Pedestrian fatalities on Interstate highways account for more than 10 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the United States. This study identifies crash types and factors contributing to fatal pedestrian crashes on Interstate highways and surveys countermeasures that address the problem. A 3-year sample of 394 police accident reports detailing fatal Interstate pedestrian crashes in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina was collected. Data from the reports, including light conditions, pedestrian and driver characteristics, and pedestrian activity at the time of the crash were compiled for analysis. Factors contributing to the crashes included pedestrian and driver alcohol use and poor light conditions. Eighty percent of the crashes occurred after dark. Forty percent of the crashes involved pedestrians entering or crossing the highway. Thirty-two percent involved an unintended pedestrian—someone who had a broken-down vehicle, had been involved in a previous crash, or was walking or standing on the shoulder, but who did not set out to enter the Interstate on foot. Twenty percent of the crashes involved a hit-and-run driver. Common counter-measures currently in place include emergency call stations, roving roadside assistance vehicles, and emergency cellular telephone numbers to report disabled vehicles. About half of the respondents to a national survey of state highway representatives cited the need for additional countermeasures, such as educational programs and access barriers. Further research is necessary to find out which countermeasures are most effective. State rankings based on the number of Interstate pedestrian fatalities per Interstate vehicle kilometer traveled reveal Texas, New Mexico, Delaware, Nevada, and Missouri as the states with the worst relative rates. Motorists should avoid stopping on Interstate highways if at all possible, take measures to make themselves visible, and shield themselves from traffic when stopping is unavoidable.


In the early 1930s, a group of hiking enthusiasts from Knoxville, Tennessee, believed no group of persons anywhere would profit more from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park than they. Their club, the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, dedicated itself to bringing a Smokies national park to fruition and developing the Appalachian Trail. During the interwar era, hiking clubs formed across the nation and were integral to generating widespread citizen support for national parks and other wilderness areas. Women were part of the hiking club movement from the beginning and provided invaluable, although often invisible, labor. This article highlights the women in the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club during the 1920s and 1930s who contributed immeasurably to the club's activities. When we study this movement through an interdisciplinary framework of sociability and connective labor, set against the unique cultural and economic conditions of the New Deal and Great Depression era, we see the value of these women's efforts despite being subjected to gender-based notions of skill and ability. Without their contributions, the club would not have sustained its successful and wide-reaching advocacy. Published as "'The ladies merely breathed deeply': Women's Invisible Contributions to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club." Journal of Appalachian Studies volume 25, issue 2. ©2019 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Harper, E. S. (2019). "The ladies merely breathed deeply": Women's Invisible Contributions to the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. Journal of Appalachian Studies, 25(2), 143–164. Archived version from NC DOCKS available at: https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/wcu/listing.aspx?id=29183.


In the last chapter we discussed the productive and established lexicons and simultaneous signs. We said that signs in the productive lexicon are a very important part of signing BSL. In this chapter we will discuss another way for new signs to enter the language, through borrowing. As well as creating signs from within the language, BSL can borrow signs from other languages. It can borrow from other sign languages or it can borrow from English, either through the process of 'loan translation' or through fingerspelling. As an illustration of these processes, we will also look at signs for brand names, people, and places. Personal name signs are particularly useful to study here because they show many different sign-formation processes. They provide a way to summarise some of the different ways that BSL adds to its lexicon. BORROWING BSL borrows from other languages. By this we mean that it uses signs that are derived from words or signs of other languages. English also borrows from other languages. There are a great many English words that can be traced to other languages and the process continues today. For example, jihad has recently come into English from Arabic, and karaoke has been borrowed from Japanese. It is important to note that after a long time these words are often not recognised as foreign.


In this paper, we propose a full-cell-centered finite-volume approach to simulate two-phase flow in heterogeneous and anisotropic petroleum reservoirs. We adopt a segregated formulation where the pressure equation is discretized by a multipoint flux approximation with a diamond-type support (MPFA-D). To solve the saturation equation, we propose a higher-order modified flow-oriented scheme (M-FOS). In this scheme, adaptive weights tune the formulation multidimensionality according to the grid distortion. Also, we adopt a multidimensional limiting process (MLP) and an efficient entropy fix to produce convergent solutions. We evaluate the performance of our numerical schemes by solving some relevant benchmark problems.


Abstract In order to support the development and deployment of uranium fuels with enrichment beyond 5%, additional criticality safety methodologies are needed to prevent the possibility of criticality accidents. Specifically, improved methodologies for computer code validation using evaluated critical experiments, particularly for dissolver systems, need to be developed. Potential candidate evaluations and methodologies are presented to evaluate the effect of heterogeneity for intermediate-enrichment uranium systems.


The surface dispersion of a floating bead under wave action was investigated by measuring the Lagrangian characteristics using photographic techniques. The experiments were carried out with regular waves in a wave flume where the water depth and the wave period were kept constant, and the wave height was varied. In the experiments, trajectories of the floating bead were recorded as a function of time by a movie camera. The analysis was restricted to the component of dispersion in the transverse direction only. The motion of the beads in an oscillatory flow was shown to be governed by a linear second-order differential equation. Starting from the fundamental principles, dispersion coefficients were investigated; statistical descriptions of the displacement and velocity fluctuations were obtained in time and length scales.


We have developed a programmable high density CMOS microelectrode array (ldquoMEArdquo) for in vitro monitoring of electrogenic cells. Non-volatile analog memory within each sensor may be used to calibrate the array and to program arbitrary offsets onto amplifiers integrated within each sensor. As a result, we can compensate for device mismatch, process variation and environmental inhomogeneity that can confound comparison of signals recorded from different sites on conventional MEAs. At the same time, we maintain resolution rivaling the densest integrated MEAs - in a commercial 0.5 mum CMOS process we have implemented a 128times128 array with electrodes spaced at 14 mum pitch, the same scale as biological cells.


The effect of the deformation of the electron cloud on the chemical hardness of atoms in molecules was studied by ab initio calculations at the CCSD(T)/6-31++G(d,p) level. The influence of the molecular environment generally results in an increased hardness of the atoms. The extent of this effect depends on the kind of coordination as well as on the bond distances. Higher coordination results in higher atomic hardnesses; a shortening of the bond distances results in an exponential increase of this parameter. The hardening coefficient of an atom in a molecule as a function of the distance seems to obey an exponentional decaying regime, of which the falloff parameter correlates with the atomic polarizability. The present approach allows to improve existing electronegativity equalization schemes by explicitly taking into account the dependence of the hardness parameter on the molecular geometry.


This report describes the use of a planar-chiral bipyridine ligand to achieve the first diastereo- and enantioselective copper-catalyzed [4+1] cycloadditions of enones with diazo compounds to produce highly substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans. The method is applied to a catalytic asymmetric synthesis of a deoxy-C-nucleoside.


This article examines how high school seniors' plans or "propensity" to serve in the armed forces relate to their actual enlistment. Longitudinal data were used from more than M 33.000 participants in the Monitoring the Future Project's nationally representative samples from the high school classes of 1976-1991; however, primary attention was focused on the more recent classes (1984-1991). Men's expectations at the end of high school predicted their entrance into military service just about as accurately as they predicted entrance into college. Among those men who "definitely" expected to enlist, fully 70 percent did so within five or six years; however, among, those who "probably" expected to enlist, only 29 percent did so; and among all other men, under 10 percent enlisted. Compared with men, far fewer women expected to enlist, and they were only half as likely actually to do so. These findings show far higher correlations between plans and enlistment than have been found in previous studies using other samples.


That the computation load is big is a shortcoming of traditional BP decoding algorithm. According to this shortcoming we give an improved BP decoding algorithm. The decoding algorithm in the iterative decoding process, only need to update the possibility of a wrong bit of information without having to update the information whose reliability is very high, raises the decoding efficiency and reduces decoding time delay. The simulation result shows: the calculation load of improved BP decoding algorithms descends distinctively with the increasing iteration numbers; Along with the times increasing of LDPC code iterations upper limit, coding performance can be obviously improved.


Let me begin where we left, since the publication of 'Winter 2017' edition. Much water has flowed in the Indian Ocean-Pacific Ocean continuum, in the year by-gone. 'Excitement' and 'anxiety' has always been truly the two sides of the same coin for a mariner and the year by-gone is not an exception. For those immersed in the semantics of the maritime domain, there has been much to write home about. The inaugural edition of the Indo-Pacific Region Dialogue, held in February 2018, was truly the much needed ice-breaker that brought together the maritime stake-holders of various nations on to a common platform to discuss the strategic domain. If I were to be forced to cherry-pick a single success (of the bouquet of successes), I would indeed state that the scale of the conference, which saw formidable representation, in size and stature, from major littorals of both the Indian and Pacific Ocean, was indeed the game-changer. The effervescent discussions that ensued, the new ideas and perspectives that flowed, and most importantly, the relative ease with which the participants took to discuss opposing, and at times, stymied views, brought immense value addition to the Dialogue on the anticipated lines. The immaculate success of the Dialogue, the urge to build up on the successive editions of the Dialogue (starting with the 2 edition in March 2019), and our onus of retaining the continuity resulted in the Foundation releasing the Summer 2018 Edition of our flagship journal 'Maritime Affairs' as a 'Special Issue'. In the interim period, the NMF, as the sole maritime think-tank of India, has had the distinction of engaging relevant think-tanks on both sides of the current maritime divide, China (Academy for World Watch, Beijing and Institute of South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu) and the USA (RAND Corporation, Washington and Centre for Naval Analyses, Washington). It is now with a sense of entitlement and from a position of strength that the NMF can now claim to have the ears of the policy makers in China, USA and more importantly, within India which is characterised by the multiple taskings the Foundation is receiving from the NITI Aayog. Interactions with think-tanks in India such as Kalinga Foundation, India Foundation and Delhi Policy Group, etc have been robust and useful for the Foundation to remain contemporary. Concurrently, the Foundation is involved in shaping the maritime perceptions of India's maritime neighbours such as Sri Lanka (Pathfinder Foundation), Bangladesh (Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development, Dhaka), Israel (Haifa Research Centre for Maritime Policy and Strategy), ASEAN and even African countries such as Tanzania. It is with immense pride that the Foundation can now claim to be effortlessly working with its counterparts in Japan and Australia. In a nutshell, these efforts have resulted in the NMF presenting a cumulative perspective and world-view to its audience and in the bargain, draw immense respect. Whilst I am of the view that the hard-earned progress of such seminal events should not be safe guarded as family-treasure, but rather be disseminated at all levels and over the entire spectrum; school students to aficionados of geo-politics. Whilst this publication is one such effort in


Over the last few decades, companies have been investing in technological competency steadily and increasingly. Companies investing in technological competency assumed that such investments would improve operating efficiency and thus improve financial performance. Technology is a business driver and thus can be utilised to support competitive margin. The firm, whose technology competency level is higher than rivals, will generate and introduce more innovative products. The model of this study is tested on a sample of 13 experts in four coil companies in Iran which own about 90% of the market share in the coil industry. In this study, technological capability factors (technology management, process technology, and product technology) are prioritised according to the competitive advantage levels (profit, return on investment, sales growth rate, liquidity, long-term debt to equity ratio, and working capital) and competitive priorities (cost, price, quality, flexibility, and time) using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) with the aim of maximising the financial performance at coil manufacture industry. The results indicate that within Iran coil industry, process technology is more important than product technology and technology management for coil manufacture industry.


The culture is the endogenous variable which the system produces,the different cultural characteristics gathers together and produces the different elder security system and the pension pattern.In the modern large industrial time,the family support in accordance with the traditional filial piety culture seems to withdraw from the historical arena.But the history of pension security of overseas developed countries tells us that the family support will not end,on the contrary it will shine vigor along with the historical development,still play the main role in the modern society.Other pension security will be its supplement.Our country's rural elder security mode must have the traditional cultural attribute.


A uniformed prison personnel belongs to disposable groups of a society which are responsible for homeland security. Specific character of work done for a total institution requires specific psycho-physical features. The question to be asked refers to work motivation of prison personnel. Although there are a lot of theories of work motivation, the one which has been used for research is the two-factor Herzberg's motivation theory. This paper is of empirical character and presents the findings of the study of 242 officers who underwent a psychological test of Herzberg's work motivation. The findings show a motivation framework of prison personnel. While doing statistical analyses the researcher also took into consideration variables which are gender and ranking within officer corps (non-commissioned officers, warrant officers and officers).


Background: The pandemic of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) seriously impacts the health and well-being of all of us. Aims: We aim to assess the psychological impact of Covid-19 on frontline health care workers (HCWs), including anxiety, depression and stress of threat of the disease. Method: The study was a cross-sectional survey among the frontline HCWs in a hospital at Jinan, China. Data were collected through an anonymous, self-rated questionnaire, including basic demographic data, a 10-item Covid-19 stress questionnaire, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). The risk and rate of anxiety, depression and stress of Covid-19 were estimated. Results: Among the 309 participants, there were 88 (28.5%) with anxiety and 172 (56.0%) with depression. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that age ⩽ 30 years, age > 30 to 45 years, working in confirmed case isolation wards, and worrying about disinfection measures being not sufficient were independently associated with anxiety with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval, CI) of 4.4 (1.6–12.2), 3.1 (1.1–8.8), 2.3 (1.4–4.0) and 2.5 (1.5–4.3), respectively; age ⩽ 30 years, age > 30 to 45 years, nurse and worrying about disinfection measure being not sufficient were independently associated with depression with an odds ratio (95% CI) of 3.8 (1.8–7.8), 2.7 (1.3–5.7), 2.5 (1.1–5.6) and 2.1 (1.3–3.5), respectively. Conclusions: A high prevalence of anxiety and depression was found among frontline HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak. More psychological care should be given to young staffs and nurses. Measures to prevent professional exposure is important for HCWs' physical and mental health.


Introduction:
 Hypertension risk assessment is the first step towards primary prevention of hypertension. The pooled cohort equation (PCE) provides an atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score. We sought to examine whether incident hypertension varied across categories of ASCVD risk as defined by the PCE

 Methods:
 Data from the HCHS/SOL baseline and visit 2 exam were used. Hypertension (baseline and incident) was defined as SBP >140 mm Hg and DBP >90 mm Hg. We included participants 40-74 years of age free of hypertension and ASCVD at baseline (n=3,692). Participants were classified into one of four ASCVD risk categories based on the PCE: low (<5%), borderline (5-7.5%), intermediate (7.5-to 10%) and high (>10%). Survey logistic regression models were used to determine the risk of hypertension overall, by age group and Hispanic/Latino background (Dominican, Central American, Cuban, Mexican, Puerto-Rican, South American) accounting for HCHS/SOL complex survey design.

 Results::
 Overall, at baseline, the mean age was 51.2 ±0.23 years, 56% female, SBP: 119.7±0.26 and DBP: 72.6±0.20, ASCVD risk scores: low (65%); borderline (14.7%), intermediate (7.5%), and high (13.5%); 29.8% developed hypertension over 5.9 (range 4.1 – 9.6) years of follow-up. Intermediate (OR=2.2, CI: 1.5-3.2) and high (OR=2.5, CI: 1.9-3.5) baseline ASCVD risk categories were associated with increased odds of incident hypertension at follow-up compared to the low risk category. Age group and Hispanic/Latino background modified the relationship between increased baseline ASCVD score and incident hypertension, with strongest associations among those aged 50-59 years old (OR=2.3, CI: 1.7, 3.2) and Hispanics/Latinos of Dominican descent (OR=4.1, CI: 2.0, 8.4).

 Conclusions:
 Higher ASCVD risk was associated with an increased incidence of hypertension that varied by age and Hispanic/Latino background. The PCE ASCVD risk score can help guide public health measures to prevent hypertension.


Review(s) of: The constitution of Singapore: A contextual analysis, by Kevin YL Tan [Oxford Hart Publishing, 2015, xxiii + 251 pp. Paperback 18.95 pounds]


Economic value added (EVA) analysis is one of the most common methods to evaluate company's performance in terms of value creation, which involves ROIC (Return on Invested Capital) and WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital) as key drivers. Past studies evaluate the superiority of EVA over other measures of performance and relationship between EVA and stock returns. This paper analyzes the relationship between EVA and bankruptcy on 373 public traded companies in U.S. of which 178 companies filed for bankruptcy between the year of 2015 to October 2017. We present descriptive statistics, conduct univariae grouping tests and correlation between ROIC, WACC, NOPAT, and EVA, and logistic regression analysis for each sector. The results show that non-bankrupt firms tend to have higher WACC (compared to relative very low and negative WACC of bankrupt companies), higher NOPAT, and higher ROIC. EVA has correlation with bankruptcy but its significant level varies across sectors. The findings also suggest that WACC is another good indicator of bankruptcy.


In order to determine the relationship between nepheline phenocrysts and the magma from which they separate, the chemical composition has been determined of nepheline from a soda-rich rock, phonolite, typical of the East African Rift, and that of a nepheline from a potash-rich rock, melilite-leucite nephellnite, typical of the Central African Rift. The two nephelines are, respectively, soda-rich and potash-rich and thus emphasize the variability of the composition of nephelines and its control by the magma from which they form. The results will be given in detail in a paper by Bowen and Ellestad to be published in The American Mineralogist.


PURPOSE: An input buffer circuit is provided to prevent multi-selection of a cell data by a noise when an input address is inputted around a logic critical voltage. CONSTITUTION: The circuit drives a decoder by first and second inner address signals to access a data of a memory cell and includes an address buffer(100), first and second inverters(114,115), a detecting portion(20) and an NOR gate(NR12). The address buffer generates the first address signal by summing an input address and a chip selecting signal. The first and second inverters generate the first inner address signal and the second address signal by converting the first address signal. The detecting portion receives the first inner address signal and the second address signal and detects the first inner address signal of a high level and the second address signal of a low level. The NOR gate generates the second inner address signal by summing an output of the detecting portion and the second address signal.


Copper ions inhibit growth of Amphora coffeaeformis but are not lethal even after lengthy exposure at high concentrations. Growth inhibition is attributed primarily to copper bound to different types of sites on the cell surface which exhibit different binding strengths. Removal of weakly bound copper, by placing the cells in fresh medium or treating with EDTA, results in a partial reversal of toxicity. A minor fraction but important component of the external cellular copper is bound more tightly. When this copper is removed, by displacement with H+ ions or cysteine, toxicity is completely reversed. Reversal of toxicity depends on the form of the copper moiety. Whereas copper toxicity may be readily reversed for copper (II) ions from either soluble copper salts or insoluble Cu2O and CuSCN it cannot be reversed for lipid‐soluble copper complexes. Entry of such complexes into the cell results in cell death.


For the purpose of preparing the monovalent cation permselective membrane for electrodialysis, the membrane having—SO2Cl groups reacted with the polyethyleneimine to form a cationic polyelectrolyte layer on the membrane surface by using the acid–amide bonding. Reaction conditions, i.e., reaction temperature, concentration of the polyethyleneimine solution and the addition of tertiary amines to the polyethyleneimine solution, were all examined in detail. As a result, all the different kinds of polyethyleneimines were effective in obtaining the monovalent cation permselective membrane if the correct reaction conditions were selected. The durability of the monovalent cation permselectivity was evaluated in a continuous electrodialytic concentration of sea water. The monovalent cation permselectivity decreased gradually during the electrodialysis in the cation exchange membrane with the polyethyleneimine layer. Therefore, the cation exchange membrane with the cationic polyelectrolyte layer was further treated with crosslinking reagents, i.e., form aldehyde–hydrochloric acid, epichlorohydrin, etc. or other alkylating reagents. The monovalent cation permselectivity of the treated membranes was almost constant for two months. The crosslinking reaction of polyethyleneimine was more effective than alkylation in maintaining the high permselectivity constantly.


V. A. Subramanian Department of Surgery, Lennox Hill Hospital, 130 East 77th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA Abstract Objective. To minimize the risk of standard and reoperative coronary artery bypass, we developed a minimally invasive approach. In this study we have evaluated the effectiveness of this technique. Method. Between April 1994 and September 1995, 12 men and 6 women, aged 5 5 8 4 years (mean, 69 years) with chronic stable angina (4) and recent post-myocardial infarction unstable angina (14), with left ventricular ejection fractions ranging 17-60% (mean 37%), underwent reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting using 7-cm mini-left and right anterior thoracotomy and subxiphoid incisions. Coronary artery anastomoses were carried out on beating hearts with local coronary occlusion. Ischemic preconditioning, beta and calcium channel blockers and the maintenance of mean arterial pressure at 7 5 8 0 mmHg, were used as adjuncts for myocardial protection. The internal mammary artery was isolated under direct vision up to the second rib with excision of the fourth costal cartilage. Coronary artery target sites were the left anterior descending in 12, right coronary artery in 4, obtuse marginal in 3, posterior descending in 1 and diagonal branch in 1 patient. Arterial grafts (mammary, right gastroepiploic, radial), either as single or composite grafts, were used liberally. Preoperative risk factors included congestive heart failure (7), chronic renal insufficiency (5), second reoperation (2), third reoperation (1), cerebrovascular disease (5), prior angioplasty (8) and preoperative intra-aortic balloon pumping in two patients. Results. There was no perioperative mortality with minimal morbidity. Twelve patients underwent patency study of the grafts 4 8 7 2 h postoperatively. Ten of the twelve grafts were patent; one internal mammary artery graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery (<1.5 ram) early in our series was occluded and one additional left internal mammary graft had a kink several centimeters away from the anastomosis, which was successfully opened by angioplasty. At a mean follow-up interval of 8 months all 16 surviving patients are in functional class I or II and all of them remain free of angina. Conclusion. In selected patients reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed with this minimally invasive approach with a low perioperative morbidity and mortality rate and satisfactory early graft patency rate with good symptomatic improvement. [Eur J Cardio-thorac Surg (1996) 10:1058-1063]


Modeling done at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in FY2000 predicted improved sensitivity for remote chemical detection by differential absorption lidar (DIAL) if frequency-modulated (FM) lasers were used. This improved sensitivity results from faster averaging away of speckle noise and the recently developed quantum cascade (QC) lasers offer the first practical method for implementing this approach in the molecular fingerprint region of the infrared. To validate this model prediction, a simple laboratory bench FM-DIAL system was designed, assembled, tested, and laboratory-scale experiments were carried out during FY2001. Preliminary results of the FM DIAL experiments confirm the speckle averaging advantages predicted by the models. In addition, experiments were performed to explore the use of hybrid QC - CO2 lasers for achieving sufficient frequency-modulated laser power to enable field experiments at longer ranges (up to one kilometer or so). This approach will allow model validation at realistic ranges much sooner than would be possible if one had to first develop master oscillator - power amplifier systems utilizing only QC devices. Amplification of a QC laser with a CO2 laser was observed in the first hybrid laser experiments, but the low gain and narrow linewidth of the CO2 laser available for these experimentsmore » prevented production of a high-power FM laser beam.« less


In this paper is described the current regulations in Colombia concerning to the e-government. It also refers to the different tools used by the glass urn strategy Colombian government. Its scope is also assessed in both citizenship reports published by this strategy, as well as through a survey in all the departments. Finally, some recommendations that can be considered in the development of the activities of the selected channel with the objective to expand the coverage of the channel and can be an effective approach of citizens to government through technological tools are proposed.


The cationic Ir(I) complex [Ir(1,2,5,6-η-C8H12)(NCMe)(PMe3)]BF4 has been observed to react with ester-substituted internal alkynes via [2+2] oxidative cyclization to form iridacyclopentene derivati...


In the near future professionalism 'and teachers' initiative to get rich in order to reflect the change in the ways we communicate, share, collaborate and learn in the final analysis led by new technologies of communication and information.


Nigeria needs to embrace technology and pursue private media ownership in order to achieve a democratic media. In recent years, mass media in Africa has become a force with augmenting power that has influenced government and regimes. A democratization of the African media is reliant on media ownership and accessibility of information. Within Nigeria, there is a government monopoly of the media and therefore a road block in the free flow of information. As well, Nigeria's current economic situation has made media accessibility an extravagance. The electronic media is far from effective as many areas have poor reception, no electricity, or face a language barrier. Because most of the print media is written in English, many Nigerians cannot comprehend the printed news.


The article covers the study of voluntary attention process considering age-related features of the subjects. In many studies, cognitive functions were mostly studied in two age groups - in the younger and the older subjects. In this study, changes in the voluntary attention process were studied in a wide age range (18-65 years), making it possible to trace their dynamics. The characteristics of voluntary attention were assessed using the "Clocks Carrousel" psychophysiological test, developed by analogy with the d2 Test in four age groups (the 1st group - 18-21 years old, the 2nd group – 22-35 years old, the 3rd group – 36-55 years old, the 4th group – 56-65 years old). The psychological state of all participants was assessed as stable based on results in Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale and Pichot Inventory tests. The study of physiological state, by estimating heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP), showed that HR and BP were in age norm within all age groups. According to the psychophysiological study results, the highest level of voluntary attention, i.e., high speed of information processing, high concentration, and attention productivity, was found in the 1st group. The 1st group, in comparison with the other groups, spent less time on processing each symbol. A decrease in the level of attention was observed in the 2nd group. In the 3rd group, a tendency to its further decline was indicated. However, a more expressed decrease in the attention level was revealed in the 4th group compared to the 1st and 2nd groups. It should be noted that no significant differences were shown in the parameters of voluntary attention between the subjects of the 3rd and the 4th groups. We suppose that the revealed age-related changes in voluntary attention are due to the perception process impairment and a general slowing of information processing. At the same time, the older groups' subjects probably possess some degree of "latent reserve" that can be activated by spending additional time and energy.


X-ray diffraction was used to study deformation of GaAs layers grown on Si substrates by liquid phase epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO). We show that, in the direction perpendicular to seeding lines, the GaAs ELO stripes bend outwards from the mask due to the tensile strain in the GaAs buffer layer. As narrow as 94 arcsec (004) rocking curves have been measured for the laterally grown parts of ELO stripes what indicates the high quality of ELO GaAs layers grown on GaAs-coated Si substrates. We use our model of strain relaxation via bending of laterally grown parts of ELO layers to explain some recently published results on bending of ELO GaN layers on SiC and sapphire substrates.


The United States is the country that has massive power in influencing other countries foreign policies related to certain issue such as political and economic matters. Its power has spread in America, Europe, and Asia countries as a form of power expansion. In the current issue, the relation between the United States and Venezuela gets into serious tension whereas the United States imposed sanctions towards Venezuela. The main focus of this paper is to analyze the reason behind the United States imposing sanctions towards Venezuela. Moreover, this paper will examine how prominent the United States power in Venezuela that can influence the country's foreign policy politically and economically.


Cash transfer programmes have become an important tool of social protection and poverty reduction strategies in low- and middle-income countries. In the past decade, a growing number of African governments have launched cash transfer programmes as part of their strategies of social protection. Most of these programmes have been accompanied by rigorous impact evaluations. Concern about vulnerable populations in the context of HIV/AIDS has driven the objectives and targeting of many of these programmes, leading to an emphasis on those people who are ultra-poor, labour-constrained, with prevalence of adverse health conditions, elderly and/or caring for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) (Davis et al., 2012). As a result, the objectives of most of these programmes focus on food security, health, nutritional and educational status, particularly of children, and so, as would be expected, the accompanying impact evaluations concentrate on measuring these dimensions of programme impact. (?)


In this article, we discuss a solution to time‐fractional diffusion equation ∂tα(u−u0)+Au=0$$ {\partial}_t^{\alpha}\left(u-{u}_0\right)+ Au=0 $$ with the homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition, where an elliptic operator −A$$ -A $$ is not necessarily symmetric. We prove that the solution u$$ u $$ is identically zero if its normal derivative with respect to the operator A$$ A $$ vanishes on an arbitrarily chosen subboundary of the spatial domain over a time interval. The proof is based on the Laplace transform and the spectral decomposition for a nonsymmetric elliptic operator. As a direct application, we prove the uniqueness result for an inverse problem on determining the spatial component in the source term by Neumann boundary data on subdoundary.


Abstract The testing of chemicals for carcinogenic activity in lifetime rodent bioassays has produced a large amount of data on a few strains of mice and rats. Because of the use of fixed protocols in repeated experiments, the opportunity presents itself for using this historical data in the analysis of a current experiment. What has been considered is the statistical incorporation of the historical control data into the current control group to increase the power of the test. This is especially relevant when dealing with tumors of a rare type where the toxicologist will place great significance on their occurrence in a treatment group. Experimentally it is assumed that three groups of about 50 animals each are tested at two treatment levels and a control. The response for each treatment group is assumed to be binomial. Further it is assumed that the probability of an animal with a tumor in the control group has a beta distribution that is determined from the historical control data. Several authors (Demp...


We thank Andrew Vaillant for his correspondence regarding our study of the singlestranded oligonucleotide RO7062931 in chronic hepatitis B[1] and the editor for this opportunity to clarify why we conclude that the results are evidence of target engagement. Firstly, Dr. Vaillant proposes that RO7062931 should have exhibited greater HBsAg reductions, given the efficient RO7062931 liver uptake, rapid turnover of HBsAg, and rapid protein reductions observed with Nacetylgalactosamine antisense oligonucleotides (GalNAcASOs) in other therapeutic indications. We find this reasoning unsatisfactory, primarily as there should be no expectations of similar potency for GalNAcASOs targeting different mRNA species. Numerous factors contribute to an individual agent's in vivo potency, including target mRNAspecific factors (mRNA prevalence, tissue/cellular distribution, turnover) and underlying oligonucleotide chemical structure (affecting molecular stability, endosomal trafficking). Furthermore, HBsAg turnover itself is not necessarily rapid, given that literaturereported rates vary from 1.3 to 38 days.[2] Secondly, he suggests that preexisting/rapidly evolving escape mutants and offtarget effects (immune activation through tolllike receptor 9) likely account for the modest HBsAg response. We find both of these hypotheses to be unfounded. Presence of rapidly evolving escape mutations would result in ontreatment HBsAg rebound/breakthrough, which is not supported by our data. Preclinical studies with RO7062931 and related GalNAcconjugated molecules have demonstrated a direct correlation between inhibition of viral mRNA and reduction of HBsAg.[3] Here, specific downregulation of target mRNA— not offtarget mRNAs— was observed. While targeting nonannotated transcripts or partially matched targets cannot be ruled out, we have seen no evidence of inhibition of genes that would lead to indirect inhibition of HBsAg expression or increased turnover. Additionally, we have not found evidence in human whole blood ex vivo assays for cytokine or complement responses,[3] and cytokines and complement biomarkers in the clinical study[1] were unremarkable. In summary, the RO7062931 mechanism of action was well characterized in preclinical studies, and we stand behind a logical conclusion that the antiviral effects observed in clinic were through the same proposed RNaseHmediated antisense mechanism, therefore providing evidence of target engagement. We acknowledge that potential offtarget effects cannot be ruled out; however, if present, such effects are likely minimal and certainly not a primary driver of HBsAg response. The modest HBsAg response in clinic showed a suboptimal quantitative translation from the mouse adenoassociated virus model system, which suggests that RO7062931 was not well suited to the demands of potency, stability, and durability at the site of action in humans.


In this literature review, I explore Feldman's analysis on performative routine and Gong's study on improvisation to see how these lenses can be used to examine informal communication in time-critical medical setting, such as an Emergency Department (ED). Then I suggest research gap and solution in analyzing the roles and impacts of informal communication in an ED. I propose that, in addition to how a new work procedure emerges through informal communication activities, how newly developed and previously established work procedures coexist and are used in medical collaboration should be studied.


Children can ingest anything driven by curiosity and eagerness to identify objects; eighty percent of accidents occur during infancy. Fortunately, in most cases, objects are eliminated without problems with faeces, requiring endoscopic extraction only in 10-20% of the cases, and surgery in less than 1%. It is virtually impossible to mention all the objects that children can eat. We describe two cases of ingestion of lithium batteries, where the respective extraction was performed by endoscopy and clinical lesions were found in the hypopharinx and oesophagus. We mention the ingestion of objects in general with emphasis on the actualization of ingestion of alkaline batteries.


Objective
To explore the clinical pathological characteristics and prognostic features of incidental prostatic carcinoma after transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and to improve the recognition in the diagnosis and treatment of incidental prostate cancer.

Methods
Five hundred and eighty patients who underwent TURP from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2016 in Beijing Anzhen hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The general and clinical pathological data of patients suffer with incidental prostate cancer were collected in hospital. The age, preoperative PSA level, prostate volume and the weight of the resected prostate in two groups were compared between benign prostatic hyperplasia and incidental prostatic carcinoma; All the patients with incidental prostate cancer were divided into stage T1a and T1b group. The preoperative PSA level, prostate volume, the weight of the resected prostate, Gleason score and prognosis were compared between the two groups.

Results
Sixteen cases of incidental prostate cancer were detected and the detection rate of incidental prostate cancer after the TURP was 2.8% (16/580). There was no significant difference in preoperative PSA level, prostate volume and the weight of the resected prostate between the two groups of prostate hyperplasia and incidental prostate cancer; 7 cases of incidental prostate cancer patients belonged to T1a (1.2%) and 9 cases belonged to T1b (1.6%). The Gleason score in stage T1a was significantly lower than stage T1b in incidental prostate cancer patients. There was no significant difference in preoperative PSA level, F-PSA/T-PSA, prostate volume and the weight of the resected prostate between stage T1a and T1b groups. All the patients accepted maximal androgen deprivation therapy. The mean follow-up time was (50.3±25.9) months. The PSA level was decreased by 85.1% and 97.5% in stage T1a patients after there and six months after TURP, while 86.9% and 96.3% in stage T1b patients. One patient died of acute myocardial infarction in T1a incidental prostate cancer patients and one patient die of renal failure in I1b during the follow-up period. There were no cases of prostate cancer specific death.

Conclusions
The detection rate of incidental prostate cancer after the TURP was 2.8%, and maximal androgen deprivation therapy for incidental prostate cancer is effective and safety.

Key words:
Incidental prostate cancer; TURP; BPH


Excellent introduction to BPEL - the business process execution language. A number of Web services orchestration / process tools are based on BPEL but hide the language behind a drag-and-drop GUI. To effectively use these tools, though, you have to understand the concepts that make up BPEL - scopes, partner links, correlation sets etc. This book likely provides the best introduction to these concepts. Examples are given in raw BPEL as well as using Oracle BPEL Manager and Microsoft BizTalk. There is coverage of advanced topics, such as correlation and convoys, a great introduction to BPEL best practices. In summary, if you are interested specifically in BPEL, this is likely the book you want to get.


Genomic  instability (GIN)  is pivotal  in regulating tumor drug resistance, which blocked the treatment of triple negative  breast  cancer  (TNBC).  Although  recent  studies  implied  that  non‐coding  RNA  (ncRNA)‐mediated autophagy abolishment promoted tumorigenesis by up‐regulation of GIN, autophagy was known as a risk factor in tumor drug resistance. However, previous study also pointed that up‐regulation of autophagy promoted GIN. Therefore,  the  relationship  between  autophagy  and GIN  is  not  clear,  and more work  is  needed. And,  if  an ncRNA  is  identified  to  be  a  co‐regulator  of  autophagy  and  GIN,  it  will  be  a  potential  therapy  target  of chemotherapy  resistance  in  TNBC.  In  our  study,  we  recognized  both  autophagy‐GIN‐associated  microRNA (mi‐26a‐5p)  by  big  data  analysis, which was  prognosis‐correlated  in  breast  cancer. Next, we  identified  the up‐stream regulators (long non‐coding RNA, lncRNA) and down‐stream targets of miR‐26a‐5p by bioinformatics analysis  (online  public  databases).  Finally, we  established  lncRNA OTUD6B‐AS1/miR‐26a‐5p/MTDH  signaling pathway,  and  verified  their  functions  by  cytological,  molecular  biological  and  zoological  experiments.  In general, our study found (1) miR‐26a‐5p was a protective factor of breast cancer, while OTUD6B‐AS1 and MTDH were  risk  factors;  (2) OTUD6B‐AS1 was  the up‐stream  regulator of miR‐26a‐5p verified by  luciferase;  (3) up‐ regulation  of miR‐26a‐5p  and  down‐regulation  of MTDH  promoted  cellular  cytotoxicity  of  paclitaxel  (PTX) in vitro and  in vivo.  (4) down‐regulation of miR‐26a‐5p, overexpression of MTDH and OTUD6B‐AS1 promoted autophagy  and DNA damage;  (5)  up‐regulation of OTUD6B‐AS1  and MTDH  inhibited DNA  damage  response (DDR) by inhibiting the phosphorylated activation of RAD51, ATR and ATM.


A young man with papillary-follicular thyroid carcinoma demonstrated clear visualization of cervical metastases from thyroid cancer on Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy while exhibiting a palpably and scintigraphically normal thyroid gland. This is a very rare occurrence which demonstrates that Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy is capable of detecting cervical metastases from thyroid carcinoma before the appearance of palpable thyroid nodules or defects on scintigraphy.


Two-dimensional self-assembly of star-shaped 2,4,6-tris(4-bromophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine (BPT) molecule is investigated both on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and single-layer graphene (SLG) grown on a polycrystalline Cu foil. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) reveals that this molecule can form different self-assembling structures on these two different surfaces. On the basis of high-resolution STM images, we find that BPT molecules can form compact and loose assembly patterns with different packing densities on HOPG surface and a porous structure with hexagonal-like cavities on SLG surface. A combination of STM and density functional theory calculations elucidates the interplay of molecule–molecule and molecule–substrate interactions on the assembling behavior on both substrates.


We propose an end-to-end approach for recognition of students' intrinsic motivation, using only their facial expressions as input. Motivation is the psychological construct that defines our reasons and interests to perform a set of actions. Understanding and identifying students' levels of intrinsic motivation is crucial for teachers to support students' learning processes and enhance academic outcomes. Despite the large potential to automatically recognize students' intrinsic motivational levels-e.g. for educational training and to further understand judgmental processes in the educational context-previous research was mainly focused on teacher judgment accuracy of students' intrinsic motivation in the actual classroom. Our results show that students' levels of intrinsic motivation can be detected using only their facial expressions.


This study examined the effects of household head's worker status change type on household income and household head's income using a total combined sample of 2,578 households from Korea surveyed in 1998 and 2002 KLIPS(Korean Labor and Income Panel Study). Binary logit regression results showed that household incomes were likely to decrease significantly when household head's changed worker status from a regular employee, a temporary employee or a daily worker, or an employer or a self-employed to no job status, or from a regular employee to a temporary employee or a daily worker, an employer or a self-employed, or from an employer or a self-employed to a regular employee compared to a regular employee status maintenance. In contrast, household head's incomes were likely to increase significantly when household head's changed worker status from a temporary to a regular employee compared to a regular employee status maintenance. Women household heads were significantly associated with the likelihood of the decrease of household head's income compared to men household heads. Household heads beyond their forties were significantly associated with the likelihood of the decrease of household head's income compared to household heads in their thirties age-group counterparts. Household heads with education level beyond high school graduation were significantly associated with the likelihood of the increase of household head's income compared to household heads with the education level of high school graduation. This study shows that a more comprehesive labor policy is needed for achieving sustainable household income inflow.


The formation and emission of both positive and negative ions at metal surfaces are described. Theoretical considerations are presented. The relationship of the SahaLangmuir and Frenkel equations is discussed. Experimental methods are described and results are given in tables and graphs. (M.C.G.)


Objectives: To introduce a new mixed solution of 5% lidocaine and 0.02% naphazoline,and the quality of nasal anesthesia obtained with two local anesthetic solutions (5% lidocaine / naphazoline and 1% dicaine/ephedrine) was evaluated. Methods: Fifty patients who had endoscopic sinus surgery undergoing nasendoscopy with local anaesthesia were enrolled in this study. Each patient received 5% lidocaine/naphazoline, or 1% dicaine/ephedrine in double blind, randomized study. The local anesthetic mixture was applied to the nasal cavity with medication soaked pledgets. The efficacy of the two solutions was recorded in each procedure. To evaluate the postoperative pain, the patients were scored with the Visual Analogue Scale(VNS). Results: Nasendoscopy was successfully and painlessly completed in 83.2% patients with 5% lidocaine/naphazoline and 18.1% patients with 1% dicaine/ephedrine( P 0.01 ), the dicaine/ephedrine group had a higher mean pain level than the lidocaine/naphazoline group had(mean VNS score 3.8±1.6 vs 1.0±0.8, P 0.05). 91.3% patients with lidocaine/naphazoline and 89.4% patients with dicaine/ephedrine had a blood loss less than 10 ml ( P = 0.521 ). Most of the patients with lidocaine/naphazoline and 15.2% with dicaine/ephedrine reached adequate local anaesthesia in 6 minutes. Conclusions: It is concluded that lidocaine with naphazoline has a rapid onset of action and the duration of lidocaine anesthetic effect is further prolonged by the addition naphazoline. This combination is safe and provides effective nasal anesthesia and vasoconstriction for endoscopic sinus surgery.


We propose a localized channel assignment scheme called LOCA for multi-channel multi-radio (MCMR) wireless mesh networks. The scheme combines the advantage of using multiple channels with random assignment, typical of the dynamic/hybrid approach, with the advantage of using all node interfaces for both transmission and reception, as done in static assignment. Since optimal channel assignment in MCMR networks is an NP-hard problem, we resort to a heuristic, which uses only localized (single-hop) information to perform channel assignment. Also, we consider that the BATMAN routing protocol is implemented in the mesh network and we exploit the local information that nodes can collect through BATMAN to implement our strategy. Simulation results obtained through ns2 show that the proposed scheme ensures a high network connectivity level and that a low number of reassignment procedures is needed to adapt the channel usage to the changes in the network topology or in the interference level. Furthermore, when compared against a static approach, LOCA provides significantly better performance in terms of throughput and packet delivery ratio, for networks with low-medium node density.


This report presents the results from a research project financed by Trafikverket, the Swedish Transport Administration, co-financed by Cementa AB.The purpose of this project is to investigate conc ...


A novel method for attenuation of brake judder directly at the source is proposed, utilizing an electromechanical brake to actively compensate for the variation in brake torque that causes judder. Taking advantage of the high-bandwidth closed-loop clamp force tracking performance offered by an electromechanical brake, an adaptive compensator is designed to estimate the brake torque variation (BTV), and to produce a compensating clamp force command to cancel it. The compensator is tested over fixed and varying BTV frequencies by employing a production-ready prototype EMB. It is demonstrated that significant BTV attenuation is obtained using the proposed approach.


The article analyzes the works of the Soviet historian I.G. Kolomiyts (19031962), participant of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, devoted to the history of Transcarpathia of the second half of the XIX century. Written from the standpoint of Marxist-Leninist ideology, they nevertheless contain significant factual material on the history of socio-economic development of the region, the social movement. They are of interest now for comprehending the essence of the historical processes that had occurred in Transcarpathia. Significant part of his work is about Ruthenians. The works of I.G. Kolomiyts did not lose their scientific importance nowadays. Neither researcher working on the history of Transcarpathia of the second half of the XIX century, can not ignore them.


Metasurfaces are planar optical devices consisting of artificially fabricated photonic meta-atoms with unique optical responses, and have been extensively studied for thier extraordinary abilities to modulate electromagnetic waves. The field of metasurfaces have focused on the wavefront shaping, and many approaches have been proposed to implement novel optical devices with various versatility. In particular, metasurfaces have been shown to be able to implement high-quality holographic reconstructions of light with both spatial amplitude and phase information at the subwavelength-scale resolution, expected to be applied for the next generation imaging technology such as three-dimensional holographic imaging and optical data storage. In addition, metasurface lenses, called metalenses, have such powerful features as flatness, high numerical aperture, and multi-functions that do not appear in convensional optical lenses. Based on these meta-optics, recent advances in metasurfaces have led to the development of new optical applications using these meta-optics, and several studies have begun to be reported recently.
In this talk, several optical metasurface platforms for manipulation of electromagnetic waves will be presented. We will outline the physical mechanisms and concepts of the optical metasurfaces. A variety of metasurfaces providing amplitude, phase and polarization modulations will be introduced and discussed about their features. Then, we will discuss their recent states for optical applications such as holography, microscope, and augmented reality. Especially, our recent works that show their feasiblity in augmented reality imaging with ultrawide field of view not shown in convensional optics. Finally, our perspectives in this area will be discussed.


BABYLONIA: ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT An earlier chapter (XIII) has described the historical development of the cities in Babylonia and their cultural background. Here we must concentrate on the archaeological evidence, for this is by far the richest source for the study of man's development in the Early Dynastic period. Indeed, when we come to discuss developments in Assyria and Mesopotamia proper, historical records are so scarce that the archaeological evidence becomes our primary source of reference. The Early Dynastic period of Babylonia has been divided into three parts and the archaeological development has been traced through an exhaustive analysis of stratified objects. At present the most satisfactory ground for this study is the Diyālā valley, where extensive excavations have provided a detailed and continuous relationship between buildings and the small finds associated with them. The principal objects were cylinder seals, pottery, sculpture and metal. Each category was subjected to stylistic examination and compared with similar material from sites outside the Diyālā valley. In the Diyālā district itself no mound proved more rewarding than Khafājī, where the long sequence of 'Sin Temples' could be related to many other less complete sequences of religious and domestic buildings discovered there and elsewhere. The analysis of style is, however, complicated by the fact that development did not proceed pari passu everywhere. Thus solid-footed clay goblets which were used in the Uruk-Jamdat Nasr period at Warka, Ur and Nippur did not appear before Early Dynastic I on the Diyālā the same observation applies to reserved slip ware. Archaic seals frequently occur in contexts much later than those to which they originally belonged.


A power conversion system in a wind turbine using a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) is directly connected between a generator and a grid. The capacity of power semiconductor switches and filters should be selected regarding the overall system rating and the output power quality. The use of an LCL-filter and n-parallel power conversion devices can be the best solution for these problems in a high power system. However, the resonant pole introduced in the LC part produces resonance in the system leading to the stability problem. The voltage difference between the parallel back-to-back converters generates a zero-sequence circulating current. In this paper, a novel control method using a PQR transformation for simultaneously compensating of both the LCL-filter resonance and the zero-sequence circulating current in a wind power system driven by 3-parallel back-to-back converters is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed control method is verified by simulations.


The utility model relates to a piped direct drinking water purification equipment, and consists of a KDF filter, a whole frame, a secondary filter group, a water pump, a reverse osmosis membrane modulus, an activated charcoal filter group, an ultraviolet sterilizer and pipes. The secondary filter group, the water pump, the reverse osmosis membrane modulus and the activated charcoal filter group are permanently arranged on the whole frame. An inlet pipe and an outlet pipe are connected to the whole frame. A tap water outlet is connected with a water inlet of the KDF filter; a water outlet on top of the KDF filter is connected with a water inlet of the water pump; a water outlet of the water pump is connected with a water inlet of the reverse osmosis membrane modulus; a water outlet of the reverse osmosis membrane modulus is connected with the outlet pipe of the whole frame; the whole frame is connected to a water inlet of the ultraviolet sterilizer. The utility model has simple structure, is scientifically and rationally designed. The water purification process goes along in a completely closed manner without secondary pollution. The utility model has large water yield, high quality purified water, is accordingly applicable for locations, such as state organs, enterprises and government units, schools and hotels and so on.


Spirituality is an essential factor that helps people in achieving the balance needed for nurture health, well-being and to survive the illness. The lack of social and spiritual support will affect patients' healing motivation. Healing motivation is very important for patients as it is one of the factors that will speed up the patient's recovery process. This study aimed to determine the relationship between spiritual-social support and clients' healing motivation in the Inpatient room of Hospital St. Carolus Borromeus Kupang. The research method used was quantitative research and the study design was cross-sectional conducted in the Hospital St. Carolus Borromeus Kupang with a target population of 51 respondents, sampling was conducted by using purposive sampling technique on 47 respondents. Data was collected by relying on the questionnaire sheet. Based on the results of research on the relationship between spiritualsocial support and clients' healing motivation in the Inpatient room of Hospital St. Carolus Borromeus Kupang, it was found that 26 respondents (55.3%) out of 47 respondents had fair social-spiritual support and 21 respondents (44.7%) out of 47 respondents had excellent social-spiritual support. It was also found that 24 respondents (51.1%) out of 47 respondents had fair healing motivation and 23 respondents (48.9%) out of 47 respondents had excellent healing motivation.Spearman rho statistical test results (r2) on the relationship between the level of depression with sleep quality in the elderly obtained p-value of 0.004 that was lower than the value of α (0.05), then Ho was denied and resulted with the fact that there was a relationship between spiritual-social support with client's healing motivation. From the results of this study, it is expected that good social-spiritual support will be maintained in order to increase the client's healing motivation and modify even better spiritual services (spiritual services are daily provided for all religions).


ABSTRACT This study examined elaboration likelihood model (ELM) processing routes used by audiences to evaluate image repair messages for two organizations that often provoke polarizing dispositions in audiences: the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the New England Patriots football team. Involvement is a key concept in the ELM paradigm, yet studies have overlooked issues on the extreme ends of the dispositional spectrum, especially where ego-involvement motivates individuals. In order to test this largely unexplored idea, participants in the study were presented with post-incident message responses for the Columbine and Sandy Hook school shootings and the Spygate and Deflategate cheating scandals. Results indicated that the relationship between disposition and peripheral processing was curvilinear, with an increased use of peripheral processing at dispositional extremes. Ego-involvement fully mediated this relationship for most messages. Study items measuring reaction to the message source also showed statistical similarities to central processing variables. Although message source is often treated as a peripheral cue in ELM studies, the results of this analysis suggested that the message source was not used as a peripheral cue here. These findings are consistent with several other past studies on dual process models that align message source more closely with a likelihood to elaborate.


Investigated in this thesis is the application of an genetic algorithm(GA) for searching optimal parameters of a fuzzy controller(FC)for a DC brushless rotary motor position control system.In the end,given experiment test,Verified the possibility of control algorithm.


Five areas of computer science - logic programming, database technology, knowledge representation using semantic nets, natural language processing, and dataflow architectures - are related to the goals of the Fifth Generation Computer Project. In this paper we present a number of recent research projects found in the intersection of two or more of the above areas. It is argued that, while much of the research began before the initiation of the Japanese national project, the explicit call for a new generation of computer systems will have a beneficial impact on current research throughout the world and will bring together traditionally very distinct areas of computer science.


This paper studied the characteristics of the intra-video and extra-video tendentiousness.Through a deep research on streaming delivery algorithm,we present a novel streaming delivery algorithm.This new method allows every client that request the same video to share a channel,so it can supply instantaneous video-on-demand services.The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is effective in refusal-ratio,the average waiting-time and the hit probability of the hot movies.


A homodinuclear complex (NH3CH2CH2CH2NH3)(2)[Na-2[(C6H4O2)(2)](C6H4O2H)(2)} (1) has been synthesized by a solution-based self-assembly route. It crystallized in monoclinic system with space group P2(1)/c. Every sodium ion coordinates in a tetragonal prism fashion with two 0 atoms of a terminal chelating catecholate ligand and three 0 atoms from two bridging catecholate ligands. Two neighboring NaO5 tetragonal prisms are edge-shared and centrosymmetric with regard to the inversion center to form a binuclear cluster (Na-2[(C6H4O2)(2)](C6H4OOH)(2)}(4-) anion. The complex anions were aligned parallelly by pi-pi interaction and linked with the protonated 1,3-propylenediamine through hydrogen bonds which were assembled into a multi-lamellar structure with channels. The crystal exhibits rectangular geometry with an interior triangle hollow structure under optical microscopy. And the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates that the wall of the tubes shows multi-lamella morphologies. Further, the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that the crystal is composed of multi-lamellar nano-tubes with diameters less than 100 nm. The molecular structure of the complex was compared with that of its isomer complex 2.


Abstract : Chemical methods of igniting flame thrower fuels are reviewed. It is recommended that oxidizing agents such as chromyl chloride or chromic oxide and fluorinating agents such as fluorine, antimony pentafluoride, oxygen fluoride or bromide and chlorine trifluoride mixtures be evaluated. The use of a platinum catalyst to ignite a gasoline spray is suggested. Less promising techniques considered include the use of spontaneously ignitable substances, metallic driers, sulfur compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds, and ignition of a gasoline pilot flame by a hot filament or chemical agents.


In the design of contoured-beam antennas, several synthesis methods have been developed, but usually little importance has been given to the issue of finding an "efficient" representation of the antenna far field: this is the main scope of this work. A wavelet expansion of the far field is developed, and applied to the synthesis of array-fed reflector antennas for geographic coverage (e.g. Europe coverage). Two different synthesis techniques are considered as application examples of the devised pattern representation: a field-synthesis projection method, and a power synthesis optimization based on a genetic algorithm (GA) specifically adapted for antenna design. INTRODUCTION In this work we deal with the design of "contoured-beam" antennas as used in satellite communication systems [1], i.e. antennas having the main beam shaped so that its footprint on ground closely follows the contour of specific geographical regions (e.g. Europe), with the objective of maximizing the radiation efficiency and reducing interferences with neighbouring regional systems. As contoured-beam antennas we consider "array-fed" reflectors [1], [2], i.e. antennas fed by an array of horns or equivalent radiating elements, each producing a beam toward a different direction upon reflection on the reflection dish (see Figure 1.a). The synthesis is a key point in the design of all high performance antennas. While our final goal is the synthesis of contoured-beam antennas, we will not propose a new synthesis algorithm in the strict sense. In the many synthesis approaches that have been proposed usually little importance has been given to the representation of the antenna far field in the synthesis procedure: this will be instead our main concern here. The idea behind this work is to find an efficient representation of the desired radiation pattern that concentrates the field information relevant to the design task in few, suitably constructed functions; if properly coded, this enables synthesis algorithms to converge faster. The proposed approach exploits the properties of the multiresolution (MR) representation. In loose terms, a MR basis is divided into a number of subsets of functions (all linearly independent), and each subset possesses a different resolution. To synthesize the desired directivity two different synthesis techniques are considered: a field-synthesis projection method, and a power synthesis optimization based on a genetic algorithm (GA) [3], specifically adapted for antenna design. Preliminary results of the developed technique applied to the synthesis of circular aperture antennas are reported in [4].


Modern lifestyle has initiated a vegan diet through the uptrend in plant-based or non-dairy milk that is subsequently incorporated in ice cream making. This research aimed to alter the under-utilized jackfruit seed into an alternative milk base for vegan, nutrient-rich ice cream. Jackfruit seeds were processed and filtered to obtain the liquid. A control and two variables of emulsifier [lecithin and surface perfectant (SP)] were formulated to produce ice cream. The ice cream was then analyzed for proximate analysis (crude fiber, total carbohydrate, fat, and protein content), physicochemical analysis (color and viscosity), followed by a 9-point hedonic scale acceptance test. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) test. Results showed that all ice cream formulations contained the beneficial crude fiber except for the commercial dairy ice cream. In addition, jackfruit seed-based milk ice cream was also low in fat content. Viscosity of lecithin-treated ice cream was significantly different (p < 0.05) compared to the others. Hedonic test (n=39) results showed that there were significant differences among the samples (p < 0.05) with the control group as the most preferred in terms of overall liking and flavor. In conclusion, changing dairy milk with jackfruit seed-based milk may deliver the potential creation of vegan, low-fat, and crude fiber-rich ice cream with reasonable consumer acceptability.


In this paper we calculate upper bounds on fault tolerance, without restrictions on the overhead involved. Optimally adaptive recovery operators are used, and the Shannon entropy is used to estimate the thresholds. By allowing for unrealistically high levels of overhead, we find a quantum fault tolerant threshold of 6.88% for the depolarizing noise used by Knill, which compares well to "above 3%" evidenced by Knill. We conjecture that the optimal threshold is 6.90%, based upon the hashing rate. We also perform threshold calculations for types of noise other than that discussed by Knill.


The heat capacity of the DyLiMgMn 2 O 6 ternary manganite was measured by dynamic calorimetry. The C° p vs.f(T) dependence exhibits a λ-shaped peak associated with a second-order phase transition at 423 K. Expressions for the temperature dependence of C° p were derived. The S°(T), H°(T) - H°(298.15), and Φ**(T) thermodynamic functions were calculated.


In this paper, a fault diagnosis method based on the transformer vibration noise and BP neural network is proposed. The transformer vibration noise signal is obtained by the vibration noise detection system, and the eigenvalue is calculated by FFT. The eigenvalue is used as the input of the trained BP neural network and the type of transformer fault is predicted. The validity of the method is verified by the diagnosis of typical state test of 6 kinds of transformers. This method makes full use of the vibration and noise signal of transformer, and realizes the diagnosis of transformer live fault by BP neural network algorithm. It greatly improves the fault diagnosis rate of the transformer. It greatly improves the fault diagnosis rate of the transformer and provides an effective way for the transformer live inspection.


FastNBTIrecovery experiments performed foralternating DC andAC stress modesshowthatrecovery behavior isstrongly influenced bydegradation history. Proper modeling ofPMOS recovery incircuits aswellasprojections ofproduct lifetime must comprehend theinteraction ofDCandACusage states.


A spectroscopic study of the plasma parameters of a high‐current vacuum arc in an axial magnetic field shows that the interaction of the particles in the arc is collisional. A previously suggested pressure drop is found to exist. The pressure buildup in the arc may be influenced significantly by ion‐neutral friction.


A 58-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) several hours after taking a mixed overdose of his antihypertensive medications with alcohol. From the packaging found at scene it was estimated that he had taken 500 mg ramipril, 500 mg amlodipine and 82 mg doxazosin. On admission to the ED he was conscious but intoxicated with a best Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 14 and a blood pressure of 53/30 mm Hg. He was resuscitated with fluid and started on a metaraminol infusion while an arterial line was inserted. He initially responded to treatment but subsequently deteriorated to a minimum intra-arterial blood pressure of 43/28 mm Hg despite increasing the metaraminol infusion to 30 mg metaraminol/hr. A central venous catheter was inserted and noradrenaline infusion was started and increased to 8 mg/hr within an hour. Calcium gluconate 10 mL of 10% was given and vasopressin was added and titrated up to 4 units/hr. After consultation with the poisons unit in Birmingham it was decided to use high dose insulin therapy. This involved loading the patient with 50% dextrose and commencing therapy with a bolus of 1 unit/kg (80 units) of actrapid. This was followed by a background infusion of 10% dextrose together with an insulin infusion starting at 0.5 units/kg/hr (40 units) which was increased every hour to 2 units/kg/hr (160 units/hr) according to effect. The maximum rate for insulin infusion is 10 units/kg/hr (800 units). However, this did not appear to improve the cardiovascular situation and resulted in the need for a high rate central venous infusion of potassium in order to maintain potassium levels. The patient remained hypotensive at 80/35 mm Hg and was profoundly acidotic with a pH of 7.21, base excess of -13.2 mmoL/L, and lactate of 8.3 mmoL/L. His GCS dropped to 11 (E2V4M5) and he started to vomit so he was intubated and mechanically ventilated. In view of the hypotension, ketamine was chosen as the induction agent. An initial dose of 100 mg was given and the patient appeared sedated. This was followed by 100 mg of suxamethonium and, although sedated, the patient did not stop breathing or fasciculate. It was noted that his blood pressure had increased to more than 100 mm Hg systolic. Inspection of the IV site revealed that it had 'tissued', presumably after some of the ketamine had been administered but before the suxamethonium had been given. The patient continued to breathe 100% oxygen while further doses of ketamine and suxamethonium were administered via alternative venous access. Tracheal intubation was successfully performed and the increase in blood pressure was sustained. In view of the cardiovascular response we elected to start a ketamine infusion at 500 mg/hr for sedation and to stop the high dose insulin therapy. This allowed us to significantly reduce the vasopressin infusion over the next few hours (Figure 1). The patient's urine output improved with the increased blood pressure but he remained acidotic so we initiated haemofiltration and the acidosis improved. The patient remained on the ketamine infusion for 38 hours. Figure 1 shows continuing improvement in blood pressure with reducing doses of insulin and vasopressin and a steady dose of noradrenaline. The ketamine produced a small but sustained increase in blood pressure to a level where organ perfusion was adequate. It altered the situation from one where we were rapidly increasing the noradrenaline, vasopressin and insulin to one where we could stop the insulin and reduce the vasopressin. The high dose insulin therapy appeared to us to be the most dangerous therapy that we were giving and the high requirement for potassium continued for many hours after the insulin was stopped. The patient was discharged from hospital 10 days after admission following which he continued to receive care from the mental health team.


In vitro studies have suggested that nephron nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) plays a role in the regulation of urinary Na
 +
 excretion (UNaV) and potentially contributes to blood pressure (BP) control. To assess whether NOS3 is indeed involved in the physiological regulation of UNaV and BP, mice with doxycycline-inducible nephron-wide deletion of NOS3 were generated. These mice were homozygous for loxP-flanked exons 9-12 of the NOS3 gene (contains the calmodulin binding site) and hemizygous for Pax8-rtTA and LC-1 transgenes (Pax8 promoter-rtTA confers nephron-specific targeting and LC-1 transgene contains doxycycline/rtTA-inducible Cre recombinase). Mice were treated with either vehicle (controls) or doxycycline (knockouts, KO) at 1 month of age for 12 days and studied at ~3 months of age. Nephron-specific NOS3 KO mice had renal-specific NOS3 gene recombination and reduced mRNA levels in microdissected nephron segments. Renal vascular NOS3 mRNA levels were markedly increased in KO mice, presumably as a compensatory response to nephron NOS3 KO. KO mice had modestly increased mean arterial pressure (100 ± 2 mmHg in controls and 103 ± 1 mmHg in KO, N=6, p<0.05) on a normal (0.3% Na
 +
 ) salt diet that increased further during high (3.2% Na
 +
 ) salt intake (103 ± 2 mmHg in controls and 118 ± 3 mmHg in KO, N=6, p<0.05). KO mice had reduced daily UNaV and greater cumulative Na
 +
 retention compared to controls over the 7 days of high salt feeding. PRC tended to be lower in KO mice on a high salt diet compared to controls (85.8 ± 13.5 ng/ml in controls and 60.1 ± 10.3 ng/ml in KO, N=12, p<0.07). Control mice excreted most of an acute I.P. salt load by 4 hr post-load, while KO mice excreted the acute salt load between 5-7 hr after loading. Furosemide, but not hydrochlorothiazide, abolished the differences in UNaV between control and control mice following an acute salt load. No sex-dependent differences in UNaV or BP were observed. In summary, these findings indicate that nephron NOS3 is involved in acute and chronic control of renal Na
 +
 excretion and BP during high salt intake. Taken together with previous studies showing that collecting duct-specific KO of NOS3 does not alter UNaV or BP, our data suggest that thick ascending limb is at least partly involved – further mechanistic studies are ongoing.


Kenya went to the elections in August 2022. The increasing unpredictable and competitive elections have often down-graded general election trends in the East Africa region where predetermined outcomes and poll fixing are the often norm Kenya was not going to be an exception. However, the case in Kenya was different this time. The era of unquestionable linchpins in Kenyan politics seemed to no longer dictate the tone among Kenyan voters. The voting alliance usually set among ethnic lines appeared to have been a matter of the past.  Leading candidates set tone by disowning violence and instead appealed for peace to their supporters during the process of elections. Independent monitoring via parallel vote tabulations and public access of data released by the electoral commission from polling stations kept the public informed of the contest. Before the elections, during and after, anxiety was on the rise within Kenya, among Kenya's neighbors, the rest of Africa and elsewhere.
This study examines the 2022 General Election in Kenya as to the maturity of the Kenya electorate against all the odds that has always beset the nation during such particular times. The example set is worth emulation by willing neighboring East African and African states in particular and the world at large. Literature on the elections from reliable daily and weekly tabloids, newsreels, interviews from the mass media, one- to- one debates with political analysts, active participation in panel discussions on the election and discussion groups furnished the necessary information to put something on paper. The general consensus in the discussion groups pitted Kenya to have made a leap forward.
The conclusion can be drawn that a significant progress has been made in Kenya's election process since 2007-2008. The process in 2022 has displayed a maturity of democracy worth rivalling.


The pollution of the large-scaled livestock and poultry breeding farms in Heilongjiang Province was introduced in this paper.Strategic suggestions were brought forward herein in order to control the pollution.The purpose was to improve people's attention and to protect our environment.


Viral vectors restore dopamine transporter function and ameliorate neuropathology in iPSC-derived neurons and a mouse model of infantile parkinsonism. Delivering a transporter Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by biallelic loss-of-function mutations in SLC6A3, the gene encoding the dopamine transporter (DAT). There is no effective treatment for this disease and the pathophysiology is still unclear; patients develop infantile parkinsonism that often leads to premature death. Here, Ng et al. developed a gene therapy for DTDS using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and a mouse model. Delivery of human SLC6A3 improved DAT activity and reduced neurodegeneration in vitro in iPSC-derived neurons. In vivo, injection of SLC6A3 in the midbrain of adult DTDS mice using an adeno-associated virus vector had therapeutic effects, suggesting that the approach might be effective in patients. Most inherited neurodegenerative disorders are incurable, and often only palliative treatment is available. Precision medicine has great potential to address this unmet clinical need. We explored this paradigm in dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS), caused by biallelic loss-of-function mutations in SLC6A3, encoding the dopamine transporter (DAT). Patients present with early infantile hyperkinesia, severe progressive childhood parkinsonism, and raised cerebrospinal fluid dopamine metabolites. The absence of effective treatments and relentless disease course frequently leads to death in childhood. Using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we generated a midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neuron model of DTDS that exhibited marked impairment of DAT activity, apoptotic neurodegeneration associated with TNFα-mediated inflammation, and dopamine toxicity. Partial restoration of DAT activity by the pharmacochaperone pifithrin-μ was mutation-specific. In contrast, lentiviral gene transfer of wild-type human SLC6A3 complementary DNA restored DAT activity and prevented neurodegeneration in all patient-derived mDA lines. To progress toward clinical translation, we used the knockout mouse model of DTDS that recapitulates human disease, exhibiting parkinsonism features, including tremor, bradykinesia, and premature death. Neonatal intracerebroventricular injection of human SLC6A3 using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector provided neuronal expression of human DAT, which ameliorated motor phenotype, life span, and neuronal survival in the substantia nigra and striatum, although off-target neurotoxic effects were seen at higher dosage. These were avoided with stereotactic delivery of AAV2.SLC6A3 gene therapy targeted to the midbrain of adult knockout mice, which rescued both motor phenotype and neurodegeneration, suggesting that targeted AAV gene therapy might be effective for patients with DTDS.


Chromosome instability (CIN) is a hallmark of cancer (Heng, 2015; Rangel et al., 2017; Machiela, 2019; Simonetti et al., 2019). Additionally, a number of neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) demonstrate CIN, which mediates neuronal cell loss and appears to be a key element of the pathogenic cascade (Iourov et al., 2009a; Iourov et al., 2009b; Arendt et al., 2010; Jeppesen et al., 2011; Driver, 2012; Bajic et al., 2015; Leija-Salazar et al., 2018; Nudelman et al., 2019). Moreover, CIN is repeatedly associated with aging and aging-related deterioration of the brain (Yurov et al., 2010; Kennedy et al., 2012; Andriani et al., 2017; Vijg et al., 2017; Zhang and Vijg, 2018). Despite numerous studies dedicated to CIN in NDD, there is still no clear understanding of differences between "cancerous" and "neurodegenerative" CINs. Here, we propose a theoretical model, which seems to highlight the differences between these CIN types. Oncogenic parallels have long been observed in NDD. More specifically, CIN manifesting as aneuploidy (gains or losses of whole chromosomes) has been systematically identified in the brain of individuals with NDD. The Alzheimer's disease brain has been found to demonstrate high rates of spontaneous aneuploidy (Iourov et al., 2009b; Iourov et al., 2011; Yurov et al., 2014; Bajic et al., 2015; Arendt et al., 2017; Yurov et al., 2018). Furthermore, Alzheimer's disease genes are involved in molecular pathways, alterations to which result in chromosome mis-segregation and aneuploidy (Granic et al., 2010). Similarly, CIN syndromes and/or mutations in genes involved in cell cycle/ mitotic checkpoint pathways exhibit brain-specific CIN associated with neurodegeneration. Thus, CIN has been demonstrated to underlie neurodegenerative processes (Iourov et al., 2009a; Caneus et al., 2018; Leija-Salazar et al., 2018). Additionally, submicroscopic CIN producing structural rearrangements of the APP gene (21q21.3) has been shown to be involved in neurodegenerative pathways to Alzheimer's disease (Bushman et al., 2015; Lee et al., 2018). It is important to note that numerical CIN (aneuploidy) is shown to be implicated in the neurodegeneration pathway inasmuch as the neurons affected by CIN/aneuploidy are susceptible to selective cell death (Arendt et al., 2010; Fricker et al., 2018; Iourov et al., 2019). Finally, DNA repair deficiency (Jeppesen et al., 2011) and DNA replication stress (Yurov et al., 2011) have been identified as possible mechanisms for neurodegeneration. Another body of evidence for the contribution of CIN to neurodegeneration is provided by brain aging studies. Actually, CIN and related phenomena (aneuploidization, somatic mutagenesis, etc.) are considered to be elements of a global pathogenic cascade resulting in aging phenotypes (Kennedy et al., 2012; Vijg, 2014; Andriani et al., 2017). Progressive accumulation of somatic chromosomal mutations (aneuploidy) causing numerical CIN is suggested to be implicated in cellular senescence and tissue aging (Yurov et al., 2010; Zhang and Vijg, 2018; Iourov et al., 2019). For instance, rates of X chromosome aneuploidy increase with age in the Alzheimer's disease brain (Yurov et al., 2014). It is to note that X chromosome aneuploidy (loss/monosomy) is a cytogenetic biomarker of human aging (Vijg, 2014; Zhang and Vijg, 2018; Iourov et al., 2019). Genome instability at the Edited by: Anja Weise, University Hospital Jena, Germany


A novel strategy for the determination of protein phosphorylation sites is described and applied to the polo‐like kinases Plx1 (Xenopus laevis) and Plk1 (Homo sapiens). The strategy comprises the sequential application of the following techniques: proteolytic digestion, capillary liquid chromatography (LC)‐inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with phosphorus detection, capillary LC‐electrospray mass spectrometry and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. In this approach, phosphopeptides are generated, their elution time in capillary LC is determined, candidate phosphopeptides at the corresponding elution times are identified, and positive identification and sequencing of phosphopeptides is performed in the last step of the analysis. Using this technique, Ser25/26, Ser326, and Ser340 were identified as phosphorylation sites in recombinant Plx1, and Ser340 was identified as the major phosphorylation site in a kinase‐dead mutant of Plx1 expressed in okadaic acid‐treated Sf9 insect cells. A site corresponding to Ser326 in Plx1 was also shown to be phosphorylated in the human polo‐like kinase Plk1 (Ser335). Element mass spectrometry with phosphorus detection provides a quantitative phosphorylation profile of all phosphorylation sites accessible by LC.


A novel semi-IPN nanocomposite hydrogel (CMC/PNIPA/Clay hydrogel) based on linear sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and poly(N-isopropylacryla- mide) (PNIPA) crosslinked by inorganic clay was prepared. The structure and mor- phology of these hydrogels were investigated and their swelling and deswelling kinetics were studied in detail. TEM images showed that the clay was substantially exfoliated to form nano-dimension platelets dispersed homogeneously in the hydro- gels and acted as a multifunctional crosslinker. The CMC/PNIPA/Clay hydrogels swell faster than the corresponding PNIPA/Clay hydrogels at pH 7.4, whereas they swell slower than the PNIPA/Clay hydrogels at pH 1.2. The CMC/PNIPA/Clay nano- composite hydrogels showed much higher deswelling rates, which was ascribed to more passway formed in these hydrogels for water to diffuse in and out. The deswel- ling process of the hydrogels could be approximately described by the first-order ki- netic equation and the deswelling rate decreased with increasing clay content. The mechanical properties of the CMC/PNIPA/Clay nanocomposite hydrogels were ana- lyzed based on the theory of rubber elasticity. It was found that with increasing clay content, the effective crosslink chain density, ve, increased whereas the molecular weight of the chains between crosslinks Mc decreased. V C 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1546-1555, 2008


Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) aims at characterising the properties of tissues by following a mechanical wave induced in a target tissue along the three spatial directions. Hence, the shear viscoelastic moduli may be inferred from the inversion of the wave equations (Sinkus et al. 2005). Long acquisition times may lead to a motion-induced mismatch of the displacement field components as a result of physiological, cardiac, respiratory, physical and patient motions. In this work, an original motion-correction scheme, including space and phase normalisations, is presented. It was implemented and tested onto an easily-motion-controlled whole-brain MRE dataset, in which motion was added. This approach improved the processing of MRE data for tissue rotation of already less than a degree.


Trade-off analysis is a key link of quantitative requirement determination of reliability /maintainability / supportability / testability( RMST) in the process of armored vehicle demonstration,but an effective method is absent. A method to balance RMST of armored vehicle based on system effectiveness is proposed. Based on the operation and management conditions of armored vehicle,an armored vehicle system effectiveness model is set up,which is made up of three parts,including operational readiness, battle dependability and capability. Two kinds of methods are proposed for the trade-off analysis of RMST,which are trade-off analysis methods based on comparison and sensitivity,respectively. This provides an effective method to determine RMST quantitative requirement of armored vehicle,and improve system effectiveness.


A 32-year-old male presented with progressive swelling of fingers of both hands and joint pains. On physical examination, the patient had severe pallor, frontal bossing, zygomatic prominence, malocclusion of teeth and tophaceous deposits at knuckles and pinna (Fig. 1a). There was mild hepatomegaly and massive splenomegaly. On investigation, his hemoglobin was 6.1 g/dl (normal levels 13–17 g/dl), and he had microcytic normochromic anemia. He also had elevated uric acid levels of 14 mg/dl (normal levels 3.5–7 mg/dl) suggesting a hypermetabolic state. Chest and skull radiograph showed extramedullary hematopoiesis; skull radiograph revealed sun-ray appearance. Plain radiograph of the hands showed erosion of few phalanges, soft tissue swelling and 'punched-out' lytic lesions with sclerotic margins and overhanging bony edges (Martel's sign) [1] (Fig. 1b). Joint fluid aspiration revealed needle-shaped birefringent monosodium urate crystals. A genotypic diagnosis of double heterozygous thalassemia with hemoglobin E trait and phenotypic diagnosis of thalassemia intermedia with secondary chronic tophaceous gout was made. Crystal proven gout in a patient with thalassemia intermedia is a rare but important association.

Figure 1:

(a) Tophaceous deposits at pinna and (b) Martel's sign.


This article aims to introduce the little-known Masjid-i Malik in the city of Kinnan, stressing its architectural evolution. This mosque is the oldest and also the largest mosque in Kinnan and is located in the south-east of the city in one of the oldest areas, which is known as the Shah 'Adil quarter.' According to the Tadhkira-yi $ajaviyya-yi Kirmiin, this area was redeveloped by order of Ganj 'Ali Khan in the Safavid period.2 The finding of many Safavid sherds around this mosque proves this story.3 A surviving ~ammiim (public bath) close to the mosque to the north-east, and a historic takiyya on the north side of the Masjid-i Malik, both belong to the Qajar period,4 and show that the area around the mosque was a popular district for building. An aerial photograph taken in the 1330s/1950s,5 before the erection of the present Imam Khumaini Street on the north-west side of the mosque, shows that this mosque was situated in a congested area and that the main thoroughfare which passes it is on the north-west side of the mosque. The Masjid-i Malik underwent sustained development and change over the centuries and the exact date of its foundation is not clear. Owing to these multiple changes, physical evidence as to its original features is not easy to decipher. It seems that in its original form, this mosque comprised a small masjid (or namiiz khiina) and later a lofty lwiin and a riwiiq (arcade) were added around a large central courtyard. The present mosque contains four iwiins and some covered areas around a central courtyard (Fig. 1 ). The building has three entrances; these are on the southwest, north-west and north-east sides. The main entrance to the mosque is now to the north-west; it was redecorated recently.6 The earliest entrance7 is located to the south-west and the latest, which was erected in the 20th century, is on the north-east side of the mosque. A lofty lwiin dominates the south-west side of the courtyard, thanks in part to the dome behind it, and serves as the qibla lwiin (Fig. 2). It contains a four-


Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, a member of the Jupiter family of comets, broke into several fragments in the autumn of 1995. A dramatic increase in the comet's intrinsic brightness was then seen, suggestive of a massive expulsion of dust. Orbiting the Sun about every 5.4 years, the comet has continued to disintegrate since its initial disruption. Dozens of fragments have since been identified in subsequent near-Earth passages. Three independent studies have investigated the prospects of Earth's passage through its trail of freshly ejected material which could lead to a meteor shower. One study showed that Earth will fail to interact with the ejected material, while the other two suggest a direct interaction with the trail, thus possibly producing an outburst of meteor activity at the end of May 2022. Using an N-body integrator, we found that all three studies are plausible. However, the occurrence of a meteor shower/outburst requires a rather unique set of circumstances: One that assumes a larger-than-normal preponderance of the particles are subsequently ejected at sufficiently high velocities to overcome the effects of solar radiation pressure. Such material would tend to migrate forward of the comet's direction of motion around the Sun, ultimately colliding with Earth. We find that any detectable meteor activity would reach a maximum on 2022 May 31.21 UTC, with a mean radiant position of α = 208 . ◦ 35, δ = 27 . ◦ 45 (J2000.0).


The effect of revert recycle times on the thermal fatigue property of K465 superalloy was investigated by a stepwise addition method with 1∶1 weight ratio of revert alloy to fresh alloy. The results reveal that the relationship between the crack length and the thermal cycle times for the K465 alloy with revert alloy coincides with the formula L=b Na. Oxygen content is the important factor influencing the thermal fatigue property of K465 alloy. For similar oxygen content,the thermal fatigue resistance of K465 alloy decreases with the increase of revert recycle times. The thermal fatigue crack initiation and propagation of K465 alloy with revert alloy differ from that of fresh K465 alloy. The thermal fatigue cracks initiate from the block-like carbides or micro-porosities,and propagate mainly along interdendritic zones,grain boundaries,splitting carbides or boundaries between carbides and matrix.


This paper describes methods by which the residual correlation in CELP-encoded speech can be exploited by an appropriately designed channel decoder. Specifically, the line spectrum pair (LSP) redundancy in Federal Standard 1016 CELP is quantified and used to effect near-MAP decoding of Reed-Solomon and convolutional codes. Coding gains of up to 3.6 dB are obtained over conventional ML algorithms.