The differential settlement between the foundations causes the critical damage on the transmission tower constructed in soft ground. Connected-pile foundation for transmission tower structures is an option to prevent the differential settlement. It consists of main foundations and connection beams that are placed between the individual foundations at each corner of tower. In this study, 24 model pile load tests were conducted at a construction site in jeonlabuk-do to investigate the effects of the connection beams on transmission tower foundation. In model tests, various load conditions and connection beam conditions were considered. As the test results, the displacements of connected-pile foundation differed in accordance with load directions. The settlements of connected-pile foundation decreased with the increased stiffness of connection beams, lateral load capacity decreased in accordance with load height, and the lateral load capacity on the failure criteria was similar regardless of load direction.


This work considers the problem of reducing the cost of electricity to a grid-connected commercial building that integrates on-site solar energy generation, while at the same time reducing the impact of the building loads on the grid. This is achieved through local management of the building's energy generation-load balance in an effort to increase the feasibility of wide-scale deployment and integration of solar power generation into commercial buildings. To realize this goal, a simulated building model that accounts for on-site solar energy generation, battery storage, electrical vehicle (EV) charging, controllable lighting, and air conditioning is considered, and a supervisory model predictive control (MPC) system is developed to coordinate the building's generation, loads and storage systems. The main aim of this optimization-based approach is to find a reasonable solution that minimizes the economic cost to the electricity user, while at the same time reducing the impact of the building loads on the grid. To assess this goal, three objective functions are selected, including the peak building load, the net building energy use, and a weighted sum of both the peak load and net energy use. Based on these objective functions, three MPC systems are implemented on the simulated building under scenarios with varying degrees of weather forecasting accuracy. The peak demand, energy cost, and electricity cost are compared for various forecast scenarios for each MPC system formulation, and evaluated in relation to a rules-based control scheme. The MPC systems tested the rules-based scheme based on simulations of a month-long electricity consumption. The performance differences between the individual MPC system formulations are discussed in the context of weather forecasting accuracy, operational costs, and how these impact the potential of on-site solar generation and potential wide-spread solar penetration.


Fuzzy competition graph as the generalization of competition graph is introduced here. A generalization of fuzzy competition graph known as fuzzy k-competition graph is also defined. These graphs are related to fuzzy digraphs. Fuzzy neighbourhood graphs, which are related to fuzzy graphs are defined here. Some relations between fuzzy competition graphs and fuzzy neighbourhood graphs have been established. Also several results to find strong edges of the stated graphs are obtained.


Network function virtualization paradigm enables us to implement network functions provided in middleboxes as software which runs on commodity servers. This paper proposes a backup resource allocation model for middleboxes with considering failure probabilities of network functions and backup servers. Multiple backup servers, each of which is allowed to protect several functions, can be assigned to protect one function. When a function fails, one of the corresponding servers providing protection is required to recover it, if the function is protected by any server. We aim to find an assignment of servers to functions where the unavailability of the function that is in the worst case is minimized. We formulate the backup resource allocation problem as a mixed integer linear programming problem. We prove that the backup resource allocation problem is NP-complete by showing that the partition problem is reducible to it. A heuristic algorithm is introduced to solve the same optimization problem. We analyze the computational time complexity of the heuristic algorithm as a polynomial. We show the comparison results obtained by the heuristic algorithm and by solving the mixed integer linear programming problem in terms of deviation and computational time. The results reveal that the heuristic algorithm needs about 10•5 times computational time, compared to that of solving the mixed integer linear programming problem, to obtain a solution, where the worst unavailability over all the functions is about 1.6 times of the optimal value in average in our examined scenarios.


Purpose. Royal jelly is an ergogenic aid used for the purpose of preventive medicine by athletes. Its effects on human beings have not been completely known. Investigating the impact of different doses of royal jelly on swimmers' hematological blood markers was aimed in this study. Methods. 40 healthy swimmers at the age of 18-25 years, performing the same training program, participated in the study. The athletes were divided into 4 groups and each group consists of 10 athletes. 2 gr/day to the first group, 1 gr/day to the second group, 500 mg/day to the third group and placebo to the fourth group were given. In a 4-week training period of 2 hours per day and 5 times a week, totally 20 km swimming was performed. Blood samples were taken at rest after 12 hours of starvation and hematological analyses were done before the royal jelly ingestion and 4 weeks later. Results. Significant differences were found in erythrocytary (RBC), leucocyte (WBC) and Platelet (PLT) parameters of the swimmers. While a decrease was found in HCT, CHCM, CH and HDW variables; an increase was found in MCV, MCH and MCHC.While a decrease was found in different groups of WBC, BA%, LY% and BA# variables, there was an increase in EO% of 1 gr royal jelly group. Also, there was a significant increase in PLT, MPV, PCT and PDW variables. Conclusions. It was found that some differences on the hematological variables may be related to the exercise, and 4-week royal jelly supplementation with these quantities and time did not have sufficient effect. It was suggested that it can be effective with higher doses and in a long time.


Here, we present a brief review of the current status of the Maunder minimum study. The Maunder minimum is considered as an example of occasionally occurring Grand minima, when the solar dynamo was in a special mode. We review available sets of direct and indirect data covering the period during and around the Maunder minimum. The start of the minimum was very abrupt and was followed by a gradual recovery of the activity. The data suggest that while the sunspot activity was greatly suppressed during the deep phase of the minimum, the cyclic dynamo kept working around the sunspot formation threshold level, leading to seemingly sporadic occurrence of sunspots. The majority of proxy data depict the dominant 22-year periodicity during the Maunder minimum with the sub-dominant 11-year cycle. The length of the cycles was probably slightly enhanced. We also discuss theoretical models and speculations concerning the solar dynamo as well as the heliosphere during the Maunder minimum. Comparison with other minima (Sporer and Dalton) suggests that these features are common.


Physicians have greatly changed the ways in which they use photodynamic therapy (PDT) since it was introduced, according to an expert who spoke at the South Beach Symposium recently.


Brunettra Annandale (sensu Duckhouse 1966) has previously been known in Australopapua from thirty-three species, comprising twenty-eight from Papua-New Guinea, but only five from Australia, all in the southern states. This anomaly is now removed with the description of seventeen new species from Queensland and the Northern Territory, showing that the major evolutionary centre extends from Papua-New Guinea far into northern Australia, and that the southern species are not in reality separated by a disjunction. Three new species are also described from southern Australia, two from New Guinea, and two from New Caledonia (the first from this island). The phylogenetic importance of Brunettia is especially due to the inclusion in it of taxa that are cladistically basal and annectant, nearly all Australopapuan. The mix of tribal, generic, subgeneric and species characters found in earlier descriptions is ordered into a strict hierarchical sequence, and Brunettia is divided into seven subgenera-Brunettra, s. str., Plesiobrunettra, subg. nov., Atrichobrunettia Satchell, Maurobrunettia, subg. nov., Campanulobrunettia, subg. nov., Horobrunettra, subg. nov., and Mrrousiella Vaillant, stat. nov., this last resurrected from synonymy with Atrichobrunettia. Of these, Maurobrunettia occurs in northern Australia, Plesiobrunettia is New Guinean, Campanulobrunettia and Atrrchobrunettra are Australopapuan, and Horobrunettia is mainly Australopapuan but has one species in the Philippines. Brunettra s. str. is more widely distributed, but extensively diversified in Papua-New Guinea, and Mirousiella is European. The ten Papua-New Guinean species placed by Quate & Quate (1967) in Atrichobrunettia are transferred into the various subgenera of Brunettla (combs. nov.), and their Brunettia species are also assorted into these subgenera. New keys are provided covering all Australopapuan Brunettia species. The genealogical status of Mormiini and Maruinini are discussed. It is concluded that because Mormiini are an offshoot of the Maruinini, the Maruinini are paraphyletic, but that this defect cannot be overcome until more is known of maruinine phylogeny.


My grandson's name is Dario and he is the joy of my life. He is only 10 months old , and he just started to walk and talk and the first word that came out of his mouth was "come here". So you see, he wants to have everyone' s attention. He can climb the stairs so quicky and he is really very happy to do it.Next, If he likes to play , Dario wants to stay with his grandpa, but if it is the time to eat or sleep, he knows that it is the time to be with his grandma. Our family (...)


This paper discusses the full coupled linear theory of elasticity for solids with double porosity. The system of the governing equations is based on the equations of motion, conservation of fluid mass, the constitutive equations and Darcy's law for material with double porosity. Four spatial cases of the dynamical equations are considered: equations of steady vibrations, equations in Laplace transform space, equations of quasi-static and equations of equilibrium. The fundamental solutions of the systems of these partial differential equations (PDEs) are constructed by means of elementary functions and finally, the basic properties of these solutions are established.


Objective: To develop recommendations for child unintentional injury prevention by comparing New Zealand's child unintentional injury mortality and injury prevention policies with those of European countries.


Oxford, Blackwell, 2005, 345 pp., £19.99 (hbk), ISBN 1405121335 Cities of Europe is not just another edited volume on urban geography. It consists of 14 chapters written by some of the most outstanding scholars in the field, and it has a CD with around 2,000 pictures from various European cities, 14 city data sheets, 120 thematic maps, 13 interviews with leading scholars (including interview transcripts), and an additional text on post 9/11 spaces. This makes the book exceptional value for money, particularly for teaching: some of the chapters are really excellent introductions to overarching European urban themes and the CD contents (both pictures and interviews) will readily find their way into the classroom. Every urban geographer or sociologist should have a copy on the office shelves because it provides an almost inexhaustible source of both textual and audio-visual presentations of the contemporary European urban condition. Cities of Europe could be a milestone in urban geography literature. On the downside, some readers may find the structure of the book a bit odd. There is a lengthy Introduction (more than 60 pages) but no separate introductions to the three parts of the book, and, awkwardly, no Conclusion whatsoever. This forces the reader to regularly fall back on the Introduction to remind herself what the overall purpose and aim of the publication were about. A CD is of course a fresh and exciting addition to textual material (I would like to see more publications like that), but, in this case, the CD is not very navigable and perhaps the extra information on it is just too much – who will take the time to look at thousands of pictures, more than a hundred maps and a dozen interviews? The chapters are linked to the pictures through a number system. Surely a lot of work has gone into that but, from a reader's point of view, it requires a special effort to read and simultaneously sit in front of the computer ticking in numbers to see pictures that illustrate the text. The interviews on the CD are actually snapshots which provide answers to specific questions. Some of the takes are excellent. To give just one example: in a matter of minutes, Chris Hamnett manages to summarize the gentrification debate between Smith and Ley and come up with an alternative explanation – that can be perfectly used for an undergraduate seminar introduction. Overall, however, the interview section is not particularly coherent. The interviewees are not asked the same questions, and the connection between texts and interviews is vague. But this is a novel and therefore very complex publication format, so both the editor and the publisher deserve plenty of encouragement. Kazepov states that the book is roughly speaking centred around the idea that:


Objective To investigate the prevalence and it's risk factors of uterine myomas.Methods Cluster randomized sampling method was used for selecting subjects based on economic level strata,and a survey of prevalence of uterine myomas in married women of reproductive age was carried out in four communities.Logistic regression was used to explore it's risk factors.Results The prevalence of uterine myomas was 3.13%.There was no significant difference among wonen from different region,edacation backgraud.It's risk factors were as follows,long-term serving of drugs used to prevent pregnancy,artificial abortion,cervical erosion,and senior age.Conclusion The prevalence rate of uterine myomas is higher,which correlated with long-term serving of drugs used to prevent pregnancy,artificial abortion,cervical erosion,and senior age.


From the fact that the first bit among the four coded bits at the rate compatible punctured convolutional (RCPC) coding defined in the Eureka 147 DAB system is not punctured, this paper proposes a new DAB system model that substitutes the turbo code for the existing RCPC code without modifying the puncturing procedure. The performance of a new system is compared to that of the, conventional system in the fast information channel (FIC) and main service channel (MSC) for DAB transmission mode I on the Rician fading channel and the Rayleigh fading channel.


REPORT OF CASES Two cases of aneurysm of the vertebral artery are reported for the following reasons: Large aneurysms of the vertebral arteries are rare. Subarachnoid hemorrhage may be the first manifest symptom. In spite of opinions to the contrary, syphilis is sometimes the cause. The clinical picture may lead to a suspicion of tumor of the brain. Case 1. —A married woman aged 31 was admitted to the Presbyterian Hospital on June 15, 1914, and twice later. The family history was unimportant except that the father died of tuberculosis. The patient was a timid, bashful, nervous child. Menstruation began at the age of 12 and ceased for a year at 14, during which she was weak and pale. She was married at the age of 17 and in the following year gave birth to a premature child, who had an eruption, "sore eyes and sore mouth" and died at


~l..!~~~ ~'olr""~J~~.; ,~,~~~_,.L. ~\y'l\ ,j aJI_,J-1 ~ J~ ~ _, ~I ~I j.J-~ ~.fAll ~l_r.JI j..i.! ~a~ J~l JJ+-WI J"j._i,.. .k.,., pi y _,J OJI_,J-1-.::J~J~ ;;.,1 ~~~I~_,~ _,lll_, a.>'_~I..:J~J~ ;r J5 ~ .)_,~ ~~ ,U.WI J~l J~ ~~ ABSTRACT The hydrographic data taken during 1932 - 1985 were analyzed to present the mean temperature structure and the mixed layer in the different basins in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The data indicate that a surface mixed layer exists all year round in all basins with maximum depth reach to about 260m in the Gulf of Lions during February. The mixed layer depth (MLD) seemed to be more shallow in the Alboran Sea (average 50 m ) than other basins. The seasonal variation of mixed layer salinity (MLS) was seen as large amplitude of MLS in both Catalan Sea and Gulf of Lions, during the warm months. In Tyrrhenian Sea the MLS has a higher value than the sea surface salinity. Also, the effect of Atlantic water was clearly identified in the Alboran and Algerian Seas. The mixed layer temperature (ML T) is significantly related to temperature values down to 250 m in the northwestern Mediterranean basins during the cold months. The correlation's of MLD with temperature are insignificant in all basins during the warm months. The anomalies of ML T, MLS and MLD showed that the temperature and thickness of the mixed layer have a week inverse correlation. Finally, the seasonal variations of the heat content of the mixed layer in all basins in the Western Mediterranean are described.


In order to achieve high cruising speeds with a high performance sailplane the altitude gained in strong up currents must be applied by means of high gliding speeds. The x'climbing or the energy growth rates in the upcurrents are often very different during one flight. The sometimes less strong climbing ranges of 5 to 20% of the overall climbing time can be used for power absorption by dispensing with further climbing in order to draw energy from the flow by means of a folding turbine. The energy stored is then used later during gliding for boundary layer suction. As a result of the boundary layer suction of the wing and tail surfaces the overall drag nearly is halved, resulting in nearly doubling the glide ratio. Decisive is the overall efficiency of the turbine, storage and suction. The storage of energy in a fly-wheel accumulator best meets this requirement. If the energy is, on the other hand, stored electrically, this offers many advantages for suction and control. The best solution is a combination of a generator and an electrical driven fly-wheel accumulator.


Objective To understand the health condition of swimming places in Yuxi in 2012,based on analysis of 290 swim items and 112 slippers. Methods The samples were detected and evaluated in accordance with related standards. Results The qualified rates of swimming pool water had no difference among different years. The top three unqualified items were residual chlorine,urea and total number of bacteria. Chlorine concentration was especially high. Conclusion There are still some problems about the sanitary fittings and swimming water quality of swimming places,need to strengthen supervision.


The products of saturation temperature T and liquid density rho f, fluid phase density difference rho f- rho g, heat of vaporization hfg, difference between the critical and the saturation pressure pc-p and velocity of sound in the liquid phase uf show maxima at certain temperatures. Furthermore, the product of saturation pressure and the difference between the critical and the saturation temperature (p(Tc-T)), and the vapour enthalpy hg also show maxima. It is shown that all these extrema occur within a limited range of a characteristic temperature T*. This paper lists, for Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, N2, O2, CH4, C2H6 and C2H4, the temperatures at which the maxima occur and the magnitudes of the maxima in reduced quantities. If equations of state can take into account these criteria, their accuracy and ability to predict the slope properties can be enhanced.


The paper investigates the mechanism of tax regulation of financial intermediaries, including the essence, purpose and objectives, and identified forms and instruments of state regulation of financial intermediation through taxes.


The objective of this research is to find out the influence of shield and some planting medium toward the growth and production of lettuce plant. This research uses split plot design with 3 times repetition. The treatment consists of 2 main compartments and 6 sub compartments. The main compartment is a shield that consists of two levels  which are N1 (0% shield) and N2 (50% shield). Sub compartment is a growth media this consists of six levels which are M0 (soil), M1 (soil + sand 1:1), M2 (soil + charcoal 1:1), M3 (soil + chickenrun 1:1), M4 (Soil + goat stall fertilizer 1:1), M5 (Soil + cow hause fertilizer 1:1). The abserved parameter are temperature and humidity, plant height, leaf number, leaf wide, wet weight of the plant, wet weight of tree, wet weight of root, dry weight of plant, dry weight of tree, and dry weight of root. The research result shows that the combination of 0% shield and planting medium + chickenrun fertilizer has significant influence toward all the production component of the plant. Key Words: Chickenrun, Cow Hause Fertilizer and Husk Charcoal


Background: Health problems that often occur in tropical countries are infectious diseases, one of which often causes outbreaks was Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). This disease often causes problems especially in endemic areas and even outbreaks that occur with death from sufferers.Objectives: To forecasting of the Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in the working area of the Puskesmas Temindung. Methods: This was analytical descriptive research with forecasting design using secondary data and primary from informant who understand the problem. Forecasting using SARIMA method (Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average).Results: The results showed that the total of DHF cases in Temindung Health Center could be predicted by the SARIMA (1,1,1) (1,0,0) model with means square error (MSE) of 0.001394688 forecasting results obtained from October 2018 to September 2019 cases, which tend to fluctuate but illustrates an increase in cases of DHF compared to the previous year's data. Conclusion: Forecast of the DHF is for the next 12 months starting from October 2018 as many as 7 cases, in November 4 cases, in December 4 cases; then starting in January 2019 as many as 3 cases, February 2 cases, March 3 cases, April 3 cases, May 3 cases, June 4 cases, July 3 cases, August 3 cases and September 3 cases with a total number of 42. Forecasting results show dengue cases tend to fluctuate every month but have increased cases from the previous year.


A recently proposed modified perturbative expansion for QCD incorporating gluon condensation is employed to evaluate the quark and gluon self-energy corrections in the simplest approximations. The results predict mass values of 1/3 of the nucleon mass for the light quarks u, d, and s and a monotonously growing variation with the current mass values. The mass spectrum of the ground states within the various groups of baryonic resonance and a class of vector meson ones is well predicted by the simple addition of the calculated constituent quark masses. In connection with the gluon self-energy it follows that the gluonic mass shell becomes tachyonic in the considered approximation. In order to obtain the above mentioned results 〈G2〉 was evaluated as a function of the condensate parameter up to order g and then this parameter fixed to give the accepted numerical value of 〈g2G2〉. The discussion leads us to conjecture that the procedure, after also introducing quarks condensates in the same token as the gluonic ones, could also predict the current quark masses as well as the non-colored fermion (lepton and neutrinos) mass spectrum through higher order radiative corrections. Such a picture, if verified, would furnish a natural explanation for the mass spectrum of the three families of fundamental fermions.


This paper employs computational approaches to model and explore the efficacy of different incentive structures on the decision making behavior of dispatchers in complex queueing networks, and the subsequent effects of these decisions on teams working within the network and on network performance itself. Computational models that express network structure and function, as well as the decision making process of dispatchers operating within the network and the effect these decisions have on team performance, are presented. Performance of the network under status quo and other incentive structures and decision making processes is illustrated via simulation, validated against data from a large-scale debris removal mission that followed a series of tornadoes in the U.S. state of Alabama in 2011. Results of the simulation experiments suggest that the optimal incentive structure assuming a rational decision maker remains optimal under lower levels of rationality. Furthermore, a simple uniform reward structure is likely to produce performance improvements over the status quo incentive structure under most scenarios.


The historical average stock return is commonly used to predict expected stock return in portfolio management for its better prediction and more straightforward calculations. However, most regressive models empirically proved to underperform the historical average return are explanatory models using predictor variables. This article takes the challenge to further explore the regressive power in predicting stock return but focuses on time series (TS) forecasting models and machine learning (ML) models. The results of this article show that many of these TS and ML regression models beat the historical average return, delivering higher portfolio Sharpe ratios and realized returns in backtesting. Although TS and ML models have inherently weaker explanatory power for their predictions, these results are still meaningful for retail and institutional mean-variance investors, opening up a new angle to forecast expected returns in portfolio allocation.


The invention discloses an eye positioning and eye state recognizing method, wherein first setting an self-adaptive threshold value to pretreat a face image, according to the face geometry character, designing an eye classifier, positioning eye initially, for some edge images, based on the symmetry face and eye, accurately positioning eye, thereby providing a method for positioning face symmetry axis based on lip auxiliary positioning, then dividing one eye from a positioned eye binary picture, according to the black pixel character of pupil, judging the eye state. The inventive method has real-time property, with the application for different backgrounds, lights, rotation and bias angles, and face details or the like to position eye and recognize eye state.


The statutory period for forced labor to the boy in the teens was twenty days in the early period of Tang Dynasty. It was half of quitrent on the state finance revenue, disassembling after Semiannual Tax System . The statutory period for forced labor to the boy in the teens reflected that the central government had ensured law-based and standardization control over varied lawless forced local labor. Its disassembly in the period between the Tang and Song Dynasty symbolized a new historical stage on the taxes.


In this paper, we propose an innovative assistive system for victims' localization under an Urban Search and Rescue environment. The localization exploits miniaturized Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) cameras and algorithms properly combined with template matching schemes from visual cues. The approach first thresholds the data to roughly estimate alive victims' location and then apply a segmentation scheme to improve the probability analysis. The key challenge of our approach is the fact the thermal image used captures images at very low resolution. This selection is necessary so that the sensor is light and thus able to be carried out by a snake robot. Experiments are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of our results both at the laboratory and under real-life conditions. The latter have been conducted under the aegis of FP7-INACHUS European Union funded project


This paper focuses on the varying pitch threads manufacturing with programming methods,and the parameterized programming using a macro program is introduced.It improves programming efficiency,which can increase flexibility and universality of the programming.


ULTIMATE-Subaru is a next large facility instrument project at Subaru telescope. We will develop a 14x14 arcmin2 wide-field near-infrared (1.0-2.5μm) imager and a multi-object spectrograph with the aid of a ground- layer adaptive optics system (GLAO), which will uniformly improve the seeing by a factor of 2 over a wide field of view up to ~20 arcmin in diameter. The expected spatial resolution by the GLAO correction is about 0.2 arcsec FWHM in K-band under moderate seeing conditions at Subaru telescope. ULTIMATE-Subaru will provide a unique capability to realize wide-field and high spatial resolution survey observations in near infrared in the era of TMT. In this paper, we introduce the project overview including the GLAO and near-infrared instrument conceptual design. We also describe the future wide-field strategy at Subaru telescope with ULTIMATE-Subaru together with HSC and PFS.


Although states are increasingly attempting to influence classroom instruction through government policy, reforming instruction, when seen as an ecology of games (Firestone, 1989) with each level of the game having its own rules, audiences, and schedules, is often less successful than policymakers envision. This study analyzes one reform by following the games at the state, district, and classroom levels and illustrates the ways in which efforts toward reform at these levels are both interrelated and disconnected. The study suggests that the often predictable way in which these games are played needs to be considered if future reform efforts are to be successful.


The article covers the results of the empiric research devoted to the interconnection between professional deformation and personal motivation of a penal system employee. The author analyzes value orientations, driving and displaced motives. Characteristic features of professional deformation are described. Stages of the penal system employees' emotional burnout are defined.


Introduction: With increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome, sedentary lifestyle, and diabetes mellitus the burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is also increasing along with its complications including gallstone disease. That is why, this study aims to determine the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with the prevalence of gallstone disease and also, risk factors associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic cholelithiasis.
Methods: A prospective study design was performed and during the data collection phase we have enrolled a total of 218 patients who were diagnosed as a case of NAFLD from Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad between the periods of 19 months from March 2019 to October 2020. Diagnosis of NAFLD was made using liver biopsy and cholelithiasis with ultrasound abdomen. Both males and females with a primary diagnosis of NAFLD were included in this study. Patients were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic gallstone disease and were further assessed for underlying risk factor associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic gallstone disease. Statistical package for the social sciences version 21 (SPSS) used for the entry of data and final analysis and a p value of <0.05 were considered as statistically significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of gallstone disease in patients with NAFLD was 12.84% (n = 28) among them 19 (67.85%) patients were having symptomatic gallstone disease while 9 patients had asymptomatic gallstones disease (32.14%). Patients having mean age 49.01 years, uncontrolled blood sugar level (209.24 mg/dl), mean alkaline phosphatase 106.22 IU/L, female gender, and having diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with symptomatic gallstones disease (p value <0.05).
Conclusion: In our study, the cohorts have shown bidirectional association between gallstone disease and NAFLD. Also prevalence of symptomatic gallstone disease is quite high and it was strongly associated with increasing age, female gender, raised blood glucose levels, and diabetes mellitus.


Pilot symbol assisted modulation (PSAM) of subcarriers is an attractive scheme for high data-rate OFDM transmission systems and has been widely used in broadcasting systems like DVB-T. In this paper, a new and simple pilot pattern for PSAM-OFDM system operated in the mobile communication environment is proposed and analyzed in terms of its bit error rate. Analytical and simulation results show that the proposed clustered pilot pattern for OFDM channel estimation gives a better performance than the conventional equally spaced pilot pattern in fading channel, yet without sacrificing the bandwidth efficiency.


Bordeaux based emotional hardcore band PAST is proud to present the bands new record called Cliffhanger, a new quality product of Amaury Sauves ...


Online communication, on non-governmental platforms or through various electronic networks, has become more and more widespread in the contemporary era. Thus, the means of interaction of the human community, know a major period of ascension and development. Therefore, in the conditions of positive ascent of the respective field of communication, it has become the target of new illegalities committed in the objective reality. Therefore, in order to counteract these alleged illegal acts and alleged attacks on the rule of law, a wide range of criminal prosecutions and special investigative measures are being taken. Thus, that research is intended exclusively for the analysis of the content of these special measures of targeted investigations in order to prevent and combat illegal acts in the field of electronic communications networks


Police departments across the USA are busily "reinventing" themselves, adopting a new style known as "community policing". Police departments that succeed in adopting this new stance have an entirely different relationship to the public that they serve. Chicago made the transition, and this book examines why it did, how it did it, and how well it worked.


Background: Pectoral nerve (Pecs) block is an effective component of multimodal analgesia regimens for breast surgeries. It has been used as a supplement to general anesthesia for intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the analgesic effect of magnesium sulfate 150 mg as an adjuvant to 0.25% ropivacaine in pecs block. Patients and Methods: A total of 60 American Society of Anaesthesiologists Grades I and II female patients with age between 18 and 65 years were enrolled in this study. Group A received ultrasound (US)-guided Pecs block with 40 ml volume containing 30 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine with 10 ml of normal saline as a placebo. Group B received US-guided Pecs block with 40 ml volume containing 30 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine and 150 mg of magnesium sulfate diluted to 10 ml of normal saline. Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale. Duration of analgesia and total analgesic consumption was noted in 24 h. Student's t-test, Mann–Whitney U–test, and Chi-square test were used for the statistical analysis. Results: The mean duration of analgesia was prolonged in Group B as compared to Group A (493.17 ± 12.54 min vs. 307.70 ± 22.37 min). Total analgesic consumption in the first 24 h postoperatively was also statistically lower in Group B as compared to Group A (132.50 ± 32.26 vs. 167 ± 32.26 mg in Group A) (P ≤ 0.001). Hemodynamics were comparable. Conclusion: The addition of 150 mg magnesium sulfate as adjuvant to 0.25% ropivacaine for Pecs block increases the duration of analgesia and significantly reduces the amount of analgesic requirement.


Objectives To evaluate patient characteristics and long-term outcomes in patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) in the past two decades. Design Multicenter retrospective study. Setting The Coronary REvascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto (CREDO-Kyoto) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)/coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) Registry Cohort-2 (2005–2007) and Cohort-3 (2011–2013). Participants 3254 patients with NSTEACS who underwent first coronary revascularisation. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was all-cause death. The secondary outcomes were cardiovascular death, cardiac death, sudden cardiac death, non-cardiovascular death, non-cardiac death, myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis, stroke, hospitalisation for heart failure, major bleeding, any coronary revascularisation and target vessel revascularisation. Results Patients in Cohort-3 were older and more often had heart failure at admission than those in Cohort-2. The prevalence of PCI, emergency procedure and guideline-directed medical therapy was higher in Cohort-3 than in Cohort-2. In patients who received PCI, the prevalence of transradial approach, drug-eluting stent use and intravascular ultrasound use was higher in Cohort-3 than in Cohort-2. There was no change in 3-year adjusted mortality risk from Cohort-2 to Cohort-3 (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.22, p=0.97). Patients in Cohort-3 compared with those in Cohort-2 were associated with lower adjusted risks for stroke (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.92, p=0.02) and any coronary revascularisation (HR 0.76, 95%CI 0.66 to 0.87, p<0.001), but with higher risk for major bleeding (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.47, p=0.008). The unadjusted risk for definite stent thrombosis was lower in Cohort-3 than in Cohort 2 (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.67, p=0.003). Conclusions In the past two decades, we did not find improvement for mortality in patients with NSTEACS. We observed a reduction in the risks for definite stent thrombosis, stroke and any coronary revascularisation, but an increase in the risk for major bleeding.


The construction and testing of a miniature model of a skewed bridge is reported. The goal of the research is to gain an understanding of the complex behaviors of a single span, skewed bridge of the concrete slab on steel stringer type and also to determine if vibration measurements can be used in load capacity assessment of full sized bridge. The skewness of such a bridge coupled with the interaction between the concrete deck and the stiffening stringers create complicated deformation patterns. It is proposed that through focused and reproducible studies on miniature models the composite actions and boundary effects of full-scale bridges may be understood. The miniature model is not a scaled-down copy of an actual bridge. The primary members and geometry of the real structure are simulated, enabling the representation of the behavior of the real structure. Both static and dynamic tests were conducted on the miniature model. Finite Element Modeling was then utilized to simulate the miniature model. The effective stiffness of the first bending mode was then compared with the stiffness as determined from the static tests. The validated stiffness is then incorporated into a Single-Degree-Of-Freedom model, which is then utilized in new load capacity determination.


The study examined the manner in which conscripted combat veterans make meaning of their violent experiences during the apartheid-era 'Bush War' in the border area between Namibia and Angola. A total of 43 ex-combatants participated in the study (23 Afrikaans-speaking; 20 English-speaking). Data was collected through in-depth interviews, e-mails, telephone conversations, online discussions through websites and letters. Data was coded and analysed by using a phenomenological framework. Ethical clearance was obtained. Military masculinities shaped some of the dilemmas faced by men who saw and perpetrated violence during the war. Negative constructions of psychological problems, distress and suffering as 'unmanly', affects the ways in which ex-combatants can express their memories and lived experiences of the war.


An addressable mosaic array of resistively heated microbridges offers much flexibility for infrared scene simulations. In the Wide Band Infrared Scene Projector program, Honeywell has demonstrated high yield arrays up to size 512 X 512 capable of room temperature operation for a 2 band infrared projection system being designed and built by Contraves Inc. for the Wright Laboratory Kinetic Kill Vehicle Hardware In-the-Loop Simulator facility at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. The arrays contain two different pixel designs, one pixel designed for kHz frame rates and high radiance achieved at a power level of 2.5 mWatts/pixel and the other pixel designed for more moderate 100 Hz frame rates at lower radiance and at maximum power levels of 0.7 mWatts/pixels. Tests on arrays and pixels have demonstrated dynamic ranges up to 850:1, radiance rise times on the order of 2 mseconds, and broadband pixel emissivities in the range of 70%. Arrays have been fabricated with less than 0.1% pixel outages and no row or column defects. These arrays are mounted in a specialized vacuum assembly containing an IR window, vacuum package, cooling block, and pump out manifold.


The Lobo Formation of southwestern New Mexico consists of spatially variable continental successions attributed to the Laramide orogeny (80–40 Myr), although its age and provenance are virtually undocumented. This study combines sedimentological, magnetostratigraphical and geochronological data to infer the timing and origin of the Lobo Formation. Measured sections of Lobo strata at two locations, Capitol Dome in the Florida Mountains and in the Victorio Mountains, indicate significant differences in depositional environments and sediment provenance. At Capitol Dome, where Lobo strata were deposited above a syncline developed in Palaeozoic strata, deposition took place in fluvial, palustrine and marginal lacustrine settings, with alluvial‐fan deposits only at the top of the formation. Combined magnetostratigraphy and a young U–Pb detrital zircon age suggest deposition of the section at Capitol Dome from ~60 to 52 Ma. The Lobo Formation in the Victorio Mountains was deposited in alluvial‐fan and fluvial settings; the age of deposition is poorly bracketed between 66 ± 2 Ma, the weighted‐mean age of two young zircons, and middle Eocene (~40 Ma), the approximate age of overlying volcanic rocks. U–Pb zircon ages from sandstones at the Victorio and Capitol Dome localities indicate that different source rocks provided sediment to the Lobo Formation. Local Proterozoic basement (~1.47–1.45 Ga) dominated the source of the Lobo Formation in the Victorio Mountains, consistent with abundant granitic clasts that are present in the proximal facies there; a diverse range of grain ages suggest that recycled Lower Cretaceous strata provided the dominant source for Lobo Formation sediment at the Capitol Dome locality. The U–Pb data suggest that the depositional systems at the two sites were not connected. Contrasts in depositional setting and detrital zircon provenance indicate that the Palaeogene Lobo Formation in southwest New Mexico was deposited in an assemblage of local depositional settings, possibly in separate structural basins, as a consequence of Laramide tectonics in the region.


Palliation of inoperable stenotic gastric and/or duodenal cancer remains an open problem due to high operative mortality and diffuse tumor growth. We describe here in 3 cases of stenotic recurrent gastric cancer in the elderly successful treated using self-expanding metal stents.


It is clearly important, but generally very difficult, to assess objectively the effects of changes in the medical curriculum. A major problem is obtaining a suitable control group for comparison with the 'experimental group'. Ideally such a control group should be studied synchronously with the experimental group. Such an opportunity arose in Belfast in connexion with the introduction in 1972 of exemption from the first (premedical) year for school-leavers with appropriate Advanced General Certificate of Education levels (''A levels") of high standard. In October 1972, 15 students were admitted directly from school ('direct entrants') to second year medicine. It was possible to compare these direct entrants with students of similar ability who entered first year medicine in October 1971 ('controls') before direct entry for school-leavers began. The direct entrants and their controls had similar A levels and received identical teaching and assessment in the second year. The main differences were that the controls had experienced the premedical year and were a year older than the direct entrants.


EUV lithography is a promising and viable candidate for circuit fabrication with 0.1-micron critical dimension and smaller. In order to achieve diffraction-limited performance, all-reflective multilayer-coated lithographic imaging systems operating near 13-nm wavelength and 0.1 NA have system wavefront tolerances of 0.27 nm, or 0.02 waves RMS. Owing to the highly-sensitive resonant reflective properties of multilayer mirrors and extraordinarily tight tolerances set forth for their fabrication, EUV optical systems require at-wavelength EUV interferometry for final alignment and qualification. This dissertation discusses the development and successful implementation of high-accuracy EUV interferometric techniques. Proof-of-principle experiments with a prototype EUV point-diffraction interferometer for the measurement of Fresnel zoneplate lenses first demonstrated sub-wavelength EUV interferometric capability. These experiments spurred the development of the superior phase-shifting point-diffraction interferometer (PS/PDI), which has been implemented for the testing of an all-reflective lithographic-quality EUV optical system. Both systems rely on pinhole diffraction to produce spherical reference wavefronts in a common-path geometry. Extensive experiments demonstrate EUV wavefront-measuring precision beyond 0.02 waves RMS. EUV imaging experiments provide verification of the high-accuracy of the point-diffraction principle, and demonstrate the utility of the measurements in successfully predicting imaging performance. Complementary to the experimental research, several areas of theoretical investigation related to the novel PS/PDI system are presented. First-principles electromagnetic field simulations of pinhole diffraction are conducted to ascertain the upper limits of measurement accuracy and to guide selection of the pinhole diameter. Investigations of the relative merits of different PS/PDI configurations accompany a general study of the most significant sources of systematic measurement errors. To overcome a variety of experimental difficulties, several new methods in interferogram analysis and phase-retrieval were developed: the Fourier-Transform Method of Phase-Shift Determination, which uses Fourier-domain analysis to improve the accuracy of phase-shifting interferometry; the Fourier-Transform Guided Unwrap Method, which was developed to overcome difficulties associated with a high density of mid-spatial-frequency blemishes and which uses a low-spatial-frequency approximation to the measured wavefront to guide the phase unwrapping in the presence of noise; and, finally, an expedient method of Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization which facilitates polynomial basis transformations in wave-front surface fitting procedures.


An assembly comprising: - a pulsed light processing machine (1) having a handpiece (4) comprising a flash lamp and a first absorbent filter (12) for filtering the light emitted by the flash lamp before its exit from the room hand, - a pair of glasses or an operator's protective mask including a second absorbing filter for filtering the incident light, all characterized by the fact that the overall transmission of visible and infrared light through the first and second filters is low enough in the PAM emission range for the operator is not visually obstructed by the issuance of a flash or assaulted by infrared light.


The presented paper deals with matrix converters pulse width modulation strategies design with emphasis on the electromagnetic compatibility. Matrix converters provide an all-silicon solution to the problem of converting AC power from one frequency to another, offering almost all the features required of an ideal static frequency changer. They possess many advantages compared to the conventional voltage or current source inverters. A matrix converter does not require energy storage components as a bulky capacitor or an inductance in the DC-link, and enables the bi-directional power flow between the power supply and load. The most of the contemporary modulation strategies are able to provide practically sinusoidal waveforms of the input and output currents with negligible low order harmonics, and to control the input displacement factor. The perspective of matrix converters regarding EMC in comparison with other types of converters is brightly evident because it is no need to use any equipment for power factor correction and current and voltage harmonics reduction. Such converter with proper control is properly compatible both with the supply mains and with the supplied load. A special digital control system was developed for the realized experimental test bed which makes it possible to achieve greater throughput of the digital control system and its variability.


Extracted from text ... Introduction
The New Partnership for Africa's Development
(NEPAD) is widely regarded in South
Africa as the signature tune of Thabo Mbeki's
presidency. As such, it has been criticised and
lauded from various quarters of civil society.
But it has seldom been interrogated outside of
the overheated context of national politics.
This paper argues that NEPAD offers, if nothing
else, at least the opportunity for South
African civil society organisations to collaborate
with like-minded groups across borders in
Africa, thereby increasing their political leverage
as a democratic counterweight to African
governments. It is this process - rather than
uncritical selling ..


In this letter, a compact silicon carbide (SiC) power module featuring low stray inductance and balanced thermal resistance is proposed. To make full utilization of SiC devices in high-frequency and high-power-density applications, the laminated busbar and double-sided cooling heatsinks are directly packed as parts of the SiC power module. To balance the mechanical and thermal stress on the chips, a press-pack-like package technology is adopted. The electrical and thermal experiments of the prototype are evaluated to validate the design of low inductance and balanced thermal distribution.


We present a new experimental configuration for the study of size-dependent, angle-resolved photoelectron and photoion spectra of weakly bound ultrafine aerosol particles targeted at particle sizes below ~20 nm. It combines single photon ionization by a tunable, table-top vacuum ultraviolet laser at energies up to 18 eV with velocity map imaging detection and independent size determination of the aerosol particles using the Na-doping method. As an example, the size-dependence of the valence photoelectron spectrum of dimethyl ether clusters and ultrafine aerosols is investigated. Up to a mean particle diameter of ~3-4 nm, the first ionization energy (value at band maximum) decreases systematically (up to ~1 eV) and the corresponding band broadens systematically (up to a factor of ~3) with increasing aggregate size. Plateau values for band positions and bandwidths are reached beyond a diameter of ~3-4 nm. Experimental evidence for the dominance of the fast intermolecular proton transfer over monomer fragmentation reactions upon ionization is presented via photoion imaging.


Ideal for those seeking a welcoming and relaxing holiday, the small and friendly Hotel Acuario is a gem and oozes plenty of character. Tastefully modernized, and with good levels of service, guests can choose to soak up the sun by the outdoor swimming..


(57) ABSTRACT This disclosure describes systems and methods for using environmental information in a hybrid positioning system. Some embodiments relate to a method for determining the position of a WLAN and satellite positioning system enabled device using characteristics of the environment in which the device is located, the method can include detecting WLAN APs in range of the device, obtaining environmental charac teristics from a reference database based on the WLAN APs detected by the device, and determining whether to use the WLAN or satellite positioning system based on the environ mental characteristics.


The HfOx thin film with resistive switching behaviors was grown on ITO/Glass substrate by Radio frequency-magnetron sputtering method.The electrical properties and chemical composition of the film were analyzed.The results of Electrical tests indicate that Cu/HfOx/Ti show a clearly bi-polar resistive switching without a forming process is revealed.The memory also performs great reliability,and the high-resistance to low-resistance ratio is greater than 10.XPS analysis shows that film contains large amounts of oxygen vacancies.Cu is not throughout the whole HfOx thin film.The mechanism of resistive switching may be associated with oxygen vacancies.


A discrimination method for the presence of a vehicle (2) on a block (6C) of a track (4), comprising the steps of: - transmitting, from a computer (14) onboard the vehicle (2) to a computer on the ground (12), information relating to the number of vehicle axles (2); - transmission, over time, by sensors in the track (8) associated with said township (6C) and the adjacent blocks (6B, 6D) said township (6C), to a computer on the ground (12), of information relating to the number of axles present in canton (6B, 6C, 6D) corresponding; - discrimination by the computer to the ground (12) of the presence of said vehicle (2) on said township (6C) if the number of axles present on said township (6C) is equal to the number of axles of said vehicle (2) and if the number of axles present on each of the districts (6B, 6D) adjacent is zero.


Large camelids have long been called the "ships of the desert" for their importance in the desert regions of Africa and Eurasia. Although their reputation as an animal of the nomads and for caravans of merchants recalls their mobility far exceeding that of other domestic herbivores, the use of this species for transportation and in animal agriculture remains confined to the deserts of northern Africa and Asia. However, the geographical distribution of large camelids has grown in the last 30 years. As they gain popularity, the species has been confronted with new environmental contexts. So much so that one may wonder if they are not conquering the world. Here, we take a closer look at the journey of the camel from its early ages of domestication to its role in a world facing climate change.


The Functional Training for Pharmacy and Food Junior Expert Supervisors has been conducted since 2019 with classical face-to-face method (offline). In early 2020, the method was replaced with blended learning methods using asynchronous and synchronous modes. The Covid-19 Pandemic requires the synchronous approach, initially conducted offline face-to-face with the participants, to replace online meetings using a video meeting application. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the functional training for pharmacy and food junior expert supervisors with the blended learning method. This research performed a quantitative parametric method using the Mann-Whitney test method. The number of offline training respondents was 59 people, and online training (blended learning) respondents were 753 people. The variable used to measure the effectiveness was the training evaluation. The study results indicated that the online activity of the Pharmacy and Food Junior Expert Supervisors was more effective than the offline training. This result was proved by The Mann-Whitney test method using SPSS. The evaluation result before the Covid-19 Pandemic with the classical method was significantly different from Blended learning during the Covid -19 pandemic, which was more effective. In this study, researchers also employed SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to explore essential aspects for continuing this training. Thus, the blended learning method is effective and continues using an online video meeting application


Retributive and most mixed theories of punishment provide little guidance for sentencing people convicted of multiple offenses at one time — say 5 robberies, 5 sexual assaults, or 100 drug sales; or a robbery, a sexual assault, and 10 drug sales — or who were previously convicted. Judicial practice in Western countries is typically to discount punishments for multiple current convictions but, to different degrees, to punish successive convictions progressively more severely. Unpersuasive efforts have been made to justify those divergent patterns in ways that are reconcilable with retributive theories. What needs instead to be recognized is that principles derived from punishment theories cannot by themselves provide adequate complete justifications of adequate frames of reference for the complex social practice of punishment. Other principles relating to fairness, equality, and human dignity must be taken into account.


One of the possible approaches to reconstructing the map of the distribution of magnetization parameters in the crust of Mars from the data of the Mars MAVEN orbiter mission is considered. Possible ways of increasing the accuracy of reconstruction of the magnetic image of Mars are discussed.


One of the aims of this report is to evaluate three different methods for using satellite data in order to detect windthrows in forests. This research is made in the county Kronoberg in southern Sweden. The area was hit hard by the severe storm Gudrun 8-9 January 2005. A second aim with this report is to investigate which variables, excluding wind speed, that have contributed to the spatial pattern of wind throws in the landscape. The variables investigated are elevation, slope aspect, tree growth value, soil type and wind exposure.
The results of the detection show that differences in NDVI and land cover data is a good foundation when examining storm damages. When examining the spatial distribution the variable elevation showed a negative connection, probably regarding to the landscape structure, where the landscape becomes less fragmented with higher elevation. This could be connected to the examined variable wind exposure which shows that wind throws in open areas are larger and more frequent than wind throws in closed landscape areas are. Slope aspect showed that slopes against the wind were more exposed to storm damage than slopes away from the wind were. This might indicate that there has not been much turbulence. Tree growth values showed no differences between damaged and undamaged areas. Soil type was hard to examine because of moraine being the totally dominating soil type. A factor that probably has been important is that the soil was not frozen during the storm making the trees less stable.


The inaugural lecture which Mr. Fletcher gave at the Contact Lens Research Centre, London, in January, when he discussed the importance of standardising terms for contact lenses and the specification of contact lenses.


Due to the presence of dependence linkages, changing one element of a product (e.g., functions and components) can trigger changes to other related elements and lead to numerous possible propagation paths (i.e., the "snowball effect"). To address this issue, this paper proposes the matrix-based clustering method. Two matrix models are considered in this research: design structure matrix for the linkages of components and domain mapping matrix for the linkages of functions and parameters. After denoting some product elements as "target" representing the initial changes, the clustering method is used to form and classify the clusters according to the change impacts from target elements. The interfaces between the clusters are also identified to manage the propagation process. The purpose of this method is to provide the cluster and interface information for implementing change requests. In view of the methodical advancement, the clustering method can tailor a clustered matrix for specific change requests and handle two types of matrices. Two examples have been used to demonstrate and support the utility and flexibility of the proposed method to manage matrix-based change propagation.


We present a series of 18 Chandra observations (performed between 2003 and 2016) of the globular cluster Terzan 5 to study the properties of the transient neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary EXO 1745–248 in its quiescent state. We find an extremely variable source with variations in luminosities of ≥ 3 orders of magnitudes (between 3 ◊ 10 erg s≠1 and 2 ◊ 10 erg s≠1) on time scales from years down to only a few days. In addition, the X-ray spectra are always (throughout the full X-ray luminosity range) very hard with a typically photon index of ≥ 1.4 (when the quiescent spectra are fitted with an absorbed power-law model). Only at the highest luminosity the spectral fit requires an additional, soft component to obtain an acceptable fit. These quiescent properties are likely produced by strong variability in the low-level accretion rate in this system, although its behaviour is strikingly di erent from that observed for other neutron transients that are thought to still accrete in quiescence. We compare our results with these other systems and also with the transitional millisecond pulsar IGR J18245–2452. 5 Extreme quiescent variability of EXO 1745–248


In 1980, the glacial sculpture, shore displacement and lake sediments were studied on Prins Oscars Land, Nordaustlandet, Svalbard. The results indicate that there was a thin ice cover over the area in the Late Weichselian. An advance of Austfonna reached the southern part of the peninsula, whereas a mainly cold-based ice cap was built-up in the north. The maximal glaciation occurred earlier in the Weichselian. The evidence of a relatively insignificant glacial expansion in the Late Weichselian agrees with indications of large ice-free areas in other northern areas of Svalbard at this time. The ice retreated from the coast areas of Prins Oscars Land 11 000 to 10 000 years B.P. In the north there are indications of a considerably longer ice-free period in areas below the Postglacial marine limit. Since the deglaciation, shore displacement has been almost 45 m in the northern part of the peninsula and over 55 m in the south. A distinct terrace at about 15 m in the north and 20 m in the south was formed 8000 to 6500 years ago. Pumice is frequently associated with the terrace. The altitude of the terrace does not agree with the elevation of the marine limit or with other evidence of a relatively modest thickness of the ice cover. The explanation may be that the crustal uplift has been influenced by other factors in addition to the glacio-isostatic rebound. Hence, the value of the pumice levels as indicators of the Late Weichselian glacial conditions is also discussed.


As a novel conductive elastomer, magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) featuring both high sensitivity and wide working range have been employed as a new sensing material for flexible tactile sensors. Their sensing mechanism, that is, the spatial distribution rearrangement of particles under compression, completely differs from their conventional counterparts. The piezo-capacitive effect of MREs resulting from the unique mechanism of particles rearrangement is actually a response to the microscopic mechanical movement of particles. This nature brings a core concern on the intrinsic relationship between their mechanical and electrical properties. This study illuminates them from the perspective of electrical creep and recovery behavior of MREs. We give a meaningful analysis for the capacitance creep-recovery mechanism. The experimental fact strongly demonstrated that the particles rearrangement was the direct cause, while the strain creep was an indirect cause. All the behaviors were well interpreted by an evolution mechanism of the particles rearrangement driven by the mechanical strain creep of the flexible matrix under constant pressure. In simpler terms, the electrical creep was induced by the mechanical creep. We further explored the creep effect in practical applications and found a "self-healing" behavior, which indicated that the MRE sensors could obtain a stable sensing capability after a pre-processing.


Abstract This paper presents the design and analysis of a novel biaxial double-negative (DNG) metamaterial for electromagnetic cloaking operation in the microwave range. The proposed metamaterial exhibits DNG characteristics for the three axes (x, y, and z axes) wave propagation through the material. For the z-axis wave propagation, it shows resonance in the X-band and shows DNG characteristics there. Similarly, for the x-axis wave propagation, the material displays resonances in the multi-band (S-, C-, and X-bands) microwave frequency ranges with DNG characteristics at the S-, C-, and X-bands. The material exhibits DNG properties at the S- and C-bands for y-axis wave propagation as well. In the basic design, a new metamaterial structure was developed that was split into two arms. The commercially available finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)-based computer simulation technology (CST) Microwave Studio software was adopted to obtain the reflection and transmission parameters of the unit cell. The metamaterial was then used in designing a rectangular electromagnetic cloaking device where a metal cylinder was perfectly cloaked in the C-band region of the microwave spectra. The metamaterial shows near-zero refractive-index property as well in the cloaked zone. This is a novel and promising design in the electromagnetic paradigm for its biaxial DNG characteristics and rectangular cloaking operation.


Ancient China of the first century B.C., like ancient Greece, possessed more than one religion. There was the national state religion, worshipping the Supreme One (Tai-yi—, also called Heaven [Tien] and the Lord on High [Shang-di]), the Five Lords on High (Wu-di or Wu-shang-di), the imperial ancestors, and other divinities, whose sacrifices were supported by the imperial government. For the educated, there were two philosophical religions, Confucianism and Daoism. For the common people, there were gods, spirits, and ghosts of various sorts, whose care was attended to by such professionals as shamans (mostly female), fortune-tellers, physiognomists, mediums, and exorcists. Such animistic cults were despised by the more intelligent Confucians, who considered them as mere superstition. The famous Confucian, Sün-dz (ca. 320–ca. 235 B.C.), had indeed denied the existence of all spirits.


Generally, propagation of shallot used bulbs as planting material. Cutting bulbs is one way to decrease the use of planting material. Cutting bulbs cause decreasing of growth point per plant. By more small plant spacing can balance growth point decreased, so that it can reach optimal production. This research was conducted at Jl. Pasar I No. 89 Tanjung Sari, Medan in Mei-August 2013, using factorial randomized block design with two factor, i.e; cutting bulbs (no cutting bulbs, cutting 2 section, cutting 4 section) and plant spacing (10x15, 15x15 and 20x15 cm). Parameter observed were plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant and dry bulb weight per plot. The result of the research showed that no cutting bulbs significantly increased on plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant and dry bulb weight per plot which is higher than the other treatments. 10x15 cm plant spacing significantly increased on dry bulb weight per plot which is higher than the other treatments. Interaction between two factor not significantly effected on all parameter observed.


Abstract This paper analyses actual legal issues related to the protection of rights of a child deprived of parental care and the use of alternative care. Every child separated from the family has the right to receive adequate care and protection from the state. The author notes that currently, there is no unified deinstitutionalisation strategy and action plan in Georgia ensuring the protection of the rights of a child deprived of parental care. The qualitative research results, regulatory legal acts for alternative care and court practice are based on legal analysis. The authority of the guardianship and custody body lies in the application of alternative care. Thus, the aim of our study is to analyse alternative care issues regulated in Georgia, its enforcement in practice and to develop specific proposals and recommendations in order to eliminate the gaps related to the alternative care issues. The research has revealed that in order to successfully complete the deinstitutionalisation process in Georgia, it is necessary to develop a unified strategy and action plan. Children should be provided with services as close to family as possible: taking prevention measures, offering appropriate support services to families and considering the geographical access. It is necessary to allocate both material and human resources, including in terms of training.


Many spillway designs form surface jets that discharge in relatively large reservoirs. It has been often observed that strong liquid entrainment is caused by these surface jets. Velocity measurements at both model and prototype scale for Wanapum Dam, Washington, and at model scale for Brownlee Dam, Idaho, indicate that the jet configuration and strength affect the entrainment. This water entrainment can have important environmental and ecological impacts. In the abovementioned power dams, water coming from the powerhouse is attracted to the spillway, causing beneficial phenomena. The Total Dissolved Gas (TDG) produced in the spillway is diluted with low TDG water coming from the powerhouse. In addition, low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) waters from the powerhouse are rapidly oxygenated by mixing with the aerated spillway discharge. The mechanisms causing this entrainment are poorly understood. Most of the studies found in the literature explain the entrainment with turbulent mixing. Aeration and free-surface instabilities contribute to modify the turbulence structure and have an effect on the entrainment. Standard RANS numerical models fail to predict the degree of entrainment observed experimentally. In this work a study of the entrainment in free surface jets, with the objective of reveal the reasons for the poor performance of RANS solvers in predicting water entrainment, was carried out. A numerical model was developed to resolve the free surface using the commercial code FLUENT. A submerged round jet parallel to the free surface was modeled and the effect of turbulence models was analyzed. Following a brief description of the models, the paper discusses the mechanisms involved in entrainment in spillways by comparing models with available experimental results.


This paper presents the transistor-level analysis of the 64-bit static carry-lookahead adder (CLA). The carry blocks were implemented in two schemes: (A) 2-level and (B) multilevel. The logical effort technique was used to optimize the circuits for best performance. The analysis was verified with SPICE simulation, using 0.18 /spl mu/m, 1.8 V CMOS technology, and confirmed with small error. In addition, scheme B showed 12% improvement due to faster gate in carry block and less loading in (P,G) ones.


This paper presents an efficient closed-form solution (ECS) for acoustic emission(AE) source location in three-dimensional structures using time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements from N receivers, N ≥ 6. The nonlinear location equations of TDOA are simplified to linear equations. The unique analytical solution of AE sources for unknown velocity system is obtained by solving the linear equations. The proposed ECS method successfully solved the problems of location errors resulting from measured deviations of velocity as well as the existence and multiplicity of solutions induced by calculations of square roots in existed close-form methods.


Materials in thin-film structures for optical sensing applications must have multiple features: (i) enhancing the optical signal providing high optical sensitivity for the measurement of the interface processes, (ii) having appropriate chemical properties for supporting the adsorption of the molecules to be detected, (iii) having stability and selectivity. Development of materials that meet all these requirements is an ever lasting process with a lot of opportunities. In this work we propose porous silicon nanoparticles for the detection of biomolecules in plasmonic and Bragg multilayer enhanced Kretschmann-Raether ellipsometry configurations.


Introduction: Global consumption of antibiotics (ATBs) has increased by about 65% over the last 15 years. It was exponentially boosted in low and middle income countries. Bacterial resistance to ATBs is now one of the most serious threats to global health and is daily faced by all healthcare actors. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) published an action plan to combat ATBs resistance, encouraging member states to develop their own national action plans. The objective of our study is to provide a state of the art reflecting the consumption patterns of ATBs in pharmacy stores. Material and methods: Our descriptive study lasted for 3 months and included all consenting patients presenting to a pharmacy of the city of Rabat (Morocco) for antibiotic treatment either on medical prescription, pharmaceutical advice or self-medication. The total number of included patients was 150. Results: Among 166 ATBs dispensed to 150 study patients, beta-lactam family represents the most consumed one with a percentage of 28,3%. In terms of delivery methods evaluation, 57.3% of ATBs were delivered on medical prescription, 37.3% on self-medication and 5.4% on pharmacist's advice. The most frequent reasons for ATBs use are skin infections, followed by ENT and pulmonary infections and most requested administration routes are oral and topical ones. Conclusion: In order to optimize ATBs use in ambulatory care, it is important to emphasize the key role of city pharmacist in compliance with the ATBs prescription and dispensing recommendations.


This article proposes a multiple self-sensing gripper (MssGripper) driven by the shape memory alloy (SMA) and empowered by machine learning algorithms. The MssGripper can identify objects without external sensors. A single SMA wire can drive the gripper for self-sensing accurately. This article confirms the resistance of the SMA can reflect the phase transition and can be used for displacement and force prediction, as well as for object stiffness prediction. Through machine learning, a backpropagation neural network and long-short-term-memory (LSTM) are used to establish multiple self-sensing models for prediction. The robustness experimental results show that the self-sensing models based on LSTM have higher prediction accuracy. The average root-mean-square errors of displacement prediction and force prediction are 0.063 mm and 0.236 N, respectively, and the stiffness prediction error is less than 9.4%. Moreover, the accuracy of the classifier in stiffness identification is 97.2%. The MssGripper can accurately predict the displacement, force, and stiffness and identify objects such as springs, rubber bars and steel bars. The establishment of the models expands the novel idea of gripper sensing, which is beneficial to promoting miniaturization and compactness.


This paper introduced an electrical measurement system based on virtual instrument theory. This system uses the design method of component object model (COM) , which makes the software serviced and updated very easily. This system also uses the Access database, introducing the idea of "real-time measuring savings". The whole system doesnt increase much cost, simplify the measuring process and improve the efficiency, achieves the anticipated aims very well.


The 2022 Compound Drought and Heatwave (CDHW) caused widespread crop damage, water shortages, and wildfires across Europe. Our study analyzed this event's severity and return period (RP) and compared it with past mega CDHWs in Europe. The hardest‐hit areas were Iberian Peninsula, France, and Italy, where temperatures exceeded 2.5°C above normal, and severe droughts persisted from May to August. Using a Bayesian approach, we estimated the RP for the 2022 CDHW event, which was unprecedented in Northern Italy, Iberian Peninsula, and western parts of France, with RPs of 354, 420, and 280 years, respectively. The reduced soil moisture due to precipitation deficits and high temperatures contributed to the persistence and severity of drought, creating a positive feedback loop where dry soils led to even drier conditions. In light of our findings, it is evident that global warming poses increased risks of severe CDHW events, which are likely to increase.


Currently, vibratory bowl feeders are widely used in industry to feed small parts in assembly processes. The actual orientation of parts is achieved by various devices used in these feeders. However, each type of device performs only a limited function. The objective of this project was to develop a systematic approach which both analyses the geometrical and topological properties of parts designed in a CAD system and selects appropriate orientation devices to feed the designed parts.


The analyzing power in 28 GeV/c proton-proton elastic scattering was measured at p⊥2 = 5.95 and 6.56 (GeV/c)2 using a polarized proton target and an unpolarized proton beam at the Brookhaven National Laboratory AGS. Results indicate that the analyzing power, A, is rising sharply with p⊥2.


This paper presents a wideband circularly polarized millimeter-wave (mmw) antenna design. We introduce a novel 3-D-printed polarizer, which consists of several air and dielectric slabs to transform the polarization of the antenna radiation from linear to circular. The proposed polarizer is placed above a radiating aperture operating at the center frequency of 60 GHz. An electric field, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${E}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, radiated from the aperture generates two components of electric fields, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${E} _{\mathrm {x}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${E} _{\mathrm {y}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. After passing through the polarizer, both <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${E} _{\mathrm {x}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${E} _{\mathrm {y}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> fields can be degenerated with an orthogonal phase difference which results in having a wide axial ratio bandwidth. The phase difference between <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${E} _{\mathrm {x}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${E} _{\mathrm {y}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is determined by the incident angle <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\phi $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, of the polarization of the electric field to the polarizer as well as the thickness, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${h}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, of the dielectric slabs. With the help of the thickness of the polarizer, the directivity of the radiation pattern is increased so as to devote high-gain and wideband characteristics to the antenna. To verify our concept, an intensive parametric study and an experiment were carried out. Three antenna sources, including dipole, patch, and aperture antennas, were investigated with the proposed 3-D-printed polarizer. All measured results agree with the theoretical analysis. The proposed antenna with the polarizer achieves a wide impedance bandwidth of 50% from 45 to 75 GHz for the reflection coefficient less than or equal −10 dB, and yields an overlapped axial ratio bandwidth of 30% from 49 to 67 GHz for the axial ratio ≤ 3 dB. The maximum gain of the antenna reaches to 15 dBic. The proposed methodology of this design can apply to applications related to mmw wireless communication systems. The ultimate goal of this paper is to develop a wideband, high-gain, and low-cost antenna for the mmw frequency band.


It is hard to make a clear status about the link between instant messaging and spelling. We dug into 2 areas that found no clear answer in the literature. In a first study, we compared the amount of modified words produced in instant messaging by French and American adolescents (both orthographies are opaque but cultural and economic aspects differ). Results showed the first produced more modified words than the latter. These aspects would matter to explain the amount of modified words. In a second study, we compared the amount of misspellings on paper and modified pseudo-words in instant messaging. There were 3 groups (made of good and poor French spellers) for 3 exposure phases (12 weeks): not exposed to instant messaging; exposed during 6 weeks; exposed during 12 weeks. Results showed poor spellers produced more misspellings than good spellers – only for the second group. There would be a risk for poor spellers whose spelling is being consolidated.


The water retention behaviour of partially saturated MX-80 bentonite with pure water is relatively well investigated. However, in practical cases, the water contains a number of chemical compounds which affects the bentonite behaviour. In particular, bentonite is used in buffer applications of geological repositories for spent nuclear fuel, where the concentration of total dissolved solids in groundwater is expected to increase significantly with time. This paper investigates water retention behaviour of MX-80 type bentonite partially saturated with deionised water as well as 1M NaCl solution. In the experiments the specific volume of bentonite has been kept approximately constant.


Summary Although UNIX is considered a very stable and secure platform, the development of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) is essential as current and future generations of hackers are continuously attempting to undermine its integrity. The empirical experiment of multiple simultaneous threat detection system proved that use of hybrid data fusion model of Bayesian, Dempster Shafer and extended Dempster Shafer increased an average 20% threat detection rate. The false positive rate also went down by 51%. The use of Extended Dempster Shafer to combine probability mass of 4 intrusion detection (Multisensor) systems increased precision of threat detection by 36% whilst the initial probability mass of the Dempster Shafer of Multisensor was only 0.03. Set Cover as a middle tier data fusion tool produced incredible results, particularly in data grouping by reducing the population size from 2273 to 429 that amazingly minimise the computational processing cpu and memory overhead cost and time. In order to improve the results of the precision of the multiple simultaneous threat detection system, as a next step of my research is that is an extension to the Bayesian and Dempster Shafer theory. GEP presents a better evidential combination and separate propositions and the decisions.


Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), is a critical infrastructure that traffic users highly rely on. For the security risks caused by the low-cost jammer, this paper proposes an improved algorithm of the optimal weight coefficient base on the multi-antenna arrays. Via the simulation and field testing, it shows that our proposed has excellent anti-interference performance, and the probability of missed detection and false detection of the prototype is 40.073% and 8.0146% respectively. This work has great significance to the research and development of single-frequency anti-jamming, high-precision, real-time vehicle-based GNSS receivers in the future.


Open innovation consists in the continual expansion to sources of innovation outside the firm boundaries and has been largely driven, over the recent past years, by the steady growth of R&D costs and the widespread networking applications of ICT. Collaborative agreements with universities and public research centers are one of the major results of open innovation practices together with a notable increase in the exchange of know-how between firms. In addition, in "science-based" industries such as the pharmaceutical and, more generally, biotechnology, we are witnessing increasing roles played by highly specialized small research companies and the so-called "innovation brokers". These factors are increasingly modifying the traditional profile of R&D organization, within which the role of R&D personnel often changes. Matrix and network structures have been extensively adopted, and the so-called "integrators of knowledge and expertise" (T-men) are gaining importance as "professionals" within R&D departments. Accordingly, R&D staff managerial models are changing. These models found their cultural and organizational roots in the R&D management approach that can be traced back to Japanese and German companies. The aim of this paper is to investigate the correlation patterns between open innovation strategy, organization of R&D departments and R&D staff management policies. The results of the study are based on the analysis of a case study of an Italian multinational firms operating in the food sector.


The history of the suction table, which was invented by the author, is summarized. The latest model for teaching purposes is in seven sections so it can be dismantled, packed, and shipped. Some recent treatments using the moisture chamber suction table are described. The suction-mister system invented by Stefan Michalski is also described; this system is for local applications of ultrasonic mist/gelatin solution for setting down flaking paint or local stain removal. Ways are discussed for avoiding problems during overall and local treatments with the suction table. -- AATA


Conventional control depends on the mathematical model of the plant being controlled. When this model is uncertain, intelligent controllers promise better performance. We aim in this paper to compare conventional control to fuzzy logic control (FLC) experimentally. This will be achieved by constructing a hardware station comprising a plant and implementing different control algorithms for the same load conditions or disturbances. FLC requires expertise knowledge of the process operation for FLC parameter setting, and the controller can be only as good as the expertise involved in the design. To make the controller less dependent on the quality of the expert knowledge, we investigate different adaptation schemes to compensate for this deficiency and propose a practical adaptive fuzzy logic controller (AFLC).


The present invention relates to a double-needled surgical suture having position identification portions formed on both ends thereof, respectively, such that, when suturing a tube-shaped tissue such as a blood vessel, an urethra, a ureter, a vas deferens, a bronchus, or an intestine, the practitioner can easily recognize the suture's suturing positions and left/right sides, thereby guaranteeing an accurate and safe suturing operation. Particularly, the present invention relates to a double-needled surgical suture having needles coupled to both ends of a filament, respectively, characterized in that position identification portions are formed on both ends of the filament, respectively, so as to indicate the positions in which the suture is sutured.


The invention relates to a miniature metal-based grinding wheel on-line electrolytic electric spark dressing device and a miniature metal-based grinding wheel on-line electrolytic electric spark dressing method, and belongs to the technical field of mechanical manufacturing. The device comprises a mechanical movement system, a power supply system, a working solution system and a control system. According to the characteristic that an electrode has loss during processing, a miniature grinding wheel serves as the electrode, so that a metal bonding agent on the grinding wheel electrode is influenced by electrolytic electric spark effect to be corroded, the grinding wheel is dressed, the dressing efficiency is high, damage to abrasive particles is small, the cost is low, and the device and the method are very suitable for off-line or on-line dressing of the miniature metal-based grinding wheel.


In international politics and Competition global power, to government control, and disposal of any threats to peace and security, Regulations imposed by the UN. One of the provisions is Chapter VII of the UN Chapter. According to this Chapter, the UN Security Council can perform the necessary actions to implement it. One of this Actions is Stopping all or part of the government's economic relations, That under Economic sanctions be checked.in the first place, Economic sanctions are used in order to control or Undermine the state's economic and Pushing its to Changes in domestic and international politics. In the current era, the aim of sanctions is changing political regimes. But it can be more accurate, is changed Heterogeneous political culture against with the dominant International Culture. For example, Economic sanctions that be Applies by United States of America against Iran and Different economic systems. Iran enjoys a different political culture and Iran's economic system is not in the framework of the capitalist economy; As a Dominant culture on a global hawks. Currently this point there is that, The One component new and stable of human rights is respect for differences, interests and different political cultures. But what is clear is that the national interests of the great powers of capitalism, is incompatible with different political cultures. Hence the capitalism have a capabilities of growth in an own particular culture. Thus sanctions are primarily a tool to stop opposing political culture. But what exists in sanctions against Iran and the own specific political and cultural, specific Definition of Consume freedom and political life, that, On the one, have following Failure of the sanctions in some cases, On the other hand, has triggered specific definition of the resistance of the economy.


Through content analysis of Google Zeitgeist's monthly top 10 lists from countries around the world, this study investigated global Internet search patterns that, in effect, let the public speak for itself rather than answer questions about interests and agendas in a solicited manner. These lists were examined within the context of political differences (free, partially free and not free, determined by the Freedom House Country Ratings), socioeconomic differences (high SES, medium SES and low SES, determined by GDP per capita) and cultural differences (masculine, mixed and feminine, based on Hofstede's cultural gender index). Statistical differences emerged in the SES and culture categories, while the political category did not yield sufficient data for formal analysis. This new, naturalistic approach to understanding the public stands to increase in relevance and precision as the number of global Internet users and concomitant availability of user data continue to grow.


To assess drinking patterns in Costa Rica the extent of alcoholic beverage consumption was assessed in a nationwide survey conducted in 1980-82 involving a representative sample of 5244 men and women 15 years of age and older. Respondents were assigned to 6 categories: nondrinker quasiabstainer moderate drinker excessive drinker alcoholic and former drinker. Overall the findings suggested that 10% of Costa Ricans over 14 years of age are excessive drinkers and an additional 5% are alcoholics. However the data indicate sharply different drinking patterns among men and women. The nondrinker and quasiabstainer categories included high percentages of women and low percentages of men; likewise the percentages of men in the moderate drinker excessive drinker and alcoholic categories were substantially higher than the percentages of women. Males with limited schooling and unskilled jobs were most likely to have a drinking problem. Drinking was higher among younger women working women and women with more education suggesting an association with enhanced status. Alcoholism rates were comparable among cohabiting married and separated men whereas the prevalence of alcoholism was somewhat higher among separated or divorced women than among those in other marital groupings. A subsequent survey of respondents initially classified as excessive drinkers found that 10% had become alcoholics within 1 year. 75% of alcoholics reported a complete loss of the ability to control drinking behavior after having 1 drink. Former alcoholics attributed their abandonment of the habit to health problems religious bans on drinking or participation in Alcoholics Anonymous.


Evaluation and consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection control measures in schools. Findings of focus group interviews among teachers in Germany Introduction: In order to stem the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there were wide-ranging changes in the school setting from March 2020 onwards, characterised by changing teaching formats (alternating between distance, face-to-face and hybrid teaching) and the implementation of infection control measures. Aim and Method: The aim of the present study was to investigate the evaluation of these measures and the consequences for teachers in Germany and to formulate best practice examples for school education in the further course of the pandemic. For this purpose, focus group interviews were conducted with 17 teachers at four schools and evaluated by content analysis. Results: It was found that the teachers felt burdened by teaching under pandemic conditions and that their health behaviour had deteriorated. In addition, new pandemic-related fears arose and the implementation of infection control measures (implementation of AHA-L rules (distance, hygiene, mask, ventilation), performance of SARS-CoV-2 tests) was accompanied by workrelated and health-related problems. The quality of training of prospective teachers was also questioned. The introduction of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and the relatively high ranking of teachers in prioritisation was experienced as a relief and very much welcomed. In places, difficulties in communicating and implementing infection control measures were reported, resulting in the formulation of best practices, such as the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 testing by trained staff or the formulation of school form-specific measures. Conclusions: The stress caused by teaching during the pandemic and the negative development of health behaviour represent a relevant public health risk. For this reason, the idea of prevention and health promotion should or must be intensified even more during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, further developed in view of the pandemic specifics and applied in the living environments. Keywords: Corona – COVID-19 – school – teachers


Municipalities and other local government agencies seeking to find the right consulting engineer are advised to start with a request for qualifications instead of the traditional request for proposal. In this way they can measure a candidate firm's intangibles, such as depth of experience, familiarity with municipal work, ability to achieve rapport with a municipal client and expertise in local regulations before thinking about price. Long-term contracts with single firms and regular monitoring of performance are also advised.


Several scarabs from Levantine and Cypriot sites display particular typological characteristics and an evaluation of their archaeological contexts, distribution pattern and designs point towards a Phoenician production of the 9th - 8th centuries BCE located in the kingdom of Tyre, possibly shared by a workshop in Cyprus.


In recent time, the recurring suicide events for the young women in some rural areas are in sight. These events have some deep social reasons except for those superficial and direct ones. Both the state and society should promote the educational level for the farmers, strengthen their law consciousness, and improve the spiritual civilization and the security situation for the rural areas on the basis of strengthening and improving the economy, education, culture, laws and female affairs in these areas. Only with such efforts could the lawful rights for all the young women in the rural areas be protected effectively.


In the paper, four nonlinear functions describing forces occurring between the teeth in a single gear transmission are discussed. It is assumed that gear teeth can have characteristics of a soft as well as of a hard type. In the study, a discrete-continuous model consisting of two ponderable shafts torsionally deformed and four rigid bodies is used. Considerations are performed by means of the wave method which enables to determine nonlinear dynamic loads in steady as well as in transient states.