Despite the overwhelming popularity of halal certification, there is considerable confusion surrounding its role and business value as well as its relation to business performance. Thus, the aim of this study is to gain better understanding of the relationship between halal certification and the business performance of halal certified food companies in the Philippines. The study was based on a survey and the time horizon was cross-sectional. The survey was carried out using stratified sampling on halal certified food companies operating in the Philippines. Through a self-administered questionnaire, 141 usable responses were acquired from the responding companies. The theorized relationship of halal certification and business performance was tested using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings of this study revealed that halal certification significantly affect business performance of halal certified food companies in terms of innovative and financial performance. It was also revealed that innovative performance fully mediates the relationship between halal certification and financial performance.


Pesticides used in Egypt are of different types such as organochlorine, organophosphorus, carbamates, ureas, anilides and pyrethroid. The four general categories of these pesticides are insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and bactericides. Organophosphorus insecticides are of great significance in pest control and increasingly used instead of organochlorine insecticides. Organophosphorus insecticides represent more than 80% of total insecticides used during 1995. Fungicides account for 65.5% of pesticides used in Egypt during the period 1994-95 and agricultural use constitutes the majority of applications. Herbicides account for less than 4% of the pesticides used during 1995 in Egypt. The residue levels of some organochlorine insecticides (OCIs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water, sediment and fish samples collected from the River Nile, lakes, drains and irrigation canals were determined. The highest concentration of OCI was found in samples collected from site located at north of Aswan (2.2 ...


We discuss what it means for a symmetric monoidal category to be a module over a commutative semiring category. Each of the categories of (1) cartesian monoidal categories, (2) semiadditive categories, and (3) connective spectra can be recovered in this way as categories of modules over a commutative semiring category (or $\infty$-category in the last case). This language provides a simultaneous generalization of the formalism of algebraic theories (operads, PROPs, Lawvere theories) and stable homotopy theory, with essentially a variant of algebraic K-theory bridging between the two.


FIELD: chemistry. SUBSTANCE: invention covers the method of generating the stable "water-in-oil" emulsion phase on basis of the polymeric emulsifier. The method includes generating solution of inorganic salt-oxidant in water and/or organic water-soluble liquids. The method includes generating the water-insoluble organic fuel which contains the homogenising supplement chosen of animal fats or fatty acids and taken as 3% of fuel phase mass. The method includes mixing the water-insoluble organic fuel and solution phase of inorganic salt-oxidant in presence of polymeric emulsifier with a shift sufficient to generate the emulsion phase. The concentration of salt-oxidant in emulsion is about 45 to 95% mass, and concentration of water and /or water-soluble organic liquids is about 3 to 30% mass. The homogenising of the emulsion phase is performed immediately or in a certain time, to increase its viscosity. EFFECT: stability of emulsion phase is increased following homogenising. 12 cl, 5 tbl, 4 ex


Design simulations of a simulated moving-bed (SMB) chromatography unit for the separation of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were carried out. Using the constraints on the FOS purity in the raffinate of 90 % and FOS yield in the raffinate higher than 95 %, optimal distribution of a system of twelve columns into individual process zones and optimal values for the port switching period and the flow rates were found. The optimization function was the maximum productivity of FOS when the other evaluated performance criteria were the eluent consumption and product dilution. The performance of the designed SMB system was compared to that of a batch chromatography system that was simulated for a battery of identical columns. The sensitivity of the found optimum was analyzed with respect to the optimization parameters.


Corresponding author Peter Hoffman, Laboratory of Healthcare-associated Infection, Health Protection Agency, UK This paper addresses one of the most difficult areas of infection control –how to assure the quality of processes that rely mainly on effective human procedures. There are two main approaches to this: • Product control – in which a product is assessed for suitability after it has been processed • Process control – in which the parameters of a successful process are established and those parameters are monitored rather than the endproduct.


A level converter circuit for I/O ports from 3.3V LVTTL logic to 1.8V CMOS logic with TSMC 0.18um CMOS process has been designed. Level converter circuit has been integrated in an Integrated Circuit, which use single supply voltage. A positive feedback circuit similar to the Schmitt Flip-Flop is adopted to realize the level conversion, which also acts as both a buffer and a waveform shaping role. ESD protection circuit is implemented by the diode and resistor circuit structure traditionally. Signal acquisition circuit use a D flip-flop consisted of the structure of CMOS transmission gate. A number of suitable buffers are used to link up them. The circuit has been used in an IC, which works on 250MHz. The result shows that design satisfies design requirement exactly.


The use of semiconductors has greatly increased in the last century. As new technologies start to re ly more and more on semi-conductors, their shortcomings are more and more apparent. Traditional semi-conductor devices have been found to be too big and too slow. As engineers search for a fa ster and more adaptable alternative to conventional semiconductors they have discovered quantum dots, a new form of semiconductors that model atoms. Being only nanometers in size, these pseudo-atoms take semi-conductors to a whole new level and can a llow devices to work almost at the speed of light. Furthermore, quantum dots have numerous applications in optical technologies, mediums, and industries. This paper reviews the b asics of quantum dot, its properties and some applications. Semiconductor quantum dot (QD) is a promising material for the next generation high speed optical communication devices.


For most of the second half of the twentieth century, the world, especially its Western nations, seemed locked into an immutable yet secure Cold War political and economic order. Abroad, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Warsaw Pact, as well as the United Nations and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, promised a soundly structured global system, buttressed at home by an unquestioned set of Keynesian prescriptions about the domestic economy. Sure, there were signs of change. The political stirrings of postcolonial Asia and Africa, the vast migrations of rural peoples to cities and the richWest, and the compressed horizons of contemporary pop culture impinged dimly on postwar consciousness in Canada, as elsewhere.


How generalizable are the scores from performance-based assessments? How can we best increase the gener-alizability of results? What level of generalizability is needed for different testing purposes?


Objective: To investigate the effects of selenium chitosan(Sc) on proliferation of human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line K562 and explore its relationship with the expression of bcr /abl fusion gene.Method: After treatment with Sc,cell proliferation was determined with SRB and clonal assay.The abundance of P210bcr/ablprotein was examined with Western blotting.The expression of bcr /abl fusion gene was detected by RT-PCR.Result: Exposure of K562 cells to 50,100 and 200 mg·L-1 of Sc,respectively,for 48h could obviously inhibit proliferation and decrease their survival rate(P 0.05,P 0.01);After treatment with 50,100,200 mg·L-1 of Sc,respectively,for 48 h or 200 mg.L-1 of Sc for 12,24,and 48 h,the abundance of P210bcr/ablprotein in K562 cells was down-regulated in a concentration and time-dependent manner(P 0.05,P 0.01),but the expression of bcr /abl fusion gene was not changed.Conclusions: Sc could inhibit the proliferation of K562 cells cultured in vitro,and this effect was correlated with down-regulation of the abundance of P210bcr/abl proteins encoded by bcr /abl fusion gene.


Article History: Received 5, April, 2015 Received in revised form 12, April, 2015 Accepted 6, May, 2015 Published online 28, May, 2015 This study aimed to investigate the subject teachers' perspective on the students' needs regarding their present academic skills at Garden City College for Science & Technology (GCCST). More specifically, it attempted to address the students' actual mastery level in employing the academic skills to successfully pursue their academic studies at the college. These academic skills include notetaking , writing graduation projects and how to defend them , how to write exams and tests' answers , describing graphs and tables , and giving presentations in English Language. The sample of the present study is composed of 45 subject teachers whom were randomly selected to give their general views objectively on the students' academic skills in the subjects they are teaching. The findings of this study revealed that the subject teachers were not satisfied with the students' skills required for their academic progress.


Abstract The potential causes of decrements in children's understanding of big and tall ( Maratsos, 1973 , Maratsos, 1974 , 10, 367–375) are reconsidered. On the basis of data from English-speaking children, two of these hypotheses, the Strong Cognitive Hypothesis and the Strong Semantic Hypothesis, offer equally plausible explanations for those decrements. However, data from Arabic-speaking children between 2;9 and 6;3, who do not show a similar decrement in their understanding of kabiir, support the Strong Semantic Hypothesis that decrements in English-speaking children's understanding of big and tall are due to their positing semantic features such as [+ Vertical] for one word and overgeneralizing them to related words. This, in turn, supports Carey's (M. Halle, J. Bresnan, & G. Miller (Eds.), Linguistic theory and psychological reality. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1978 . Pp. 264–293) theory that features are abstracted out for words after children are able to use those words correctly on the basis of stored haphazard examples. Further, the results support the view that children at least sometimes posit features for a word on the basis of its individual privileges of occurrence, rather than on the basis of what that word contrasts with.


The paper analyzed the advantages of Web2.0-based Internet technology used in the library service innovation,considered the feature of the library service innovation under the network environment,put forward an idea for the service innovation of academic libraries subject librarian perspective based on Web2.0 technology.


When detecting and recording the EMG signal, there are two main issues of concern that influence the fidelity of the signal. The first is the signal to noise ratio. That is, the ratio of the energy in the EMG signal to the energy in the noise signal. In general, noise is defined as electrical signals that are not part of the wanted EMG signal. The other is the distortion of the signal, meaning that the relative contribution of any frequency component in the EMG signal should not be altered. It is well established that the amplitude of the EMG signal is stochastic (random) in nature and can be reasonably represented by a Gausian distribution function. The amplitude of the signal can range from 0 to 10 mV (peak-to-peak) or 0 to 1.5 mV (rms). The usable energy of the signal is limited to the 0 to 500 Hz frequency range, with the dominant energy being in the 50-150 Hz range. Usable signals are those with energy above the electrical noise level. An example of the frequency spectrum of the EMG signal is presented in Figure 1. Figure 1: Frequency spectrum of the EMG signal detected from the Tibialis Anterior muscle during a constant force isometric contraction at 50% of voluntary maximum.


There exists similarity between the structural acoustic-vibration of air craft under two kind of boundary conditions, which is very helpful to study the relations of the status of different mechanic environments. Support vector machines(SVMs) is employed here to establish the similarity relationship between two groups of results for structural acoustic-vibration problem under two different mechanical environments. The selection of positive parameters of a support vector machine( SVM) model is important to accuracy of forecasting. A new hybrid of solution path algorithm(SP) and simulated annealing algorithm(SA) is proposed in this paper to optimize parameter selection. Tests and real project are presented to show the advantage of the proposed hybrid method, and the numerical results show the effectiveness of the algorithm.


English translation © 2006 M.E. Sharpe, Inc., from the Russian text, "Voobrazhenie i volia v kul'turno-istoricheskom podkhode." G.G. Kravtsov is affiliated with the L.S. Vygotsky Institute of Psychology, Russian State University for the Humanities. Translated by Nora Favorov. Journal of Russian and East European Psychology, vol. 44, no. 6, November–December 2006, pp. 19–36. © 2006 M.E. Sharpe, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1061–0405/2006 $9.50 + 0.00. DOI 10.2753/RPO1061-0405440602


Using an adaptive method introduced in (Messner et al., 1991), a standard identification technique for linear systems can be extended to identify nonlinear functions in dynamical systems under a mild condition. Specifically, the assumption is that the nonlinear function can be represented as a integral equation of the first kind. The method identifies the nonlinear function indirectly by estimating the influence function of the integral equation. By analogy to linear methods the kernel of the integral equation serves as the "regressor," while the influence function is the "parameter" to be identified. This paper focuses on an application to disk drive servos.


This document describes the testing result of a network utilizing a
Mapping of Address and Port using Translation (MAP-T) double
translation solution; it provides an overview of user applications'
behavior with a shared IPv4 address. The MAP-T software is from
CERNET Center and the test environment is on the NIC.br network with
real and virtualized machines.


Does Chapter 11 of NAFTA have an impact on the state's authority to
enact measures to protect the environment and public health? In 1998,
the Government of Canada settled a lawsuit with Ethyl Corporation, an
American company, and repealed the challenged legislative provisions.
Many analysts do not find this problematic, as they believe that the
legislation in question was not really aimed at protecting the
environment and public safety, but instead was protectionist. However,
recent public health studies are now casting new light on this issue.


The invention provides a packaging structure for a gridiron. The packaging structure for the gridiron comprises the gridiron. The gridiron is provided with a plurality of supporting legs and a flat base plate. The supporting legs are perpendicularly or obliquely fixed to the same side face of the base plate. The packaging structure for the gridiron further comprises a foldable thin plate. Through holes allowing the supporting legs to penetrate through are formed in the positions, corresponding to the supporting legs, of the thin plate. The supporting legs penetrate through the through holes from bottom to top. The base plate is arranged under the thin plate. The thin plate is foldable and is provided with at least two supporting parts. The supporting parts are folded towards the supporting legs. During packaging, the top ends of the supporting parts abut against the two opposite vertex angles of the interior of an oven correspondingly, and the bottom of the base plate is directly or indirectly attached to the bottom surface of the interior of the oven. According to the packaging structure for the gridiron, the gridiron can be fixed in the oven through the supporting parts and bearing parts which are obtained on the thin plate through folding, operation is easy, and the performance is reliable. The supporting parts abut against the vertex angles of the interior of the oven, so that an up-down positioning effect is achieved; the supporting legs of the gridiron penetrate through the through holes, so that a left-right positioning effect is achieved; and the gridiron and the thin plate can be combined through the bearing parts, and thus carrying is convenient.


was still less at home in Trichostomum. It has with us sometimes been confused with Gymnostomum or Hymenostylium. Holzinger's b under No. 29 of his exsiccati is, for example, this species and not Gymnostomum curvirostrum scabrum as labeled. Kindberg's Gymnostomum platyphyllum (Hymenostylium platyphyllum Broth.) is a synonym of Didymodon tophaceus. I am strongly disposed to believe that Didymodon tophaceus, which is also of European distribution, is the highest link in a chain of naturally related forms starting with the two (or three?) European species of Weisiodon (Gyroweisia) and including as intermediate forms of whatever rank the Mexican Haplohymenium (Gyroweisia) and the Bolivian Gyroweisia, whereby it may be remarked that the others can as well or better be understood as secondary phylogenetic developments, by reduction, from the higher type of the more widely distributed Didymodon tophaceus. As my conclusions are essentially negative, I shall not discuss in further detail the characters of the various species referred to, but leave my results as a suggestion to the future monographer, who among this as among many other groups of mosses is at present more needed than the species or genus-maker. To recapitulate briefly, my conclusions are: I. Gyroweisia Schimper, 1876, is antedated by Weisiodon Schimper, 1855, and should be relegated to synonymy. 2. Gyroweisia tenuis does not occur in North America, reports of it being due to errors of identification..


In horizontal cells (HCs) that were freshly dissociated from goldfish retina, two types of voltagedependent calcium currents () were recorded using a patch-clamping configuration: a transient type current and a sustained type current. The cell was held at -40 mV, and the prepulse step of -90 mV was applied before command pulse between -65 and +55 mV. The transient current was activated by depolarization to around -50 mV from a prepulse voltage of -90 mV lasting at least 400 ms and reached a maximal value near -25 mV. On the other hand, the sustained current was induced by pre-inactivation for less than 10 ms duration. Its activation started near -10 mV and peaked at +20 mV. (2 mM) suppressed both of these two components, but nifedipine (), L-type channel antagonist, blocked only the sustained current. Based on the activation voltage and the pharmacologl specificity, the sustained current appears to be similar to L-type and the transient type to T-type . This study is the first to confirm that transient type together with the sustained one is present in HCs dissociated from goldfish retina.


Background . Glycoprotein-P (Pgp, АВСВ1) is a transporter protein participating in pharmacokinetics of medical drugs, and also in development of resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy. Aim . To study the influence of progesterone on the activity of Pgp in vitro on a cell model of human small intestinal epithelium. Materials and Methods . The work was conducted on Caco-2 cells. The activity of Pgp was eva-luated by transport of fexofenadine in a special transwell-system. Concentration of fexofenadine was analyzed by HPLC method. The amount of Pgp was determined by EIA method. Four series of experiments were conducted: control – cells preincubated with clean transport medium without addition of any substances; influence of rifampicin on the activity and synthesis of Pgp in the concentration 10 µmol/l in preincubation for 3 days (induction control); influence of progesterone on the activity of Pgp in concentrations 1, 10 and 100 µmol/l in preincubation for 30 min; influence of progesterone on the activity and synthesis of Pgp in concentrations 1, 10 and 100 µmol/l in preincubation for 3 days. Results . Progesterone in the concentrations 1 and 10 µM in incubation with cells within 30 minutes did not show any reliable influence on the activity of Pgp, however, in concentration 100 µM it reduced the activity of the transporter protein. In incubation of Caco-2 cells with progesterone in concentrations 1, 10 and 100 µM within 3 days the activity of Pgp remained unchanged. Progesterone in concentration 100 µM in incubation within 3 days significantly increased synthesis of Pgp in enterocytes by 114.3% as compared to control, and in other used concentrations (1 and 10 µM) it produced no reliable effect. Conclusion . In in vitro experiments on Caco-2 cells progesterone in concentration 100 µM produces a direct inhibiting effect on the activity of Pgp; however, in incubation within 3 days it increases synthesis of the transporter protein, which cancels out its inhibitory activity.


Cross-modal hashing (CMH) has been widely used for similarity search in multimedia retrieval applications, thanks to low storage cost and fast query speed. However, preserving the content similarities in finite-length hash codes between different data modalities is still challenging due to the existing heterogeneity gap. To further address the crucial bottleneck, we propose a Multi-Level Correlation Adversarial Hashing (MLCAH) algorithm to integrate the multi-level correlation information into hash codes. The proposed MLCAH model enjoys several merits. First, to the best of our knowledge, it is the early attempt of leveraging the multi-level correlation information for cross-modal hashing retrieval. Second, we propose global and local semantic alignment mechanisms, which can effectively encode multi-level correlation information, including global information, local information, and label information into hash codes. Third, a label-consistency attention mechanism with adversarial training is designed for exploiting the local cross-modality similarity from multi-modality data. Extensive evaluations on four benchmarks demonstrate that the proposed model brings significant improvements over several state-of-the-art cross-modal hashing methods.


Purpose: To determine recommended dose, dose-limiting toxicity, safety profile, pharmacokinetics, preliminary antitumor activity, and exploratory pharmacodynamics of SAR3419, an antibody–drug conjugate targeting CD19, administered alone by intravenous infusion weekly (qw), in a dose-escalation phase I study in patients with refractory/relapsed (R/R) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Experimental Design: Patients with R/R CD19+ B-NHL were treated with escalating doses of SAR3419 repeated qw for eight to 12 doses. On the basis of clinical evidence of late or cumulative toxicities, the study protocol was amended to test an "optimized" administration schedule consisting of four qw doses followed by four biweekly (q2w) doses (qw/q2w) at the recommended dose with the intent of reducing drug accumulation. Results: Forty-four patients were treated on seven dose levels ranging from 5 to 70 mg/m2. SAR3419 recommended dose was determined as 55 mg/m2 qw. Twenty-five patients received the qw/q2w schedule at 55 mg/m2, which showed an improved safety profile compared with the qw schedule. Antilymphoma activity was observed with both schedules in around 30% of patients with either indolent or aggressive diseases. SAR3419 displayed a long terminal half-life (approximately 7 days) and a low clearance (approximately 0.6 L/d), with no dose effect. The qw/q2w schedule allowed limiting accumulation with a decrease in SAR3419 plasma trough and average concentrations by around 1.4-fold compared with the qw schedule. Conclusion: While administered weekly, SAR3419 is well tolerated and active. The qw/q2w schedule that shows an improved safety profile and preserves antilymphoma activity is selected for clinical phase II studies. Clin Cancer Res; 20(1); 213–20. ©2013 AACR.


We analyze the causal effects of real and nominal macroeconomic uncertainty on inflation and output growth by considering whether these effects are cycle phase specific. Employ-ing a bivariate Smooth Transition EGARCH-M model for the G7 countries during 1957– 2009, we find strong nonlinearities. First, uncertainty regarding the output growth rate is related with a higher average growth rate mostly in a low-growth regime, supporting the theory of ''creative destruction''. Second, higher inflation uncertainty diminishes growth rates, mainly at a high-inflation regime. Finally, real uncertainty has mixed effects on average inflation, while the effect of nominal uncertainty is typically positive, especially so during inflationary periods. Our findings suggest that these relationships are sufficiently complex to require treatment with nonlinear models.


Among Fennoscandian butterflies Pieris napi L. is one of those showing the most striking geographic variation. This is observed especially in the number of generations during the summer, and in the wing color and melanistic markings on the upper side of the wings in the females. In the southern part of the area (ssp. napi L.) the butterflies emerge in May. Some pupae of the second generation hibernate (univoltine development) but most specimens emerge in July (bivoltine development). The pupae of the third generation in Sweden never emerge during the same year but hibernate together with univoltine pupae of the second generation. So the first generation of the next year consists of specimens from two different generations of the previous year. It may be noted that in more southern areas P. napi napi forms three generations of flying butterflies per year (Miiller and Kautz, 1938). In the northern parts of Fennoscandia (ssp. bicolorata Pet.) the first generation flies in June and the second in August. Here the second generation is much rarer than the first (fig. 1), and in the mountains (ssp. adalwinda Fruhst.) it has been found only once. Where the second generation flies as late as August, the third one in these


Abstract : An updated version of an earlier waveguide program has been written in the FORTRAN compiler language. The new program includes the following alterations or additions: (1) An improved Runge-Kutta routine; (2) A procedure which finds directly the starting solutions at the top of the ionosphere; (3) Provision for including up to five charged particles; (4) A method for economically finding approximate waveguide solutions; and modifications for use of the program for ELF wave propagations.


Objective: To investigate clinically significant change in the emotional condition of relatives of patients with severe traumatic brain injury during sub-acute rehabilitation.patient rehabilitation are more likely to experience CSC in anxiety.


queue length is  , where  <a, then the server performs closedown work. After that the server leaves for multiple vacation of random length, irrespective of queue length. After a vacation, when it returns. If the queue length is less than 'a', it leaves for another vacation and so on, until he finds 'a' customers in the queue. After a vacation, if the server finds at least 'a' customers waiting for service, say , then he serves a batch of size min (,b) customers, where b >a. Various Characteristics of the queueing system and a cost model with the numerical result for a particular case of the model are presented in this paper.


We report a demonstration of narrow-beam laser communication through the waters of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, USA. The transmitter and receiver were mounted on an aluminum truss and placed in the water alongside a pier operated by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. The transmitter consisted of a real-time modulator and encoder, a 515 nm wavelength commercial laser, collimating optics, and a steering mirror. The receiver included a steering mirror, a focal plane camera, a linear-mode avalanche photo-diode (APD), a photo-multiplier tube (PMT) single photon detector, a large area imaging camera, an iris to vary the field of view, optics to split the beam between the various detectors, and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) electronics for real-time demodulation and decoding. The PMT and APD detectors were used for communications demonstrations; the imaging and focal plane cameras were used for channel characterization measurements and system alignment. Communications and characterization data were collected through a variety of conditions over the five day field experiment, including day and night, calm and high winds, and flood and ebb tide. In the experiment, the transmit power, receiver field of view, and link distance were varied. The water transmissivity and volume scattering function were measured throughout the experiment to calibrate the results. Real-time communications demonstrations with the PMT were carried out between 1 megabit-per-second (Mbps) and 8.7 Mbps at 7.8 meters, which represented between 8 and 12 beam extinction lengths. With the APD, 125 Mbps were demonstrated at 4.8 meters, representing approximately 5 extinction lengths.


ABSTRACT Using diabetes mobile apps for self-management of diabetes is one of the emerging strategies for controlling blood sugar levels and maintaining the wellness of patients with diabetes. This study aims to develop a strategy for thematically extracting user comments from diabetes mobile apps to understand the concern of patients with diabetes. Hence, 2678 user comments obtained from the Google Play Store are thematically analyzed with Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) to identify the themes for describing positive, neutral, and negative sentiments. These themes are used as the ground truth for developing a 10-fold cross-validation ensemble Multilayer Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model following the Bag of Word (BOW) analysis of lemmatized user comments. The result shows that a total of 41.24% of positive sentimental users identified the diabetes mobile apps as Effective for Blood Sugar Monitoring (EBSM), 32.36% with neutral sentiments are mostly impressed by the Information Quality (IQ), whereas 40.81% of unhappy users are worried about the Poor Information Quality (PIQ). The prediction accuracy of the ANN model is 89%–97%, which is 5%–48% better than other predominant algorithms. It can be concluded from this study that diabetes mobile apps with a simple user interface, effective data storage and security, medication adherence, and doctor appointment scheduling are preferred by patients with diabetes.


Abstract The paper shows the results of a study on the effect of starch binder on the mechanical, physical and burning properties of charcoal briquettes. Two types of binders were repeatedly used to make briquettes of native wheat starch and modified wheat starch, at 8% of the whole. Briquetting was performed in a roller press unit, and pillow-shaped briquettes were made. The moisture of the mixed material ranged from 28 to 32%. The product, whether the former or the latter, was characterized by very good mechanical properties and satisfactory physical properties. Moreover, the type of starch binder had no effect on toughness, calorific heating value, volatiles, fixed carbon content and ash content. However, the combustion test showed quite different burning properties. As briquettes should have short firing up time and lower smokiness, as well as high maximum temperature and long burning time, we have concluded that briquettes with native wheat starch as a binder are more appropriate for burning in the grill.


Mycoleptodonoides tropicalis is illustrated and described as a new species from tropical forest in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It is morphologically characterized by fan-shaped basidiocarps, hydnoid hymenophore, fusiform cystidia, and smooth, subglobose to globose, non-amyloid basidiospores. A key to the Chinese species of Mycoleptodonoides is given.


As a symbol the skull cup is rich with meaning, conjuring up many levels of association and significance. Once the casing for the head of a living human being, the skull itself makes us think of death and decay. Tibetan Buddhists are also likely to imagine the charnel fields where the deceased are left to decay and hence where the skull cups are produced. These thoughts associated with the cup itself underscore the Buddhist doctrine of impermanence and thus make the cup a basic Buddhist icon.


In the wake of the 2008/2009 global economic crisis, small open economies including Barbados, faced significant challenges, particularly a considerable slowdown in economic activity. During the years 200813, Barbados recorded consecutive years of low or no growth in real GDP, which were accompanied by increasing fiscal deficits and debts. This situation requires critical assessment, with an appropriate strategy to address head-on the critical constraints to economic growth. The present paper utilises a growth diagnostics framework and the results of the 2010 World Bank Enterprise Surveys (WBES) to empirically determine the binding constraints to economic growth of Barbados. In addition, the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to cointegration is applied to data spanning the period 1980-2012 with a view to examining whether the binding constraints identified in the WBES are validated in the more formal model of endogenous growth. The results of the growth diagnostics exercise indicate:(i) access to finance, (ii) tax rates, (iii) the cost of telecommunications, (iv) the cost of electricity, and (v) an inadequately educated workforce are the major binding constraints to economic growth in Barbados. Furthermore, the results of the ARDL model confirm the first four major binding constraints of the growth diagnostics exercise. These results have policy implications.


Abstract This paper reports on the development, application and review of a written teaching and assessment manual intended to promote the development of communication skills amongst geography students at The Flinders University of South Australia. The manual provides advice to students on presenting talks, writing essays and research reports, preparing posters, and communicating graphically. Also included in the manual are carefully developed assessment schedules associated with these forms of communication. These schedules had been intended to form the basis of a system of criterion‐referenced assessment, but practical and pedagogic problems prevented this. Nevertheless, the package — in the form of a communication instruction manual — has been implemented across the discipline at Flinders University during 1994. Preliminary reviews suggest that the manual is popular and useful, especially amongst particular student groups. There is also scope for further application and extension of the document.


The present invention discloses a protein related to salt tolerance, a coding gene thereof and an application thereof. The protein provided refers to the following protein (a) or the protein (b). The protein (a) consists of amino acid sequences shown in sequence 1 of a sequence table. The protein (b) related to plant salt tolerance is derived from the sequence 1 in which the amino acid sequences of the sequence 1 are replaced by one or several amino acid residues, and/or deleted, and/or added. The present invention also provides a coding gene of the protein. A transgenic plant of improved salt tolerance can be obtained by leading the coding gene of the protein into the plant, and novel plants of improved salt tolerance can be obtained by grafting the transgenic plant to other plants. The present invention has great significance in the cultivation of salt tolerant plants.


The abandoned mercury (Hg) mine area in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan was included in the list of abandoned and inactive mines in the Philippines which pose a high risk to human health and the environment, and require rehabilitation. The mine site, operated by Palawan Quicksilver Mines, Inc. (PQMI) from 1953 to 1976, is located approximately 3 km inland from Honda Bay coast and within the catchment of the Tagburos River, which is a local fishery and recreational area. In this study, total Hg levels in soils and sediments were measured to assess the possible release of Hg from the site into the surrounding natural environment. Results showed that total Hg (THg) concentrations found in soils (0.04–67.5 mg kg−1), mine waste calcines (52.7–924.2 mg kg−1), river sediments (1.8–119 mg kg−1), and marine sediments (0.04–12.7 mg kg−1) were elevated compared to the global background of 0.045–0.16 mg kg−1. The high concentrations of Hg in soils and river sediments were influenced by the different pathways for the release of Hg from its mine operations; while Hg in marine sediments was caused by the erosion of mine waste calcines near the pit lake, and calcines used to construct a wharf at the nearby Honda Bay. Mine wastes represent the largest source of Hg contamination in the area, due to the low efficiency of the recovery process during calcination. This work corresponds with the Minamata Convention on Mercury on the updated environmental assessments of abandoned Hg mines as potential source sites of mercury contamination.


From January, 1st, 2001 on the present on power installations of the Russian Federation there were approximately 49 000 accidents, from them 2529 heavy, deadly and group (fig. 1). In total in these cases 49 500 persons have suffered nearby, from them 1880 were lost, and 670 have sustained injuries. The share of victims on power installations constitutes 5 % from their general number on production, and fatal accidents 7,3 % from total number of victims. These facts testify that necessity of effectivization of a labour protection on power installations exists.


This paper describes a system for minimizing NOx emissions in gas turbines. The system uses an optimization technique implemented on a portable computer. No hardware changes are necessary in the combustion system. The system was developed for an LM6000 Dry Low Emissions (DLE) engine. However, it can be applied across the board on any LM series DLE engine manufactured by the Industrial Aero-derivatives (IAD) division of GE Power Systems (GEPS).Copyright © 2000 by ASME


Every organization aims to perform the activities in an efficiently way at selling products and services to obtain profits. However, most of the times, there is not an effective project to support the company in the process management. Every information system (IS) must be efficient, supported by substantial and fast computer system and trained users to manipulate them without troubles. Based on this assumption, this paper aims to analyze possible vulnerabilities in the Federal Institute of Triângulo Mineiro (IFTM) system in order to implant a Business Intelligence (BI) system to help at decision making. It was noticed that the IFTMParacatu campus system does not have proper Analytics tools to help managers in the decision making. Thus, after a detailed survey of the necessity of the system, it was verified that the institute secretary module, named Academic Registration Control (ARC), has important failures, for example, delaying, inconsistent information and repetitive processes. As noted above, it was created a BI Data Mart on ARC module, in order to solve basic failures, such as: weak reports, inconsistent student records and lack of graphical analysis.


A series of 6-alkylsulfanyl-1,4-dihydropyridines (±)-2 bearing a methoxycarbonylethyl group as a mild easily removable protecting group at S atom have been prepared by alkylation of 6-thioxo-1,4-dihydropyridines 1 with methyl bromopropionate. Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozyme 435 ® , CAL-B) - and Amano Acylase (Aspergillus mellus)-catalyzed kinetic resolution has been investigated in water-saturated diisopropyl ether (IPE) at 25 and 45 C. After acrylic acid methyl ester as leaving group cleavage and alkylation of formed enantioenriched 1,4-dihydropyridine-6-thiolates (-)-4 and (+)-4, optically active 1,4-dihydropyridines (-)-2, (+)-2, (-)-5 and (+)-5 were obtained in 85-99% enantiomeric excess. The experiments present the 6-(methoxycarbonylethyl)- sulfanyl group as an essentially new enzymatically labile (activating) group. The ester group being 6 bonds remote from the chiral center undergoes easy enzymatic hydrolysis and could be used for kinetic resolution of racemic 1,4-DHPs. This developed method offers access to mild optically active nucleophilic tiolates, which could be easily derivatized with electrophilic reagents.


A major problem in robotics is that models trained in simulation do not transfer well to real-world settings. Some approaches exist to make this transition more successful, such as Active Domain Randomization (ADR) where a model learns to change the domain in which the main RL agent's environment, generating a series of increasingly difficult domain shifts. This technique is related to Curriculum Learning (CL), wherein agents are trained on progressively more complicated tasks in order to "flatten" their learning curve, enabling them adapt to new, more complex environments efficiently. PAIRED by Dennis et al. [2020] is a recent advancement in CL which allows curricula to be generated automatically. PAIRED works in a similar way to ADR in that it generates tasks that are just outside of the agent's current capabilities. In this work, we combine both approaches. We hypothesized that by allowing the adversarial environment designer to alter the representation (i.e. colour) of each block type as observed by the RL agent, it would achieve greater robustness and generalizability. However, simply changing the observation scheme of the RL agent from three fixed block types to a larger set of distinct colours, led to an unexpected diminishing of performance. In fact, the essential results of Dennis et al. [2020] itself were unable to be reproduced under this new observation scheme. This demonstrates a crucial failure case of the original work, and indicates the need for further research into adversarial control of observation domain. Nonetheless, our results reflect higher robustness for agents trained in an adversarial observation domain versus the PAIRED baseline, illustrating the potential of this new training paradigm.


The Einstein-Maxwell equations are solved for a slowly rotating body with arbitrary charge. The solution is applied to a thin, rotating, charged shell. The angular momentum, gyromagnetic ratio, and other quantities of physical interest are computed. In particular, whenever the charge is less than the mass (but not necessarily small) the gyromagnetic ratio approaches 2 as the shell radius approaches the horizon. Under these conditions the rotational velocity of the inertial frames inside the shell approaches the rotational velocity of the shell. When the charge is greater than the mass there is no horizon and the gyromagnetic ratio can exceed 2. Furthermore, an example is given in which the inertial frames within the shell rotate in a direction opposite that of the shell.


In this chapter, the calculation of molecular surface areas, the uses of surface-area calculations and the representation of molecular surfaces are discussed.

Keywords:

GRASP;
molecular surfaces;
surface areas;
representation of surfaces;
surface-area calculation


Instructor, College of Management and Business Technology, Atate Campus, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Nueva Ecija, Philippines Assistant Professor IV, Director, Atate Campus, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology Assistant Professor, Atate Campus, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Philippines Linguistics and Literature Department, College of Management and Business Technology, College of Information and Communications Technology, Philippines


In this second article in a two-part series, Claire Hargrave, an ASAB certificated clinical animal behaviourist and a member of, and honorary secretary to, the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians, explains how to help owners support the emotional and behavioural development of kittens and puppies.


This paper reports on the progress toward creating semi‐autonomous motion control platforms for beamline applications using the iRobot Create® platform. The goal is to create beamline research instrumentation where the motion paths are based on the local environment rather than position commanded from a control system, have low integration costs and also be scalable and easily maintainable.


The existence of two new rubidium isotopes, Rb92 and Rb93, has been established and their half lives measured. The half lives of these short-lived fission products were determined using a technique of timed precipitations. The values obtained for Rb92 and Rb93 were 5.3 ± 0.5 sec and 5.6 ± 0.5 sec respectively. The half lives of the strontium and yttrium daughters were also determined. The strontium isotopes were studied by observing the decay rate of a characteristic γ-ray peak. For Sr92, the decay of the 1.37-Mev line gave a value of 2.71 ± 0.02 hr. A γ-ray peak at 590 kev, which was found to be associated with Sr93, decayed with a half life of 7.54 ± 0.06 min. The half lives of the yttrium daughters were determined by β counting. The values found for Y92 and Y93 were 3.53 ± 0.02 hr and 10.1 ± 0.1 hr respectively.


In the present work, the effect of the incorporation of clays of montmorillonite and polycaprolactone to a matrix of thermoplastic starch of cassava plasticized with glycerol was studied, the blends were obtained by the extrusion process and the films by compression moulding. The mechanical and barrier properties were characterized. The addition of polycaprolactone and montmorillonite improved the oxygen barrier and the water vapour transmission rate. The addition of montmorillonite produced more rigid and less deformable films. RESUMEN: En el presente trabajo, se estudió el efecto de la incorporación de arcillas de montmorillonita y policaprolactona a una matriz de almidón termoplástico de yuca plastificada con glicerol, las mezclas se obtuvieron mediante el proceso de extrusión y las películas mediante moldeo por compresión. Se caracterizaron las propiedades mecánicas y de barrera. La adición de policaprolactona y montmorillonita mejoró la barrera de oxígeno y la tasa de transmisión al vapor de agua. La adición de montmorillonita produjo películas más rígidas y menos deformables. Palabras clave: Proceso de extrusión, arcillas de montmorillonita, almidón termoplástico. Área: Development of new products INTRODUCTION Starch is the biopolymer most commonly used to develop biodegradable films since it can form a continuous matrix, it is also a highly available, biodegradable, economical raw material and comes from diverse renewable sources (Oleyaei et al., 2016). The plasticization of the native starch forms the thermoplastic starch (TPS) through the application of a thermo-mechanical process. Different substances are used to plasticize starch, in general, hydrophilic low molecular weight polyols like (glycerol, xylitol, sorbitol, polyethene glycols, etc.), the most used polyol is glycerol, since it is considered non-toxic and therefore, it is suitable for use in the food industry (Basiak et al., 2018). The plasticizers generate the plasticizer-plasticizer or plasticizer-polymer interactions in the system which increases the intermolecular volume, these are necessary to maintain the integrity of the film avoiding the formation of pores that lead to film fragility (Thakur et al., 2019). TPS is a biodegradable polymer of low production cost, with high applicability in the food industry, it is used as an edible coating since it is not composed of any toxic compound. This work aimed to analyze the influence of MMT on the mechanical, and barrier properties of compression moulded starch films containing a low proportion of PCL to obtain low-cost starch films with improved properties for being applied in the food industry. The addition of a hydrophobic copolymer and clays significantly reduced the water solubility of the films, improved the oxygen barrier and the water vapour transmission barrier also produced more rigid and less deformable films, with low brightness and low light transmission. The properties of the materials were improved to satisfy some requirements of the food packaging industry. Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Piñeros-Guerrero et al., /Vol. 5 (2020) 558-562 559 MATERIALS AND METHODS Preparation of composites Native corn starch, previously dried overnight in an oven at 60 °C under vacuum, was hand-blended with glycerol and water in a starch: glycerol: water weight ratio of 1:0.3:0.5 w/w. This blend was extruded to obtain thermoplastic starch pellets (TPS). After that, TPS and other components were extruded to obtain the composites. The PCL was added at 10% respect to TPS and sodium montmorillonite was added at 1%, 3% and 5% respect to polymers (TPS and PCL). Table I shows the mass fraction of each formulation. Table I. Mass fraction (Xi, g compound/g dry formulation) of the different components (Starch, PCL, glycerol and montmorillonite: MMT) in wet formulation before melt blending Formulations Starch PCL Glycerol MMT F1 0.769 0.000 0.231 0.000 F2 0.714 0.071 0.214 0.000 F3 0.709 0.071 0.213 0.008 F4 0.698 0.070 0.209 0.023 F5 0.687 0.069 0.206 0.038 Each formulation was pre-mixed manually and then extruded using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, with L/D = 40, screw diameter (D) 18 mm equipped with five heating zones. The temperature profile (from feeder to die) and screw speed were: 90/110/120/130/110 °C and 40 rpm for both extrusion process. After extrusion, films were obtained by compression moulding at 130 °C and 10 bars for 5 min. The films were conditioned at 25 °C and relative humidity (R.H.) of 53 % for one week and then films were characterised. Characterization of films Mechanical properties A universal test Machine was used to determine the tensile strength (TS), young modulus (YM), and elongation (E) of the films, according to ASTM standard method D882 (ASTM, 2001). YM, TS, and E were determined from the stress-strain curves, estimated from force-distance data obtained for the different films (2.5 cm wide and 5 cm long). Equilibrated samples were stretched at 50 mm min-1 until breaking. At least ten replicates were obtained from each sample. Water vapor permeability Water vapour permeability (WVP) was measured in films equilibrated for 1 week in sealed desiccators at 25 °C and relative humidity of 53 %, using a gradient of relative humidity of 53 % 100 % and 25 °C, by using the standard method E96-95 (ASTM, 2002), according to the modifications reported by (Ortega-Toro et al., 2014). Oxygen permeability The oxygen transmission rate of the films was measured at a relative humidity of 53 % and 25 °C using an OX-TRAN. The samples were conditioned at a relative humidity of 53 % using Mg (NO3)2 saturated solutions. Measurements were done in triplicate, and the transmission values were collected every 30 min until equilibrium was reached. The studied area of films was 0.005 m2 for each sample. The film thickness was considered to obtain oxygen permeability values. This parameter was determinate according to the standard test method D 3985 (ASTM, 2010). Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Piñeros-Guerrero et al., /Vol. 5 (2020) 558-562 560 Statistical analysis The statistical analysis of data was carried out using Statgraphics Plus for Windows (Manugistics Corp., Rockville, MD). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) was used at the confidence level of 95 %. RESULTS AND DISCUSION Mechanical properties In Figure 1a the effect of the addition of MMT and PCL is evidenced, the addition of MMT increases the maximum tensile stress value (TS); 5 wt. % of MMT increases approximately 1.6 MPa the TS; this significant increase indicates that the films are stronger as the MMT concentration increases due to the high interfacial interaction between the polymeric matrix and the clay caused by the hydrogen bonds that formed between the hydroxyl groups of the starch and the clay. The blend of carboxymethyl starch with MMT had the same effect of increasing the maximum tensile stress as the concentration of MMT increases for the formulation with 5 wt. % (Vaezi et al., 2019; Wilpiszewska et al., 2015). On the other hand, the addition of PCL promotes the decreases in TS by approximately 0.5 MPa in TS. In Figure 1b it can be seen that the increase in MMT concentration drastically decreases the percentage of maximum deformation suffered by the films before breaking, this effect is linked to the fact that the films become more rigid with the addition of the clays, due to the effect of the chemical interaction. For the formulation with 5 wt. % the maximum deformation was about 30%, for the blend of cationic starch with a concentration of 5 wt.% the maximum deformation was 70% and, for the materials based on carboxymethyl starch with a concentration of 5 wt.% the maximum deformation was 35% (Vaezi et al., 2019; Wilpiszewska et al., 2015). The effect of the addition of PCL to the starch matrix shows a significant change since the maximum deformation increases by almost 100%; this is due to the plasticization that the PCL generates on the TPS. In Figure 1c the Young modulus is significantly increased by the addition of MMT being 300 MPa for the blends with 5 wt. % of MMT. For blends of carboxymethyl starch, the same tendency of increase of Young's modulus is presented as the concentration of MMT increases, Young's modulus for the blends with 5 wt.% of MMT is 50 MPa (Wilpiszewska et al., 2015). There is no significant effect of the addition of PCL to Young's modulus. Figure 1. Mechanical properties of studied formulations conditioned at 53% RH and 25 oC for 1 week: a.) Tensile stress; b.) Tensile strain; c.) Young's modulus. Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Piñeros-Guerrero et al., /Vol. 5 (2020) 558-562 561 Water vapor permeability and Oxygen permeability Figure 2 shows the barrier properties map that exhibits the formulations studied, some conventional plastics commonly used in food packaging and barrier requirements for the packaging of some foods. The effect of the addition of PCL and MMT in the studied formulations is observed in the barrier properties map. Formulation one (F1) presents the highest barrier against oxygen transmission and the lowest barrier against water vapour transmission compared to the formulations studied and the other materials present in Figure 2, thus validating what is reported by the current literature (Ghanbari et al., 2018; Tran et al., 2017; Chivrac et al., 2010). The high oxygen barrier of the TPS is due to the compact and homogeneous microstructure presented by the material, which generates a more tortuous path and hinders the passage of oxygen molecules through it. The low water vapour barrier is explained by the strong hydrophilic nature of the material which allows water molecules to move more quickly through the material. The addition in a low proportion of PCL to the matrix of TPS improves the barrier against water vapour due to the hydrophilic nature


Background : Visual Evoked Potential is the assessment of the visual pathway and the visual cortex. The present study was descriptive analysis of normal VEP between the age of 6 months to 4 years of age and the determination of the neuronal development among healthy children of above age group. Materials and Methods : The study was conducted in neurological lab of BPKIHS on healthy children (n=36) of well-baby clinic between the age of 0.5 to ≤4 years (yr). Subjects were divided into subgroup 1(0.5 to ≤2 yr), subgroup 2(2 to ≤3 yr) and subgroup 3(3 to ≤4 yr). Visual stimulator provided with flash light emitting diode (LED) goggle was used to stimulate the retina and VEP recording was done. Flash VEP parameters: latencies (N90, P120) and amplitude (N90-P120) were recorded. Post hoc (Bonferroni) analysis was done for comparing VEP variables. Pearson correlation and scatter plot with trend line analysis were done for VEP with respect to age Results : VEP latencies of children, age-group 3 to Μ4 yr showed significantly less N90 latency on right eye stimulation comparing age-group 0.5 to Μ2 yr (103.75±22.54 vs. 79.09±17.77ms, p=0.012). P120 latency was significantly less on right eye stimulation (148.5±15.38 vs. 116.67±13.65ms p=0.001) and on left eye stimulation (145.91±18.11 vs. 116.67±13.65 ms, p=0.001) in age-group 3 to Μ4 yr children as compared to age-group 0.5 to Μ2 yr. Conclusion : Significant decrement of VEP latencies as age advances which explains the maturation of central nervous system and functionally approaching to adult value at around 3 to 4 yr. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.7(2) 2015 39-43


Whether an organization has a certain capability is often a matter of degree. Thus, in the context of initial learning of a capability, there is generally no clear‐cut or automatic answer to the question of when an organization should be expected to cut back its learning efforts and affirm that the desired capability has been achieved. This paper offers a simple conceptual model for this question, based on the satisficing principle. More specifically, the question addressed is: 'When does overt learning stop?'—where 'overt' learning is understood as being marked by observable allocation of attention and resources to the task of acquiring the capability. The model provides the framework for a discussion of various influences on the aspiration level in the satisficing model, and hence on the nature of the capability that has been achieved when learning stops. Overt learning efforts may be resumed at some time later if external factors operate to lift aspiration levels relevant to the capability. The paper discusses how such 're‐ignition' of learning may occur as a result of an organizational crisis, or of the institution of a quality management program. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


A novel thermosensitive poly(N-vinylisobutyramide)(polyNVIBA) hydrogel was prepared by the copolymerization of N-vinylisobutyramide (NVIBA) with butylene-bis-NVA(B-BNVA) as a crosslinker in a high yield. The swelling transition behavior was examined in comparison with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(polyNIPAAm) hydrogel. The resulting polyNVIBA hydrogel clearly showed a swelling transion in water at ca. 41°C. To control the transition temperature (Tt) of the gel, crosslinked copolymers of NVIBA and N-vinylacetamide (NVA) were prepared and compared with copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide(NIPAAm) and NVA. The incorporation of NVA led to a higher swelling transition temperature. Tt of poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels was almost the same as those in water-soluble poly(NVIBA-co-NVA). The responses for a swelling transition of polyNVIBA and poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels were sharp in comparison to polyNIPAAm gels. PolyNVIBA and poly(NVIBA-co-NVA) gels desorbed 98% of water above Tt. The characteristic and the mechanism of the phase transition on the hydrogels were discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3377–3384, 1997


Computer Aided Design (CAD) is a new type of modern applied technology, which is widely used in the field of modern design. Computer aided design is applied to the design of ceramic art, which is developed from the general shape design to the system of ceramic production management, product display and marketing. Therefore, computer aided design plays an important role in modern ceramic art design. In this paper, the author analyzes the development and application of computer aided design and its application in the design of ceramic art.


Work on common pool resources has paid scant attention to the role of properties of natural resources for the way their provision is governed. This paper scrutinizes determinants of institutions that regulate the provision of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Two cases of maintaining ecosystem services are compared (protection of wolves and management of scattered fruit tree meadows). Distinct characteristics of resources (mobility) and differences in the overarching European regulatory framework explain their different institutional embeddedness. Cost-effectiveness considerations seem to be paramount in the design of institutions. In the case of wolf protection, the state uses its power to modify property rights in order to increase acceptance of wolf management. This is essential for political reasons as well as to prevent EU sanctions. On the other hand, scattered fruit tree maintenance is subject to voluntary, long-term agreements, justified by medium-term irreversibility and asset specific investments.


Subregional stratigraphic correlations within the complex depositional architecture of Texas Tertiary sandstones are difficult because of extensive growth faulting and simi-lar-appearing diachronous systems tract sediment packages. Time correlation, rather than lithologic correlation, is necessary to ensure stratigraphic equivalency. Site-specific sequence stratigraphic sections (S 5 benchmark charts) are a simple stratigraphic tool to help ensure correct chronostratigraphic correlations. S 5 benchmark charts are based on composite wireline logs in a specific area so that the most complete stratigraphic section can be assembled. All relevant lithostratigraphic, chronostratigraphic, sequence stratigraphic, paleontological and tectonic data are integrated within the composite chart. A series of S 5 benchmark charts can be correlated such that chronostratigraphic bounda-ries are not violated, leading to an accurate stratigraphic architecture of an area. Correlation of a series of S 5 benchmark charts for the Frio interval from the Corpus Christi region of Texas allowed construction of the sequence stratigraphic architecture of this area. Off-shelf, third-order, lowstand systems tract sediment packages are iso-lated within growth-fault controlled subbasins. Subbasins become younger seaward. Overlying these third-order lowstand systems tracts are on-shelf transgressive and highstand systems tracts that can be correlated across several subbasins, although younger, on-shelf, highstand systems tracts pinch out progressively seaward relative to older ones.


The first investment fund appeared in Netherland and was called Unity creates strength. Investment funds are financial institutions that collect funds by issuing shares (open) or stocks (closed-end funds) respecting the principles of safety, profitability, liquidity and diversification of risk. They are managed by fund managers who raise the investor's funds into different securities and thus create a diversified portfolio. Open-end fund offers investors the right to repurchase shares at their approximate net worth at any time and continually offers new shares for sale. By closed-end funds investors instead of shares receive stocks. The closed-end fund does not repurchase these shares but they are sold through the stock market. Funds most often charge an entry fee, an exit fee, a depository fee and a fund manager fee. The funds are obliged to calculate the net asset value.
 In June 2017. there were 93 UCITS and 39 alternative funds in the Republic of Croatia. Net assets of UCITS funds amounted to 18 billion and alternative funds of 3.5 billion kuna. In 2017., UCITS funds invested mostly in domestic government bonds, money market instruments and deposits. In the same year, equity funds invested mostly in domestic and foreign shares. Balanced funds invested mostly in domestic government bonds, foreign shares and foreign UCITS and open-end investment funds with public offering. Bond funds mostly invested in domestic government bonds and money market instruments. Money funds mostly invested in domestic money market instruments, deposits and government bonds. Other UCITS funds mostly invested in domestic government bonds and foreign UCITS and open-end investment funds with public offering. Physical persons represent the most dominant unit holders category, both by the number of investors and by their net assets. In UCITS funds mostly invests domestic investors.


Polarization modulation has been combined with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to yield a sensitive method for obtaining infrared reflection-absorption spectra of monolayer films adsorbed on low-area metal surfaces. A 10-Å film of cellulose acetate adsorbed on a polished copper coupon was examined and the results compared with spectra obtained on the same instrument without polarization modulation. The signal-to-noise ratio is significantly better with the polarization modulation approach. The new method has the additional advantage of being sensitive only to molecules adsorbed on the surface. IR absorption by background gases is not detected.


In numerous investigates, regardless of whether or not beneficial or hypothetical, an inquiry that emerges in performing examination of change is the Homogeneity of Variance suspicion. Severa analysts have checked out terrific assessments for trying out homogeneity of fluctuation and reached determinations dependent on the power and shortcomings of these checks with out considering the effectiveness of these exams below transferring reproduces and gatherings. This paper is devoted to looking on the productivity of Bartlett and Levenes assessments for trying out homogeneity of change depending on each power and kind I blunder beneath transferring variety of reproduces and gatherings (with same contrasts organized with the aid of strategies) for single course ANOVA through one thousand reproductions of arbitrary ordinarily disseminated facts for each mixture of imitates and gatherings. The aftereffects of the exam uncovered that, all in all, type I blunder price diminishes from zero.1 to zero.05 and after that remaining elements quite tons in a degree as the amount of repeats builds unbiased of the quantity of gatherings. Anyways, it seems while range of gatherings is three or a good deal less, Levenes take a look at is better, and Bartlett take a look at is higher when variety of collecting increments. As for kind II blunder, each check brought approximately consistent abatement in mistake rate as sort of recreates and gatherings increments. Be that as it may, each check executed inadequately even with 30 duplicates for every collecting irrespective of the truth that Bartlett test achieved advanced to Levenes at better variety repeats. Turning into test want to be selected by using structure of the data and want to kind I mistake and type II blunder.


High pressure swing-spray grouting method and three-tube jet-grouting equipment are used for impervious grouting in sand and gravel layers.Through well excavation inspection,well injection test and core drilling test,it proves that the application of high pressure swing-spray grouting method for impervious curtain grouting is feasible,and the parameters used for construction are correct.


sciencesthe healing professions want to act, to save lives, but what can we do? There is no mention of childhood injury prevention in Amazing Grace. Perhaps Kozol hasn't heard about the important work that we do in our field to save children from the risks of injury and violence. But in this complex and detailed narrative, there are fundamental epidemiological observations about the underlying causes of injury and violence. Rather than presenting the usual array of variables and odds ratios that fill papers in Injury Prevention, Kozol confronts us with the complexities of the human condition. WJhat can this book teach us? 1 believe there are three important messages. First, Amazing Grace demonstrates the importance of developing analytical techniques to assess the complexities of both the proximal and distal causes of serious outcomes like injury and violence. It is no longer acceptable to describe only the immediate proximal risk factors for injury the motor vehicle or flammable liquid. We need to understand these variables in the more complex contexts of the social environmentthe poverty, racism, and discrimination of America. Our studies can't be effective in leading to community prevention unless they take into account these greater societal forces. We need to create a 'social epidemiology' of injury and violence. Second, Amazing Grace demonstrates the power of narrative. We must learn to tell and use powerful stories that bring together the 'roshomon' elements of every injury situation. To be effective as advocates for children we must use these narratives to show how the lives of children intersect with their complex social environments to create risk. Third, this book is unabashedly about children, rather than about a specific vehicle of harm. If we want to save the lives of children by preventing injury and violence, then we must learn to weave together our scientific study of the mechanisms of injury with a broader concern for the future of children. Kozol wants us to wrestle with injustice and to raise the conscience of America. Throughout Amazing Grace, Kozol observes the failures of national, state, and local governments to take responsibility for the consequences of policy for the most disadvantaged children. His poignant observations bring to mind a comment made by the late Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzak Rabin, upon acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo, December 10,1994.


Several global trends in new product development, such as increased global competition, flux of boundaries between institutions and intensiveness of knowledge in the management of consumers and their needs, have changed the traditional work of industrial design engineers, so that they must now be closely involved in the entire product development process, and interact and intensively communicate with other disciplines. Their competences need to be adjusted and updated. this should start with the design education. In the presented paper we propose an approach in design education, that covers the emerging trends in NPD and educates studens in such a manner that their transition from study to practice is carried out effectively and smoothly


Dear Editor, Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a superficial fungal infection caused by the lipophilic yeasts of the genus Malassezia. Despite the presence of confirmatory evidence on the positive role of zinc and vitamin D3 in the improvement of the immune system function, there are contradictory findings regarding the role of these supplements in the growth and pathogenicity of microorganisms. Regarding this, the present study was conducted to further explore the possible relationship of zinc and vitamin D3 levels with PV. This case-control study was conducted on 85 patients with PV referring to the Dermatology Clinic of Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Shiraz, Southern Iran, from April 2017 to September 2018. The infection was confirmed by the observation of the yeasts and filamentous forms of Malassezia species (spaghetti and meatball model) using the direct microscopy of skin scales clarified by KOH 10% or stained with methylene blue. A control group, consisting of 85 age-, genderand sun exposure-matched clinically healthy individuals, was also considered in the study. The exclusion criteria were: (a) diagnosis of any skin diseases, autoimmune diseases, or cancers; (b) consumption of antimicrobials, corticosteroids, immunosuppressant, or anticonvulsants; and (c) pregnancy and lactation. Moreover, the participants of both groups had not taken any supplementations, containing zinc and vitamin D3, in the last 3 months. The history of each person was taken using a questionnaire. In addition, the concentrations of zinc and vitamin D3 were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy (PerkinElmer) and direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Monobind ELISA kit), respectively. The two groups were compared in terms of serum zinc and vitamin D3 levels by analysis of covariance test using SPSS software, version 16.0 (SPSS, Inc). The mean age of the participants was 30 ± 14 years (age range: 2-67 years). Table 1 presents the mean serum levels of zinc and vitamin D3 in the study participants. The results revealed a significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of zinc levels after adjusting for the effect of gender. In this regard, the patients with PV had a higher serum zinc level compared to the control group (P < .001). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference between the two groups considering the vitamin D3 level (P = .38; Table 2). With regard to the reference range, 64.1% (n = 109) and 78.2% (n = 133) of participants had inadequate levels of zinc and vitamin D3, respectively. Several studies have shown the importance of zinc in the pathogenicity and morphogenesis of fungal pathogens. Because of the proliferation and morphogenesis of Malassezia species in the stratum corneum layer of the skin in PV, the serum zinc levels might be raised in patients compared to healthy individuals as a stimulating factor for the proliferation of Malassezia species. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate the reason behind high zinc deficiency in patients with PV. Vitamin D level is associated with many infectious and skin diseases; accordingly, it is used as a safe and efficient agent for therapeutic purpose. Recent studies have shown the role of this vitamin in fungal infections, such as candidiasis. However, our results indicated


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The set of polynomial vector fields, which are structurally stable on the Poincare cycle or on the projective plane, is open and everywhere is dense in the space of planar polynomial vector fields of degree.


The preparation of this article was supported by Grant No. ~~~9~0~2~ from the Division of Personnel Preparat~or~, Office of Special Education, U.S. Department of Education. Our department collects all kinds of informp-tion on students...but we don't have much quantitative data, like pre-post tests, which could be used to demonstrate program impact. (Special education instructor, preservice training program, November, 1979)


Programmable Decimator for Sigma-Delta Analog-to-Digital Converter In this work a programmable decimator design has been presented in 1.5 μm n-well CMOS process for integration with an existing modulator to form a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The decimator is implemented using a second order Cascaded Integrator Comb (CIC) filter and can be programmed to work with two different oversampling ratios of 64 and 16. The input to the decimator is provided from a first order modulator. With oversampling ratios of 64 and 16, an output resolution of 10-bit and 7-bit, respectively are achieved for the ADC. The ADC can be operated with an oversampling clock frequency of up to 8 MHz and with an input signal bandwidth of up to 65 KHz. An in-built clock divider circuit has been designed which generates two output clocks whose frequencies are equal to the input clock frequency divided by the oversampling ratios 64 and 16. Charge Pump Circuits The charge pump CMOS circuits are presented which are designed based on a new technique of internal clock voltage boosting. Four and six-stage charge pumps are implemented in 1.5 μm nwell CMOS process. The charge pump circuits can be operated in 1.2 V – 3 V power supply voltage range. Outputs of 12.5 V and 17.8 V are measured from four and six-stage charge pumps, respectively with a 3 V power supply. The charge pump circuits can also be used to generate clock voltages higher than the input clock voltage. In the present design, clock voltages of 8 V and 11 V have been generated from four-stage and six-stage charge pumps, respectively which are nearly 2.5 and 4 times the input clock voltage of 3 V. The technique of boosting the clock internally has been applied in implementation of a revised version of battery powered Bioimplantable Electrical Stimulation System (BESS) integrated circuit. xi 1 Chapter


Tracy Goodson Espy email@example.com Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 Typically, calculus students are introduced to the simplest numerical approximations of the definite integral through the process of finding the areas of rectangles. Students are initially shown how to use the end points of each subinterval to find lower and upper sums, a process that gives them a hound on the actual area. They are then shown, sometimes through a series of labor-intensive computations or through visualization with graphs, that as the number of rectangles, or par titions, increases, the approximations become more and more accurate. Some where in this process students are prob ably also shown how to use midpoints to obtain slightly more accurate numerical approximations. At this point, most calculus courses lead students toward the fundamental theorem of calculus, at which time they learn that they can eval uate a definite integral by finding the antiderivative and evaluating between the limits of integration. This progression from areas of rect angles up through the development of the fundamental theorem of calculus is a natural one that we hope makes sense to our students. Throughout their calcu lus experience, they are used to, as they might say, "learning the hard way first"; they have, for example, experienced for mal definitions of limits and derivatives and, later, the more efficient techniques to expedite these processes. However, rarely are they asked to go backward. Thus, if students have already been applying the fundamental theorem of calculus and then are asked to return to more efficient numerical approxima tion techniques of the definite integral, such as the trapezoidal rule or Simpson's rule, they are often perplexed. Today's technology can help students understand numerical integration in a way that would be impossible otherwise. Using technology such as Maple , students can see for themselves that not every function has an antiderivative with an elementary formula and that some numerical methods, such as Simpson's rule, are dramatically more efficient than previously learned numerical techniques. Because many versions of Maple are cur rently in use in schools, the following instructions and process will use univer sal commands compatible with nearly any version of Maple. This article assumes no previous Maple knowledge and will essen tially use only one command. To familiarize students with Maple's commands and outputs, you may wish to first show students examples of Maple's


The TiAlN films were deposited on polished surface of Si(100) wafer and high speed steel separately by arc ion plating compounded with intermediate frequency unbalanced magnetron sputtering. The properties of TiAlN films and TiN films deposited by arc ion plating were also tested and compared. The analysis results of SEM, EDS and XRD indicate: the size of droplets on the surface of TiAlN is smaller than that on the TiN films, the defects are eliminated on a large scale, and the microstructure of the surface is more compact and well mixed. The content of Al element in TiAlN films is around 0.86 %( atm), and the atoms ratio of element Ti to N is about 1:1. The lattice distortion of TiN films is caused by the addition of Al element, and the lattice-constant of the TiN crystal structure is decreased. The hardness of TiAlN films is increased by nearly 30%, compared with the TiN films.


Nutrition is of vital importance in the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of children, for retarded academic performance is not the only risk of lack of good food; various health risks that may deform the body system or result in sickness or death are also, not unconnected to consumption of foods devoid of quality and safety. This article aims to assess the food quality and safety among Nigerian school children. A review of related online free-full articles written in the English language published from 2018 to 2022 was done. A consequent title and abstract review of articles published on food quality and safety, and over 1056 published studies identified, they were visualized, profiled, cleansed, prepared, analyzed, and summarized, of which 36 most relevant articles met the inclusion criteria and were utilized for the review. This study found that providing high-quality and safe foods to children is key to achieving sustainable development goals by 2030, and it is in this quest that tremendous educational and health benefits. We also found that the foods served or sold to children in schools are sometimes of low quality and unsafe to satisfy learners' esthetic or nutritional needs, which have grave consequences for their physical growth, health status, and academic development. In conclusion, there is a need to train and monitor food handlers on food quality and safety in schools in Nigeria.


Objective
To investigate the effects of cholesterol-lowering probiotics, DM9054 combined with 86066, on the intestinal mucosal barrier and gut microbiota in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by high-fat diet and the possible mechanisms.

Methods
Twenty-four male mice deficient in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene (Ldlr- / - mice) were randomly divided into three groups including control, NAFLD model and probiotic intervention groups. Mice in the three groups were given normal chow diet+ normal saline, high-fat diet (HFD)+ normal saline, and HFD+ cholesterol-lowering probiotics, respectively. The mouse model of NAFLD was established by feeding mice with high-fat diet (45% of calories derived from fat diet) for 12 weeks. qPCR was performed to measure the expression of liver and intestinal inflammatory genes and liver cholesterol synthesis genes. Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR). Pathological changes in tissues were evaluated by HE staining. Features of gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results
Cholesterol-lowering probiotics intervention attenuated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis, inflammatory responses and obesity and decreased the synthesis of liver cholesterol (P<0.05). Moreover, inhibited gut inflammatory responses and improved intestinal barrier function were detected in the probiotic intervention group (P<0.05). The composition of gut microbiota in mice of the probiotic intervention group was different from that of the model group, but similar to that of the control group.

Conclusions
Cholesterol-lowering probiotics might attenuate NAFLD in mice through reducing liver cholesterol synthesis, alleviating liver and intestinal inflammation, improving intestinal mucosal barrier function and regulating intestinal microbiota.

Key words:
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); Probiotics; Intestinal barrier function; Intestinal microbiota


A finite element semi-discrete approximation is applied to the conservation law form of the two-dimensional, depth-averaged free-surface Navier-Stokes equations governing incompressible flows. The issues of accuracy, stability and false diffusion are addressed theoretically using a weak statement formed on a temporal Taylor series augmentation to the conservation law statement. The resultant algorithm is implemented using bilinear finite elements, an implicit time integration and an efficient split matrix iteration procedure. Numerical results document performance for pertinent hydromechanical flow geometries.


ABS TRACT: Tumor necrosis factor and alzheimer's disease: a cause and consequence relationship Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) was discovered more than a century ago as endotoxin-induced glycoprotein, which causes haemorrhagic necrosis of sarcomas. Originally described as a circulating factor that causes necrosis of tumours,it now appears that TNF has diverse and critical roles to play in the pathogenic progression of a number of chronic inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. A pivotal role has emerged for TNF as an important contributor to Alzheimer's disease pathology, as TNF appears to modulate several neuropathological mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease. Evidence for the involvement of TNF in Alzheimer's disease pathology and neuronal loss comes from studies of TNF over-expression, TNF localization studies, multiple relationships between TNF and amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), interactions between TNF and the microtubule-associated tau protein, TNF-mediated apoptotic cell death, and association of TNF with several neurotransmitters linked to Alzheimer's pathology. This review presents TNF as a neuromodulator in pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease by linking it with several endogenous mediators and advocates its status as a current therapeutic target in the quest to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease.


Consumer confidence is now part of popular culture. It was conceived as a theoretical concept designed to enable the incorporation of empirical measures of income expectations into models of spending and saving behavior. Consumer optimism and pessimism defines changes in precautionary motives during economic cycles. Expenditures on durable goods are the primary means that consumers use to adjust their precautionary savings, and by doing so, consumers drive the overall economy into recession or toward growth and expansion. In the 21 century what constitutes consumer confidence will continue to expand into a broader and more complex assessment of economic prospects. Importantly, as the baby boom generation near retirement, their attention will increasingly shift from uncertainties originating in the labor market to uncertainties about future rates of return on assets. Moreover, financial markets are likely to be much more volatile, responding to both domestic and international developments. In this new environment, consumer confidence will still primarily reflect precautionary motives and how those changes affect spending decisions. Director, Surveys of Consumers, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106 USA 26 CIRET Conference 2


Severe hyperemesis gravidarum is a rare but potentially life-threatening it left untreated. Its serious complications are dehydration, ketosis, alkalosis from loss of hydrochloric acid, hypokalemia, and compromised pre-renal acute kidney injury. We experienced a very rare case of a 20-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with severe hyperemesis gravidarum associated with a loss of kidney function at 25 weeks' gestation. Her initial serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were 5.0 and 45.9 mg/dL, respectively. The patient underwent hemodialysis for three days and achieved a subsequent recovery of renal function. In conclusion, our case indicates that clinicians should be aware of the possibility of acute kidney injury associated with severe hyperemesis gravidarum although rare.


Objective: To provide an overview of the use of ramelteon for the treatment of insomnia. Data Sources: A literature review was conducted through PubMed using the terms ramelteon, insomnia, treatment, adverse events, elderly, and melatonin. Additionally, reference citations from publications identified were reviewed. Data from 1982 to 2009 were gathered. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All articles in English that were identified from the data sources were evaluated. Data Synthesis: Long-term clinical trials of ramelteon have demonstrated that it is effective and safe, causing minimal adverse effects and no potential for abuse. Additionally, discontinuation of ramelteon does not result in rebound insomnia, which makes it an ideal agent for the management of insomnia in the elderly population. Conclusions: Ramelteon offers a safe and effective new therapeutic option for patients experiencing transient or chronic insomnia.


In this short communication describing experiments carried out on the larvae of two insects, Unaspis euonymi Comstock (feeding on Euonymus japonicus Thunb.) and Dynaspidiotus britannicus Newstead (feeding on Laurus nobilis L.), we evaluate for the first time the efficiency of using DNA insecticides in the control of sap-sucking insects, including armored scale insects. Over a period of 10 days, high insect mortality was detected in both U. euonymi and D. britannicus , accompanied by a significant decrease in the concentration of target RNAs. At the same time, no visible changes were observed when the leaves of the host plants were subjected to treatment with DNA insecticides for one month. The results show the high efficiency of DNA insecticides used against hemipteran insect pests. It is noteworthy that the high efficiency of DNA insecticides and their low cost in comparison with RNA preparations provides a safe and extremely promising potential vehicle for the control of sap-sucking insects.


Venus is the closest planet. Its surface has never been seen at optical frequencies; nevertheless we now know with at least fair reliability, and in some cases with remarkable accuracy, its surface temperature and pressure, its atmospheric structure, its period of rotation, the obliquity of its rotation axis, the mean surface dielectric constant, its ionospheric structure, and even a little about its surface topography. And yet the clouds of Venus, visible to the naked eye and known to be clouds since the time of Lomonsov, continue to elude our efforts to understand them comprehensively. Not only do we disagree on the chemical composition of the clouds, but it is not even settled whether they are condensation clouds or non-condensable aerosols. And yet there is a very wide variety of relevant data on the clouds. Indeed, the ratio of potentially diagnostic data points to mutually exclusive hypotheses is of the order unity.


The Peruvian economist, Adolfo Figueroa, sets himself a herculean task in this book: construct a unified theory of capitalism which explains key empirical patterns across the "developed" and "devel...


The present study empirically examined working behaviors of men and women within a self-managed working environment. Three models of women and work were studied. Results indicated women exhibited higher levels of job meaning and continuance commitment. The more self-managed production team exhibited higher levels of growth need strength, support from co-workers, continuance commitment, task significance and lower levels of role conflicts. Support teams exhibited higher levels of autonomy and satisfaction with pay. Path analysis, testing a model based on Astin's sociopsychological model indicated direct effects from expectancy to general satisfaction, from gender to expectancy, and task significance to gender. An alternative model showed direct effects between general satisfaction and expectancy, satisfaction with pay, task significance and expectancies, and between satisfaction with pay and teams.


DefendDefenders (the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project) regularly engages with the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (hereafter 'HRC' or 'Council') and other UN bodies and mechanisms – what we refer to as the "UN human rights system." Every year, in partnership with DefendDefenders, human rights defenders (HRDs) from the East and Horn of Africa participate in advocacy initiatives at the HRC, including by attending sessions. We work on 11 countries, namely Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia/ Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. All take part in the HRC's work, and five are on the Council's agenda with specific resolutions. This note seeks to provide HRDs and partners with basic information on the HRC, the ways in which it can help them and strengthen their work at the national level, and how to engage with stakeholders and contribute to the work of the HRC.


This paper deals with variational inclusions of the form : 0 2 '(z) + F(z) where ' is a single-valued function admitting a second order Frechet derivative and F is a set-valued map from R q to the closed subsets of R q . In order to approximate a solution � z of the previous inclusion, we use an iterative scheme based on a multipoint method. We obtain, thanks to some semistability properties of �, local superquadratic or cubic convergent sequences.


Application of information technology in environmental information system was studied in this paper. It is pointed out the key in application of information technology.


The invention discloses a device and a method for identifying electric motor vehicle gears with constant speed ratio, comprising a detection unit, a coding unit, a first comparison unit and a determination unit, wherein the detection unit is used for detecting the current gear state and outputting a signal corresponding to the current gear state; the coding unit is used for coding the signal to obtain a new gear value; the first comparison unit is used for comparison the new gear value with the predetermined fault gear value; and the determination unit is used for determining the current gear as a neutral gear under the condition that the new gear value is equal to the fault gear value and cutting the power output of am MCU (Microgram Control Unit).


A flat-beam evaporator with electromagnetic deflection and electrostatic focusing is described which permits successive evaporation of three different high-melting metals in one evacuation cycle. Multilayer systems are achieved in one evacuation cycle by moving a multisection crucible relative to the cathode unit and successive evaporation of the material from each section. The crucible and electromagnet are water cooled to increase the stability and reduce gas liberation during evaporation. The power supply permits an accelerating voltage of up to 10 KeV and a beam power of up to 5 KW. The system was tested in the production and electron diffraction study of monocrystal films of platinum, rhenium, and molybdenum.


Abstract anti-chloro(p-nitrophenyl)glyoxime (CPNPGH2) has been synthesized by chlorination of anti-p-nitrophenylglyoxime. The reaction of CPNPGH2 with suitable aryl- or arylklyamines in ethanol between -5°C and -15°C gives unsymmetrical vic-dioximes, namely, anilino-p-nitrophenylglyoxime (APNPGH2), benzylamino-p-nitrophenylglyoxime (BAPNPGH2), p-toluidino p-nitrophenylglyoxime (PTPNPGH2) or p-anisidino-p-nitrophenylglyoxime (PAPNPGH2). The Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of these Hgands are square-planar while the Co(II) complexes are octahedral with water molecules as axial ligands. 1H NMR, IR and elemental analyses data of the complexes and ligands are given.


This paper focuses on the management of the hospital medical fees and the reasons for the problems.The author proposed to refer from setting up strict rules and regulations,strictly controlling and regulating access to medical services fees,improving the price of publicity,establishing a supervision mechanism to promote the improvement of the quality management of medical charges.


Existing sparse representation models represent RGB channels separately without thinking about the relationship color channels, which lose some color structures inevitably. In this paper, we introduce a novel sparse representation model for color image based on geometric algebra (GA) theory and its corresponding dictionary learning algorithm, namely K-GASVD is proposed. The model represents the color image as a multivector with the spatial and spectral information in GA space, providing a kind of vectorial representation for the inherent color structures rather than a scalar representation via current sparse image models. The proposed sparse model is validated in the applications of color image denoising and reconstruction. The experimental results demonstrate that our sparse image model avoids the hue bias phenomenon successfully and retained the color structures completely. It shows its potential as a general and powerful tool in various applications of color image analysis.


n Abstract: The objective of the present study was the assessment of physical parameters of mature and young residual soils from the municipality of ViAosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, as well as their mixtures with industrial waste known as whitewash mud and grits. Physical characterization was carried out through laboratory tests such as sieve analysis, thermal analysis and scanning microscopy. Two residual soil samples were chosen for this study, ETA (a clayey soil) and VS (a sandy soil), which were stabilized with 16†%, 18†%, 20†%, 22†% e 24†% (referred to dry weight) of residual wastes aforementioned. Data from laboratory testing program supported that mixtures of soil and residual waste had a high heavy metal retention capacity, which might be of concern due to the possibility of contamination of water table and local streams.