Biosensors are systems that can perform quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of substances in liquid or gas environment through their biological recognition sites and transform the acquired data into detectable signals. Biosensors are able to detect physical changes (i.e. as density, mass concentration, etc.) by means of recognition sites and correlate them with electrical or optical quantities (i.e. current, voltage and impedance). In this study, three molecularly imprinted pencil graphite electrodes with differing numbers of choline recognition sites, at E-1 M, E-3 M and E-5 M concentration, were used as electrochemical biosensors. An increase in choline receptor concentration on the electrode surface was expected to correlate with an increase in PGE surface bound choline and thus lead to electrical changes. The study was conducted in a three-electrode cell with Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode, platinum wire as the counter electrode and PGE as the working electrode. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance measurements were conducted in 10 mM phosphate buffer solution containing 5mM K3[FeCN6] -3/-4 redox pair. As expected, as increasing amount of choline was bound to the complementary recognition sites on choline imprinted electrodes, a correlating change in current, voltage and impedance was observed. The dynamic detection range for choline expanded as the choline concentration imprinted on the electrodes increased. Using the E-1 M PGE electrode, 72 pM limit of detection, up to 7.2 nM limit of linearity was attained.


Local and generalized bone loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a manifestation of disease progression or a negative consequence. Various endogenous and exogenous factors have an effect on bone loss.To study the association between the underlying osteoimmunological and immunological RA markers and local bone loss (erosion score) according to the fracture risk.There are presented the preliminary results of a prospective long-term research to study the outcomes of local and generalized bone loss in 44 women with rheumatoid arthritis, whose age at baseline was 56.8 ± 6.9 years, the duration of follow-up 8.3 ± 1.5 years. In all patients at baseline and in dynamics serum RF, ACCP, CRP levels were measured by standard methods; serum IL-6, RANKL, CTX-I, osteocalcin and BAP (bone alkaline phosphatase) were measured by ELISA. The immunological control group was composed of healthy donors (n = 12). X-rays of hands and feet were evaluated using the Sharp-Van der Hejde method, in both groups it was observed a significant increase in the erosions score (p < 0.05). Bone mineral density(BMD) was measured at lumbar spine (L1-L4) and total hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and in dynamics (at baseline in all patient by Hologic). The 10-year probability of fractures was measured using the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) in 41 (93%) patients. A high risk of fractures was estimated in 25 (61%) patients, a low risk in 16 (39%). Statistical analysis was carried out using standard parametric and non-parametric methods in Statistica. Pearson tests were used for assessing the correlation between serum levels of these molecules and erosion scores in RA.Over the follow-up period, 12 (48%) patients from high-risk group and 2 (12%) patients of low-risk group has had peripheral fractures (p = 0.01). At baseline and in dynamics in the high-risk group it was noted the higher erosion score than in the low-risk group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively), while the delta of erosion between the groups did not significantly differ. The correlation analysis showed that in the high-risk group the erosion score and in dynamics was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the baseline CRP level. In the low-risk group the erosion score was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with osteocalcin level (at baseline and in dynamics for both indicators), and the erosion delta was positively correlated with ACCP positivity at the second visit. In the same group, there was a significant positive correlation between the baseline erosion score and CTX-I level in dynamics. No reliable correlation between erosion score and other immunological markers levels was reported.Preliminary analysis of long-term follow-up results showed an increase in erosion score in the high and low fracture risk groups, and fractures in the high-risk group. Higher baseline CRP values in the high- risk group were associated with a larger count of erosions both initially and in dynamics. The increase in erosion score (delta) in the low-risk group was influenced by ACCP positivity (visit in dynamics) and it was noted that the level of osteocalcin, marker reflecting osteoblast activity, was positively correlated with the erosion score, possibly reflecting remodeling/bone turnover activity.None declared


Platelets and leucocytes release a number of substances that can activate or inhibit other circulating cells, and may reciprocally interact to form mixed aggregates. Stimulated leucocytes may release strong platelet agonists (1-3) or inhibitors of platelet aggregation (4-7), thus making the study of their interaction with platelets a very exciting and puzzling subject. When a turbidimetric technique is used to evaluate leucocyte/ platelet interaction in vitro, the change in optical density may be due to a change in the number of either cell type. This may not be relevant in the presence of maximal aggregation, but it limits evaluation of threshold changes in platelet activation. We recently observed that stimulation of human platelet-rich plasma or washed platelet suspensions with low concentrations of aggregating agents induced a change in shape or limited reversible aggregation, as measured by optical density; but reduced platelet count up to 10% -15% , as evaluated by a platelet analyzer (Baker 810 Instrument; A. De Mori, Milan, Italy). Using the latter method, we studied human platelet response to a stable analogue of endoperoxide (U46619) in the presence of autologous polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN). U46619 was used in two dosage ranges: 60-150 nmol/1, which induced only shape change; and 210-450 nmol/1, which induced irreversible aggregation, as measured by optical aggregometer. Platelet shape


AbstractNowadays, English is the most important language, including the students who study in STKIP Situs Banten. To be fluent in English students have to increase their ability in writing the paragraph. The Researcher used a flipped classroom learning model since the Covid-19 Pandemic struck Indonesia and the classroom meeting cannot be assessed. This model incorporates dynamic learning; understudy inclusion and present-day innovation by utilizing ICT. In a flipped classroom, the material was given through learning recordings, instructional exercise,s and PowerPoint material by means of WhatsApp group that understudies saw in their homes before the virtual class is acquired. The key objective of this investigation is to explore the practicality of the flipped classroom learning model for teaching paragraph writing. The analyst took the examples from second-semester students in the English instruction division of STKIP Situs Banten. After this activity research measure has been done, this flipped examination lobby learning model can be utilized as a reasonable model for growing understudies limit in section composing. The researcher had dissected that there are a few reasons which drive this occurred: understudy's inspiration, understudy's Writing propensities, students autonomously, and varieties of alluring material.
Keywords: Flipped classroom learning model, Information and Computer Technology, Paragraph writing.


The physical and mathematical aspects of folds, which characterize the shape of artifacts made of a shin sheet of paper, are studied. The present aim is to clarify the reason why shapes of origami works are generally characterized by ragged surfaces consisting of convex and concave surfaces divMed by sharp edges. The following conclusions are obtained: first, the ragged surface consisting of complex sharp folds is the natural characteristic deformation of a thin sheet of paper; second, the area of the spherical image for a comptex of folds, which is the integrat curvature of the domain, must be vanished; third, the above condition is satisfied only by compensation of positive and negative areas of spherical images corresponding to convex and concave areas on the origami surfaces. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to study physical and mathematical aspects of a fold and of a complex of folds. Folds are found in abundance in natural creatures as in artifacts around us. However, the origin of this common geometric feature may be different from one thing to another. In this paper, the theoretical basis of folds for artifacts, which are fabricated basically through inextensional deformation from a thin flat sheet, is sought. Origami is, of course, the most typical one in this category (Miura, 1989a). OBSERVATION OF A CRUSHED SHEET OF PAPER Figure 1 is a photograph of a sheet of paper crushed arbitrarily by hand. It represents the characteristic shape of surfaces deformed from a sheet of paper. The most remarkable feature observed is its ragged shape consisting of many sharp ridges (folds). It can never be a smooth surface. Why is the shape so ragged? The second feature of the surface is that it can be divided into convex and concave regions. And these two regions are usually divided by sharp ridges.


Information on solar availability is crucial in the study of both passive building designs and active solar energy systems. There are still many locations within different climate zones worldwide that do not have solar radiation measurements. Correlation between solar radiation and the more commonly measured meteorological variables such as temperature and sunshine hours is useful for locations with no measured solar radiation data. This is also useful for locations with measured solar radiation data, in that any missing data due to equipment breakdown or malfunction can be modelled. Global solar radiation (GSR) was modelled for 96 cities in different climate zones across China using artificial neural networks (ANNs). The novelty of this study is the climate zone approach, by which locations with similar climates were modelled together. Climate classification was based on both the traditional thermal climates and the solar climates. Two sets of models were developed based on measured diurnal temperatures and sunshine hours. Model performance in terms of the predictive power of ANN solar radiation models was evaluated through the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSEC). Error analysis of the predicted solar radiation as compared with the measured data was also conducted for each of the 96 cities.


The proceses generated by the linguistics contact are not produced in a chaotic way, but according to some vectors originated by the correlation of forces among the participants, and follow, generally, the direction of the internal tendencies of development of the language/s with high status (LHS). However, the influences among the participants are mutual and the language/s with low status (LLS) may leave its/their marks in the process, though not with the same strenght as the LHS.


The purpose is to study and analyse the prospects for development of economic aspects of organic beekeeping in Ukraine.The article deals with the main trends of greening of life, in particular those related to the beekeeping industry. The most promising activities are outlined and a number of factors that can be used by the entities to form the entrepreneurial potential of rural theories are identified. Beekeeping is the oldest human industry with a centuries-old history and Ukraine is recognized in the world as the homeland of cultural beekeeping. This branch of agriculture in the country provides both pollination of entomophilous crops and the production of various beekeeping products for the needs of the population and for various industries. Methodology. The expediency of introducing organic beekeeping methods is reflected. Requirements for production of organic beekeeping according to the Ukrainian legislation and regarding the requirements of the EU are covered. Results. The certification procedure is described and the certification bodies operating in the territory of Ukraine are characterized. The trends and the state of the organic beekeeping market are reflected, the concepts of "price" and "value" of organic produce are defined. A number of factors affecting the functioning of the beekeeping industry were identified, risks identified and measures taken to minimize them. Value/originality. For effective functioning of the industry it is suggested to use marketing channels and marketing strategies based on foreign experience and taking into account the Ukrainian specificity. The problems of organic beekeeping have been generalized, the main priorities have been identified and the ways of realization of the set tasks have been proposed. Therefore for the effective functioning of the organic beekeeping industry, it is first necessary: to use available natural and climatic potential (protected areas and certified agricultural lands); to develop special regulations and certification system that are adapted to international and European requirements and implement them in production and society; to create an effective mechanism of state support for enterprises that transform their own production and are in the transition period (low credit rates, legal support, compensation for the cost of organic certification) and control; to support and stimulate the development of the organic market through the dissemination of information, the establishment of advisory services and research and educational centers; to enter the international market of organic products as a finished product with its own brand and added value and not just raw materials. All this will increase the number of organic enterprises, employment and the income of producers.


The effects of different molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth conditions on material qualities of In0.52Al0.48As on InP were investigated. Investigated parameters were growth temperature and As overpressure. A range of these two parameters within which InAlAs grows under the As‐rich condition was first determined by reflection high‐energy electron diffraction. Five different InAlAs samples were grown within this range and characterized by double crystal x‐ray diffraction, Hall measurement, and photoluminescence. Based on the results of these characterizations, the optimal MBE growth condition for InAlAs was determined.


A comparative study of the effect of annealing in reduced oxygen pressure on the electrical transport properties of (La1−xNdx)0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1) epitaxial thin films and bulk materials has been carried out. The epitaxial films grown by pulsed laser ablation were in situ annealed in an oxygen atmosphere of 2×10−6–760 Torr at 700 °C for 1 h. It is found that the electrical transport behavior of the epitaxial film is insensitive to the annealing pressure. A similar thermal treatment on the bulk materials at 5 mTorr oxygen ambient, however, caused a dramatic change in their resistivity-temperature dependence. Our results suggest that the annealing has a prominent effect on the properties of grain boundary, which plays an important role in determining the electrical transport behavior of polycrystalline manganites.


International diversification has hurt US-based investors for over 30 years, but the long-run case for it remains relevant. Both financial theory and common sense favor international diversification, which is buttressed by empirical evidence that is very supportive at longer horizons and for active strategies. Finally, it would be dangerous to extrapolate the post-1990 outperformance of US equities, as it mainly reflects rising relative valuations. If anything, the current richness of US equities may point to prospective underperformance.


This experiment was carried out in the fish production facilities of the Federal University of Lavras, MG – Brazil, to study relative growth and allometric coefficients of body components on body weight of Nile tilapia. Fishes, weighing between 150 and 790g, were randomly sampled during every period of growing, have been 93 of the Chitralada strain and 78 of the Supreme. After 24 hours of fasting, the fishes were insensibilized (thermal shock), slaughtered (anoxia), weighed and dissected to obtain body components weights. The allometric equation y = axb of Huxley (1932) and the statistic t (a = 0,01) were used for hypothesis test of b=1 and than the growth of the body components parts were classified in: isogonic (b=1), later (b>1) and early (b 1 and b<1. Chitralada strain showed early growth for carcass and filleting remnants, late for skin andisogonic for fillet. On the other hand, Supreme showed isogonic growth for carcass, skin and filleting remnants and late growth for fillet, that is desirable for meat production.
KEY WORDS: Allometry, fillet, fish, Supreme, Thai.


The extraction of contour lines from Grid DEM is a primary function in computer-aided cartography and GIS.The Grid DEM is being the main data source of elevation data due to the fast development of RS data acquiring technology.This paper designs new efficient algorithms to extract contour lines based on ordinary sorting index and bucket index.The algorithms facilitate the determination of heading point of contour line in massive Grid DEM,which has not been recognized carefully in existing research.The result is very encouraging on efficiency issue.We compared the result with our previous work based on interval tree and found that the algorithm based on the third index structure is optimal concerning the time of pre-processing,querying,runtime memory and easiness to implement.


In this work we consider multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication over atmospheric turbulence channels and propose two novel free space optical communication approaches based on polarization shift keying (POLSK). The first approach combines MIMO POLSK with pulse position modulation (PPM) constituting a good compromise between power and spectral efficiencies compared to standard uses of PPM and POLSK. The second approach employs POLSK in an optical spatial modulation based MIMO architecture and introduces a spectrally efficient scheme that also offers better error performance gains than other spectrally efficient modulation techniques. We also consider error protection for the proposed systems and show the importance of unequal error protection for the bits corresponding to different signalling dimensions. We provide theoretical analyses to evaluate the performance of both systems over atmospheric turbulence channels and provide average bit error probability bounds. The theoretical derivations are also corroborated via extensive simulation results and comparisons with conventional modulation approaches.


Attention tests are among the most widely used for characterizing one of the most important human cognitive domains. However, their link with emotional processes and physiological reactions is not fully clear and often debated. To this extent, in this pilot we used commercially available tools for administering a validated attentional test and, at the same time, to unobtrusively record physiological parameters related to the autonomic nervous system activity in a small cohort of young, healthy individuals. Preliminary results demonstrated the feasibility of this approach and suggested that the methodology employed was somewhat sensitive to detect changes related to the task administered in the cohort studied. Such results would probably pave the way for a future exploitation of integrated hardware/software systems tailored at detecting psychophysiological changes eventually occurring during cognitive testing administration.


Waste tyres have accumulated at landfills in South Africa, some are illegally dumped in open spaces or sold. This work discusses the waste tyre problem in South Africa as well as the environmental and economic benefits of waste tyre utilization for green fuels. The perceptions of government, industry and community on waste tyre management were investigated. To achieve the objectives a triangulation procedure was followed. This included personnel interviews, questionnaires and literature analysis. The research has shown that lack of knowledge particularly in the informal sector contributed to the waste tyre management problem. The lack of clear and focused legislation guiding the disposal and recycling of waste tyres remains a challenge. Pyrolysis was found to have the potential to address the waste tyre problem with the potential to reduce environmental impact and also contribute towards a green economy.


Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is a mitochondrial NAD+-dependent deacetylase which is highly expressed in the heart, and which increases mitochondrial ATP production. In failing hearts, reduced expression of SIRT3 is associated with myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, we hypothesized that reduced expression of SIRT3 may causally contribute to contractile dysfunction in failing hearts. In 24 week-old mice with global knockout of SIRT3 (SIRT3 KO), echocardiography revealed decreased ejection fraction (-10%), decreased left ventricular posterior wall thickness (-11%) and increased endsystolic volume (+26%; all p<0.05) compared to wildtypes. Following 4 weeks of transverse aortic constriction, SIRT3 KO mice showed a more pronunced decrease of ejection fraction (-13%) and a more pronounced increase in endsystolic volume (+39%) compared to wildtypes undergoing transverse aortic constriction, accompanied by an increased heart wheight-to-tibia length ratio (+41%; all p<0.05). In isolated working hearts of 8 week-old SIRT3 KO mice, a reduction in aortic developed pressure (-17%) and cardiac output (-25%) was associated with decreased rates of palmitate oxidation (-33%) and glucose oxidation (-40%), decreased myocardial oxygen consumption (-17%), decreased cardiac efficiency (cardiac work/oxygen consumption; -33%), but increased rates of glycolysis (+40%; all p<0.05). These metabolic derangements were associated with compromised respiratory capacity of isolated mitochondria using glutamate (-16%) or palmitoyl-carnitine as a substrate (-36%; all p<0.05). Thus, lack of SIRT3 impairs cardiac mitochondrial and contractile function and accelerates the development of contractile dysfunction following transverse aortic constriction, suggesting that reduced expression of SIRT3 may contribute to the development of contractile dysfunction in failing hearts.


Once relatively cumbersome and accurate only after careful calibration and long reading times, global positioning systems (GPS), have come a long way in the last 10 years. These now compact satellite receivers can work in real time to at least centimeter accuracy, sometimes better. Integrated computer design and digital onboard data systems, combined with automated machine controls, mean that the days of physically surveying by setting out may soon be coming to a close. This article provides an overview of recent advances and developments in GPS technology with an emphasis on highway engineering and design applications.


COPD is a growing cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. However, there is little data on the burden of COPD in India, especially in the rural population. Aim: We aimed to study the prevalence and risk factors for COPD in a rural population in India using the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study protocol. Methods: 3600 male and female subjects above the age of 25 yrs residing in 22 rural villages near Pune were randomly selected to participate in the study. 10 trained field workers visited their homes, and after obtaining written informed consent, administered the BOLD questionnaire and performed pre and post-bronchodilator spirometry using ndd sprirometer. COPD was defined as post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC Results: 2699 subjects (M: 49.9%; F: 50.1%) with a mean age 43.8±14.5 yrs consented. Acceptable spirometry was obtained from 1745 subjects. The overall prevalence of COPD was found to be 5.1% (M-6.5%; F-3.4%) and 85% of these never smoked. Male gender [Adj OR: 1.93 (CI 1.2-3.3); p=0.01] and increasing age [OR: 2.01 (CI 1.7-2.4); p Conclusion: COPD is more common amongst non-smokers in the rural population in India although smoking is a risk factor for COPD. Smokers who use biomass fuel for cooking have a significant additive risk of COPD.


Colleges and universities face significant risks related to intercollegiate athletics. Institutions must comply with literally thousands of NCAA rules, as well as privacy and gender-equity laws and safety policies. The consequences of noncompliance with rules, laws, or policies have ranged from losses of scholarships, competitions, and revenue to scandals, lawsuits, and personal tragedies. The traditional approach to athletics compliance has been to apply preventive efforts equally against all potential lapses and violations. This book suggests a new approach to athletics compliance: the use of risk management. It describes the experience of one institution that carefully and thoroughly applied the tools and principles of risk management to intercollegiate athletics. This book should be especially useful for higher-education administrators who must guard their institutions against risk, as well as for athletics compliance professionals who help their athletics programs stay in compliance.


We present an analysis of technical causes and corresponding perceptual dimensions of the quality of transmitted speech. Four experts annotated speech files of a common database according to a methodology which is currently being discussed for the future ITU-T Recommendation P.TCA. The annotations are analyzed with respect to their frequency and consistency, and compared to overall quality values as well as perceptual dimension scores, obtained either from subjective experiments or from instrumental models. This way, links can be drawn between technical causes and perceptual dimensions in diagnostic quality assessment of transmitted speech, and the proposed procedures of several upcoming ITU-T Recommendations can be initially validated.


Youth is a tale of disillusion which is presented by the sharp contrast between narrator Marlow and seaman Marlow.The image of the East and the Western voice also indicates Conrad's weak skeptical attitude to British colonialism.But because of Conrad's passion for Britain,this dissatisfaction is expressed implicitly.The critical awareness of British colonialism in Youth is very weak and light.


PEDIATRICIANS practice medicine in a setting which inevitably exposes them to the influence of social customs and beliefs. They are drawn into the midst of family relationships and cannot fail to notice the interplay of forces affecting the development of the new generation. Change is a sign of life in the social order; it should be cultivated sympathetically as a source of improvement—not opposed futilely by prejudice as though a threat.
 It follows that pediatricians are obliged to examine their role in society continuously or surely they will be found unqualified to exercise appropriate influence and guidance. In the contemporary adjustment of pediatrics to the social trends, practitioners and teachers must acquire orientation in many areas not covered in their training.


Thirty Corsican "autumn maquis" honeys were characterized by the typical combination of autumnal taxa: Arbutus unedo, Hedera helix, Smilax aspera, Rosmarinus officinalis, and two Asteraceae pollen forms. Corsican origin was characterized by the diversity of the taxa's biogeographical origins and significant presence of Castanea sativa and Quercus sp. Volatile fractions of "autumn maquis" honeys were dominated by isophorone and 3,4,5-trimethylphenol. The latter is reported in A. unedo honey for the first time. Otherwise, both A. unedo flower and "autumn maquis" honeys exhibited high contents of isophorone derivatives. H. helix honey exhibited phenylacetaldehyde, benzyl nitrile, 3-hydroxy-4-phenylbutan-2-one and nonanal as major compounds, which were scarcely represented in the studied "autumn maquis" honey samples.


The mechanical characteristics of a laminated plate can be tailored by adjusting the fiber orientation angle of each orthotropic lamina. To find the fiber orientation angle of each lamina that maximizes the fundamental frequency, previous works analyses using various optimization algorithms have been performed so far. However, the solution space becomes significantly larger as the number of combinations in orientation angles increases. Thus the optimization process takes much more time. This paper sets up the orientation angles to discrete design variables, such as 15°, 30°, etc. Genetic algorithm is employed to find the optimal solutions. The CFRP rectangular composite plates with 8, 12 and 16 layers are considered as an example using the Ritz method for finding the eigenvalues. Two sets of classical boundary conditions are used as edge conditions. It was revealed that the fundamental frequency makes about 5% difference from the optimal value if it is in 30° steps and about 24% in 90° steps.


This paper presents a study on defects in pearlite lamella structure of high carbon steel by means of finite-element method(FEM) simulation. High-carbon pearlite steel wire is characterized by its nano-sized microstructure feature of alternation ferrite and cementite. The likely fatigue crack is located on interface of the lamella structure where the maximum amplitude of the longitudinal shear stress and transverse shear stress was calculated during cyclic loading. The FEM is proposed for maximum shear stress from loading of lamella structure, and a method is predicted to analyze the likely fatigue crack generation. It is possible to obtain the important basic data which can be guaranteed in the ductility of high carbon steel wire by using FEM simulation.


Following the Internet's widespread adoption, much economic work has studied 'online platforms': firms that mainly interact with consumers in cyberspace. This article surveys such work, focusing on the ways in which traditional economic models have been adapted to incorporate novel aspects made relevant by the Internet. This literature can be divided roughly into two categories: broad-brush study of the competition between platforms and more fine-grained study of the ways in which users and platforms interact with one another. The former focuses on extending oligopoly theory to include 'consumption externalities'; the latter extends auction and search theory to a world of precisely measureable actions.


Possibility of formation of nanoparticles ternary compound semiconductor SuGaTe2 in silicate glass is studied. It is shown that at introduction of a specified compound in a composition of the glass the nanostructure of good optical quality is obtained. Their optical absorption is studied in visible and near IK range areas. Influence of additional heat treatment on spectral properties of low-dimensional structures is found. The features of spectra are explained from the viewpoint of the transformation of the crystal lattices.


ABSTRACT This article presents a distinct perspective of structural repair by bonding the hybrid composite patch. A novel hybrid composite patch is prepared from the carbon and glass fibers to repair the cracked panel. Different volume fractions of constituents are maintained to prepare the composite patch with varying stiffness. The elastic constant of the composite patch is derived by applying the rule of hybrid mixture and modified Halpin Tsai equation. The stress intensity factor in the panel and interfacial stresses in the adhesive layer are evaluated to assess repair efficiency and repair durability. Effects of the elastic modulus of the adhesive on the performance of composite patch repair are demonstrated. The load carrying capacity and failure strength are examined for variation in patch stiffness. The disbonded surface morphology is investigated through scanning electron microscopy after failure. The results reveal that the hybrid composite patch provided sufficient reinforcement to reduce the stress intensity and interfacial stresses. Patch hybridization has offered a pragmatic solution and proposed as an alternative patch material to repair the cracked structure.


This study aims at deepening in the analysis of motivations shown by a group of entrepreneurs in Medellin, Antioquia. It also describes the different perceptions about the enablers and obstacles for the development of entrepreneurship in appropriate environments to promote it. It was found that independence was the principal motivation for entrepreneurship and that the city offered the most favourable environment to foster it. Additionally, it was found that the most important obstacle to develop it was the difficulties to access a bank credit.


The invention provides a lamination device for a curved-surface glass cover plate and a flat display panel and a lamination method. The lamination device comprises a curved-surface glass cover plate fixing jig, a joint adhesive bearing jig and a joint adhesive compression jig, wherein the curved-surface glass cover plate fixing jig is provided with a curved surface of which the curvature is the same as that of the curved-surface glass cover plate so as to bear the curved-surface glass cover plate; the joint adhesive bearing jig is arranged above the curved-surface glass cover plate and used for bearing a joint adhesive; the joint adhesive compression jig is located at the side edge of the joint adhesive bearing jig and used for compressing the joint adhesion born by the joint adhesion bearing jig onto the surface of the curved-surface glass cover plate when the curved-surface glass cover plate fixing jig moves relative to the joint adhesive bearing jig. According to the lamination device for the curved-surface glass cover plate and the flat display panel and the lamination method, the joint adhesive is laminated with the curved-surface glass cover plate at first, then the curved-surface glass cover plate is laminated with the flat display panel, and non-uniform lamination thickness and bubbles of the joint adhesive, caused by gathering of the joint adhesive toward the middle, can be effectively avoided.


Although vehicle electrical systems and electronic controls are making it easier to make medium-duty trucks safer, manufacturers aren't rushing to install safety technologies that are exclusive to mediums. Rather, they are using technologies that are already being used in automobiles and class 8 trucks, and integrating them into medium-duty platforms. Some of the technologies discussed include: proportional braking, tire-pressure monitoring, acceleration skid control, and plug-and-play multiplexing systems.


On economic analysis, must often be detected if the loan rate responds to changes in interest rates. This problem is the object of study of this paper, regarding to Albanian case, for a period from August 1995 to October 2014. In this study conducted an empirical and econometric analysis to detect the connection that exists between the two variables rate loan and deposit interest rate. The construction of a VAR model is the focus of the second part of the paper. ADF and Granger test are used to study the stationarity and discover the relationship between the variables. ADF and the  Engle -  Granger  two-step procedure are used to discover if the relation is also in long term periods.


Objective: To assess oral hygiene behavior among patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Material and Method: One hundred orthodontic patients (37 males and 63 females) undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment in the Department of Orthodontics Indira Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu were studied. Patients were asked to fill the provided questionnaire regarding the reason for opting orthodontic treatment, oral hygiene behavior after placement of fixed orthodontic appliances. The result was statistically analyzed using SPSS software version 20 for interpretation of data. Results: Most of the patients used orthodontic toothbrush and fluoridated toothpastes to maintain oral hygiene but frequency of brushing for majority of the subjects was only once. Majority of the females used interdental brush and floss (57.14% and 33.33% respectively) regularly whereas majority of the males (78.37%) used mouthwash as a supplemental oral hygiene aid. There was no statistically significant gender difference with the selection of oral hygiene products. Conclusion: Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment are required to be educated and motivated to maintain their oral health. Orthodontists should emphasize on increasing the awareness of the patients towards maintaining oral hygiene with various oral hygiene measures to prevent dental caries and periodontal disease during fixed orthodontic treatment.


Rooms with the object of meeting the deficit between the ordinary income and the ordinary expenditure which in 1904 amounted to ?5,0-11. Amongst those present were Viscount Hampton, Sir Felix Semon, C.Y.O., the Hon. J. H. and Mrs. Turner, the Dean of Canterbury, Mr. Frederick Macmillan (Chairman of the Board of Management), Dr. David Ferrier and Mrs. Ferrier, Hon. Alfred Dobson, C.M.G., Mr. J. Danvers Power, and Dr. J. A. Ormerod. The Chairman, in proposing " Success to the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic," said that the hospital had a reputation not only in London, not only in the United Kingdom, not only in the British Empire, but throughout the whole world, for patients came to it from all parts. Besides this, medical men?physicians and surgeons


Over the past centuries, industrialization in developed and developing countries has had a negative impact on global warming, releasing CO₂ emissions into the Earth's atmosphere. In recent years, the transportation sector, which emits one-third of total CO₂ emissions in the United States, has adapted by implementing a climate change action plan to reduce CO₂ emissions. Having an environmental policy might be an essential factor in mitigating the man-made global warming threats to protect public health and the coexistent needs of current and future generations; however, to my best knowledge, no research has been conducted in such a context with appropriate statistical validation process to evaluate the effects of climate change policy on CO₂ emission reduction in recent years in the U.S. transportation. The empirical findings using an entity fixed-effects model with valid statistical tests show the positive effects of climate change policy on CO₂ emission reduction in a state. With all the 49 states joining the climate change action plans, the U.S. transportation sector is expected to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 20.2 MMT per year, and for the next 10 years, the cumulated CO₂ emission reduction is projected to reach 202.3 MMT, which is almost equivalent to the CO₂ emissions from the transportation sector produced in 2012 by California, the largest CO₂ emission state in the nation.


into Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland, Ky. She remained there for 30 days and two bouts of intensive-care treatment. Hammond had just been moved out of the intensive care unit for the second time when Christi McKinney, a nurse manager, walked into her room to tell her about prayer shawls. Hammond had been chosen to receive one. "I was suffering from a lot of pain," Hammond recalled. She struggled to put into words what the gift meant to her. "When I was presented with the prayer shawl, it was like maybe God was pleased with me," Hammond said, finally. "Like maybe I'd made a difference to somebody else." Prayer shawls are soft scarves or mantles made of crocheted, knitted, quilted or woven fabric. The shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient and maintains that intention while creating the shawl. When it is complete, the shawl gets a final blessing — and then it is given away. Hammond said the prayer shawl "meant an awful lot to me" because of her faith. "I think [a prayer shawl] is a PRAYER SHAWLS: A BLESSING IN EVERY STITCH


An ultraviolet spectrophotometric method for the determination of benzylpenicillin in chloroform solution is presented. Separation of active benzylpenicillin form interfering compounds is obtained using the extraction procedure of Boxer and Everett. The active penicillin is extracted at pH 2.0 into chloroform and thus separated from basic and neutral material as well as from any chloroform insoluble acidic substances such as penicilloic acid. A correction for any acidic interfering substances extracted with the chloroform is obtained by a separate chloroform extraction of the acidified alkali-inactivated penicillin. The values obtained by assaying commercial samples by this method are compared with those obtained by the official N-ethyl piperidine method.


Purpose – The paper aims to develop a new method for potential relations retrieval. It aims to find common aspects between co-occurrence analysis and ontology to build a model of semantic information retrieval based on co-occurrence analysis. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used a literature review, co-occurrence analysis, ontology build and other methods to design a model and process of semantic information retrieval based on co-occurrence analysis. Archaeological data from Wuhan University Library's bibliographic retrieval systems was used for experimental analysis. Findings – The literature review found that semantic information retrieval research mainly concentrates on ontology-based query techniques, semantic annotation and semantic relation retrieval. Moreover most recent systems can only achieve obvious relations retrieval. Ontology and co-occurrence analysis have strong similarities in theoretical ideas, data types, expressions, and applications. Research limitations/implications – The ex...


Fire risk becomes an important issue in building fire safety. In consequence, the incidents kill and injure thousands of people every year, besides the significant damage and loss. This research aims to identify the fire risk for different types of buildings in Selangor using Brushlinsky's Approach. Data regarding fires between 2012 and 2017 was collected from fire investigation reports prepared by the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department. The results showed that most fire cases occur at residential buildings and commercial buildings in which terrace house recorded the highest number with a total of 1,458 cases out of 6,015 cases. Meanwhile, the probability of the fire occurrences building in Selangor is increasing from 0 to 2 case per day. However, the probability of 3 or more fire occurrences in a day is decreasing for each year. The year of 2012 recorded the highest probability of a person facing a fire accident as compared to other years. But the risk of death from the fire fluctuated over the study period. Whereas 2015 had the highest possibility of death for a person in a fire by recorded respective 29 fire deaths per 6.178 million people in Selangor. In conclusion, fire incidents need to be considered as a serious issue by all parties. The findings from this study can be used by the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, government, public and private sectors to curb more fire incidents from happening and develop suitable measures.


The EU is one of the regions with the highest level of RD globalization in the world,and is also the most competitive area for MNEs' RD.In recent years,EU countries have generally adopted the policies and measures to attract foreign RD investment,focusing on the promotion of direct investment in RD,the rise of fiscal and financial incentives to MNCs' RD incentives,and attracting technology talents.In order to benefit from the globalization of MNCs'RD,government should develop comprehensive policies to attract RD direct investment.


In this paper,in order to shorten the period of software testing ,Markov Chain Model is used in software reliability testing.The basic method of this technology in software reliability test is introducced.In the testing process,the new judge standard is used to analyze the testing result.The judge standard is proved to be practicat and effetive through examples.


A Comment on the Letter by David A. Meyer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 1052 (1999). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.


The carob tree planting was done with two year seedlings. The effect of irrigation on the annual growth of the carob tree was similar in parts conducted in irrigated or kept dry. After three years of culture, seedlings reached a height of 55.7 ± 15.5 cm in the irrigated part against 53.4 ± 22.4 cm in the dry part. The survival rate was 93% under irrigation and 86% in the dry part. These two results are more superior to those obtained in the plantations of the Forestry Administration whose levels during the 2011- 2012 year, did not exceed 30%.


The fluorescence spectra of Quin 2, (2-[(2-bis-[carboxymethyl] amino-5-methylphenoxy)methyl]-6-methoxy-8-bis [carboxymethyl] aminoquiniline), a Ca^2+ probe, were investigated upon incubation with Ca^2+ or La^3+. The results showed that binding of La^3+ to Quin 2 resulted in different fluorescent spectrum from that of Ca^2+. Based on this observation, a fluorescent method was developed for simultaneously determination of the dissociation rates of Ca^2+ and La^3+ from a Ca-La- calmodulin complex (Ca2La2CaM).


The document is based on a search of pre-1970 Hanford Solid Waste Records. The available data indicates seven out of thirty-one solid waste burial sites used for pre-1970 waste appear to be Transuranic (TRU). A burial site defined to be TRU contains >100 nCi/gm Transuranic nuclides.


Faults of power unit of generator excitation system have great influence on stable operation of generator.So,it is necessary to find and eliminate these faults quickly.The principles and characteristics of generator excitation power unit are analyzed and faults are classed.On the foundation of the analysis,a fault diagnosis method which is an advanced pattern recognition method is proposed and a fault diagnosis system of generator excitation power unit based on virtual instrument is developed.It is proved by experiment that the fault diagnosis system can precisely judge which thirstier goes wrong and get accurate diagnosis result.


This study examines the relationship between fiscal decentralization and the functional composition of public expenditures. We develop a theoretical model based on a distance-sensitive representative agent model, some applications of the median-voter theorem, and the Tiebout choice model. In our model, higher levels of fiscal decentralization lead indiviuals to demand higher amounts of publicly provided private goods. We empirically test this hypothesis by employing several econometric models on an unbalanced panel data set of 45, developed and developing countries over a 28-year period. The empirical models used in this study improve upon previous empirical studies of expenditure composition by using up-to-date data and the most current estimation techniques for fractional data. We obtain strong evidence that fiscal decentralization increases the share of education and health expenditures over total expenditures. Most of our estimates reveal no statistically significant evidence that the effects of decentralization may differ between developing and industrialized countries. However, for one model we find evidence that the effect of decentralization on the composition of public expenditures is greater in developing countries than in industrialized countries.


Ferrites are widely used in microwave absorbing materials.Because of its large density unsuitable for light absorbing materials with wide absorbing waveband and thin thickness,ferrites are often prepared as composite-ferrite-absorber.Fly ash cenospheres coated barium hexaferrite were prepared by sol-gel using Fe(NO_3)_3·9H_2O,Ba(NO_3)_2and citric acid as raw materials.The cenosphere particles were characterized by differential thermal analysis,X-ray diffraction analysis,scanning electron microscope,and energy dispersive spectroscopy during and after the coating process.The results show that even and continual barium hexaferrite coating is prepared on fly ash cenosphere by sol-gel.


In the aspect of bank loans, the accuracy of traditional user loan risk prediction models, such as KNN, Bayesian, DNN, are not benefit from the data growth. This article is based on the work of Overdue Prediction of Bank Loans Based on Deep Neural Network. And we propose to analyze the dynamic behavior of users by LSTM algorithm, and use the SVM algorithm to analyze the user's static data to solve the current prediction problems. This article uses users' basic information, bank records, user browsing behavior, credit card billing records, and loan time information to evaluate whether users are delinquent. These static data are the basic input for SVM. For LSTM model, we extract user's recent transaction type from browsing behavior as input to LSTM, to predict the probability of users' overdue behavior. Finally, we calculate the average of the two algorithms as the final result. From the experimental results, this LSTM-SVM model shows a great improvement than traditional algorithms.


Abstract: The paper focuses on the construction of a model of democracy in Latin America since 2007, by the so-called "Plataforma Democratica", an initiative of the Instituto Fernando Henrique Cardoso (IFHC) and the Centro Edelstein de Pesquisas Sociais. In the following lines, the enterprise interest underlying the project is discussed, as well as its potential to guide state reforms in Latin America. In this way, is possible to understand the relationship between class struggles and the transformation of state apparatus and political regimes in the region.
Keywords: Democracy, Plataforma Democratica, Instituto Fernando Henrique Cardoso


Anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS) release from poly(N-methylpyrrole anthraquinone-2-sulfonate) (PNMP-AQS) was investigated at open circuit and compared with electrochemically stimulated release during potential cycling. It was found that the fast AQS release from PNMP-AQS single layers is substantially retarded and the amounts of spontaneously and electrochemically releasable AQS can be reduced by constructing bilayers, consisting of PNMP-AQS inner layers and PNMP outer layers. PNMP-Cl outer layers exhibited higher effectiveness for entrapping AQS within inner layers than PNMP/poly(styrene slfonate). The effects of outer layer thicknesses on AQS release were also examined with PNMP-AQS:PMP-Cl. The electroactivity enhancement of PNMP-AQS:PNMP-Cl bilayers due to entrapped AQS was confirmed by chronocoulometry.


1. Analysis and implementation of the plan of work for the well containing: computer control system; ! subsystem interface, which communicates with the computer control system with the possibility of obtaining information on the work plan for the well; ! subsystem development operation which exchanges information with the information received, with the analysis computer control system works on the well plan and determine the appropriate operations and actions to implement them; ! sensor subsystem that communicates with the computer control system to obtain the input information from at least one sensor for use in controlling drilling process; and! subsystem manufacturing equipment that communicates with the computer control system to obtain the input information from the process control computer and control system of drilling a borehole according to the operations defined in terms of work on the well. ! 2. Analysis System and the workplan for the borehole of claim 1, wherein the interface subsystem comprises a document scanning device, to exchange information with the character recognition device, wherein the scanning and recognition devices work together for scanning a work plan for the well and contained therein transform information in machine-readable form. ! 3. Analysis and implementation of the plan on work well according to claim 2, wherein the character recognition apparatus implements a software process performed by a computer control system. ! 4. Sis


Radio frequency interference (RFI) is affecting various radio frequency operating systems. Mentioning of practical wireless channels, meanwhile, RFI can be received through a multi-path fading channel. In such scenarios, robust detection of RFI can be challenging since the signal of interest can also be received through a multi-path fading channel. To this end, by introducing a tensor-based hypothesis testing framework, this paper proposes a matrix-based RFI detector (MB-RD) and a tensor-based RFI detector (TB-RD) for RFI received through a multi-path fading channel. Simulation results demonstrate that TB-RD outperforms—especially for a weak RFI—MB-RD and the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) detector whenever the number of receiving antennas increases.


The coral reefs around Praia do Tofo, southern Mozambique, are known for their aggregations of marine megafauna but as yet few studies have comprehensively examined their broader biodiversity. This study is the first to assess the ichthyofaunal diversity of this economically important area. Methodology involved SCUBA and snorkel underwater visual censuses conducted between February and May, 2016, and the use of photographic records from 2015 to capture rare species. A total of 324 species, representing 79 families, were recorded from 16 reefs in the region. The area shows comparable species diversity and notably high family diversity in relation to other areas of the Western Indian Ocean. The trophic structure of the reefs, similar to that recorded in the wider region, suggests the reefs are in good health and fairly resilient to disturbance. This study highlights the area's high biological value beyond its megafauna and lends support to greater management of these ecosystems for the benefit of the associated human population.


Matthew B. Sughrue Chronically homeless individuals, or Street Dwellers, present unique challenges for clinicians and outreach workers who engage them when offering services like food, shelter, clothing, healthcare and mental health counseling including substance abuse treatment. This study examines Street Dwellers' hopes, dreams and aspirations for a better life. Through thematic analysis of interview statements five themes emerged; Normal Life, Optimism, Planning, Helping Others, and From Rags to Respect. Study findings suggest that Street Dwellers dream vividly and often about a life off the streets while frequently forming and reforming plans to get there. These findings provide clinicians and outreach workers insight into the phenomenon of Street Dwelling that could be used to design more effective strategies to help this vulnerable population.


A 42-year-old woman was referred to a specialty clinic for evaluation of microscopic hematuria of 14 years' duration. It had been first detected during an episode of cystitis, but persisted thereafter with 1+ proteinuria. She had borderline hypertension. Two sisters also had hematuria and her brother had died of renal failure. Urinalysis showed dysmorphic red cells. A diagnostic procedure was performed.


The purpose of this study were to report the reasons for removal of fixed prostheses and survival rate of abutment teeth. A total 192 fixed prostheses removed at Chosun university Dental Hospital and 308 abutment were investigated. The most frequent reason of removal was periodontal problem(30.7%), followed by caries(29.7%), then periapical problem(18.8%) and defective margins(14%). In metal ceramic crown, periodontal problem was the most frequent reason of removal. In complete cast crown, caries was the most frequent reason of removal. Periapical and periodontal problem was the most frequent reason people under forties and over fifties, respectively. Of the 308 abutment teeth, vital and non-vital teeth were 135(43.8%) and 173(56.2%), respectively. Of 135 vital abutment teeth, 39(28.9%) were extracted and of 173 non-vital abutment teeth, 85(49.1%) were extracted. Each risk factor for removal of fixed prostheses and extraction of abutment should be evaluated more clearly for prediction of prognosis of final prostheses and abutment teeth.


Objectives: Quit smoking is important for chronic disease prevention and management. Failure to quit smoking is not uncommon even with pharmacotherapy. Smokers' motivation and self management are crucial at behavior change. In this report, we shared our experience of combined motivational interviewing, self-management and medications to assist smokers quit smoking. Methods: Smokers who met the criteria of pharmacotherapy were referred for tobacco cessation. Demographic characteristic, medical history, smoking characteristics and outcome, and perceived benefit and barrier of quit smoking were assessed at the first visit. For those who reported low motivation and readiness to quit, motivational interviewing was integrated into usual brief consultation. Mean tobacco smoked, behavior changes and their difficulty were assessed at each visits. Participants who decide to quit are provided with a self-help guide to quitting, help with a quit plan, and 8 weeks of pharmacotherapy. Self-report of one or more quit attempts lasting at least 24 hours and smoking abstinence was assessed at 3 and 6 months following baseline. Results: Totally thirty-five smokers received intervention. Most were male (85.5%), with a mean age of 47 years old and 26.8 years of smoking history. During the first visit, we gathered the clinical and individual experience and tried to build up a collaborative relationship. Motivational interview technique included: expressing empathy, developing discrepancies, backing off when encountering resistance and supporting self-efficacy were used if indicated. At the 3- months followed up, 14 (40%) smokers failed, 12 (34.3%) quit smoking and 9 (25.7%) smokers lost followed up. Of 24 smokers followed up at 6 months, 33.3% reported smoking abstinence. Participants perceived autonomy support and greater self efficacy more likely to smoking abstinence. Conclusion: Quit smoking is very challenging for chronic smokers. Pharmacotherapy does not warrant the success of tobacco cessation. Motivational interviewing increase intentions and self efficacy. Combining behavioral support and pharmacotherapy is recommended to help people to quit smoking where possible. Primary care givers need more training of partnering in self-management support.


ABSTRACT We use data from the 2003–2014 American Time Use Survey to estimate the effects of time allocated to work and extracurriculars on time spent in educational activities (class and homework) for live-at-home college students, who make up a large share of the college population. Our instrumental variables strategy indicates that students are more likely to substitute time away from homework than from class, and that the effects are generally stronger for work than for extracurriculars. These findings, which remain even after correcting for selection on unobservables through non-parametric matching methods, show that work leads to decreases in the amount of time spent in class by 47 min and on homework by 56 min, whereas extracurriculars lead to a loss of 22 min of homework time. Thus, while after-school activities (extracurriculars and work) may be beneficial with respect to human capital development, they may also have a counteracting, unintended effect due to students' substitution away from educational pursuits.


Most commentators have paid no attention to the many things Hume says about traits of character. Those few who have discussed his account of character have done so only insofar as it bears on his theory of virtue, of moral evaluation, or of moral responsibility, and have had no interest in it for its own sake. This situation is regrettable for several reasons. For one thing, an original and suggestive theory of character, proposed by a major philosopher of the social sciences, has not received the philosophical scrutiny and criticism it deserves. For another, uncritical assumptions about Hume's conception of character have given rise to the most extraordinary misconceptions about his views on virtue, evaluation, and responsibility. For a third, the failure to examine Hume's views on character has prevented a better understanding of many of the central doctrines in his philosophy as a whole. As I hope shall become apparent as we proceed, the study of Hume on character has the very salutary effect of raising serious difficulties for some of the most entrenched and time-honored interpretations of his views on causation, explanation, personal identity, the relation of mind and body, substance, perception, and the physical world, as well as on the topics in moral philosophy already mentioned. In this paper, however, I shall make no systematic attempt to work out the ramifications of Hume's theory of character for these other areas of his philosophy. Apart from a few suggestions for possible investigations, this project must wait for another occasion. In the present paper my chief purpose is simply to sketch in the main lines of Hume's theory of character itself. It must be noted at the outset that when discussing personal evaluations Hume makes some attempt to blur the distinction between traits of character and other "mental qualities,"1 (T,575) including intellectual abilities. Mental qualities "are not altogether of the same kind," he says, but from the standpoint of evaluation ". . . they agree in the most material circumstances." (T,6o6) Nevertheless he typically restricts the class of character traits to those mental attributes which


We show that a dinuclear assembly apparently providing the first example of a synthetic molecule exhibiting key features of the diiron subsite of [FeFe] hydrogenase, viz. CO-bridging of a coordinatively unsaturated, dithiolate-bridged mixed-valence diiron centre, is in fact a diamagnetic tetranuclear complex.


Under the direction of Page Anderson ABSTRACT A growing body of literature suggests that Virtual Reality is a successful tool for exposure therapy for anxiety disorders. Virtual Reality (VR) researchers posit the construct of presence, interpreting an artificial stimulus as if it were real, as the mechanism that enables anxiety to be felt during virtual reality exposure therapy (VRE). However, empirical studies on the relation between presence and anxiety in VRE have yielded mixed findings. The current study tested the following hypotheses 1) Presence is related to in session anxiety and treatment outcome; 2) Presence mediates the extent that pre-existing (pre-treatment) anxiety is experienced during exposure with VR; 3) Presence is positively related to the amount of phobic elements included within the virtual environment. Results supported presence as the mechanism by which anxiety is experienced in the virtual environment as well as a relation between presence and the phobic elements, but did not support a relation between presence and treatment outcome. iv To Peggy, I am, and shall forever be, eternally grateful for sharing my life with you. Your endless love and devotion are felt each and every day. I am blessed to share my achievements with you, as your support is the source of my motivation.


ABSTRACT This study interrogates the trope of the "tropical temptress" that dominated colonial print culture. Encoded in textual accounts reliant on this trope, it posits, is a subtextual fear of Black female agency. To excavate and rehabilitate the voices of women that have been both occluded and co-opted by the colonialist archive, it recognises a need to look beyond. It takes its cue from Danielle Skeehan, who seeks out traces of Black female insurgency in "extra-discursive and material texts," privileging the material transcripts that bear unique witness to Black women's experiences in the age of slavery. Focusing on the symbolic importance of Afro-Creole headwraps within the revolutionary Black Atlantic and, in particular, within the context of revolutionary Saint-Domingue, it shows how women of colour in the colonial circum-Caribbean authored their own powerful revolutionary counternarratives to colonial dominance through acts of creativity, ingenuity and domestic labour.


An adaptive optics system can measure and compensate the wavefront distortion caused by dynamic disturbance in real time. It is usually used for astronomical observation and other occasions. According to the current technology, it is only suitable for small field of view optical system or point target, but not for ground extended target detection. In order to solve this problem, a correction method is proposed: firstly, the sub aperture image of wavefront sensor is divided into several sub regions, each sub region corresponds to a certain light direction or field angle range; secondly, calculate the offset of the image feature points in each sub region, and an image with good correction effect in a field of view in this direction is obtained; the last step is to measure each sub region one by one and combine these images into a full frame image. Through comparison, it is found that the method proposed in this paper is essentially to divide the extended target into multiple point light sources for correction.


A mobile terminal which makes it possible to automatically calculate a step length of a user with accuracy. A step count-acquiring section acquires a step count of the user of a mobile terminal. A position calculating section calculates a position of the mobile terminal. A center position-calculating section calculates a center position of a plurality of positions calculated by the position calculating section. A covered distance-calculating section calculates a distance covered by the mobile terminal based on a plurality of the center positions calculated by the center position-calculating section. A step length-calculating section calculates the step length based on the step count acquired by the step count-acquiring section and the covered distance calculated by the covered distance-calculating section.


Objective To understand the characteristics of human echinococcosis in Shiqu County,Sichuan Province,and provide the scientific base for treatment.Methods The blood serum samples from 237 sufferers in Shiqu County and 4 townships were collected and analysed by serological ELISA.Results The total serological positive rate of echinococcosis was 95.4%,and 92.5% for male and 97.2% for female.The positive rates of alveolar echinococcosis(AE) and cystic echinococcosis(CE) disease for male and female were 41.7%(48/115),58.3%(67/115) and 34.2%(38/111),65.8%(73/111),respectively.Conclusion The morbidity rate of echinococcosis in this study area was very high and both of AE and CE were also prevalent.The serological positive rate of echinococcosis for female was obviously higher than that for male,and with a tendency of going up as the age increased.


RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) is a component of an electric power control system which is an electronic device. RTU is one part of the SCADA system (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition). RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) in its use by PT. PLN UPT Cililitan is a device that is required by the control center to acquire the data, a series of processes to perform remote control and telemetering telesingnal. RTU also notify the control center in case of disturbances in substations, distribution substations and substation circuit and control centers perform an act of prevention. To connect with the central control RTU requires telecommunications media, telecommunications media are radio waves, Control Cable and Fiber optic. In general the RTU (Remote Terminal units) in the form of a rack in which it is composed of several modules. The modules include: RTU Central Module, the module power supply units, Communication Modules, memory modules and Peripheral Modules. On the Peripheral modules are modules that function to receive or to give signals required by the electrical equipment in substation, the module are Modules For logic, Analog, Module Restitution Analog, Module Acquisition Analog, Module Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) and Module Acquisition logic. Penamaan File: 10400174


We have investigate the opportunity of use embriotropic autoantibodies, directed to proteins regulators of embriogenesis (MBP, S100, ACBP14/18, MP65), in an estimation of immune system condition of the women with endometrial cysts. 57 women in the age from 19 till 52 years are surveyed. Methods of research: ELI-P-test allowing to determine in serum levels of natural autoantibodies to protein regulators of embryogenesis. The results of research have shown, that persisting genital infection is associated with reduced production of embryotropic autoantibodies, and autoimmune processes are associated with increased production of autoantibodies. The deviation in the specified autoantibodies levels can serve as inducation to immunocorrective therapy.


Abstract The work of Hardt and Negri offers the field of education important theoretical resources for reconceptualizing subjectivity as a site of politics. Yet recent shifts on the Left toward more articulated mobilizations, along with the emergence of new decolonizing movements that interrogate the undifferentiated character of the common, partly affirm long-standing critiques of Hardt and Negri's theses. Rather than rejecting their arguments, we should rethink their central assertions—from the starting point of decolonial theory—in a way that responds to these concerns. We argue that the notion of constituent power grounding their theorization of politics be rethought in dialogue with the ethico-political concept of obediential power (Dussel, 2008); that the "monstrous" subjectivity they propose as the mode of exodus from given forms of biopolitical production take direction from Wynter's (2006) new Human Project; and that the insurrectionary figure of the multitude be reconsidered alongside the variegated figure of insurgent cosmopolitanism (Santos, 2014). This rethinking restores to Hardt and Negri's project a more contextualized and less universalistic theory of politics, and establishes a foundation for a critical pedagogy that, beginning from an accountability to student agency, engages a form of insurgent leadership that responds to the centrality in capitalist education of the historical processes of colonial partition.


Abstract : By means of numerical simulation we determine the two-dimensional stability properties of the one-dimensional secondary equilibrium state of a radiation-driven thermally unstable fluid reported by Oran, Mariska, and Boris (1982). We find that strong secondary instabilities occur, and that the perturbed system tends to move toward a two-dimensional state. The mass density forms clump-like structures, while the temperature profile exhibits a kink-like instability. In an appendix we formulate an eigenvalue problem for the linear stability of the secondary equilibrium. Keywords: Instability; Condensation; Solar atmosphere.


068 Figure 1 069 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF 1142 ADMISSIONS WITH ACUTE HEART FAILURE REVEALS HIGH FREQUENCY OF TRANSTHYRETIN V122I CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS IN AFROCARIBBEAN PATIENTS doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2012-301877b.69 J Dungu,* M S O'Donnell, P N Hawkins, L J Anderson. St George's University of London, London, UK; National Amyloidosis Centre, UK Background The genetic mutation encoding transthyretin (TTR) isoleucine 122 (V122I) is present in 3.9% of African-Americans and associated with cardiac TTR amyloidosis, but penetrance is unknown. Little is known about the frequency or clinical phenotype of TTR V122I amyloidosis in the British Afro-Caribbean population. Methods We reviewed the primary diagnoses of 1142 patients admitted with heart failure between September 2005 and February 2011. The diagnosis was supported by echocardiography, cardiac MRI (in patients without contraindications) and genetic testing; endomyocardial biopsies were performed in 68 patients (6%) in whom amyloidosis was suspected or uncertainty about diagnosis remained. Survival analysis was performed to August 2011. Results The median age was 72 years (range 18e98) with male (66.7%) and Caucasian (71.0%) predominance. Ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) was the primary diagnosis in 428 patients (37%). There were 170 Afro-Caribbean patients (14.9%) among whom ICM was less common (22 patients (13%), p<0.01). Seventeen AfroCaribbean patients (10%) were confirmed to have cardiac ATTR V122I amyloidosis. Survival of Afro-Caribbean patients with ICM and ATTR V122I amyloidosis was similar (45 vs 36 months, p1⁄40.54), but overall survival (n1⁄41142) was significantly inferior in cardiac amyloidosis compared to non-amyloid cardiomyopathy (34 vs 59 months, p<0.01). Conclusion ATTRV122I amyloidosis is an important cause of heart failure in the British Afro-Caribbean population, but it is commonly misdiagnosed as hypertensive cardiomyopathy. Diagnosis requires specialist multidisciplinary investigation including CMR, genetic testing and histology, enabling appropriate management in an era when novel treatments for amyloidosis are entering the clinic. Abstract 069 Figure 1 KaplaneMeier curves for all patients (n1⁄41142) demonstrating significantly inferior survival in cardiac amyloidosis compared to non-amyloid cardiomyopathy (p<0.01). KaplaneMeier curves in Afro-Caribbean patients (N1⁄4170) demonstrating no significant difference in survival between ischaemic cardiomyopathy and ATTR V122I (p1⁄40.54).069 Figure 1 KaplaneMeier curves for all patients (n1⁄41142) demonstrating significantly inferior survival in cardiac amyloidosis compared to non-amyloid cardiomyopathy (p<0.01). KaplaneMeier curves in Afro-Caribbean patients (N1⁄4170) demonstrating no significant difference in survival between ischaemic cardiomyopathy and ATTR V122I (p1⁄40.54). Heart May 2012 Vol 98 Suppl 1 A39 BCS Abstracts 2012 group.bmj.com on September 7, 2017 Published by http://heart.bmj.com/ Downloaded from


De Bono is most certainly known as the conceptualist behind Lateral Thinking and his methodologies seem to generate from that concept. Lateral Thinking focuses on creativity and idea generation. In reviewing de Bono's literature; the main frameworks that have been identified are: Lateral Thinking; D.A.T.T; CoRT1, The Six Thinking Hats, Simplicity and The Six Value Medals. The researcher's focus converges towards CoRT1. This was consciously done since it is the most used in the teaching of thinking skills in schools and is comprehensive of most thinking dispositions. The above6quoted frameworks are best known in the sphere of education, they are also applied in other areas such as business. The idea of teaching thinking directly as a subject in its own right may seem very obvious. And so it should. However, there have been various approaches developed over time to teach thinking, most of which have been an outgrowth of the natural ability to think. The essence of the CoRT Thinking Method is to focus attention directly on different aspects of thinking and to crystalline these aspects into definite concepts and tools that can be used deliberately.


In this paper we present a novel reversible implementation of a square-root circuit with an array structure. In scientific computations such as numerical analysis, computer graphics, complex number computations, square root is an important operation. In classical irreversible arena we find different realizations of square root circuit. Since reversible circuit is emerging as an alternative to classical circuit, here we introduce a novel reversible realization of this operation. As a basic module, we propose a reversible controlled adder/subtractor (RCAS) block based on 2's Complement computation. In our design we use an array of such RCAS blocks which perform addition or subtraction based on the result generated from digit-by-digit square root operation. To our best knowledge this is the first methodical approach for implementing reversible square root circuit. The new structure of the circuit and different parameters — number of gates, garbage bits and quantum cost for n-bit realization is presented here.


Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) may be preferable to other nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) regarding outcomes against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.


Poster: "ECR 2015 / C-1917 / Effects of temporal resolution on dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion imaging and its implications on pharmacokinetic modeling" by: "A. Hubert, M. Bendszus, S. Heiland; Heidelberg/DE"


DNA self-assembly is a promising paradigm for nanotechnology. Recently, many researches demonstrate that computation by self-assembly of DNA tiles may be scalable. In this paper, we show how the tile self-assembly process can be used for implementing the timetable problem. First the timetable problem can be converted into the graph edge coloring problem with some constraints, then we give the tile self-assembly model by constructing three small systems including nondeterministic assigning system, copy system and detection system to perform the graph edge coloring problem, thus the algorithm is proposed which can be successfully solved the timetable problem with the computation time complexity ofΘ(mn), parallely and at very low cost.


Abstract There is a dichotomy in the information on flow of anisometric particles. Most of the fundamental studies only consider dilute suspensions in Newtonian liquids, although some authors venture into a semiconcentrated (two-body collision) region and others into pseudoplastic liquids. These publications provide a solid base for understanding the behavior of the high-concentration systems of industrial importance, but without the desirable quantification. The description of these systems is experimental or, at best, qualitative, via simplified constitutive models. At high concentration of anisometric particles, one must consider: yield stress, plug flow, shear segregation, and a change of relaxation spectrum. There is no simple method to correlate the steady-state and dynamic test data. The magnitude of the stress overshoot in transient tests increases with concentration and deformation rate. While the normal stress increases with concentration, the die swell decreases. The yield stress in elongation ...


Introduced a generic based on Abaqus finite element method to solve a stress analysis reduces the calculation error of the stress at a time.


To increase the accuracy of strong motion evaluation using the wave propagation simulation, it's important to create a precise three-dimensional S-wave velocity model from geological and geophysical data. In order to achieve such task, we have developed a joint inversion program to integrate various kinds of geological and geophysical data. The newly developed method was applied to the data observed in and around Niigata institute of technology (NIIT), and a 3-D Swave velocity structure model was created. The data set used here includes micro-tremor array, gravity, seismic refraction and borehole data. As a result, it is shown that the simulated geophysical data from the joint inversion result give a good agreement with most of the observed data.


Quantum materials is a broad term used in condensed matter physics to define materials whose collective properties are governed by quantum behavior, which are challenging to understand. These materials are sensitive to small changes in the environment,such as changes in temperature, doping or strain. This can lead to nanoscale phase separation, in which a single sample can coexist different states at different regions of space. In this thesis, a method for imaging this phase separation based on coherent diffractive imaging is developed and is applied to the quantum material VO2.


Hydrolysed proteins are not allowed as attractants in organic plant production in Denmark, because there are no products approved by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency undder the Danish Ministry for Environment.


The porosity properties of the three sandstone varieties in a nonweathered state and after natural and artificial weathering are discussed. It has been stated that the pore radius distribution measured by mercury porosimetry allow a rock classification. It is also possible to quantitatively describe the weathering state by means of porosity. The presence of foreign phases in the rock can be detected. -- AATA


In Demand Response programs, the response of the users to the event request depends on several factors. In this paper, a method that examines the response of the consumers to a load reduction request, defining the context in which the demand response event is carrying on and studying how the consumers react, is proposed. Statistical methods are used. Then are proposed several strategies to optimize the consumers' participation in the load reduction basing the optimization on the previous characterization.


This article describes the history of adult day care, current need for this service, and the unique challenge day care presents to the activity programmer. In describing the program at St. Marys Day Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, the author provides her philosophy and approach in program planning. A sample calendar is provided to assist program development in similar settings.


Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance and physical-chemical changes of strawberry in organic cropping system accordi...


b -Lactamase expression is the major mechanism of resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems in the multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii . In fact, stable high-level expression of at least one b -lacta- mase has been rapidly increasing and reported to occur in up to 98.5% of modern A. baumannii isolates recovered in the clinic. Moreover, the OXA-51 b -lactamase is universally present in the A. baumannii chromosome, suggesting it may have a cellular function beyond antibiotic resistance. However, the consequences associated with OXA b -lactamase overexpression on A. baumannii physiology are not well understood. Using peptidoglycan composition analysis, we show that overexpressing the OXA-23 b -lactamase in A. baumannii drives signi fi cant collateral changes with alterations consistent with increased amidase activity. Consequently, we predicted that these changes create new cellular vulnerabilities. As proof of principle, a small screen of random transposon insertions revealed three genes, where mutations resulted in a greater than 19-fold loss of viability when OXA-23 was overexpressed. The identi fi ed genes remained conditionally essential even when a catalytically inactive OXA-23 b -lactamase was overexpressed. In addition, we demonstrated a synergistic lethal relationship between OXA-23 overexpression and a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) knockdown of the essential peptidoglycan synthesis enzyme MurA. Last, OXA-23 overexpression sensitized cells to two inhibitors of peptidoglycan synthesis, D -cycloserine and fosfomycin. Our results highlight the impact of OXA-23 hyperex-pression on peptidoglycan integrity and reveal new genetic vulnerabilities, which may represent novel targets for antimicrobial agents speci fi c to MDR A. baumannii and other OXA b -lactamase-overexpressing Enterobacteriaceae, while having no impact on the normal fl ora.


This work presents a partitioned solution procedure to compute shape gradients in fluid–structure interaction (FSI) using black-box adjoint solvers. Special attention is paid to project the gradients onto the undeformed configuration due to the mixed Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation of large-deformation FSI in this work. The adjoint FSI problem is partitioned as an assembly of well-known adjoint fluid and structural problems. The sub-adjoint problems are coupled with each other by augmenting the target functions with auxiliary functions, independent of the concrete choice of the underlying adjoint formulations. The auxiliary functions are linear force-based or displacement-based functionals which are readily available in well-established single-disciplinary adjoint solvers. Adjoint structural displacements, adjoint fluid displacements, and domain-based adjoint sensitivities of the fluid are the coupling fields to be exchanged between the adjoint solvers. A reduced formulation is also derived for the case of boundary-based adjoint shape sensitivity analysis for fluids. Numerical studies show that the complete formulation computes accurate shape gradients whereas inaccuracies appear in the reduced gradients. Mapping techniques including nearest element interpolation and the mortar method are studied in computational adjoint FSI. It is numerically shown that the mortar method does not introduce spurious oscillations in primal and sensitivity fields along non-matching interfaces.


Low-temperature thermal desorption, in which thermal energy is used to vaporize and physically separate volatile and semivolatile organic contaminants from soil, is among the most promising and economic ex situ soil remediation alternatives. Experiments were performed using a bench-scale thermal desorber, the batch thermal reactor, which was developed as a prototype to commercial desorbers. A treatability study using four representative samples of industrial contaminated soil was followed by a fundamental study of the thermal desorption process using three controlled samples prepared by mixing a soil with binary mixtures of selected polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. For the industrial samples, the effect of desorber residence time, temperature, and several pretreatments on contaminant removal was investigated. Three of the five samples were successfully treated to the legislated soil remediation limits. Using the prepared samples, the effects of sample porosity, contaminant molar mass, desorber residence...


An 8-year-old Afro-Caribbean girl presented with sudden bilateral proptosis and facial/scalp swelling. She had severe global developmental delay with a history of violent outbursts with physical contact. No evidence of trauma was found on slitlamp or full-body examination. A computed tomographic scan showed a large orbital subperiosteal collection, left greater than right proptosis, and bilateral frontal/parietal subgaleal scalp hematoma (Figure, A). Emergent bilateral lateral canthotomies and drainage of the subgaleal hematoma were performed. Coagulation factors were normal. After drainage, she had fixed, unresponsive, unequal pupils indicating that the optic nerves were compromised. A computed tomographic scan showed that the subgaleal hematoma had reoccurred (Figure, B). After another drainage of the hematoma and subperiosteal collection, the proptosis resolved and pupils became equal with response to light. It subsequently transpired that the patient had had her hair braided against her will. Subgaleal hemorrhage can track into the orbit and cause sight-threatening proptosis.1-3 The cause may not be immediately apparent when a clear history is unavailable.


This report focuses firstly on the survey instrument development and the sampling design for this project. It then provides a preliminary analysis of the initial data collected from land managers in the Burdekin region, mainly in the form of descriptive statistics. It also provides provisional recommendations for key stakeholders regarding possible actions that should be considered in future interactions with land managers.

Two questionnaires were developed – one for cane growers and one for graziers. When developing questionnaires, we sought to keep questions similar in each questionnaire wherever possible, to enable comparisons between both groups (e.g. socio-demographics, attitudes and motivations) and between the case study areas (e.g. cane growers in Wet Tropics and cane growers in Burdekin). As such, two questionnaires have been developed with identical questions on the first three pages. The remaining questions were similar but relevant to particular behaviours for the grazing and sugar cane industries. The final versions of the questionnaire are included as Appendices 4 and 5.

The sample population in the preliminary analysis was obtained from a membership database of cane and cattle producers supplied by NQ Dry Tropics. Each respondent was allocated a unique identifier which enable the researchers to de-identify the data. This identifier will also allow the researchers to track changes in future responses across the three years and to analyse those changes.

The preliminary analysis captures only people in the Burdekin region who were already engaged in programs including those that related to water quality improvement as well as other programs in the Burdekin region.

Insights from the preliminary analysis of data collected in round one show that the respondents:

• Have a mature profile - the median age of cane growers and graziers is 52 years which is significantly greater than the median age of the Australian population (37 years).

• Own or own & manage (80% of cane growers and 84% of graziers) their property.

• Have lengthy land management experience - (average of 18.9 years for graziers and 20.9 years for cane growers), often following earlier generations on properties: maintaining traditions and heritage is important (over 50% of respondents indicated this to be of the highest importance).

• Do not make decisions in isolation – family / extended family are commonly involved.

• Are positive about overall quality of life (>90%).

• Have no significant plans to change future practices (>90%).

• Do not believe their farming practice adversely impacts water quality in local streams, rivers, and waterways (61% of cane growers and 30% of graziers).

• Do not believe that the cane/grazing industry plays a significant role in the declining health of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) (66% of cane growers and 39% of graziers).

• Tend to shift the blame related to water quality and the health of the Great Barrier Reef to other industries, organisations and individuals.

The findings indicate that there is a need to 'sell the science' to gain acceptance of the cause-effect
relationship between farming practice and water quality.

There is potential to extend the key role of extension officers in potentially influencing increased uptake of best management practices. The main ways in which they can be supported in their interactions with land managers include:

• Supporting innovators ('positive deviants').

• Ensuring that land mangers see their expertise is valued and their voices are heard.

• Facilitating sharing of ideas and practices.

• Building on the role of farmers whose views are respected as potential information gatekeepers/disseminators/role models.

• Ensuring that all persuasive communications are integrated in terms of key messages.

• Developing strategies for minimising the impact of competing and conflicting
messages.

• Incorporating social media strategies as part of an integrated communication strategy that centres on the information channels and platforms used and preferred by land managers.

• Incorporate long-term relationship management strategies based on customer relationship management and business to business marketing concepts.

• Utilise Social Network Analysis to identify:

(a) key information gatekeepers / opinion leaders who may help or hinder information dissemination and innovation uptake, and

(b) where individual extension officers may fit into various networks.

• Consider the use of farmer typologies in developing resources to aid extension officers in their interactions with land managers.

Note: The survey was delivered in both the Dry Tropics and the Wet Tropics region of Queensland, therefore, the survey development and sampling strategy (Section 2) and recommendations (Section 4) of this report include common content with Section 2 and 4 of the Interim report - Questionnaire Design, Sampling Strategy and Preliminary Findings (The Wet Tropics) (Farr et al., 2017b).


The standard multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detectors exploit the available information to resolve the detection problem. Alternative algorithms, such as bioinspired or geometrical detectors, mix exploitation with exploration to bypass local minima and enhance the results. This paper examines the benefits of adding exploration to the traditional tree-based detectors. For this purpose, a new interpretation of the bio-inspired detector based on the firefly algorithm (FA) is proposed. It is studied in a tree search paradigm and extended to soft-outputs. The findings suggest that the addition of a stochastic exploration to tree-based detectors significantly improves performance with a small computational overhead.


ABSTRACT Maha Vilvam is a holly tree commonly found in the sacred groves from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in the foot hills and in plains which has many medicinal secrets. Vilva trees are the Sthala virusham of the most of the Shiva temples in India. The Botanical Name of the Vilvam is Aegle marmelos(L.) Corr., which belongs to the Orange family Rutaceae. All the parts of the plant are used as an important medicine. Even though all the parts of the plants are useful, the leaves and fruits are mostly used as important drug in the ancient system of medicine to cure almost all the common ailments of the human being. The religious importance, the traditional use of the plant in the Indian System of Medicine, the folklore medicinal uses, the phytochemical content and the usage of Vilva m in the modern system of medicines were collected and discussed in this present communication Keywords: Aegle Marmelos, Medicinal Plant, Ethno botany, sacred tree ©2013 RAS ĀYAN. All rights reserved INTRODUCTION


Unlike conventional astronomical telescopes, there are telescope systems that have fixed altitude primary mirrors over which prime focus cameras track the sidereal motion. Examples include the Hobby Eberly Telescope (HET) in Texas and the South African Large Telescope (SALT) in Cape Town. These systems benefit from the economy of fixed primary mirrors but pose a unique challenge in active alignment control of such telescope systems using wavefront sensor feedbacks. To handle this situation, we developed a way of estimating orthonormal aberration coefficients over dynamically varying pupil geometries and implemented this as part of the multi-year upgrade of the HET. We detail the theory, implementation, and on-sky performance of this technique in the active alignment control of the HET based on the data collected during the HET upgrade commissioning and science operations since late 2015.


Data are presented for the seeded growth of polyethylene fibers from solutions undergoing laminar flow in tubular geometry. Radial growth rates are reported for solutions of high and low molecular weight fractions for the second stage fiber thickening process which occurs in the tube entrance region. Results are also shown for high molecular weight growth from fiberglass seeds which indicate an enhanced growth rate at elevated temperatures. A two-stage growth pattern documented earlier for the high molecular weight fraction is shown to occur for the lower molecular weight material. The Discussion includes an analysis for the tapered fiber geometry in the second stage of growth and calculations for stress-induced, diffusion-limited growth in the first stage downstream from the tube entrance.


The results are reported of a study to determine which commercially available portable datalogger was best suited for use in cold temperatures by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The criteria for selecting the datalogger were: (1) the datalogger must be portable and operate accurately and continuously at cold temperatures; and (2) the datalogger must be easily programmable and data must be easily retrievable. The two dataloggers studied were (1) the Metrosonics d1-721 (8-channel, general purpose, battery-operated datalogger capable of storing over 7,200 values), and (2) the Campbell Scientific 21X (general purpose, battery-operated datalogger/processor capable of storing 768 values, expandable to 19,000 values). The details are described of the test procedure, and the test results are discussed. Appendices detail the specifications of each datalogger.