreed that intracapillary testing was easy and 69% (71/103) preferred it to conventional venepuncture (Figure 2). In routine care, 75.3% (58/77) patients returned two blood samples within 14 days to permit remote assessment of biologic therapeutic drug monitoring. Conclusion Therapeutic drug monitoring can be undertaken using patient-led remote intracapillary blood sampling and has the potential to be a key adjunct to telemedicine in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.


Eleven organizational change approaches were reviewed and analyzed in terms of the impact they have on major system variables in organizations, the type of change agent most likely to utilize each approach, and the relative affective, cognitive, and trusting behaviors required by the client system for the successful implementation of each approach. Different approaches are linked to different change-agent styles and needs of the client system.


A 34-year-old woman in her fourth pregnancy attended the antenatal booking clinic at 18 weeks gestation. She had had three previous normal deliveries at term and had developed hypertension and proteinuria in all of them. All of the pregnancies were with the same partner. Her last menstrual period was on 25 March 1990 and a routine ultrasound scan confirmed the presence of a twin pregnancy, in accordance with her dates. The blood pressure on booking was 140/80 mm Hg and urinalysis was negative. A repeat ultrasound scan at 24 weeks confirmed appropriate growth, with an anterior and a posterior placenta. Each fetus had a separate amnion and chorion. At 27 weeks she was admitted to hospital by the community midwife because of a blood pressure of 150/100 mm Hg and (++) of protein in the urine (Ames reagent strips). An ultrasound scan showed average growth for twin A, but the biparietal diameter and abdominal circumference measurements of twin B were unchanged from those at 24 weeks, indicating a failure of intrauterine growth. Routine investigations showed slightly elevated uric acid levels (0.43 mmol/l), an increased proteinuria and a creatinine clearance of 78 ml/min. Over the following week, her blood pressure remained 140150/95-105 mm Hg and proteinuria persisted. The investigations were repeated with similar results. She had bilateral ankle and tibia1 oedema and occasional frontal headaches, without visual disturbances or hypereflexia. Both fetal hearts remained audible. An ultrasound scan one week after admission, at 28 weeks gestation, showed that the growth of twin A had been sustained, but twin B was dead. Doppler studies of the umbilical artery of the surviving twin showed a normal waveform. The blood pressure decreased gradually until, by the end of the following week, it had returned to that recorded at the first antenatal examination. It remained at this level thereafter. The proteinuria and oedema resolved. The previous blood and urine investigations were repeated weekly, with particular attention to platelet count, fibrinogen and fibrinogen degradation products levels, to detect any consumptive coagulopathy but all remained within normal limits. Further investigations included a glucose tolerance test, the estimation of HbA,,, and screening for lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies and virus infections. No abnormal results were obtained.


Addiction is characterised by the compulsion to use a substance, uncontrolled consumption, and the existence of withdrawal symptoms (such as anxiety and irritability) when access to the substance is prevented. People suffering from eating disorders such as 'binge eating', bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa tend to display these symptoms, suggesting similarities between how the body reacts to drug use and compulsive eating.


The data of the Population Labour Force and Migration (PLM) Survey of 1979-1980 was analyzed in order to study spacing between births as well as differentials in urban and rural areas, differentials by age at marriage, urbanization, education, work pattern, and contraceptive use. The median intervals from PLM Survey of 1979-80 and Pakistan Fertility Survey (PFS) of 1975 birth histories were compared by urban and rural residence for each parity in order to analyze trends in birth spacing. Findings indicate only a slight increase in child spacing, the 1st birth interval of urban females has increased consistently by 1 month from 1st parity to 4th parity according to PLM 1979-80. Urban women had shorter spacing of births than rural females in both surveys. In addition, the Pakistan Demographic Survey of 1985-86 showed that the medium of the 1st birth interval declined to 18.09 months compared to the 22.46 months of PLM. Women in urban areas had a higher rate of fertility than women in rural areas where the interval between marriage and 1st birth increased. Urban females also had shorter duration of breastfeeding and tended to have shorter median birth intervals at higher ages at marriage. Longer intervals were attributed to subfecundity or delayed cohabitation. In rural areas women do not space their births deliberately. The medium birth interval of women in urban centers was 4 months shorter than those for rural females with the same education increasing by 7 months in case of no female education. Educated females in major urban areas achieved their family size faster than women residing in other urban and rural areas. Educated urban females with high parity (4+) had longer intervals due to greater contraceptive use and a diminished desire to have more children. In the urban areas of Punjab and Sind longer birth spacing was recorded than in the rural areas but differences disappeared after the 2nd parity. Obviously, women engaged in economic activity want to complete their family size earlier, thus the birth interval is shorter. Among contraceptive users, ever users had shorter median intervals, as this small group was more educated and wanted to complete family size in a short time. There are certain associations between variables, but the impact of changes of birth spacing on marital fertility in inconclusive.


Low‐angle faults that juxtapose younger rocks over older ones are widely documented in fold‐thrust belts, and reconstruction of tectonic style is strictly dependent on their interpretation. Various modes exist for generating hinterland‐dipping low‐angle faults with younger‐on‐older relationships. Indeed, in the Central Apennines of Italy, the hinterland‐dipping younger‐on‐older low‐angle faults, which rest on the summits of the major anticlines (i.e., summit low‐angle faults), have been interpreted variously as younger‐on‐older thrusts within out‐of‐sequence thrust systems, postorogenic normal faults, gravity‐driven slides, or as rotated prethrusting normal faults. In this study, we provide a new and robust structural‐geological data set, corroborated with stratigraphic timing constraints and balanced geological cross sections, bringing an essential contribution to the interpretation of the hinterland‐dipping younger‐on‐older low‐angle faults as preexisting normal faults rotated within the shortcut anticlines during the Neogene thrust‐related fold emplacement. A detailed geological and structural characterization carried out on four remarkable examples from the Central Apennines allowed reconstructing an inversion tectonics model. The lack or reverse reactivation of the rotated prethrusting normal faults here analyzed is consistent with fault bend and fault propagation folding models associated with break forward in‐sequence thrust propagation implying more conservative estimates of shortening for the Central Apennines thrust system, compared to the previous out‐of‐sequence models. Taking into account the various possible causes for the development of hinterland‐dipping younger‐on‐older low‐angle faults, the structural‐geological characterization presented in this study and the results achieved could be critically applied when examining similar structures in other thrust belts.


Variable stiffness method was applied to elastic-plasticity analysis of ferroconcrete frame structure.And modified stiffness matrix is deduced because of formation of plastic hinges.Example shows that theory and operation of variable stiffness method is simple.The designer can determinate the places and orders of the plastic hinges and the weak parts in frame structure which are helpful to optimize the frame structure.


Aiming at the lack of the high false negative ratio of Least Recently Used(LRU) algorithm in high-speed network traffic measurement,this paper proposes a new algorithm which is based on the Multi-Granularity Least Recently Used(MGLRU).The algorithm employs hierarchical multi-granularity compression counting mechanism for high-speed network data sampling,and improves the accuracy of the long-term flow detection.And based on the real Internet data,simulation results show that: in the given conditions,the algorithm uses about 50 percent of the memory consumption and has 10 percent of relative error compared with the LRU algorithm.


In Punjab province of India, area under mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit plantation in the state has declined drastically due to deforestation, population pressure, shifting to high remunerative cropping systems, reoccurrence of cold waves, developmental works, higher incidence of pests and diseases, etc. Hence, a survey was conducted for documentation about the extent of diversity found in the native landraces/strains of mango. Twenty eight elite strains enjoying local patronage were evaluated for table and sucking purposes, preparation of pickle/canning/beverages/amb leather on the basis of physical appearance and chemical attributes. Physico-chemical analysis of fruit samples revealed that variability found in indigenous mango population in various qualitative and quantitative attributes not only contributes to biological diversity, nutritional security and livelihood but can also be used for crop improvement. The present study highlights that it is the need and demand of Punjabi folklore to conserve and protect such biologically rich areas for the benefit of posterity.


In this paper, we investigate how parameter set estimation (PSE) can be applied to time varying systems. Parameter set estimation identifies a set of estimates which are feasible with the measured data and a priori information. For application to adaptive robust control and adaptive signal processing, it is important the size of this set be as small as possible. We will investigate how an optimum volume ellipsoid strategy for time invariant systems can be extended to time varying systems.<<ETX>>


Under the product design in the digital information age is no longer a common product design, digital technology has a wide range of areas, is composed of a variety of technology, by referencing the digital technology in the design of the product to solve the current existing problems and solutions. Through the understanding of the current situation, color analysis, image extraction of these three artistic processing design this design contains more designers to understand the deep step of our era, the design focuses on modern people psychological needs and the moral of the product. Gradually integrate product design art and digital technology into people's life, making it a key factor to promote the development of digital art technology.


Background/Aim: Clinical research nursing is a well-known concept in Europe and other countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards clinical research and their opinions and self-evaluation about clinical research nursing and factors affecting them. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at the University Clinical Centre of the Republic of Srpska (UCCRS). A questionnaire included 50 questions/ statements was created in order to address the aims of the research and afterwards distributed to 120 nurses from 6 departments. Results: Response rate was 91.6 %. Most of the respondents showed a low level of knowledge, but positive attitude related to clinical research. Nurses who participated in clinical research were confident in their competencies according to their self-evaluation. Conclusion: Systematic approach to the additional nurses education could have a significant impact on a success of clinical research.


Objective: To assess the relationship between thyroid function and T lymphocyte subsets in Patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Method: To select 131 diagnosed HT patients as the research object, which is divided into HT hyperthyroidism group (Group A) with 18 cases, normal HT thyroid function group (Group B) with 35 cases, HT subclinical hypothyroidism group (Group C) with 42 cases, and HT hypothyroidism group (Group D) with 36 cases in accordance with thyroid function. Besides, 40 cases of healthy check-up people are selected as the control group. ECLIA is adopted to test the thyroid function index of each group, and FCM is adopted to test T lymphocyte subsets. Result: Compare CD3+T lymphocytes of each group, Group D is obviously higher than Group A, Group B, and the control group, and the difference has statistic significance (P<0.05); Compare CD3+CD4+T lymphocyte and CD4+/CD8+ of each group, Group D is obviously higher than other groups, Group C is obviously higher than Group A, Group B, and the control group, Group A and Group B are obviously higher than the control group, and the differences have statistic significance (P<0.05); Compare CD3+CD8+T lymphocytes of each group, Group D is obviously lower than other groups, Group C is obviously lower than Group A, Group B, and the control group, the difference has statistic significance (P<0.05). The correlation analysis shows that TSH is in positive correlation with CD4+/CD8+, FT3 is in positive correlation with CD3+CD8+T, and FT4 is in positive correlation with CD3+CD8+T and in negative correlation with CD4+/CD8+. Conclusion: HT patients have the imbalance of T lymphocyte subsets, and the T lymphocyte subsets ratio of HT patients of different thyroid function has obvious differences, which may have close relationship with the occurrence and development of HT.


In this study, eighteen groundwater samples were collected from wells in villages around Zona, an area reported to host uranium mineralization and these were analyzed for mass/activity concentration of 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 232 Th. Consumption of groundwater with elevated levels of 226 Ra, 228 Ra and 232 Th may result to cancer, kidney and/or developmental defects in humans and other animals. The results obtained were compared for compliance with international guidelines for radionuclides in drinking water. Results of the study showed that activity concentration of 226 Ra, 228 Ra and mass concentration of 232 Th ranged from 0.05 to 6.7pCi/L, 0.2 to 4.8pCi/L and 0.02 to 1.10µg/L, respectively. The higher levels of 226 Ra in the studied samples compared with 228 Ra in same sample might be as a result of 226 Ra being part of 238 U decay series as a results of which 226 Ra is found over wide range of aquifer, it might also be an indication of secondary mineralization of uranium. Based on international guidelines regulating these radionuclides in groundwater, levels recorded at the time of the study fall within permissible limits of 20pCi/L for 226 Ra and 228 Ra while 232 Th which is insoluble in water, therefore, has no regulated limit. All radionuclides analyzed fall within international guideline despite occurrence of uranium mineralization in the study area.


Malioboro – Kranggan sector is an area where the problems of waste from the community around 276.99 m3/day, while the dump stations/ landfills (TPS) capacity is only 221 m3/day, so the garbage cannot be well accommodated. The other hand, the volumes of garbage can increase up to 60 m3/day especially at holiday. Maximal Covering Location Problem model is used to evaluate the garbage sources and the availability of waste dump served by the government. Locating the TPS capacity solutions needs to be performed using a screening location for existing and new TPS based on number of point location that meet adequacy of TPS capacity in each region. The result of TPS based on the screening location is used as an inside limit. Based on the results of the calculation model which has been developed, there are 8 dumps (TPS) opened for a total capacity of 350 m3 /day which can accommodate the volume of waste from the community and hotels.


A scheme of two-speed transmission is proposed based on an electric vehicle(EV) with a settled gear ratio.A new traction motor is chosen and a two-speed automatic gearbox without clutch is designed,and matching design between the motor and the two-speed gearbox is carried out.In order to improve operation efficiency of the motor,speed ratios of the two-speed gearbox are optimized aiming at lest energy consumption of the motor over the ECE drive cycle under the condition of ensuring the dynamic performance of the EV.A shifting strategy to guarantee high operation efficiency of the motor is drew up.The simulation results indicate that the energy consumption is decreased by 6.6% and the driving range is extended by 7.1% compared with the EV with a settled gear ratio.


Chhatha Puja ('worshipping sun goddess'), called Surya Shashthi, is an Indian thanksgiving festival dedicated to the Sun God in the form of mother. Similar traditions are also noticed in other old cultures. Of course there was a strong tradition of Sun worship in ancient India, the present Chhatha Puja has no direct links to it. However both the rituals record the motive of fertility and prosperity of the family. Chhatha Puja is primarily a regional festival of Bihar that has been transplanted by the migrant Biharis in different parts of India, especially the metropolitan and industrial cities, including Delhi and Mumbai. By this process the locality has been transformed into universality in terms of scale, intensity of celebration and density of devout participants, however the inherent message of awakening the man-nature integrity in strengthening ecological cosmology has not increased! During the celebrations of Chhatha Puja, people gather on the banks of the River Ganges to bathe in its sacred water, pray and make ritual offerings to the Sun God; this presents the emergence of fire element of terrestrial world, liquid element of nature and cognitive thought of man. Chhatha Puja is a highly elaborate festival noted for its impressive display of colourful costumes, music, singing and extravagant rituals, organised and celebrated with involvement ofBrahminic priest. The essay throws light on various aspects in this context.


The objective of this research work was to utilize machine learning tools for predicting the yield and hydrogen contents of bio-oil (H-bio-oil) based on biomass compositions of feedstock and pyroly...


Background: Age is a major risk factor for a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Several studies have shown that neurodegenerative disorders are so...


The business activities of the bank are always faced with risks that are closely related to its function as a financial intermediation institution, required the assessment of the level of health of banks to increase public confidence against a bank research purposes of knowing the level of Bank Health on PT. Bank SulutGo reviewed aspects ofRGEC in 2014-2016. Based on reviews of existing problems, this research was conducted with the use ofex-post facto approach. The study was conducted to examine the events that have happened and then meruntut back to find out the factors that may cause the incident the results of the research and data analysis that has been done shows the risk profile (Risk Profile) SulutGo bank using two indicators of credit risk factors, namely by using the ratio of NPL and liquidity risk ratio LDR during the year 2014-2016 in a roware in healthy condition; Good Corporate Governance (GCG), Bank SulutGo in 20142015 composite gained 3 which shows quite well in the implementation of corporate governance and in 2016 rose to composite 2 which reflects that corporate governance is getting better; entabilitas (earnings) bank SulutGo by using the indicators i.e.ROA, ROE, NIM and BOPO during 2014-2016 are in a healthy condition, the value ofthe average ROA, ROE, NIM and BOPO obtained shows that the bank SulutGo has successfully run their operations effectively; The results of the assessment of capital(capital) SulutGo Bank during the year are in healthy condition is 20142016, which is above the minimum standard set by the Bank of Indonesia that is 8%. This suggests that during that period the bank SulutGo have been able to manage capital well.   Keywords: Bank, Methods Of Health Rgec


In 2011 the Royal Australian Navy celebrated the centenary of its change of name from Commonwealth Naval Forces to Royal Australian Navy. That happened in 1911 by Royal decree.


The Northern Spanish coastal small scale fleet represents a major challenge for sampling due to the multi-species and multi-gear character and the complexity of the fleets' dynamics. Particularly, the small-scale gillnets called "beta" (GNS_DEF_60-79_0_0) represents a complex Spanish métiers in terms of catches, effort, geographical distribution and the number of exploited species. Comparison of data obtained in 2008, under a stockbased approach, versus concurrent sampling realized in 2014 resulted in the increase of the information obtained and provided to ICES without detected failures in data quality. Concurrent sampling could represent a source of information for small-scale fisheries which often target a set of coastal species some of which are presently unassesed.


A frame over which woven wire mesh is to be stretched and secured to form a sieving screen and which can be used to screen solids from drilling mud recovered from down-hole when drilling for oil or gas. The frame is a rectilinear moulded plastics frame having edge regions by which it is secured in place in a shaker. Within the frame is a plurality of rectilinear windows formed by an orthogonal array of intersecting ribs also of moulded plastics material. Some of the ribs are internally reinforced by rigid metal members which extend orthogonally between hollow box-section members which define a sub-frame for reinforcing the four edge regions of the frame. The ends of the sub-frame members are joined at the four corners of the sub-frame. In this way not are only the edge regions of the frame reinforced internally but so also are some of the orthogonally intersecting ribs, so as thereby to produce a rigid frame for the screen. The internal reinforcement for those ribs which are to be reinforced may comprise hollow box-section metal members which may be of similar cross section to that of the sub-frame members, or the internal reinforcement for those ribs which are to be reinforced comprises metal I-beam cross section members, which typically have the same height as the height of the box-section members forming the sub frame.


We develop an innovative sequential data mining system for mining the customers' churning behaviors for the telecommunications industry. Recently, an increasing number of telecommunications customers are switching from one service or service provider to another. This phenomenon is called 'churn', which is a major cause of corporations' loss of profitability. It is important for a telecommunications company to find out the transitional behavior of its customers through data mining. Our approach is to use a model-based clustering method, extended to handle multi-dimensional data, to automatically and efficiently partition the customer behavior according to their behavior. We model this problem as a sequential clustering problem, and present an effective solution for solving the problem when the elements in the sequences are of a multi-dimensional nature. We provide theory and algorithms for the task, and empirically demonstrate that the method is effective in mining the customers data for the telecommunications industry.


Gnathopogon etongatus caerulescens (Sauvage), a small cyprinid fish, is one of the important edible fishes in Lake Biwa, and seems to be an endemic form, introducing to Lakes Suwa and Yamanaka. The present subspeeies resembles G. dongatus elongatus (T. et S.), widely distributed in Middle and Southern Japan, but distinguished from it by having slenderer body, more numerous gill-rakers siorter barbels, rather anteriorly situated dorsal fin. In the breeding season, minute, white and conical pearl organs appear in both sexes, more distinctly in male. They inhabit rather dcep water, and spend winter at bottom of 80-90m. The young and adult fishes feed on mainly zooplankton except in winter. During this season the adults mostly have an empty alimentary canal, though rarely found small bottom animals in it. From April to June, they approach to shallow waters, and enter into inlets or creeks, and then lay eggs on the leaves of aquitic-plants or roots of willow tree. The spawning behavior is quite similar to that of carp Female seems to spawn 3 or 4 times during a breeding season. The number of the eggs, ranging from 395 to 7900, is paraboric (Fig. 1) and lircar (Fig. 2) in relation to total length and body weight of the fish respectively. The deposited eggs are adhessive, spherical in shape, measuring 1.3 to 1.5mm in diameter, semitransparent with minutely wavy sculpture on the surface. Eggs hatch in about 8 days at water temperature 20°C. Newly hatched learvae measure 4.3-4.8mm (Fig. 3 a. b) in ?? length. The larvae attain 5.1mm (Fig. 3. c.) in 5 days after incubation, with a small rest of yolk sac, and numerous filamentous tubercles on head and laterals. The lateral tubercles are arranged in a line along body axis, and entirely lost together with the head tubercles af er 10 days from hatching when the fish is 7.2mm (Fig. 3. e) in length. They grow about 10mm (Fig. 3 f) and 25mm (Fig. 3 h) in half month and a month after hatching respectively. In natural, they reach to averaga 94mm in male and 95mm in female in the first fall, to 113mm and 116mm in the second autumn, and to 123mm and 128mm in the third (Fig. 4, and 5). They become mature after one year, and dimorphic in sexes, the male smaller than the female.


The basic types of the optical fibers used in systems of optical communication and information transfer are considered. The special attention is given singlemode to structures with various types of a dispersion and polarization.


The authors review relevant literature and present two new case studies—one of Taiwan's country image campaign and the other of Acer's entry into global markets—to gain a further understanding of two related constructs, country of origin (from the field of international marketing) and animosity (from the field of consumer behavior). The authors formulate four research propositions and discuss them in reference to the two case studies. They show how the Taiwanese government has used various marketing and advertising strategies to create a positive country image and how Acer has mitigated negative country-of-origin effects and animosity in world markets, especially in China.


This paper presents work on the task of constructing an example base from a given bilingual corpus based on the annotation schema of Translation Corresponding Tree (TCT). Each TCT describes a translation example (a pair of bilingual sentences). It represents the syntactic structure of source language sentence, and more importantly is the facility to specify the correspondences between string (both the source and target sentences) and the representation tree. Furthermore, syntax transformation clues are also encapsulated at each node in the TCT representation to capture the differentiation of grammatical structure between the source and target languages. With this annotation schema, translation examples are effectively represented and organized in the bilingual knowledge database that we need for the Portuguese to Chinese machine translation system.


The calculation of the aircraft weapon control system is the core of the software of that system,the ultimate aim of the calculation is to find out the most suitable weapon application program under certain conditions.This paper divides the calculation of the aircraft weapon control system into four different subcalculations,and finally arrives at the calculation of the performance order,namely the calculation of the distribution and formation of the performance order of the weapon application.


A multivariable proportional-plus-integral (PI) feedback controller for control of endpoint stiffness in a multijoint limb is presented. The controller, operating in the joint coordinate system, uses a driving error vector formed in the endpoint Cartesian coordinates, so that endpoint stiffness at the limb can be regulated. Experimental tests demonstrate stable control of endpoint position and isometric force with zero steady-state error.<<ETX>>


Abstract Power lines represent an important and increasing worldwide cause of avian mortality due to collisions involving flying birds. One positive and very important fact is that only some parts of potentially dangerous lines are responsible for the majority of killed birds. These sections need to be identified and treated with proper mitigation measures. In this article we present a specially-prepared methodology aimed at classifying power lines according to the risk they present. The identification of power lines with the highest risk of possible bird collision requires easily-accessed biological, technical and landscape information. In addition to analyses of these main inputs, our methodology also evaluates the influence of power line orientation relative to the important migration routes of birds, the effect of nearby tree growth higher than the evaluated power lines, and the complexity of landscape relief. Based on these three additional inputs, it is possible to produce a digitalized map showing with one-meter accuracy the location of power line sections with the high/middle/low mortality risk due to collision for any existing or newly-planned grid. Sections with highest risk should be considered as priority for the implementation of mitigation measures including e.g. installation of bird flight diverters. Our methodology was prepared for 22 kV and 110 kV distribution power lines in Slovakia. It is flexible enough to be applied equally to any geographic conditions and/or bird community, different voltage levels and construction designs of power lines. Our methodology can be applied by ornithologists, nature conservancy organization and power line system operators to implement environmental and cost-effective mitigation measures.


This study investigates the relationship between metallic powders and their flowability behavior (captured in terms of Hall flow rates using Hall flowmeters). Due to the many trait dependencies of powder flowability, which have made the formulation of a physical and mechanistic generalizable model difficult to resolve, this study seeks to develop an alternative data-driven framework based on powder size and shape characteristics for Hall-flow-rate predictions. A multiple-instance regression framework was both developed for processing multiple-instance powder data and compared with standard machine learning models. Data augmentation was found to improve the overall performance of the framework, although the limited dataset was a constraint. Still, the study contributes to ongoing efforts to identify traditional, associative, and generalizable patterns between powder properties and resultant flowability behaviors. The findings show promise for real-world applications with a larger dataset, such that this initial application of multiple instance regression frameworks for metal powder Hall-flow-rate predictions as a function of powder particle size and shape data can be scrutinized in full.