Background: Asthma is a common chronic disease of the airways. Poorly controlled asthma has significant impact on social and economic factors. This study was done to analyse the clinical profile of patients with poorly controlled asthma.Methods: This is an observational, cross sectional study. Total of 100 patients were evaluated. Data collected included symptomatology, assessment of asthma control by asthma control test scoring, spirometry, body mass index, co-morbidities and allergy testing report.Results: Among the 100 patients studied, 52% (n=52) were in the age group of 30 to 60 years. 48% (n=48) were males and 52% (n=52) were females. 76% (n=76) patients had adhered to treatment for bronchial asthma as advised which was in line with standard therapy. 86% (n=86) had co-existing illness. They included allergic rhinitis, obesity, GERD, anxiety, atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria. 78% (n=78) of these cases were sensitized to indoor and outdoor allergens. 89% of sensitized cases were to house dust mite (n=70 of 78). This was followed by cockroach sensitization which was seen in 30.7% cases (n=24 of 78). Other allergens included pollens in 28.2% cases (n=22 of 78), aspergillus in 25.6% cases (n=20 of 78) and food allergens in 23% cases (n=18 of 78).Conclusions: Poorly controlled asthma cases require detailed evaluation of comorbid conditions and allergen sensitization profiles. Management of these conditions along with allergen control measures may benefit these patients along with step up of therapy.


The number of mines using roof cutting and pressure relief technology to extract mine deep coal resources is increasing daily. Most of these mines are facing the risk of high gas emission and residual coal spontaneous combustion disasters, and the composite disasters caused by these two risks also threaten the safety of mine production. On the basis of constructing a model for the evolution of porosity and permeability in a single side roof cutting along the gob, this study studied the occurrence locations of gas explosion risk areas, oxidation and heating risk areas, and composite disaster areas under different air supply and gas emission conditions, and summarized the evolution laws of composite disaster risk areas. The research results show that the roof rock collapse caused by roof cutting and pressure relief technology reduces the permeability of porous medium, which significantly reduces the sensitivity of the width of the oxidation temperature rise zone and the composite disaster area to the air supply. The increase in air supply causes the position of the composite disaster risk zone inside the goaf to shift toward the deep part of the goaf, while the width remains basically unchanged. The increase in gas emissions has suppressed the occurrence of coal spontaneous combustion in the goaf, while also keeping the gas concentration in a large area outside the upper limit of gas explosion. The research content enriches the research system of gas and oxygen flow fields in the goaf cutting face, and has positive significance for the promotion and application of goaf cutting technology and the understanding of secondary disasters caused by it.


Radio-Frequency (RF) communications are increasingly subject to high interferences caused by ubiquitous wireless devices. Ultrasonic communication can serve as an alternative wireless communication mechanism to compliment RF communications. However, traditional ultrasonic transducers have extremely narrow bandwidth that prevents them from being deployed in real-world applications. In this demo, we demonstrate the implementation of an ultrasonic communication system using graphene-based electrostatic acoustic transducers. Our experimental results show that the prototype system works on 100 kHz ultrasonic carrier, and can achieve data rate up to 20 kbit/s with bit error rate lower than 10−5 at a transmission distance of 25 cm and transmission power of 2 mW, significantly faster than the state-of-the-art ultrasonic communication approaches1.


Piano teaching in the context of today's society dominated by instrumental rationality is becoming technocraticalized in the aspects of teaching targets,contents and techniques,along with value rationality to decline.The article,thus,points out that piano teaching must regain its essence of art education through integrating rationality of instrument and value to avoid technocratic instruction.


The spongiform leukoencephalopathy after inhaling heroin vapor is an exceptional cerebral disease,the group reports 3 cases.Its characterstics of clinical manifestation are that the lesions are symmetrical and spongiform,and that the cerebellum is invariably involved-a feature consistent with the clinical presentation that begins with ataxia.Cerebral CT showed symmetrical non-enhancing hypodense areas in both cerebellar hemispheres and both posterior limbs of the internal capsule.Cerebral MRI showed the corresponding areas with decreased signal intensity on T1 weighted images and increased signal intensity on T2 weighted images.Among them,all have inhaled heroin vapor,and onseted after withdrawal from heroin abusage,and Glucocorticoid has obvious therapeutic effect.


To meet mass multiplication demand in ex-situ cultivation of Heracleum candicans (Apiaceae), a threatened medicinal herb of Himalaya, presoaking treatments of plant growth regulators and other chemicals examined to achieve improved seed germination. In laboratory condition, of 15 treatments tried, GA 3 (250uM), KNO 3 (100 mM) and NaHCIO 3 (15,30 and 45 minutes) significantly stimulated the seed germination over control. NaHCIO 3 (30-min) proved significantly best treatment for achieving highest germination (81.3%) and reducing mean germination time over control. Authors recommended the use of KNO 3 and NaHCIO 3 as effective and cheep stimulants to seed germination in mass multiplication and conservation programme for H. candicans in Himalaya.


Identifying the risk of emotional issues is of great significance to the development of adolescents. Electroencephalography (EEG) signals can reflect brain activities, and imply the emotional status, therefore can be used to identify emotional issues. In this study, we designed an experimental paradigm for high school adolescents by displaying emotion-inducing pictures as stimuli and recorded their EEG signals simultaneously. The EEG signals was preprocessed and analyzed. In this paper we applied a convolutional network EEGNet to classify four emotional issues in adolescents: depression symptom, manic symptom, anxiety symptom and the control group. The results showed that the classification accuracy of the four groups can reach 94.24%. In addition, this paper explored using different types of picture stimuli on the classification and reached a result above chance level. This work extended the previous work on the classification of emotional issues to four categories, and achieved a good classification accuracy.


The 1946 Allied Mission to Observe Greek Elections was set up to guarantee the fairness of the elections and of the plebiscite on monarchy that rival political factions had agreed to hold following the armed clashes of December 1944 and January 1945. To that end, the most recent developments in probabilistic sampling were put to use and a team of experts was sent to conduct a series of surveys on the conditions in which these consultations were held. The purpose of this paper is to examine this controversial yet largely forgotten episode, which sits at the intersection between the history of Anglo-American foreign intervention during the early Cold War and that of survey sampling as a scientific tool.


The European Community has twelve member States and nine official and working languages. In addition to the historical, cultural and legal differences which are an obstacle to the achievement of the political objectives of the Community, such as, for instance the creation of a unified internal market by 1992, the languages are not just another obstacle to be overcome, but they constitute an additional cost factor which has a negative influence on the competitivity of the EC as a whole. Politically, the institutions of the Community are forced to communicate with the institutions and citizens of the members States in their national languages. To do this they have had to create the largest translation and interpretation services in the world, at a considerable cost. There is no point in attempting to reduce the number of languages. It would be the end of the Community. Economically, to reach the customers, the producers of goods and services must speak the language of the consumer. If it is true that the future of the industrialised countries lies in the development of new technologies, the products become increasingly complex, and with the complexity the volume of the associated documentation grows and becomes a considerable cost factor. The documentation must be translated for the product to reach the customer. In spite of the considerable efforts in the area of foreign language teaching in Europe, only a small minority (mostly in the international environment) is able to work in a foreign language without it constituting a handicap. Thus, translation and interpretation is a necessity, and in order to reduce its cost which is enormous, we must rationalize, i.e. automatize. It ought to be remembered that many of the problems encountered in machine translation are identical with those encountered in other applications of natural language processing. Therefore the efforts put into this field will also have an effect in other areas.


The subject of the bachelor's thesis " Audit of the financial situation as part of risk management" is to compare the financial situation of a few selected enterprises engaged in the same industry, the engineering industry. The first part is focused on theoretical knowledge in auditing of financial situation and detailed explanation of the financial ratio indicators and well known bankruptcy and credibility models . The second part applies this theoretical knowledge to practical examples and assesses the financial situation of surveyed enterprises and risks they bear towards society, which is the main subject of this work.


Abstract Although rituals are believed to lower anxiety, the underlying mechanism of anxiety reduction has not been explained well enough. According to Boyer and Liénard (2006), ritualized behavior decreases the anxiety levels because it swamps working memory. This blocks anxious thoughts' access to consciousness. As a result, ritualized behavior lowers anxiety temporarily but maintains it in the long run. In the article, I analyze what processes should be engaged in ritualized behavior to bring the aforementioned outcomes. I propose that ritualized behavior has anxiolytic properties if it preoccupies consciousness without placing too many demands on cognitive control. While conscious preoccupation with ritualized behavior should reduce anxiety, cognitive control load related to efforts to concentrate on ritualized behavior may bring immediate paradoxical effects of self-regulation, i.e., anxiety increases. Moreover, since anxiety disrupts attentional control capabilities, ritualized behavior should not be too cognitively demanding if an anxious person is to perform it.


Purpose: To explore the phenomenon of silent dissatisfied customers in an online context.

Theoretical perspective: In addition to the strategic brand management a customer perspective is grasped. Furthermore, the study explores areas related to service recovery and consumer behaviour.

Methodology: We apply an explorative approach in the form of a case study of silent dissatisfied customers from a perspective of strategic brand management. Therefore, we chose to conduct focus groups to enable discussion of situations. Moreover, we applied interviews to discover encouragement of complaints to be voiced. Knowledge is gained from empiricism and therefore we employ grounded theory for our analysis.

Findings: There exists four situations when customers remain silent dissatisfied. These situations concern; pre-emptive actions by online businesses, customers' low expectations and previous negative experiences, customers experience lack of energy and time, and customers' perceive ignorance by online businesses. Furthermore, both customers and online businesses are more or less responsible for the silence depending on the situation.

Theoretical implications: This study highlights the phenomenon of silent dissatisfied customers in an online context. Furthermore, the study provides a framework concerning different situations when customers remain silent dissatisfied. This study contributes to the body of knowledge within the field of strategic brand management from a customer perspective.

Managerial implications: With this study, online businesses achieve a deeper understanding of how silent dissatisfied customers are encouraged to forward their opinions to improve. That is practiced with the focus on empathy, easiness, and monetary drivers.

Originality: Strategic brand management is studied from the view of customers since brands solely exist within the mind of customers.


The invention provides an EDFA transient suppression method, the method comprises: step one, acquiring a first transient suppression slope threshold value and a second transient suppression slope threshold value, and producing drive table according to a test data of the EDFA module manufacturer; step two, calculating an incidence light change slope according to a current incidence light power anda historical incidence light; and step three, compared with the slope with the first transient suppression slope, according to the compared result to decide whether execute the transient suppression operation. The invention also provides an EDFA transient suppression system, the system comprises: an incidence light power detection module, a plus control module, a transient suppression module and an EDFA light plus module. By adopting the method and system of the invention, the complicated degree of the control tache is reduced; the system performance is greatly advanced without increasing system cost on the basis of the original digital control system, so the invention has good application prospect and using values.


Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca is a British classic book in the 20th century.Based on Margaret For- ster's Daphne Du Maurie,this paper attempts to interpret the feminism embodied in this novel :Daphhe Du Maurier pretends to ingratiate the patriarchic culture with the true intention of overthrowing it.Her real purpose is to create a heroine who can express her feminist thoughts and her worship of feminism.


Robot manipulators are very difficult systems to control, due to their large number of degrees-of-freedom and to the variety of applications (some of them very complex) for which they are used. Programming most 'intelligent' robot control tasks thus requires a profound domain knowledge and a considerable software engineering effort; furthermore, solutions cannot easily be reused. The author explores the use of connectionist network learning as a way to implement solutions that are resource-greedy, but demand much less domain knowledge and that can be adapted with relatively little effort to solve large classes of problems. As many problems in controlling robots are basically system inversion problems, different methods suitable to obtain training information are explored and their limitations are pointed out. A toy problem is used to illustrate the different problems with these methods. >


In this paper, the main principles of software engineering are introduced. According to the principles, we have analyzed the process of CAI courseware development based on waterfall model and developed the multimedia CAI courseware of Probability Theory and Statistics based on the Web.


In this paper we focus on generative model-driven engineering (MDE) tools and explore the notion of incorporating their deployment directly within the program source through metaprogramming. Our approach is based on the following principles: (i) the MDE tool is invoked as part of the metaprogram evaluation; (ii) instead of generating code, the MDE tool generates source fragments as abstract syntax trees (ASTs); (iii) the generated source fragments are directly inserted into the main program source through generator macros of the metaprogram; and (iv) the resulting program that incorporates both model code and custom application code can be normally compiled to produce the final application. Using this methodology, the metaprogram practically operates as an interactive editor for the program itself. We assess the validity of our approach with proof-of-concept case studies where all MDE deployment is performed through metaprogramming.


The Sleeping Beauty is an iconic fairy tale; an essential ingredient in any girl's fantasy land. The original story seeps back into Italian and other European folklore when farming families gathered round a communal fireplace, telling tales of ancient principalities whose royal intrigues saw them through the winter. The tension between good and evil is finely balanced it is no pushover either way, each force has a will to win; escapism at its best. The original choreography was one of Petipa's masterpieces — a baroque wonderland of lavish tutus and sets and crystal clear mime that directs the action,


THAT the interdependent stories of the recent, rapid growth in knowledge both of the physiology of human prolactin and of the pharmacology of bromocriptine should spring from the already long and colourful history of ergot, may seem surprising to those not overly familiar with this history. However, as early as 1932, Chasar Moir recognized that "ergot has been of the nature of a treasure chest to pharmacologists".' Nevertheless, even today many people consider ergot pharmacology in no wider terms than vasospasm, uterine contraction and perhaps adrenaline reversal. They may be surprised to find that the chemical diversity of the ergot alkaloids corresponds to a wide diversity of biological activity. Stated another way-there simply is no such single entity as ergot from the biological, pharmacological, toxicological or clinical point of view.


The theory for the contrast of stacking faults and dislocations in electrons which have been scattered * Present address: V. G. Microscopes Ltd, Charlwoods Road, East Grinstead, Sussex RH 19 2JQ, England. 0108-7673/83/050697-10501.50 inelastically is derived. Small-angle plasmon and single-electron scattering show similar contrast to the elastically scattered electrons. Phonon scattering by large angles away from strongly excited Bragg reflections shows reversed contrast and small-angle phonon scattering gives better contrast for defects near the top of the specimen. © 1983 International Union of Crystallography 698 THE CONTRAST OF DEFECTS IN INELASTICALLY SCATTERED ELECTRONS


By combining with the SMA asphalt pavement trial road construction of Jiangxi Traffic Bureau Lewei express highway,this paper discusses the processing technology and method in SMA asphalt pavement construction from the aspect of test and measurement,constitution of mechanical equipment and processing quality control.This study will be of great value to the practice of the express highway SMA asphalt pavement construction.


The out‐of‐equilibrium hexagonal P6/mmm R1–s(Fe, M)5+2s (R = Sm, Pr and M = Co, Si or Ga) intermetallics are obtained by controlled nanocrystallization. A model is presented to explain the structure of the hexagonal phases, which stoichiometry is consistent with Sm(Fe, M)9 and R(Fe, Ti, Co)10. The Curie temperatures increase versus Ga, Si, Co content. The analysis of the Mössbauer spectra leads to monotonous variation of the hyperfine parameters. The refinement of the Mössbauer spectra was performed on the basis of the correlation between Wigner–Seitz cell volumes obtained from X‐ray diffraction results and isomer shifts. The abundance of each magnetic site was calculated by the multinomial distribution law. For a given substituting Co, Si, Ga content, the sequence for the isomer shift in the hexagonal cell is 2e > 3g > 6l. With increasing M content, the isomer shift of the 3g site remains quasi‐constant. Those approaches lead to the location of Si, Ga, Co in 3g site, Ti in 6l site. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


Airbag door structure for having the instrument panel having at least a portion of the attaching contour area of the air bag door, the airbag deployment. Reaction plate is attached to the position of the air bag door in the lower panel. Reaction plate includes first and second mold portions have respective said portion flexural strength (F Tether shaped portion engages are included in the reaction plate, as soon as the airbag is deployed, the tether is retained by the second mold portion without being retained in the first mold portion.


Objectives: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the most common causes of disability worlwide. Perception of coping strategies is important in these patients. This study aims to investigate the coping strategies in patients with SCI. Methods: This is a hermeneutic phenomenological study using van Mann's approach. participants werre 15 adults (4 females, 11 males) with SCI living in Ardail, Iran who were recruited using a purposive sampling method. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Interviews were recoreded and then transcribed and finally analyzed by using the thematic analysis approach proposed by van Mann. Results: The lived experiences related to coping strategies in patients were summarized in six main themes including acceptence of the incurability, desire for being independent, praying for divine help, patience & persuasion, time as a coping factor, and marriage. Conclusion: Patients with SCI use their own strategies to cope with their disability. Therefore, it is necessary for clinicians and psychiatrists to strengthen their coping strategies to help them better adapt to their injury


We present on two early detections of GRB afterglows with the Taiwanese‐American Occltation Sruvey (TAOS) telescopes. The robotic TAOS system has been devised so that the routine Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) survey is interrupted when a GRB alert is triggered. Our first detection, GRB 071010B was detected by TAOS 62 s after the burst and showed a weak early brightening during the observations. No significant correction with the prompt gamma‐ray emission indicated that our optical emission detected is afterglow emission. The second detection of TAOS, GRB 071112C was detected 96 s after the burst, also showed a possible initial raising then followed a steep decay in the R‐band light curve.


The active noise control (ANC) is studied.The variable structure based control technology is introduced to the active noise control. An adaptive variable structare control of active noise is derived for the acoustic system with uncertain parameters. An on line learning algorithm is proposed for identifying the uncertain parameters. The stability of closed loop system is proved in the Lyapunov's sense. A simulate example is given to show that the adaptive variable structure control of active noise is more effective than the Filter X control.


Abstract We report the case of a craftsman who developed a rapidly progressive subcutaneous emphysema of his forearm after a minor stab injury into the palm of his hand. Based on our case report we discuss differential diagnosis and management of acute subcutaneous emphysema.


An experimental study of the output spectrum of manganed chloride gas lasers as a functions of excitation conditions is reported. The results provide an explanation for the dependence upon output intensity of the ratio of output intensities in the visible and infrared regious. Simultaneous account is taken of the transition system and excitation conditions.(AIP)


When visiting places of performance to experience collectively a cultural event occurring in the theatre or auditorium, we also make use of foyers to see, meet and potentially informally interact with others. In large contemporary cultural buildings, main foyer spaces are freely accessible through the day, usually combining various facilities in open-plan arrangements. This paper attempts to analyse morphological characteristics of such public interiors and their relation to patterns of visitors' space use and co-presence. The main foyer spaces of London's Royal Festival Hall and Royal National Theatre are analysed comparatively. The study employs a new method, based on fields of visibility and access, at a fine-grain scale, enabling spatial descriptions of continuous 'free plan' layouts. It also analyses quantitatively modes of interface, using visibility graphs constructed from visitors' actual observed locations, proposing a user-centred methodological approach to the analysis of the character of public space. Spatial Integration is shown to correlate with visitors' average degree of co-presence. The integration or segregation of entrances in the overall layout is found to impact on relative perceived levels of co-presence upon entry, creating a formal or informal first interface. The analysis provides evidence suggesting that spatial layout and distribution of facilities modulate patterns of use, co-awareness, co-presence and potential for interaction among visitors, generating different modes of socialisation and transmission of culture.


Abstract The aim of this study was to analyse the correlation between basic meat composition (water, protein, fat, and connective tissue contents), pH value, and physical parameters (texture and colour, drip loss) of selected beef muscles. Five different muscles (LTH, SEM, SET, PSM, TRI) from 20 carcasses were examined. Measurements of the basic meat composition were conducted using a near infrared spectrometry method, colour parameters in L*a*b system, and texture parameters. Drip loss correlated strongly negatively with the pH value. Depending on the muscle type, the correlation ranged -0.601≤r≤-0.282, whereas drip loss correlated moderately positively with connective tissue content. The most significant positive correlation (r≈0.67) between hardness, tenderness, and fat content was noted in the SEM. Colour parameters strongly depended on pH values (-0.831≤rL*≤-0.338; - 0.828≤ra*≤-0.542; -0.912≤rb*≤-0.719) and to a lesser extent on the content of connective tissue.


Hardware resources utilization are of significant concerns for real-time implementation of any signal processing techniques. This paper presents the design and implementation of ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) based signal processing technique for detection of critical power quality (PQ) disturbances. The complete algorithm is simulated and implemented in Xilinx zynq xc7z020 field programmable gate array (FPGA) board using a higher abstraction level tool of Xilinx system generator (XSG). Real-time performance of the technique is demonstrated on experiment signal from emulator grid connected PV system and further proposed algorithm is validated for signals obtained on IEEE 13 bus PSACD (v4.6) simulation model. The critical PQ disturbance like PQ associated with harmonic frequency components (mode mix) have been considered. In study, the performance of said technique is also compared with other techniques like discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and empirical mode decomposition (EMD). It is found that under the mode mix and noisy scenario; EEMD technique outperforms as compared to DWT and EMD in accurate real-time detection of PQ events.


Summary

The European Community directive 2000/36/EC now allows the addition of any sugar to chocolate and also adding up to 40% (w/w) of any foodstuff. Milk chocolates with lactose-replacing sucrose and also with added fillers were tested for physical and sensory properties. Helianthus tuberosus flour, pea and oat fibres made the taste of the chocolate unacceptable. The addition of cellulose and wheat fibre at low dosages resulted in tolerable flavour; however, fat absorption of fibres caused worse flow properties and toughness made particle sizes to increase. Sugar beet fibres introduced bitter and cereal notes. The three products mentioned above would be useable only after modifications to the upstream process. Lupin gave a higher yield value because of its lecithin content but otherwise showed positive impact and could be used to supplement milk ingredients after adjustments to the recipe. As inulin improved the flow and sensory characteristics, it could be recommended both for its physical and nutritional properties. Lactose was not detectable up to 20%, but had some negative effects at higher levels in a low-fat formulation and could require refining modifications. Further development seems worthwhile.


• 358 adult were included in the study (Tab.1). • Subjects underwent comprehensive clinical diagnostic procedures including intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement with dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) and Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT). • DCT time series were analyzed with custom written software (MATLAB, Math Works, Natick, MA, USA) that included signal preprocessing, filtering and spectral analysis. • Unlike previous attempts of analyzing dynamic measurements of ocular pulse (Evans et al, Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 2002; Božic et al, Curr Eye Res, 2012), a novel energy content spectral analysis, which takes into account nonstationarity of considered time series, was applied. • Spectral content up to the 6th harmonic of the pressure pulse wave was considered. • Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, normality test , and a bootstrap based Behrens-Fisher test.


Through the creation of research facilities, residential areas, and road building, humans have the potential to transform the surrounding environment. Our study focused on the impact that the construction and subsequent expansion of the Biological Station has had on the growth of Red pine, Pinus resinosa. To determine if the Biological Station has had any impact, we analyzed tree cores from the Biological Station and a site upwind at grapevine point that had the same soil type and was unaffected by humans. We developed a series of statistical tests to compare soil pH, soil organic material, light availability, and temperature, between the two sites to determine if any of these influences impacted tree growth. We found that growth is greater within the Biological Station and that temperature, soil pH, and light availability are sources of differing growth. The Biological Station is a small model of the possible changes that humans can induce on tree species, which may be amplified in a larger setting


Quantitative estimation of the amounts of vitamin B12-active substances in some marine invertebrates was made using a microbiological assay technique. In general, species from phylum Mollusca were found to be richer in these substances than were species from phyla Echinodermata and Annelida and class Crustacea. No definite relationship was found to exist between the content of vitamin B12-active substances in an animal and its phylogeny.


The CH3Cl molecule has been used in several studies as an example purportedly to demonstrate that while Cl is weakly negative, a positive potential can be induced on its axial surface by the electric field of a reasonably strong Lewis base (such as O=CH2). The induced positive potential then has the ability to attract the negative site of the Lewis base, thus explaining the importance of polarization leading to the formation of the H3C–Cl···O=CH2 complex. By examining the nature of the chlorine's surface in CH3Cl using the molecular electrostatic surface potential (MESP) approach, with MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ, we show that this view is not correct. The results of our calculations demonstrate that the local potential associated with the axial surface of the Cl atom is inherently positive. Therefore, it should be able to inherently act as a halogen bond donor. This is shown to be the case by examining several halogen-bonded complexes of CH3Cl with a series of negative sites. In addition, it is also shown that the lateral portions of Cl in CH3Cl features a belt of negative electrostatic potential that can participate in forming halogen-, chalcogen-, and hydrogen-bonded interactions. The results of the theoretical models used, viz. the quantum theory of atoms in molecules; the reduced density gradient noncovalent index; the natural bond orbital analysis; and the symmetry adapted perturbation theory show that Cl-centered intermolecular bonding interactions revealed in a series of 18 binary complexes do not involve a polarization-induced potential on the Cl atom.


In the early days of 1990s, the propagation theory has been widely introduced into the editorial circle, and deepened the editorial propagation studies. The rewarding is great. These are as follows: having a more comprehensive and more accurate understanding of the relationship between editorial and propaganda programs; re-orientating the problems of editing principals and functions from the new propagation viewpoint; systematically inducing and summarizing the editing and propagating principles and regulations; having the detailed description of the editing and propagating process and social functions; having a realistic study of the advantages of the new media and the editing pattern reformation. The editing subject concept and quality renewed problems have been studied thoroughly. It can be expected that the future study will be more systematic. The study method will be more perfect and more comprehensible. The editing and propagating study will become a very important branch of science.


This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Total Mixed Ration (TMR) with wet brewer`s grain on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention of castrated Korean black goat. For feeding trial, forty castrated Korean black goats were divided into four treatment groups, which were fed TMR containing 20, 30, 40% of wet brewer`s grain. For digestibility trial, twelve castrated Korean black goats were allotted to treatments in four groups of three goats. Results are summarized as follows. Dry matter (DM) contents of TMR with wet brewer`s grain was , that of crude protein was , Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were , each. These were not different by supplemental level of brewer`s grain in TMR. However, Non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) contents were lower according to increase wet brewer`s grain in TMR. Average daily gain of control group were higher than those from TMR with wet brewer`s gain (p


The purpose of this study was to provide a physical-activity and life-skills/team-building intervention for elementary-grade girls who participated in a daily summer community camp. The intervention, called "Strong Girls," included a group of approximately 20 sixth-grade girls. Strong Girls included two-hour sessions, twice a week for eight weeks. Each session, girls participated in physical activities, team building, and life-skills activities designed to enhance their fitness, positive thinking, confidence, and social skills. Leaders strived to foster a caring, supportive, and cooperative environment within the group. Assessment occurred via journal entries that both the Strong Girls participants and the daily summer community camp leaders completed after each session. The girls had very positive responses about their involvement in Strong Girls. Responses indicated that they valued the process of working together, demonstrated a positive perspective on session activities, and talked about strategies to make life more fun. Overall, the program gave adolescent girls opportunities to develop important life skills.


Background Teachers should not only be concerned with the products of learning but also with the processes of learning as good teaching involves teaching pupils how to learn effectively. The importance of teaching pupils 'to learn how to learn' has gained momentum as recent research provides more and more evidence that substantial variance in learning outcomes can be attributed to learning approaches adopted by pupils (Marton, 1976; Marton and Sayo, 1978; Svenssin and Theman 1983; Marton and Saljo, 1984; Biggs, 1987; Chew 1988; Cheng, 1985).


A landmine found in a McKinney family's backyard sent bomb detection crews to the home Monday night.
The crew continued working into the night on disposing the landmine safely in the 1100 block of Westmoreland.


Nanostructure-initiator mass spectrometry (NIMS) is a matrix-free desorption/ionization technique with high sensitivity for small molecules. Surface preparation has relied on hydrofluoric acid (HF) electrochemical etching which is undesirable given the significant safety controls required in this specialized process. In this study, we examine a conventional and widely used process for producing black silicon based on sulfur hexafluoride/oxygen (SF6/O2) inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etching at cryogenic temperatures and we find it to be suitable for NIMS. A systematic study varying parameters in the plasma etching process was performed to understand the relationship of black silicon morphology and its sensitivity as a NIMS substrate. The results suggest that a combination of higher silicon temperature and oxygen flow rate gives rise to the formation of black silicon with fine pillar structures, whose aspect ratio are ∼8.7 and depth are <1 μm resulting in higher NIMS sensitivity which is attributed to surface restructuring caused by their low melting point upon laser irradiation. Interestingly, we find selectivity of these black silicon substrates to different analytes depending on the etching parameters. Though, the sensitivity of the dry etching process is lower than the traditional "wet" electrochemical etching process, it is suitable for many applications and is prepared using conventional equipment without the use of HF. I matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS), the efficient cocrystallization process of matrix-analyte is necessary in order to desorb/ionize analytes by energy transfer from the matrix to analytes. The anticipated signals of analyte ions (<500 Da) can be buried by high background noise from abundant matrix molecules. Matrix-free desorption/ionization is an approach developed to overcome some of the limitations of MALDI, especially for small molecule analysis. A great diversity of nanostructured surfaces, such as porous silicon, nanopost/nanowire arrays, and surfaces with immobilized nanoparticles, can be used to support small molecule analysis. Nanostructureinitiator mass spectrometry (NIMS) has high sensitivity and low background of direct analysis of a wide range of samples, such as biofluids, tissues, and single cells. NIMS is based on trapping of a liquid "initiator" within the nanostructured surface, which is thought to desorb/ionize from surface during its vaporization with laser irradiation and subsequent heating of the NIMS surface. NIMS sensitivity replies on its nanostructured surface generated by electrochemical etching of highly doped crystalline silicon in a HF bath. Since this process involves hazardous chemicals and electric current, it requires extreme caution and safety controls. Even though NIMS has great advantages on analyzing biomolecules (e.g., small molecules, biofluids, tissues, peptides, and cells), the electrochemical etching process has proven to be a significant barrier to the widespread implementation. Therefore, it is desirable to develop an alternative method for fabricating nanostructured surfaces specifically designed for the NIMS technique. Black silicon is a pillar structured silicon surface with black appearance due to its high antireflectivity of incident light. Its efficient light absorption and large surface area makes black silicon attract a wide range of interests, including optoelectronic devices, biomedical devices, and sensors. A safe, rapid, controllable method of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactive ion etching (RIE) has been developed with high throughput to create black silicon surfaces. Thus, black silicon has the potential to replace porous silicon as NIMS substrates owing to its outstanding surface properties and simple fabrication process that does not require HF. Black silicon surface structures can be controlled by many parameters, such as pressure, temperature, voltage, gas flow rate, and etching time. Among them, two crucial factors for black silicon formation are gas flow rates and silicon Received: September 10, 2015 Accepted: January 7, 2016 Published: January 7, 2016 Article


Electric machines are always running under load condition,so the noise level of induction motors under such condition will be more accurate.The effects of load on the electromagnetic noise of induction motors were analyzed through the modal vibration behaviours of the electric machinery system.The paper also analyzed the data gathered from the experiments.When working frequency is 50 Hz,the variation of the load noise is insignificant,often about ±3.0dB(A),for the resonant frequency of motor is for apart from the frequency of exciting force.But when the motor is powered under frequency converter condition and because the frequency of exciting force changes greatly,the variation of the load noise in some circumstances may be significant.


In the history of Chinese literature,LuXun is one of the writers who used the most pen-names in his articles.He changed his pennames frequently for the sake of revolution and it′s considered as an art of revolution.More than 150 pen-names which were used by LuXun embodied his perseverant fighting spirit and at the same time profoundly presented his experience of fighting enemies.


Exponential error bounds achievable by universal coding and decoding are derived for frame-asynchronous discrete memoryless multiple access channels with two senders, via the method of subtypes, a refinement of the method of types. An empirical entropy decoder is employed. A key tool is an improved packing lemma, that overcomes the technical difficulty caused by codeword repetitions via an induction based new argument. The asymptotic form of the bounds admits numerical evaluation. This demonstrates that error exponents achievable by synchronous transmission can be superseded via controlled asynchronism, i.e. a deliberate shift of the codewords.


This paper reviews the implementation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, evaluates the success of the Act, and anaylzes the major unrelolved legal issues under the Act.


The novel derivative of quercetin 3′-O-(3-chloropivaloyl)quercetin (CPQ) inhibited a-glucosidase in a non-competitive manner with an efficacy exceeding that of the parent quercetin. In addition, it inhibited aldose reductase isolated from rat lenses with an IC50 in the low micromolar range and attenuated sorbitol accumulation in isolated rat eye lenses with an activity comparable with that of quercetin. Moreover, it scavenged stable free-radicals of DPPH more efficiently than did quercetin. By inhibiting α-glucosidase and affecting both the polyol pathway and oxidative stress, CPQ represents a promising agent for the multi-targeted pharmacology of diabetic complications.


The right to a fair trial, guaranteed by Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), is a paradoxical right. On the one hand, it does not impose a single model for a judicial system on the contracting states; on the other hand, it cannot be left to the sole discretion of domestic law to determine the essential content of such guarantees, in spite of the existence of national legal traditions. This paradox was evident in the case of Kress v. France, where the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) declared in 2001 that there had been a violation of Article 6 of the ECHR by France, with regard to the French institution known as rapporteur public (formerly, commissaire du gouvernement). Using this case as an example, the present paper focuses on the conflict, or the dialogue, between national and supranational legal orders — in this instance, between the French order and the ECHR order. Part I of the paper briefly explains that a rapporteur public is a member of an administrative court, with the duty at a hearing to submit his own assessment of the facts, his statement of the law applicable to the case, and his opinion as to the solution that should be adopted, according to his conscience. Part II examines the pre-Kress case-law of the ECtHR, a sequence of precedents that the Court established on the matter of the role of public prosecutors (ministere public) in Napoleonic-Code-influenced countries, who express their opinion at trials. The ECtHR seems to have based its evolving position on the combination of two theories: the doctrine of appearances and the principle of equality of arms, or adversarial trial. Part III analyzes the case of Kress and the response within the French legal system. The ECtHR found in Kress that there had been a violation of the right to a fair trial in terms of equality of arms, indicating the inequality between the parties to the case and the commissaire du gouvernement, caused by the latter's attendance at the secret deliberations of the trial bench. After some hesitation, the French Government finally complied with the judgment, amending the Code of Administrative Justice. In conclusion, the paper draws on the concept of subsidiarity to interpret this case.


Though the word correlation means usually how two quantities vary together, perhaps it may be due to extensive use of Pearson's correlation coefficient. It is often associated with a linear relatio ...


Ever since J. J. Clere1 wrote in the mid-fifties a comparative study about kinship terminology in various Afroasiatic languages including Ancient Egyptian, this field has aroused the interest of a growing number of Egyptologists. G. Robins2 and D. Franke,3 among others,4 have dealt with the basic and extended meanings of kinship terms. For instance, they showed evidence that the word sn, which means "brother" in its basic sense, encompasses a great range of family ties in its broader, extended meaning. Sn may in the latter case designate the uncle, the cousin, or the nephew.5 None of these scholars, however, has dealt extensively with the third and largest acceptation of the word sn, namely its metaphorical one.6 By metaphorical meaning, I understand the transfer of a kinship term from its literal sense into a more abstract context in which this term takes its most figurative and symbolic meaning.7 For example, the kinship term it, which means "father" in its basic sense, and "grandfather" or "ancestor" in its extended one, could metaphorically mean "teacher,"8 or "protector,"9


In the current study,the interaction of sodium cyclamate with bovine serum albumin(BSA)under simulative physiological conditions(pH 7.4)was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy technique.The observed result of fluorescence quenching indicated that a ground state complex was formed between sodium cyclamate and BSA,resulting in the intrinsic fluorescence quenching of BSA.The binding constant K at25°C was calculated to be 3.05×103 L mol-1,and the number of binding sites were approximately equal to1.The calculated enthalpy change(ΔHθ)and entropy change(ΔSθ)values by Van't Hoff equation was-3.46KJ·mol-1 and 48.23J·mol-1·K-1,respectively.These findings suggested that hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding were the main forces to maintain the stability of the BSA-sodium cyclamate complex.The site markers competitive experiments revealed the binding of sodium cyclamate to BSA primarily in the subdomain IIA(Site I)of BSA.Analysis of synchronous fluorescence spectra demonstrated that the hydrophobicity around tryptophan residues increased and the polarity weakened,but there was no obvious effect on the microenvironment of tyrosine residues of BSA.Moreover,the effects of some metal ions on the binding constant of BSA-sodium cyclamate interaction revealed that the presence of Zn2+and Mg2+could increase the stability of the BSA-sodium cyclamate complex,while the stability of the complex decreased in the presence of Ca2+,Fe3+and Cu2+,respectively.


Current situation of teachers' team construction of the basic department is studied.We find some problems that need to be solved urgently.Moreover,we put forward some suggestions on how to strengthen the construction of the teachers' team.These suggestions are helpful to train talents satisfying the high demands in the 21st century.


Team projects represent an important aspect of microelectronic systems education. In group projects, students learn to work together, delegate responsibilities and manage time. It is difficult for instructors to evaluate the performance of students participating in team projects. Evaluation of an individual's performance requires a fair comparison of the team's work as compared to other teams in the class. It also requires an understanding of the intra-team dynamics. The project gradebot, introduced in this paper, is a new, Web-based learning tool that provides automated features to manage, evaluate and grade team projects. The tool is compatible with Web-based distributed learning tools that are currently in use for individualized instruction.


To replace the conventionally used CdS buffers in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) based thin-film solar cells, sputtered Zn(O,S) buffer layers have been investigated. Zn(O,S) layers with three different [O]/([O] + [S]) ratios (0.4, 0.7, and 0.8)—and a combination of Zn(O,S) and CdS ("hybrid buffer layer") were studied. In comparison to the CdS reference, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the Zn(O,S)-buffered devices increases in the short- and long-wavelength regions of the spectrum. However, the average EQE ranges below that of the CdS reference, and the devices show a low open-circuit voltage (VOC). By adding a very thin CdS layer (5 nm) between the absorber and the Zn(O,S) buffer, the VOC loss is completely avoided. Using thicker intermediate CdS layers result in a further device improvement, with VOC values above those of the CdS reference. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements suggest that the thin CdS layer prevents damage to the absorber surface during the sputter deposition of the Zn(O,S) buffer. With the hybrid buffer configuration, a record VOC deficit, i.e., a minimum difference between bandgap energy Eg (divided by the elementary charge q) and VOC (Eg/q – VOC) of 519 mV could be obtained, i.e., the lowest value reported for kesterite solar cells to date. Thus, the hybrid buffer configuration is a promising approach to overcome one of the main bottlenecks of kesterite-based solar cells, while simultaneously also reducing the amount of cadmium needed in the device.


W ALT WHITMAN'S "WHEN LILACS LAST IN THE DOORYARD Bloom'd" is one of the most powerful poetic meditations on death and the work of mourning in American literature. An elegiac relection on Abraham Lincoln's funeral train as it made its way across the eastern United States to his burial place in Illinois, the poem is a powerful example of how authors draw their authority from what Walter Benjamin called the authority of death:1


Coenzyme Q (CoQ, ubiquinone) is the electron‐carrying lipid in the mitochondrial electron transport system (ETS). In mammals, it serves as the electron acceptor for nine mitochondrial inner membrane dehydrogenases. These include the NADH dehydrogenase (complex I, CI) and succinate dehydrogenase (complex II, CII) but also several others that are often omitted in the context of respiratory enzymes: dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, choline dehydrogenase, electron‐transferring flavoprotein dehydrogenase, mitochondrial glycerol‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, proline dehydrogenases 1 and 2, and sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. The metabolic pathways these enzymes are involved in range from amino acid and fatty acid oxidation to nucleotide biosynthesis, methylation, and hydrogen sulfide detoxification, among many others. The CoQ‐linked metabolism depends on CoQ reoxidation by the mitochondrial complex III (cytochrome bc1 complex, CIII). However, the literature is surprisingly limited as for the role of the CoQ‐linked metabolism in the pathogenesis of human diseases of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), in which the CoQ homeostasis is directly or indirectly affected. In this review, we give an introduction to CIII function, and an overview of the pathological consequences of CIII dysfunction in humans and mice and of the CoQ‐dependent metabolic processes potentially affected in these pathological states. Finally, we discuss some experimental tools to dissect the various aspects of compromised CoQ oxidation.


Abstract : Question One: Where are we? What exactly is a requirement? What is the current mechanism of requirements development? What is the current status of JCIDS? Question Two: Where do we want to be? What has leadership said about this capability/requirements/affordability disconnect? (Quotes are provided from former Secretary Bill Gates, Dr. Ashton Carter, and Secretary Leon Panetta.) Question Three: What's the delta? How do we get there? What might this behavioral shift demand? Furthermore, how does the operational requirements/affordability connection progress as the materiel solution evolves? Since capabilities analysis, operational requirements generation, and affordability are so interdependent, let's model this process chronologically from the very beginning, using the framework in Figure 2 and moving from left to right: Pre-Material Development Decision (MDD), Post-MDD Technical Requirements Impact on Affordability, Material Solution Analysis (MSA), Technology Development (TD), Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), Production and Deployment (PD), and Operations and Support (O&S). The foundation of system affordability begins during Pre-MDD capabilities analysis by carefully and thoughtfully analyzing warfighter capability needs. The affordability emphasis then evolves into immediate Post-MDD translation of validated capability gaps into usable operational, derived, and technical requirements, specifications, and metrics. Significant savings opportunities continue during later Post-MDD phases by cooperative diligence on the part of both RMs and PMs. This PM/RM team continuously reviews -- and trades off if necessary -- various requirements throughout the entire acquisition life cycle. Mutually supporting and accomplishing these tasks can go far to ensuring that early capability analyses, stable requirements development, and diligent materiel execution fully and competently support not only the needs of our warfighters in battle, but also the taxpayers.


Detection of Leishmania parasites in a clinical sample is necessary to confirm a suspected case of leishmaniasis. We compared the sensitivity of internal transcribed spacer 1‐PCR (ITS 1‐PCR) assay for parasite diagnosis with that of microscopic detection in clinical samples from kala‐azar (KA) or post‐kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) suspects in Mymensingh. Of 39 specimens collected from 35 KA and four PKDL suspects, 26 were positive by microscopic examination of smears from bone marrow and skin exudates; 38 specimens spotted on filter paper and 27 of the 28 Giemsa‐stained slides tested by PCR proved positive by ITS1‐PCR.


The use of stainless steel reinforcements is a protection method for chloride contaminated structures. The present contribution shows a practical method to characterize and compare the corrosion behaviour of reiforcement steels. Two stainless steels and a ordinary carbon steel (reference) were investigated. The results of the investigations show the influence of the chloride content, the pH value and the surface quality on the corrosion resistance.


Polymer waveguide technology was exploited to build a photonic switch with enormous bandwidth capabilities at extremely low cost per path. A 6 X 6 ferroelectric liquid crystal array was used as a switching element to block or transmit light signals between input and output fibers. Visible laser sources, plastic fibers, PIN detectors, and our proprietary polymeric mixing rod couplers were used to construct the switch. The polymeric fibers, couplers, and switching element allowed us to eliminate the need to time division multiplex photonic channels through the switch because the optical paths were no longer costly. This in turn eliminated the electronic buffering and synchronization requirements of the switch.


Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is known to prevent bone loss following the menopause, but the mechanism for this is unclear. Estrogen may suppress the secretion of certain bone‐resorbing cytokines. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of ERT on the levels of cytokines measured in peripheral blood. We measured cytokines in 10 postmenopausal women (ages 56–59, 3–9 years since menopause) treated with ERT and 10 age‐matched (54–59 years, 4–10 years since menopause) untreated women as controls. Samples of blood were taken and used for mononuclear cell cultures, whole blood (WB) cultures, and the separation of serum. The cultures were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 500 ng/ml) and hydrocortisone (10−6 M). The conditioned medium from cultures and the serum were then assayed for interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐1 IL‐1ra, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. M‐CSF and the soluble cytokine receptors soluble IL‐6 receptor (sIL‐6r) and soluble TNF receptor type 1 (sTNFr1) were also measured in serum and M‐CSF in stimulated WB cultures. Measurements were corrected for mononuclear cell count. We also measured serum bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (ibAP) in all subjects. We found that LPS stimulated secretion of all cytokines both in WB and isolated cell cultures, and that this was attenuated by hydrocortisone. A significantly higher ratio of IL‐1β/IL‐1ra (p = 0.02) in LPS stimulated WB cultures was seen in the untreated women. Levels of IL‐1β and IL‐1α measured in WB cultures were lower and IL‐1ra was higher in the ERT‐treated group but these results were not significant. BAP was higher in the untreated group (p = 0.005) and correlated with IL‐α/IL‐1ra in the whole group (r = 0.49, p = 0.03). Results of other measurements showed no significant differences between groups. We conclude that estrogen may prevent bone loss following the menopause by altering the balance between IL‐1β and IL‐1ra.


This study aims to pressure the beacons that set the Educational Service Specialist (ESA) – in the scenario of inclusive education – as a service that re/directs pedagogical practices. We direct our looking to this service supported by a post-structuralist framework – Nikolas Rose and Michel Foucault – on the assumption that the ESA teacher, provided specialized professional, undertakes efforts to reduce the risks and normalize the subject. So we organized the study into three periods: The Contemporary and inclusive school context, Specialized Educational Service as normalizing expertise and Screen and intervene: teacher AEE tasks. We infer that, while constituting expertise, it is up to this professional approach inclusive of normal subjects, investing efforts into specific actions and determined for each subject, with a view to producing increasingly inclusive subjectivities.


Although Robert K. Greenleaf is primarily known as the father of the empowerment movement and the advocate for servant leadership, he also had a strong and abiding interest in the anticipatory leader. Indeed, throughout his essays he developed a coherent and rigorous discipline of forecasting which involved three stages.


PURPOSE: A method for producing red pepper paste and the red pepper paste manufactured thereby are provided to manufacture the red pepper paste containing a large amount of low molecular oligosaccharide and GABA Components. CONSTITUTION: A method for producing red pepper paste includes the following steps: manufacturing garlic gruel by steaming crushed garlic with Laminaria japonica fermentation extract in water at 90~100 °C for 4 ~ 5 hours; cooling and sugaring the garlic gruel with red pepper powder, fermented soybeans powder, and glutinous rice; aging the cooled materials after adding salt; managing the quality of the red pepper paste by radiating ultraviolet rays at a constant time during an aging period.


The studies on energetics are concerned mainly with evaluating the energy flow and, therefore, are related to the incorporation of energy into new protoplasm in addition to estimates of maintenance of energy. The work with Criotettix grandis Hanc. has still not been worked upon therefore Quantitative estimation of consumption, assimilation, tissue growth and food utilization efficiencies of the phytophagous insect was calculated and worked out.


Electromagnetic waves have both spin momentum and orbital angular momentum (OAM). Light carrying OAM has broad applications in micro-particle manipulation, high-precision optical metrology, and potential high-capacity optical communications. In the concept of quantum information, a photon encoded with information in its OAM degree of freedom enables quantum networks to carry much more information and increase their channel capacity greatly compared with those of current technology because of the inherent infinite dimensions for OAM. Quantum memories are indispensable to construct quantum networks. Storing OAM states has attracted considerable attention recently, and many important advances in this direction have been achieved during the past few years. Here we review recent experimental realizations of quantum memories using OAM states, including OAM qubits and qutrits at true single photon level, OAM states entangled in a two-dimensional or a high-dimensional space, hyperentanglement and hybrid entanglement consisting of OAM and other degree of freedom in a physical system. We believe that all achievements described here are very helpful to study quantum information encoded in a high-dimensional space.


Based on the construction difficulties of carbonaceous phyllite lot of Zhegushan tunnel,this paper used comparative analysis method,highlight introduced the carbonaceous phyllite tunnel used the construction essential of step method,so as to guide the tunnel construction of similar geological conditions.


In recent years, road surface micro-texture and macro-texture measurement has become an important topic in Intelligent Transportation Systems. A novel method to extract micro-texture and macro-texture is developed in this research, in which the multiple background images have been used in order to extract road surface. The proposed algorithm includes two stages: road surface extraction and micro-texture measurement. The road surface image was extracted by performing the difference on three consecutive frames. According to the extracted images, the authors analyze the feature point to measurement micro-texture. The proposed method has been tested on a number of traffic-image sequences and the experimental results show that the algorithm is robust and real-time.


Developing and implementing your first management system (i.e. formalised), be it focussed on safety, quality or environmental issues is a major task. In contrast much of the ground work may already be established when introducing a second system. However this in itself can create some unique challenges. This paper examines how those challenges were addressed during development of West Australian Petroleum's Environmental Management System (EMS), and highlights some of the issues associated with integrating management processes. Development followed a staged approach, initially focussing on assessment of existing processes and their potential for use in environmental management. Surveys of internal and external customers were conducted, along with external benchmarking to identify potential issues and alternatives. The strategy that emerged was to align with existing safety processes, such as planning, communication, hazard management and audit wherever possible. The underlying issue was whether to apply the processes in parallel or concurrently. Existing documentation was also reviewed to determine howr to effectively document the EMS while avoiding unnecessary duplication. A decision was taken to pilot the EMS at one site prior to company-wide deployment. Senior management support for the decision was linked to the detailed assessment of risks, resource requirements, and likely impacts on other business initiatives. Development is now underway with a number of conclusions or key learnings already apparent. These include an acceptance that if integration is to be successful any underlying differences between the management of environmental and safety issues need to be understood, and safeguards need to be put in place to ensure both receive adequate attention.


High Load Multirotational Disk Bearings were developed back in the early 1970's as a cost effective and superior performing alternative to pot and spherical bearings. While their successful use on highway bridges has been well documented in numerous publications it should be noted that disk bearings also have an excellent performance history on railroad and transit bridges. This paper will cover the development of the disk bearing and explore some of the differences in loading criteria of rail and transit bridges and how the disk bearing is well suited to these conditions. Several case histories will be examined in an effort to demonstrate how the disk bearing is able to handle the high live loads and rotations typical with rail structures. Uplift requirements are also common on rail bridges and the disk bearing can be easily adapted for these types of loads. Title: High Load Multirotational Disk Bearings for Railroad and Transit Bridges Technical Merit of Presentation Railroad and Transit Bridges have loading criteria that differ from highway bridges. High Load Multiroational Disk Bearings have a long and successful history on these types of structures and offer design engineers a field proven solution to the historical problems experienced on these bridges. Name: Several Project Information Location: Several Opening Date? Notes: This paper is accompanied by an informative Powerpoint Presentation with numerous photos of in service bearing devices on Railroad and Transit Bridges. E-Mail: email@example.com Company: R. J. Watson, Inc. Phone: 716-983-2166 Name: Ronald Watson Address: 282 Wood Acres Drive E Amherst NY 14051 United States Abstract #: 17-25 Date Received 9/16/2016 Score: Co-Author's PrimaryTopic: Railroad and Transit Bridges SecondaryTopic: Other IBC 2017 Conference Individual Abstract Submission Abstract: Shear keys are used in bridge abutments to provide lateral restraints to bridge superstructures under normal service loads and limit the permanent deformations under moderate earthquake forces. Current shear key construction practices include shear keys connected to the stem wall monolithically (nonisolated shear keys) or with a construction joint (isolated shear keys). Past experimental data have indicated that the isolated and non-isolated shear keys need repair or replacement after an earthquake event. To address the need of reducing the repair costs and efforts after an earthquake, a specimen which had post-tensioned shear keys was designed with an innovative concept to allow rocking. This presentation will include the design and test results of the post-tensioned shear keys. The tests conducted at UC San Diego showed that these shear keys have good potential for use in practice; their design has a number of beneficial features as compared to the isolated and non-isolated shear keys. First, the on-site construction effort can be reduced since the shear keys can be precast and then transferred to the construction site. Second, the unbonded, post-tensioned, bars allow the shear keys to displace and rotate without damage to the shear keys and the stem wall, and the bars, if not yielded, can restore the shear keys to their original positions. The shear keys can also be designed in such a way that they provide strength and deformation capabilities compatible to the bridge columns. Title: Rocking Shear Keys in Bridge Abutments Shear keys are used in bridge abutments to provide lateral restraints to bridge superstructures under normal service loads and limit the permanent deformations under moderate earthquake forces. Current shear key construction practices include shear keys connected to the stem wall monolithically (nonisolated shear keys) or with a construction joint (isolated shear keys). Past experimental data have indicated that the isolated and non-isolated shear keys need repair or replacement after an earthquake event. To address the need of reducing the repair costs and efforts after an earthquake, a specimen which had post-tensioned shear keys was designed with an innovative concept to allow rocking. This presentation will include the design and test results of the post-tensioned shear keys. The tests conducted at UC San Diego showed that these shear keys have good potential for use in practice; their design has a number of beneficial features as compared to the isolated and non-isolated shear keys. First, the on-site construction effort can be reduced since the shear keys can be precast and then transferred to the construction site. Second, the unbonded, post-tensioned, bars allow the shear keys to displace and rotate without damage to the shear keys and the stem wall, and the bars, if not yielded, can restore the shear keys to their original positions. The shear keys can also be designed in such a way that they provide strength and deformation capabilities compatible to the bridge columns. Title: Rocking Shear Keys in Bridge Abutments Technical Merit of Presentation The presentation will make the audience aware of the design challenges of shear keys in concrete bridges. It will focus on an innovative design, which is in the proof-of-concept stage and will challenge the out-of-the-box thinking of attendees. Name: Project Information Location: Opening Date? Notes: E-Mail: email@example.com Company: HINMAN CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC Phone: (858) 775-3169 Name: Alexandra Kottari Address: 2314 28th Avenue #1R Astoria NY 11102 United States Abstract #: 17-26 Date Received 9/21/2016 Score: Co-Author's Benson Shing UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla California 92093 email@example.com Jose Restrepo UC San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla california 92093 email@example.com PrimaryTopic: Design SecondaryTopic: Seismic Design IBC 2017 Conference Individual Abstract Submission Abstract: Chicago Midway International Airport has experienced record-setting levels for passenger activity. With this rapid growth in passengers and the need for additional passenger security checkpoint capacity, the City of Chicago Department of Aviation ("CDA") has embarked on a new capital project – the Passenger Security Checkpoint and Bridge Expansion project. This project will provide for additional screening lanes, improved passenger queueing layout and new retail concession space. By relieving congestion and improving traffic flow, the time it takes for passengers to travel from curb to gate will be significantly reduced and their experience will be enhanced. The existing enclosed pedestrian bridge spans between the entry landside terminal and the airside gate terminal, crossing over Cicero Avenue, a state highway. It is 55-feet wide and accommodates the main passenger queue lines, employee queue lines, and dedicated passenger exit path. In order to improve pedestrian flow and access to boarding gates, the CDA proposed significantly expanding the bridge both to the north and south to an overall width of nearly 400 feet. The design and construction of the newly widened pedestrian bridge required addressing challenges such as limited roadway closures, constraints in overhead clearance for erection of the new structure, and construction staging. Jacobs Engineering Group has been retained to perform the final design of the pedestrian bridge scheduled to begin construction in 2017. This large expansion project will enhance passengers' travel experience at Midway Airport by providing significant additional space for security and retail. Title: Midway Airport Passenger Security Checkpoint and Bridge Expansion Chicago Midway International Airport has experienced record-setting levels for passenger activity. With this rapid growth in passengers and the need for additional passenger security checkpoint capacity, the City of Chicago Department of Aviation ("CDA") has embarked on a new capital project – the Passenger Security Checkpoint and Bridge Expansion project. This project will provide for additional screening lanes, improved passenger queueing layout and new retail concession space. By relieving congestion and improving traffic flow, the time it takes for passengers to travel from curb to gate will be significantly reduced and their experience will be enhanced. The existing enclosed pedestrian bridge spans between the entry landside terminal and the airside gate terminal, crossing over Cicero Avenue, a state highway. It is 55-feet wide and accommodates the main passenger queue lines, employee queue lines, and dedicated passenger exit path. In order to improve pedestrian flow and access to boarding gates, the CDA proposed significantly expanding the bridge both to the north and south to an overall width of nearly 400 feet. The design and construction of the newly widened pedestrian bridge required addressing challenges such as limited roadway closures, constraints in overhead clearance for erection of the new structure, and construction staging. Jacobs Engineering Group has been retained to perform the final design of the pedestrian bridge scheduled to begin construction in 2017. This large expansion project will enhance passengers' travel experience at Midway Airport by providing significant additional space for security and retail. Title: Midway Airport Passenger Security Checkpoint and Bridge Expansion Technical Merit of Presentation This project is a pedestrian bridge with a building on top. The presentation will cover many challenging aspects to this work including how to design the bridge for these loadings, how to construct the proposed structure while maintaining pedestrian flow at all times, and how to work around site constraints. Name: Project Information Location: Chicago, IL Opening Date? 12/31/2018 Notes: E-Mail: email@example.com Company: Jacobs Engineering Phone: (312) 612-7235 Name: Jennifer Drake Address: 525 W Monroe St. Chicago IL 60661 United States Abstract #: 17-27 Date Received 9/22/2016 Score: Co-Author's PrimaryTopic: Pedestrian/Special Purpose Bridges SecondaryTopic: Design IBC 2017 Confe


Abstract This paper combines satellite measurements of the upwelling 6.7-μm radiance from TOVS with cloud-property information from ISCCP and outgoing longwave radiative fluxes from ERBE to analyze the climatological interactions between deep convection, upper-tropospheric humidity, and atmospheric greenhouse trapping. The satellite instruments provide unmatched spatial and temporal coverage, enabling detailed examination of regional, seasonal, and interannual variations between these quantities. The present analysis demonstrates that enhanced tropical convection is associated with increased upper-tropospheric relative humidity. The positive relationship between deep convection and upper-tropospheric humidity is observed for both regional and temporal variations, and is also demonstrated to occur over a wide range of space and time scales. Analysis of ERBE outgoing longwave radiation measurements indicates that regions or periods of increased upper-tropospheric moisture are strongly correlated with an enh...


Neutron detection is a relevant topic in the field of nuclear instrumentation. It is at the heart of the concerns for fusion applications (neutron diagnostics, measurements inside the Test Blanket Modules TBM) as well as for fission applications (in-core and ex-core monitoring, neutron mapping or safety applications in research reactors). Moreover, due to the even more harsh conditions of the future experimental reactors such as the Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR) or International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), neutron detectors need to be adapted to high neutron and γ fluxes, high nuclear heating rates and high temperatures. Consequently, radiation and temperature hardened sensors with fast response, high energy resolution and stability in a mixed neutron and γ environment are required. All these requirements make wide-bandgap semiconductors and, more precisely, Silicon Carbide (SiC) serious candidates due to their intrinsic characteristics in such extreme environments. Thus, since the last decades, SiC-based detectors are developed and studied for neutron detection in various nuclear facilities. In this paper, a SiC-based neutron detector is 3-D designed and studied through thermal and radiation-matter interaction numerical simulations for a future irradiation campaign at the Jožef Stefan Institute TRIGA Mark II research reactor in Slovenia. Firstly, this paper presents the scientific background and issues of our SiC-based detectors. In a second part the 3-D geometry is shown. Thereafter, the 3-D numerical thermal simulation results are reported. Finally, the 3-D numerical radiation/matter interaction simulations results are presented.


Itabirite is an iron ore found in Brazil. The future Itabirite resources require grinding down to a fine size to liberate and concentrate. The conventional comminution circuits assumed in projects processing Itabirite consist of three stages of crushing followed by ball mills. These circuits require high demand for maintenance and large area of construction. Hence, was conducted bench-scale and pilot-scale tests to understand and to characterize the comminution potential of Itabirite ores using semiautogenous (SAG) and fully-autogenous (AG or FAG) grinding. The pilot tests demonstrated that SAG and AG technology work properly for the size reduction of Itabirite.


This article examines how therapeutic decisions by occupational therapists are shaped by the impact of a framework of functional independence and the organization of rehabilitation services. Insights are presented from an exploratory pilot study using focus group methodology. Analysis of the focus groups revealed three therapeutic dilemmas or paradoxical situations that occur in caring for an older patient. The therapeutic dilemmas raised ethical issues regarding an older adult's right to autonomy and decisional control throughout the rehabilitation process and the ability of therapists to develop context-based treatment for the elderly.


Endoribonuclease (NendoU) is conserved and plays essential roles in viral life cycle among all nidoviruses. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) nonstructural protein 11 (nsp11) is shown to have NendoU activity and its multifunctions have been demonstrated, such as processing RNA, suppressing innate immunity system of infected hosts and regulating the progression of S phase cells. We solve the crystal structure of PRRSV nsp11 mutant (K170A), and the overall structure is greatly different from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoV) nsp15, the counterpart of nsp11 in coronaviruses. Compared with SARS-CoV nsp15 which has three domains, PRRSV nsp11 only have two domains: the N-terminal domain (NTD) and C-terminal domain (CTD). Smallangle X-ray scattering data shows that the PRRSV nsp11 has several kinds of oligomeric conformations in solution, this may be due to the missing domain, which mediates the hexamerization of SARS-CoV nsp15. The active center of NendoU is located in the CTD, where the conserved catalytic residues form a positively charged groove and bind the negatively charged RNA. The catalytic regions have several conformations, which are quite diverse. The NTD shares similar structural element with ubiquitin binding protein, but nsp11 cannot bind to ubiquitin according to our data. The flexible catalytic region of nidoviruses endoribonuclease confers an excellent target for drug design. These structural and functional information of PRRSV nsp11 would lay a foundation for better understanding of the molecular mechanism and antiviral drug development.


During an inspection of sections exposed in the recent road-widening operations between Taynuilt and Loch Awe, an opportunity was taken to re-examine the small outlier of Carboniferous rocks near the Bridge of Awe at the west end of the Pass of Brander (Geological Survey One-inch Map, Sheet 45). It was hoped also that the investigation would yield some points of comparison with the Carboniferous strata of Inninmore on the Sound of Mull (1). The Bridge of Awe sediments seem to have been first noticed by Macculloch in 1817 (2). The red colour of the beds and the fact that they outcrop in the midst of lavas of Lower Old Red Sandstone age led observers to regard them as belonging to the same formation. They were assigned this age in the 'Summary of Progress of the Geological Survey for 1897' (3), but in the following year Mr. D. Tait obtained from shales a little north of Bridge of Awe a few fragmentary plant remains which definitely proved the sediments to be Carboniferous (4). The accompanying sketch-map indicates the approximate limits of the outlier. It is largely concealed beneath alluvial deposits and the only sections are those exposed on the banks of the River Awe. The actual junction with the underlying lavas can be seen on the right bank below the bridge and at two localities on the left bank above it. The exposures above the bridge, however, can only be properly examined when the river is low. The writers were fortunate This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract


Serious attention to the rhetorical analysis and criticism of the public discourse of business leaders can offer important insights about influential participants in political and social decision-making processes, contributing to the development of a coherent body of scholarship that addresses communication at the intersection of business, rhetoric, and society.


In this study, we propose the usage of Shapley values as explanatory variables' values to represent operational competence measures and try to relate such operational competencies to stock price evaluation. For this analysis, we used the data of Japanese manufacturing companies of three industries, automobiles, electronics and precision machinery equipment. Based on the analysis results, we advocate this type of approach can be expected to provide more reliable information because such operational measures are considered to signal the status of management quality competence.


Izidore Lossos, M.D., a hematologist oncologist at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, is the lead author of an important lymphoma study published online by the hematology journal Blood. Lossos and his colleagues at UM/Sylvester examined two subtypes of diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma. Patients with GCB-like large-B-cell lymphoma respond much better to chemotherapy and have much better survival rates than those with ABC-like large-B-cell lymphoma. It's difficult to distinguish between the two subtypes in pathology–but they have distinct gene expression profiles. "We observed a totally different cascade of events in the cells from tumors with good outcome than in the cells from tumors with bad outcome in response to interleukin-4 (IL-4), a protein used for intercellular communication," said Lossos, an Associate Professor of clinical medicine at the Miller School of Medicine at UM and a member of the Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma site disease group at UM/Sylvester. "This IL-4 response may form a good target for therapy because once you reverse the cascade you can change the response to chemotherapy." Diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma is the most common lymphoma, accounting for between 30 and 40 percent of all lymphoma cases, according to the American Cancer Society. About 25,000 Americans are diagnosed each year and fewer than half of them are cured. Large-B-cell is known as a high-grade lymphoma, which grows and spreads quickly but which usually responds to chemotherapy. This research not only helps physicians identify in advance who will respond to chemo, it tells them why - a new discovery which may open the door to new treatments. "As far as therapeutic options, that's a work in progress," said Lossos. "We've identified a new potential target. Now we need to find how to apply it in the clinic and what therapeutic approach to use. The hope is we will be able to find a substance that will alter this response and convert the ABC-type lymphoma from a non-responder to a responder." While IL-4 is present in many tissues, including both types of large-B-cell lymphoma, it doesn't affect both cancers in the same way. In the GCB-like, or "good" cells, IL-4 targets the cancer, activating a signaling process that tells the cells to divide rapidly. Since chemotherapy attacks and kills cells that divide rapidly, it can kill the fast-growing GCB-type, which accelerates growth in response to IL-4. In ABC-type "bad" cells, IL-4 triggers a different response, activating a pathway that slows down cell proliferation, which actually protects the malignant cells from chemotherapy. GCB stands for germinal center B-cell. Germinal centers are regions in the body in which an active immune response develops. B-cells have an important role in immune-system. ABC stands for activated B-cell or B cells that are activated by specific stimuli in the body. To analyze expression of the genes in these lymphoma subtypes, the investigators used two methods - real¬-time polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR) and gene expression arrays, which identify and quantify gene expression. In addition to Dr. Lossos, post-doctoral fellows Xiaoqing Lu, M.D., Hovav Nechustan, M.D. Ph.D. and UM/Sylvester physician-scientist Rakesh Singal, M.D. contributed to the study. The publication is now available online as an early release at the journal Blood, and will appear in print in the journal in the coming months. http://www.bloodjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/2004-10-3820v1 UM/Sylvester was founded in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles more than 1,100 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,800 surgical procedures, and treats 2,900 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the University of Miami School of Medicine, South Florida's only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 150 clinical trials and receive more than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach recently opened to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. This 10,000 square-foot facility at I-95 and S.W. 10th Street offers appointments with physicians from six cancer specialties, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events. http://www.sylvester.org.


Author(s): Brinton, E; Townsend, AW; Knight, MD; Ohman, MD | Abstract: Nine furcilia and the early juvenile phase of the deep-sea euphausiid Thysanopoda egregia Hansen, 1905 are described and illustrated for the first time. This identification of the bathypelagic species is made on the basis of the very large, well-developed and dark-brown eyes, short sixth pleomere, large body size relative to stage of development, ripple-like sculpturing of the posterior and lateral parts of the carapace, and the number of terminal telson spines in the first five stages, F1-F5. The ripple marks on the carapace are a particularly distinctive characteristic of T. egregia. Because of the rarity of the nauplius, metanauplius, and calyptopis phases for this species and the unknown identification of the other three deep-living species of Thysanopoda, we are not yet able to positively identify these phases with confidence and that information is not presented here. A distribution map of records of furciliae of T. egregia from our samples and published sources corresponds with the previously described distribution of the adults, showing a cosmopolitan distribution in waters mainly equator-ward of the subpolar ocean provinces. © The Crustacean Society, 2013. Published by Brill NV, Leiden.


In this study, the physicochemical and physiological activities of 10 different commercially available juices (apple juice-A: cloud type; apple juice-B: clear type; blueberry juice; grape juice-A; grape juice-B; orange juice-A; orange juice-B; pineapple juice; pomegranate juice; and tomato juice) were investigated. The average pH, titratable acidity, Brix, and reducing sugar were 3.57, 0.57%, , and 57.58%, respectively. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were within the ranges of 98.29-878.12 ug/mL and 23.82-156.63 ug/mL, respectively, and pomegranate juice showed the highest content, followed by blueberry juice and apple juice-A. In the DPPH radical scavenging assay, apple juice-A, grape juice-A, and pomegranate juice exhibited the highest activity (greater than 90%) while orange juice-B, pineapple juice and tomato juice showed the weakest. The tyrosinase inhibitory effect was highest in apple juice-A, followed by orange juice-A and blueberry juice. The reducing power was highest in pomegranate juice and lowest in pineapple juice and grape juice-A. The antioxidant activity by reducing power was highly correlated with the total polyphenol content.


Objective:To observe the effect of Utilin's combined with anti-tuberculosis drug on pulmonary tuberculoma.Methods:40 cases of pulmonary tuberculoma patients were randomly divided into two groups,the treatment group was treated with anti-TB drugs combined with Utilin's,the control group was treated with anti-TB drug.The two groups was observed the absorption of pulmonary tuberculoma.Results:Marked improvement rate of the treatment group was 30%,95% total effective rate,while the control group was 5%,75% total effective rate.Conclusion:Only using the anti-TB drug treatment compared with Utilin's combined with anti-TB drugs treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis,the latter is good effect,and less adverse reaction.


As the industry continues to move toward production in the 64- and 256-MB technology regime, the challenges posed by more stringent requirements associated with wafer lithography and reticle manufacturing are driving developments which may be out-pacing the ability of the industry to guarantee reticle performance.


Increasing the capacity of Li‐rich layered oxide (LMNC) cathode material for high‐energy density lithium‐ion batteries relies on the increase of charge cut‐off voltage toward 5 V, under the utilization of anodically stable electrolyte component. The utilization of di‐(2,2,2 trifluoroethyl)carbonate (DFDEC)‐containing electrolyte permits significant improvement of anodic stability, cathode–electrolyte interface, and cycling stability of LMNC cathode, with respect to conventional electrolyte. In the present study, the limit of anodic stability of DFDEC under charging to 5.5 V versus Li is explored, and the interfacial processes of DFDEC‐derived surface protection mechanism are investigated, utilizing charge cut‐off voltage‐dependent surface and structural analyses. The oxidative decomposition of DFDEC is found to begin at 4.7 V, producing metal fluorides and CF‐containing organic compounds as the earliest surface species, passivating the cathode surface and reducing metal dissolution, structural transformation, and cathode degradation. The tolerable limit of charge cut‐off voltage of a model electrolyte of 0.1 m LiPF6/DFDEC is determined to be 5.0 V, to which the cathode outperforms conventional electrolyte, delivering discharge capacities of 261–225 mAhg−1 with the capacity retention of 86% at the 50th cycle. The data give an insight into the principles of electrolyte design and high‐voltage cathode–electrolyte interfacial stabilization toward advanced 5 V lithium‐ion batteries.


A combination of near-edge and surface extended X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS and SEXAFS), normal incidence X-ray standing wavefield absorption (NIXSW) and (laboratory-based) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and diffraction (XPS and XPD) has been used to investigate the local phases and associated structures resulting from the interaction of methylthiol (CH3SH) and dimethyldisulphide ((CH3S)2-DMS) with Ni(111). The interaction was followed by adsorbing at low temperature and observing the effects of sequential heating cycles to up to 373 K. At the lowest temperature DMS appears to be intact on the surface, but at slightly higher temperatures, up to at least 223 K, a second molecular species is formed which is also obtained by the thiol adsorption, even at 153 K. This is identified as methylthiolate (CH3S-) and appears to be bonded (through the S atom) to the hollow sites on the surface with a S-Ni bondlength of 2.24 AA; essentially equal occupation of both (fcc and hcp) hollow sites is found. Both XAFS and XPD indicate that this species shows a substantial tilt angle of the S-C symmetry axis away from the surface normal; the situation is somewhat similar to that reported for the same species on Pt(111) on the basis of C K-edge NEXAFS and vibrational spectroscopy, and comparative S K-edge NEXAFS measurements for Pt(111) are also reported here. The tilted geometry found on both Ni and Pt surfaces contrasts with the perpendicular orientation found on Cu(111). Heating the Ni(111)surface to 373 K converts the thiolate species to a third state which we identify as atomic sulphur. Both SEXAFS and NEXAFS show that this final species has the same local geometry as that found in earlier studies of atomic S on Ni(111): in particular, while the S-Ni nearest-neighbour spacing is similar to that of the thiolate, the S in this phase appears to penetrate the top Ni layer.


Objective  To assess the cost of launching telemedicine services by Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.  Methods  The patients using telemedicine services were enrolled during the period of pilot run from February 10th to April 15th, 2020. The study was done from the social perspective. A decision-tree model was constructed to compare the costs between telemedicine services and conventional clinical services for outpatients. The main outcome was measured as incre- mental cost-effective ness ratios (ICER). Sensitivity analysis was conducted by using one-way sensitivity analysis.  Results  During a period of forty-seven days, the online fever clinic was applied 3055 person-times(2070 patients) and the online outpatient clinic were applied 36 549 person-times(20 467 patients). On average, 44 febrile cases/d and 435 nonfebrile cases/d were reduced in the outpatient clinic. It helped to reduce roughly 1/4 (febrile) and 1/5(nonfebrile) of total numbers of the patients in the outpatient clinic during the peak period of the epidemic. If calculated according to the actual free-of-charge condition, the ICER was -64.7 yuans/person-time. If the actual cost of each consultant of telemedicine service was estimated according to the level of outpatient-service fee, the ICER was -5.5 yuans/person-time. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the main factors affecting the ICERs were transportation cost, lost wages, and the efficiency of telemedicine services.  Conclusions  Launching telemedicine services helped to relieve the pressure at the outpatient clinics, and has the potential to provide significant cost saving compared to conventional clinic services for outpatients. It is worth considering applying this practice widely in the medical and health services. © 2021, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. All rights reserved.


CAN COLLABORATION produce a masterpiece? Or. to offer an appar-entlv less old-fashionied formulation: bvow does the recognition of the labor of more than one hand affect our relationship to an admired object of aesthetic appreciationi? The romance of collaboration is alive in many!-forms in contemporary culture. But there are reasons to be concerned, as I am here, xitlh the inadequacy of this romiiance wvhen faced wvitlh-what miglht be described as asymmetrical collaborative struetures, those tylpically present in the fine arts in what has been variously called the "studio," the "workshop," and the "school" of an artist. The reattribution of art-vorks that resulted from the growving system-atization of art history and connloisseurship in the ninleteentlh century affected the reputationi an(d reception of artists long admired for the creation of objects that hadl subsequently coome und(ler suspicion or that had in fact been removed from their canons as the work of others. Our own era has not simply continued this practice but has also seen a sporadic interest in a complemiienitarv one: celebratinig the production of a memlber of a stuidio uilder his or her own name. Toward the end of this essay I wvill turni to a nineteenth-century treatmlent of the issue of masters and studenits in the xvorld of art that is still surprisingly complex , even disturbing. In order to appreciate WN7alter Pater.s account of schools, however, anid the troubling play of power and desire running through it, it is imlportanit not onlyl to locate it historically, but to keep sight of somethlinlg more current and pressing: the difficult and far from stable response in our own day to the wvork of manv halnds. I will begin wvith a controversy about laurels. In an article on Berninli (1598-i68o) first published in the Netw l)ork Reviewl of Books a few years ago, and recently reprinlted in his collection Lcotiardos Nephew, Jamles Fentoni halts the flow of his appre-159