Klaten is one of the three regencies in Central Java affected by the construction of the Solo-Yogyakarta toll road, and at the same time, it is the widest area for constructing this route. The purpose of this article is to describe agricultural mastery by farmers as a national project strategy. This article is part of research on the Response of Affected Farmers to the Strategic National Project policy for toll development. A research method is a quantitative approach by taking as many as 251 respondents who are taken representatively from the east, west, central, north and south sides. The performance of the control of agricultural assets is seen from (1) the average area of land owned by farmers, (2) the percentage of farmers on the status of farmers' land ownership, (3) the distribution of land ownership and control, (4) the distribution of farmers' occupations, (5) income from agricultural sector and (6) sources of income in the agricultural sector. Data were analyzed descriptively analytically with frequency tabulation. In conclusion, most respondents have land ownership status as cultivators, owning 0.01 to 0.49 ha of land, and consider farming their main occupation.


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Plasmadynamic discharges, whether employed judiciously within wall-embedded cavities or directly within the near-surface boundary layer, hold the promise of manipulating supersonic/hypersonic flows without active mechanical components. Practical application of cavity-based micro-adaptive flow control technology that leverages plasmadynamic discharges will require the development of distributed actuator arrays capable of operating in high-temperature environments. The design of these arrays will be dependent on accurate and robust modeling of the micro-fluidics in the devices. This paper develops methods for high-fidelity modeling of spark discharges as energy source terms in transient CFD calculations. The methodology of then using these simulations to create boundary conditions to model arrays of actuators is also discussed.


containing lysozyme indicated that the enzyme is one of nature's defensive mechanisms. Lysozyme is currently associated with ulcerative conditions of the intestine. As a part of this syndrome, the role of lysozyme as it affects the ever-present gram-negative bacteria in the intestine is yet to be shown. The literature indicates general acceptance of the concept that these bacteria are not sensitive to the enzyme and therefore are not lysed. However, inhibition of growth and occasional lysis were observed with certain strains of pathogenic gram-negative bacteria when exposed to egg white, sputum, tears, or purified lysozyme.1"7 In 1952, Myerholtz and Hartsell8 re-


This study contributes to a developmental approach focusing on emotions as being of key significance in explaining the Happy Victimizer pattern (HV pattern) among adults. Based on findings from our own research on moral emotions within the Happy Victimizer paradigm, we claim that a purely cognitive approach to explain the HV is overly narrow. Instead, we argue that emotion attributions serve as a source for moral motivation. By identifying new dimensions (i.e., deontic judgment; own action choice; self-constructed emotion attributions) to explain the complexity of moral functioning in emerging adulthood, the current study contributes to a theoretical and methodological framework that integrates both cognitive and emotional processes to bridge the gap between moral thought, emotion, and action with the aim of fostering moral learning across the lifespan.


Multicenter studies and biobanking projects require blood transportation from the participating center to a central collection or diagnostic laboratory. The impact of time delays between venous blood collection and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolation prior to RNA extraction may affect the quality and quantity of isolated nucleic acids for genomic applications. Thus, standard operating procedure (SOP) optimization for the treatment of biological samples before RNA extraction is crucial in a biological repository. In order to define SOPs for whole blood preservation prior to RNA extraction, we sought to determine whether different blood storage times (0, 3, 6, 10, 24, and 30 hours) prior to PBMCs isolation and storage at –80°C, could affect the quality and quantity of extracted RNA. After spectrophotometric quantification, the quality and integrity of RNA were assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis, RNA integrity number and real time-PCR (RT-PCR). Across the different time points we did not observe significant differences within the first 24 hours of blood storage at room temperature, while a significant loss in RNA yield and integrity was detected between 24 and 30 hours. We conclude that time delays before PBMCs isolation prior to RNA extraction may have a significant impact on downstream molecular biological applications.


In recent years, it has become necessary to use wide-band signals in various kinds of signal processing and communication technology fields. One of these is the field of underwater acoustic technology, and therefore wide-band transducers are needed in this field. To address this need, we developed a Tonpilz piezoelectric transducer with a bending piezoelectric disk on the radiation surface of the front mass. This transducer was designed by providing a bending piezoelectric disk on the radiation surface of the front mass of a conventional Tonpilz piezoelectric transducer to enable it to generate in two resonance modes: the longitudinal vibration resonance mode and the bending vibration resonance mode of the bending disk. Coupling these two resonance modes makes it possible to achieve low-frequency transmission, and wide-band signals can be attained by adjusting the phase in the two modes. We obtained the optimum design dimensions of the transducer through analysis using the finite element method (FEM), and constructed a prototype based on the analysis. Experiments verified that the measured results for the prototype correspond well to the simulation results and that the bandwidth can be widened without changing the external size of the conventional transducer.


The literature and life history of the corn plant louse were discussed at length in 1884 by Professor H, Garmauf, who showed that at that time nothing definite was known concerning the time or place of development of the sexed forms, the connection between the root and aerial forms, or the manner in which the insect passes the winter. In the article cited the author adds nothing of importance to our knowledge of either of these points, though the conjecture is made "that the lice hibernated as alate viviparous females."


The principles and technical aspects of the laboratory energy dispersive x-ray reflectometry technique (EDXR) are reviewed. X-ray reflectometry enables us to retrieve information on the morphological parameters (film thickness, surface and interface roughness) of thin films, layered materials and devices at the Å resolution. In the energy dispersive mode it makes use of a polychromatic beam and the energy scan is carried out by means of an energy sensitive detector, allowing us to keep the experimental geometry unchanged during data collection. The advantages offered by the technique, in particular when accurate time-resolved studies are to be performed, are outlined. An overview of the most significant works in the field is also reported, in order to present the wide range of its possible applications. The paper was written taking into account the necessity to provide a comprehensive description of this unusual laboratory technique. The first part of the manuscript is, therefore, devoted to the general aspects of EDXR: theoretical bases, experimental characteristics, advantages and drawbacks in comparison with alternative techniques, instrumental effects that may occur and information that can be gained by its application. In the second part of the paper, we resume the main literature results obtained by applying it to a variety of systems, to show examples of the possibilities it offers. Among the experiments reported, in particular much emphasis is given to the time-resolved in situ ones (for example, devices upon working and systems undergoing morphological modifications), which probably represents the most original use of this method.


Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this work is to explore The Trial of Dedan Kimathi through the lenses of revolutionary aesthetics and class stratification as a kind of socio-literary participation. The book's exploration of the notion of revolution delves deeply into topics of tyranny, exploitation, and poverty. Numerous consequences emerged from the examination of the selected text. Research methodology: Theoretical Framework: Marxist literary theory guided the analysis of the study. Results: This research documents European aggression, economic exploitation of Africans, taxes and forced labor, the degradation of people's humanity, a decrease in human capital, the depths of hunger and poverty, and Africans' reaction and resistance to these terrible conditions. In order to come up with a long-term solution, we need to understand and agree that Africans have been oppressed and treated cruelly in the past. Limitations: The study is limited to the play The Trial of Dedan Kimathi. Contribution: The Marxist philosophy has been used as a weapon of change in order to bring about revolutions. Through the medium of theater, people may be entertained, educated, and made more aware. Keywords: 1. Africa 2. Class 3. Kimathi 4. Marxism 5. Revolution


Abstract Using firm-level data from an EBRD/EIB/WB joint survey covering more than 6,000 private firms in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa, this paper (i) examines the relationship between firm characteristics and their perception of the effect of political instability on their operations and (ii) tests whether political instability has had a negative effect on firm performance. Using ordered and binary probit/logit models, we find that (i) export-oriented and larger-sized firms are more likely to report political instability as a sever obstacle to their operations. Using OLS and an endogenous treatment linear regression models, we find that (ii) the perception of political instability is negatively associated with firm performance, and after correcting for endogeneity it can even have a negative causal effect on firms' sales and employment growth, all else held constant. Results are largely robust to different specifications and econometric methods.


1 The concentration of noradrenaline, dopamine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) in the rabbit brainstem was measured during fevers produced by either an injection of bacterial pyrogen (BP) or continuous infusion of leucocyte pyrogen (LP). 2 Both procedures had little effect on the concentration of noradrenaline in the preoptic/hypothalamic area but significantly (P < 0.001) lowered the concentration of noradrenaline in the midbrain and pons/medulla. 3 BP significantly (P < 0.01) lowered the concentration of 5‐HT in the preoptic/hypothalamic area but had no effect in the midbrain or pons/medulla, whereas LP significantly (P < 0.01) lowered the concentration of 5‐HT in the midbrain and pons/medulla but had little effect in the hypothalamus. 4 The concentration of dopamine throughout the brainstem was little affected by either BP or LP fevers. However the concentration in the midbrain was significantly reduced by LP (P < 0.001). 5 α‐Methyltyrosine (200 mg/kg) pretreatment diminished the pyrogenic response to both BP and LP whilst p ‐chlorophenylalanine (300 mg/kg) slightly enhanced the response to both forms of challenge. 6 Reserpine (1 mg/kg) diminished both types of fever whilst a combination of α‐methyltyrosine and p ‐chlorophenylalanine slightly enhanced the fevers produced by either BP or LP. 7 The results obtained are discussed in relation to the mechanisms involved in the production of fever and to the possible function of noradrenaline and 5‐HT as thermoregulatory transmitters.


Birefringence study of the nearest-neighbour spin correlation function was performed on the quadratic layer substitutionally random antiferromagnet K 2 Ni 1- x Co x F 4 (0< x <1). The system is found to exhibit two-dimensional Ising critical behaviour within the nearly same reduced temperature region as the pure K 2 CoF 4 . The Neel temperature has a convex dependence on the substitutional concentration x with a maximum. The phase diagram of this mixture is discussed by introducing a model Hamiltonian.


Core-shell polymer composites made by two-stage emulsion polymerizations are useful in many applications. In systems involving a hydrophilic/hydrophobic polymer pair, a core-shell arrangement is thermodynamically unfavorable and may be difficult to achieve. To counteract the thermodynamic forces in such a system, the mobility of the phases can be reduced to such an extent that a core-shell morphology is achieved. This was accomplished in a PMMA/PS two-stage system by lowering the second-stage polymerization temperature to room temperature using a redox initiator. At this relatively low temperature, a core-shell morphology was obtained even when the second-stage was carried out as a batch polymerization. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


This article describes the model of pursuit of a single target by the method of chasing a group of objects. All objects participating in the pursuit model move with a constant modulo speed. The pursuing object moves along a certain trajectory and releases objects at specified intervals, the task of which is to overtake the target by the chase method. Released objects have restrictions on the curvature of the motion path. A single target, in turn, is tasked with overtaking the pursuer by the method of parallel approach. For each pursuing object, a detection area is formed. The detection area is formed by two beams. The object's velocity vector is the bisector of the angle formed by such rays. If the target enters the detection area, then the object begins the pursuit by the chase method. If the target leaves the detection area, then the object makes a uniform and rectilinear movement. The task is to implement a dynamic model of multiple group pursuit, where each object has its own tasks, which implements the chase method. The model is developed using computer mathematics systems. Based on the results of the research, animated images are created. As an example, where the model developed in the article could be in demand, the following can be given. There is considered the motion of a low-maneuverable object that is overtaking a faster target. As a means of protection, instead of releasing passive heat traps, it is proposed to drop a multitude of autonomously controlled weapons of destruction. From the analysis of the media, descriptions of such means of protection for aircraft have not been found. Modeling is carried out on a plane, there are no obstacles for modeling in space. The results of the research can be in demand in the design of unmanned aerial vehicles with elements of autonomous control and artificial intelligence.


Feeding rates of laboratory-reared Melanoplus sanguinipes (F.) nymphs were measured in 3-h trials at 15, 20, 26, 30, 35, 40, or 45°C. Feeding rates increased with temperature to a maximum, then decreased at higher temperatures. Maximum feeding rate occurred at 35°C in 1st and 2nd instars, and at 40°C in 3rd, 4th, and 5th instars. In a subsequent 24-h trial, mean hourly feeding rates at 30, 35, or 40°C agreed with those of the 3-h trials. A linear model was used to describe feeding rates at temperatures at or below that at which rate was maximum, and a nonlinear model was used to describe the feeding rate trends over the full range of experimental temperatures. Using the linear model, estimated low-temperature feeding thresholds ranged from 13.5°C for 2nd instars to 15.9°C for 1st instars. Using the nonlinear model, estimated low-temperature feeding thresholds were near 13°C for all but 3rd instars, for which it was near 8°C ; modeled temperatures at which feeding was maximal agreed with measured values, and the modeled upper temperature threshold for feeding was between 45 and 46°C for all instars. The linear and nonlinear models are similar at temperatures below that at which feeding is maximal, but the linear model overestimates feeding at higher temperatures. Application of the feeding rate functions to field conditions requires improved understanding on the determinants of body temperature under field conditions, and on the relationship between feeding and wastage.


The cybersecurity of electric power grids is emerging as a critical challenge for the power industry in the transformation of modern power systems towards the future smart grid. It is of great importance to enhance the resilience of power systems against potential cyber threats. In this paper, a distributionally robust recovery resource allocation method based on the tri-level defender-attacker-defender (D-A-D) model is proposed to enhance the resilience of power systems in the face of malicious cyberattacks. The proposed recovery resource allocation method is able to optimally distribute the recovery resources among the substations in the grid to mitigate the impacts of successful cyberattacks during the recovery process, and improve the resilience performance of power systems against the attacks. In the proposed model, the recovery resource represents the available resource that can be expended to support the recovery efforts of the cyber-physical power system. It is expected to accelerate the recovery process of the system after successful attacks. The recovery resource may include necessary software, hardware, and labor force. Meanwhile, a distributionally robust optimization (DRO) model is proposed to address the uncertainty of the power system operation conditions, e.g., renewable energy resources (RESs). In order to verify the proposed system defense method, case studies were conducted on the IEEE Reliability Test System RTS-79. The results of the case studies show that the proposed method can provide a robust solution to recovery resource allocation for mitigating the risk of potential cyberattacks.


The purpose of this study was to analyse the relations among the residents' characteristics, the policy of the facility, and the physical characteristics of activity areas, and to understand the elements for the lively use of activity areas in the elderly nursing facilities. The results of the study are as follows: First, there was a relationship between the characteristics of semi-public activity areas and the residents' management-control policy. The facilities having semi-public areas of living room type showed more flexibility in time and place and more respects for the residents. Second, the activity areas of connection type were much more used than the compartment type, especially in the facilities having more residents incapable of walking. On the other hand, the facilities having high control for the residents showed high using rate in public activity areas, and all those did not have semi-public areas or showed low using rate in there. Third, in the analysis of the relationship between the physical characteristics and the using rate of activity areas, the public activity areas having compartment type in the spatial composition and hall as a form were likely to have multiple usages. On the whole, the various form of activity areas, the area per residents, openness, accessibility and centrality were having interactions each other for high using rate in activity areas. Especially, many stimulations and the furniture arrangements that were good for the residents' interactions had a function of compensation for the poor physical characteristics of activity areas. This study investigated only the using rates to understand the lively use of the space. For the future study, it is suggested that the detail using behavior of the residents should be examined to understand the influential elements.


We present experimental and modeling results and a downhole logging tool concept resulting from a research collaboration between Chevron Energy Technology Company and Los Alamos National Laboratory investigating using nonlinear acoustics applications for natural fracture characterization and assessing near-wellbore mechanical integrity or drilling-induced damage. The generation of a scattered wave by noncollinear mixing of two acoustic plane waves in an acoustically nonlinear medium was first documented several decades ago. If the frequency ratio and convergence angle of the two waves and the compressional-to-shear velocity ratio of the medium where they intersect meet certain conditions, their interaction creates a scattered third wave, propagating in a predictable direction, with a frequency equal to the sum or difference between the two primary wave frequencies and an amplitude dependent on the nonlinearity at the intersection location. The conditions resulting in this scattering and the properties of the scattered wave are thus governed by the physics of the interaction, resulting in a set of "selection rules" that are the key to the measurement principle introduced here. If the two transmitted plane waves are oriented such that the third wave returns to the borehole, the phenomenon may be used as the basis for a logging tool measuring acoustic nonlinearity around the wellbore circumference, with a secondary measurement of the compressional-to-shear velocity ratio. Laboratory measurements supported by finite-difference and analytical modeling confirmed that the mixing of two plane compressional waves generated a shear wave as predicted by the selection rules in a large Berea sandstone block, confirming the potential for a downhole tool with a depth of investigation in the range 15 to 20 cm. Historical data show that nonlinearity in core samples is primarily caused by a lack of mechanical integrity. In the oil field, this may be microfractures in tight rock unconventional reservoirs or incipient near-wellbore failure while drilling. This prompts applications to fracture characterization and calibration of mechanical earth models. The main practical challenge for a downhole logging tool is injecting powerful directional acoustic energy into the formation. We envisage an openhole tool making sequential station measurements using transmitters built into hydraulically controlled pads contacting the borehole wall. Noncollinear mixing may be activated by maintaining the frequency of one transmitter constant while sweeping the other through the range of frequency ratios predicted by the selection rules, resulting in a received sum or difference frequency signal that rises to a peak and then falls. Alternatively, the frequency ratio may be maintained while steering one of the acoustic beams. The peak signal amplitude indicates the coefficient of nonlinearity, which is sensitive to lack of mechanical integrity caused by natural fractures or mechanical disaggregation. The frequency ratio at which it occurs is an indicator of the shear-to-compressional velocity at the location where the two beams cross. In this manner, a record of nonlinearity along or around the borehole can be envisaged. The physics of acoustic nonlinearity is well established, and our laboratory measurements have determined that the phenomenon of interest should occur and be measurable in the subsurface. Overcoming the engineering challenges would bring new formation evaluation insights unique to this measurement principle.


Induction, transfer and specificity of contact photosensitivity to 3, 3′, 4′, 5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCSA) were studied in mice. Mice were sensitized by 2daily abdominal paintings with 1% TCSA plus irradiations with "black lights." The degree of hypersensitivity was assayed by measuring the increment of ear thickness 24hr after challenge with 0.1% TCSA plus irradiation with black lights. Long ultraviolet (320–400nm) but not erythrogenic (280–320nm) radiation was required for induction and elicitation of the response. The 24-hr ear reaction was not detectable on day 3, peaked on days 5 to 7, and waned thereafter. The histologic picture of a swollen ear at the peak of the reaction showed dense infiltration of mononuclear cells intermingled with polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the dermis. Treatment of immune lymph node cells with anti-Thy-1.2 antiserum and complement abrogated the ability of these cells to transfer the sensitivity to naive recipients. The successful transfer required the identity of the left half of the major histocompatibility complex between the donor of immune lymph node cells and the recipient. T cells concerned with the photosensitivity did not seem to mediate contact sensitivity to TCSA since dichotomy of the reactivity occurred among photosensitized mice on day 7, one group showing contact sensitivity in addition to the photosensitive reaction while the other being photosensitive alone. The photosensitivity was highly specific for TCSA as immune mice neither photocross-reacted nor cross-reacted with 3′,4′,5-trichlorosalicylanilide, 3,4′,5-tribromosalicylanilide, or bithionol. These results provide a definite proof that contact photosensitivity in mice to TCSA is a highly specific, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction which is effected by distinct T cell subset(s) under genetic restrictions of the major histocompatibility complex. Furthermore, this simple and reliable method to induce delayed-type photosensitive reactions in mice will be a useful strategy for rapid screening of contact photoallergens.


In response to Ainslie & Gault: The value of a temporally extended behavioral pattern depends on relationships inherent in the pattern itself. It is not possible to express that value as the simple sum of the discounted present values of the pattern's component acts. In response to Leiber: Teleological behaviorism may be deemed unscientific because it has not yet succeeded to the required degree in predicting and controlling the highly complex patterns of human behavior that comprise our mental lives. However teleological behaviorism is not unscientific because it is teleological or "noncausal;" nor is teleological behaviorism unscientific because it is not reducible to neurophysiology. Nothing in principle bars the development of a teleological science of the mind.


This article examines a body of films which question consumerism through the articulation of new scopic regimes emerging in the wake of Spanish desarrollismo (1957–1959). By focusing on recurring visual fantasies in El inquilino (Nieves Conde 1957), La vida por delante (Fernán Gómez 1958), and El pisito (Ferreri and Ferry 1959), the present analysis reveals how specific imaginary coordinates of consumption were produced within the cinematic mode of production during the fifties. To this end, it explores the intersection between imported models of domesticity and the production of gender identities through consumption in cinema and advertising. These movies offer a challenge to narratives of progress based on the mythical access to commodities in a country still largely beset by scarcity and systemic poverty.


In product Scheme design phase,understanding the importance degree of customer groups and their requirements is related to the quality of product design target characteristics.This study proposes a method,on which we can divide the customer groups according to the customer basic features;screen the basic requirements of customer with rough number ordering;separate each customer group through their profession into customer subgroups;use the information entropy method to calculate the weights of each subgroup and the importance degree of customer groups with their basic demands.This method can effectively reduce the order number of fuzzy numerical matrix in the customer requirements information investigation and help the product designers to obtain the customer groups and their demand information more accurately.The application process is illustrated by cases study.


Normal-incidence vacuum ultraviolet reflectivity spectra in the range 41/2 to 14 eV have been measured from the basal faces of single crystals of the dichalcogenides of W and Mo (with the exception of WTe2). Correlations between the spectra are interpreted in terms of chemical effects in the band structures and models for the conduction bands of the Mo and W compounds are proposed, which account for the absence of strong plasma effects in the W compounds.


INTRODUCTION Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty (MoMHRA) is a surgical option in the treatment of end-stage hip disease. The measurement of systemic levels of metal ions gives an insight into the wear occurring and is advocated by regulatory bodies as routine practice in the assessment of resurfaced hips. However, the acceptable upper levels of Chromium (Cr) and Cobalt (Co) ions concentration with clinical significance still have to be established. The aim of this study is to address this issue in unilateral and bilateral resurfaced hips. METHODS 453 patients with unilateral MoMHRA and 139 patients with bilateral MoMHRA at >12 months postoperative were retrospectively identified from an independent hip specialist9s database. Routine metal ion levels were measured at last follow-up (ICPMS protocol). Radiological assessment included measurement of acetabular component orientation using EBRA, calculation of contact patch to rim (CPR) distance, and evaluation for any adverse X-ray findings. The cohort was divided into the well functioning group (Group A) and the non-well functioning group (Group B). A well functioning resurfacing gad to fulfil all of the following criteria (bilateral patients had to fulfil criteria for both hips): no patient reported hip complaints, no surgeon detected clinical findings, HHS> 95, CPR distance> 10mm, no abnormal radiological findings and no further operation scheduled. Upper levels (acceptable limits) of Cr/Co were considered to be represented by the top margin of the box-whisker plot [upper limit = 75 th quartile value + (1.5 x interquartile range)] in Group A. RESULTS 251 unilateral MoMHRAs patients (55%) and 58 patients with bilateral MoMHRAs (42%) comprised Group A. The majority of males were in Group A compared to the majority of females who belonged in Group B (p The upper levels (safe were: Cr: 4.6µg/l / Co: 4.0µg/l for unilateral MoMHRAs and Cr: 7.4µg/l / Co: 5.0µg/l for bilateral MoMHRAs. Unilateral MoMHRAs had significantly higher ion levels compared to bilateral patients (p DISCUSSION The findings of this study suggest that both unilaterally and bilaterally resurfaced patients with well functioning implants have low metal ion levels with upper levels of Cr: 4.6µg/l / Co: 4.0µg/l for unilateral MoMHRAs and Cr: 7.4µg/l / Co: 5.0µg/l for bilateral MoMHRAs These results indicate that the upper acceptable limit of metal ion levels in resurfaced hips is lower than the previously MHRA recommended threshold, however the study was conducted with very low tolerance for what was considered a clinically problematic hip. Well-functioning bilateral resurfacing have higher ion levels compared to well-functioning unilateral resurfacing.


Online learning has become one of the fastest moving trend and is an effective alternative to the traditional classroom learning. It aims to provide a configurable infrastructure which collaborates learning content, technology and delivery into a single solution to move society ahead by imparting education quickly, effectively, and economically. This study seeks to delve into this aspect and attempts to understand the students perspective of an effective online delivery of academic content to undergraduate and postgraduate students. This study is exploratory in nature. The objectives of the study are to understand the students experience both good and bad in online learning, the knowledge, skills abilities they expect from online instructors and the components and activities they expect in an online learning environment. The results of the study can be used for providing relevant training to the prospective and aspiring online teachers and thus contributing to excellence in online teaching in higher education.


The topic here under review goes back to the very beginnings of modern physics, to the realization by Planck, Einstein, and Bohr that dynamical variables, viz. energy, angular momentum, and the like, do not take continuous values; rather they are quantized. Of course now we know why this is so: energy, angular momentum, etc., are eigenvalues of linear, Hermitian operators whose spectrum possess a discrete component. Evidently this quantum effect is not to be seen in classical physics. However, during the last decade, physicists and mathematicians have recognized a second, entirely classical quantization-the quantization of soliton and instanton number-which arises when one is dealing with nonlinear differential equations satisfied by classical fields and one seeks regular solutions with finite energy. Generically the models involve a vector gauge field A; for solutions satisfying the regularity requirements A behaves asymptotically as A,~00N Ir, with integral N = INI, which determines the instanton or soliton number. This classical quantization makes no reference to quantum mechanics; it follows when the imposed regularity conditions are satisfied. (Admittedly the differential field equa-


Let J{ be a convex body in the three dimensional Euclidean space E3・Connect ing with it various quantiti己scan be defined. These quantities, in general, are functionals which dep巴ndupon the shape and size of th巴 convex bocly J{. At this time, i t is proposεd to examine thεfunctional properties of thesc quantities which clepencl upon the shape of the bocly J{. Now, if we clenote by {J{[So]} a class of all convex boclies with a giv巴nsurface area S 0 ( 0く Soく∞) in E 3 ancl by V(K[S 0 J) the volume of a member J{[So], the volum色 V(J{[So]) is a functional which clepencls upon the shape of the body J{[So] only. ln conn巴ction with this func tional property of the volume, all efforts to solve the isoperimetric 1うroblemwere to prov巴 thatthe sphere is the one having the gre旦testvolume. Theρurjうose0/ this ραρer is to examine the functionα1 1りro)うertyof the volume V(J{[So]) which aetends upon the shajうeof a member J{[So] of the class {J{[So]}. For the purpose, in号2wεclefine an isoρerimetric coefficient of旦 convexbody J{ in E3 ancl stucly the properties of it. In詰3,we shall prove that th巴 isoperime~ tric coefficient of the parallel sequence to a convex body is a monotone increasing function. In告4,we shall define a similituae-inaicatrix sequence to a parallel sequence of convex boclies. By the aid of the similitude-inclicatrix sεquence, vve shall study the functional relation b巴twεenthe isoperimetric coefficient and shape of a convex body, and prove that the superior li固mitingfigures 0/ the 1うarαllel sequences to any convex boaies are always the s)うhereana of all convex bodies in the three aimensional Eucliaean sρace E3, the sphere has the greatest iso)うerimetric coefficient. 11 the end, with the object of verifying the functional relation between the shape and volumεof a convex bocly, we shall gi ve an example of the iSOlうerimetricsequence, say {S~ (t): 0く fく∞}, which is clefined as follows: it is a sub-class of the class {J{[So]} and the corresponclence between a member sf (t) of th色 sequenceand the parameter t ( 0く tく∞) is one to one and continuous. Further it satisfies the following conclitions : ( i ) lf tlく t2,V( sf (九))く V(~(t2)) 圃


Abstract The suggestion to implement a negative monetary policy has divided economists and politicians. The effects of this experiment on the willingness of individuals and financial intermediaries to borrow and spend money and increase their risk are controversial. To provide insight into the debate, we provide experimental evidence revealing two important results. First, zero interest rates are more efficient than negative interest rates in terms of the impact on the willingness of individuals to borrow money and take risks. We suggest two behavioral explanations for this result. Second, we find no statistical difference between the effect that positive and negative interest rates have on the change in the allocation of risky assets in investment portfolios.


Vehicle apparatus, a steering to detect an image pickup unit for outputting an image pickup signal by imaging the surroundings of the vehicle, a video display unit for displaying on the display device an image based on the imaging signal, a steering angle of the vehicle based on the imaging signal It comprises a corner detector, based on the steering angle, the image representing the vehicle width of the vehicle and the steering angle, and an image display unit which displays superimposed on the video to the display device.


If there is any analogy to the gout story, our attention must surely be directed to the polymorphoniuclear leukocyte as a crucial intermediary in the evocation and perpetuation of the inflammatory attack. Polymorphs have not only been identified as the dominant cell in FMF effusions, but a tantalizing photograph has even shown inclusion bodies (phagocytosed what?) within them.3 The message for the investigator would seem clear: the material to be examined is probably not intravascular, but intraperitoneal, on occasion intrapleural, and rarely (in this country) intra-articular. But this is far easier said than done. It is an unusual FMF patient who is willing to discontinue taking colchicine, and a still rarer one willing to have peritoneal lavage done at the inception of his attack. (And how about the human experimentation committee?) But think of the potential yield to a hypothetical multidisciplinary group of investigators! There would be cells to examine by phase and electron microscopy for unusual ingestants, and supernatant to search for that elusive metabolite (the protagonist?) as well as the more fashionable mediators of inflammation such as products of complement activation, immune complexes and prostaglandins. Doubtless a lead would be gained, providing it was resolved to discount the inevitable viral particle or two that would peek out from an electron micrograph. By incubating harvested polymorphs, one might also learn whether the demonstration that they are unstable in certain unphysiological conditions is translatable to the in vivo, inflammatory milieu. A fanciful project? Perhaps. But to the extent that our understanding of the mechanism of gouty arthritis has emerged from a close look at what is occurring in joint fluid, so might one wish for some application of Sutton's law to the investigation of FMF.


AbstractIn device-to-device (D2D) communications, call admission control (CAC) scheme is a crucial problem. In D2D communications, the cellular user equipment (CUE) and D2D user equipment (DUE) pairs share the same channel resource. Hence additional interference is introduced. Meanwhile, the interference has an important impact on the system performance. In this paper, a CAC scheme based on interference analysis is proposed. First, the interference is modeled and analyzed in detail. Then based on the interference analysis, a CAC scheme is proposed. Simulation results show that D2D communications with the proposed CAC scheme can effectively improve system performance in terms of new call blocking probability and capacity. This proposed scheme can be applied to the design and optimization of D2D communications.


Objective To compare the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with primary intravitreal bevacizumab (ⅣB) and secondary ⅣB following multiple sessions of PDT in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods Consecutive retrospective comparative case series were conducted in neovascular AMD patients treated at the Lions Eye Institute,Western Australia,from October 1999 to September 2007.All patients were monitored monthly and retreated on an"as needed"basis.Ophthalmic evaluation included best corrected Snellen visual acuity (VA),complete ophthalmic examination,fluorescein angiography,or optical coherence tomography.The main outcome measures were changes in Snellen VA with arbitrary definition of treatment efficacy and angiographic lesion characteristics.Results Six hundred and seventy-two patients received treatment;503 patients with at least 3 months (3-94.1 months,mean 23.5 months,median 13.8 months) follow up were included in the analysis.25.6% patients (60 out of 234 patients) benefited from PDT treatment,while 39.2% (31 out of 79 patients ) benefited from secondary ⅣB after PDT and 66.8% (127out of 190 patients) benefited from primary ⅣB.Adjusted odds ratio (OR) of treatment benefit for primary ⅣB and secondary ⅣB following PDT versus PDT alone were 5.17 (95%CI=3.10.8-59) and 1.71 (95%CI=0.93-3.13) respectively;P<0.001.Pre-treatment VA and subretinal scar tissue were negatively associated with treatment efficacy.No association was found between lesion composition,lesion size and treatment efficacy.Conclusions Primary ⅣB injection is more efficient than secondary injection after multiple sessions of PDT or PDT alone in treating neovascular AMD.

Key words:
Age-related macular degeneration; Photodynamic therapy; Bevacizumab


A half-cent sales tax initiative in Santa Clara County, California, has become a model program in the finance of county highway improvements. Creative funding, fast-track planning, and public-private partnerships drive the Measure A Highway Improvement Program. The Santa Clara County Traffic Authority (SCCTA) devised the program in response to commuter gridlock created by burgeoning new centers of commerce in their growing county. The sales tax--known as the Santa Clara County Commuter Relief Act--was one of several funding mechanisms, including monies from California's State/Local Partnership Project and two Federal Demonstration Program grants. Land donation also played an important role. The article explains that construction costs were kept low because of California's slow construction market and fierce competition for work among firms. Changes on Routes 101, 85, and 237 are described extensively--the upgrading to freeway status of 61 km (38 mi) and the new construction of 29 km (18 mi). When Measure A expires in March 1995, a similar measure has been voted to take its place for a 20-year period. The new measure is being challenged and the California Supreme Court plans to hear the case.


Abstract Results are presented for a synoptic-dynamic investigation of certain polar anticyclones originating in northwestern Canada.. A composite, consisting of three similar high pressure systems, is constructed. This cold anticyclone weakens while it moves southeastward towards the Gulf of Mexico. Along the Gulf Coast it curves northeastward and reintensifies as it becomes a warm, dynamic anticyclone. During a second composite case the high moves rapidly southeastward before dissipating quickly over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. No further intensification or recurvature occurs. In both instances, cold air penetrates deeply into the southern latitudes. An upper tropospheric ridge over northwestern Canada and Alaska appears important in strengthening the polar anticyclone. The center of the high moves southward if uninterrupted northwesterly flow is established aloft. The cold air preceding the high pushes towards the Gulf of Mexico as the trough downstream of the Canadian ridge deepens. The eve...


Dr. Ruan and colleagues provide an excellent summary of available treatment options, as well as new drugs on the horizon, for the management of relapsed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). As the authors emphasize, treatment of relapsed MCL is strongly influenced by the patient's first-line therapy and needs to be individualized based on both patient and disease characteristics.


Social responsibility of Higher Education Research refers to that in a strong sense of social care and educational care, researchers do independent thinking to "meet human needs and development and talent", and focus on "what a good society is, and what good education is, what kind of education can contribute to a better society". The current study of the social responsibility of higher education means that researchers need, not only from external factors, but also from their own factors to objectively and rationally contemplate to reflect the problems of Higher Education. Although the study of higher education has obtained certain achievements, there are still weak fundamental research theoretical issues, methodological system, and academic problems, such as lack of autonomy, which severely restricted and hindered the sustainable development of higher education and full play of its social responsibility. Therefore, China needs to re-examine the study of higher education and its current mission of "Science" and "internationalization", knowledge production and knowledge creation. Based on the inherent philosophy and their own logic, and conduct earnestly study of the practice of contemporary Chinese higher education, build ideological and theoretical system of diverse higher education with Chinese characteristics, making its own unique contribution to the study.


The task of dynamic hand gesture recognition includes several challenges arising due to variations in hand appearances, scale of the hand and the spatio-temporal variability of the gestures. To overcome these difficulties, in this work, we present a robust approach to detect and track a hand, and to recognize the hand trajectory based on DBNs (Deep Belief Networks) in conjunction with the SVM+HOG (Support Vector Machines + Histograms of Oriented Gradients) framework and the Mean Shift approach. Our method relies on merging the advantages of accurate feature-based hand detection, fast local searching-based hand tracking, and smart deep learning-based hand trajectory recognition. Our approach entails three different phases, i.e. hand detection, hand tracking and hand trajectory recognition. The first two phases work in collaboration, with the SVM+HOG framework utilized for hand detection and the Mean Shift algorithm used for tracking the hand. For the third phase, we design a method based on DBNs. Through ample experiments, we prove that our proposed hand tracker outperforms several other state-of-the-art trackers and our hand gesture recognition approach shows excellent results on numerous challenging video sequences.


Parastomal hernia is a known complication of stoma surgery that not only leaves the surgeon with surgical management difficulties, but also the nurse specialist in stoma care with practical appliance considerations, and the patient with the psychological distress of having a bulge or swelling visible from beneath their clothing. This article aims to discuss the plight of the ostomist with a parastomal hernia by exploring the reasons for herniation, the signs and symptoms related to hernias, the surgical management and the dilemmas that may ensue, as well as the ostomy appliance management that might be offered.


If language changes to accommodate new experience, it is not difficult to deduce the type of experience which underlies the term "intellectual property." Fifteen years ago, there were few parts of the academic world where that term, if indeed it was known at all, would have been viewed as anything other than alien and unwelcome. Today, the idea that the products of the mind constitute a kind of property-and valuable property at thatis part of common campus discourse, and questions about that particular kind of property have become vexing and controversial issues of academic policy. For U.S. universities, the emergence of intellectual property as an important source of real economic value raises questions of two kinds. The first, and most important, is how to prevent the effort to capture that value from undermining the central commitment of universities to the freest sharing of the fruits of knowledge acquisition. The second is how best to share the value that is created by research among those who are entitled to a portion of it: namely, the faculty, who are the creators of knowledge; universities, which are hosts to its creation; and government and industry, which are its principal sponsors. This article addresses those two issues-or, more accurately, clusters of issues. The first of them, the protection of open scientific communication, is by no means new to universities, although contemporary experience has produced some novel manifestations. The second, how to distribute the economic value created by knowledge, is new, at least in its scope and in the size of the economic stakes at issue. American universities are among the most permeable of social institutions. We have made them into instruments to fulfill purposes as diverse as training for the agricultural and industrial revolutions, curing cancer, giving life to a national commitment to equal opportunity without regard to race or ethnic origin, and, most recently, helping to repair the competitive disadvantage that America suffers in comparison to some of its main trading partners. On the whole, universities have flourished as they have responded to such high expectations. The willingness to respond has both produced intellectual stimulation and called forth resources that might otherwise not have been available. At times, too, the response to society's wishes has led to an unhealthy stretching of the fabric of the university, to assuming responsibilities that are not properly academic, and to adopting practices that are inconsistent with academic norms. The recent rebirth of mutual interest between universities and industry calls this history to mind. For reasons that will be discussed shortly, we may expect universities to respond to-indeed, even to encourage-that interest, and we may expect industry to respond. We may also expect problems in the relationship, and if history is a guide, some of those problems will test the ability of universities to respond to social need without relinquishing those values that define them as institutions. Chief among those values is that of openness. Although the value is an abstraction, the practices Robert M. Rosenzweig is President of the Association of American Universities, 1 Dupont Circle, N. W., Washington, DC 20036. * This essay was produced with the support of funds from the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities under NSF Grant RII-8309874.


The relevance of the research problem is connected with the growing interest in the historical experience of national military construction, the performance of military duties by the citizens of the Russian Federation, as well as in the issues of development of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation that have clearly emerged recently. Using the developments of domestic and foreign historiography, based on the analysis of archival and literary sources, ego-documents and materials of periodicals, some of which are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, using the principle of historicism, comparative historical, problem and chronological, biographical, descriptive methods, the process of national military construction and the introduction of military duty in Dagestan have studied within the designated chronological framework. Taking into account the peculiarities associated with the adherence of the population of Dagestan to local traditions and norms of Islam, the multinational composition of the region, the level of its social and economic, political and socio-cultural development, the historical aspect of the problem have been considered in the pre-revolutionary period, during the revolutionary events of 1917, the Civil War and intervention; the Soviet national military construction in 1920-1928 up to the first mandatory conscription of representatives of the peoples of Dagestan for active military service in the ranks of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army have been estimated. The main prospects for the further scientific development of the problem have been outlined, the results of which can be used in writing works on the history of the North Caucasus and Dagestan, preparing special courses for the humanitarian faculties of higher educational institutions, and in the practical work of state institutions and organizations.


Abstract This paper serves as a reminder to those working clinically in the field of trauma, of the necessity for therapists to adequately include issues of safety within the therapeutic process. Addressing these issues is an integral part of the therapy and not simply a practical prerequisite or a parallel process. Validation of this thesis is drawn from trauma literature and an account of safety issues relating to the therapeutic setting and processes is given. Case examples illustrate the type of issues that might usefully be addressed within the therapeutic context to increase individual and family safety for clients as they continue to live within their local communities. This paper draws on recent work undertaken at the Family Trauma Centre. Based in South Belfast, this Centre is in its second year of operation. It has a primary remit to provide clinical treatment for children and their families suffering from the traumatic effects of 'the Troubles' in Northern Ireland. The community context for this work has been one of continuous low-grade conflict in the midst of a 'Peace' process.


Here it seems obvious that, in spite of one difference in spelling, the phrase acvr-al Kal &y'YoVOlS means the same as in the other document and that thus also the second document records the grant of citizenship to a wife and her children. The name of the husband is given, her own omitted, and she is called yepeat instead of YvvatKl In favor of this interpretation is the likelihood that two documents from the same year, inscribed on the same stone, and involving individuals from the same community, involve similar grants of citizenship. Daux, on the other hand, takes dItvroivs to be the genitive of 'lVTrc', the name of a woman. B. Einarson, of the University of Chicago, states in a letter that in literary Greek this would certainly be the case. This judgment by an expert Hellenist, when added to that of Daux, leaves only a small chance for my interpretation. If it were entirely certain that the name is that of a woman, my interpretation would have to be abandoned; but it seems that so little is known about the Epirote dialect or language that it is possible that the name is that of a man after all. But also Daux's interpretation involves difficulties. According to it, the grant was made to Phinto's children and their descendants, "aux enfants ... de Phint6, de la commune d'Arr6nos; il leur est accorde, ainsi qu'a leurs enfants (acdat KQl EKyOVOLS)." It is strange that 7yyovot (eK'YOVOL), used in the first document to designate the children, should now be applied to the descendants of the next generation. Moreover, as already stated, it is unlikely that a grant of citizenship would include descendants more remote than the children of the mother, for more remote descendants might in turn be the offspring of mixed marriages. Nor was there any need for such a grant. When the parents once had become citizens, their children would have the same rights as those of any other citizens. In the second place, the use of ara-t for emphasis in the grant to a woman is natural; when applied to a group of descendants, its use becomes very strange. Other inscriptions will have to be noted only briefly. If my interpretation of the second document in SEG, XV, 384 is correct, it is clear that SGDI, 1334 records the grant of citizenship to a man, his wife, and her offspring. Of the other inscriptions mentioned in my earlier statement, SGDI, 1359 is important. This was interpreted as recording the manumission of a woman, "herself and the offspring of the woman." This was interpreted by Daux to mean the manumission of the woman and her grandchild or grandchildren, but not the intervening generation. Such a meaning would be strange but not entirely impossible. With this the case will have to rest, and readers will have to make up their minds. To me the interpretation of Daux and the Roberts seems an example of the danger of determining the meaning of a word exclusively from etymology and what may be called the lexicon rendition, instead of studying sufficiently the context in which the word is used. Probably a majority will side against me. Yet, even then, the important fact remains that there was a grant of citizenship to at least one woman in the first half of the fourth century. This is enough to prove that such grants could be made. J. A. 0. LARSEN


A linear analysis and comparison of the damping properties of six dynamic initialization schemes is presented, indicating that the Okamura-Rivas scheme has the most efficient damping properties over the whole frequency range, and suggesting that it should be faster than the other methods and given more stable results. The results obtained with a nonlinear shallow water equations model agree well with the linear analysis. The Okamura-Rivas scheme attains complete balance in the equivalent of 5 to 6 hours of leapfrog forecasting, and requires in this model an order of magnitude less computation than the balance equation solution.


A 31-year-old gravida 6, para 4, attended as a gynaecology emergency, complaining of sudden onset of severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. She had a positive pregnancy test 2 weeks previously, but was unsure of her last menstrual period (LMP) dates. Her obstetric history was: two full-term normal deliveries, a caesarean section, another normal delivery and a spontaneous complete miscarriage. She had the caesarean section at term for a breech presentation and the uterus was closed in two layers. On abdominal examination, a 22–24 weeks' sized uterus was noted, which was tender at the fundus. There was no scar tenderness. A scan showed a twin pregnancy of 22 weeks. The first twin had a fetal heart rate of 60 but the second twin had no fetal heartbeat. The placenta had a moderate size clot anterior to it. On vaginal examination, the cervix was found to be 1 cm dilated with a moderate amount of vaginal bleeding with blood clots. As the woman was becoming haemodynamically unstable, a laparotomy was undertaken. At laparotomy, 500 ml of old blood clots was found in the peritoneal cavity. The uterus had ruptured along the previous lower segment caesarean scar. An intact sac containing the first twin (smaller) was found in the peritoneal cavity. The second twin, which was the larger one, was still inside the uterine cavity and was delivered. Neither fetus showed any signs of life. The placenta was found to be completely separated from the uterine wall and was delivered along with 300 ml of clots. The uterus was repaired in two layers. She had an uneventful postoperative recovery. On inspection of the fetuses, it was found that both were females with a significant difference in sizes. The first twin was 240 g and the second twin 480 g. Unfortunately, post-mortem was declined. Histology of the placenta showed dichorionic diamniotic twin. The placenta of the first twin had a marginal insertion of cord and that of the second twin had a single artery. Retroperitoneal haemorrhage was confirmed with an associated focus of decidual necrosis in the larger placenta. The smaller placenta showed extensive intervillous haemorrhage. Villous maturity was compatible with the gestational age in both halves of the placenta.


The aim of this study is to adapt the Early Childhood Reading Motivation Scale to Turkish. A general survey model was used as the research method. The study group of the research consists of 571 primary school students aged 6-7 years. The Early Childhood Reading Motivation Scale to be adapted into Turkish was used as the data collection tool, while the Reading Skills Assessment Scale was used in the external criterion validity analysis. The SPSS 22.0 and LISREL 8.5 statistical software programs were used for data analysis. Following the validity and reliability analyses, it was concluded that the Early Childhood Reading Motivation Scale is a valid and reliable scale for measuring reading motivation in primary school students aged 6-7. When the literature was examined, it was seen that no scale aimed at measuring early childhood reading motivation had been developed or adapted to Turkish. In this sense, it is thought that this study will have an important place in the literature.


During the past five years, virtual schools in the United States have gained popularity and acceptance as viable alternatives to the traditional school system through provisions for charter schools under Title V, Part B, Subpart 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. This paper describes the existing federal policies that are driving the online virtual school movement, and how one state, Nevada, has set forth and interpreted specific policies regarding online distance education. In addition, this paper identifies the beliefs acting as the driving forces behind such policies in the United States and discusses implications for other countries also seeking to set forth guidelines for K-12 online distance education programs. K-12 Virtual Schooling in the United States While modes and methods of teaching remained much the same during the 20th century, the development of recent technology has vastly changed the way we communicate, learn, and engage with one another. As a result, the 21 century educational landscape has also been altered. One of these changes has been the addition of distance education, specifically the proliferation of virtual schools in K-12 settings. These programs allow students to complete entire grades via the Web. In the case of virtual high schools, students are able to earn their diplomas via online distance education programs. Clark (2001) defines a virtual school as "an educational organization that offers K-12 courses through Internet or Web-based methods" (p.1). To incorporate this mode of education, various formats have emerged from a variety of sources including state, local, private, and non-profit. The extent to which the content is available online also differs. While certain virtual schools have been created to include curriculum that is entirely online, others have incorporated specific distance education courses that are offered in addition to their traditional classes held in "brick and mortar" buildings (Roblyer & Marshall, 2002-2003). In all of their various inceptions, virtual schools can be viewed as part of the online distance education movement in which the Internet is used to provide education to students. Many terms have emerged to describe different types of online distance education within virtual schooling, including "e-learning," "hybrid courses," "asynchronous learning," and "web-based learning," adding to the confusion of researching this particular field. Finally, however, in a recent report regarding online distance education, Allen and Seaman (2006) developed specific definitions, including the following: Online—Course where most or all of the content is delivered online. At least 80% of seat time being replaced by online activity; Blended/Hybrid—Course that blends online and face-toface delivery in which 30% to 79% of the content is delivered online; and Web-Facilitated—Course that uses webbased technology (1-29% of the content is delivered online) to facilitate a face-to-face course. In understanding the scope of virtual schools, it is helpful to gain an overall picture of the current status of online K-12 education in the United States. In a national survey of 2,305 public school districts in the 50 states and District of Columbia, Setzer & Lewis (2005) found that during the 2002-2003 school year, approximately one-third of public school districts (36%) had students enrolled in distance education courses. In fact, the most recent national data show that of a survey of 366 school districts, 57.9 % had at least one student who took an online course during the 2005-2006 school year, with an additional 24.5 % planning to add online courses to their offerings in the next three years (Picciano & Seaman, 2007). Examining existing data (Setzer & Lewis, 2005; Smith, Clark & Blomeyer, 2005) and extrapolating these figures, an estimated 600,000 to 700,000 K-12 public school students were engaged in online learning in 2005-2006, even without counting private school enrollment or the large home-school population. These figures are expected to increase as more school districts explore the potential advantages of offering online classes (Setzer & Lewis, 2005). United States Federal Policy and Virtual Schooling Two major policies have encouraged the proliferation of virtual schooling throughout the United States. These include the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001) and the National Educational Technology Plan (NETP), a specific plan required to be implemented by NCLB. NCLB sets into place many elements of educational reform, including school accountability measures such as high stakes testing, school choice options for children whose schools are failing, and guidelines for increasing teacher quality. Each of these fundamental elements has the specific goal of improving student achievement. Virtual schools have gained popularity and acceptance as viable alternatives to the traditional school system through NCLB's provisions for charter schools and school choice options. Title V, Part B, Subpart 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by NCLB, discusses the purpose of the Charter School Program (CSP). The function of the CSP is to increase the number of high-quality charter schools available to students through federal funding for charter school program design, initial implementation, planning, and evaluation (Charter School Program, 2004). NCLB amended the CSP in two key ways that have impacted the increased number of virtual schools created since NCLB was adopted. 1) NCLB amended the definition of "eligible applicant" under the CSP to eliminate the requirement that a charter school developer enter into a partnership with an authorized public chartering agency in order to qualify for federal funding. This effectively opened the door for outside organizations to form and apply for charter school status. 2) NCLB also amended the CSP by adding a specific provision prohibiting local educational agencies from deducting funds for administrative fees or expenses from a subgrant awarded to an eligible applicant. Through these changes to the CSP, NCLB was responsible for relaxing the qualifications for charter school funding. This has had a direct impact on the increasing number of organizations receiving charter status, including those who have decided to implement the use of online distance education to provide classroom instruction. Because one of the goals of NCLB was to encourage school choice and provide alternative options to the failing traditional system, allowing organizations to create schools which are significantly different from existing schools fits well within its overall agenda. As long as these virtual schools are able to demonstrate adequate yearly progress (AYP) as measured by students' standardized test scores, they will continue to be funded. Because funding follows the student from their zoned school to the virtual charter school, this has also led to the increasing popularity of such charters, due to the fact that parents are provided with an alternative schooling option without having to incur any cost. Another reason virtual schools have been catapulted to the forefront of the discussion regarding school choice and the charter school movement is the fact that technology has made this option a realistic choice for anyone with a computer and an Internet connection, regardless of physical location. The ability of technology to easily deliver content at multiple levels has provided an additional incentive. A majority of these virtual schools are providing K-12 content in which students can work at their own level, as opposed to being labeled by a particular grade (Clark, 2001). National Educational Technology Plan (NETP) In addition to the school choice movement, which has indirectly impacted the proliferation of virtual schools, the formation of a National Educational Technology Plan has also had a direct impact. Under Section 2422, the NCLB Act required that the Secretary of Education submit and publish a national long-range technology plan, no later than 12 months after the adoption of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The purpose in doing so was to examine, "the continuing and future needs of the Nation's schools in effectively using technology to provide all students the opportunity to meet challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards" (NCLB, 2001). According to NCLB regulation, the plan needed to address specific areas including how the Secretary would promote higher student academic achievement through the integration of advanced technology into curricula and instruction. It also required that the digital divide be addressed, along with ways in which schools with low socioeconomic students would be provided access to technology for teaching and learning. Additionally, NETP needed to address the use of technology to assist in the implementation of state systemic reform strategies and to discuss strategies for federal agencies, including those of the Department of Education and other federal departments for promoting the use of technology in education. In January 2005, Education Secretary Rod Paige submitted the latest version of the NTEP, the first plan under NCLB. Published by the United States Department of Education and titled, Toward a New Golden Age in American Education: How the Internet, the Law and Today's Students are Revolutionizing Expectations, the plan outlines seven major objectives related to integrating technology into the current education system to improve student achievement and help to make America's students more competitive in the world market. As the report states: Clearly, we must innovate for our country to succeed in this time of rapidly increasing global competition. This innovation is occurring. We see dramatic changes taking place in the educational landscape – a new excitement


The transformation of the Masamune aldehyde (I) to the target compound (Va), a precursor of the title segment, is achieved via two chain-extension steps using the chiral boronate (II) as reagent.


A pain is a human phenomenon when sensory receptors are stimulated by the injury. It can be caused from accident or intention. Everybody have this kind of sensation because the pain is a natural warning for react in order to protect a whole body. However, the reaction from the pain sometimes have to be avoid because the overreaction causes some damages to near-by tissue. An acute thermal pain is one of the most severe pain for patient which has also difficulty treatment for therapist. Consequently, the system that can be indicate pain level need to be achieve. This study purposed a use of intelligent system which is fuzzy logic algorithm and kernel support vector machine (SVM) in order to estimate pain level and classifies a state of pain. Accordingly, the results of pain estimation via fuzzy logic can be roughly indicate the pain state of EEG. The polynomial kernel support vector machine classifier for pain classification has high accuracy.


Explicit expressions for the heat and momentum transport are given for a gas in a stationary state with temperature and velocity gradients. The results are obtained from a formally exact analysis of the normal solution to the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model for the nonlinear Boltzmann equation, and are not restricted to small gradients. The irreversible momentum and heat fluxes are found to be nonanalytic functions of the velocity gradients, indicating that the Chapman-Enskog expansion does not converge for this state. However, these fluxes are analytic in the temperature gradients; in particular, the heat flux is simply proportional to the temperature gradient so that Fourier's law applies even for large gradients. The space dependence of the thermodynamic and velocity fields is determined as a function of the interaction potential, and the results for Maxwell molecules and hard spheres are compared.


AAV acknowledges support from a Royal Astronomical Society Fellowship. JM acknowledges support from a fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation.


The hydraulic gradient comparison method is an inverse method for estimation of aquifer hydraulic conductivity (or trans‐missivity) and boundary conductance for a ground water flow model under steady‐state conditions. This method, following formal optimization techniques, defines its objective function to minimize differences between interpreted (observed) and simulated hydraulic gradients, which results in minimization of differences between observed and simulated hydraulic heads. The key features of this method are that (1) the derived optimality conditions have an explicit form with a clear hydrology concept that is con‐sistent with Darcy's law, and (2) the derived optimality conditions are spatially independent as they are a function of only local hydraulic conductivity and local hydraulic gradient. This second feature allows a multidimensional optimization problem to be solved by many one‐dimensional optimization procedures simultaneously, which results in a substantial reduction in computation time. The results of the numerical performance testing on a heterogeneous hypothetical case confirm that minimizing gradient residuals in the entire model domain leads to minimizing head residuals. Application of the method in real‐world projects requires rigorous conceptual model development, use of a global calibration target, and an iterative calibration proess. The conceptual model development includes interpretation of a potentiometric surface and estimation of other hydrologic parameters. This method has been applied to a wide range of real‐world modeling projects, including the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and Rocky Flats sites in Colorado, which demonstrates that the method is efficient and practical.


Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was subjected to 3 keV electron bombardment and then heated in vacuum to 300 °C. The behavior of the material as a function of radiation dose and temperature was studied by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the surface and mass spectroscopy of the species evolved. A quantitative comparison of the radiation dose rate with that in other reported studies showed that, for a given total dose, the damage observed by XPS is greater for higher dose rates. Lightly damaged material heated to 300 °C evolved saturated fluorocarbon species, whereas unsaturated fluorocarbon species evolved from heavily damaged material. After heating the heavily damaged material, those features in the XPS that were associated with damage diminished, giving the appearance that the radiation damage annealed. The observations were interpreted by incorporating mass transport of severed chain fragments and thermal decomposition of severely damaged material into the branched and cross‐linked network mod...


This study conducts optimum tilt angle and orientation of a standalone c-Si monocrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) system deploying PVsyst software. The site of the hypothesized solar PV system is at 9, Mountain Rise, Berea, Durban, South Africa. This work presents values of tilt and azimuth angles and battery operating temperature that support optimal solar PV system performance. The range of angles considered for tilt and azimuth for a fixed PV panel mounting is 0° to 90° and -100° to 100°, respectively. Based on the report obtained from PVsyst design and simulation software, this study finds that: the highest available energy, specific energy, used energy, solar fraction, and lowest loss were recorded at tilt 40° and Azimuth 0°. Further, the longest battery service life was attained at an operating temperature between -2 °C to 20 °C. Hence, 40° and 0° are the optimum tilt and Azimuth angles, respectively while running the storage system at a temperature, not more than 20 °C..


ABSTRACT Objective: This article presents resources helpful to the elderly and their caregivers, covering healthy aging, physical conditions and mental health, end-of-life care, grief, housing options, and legal issues. Method: A query was sent to the MEDLIB-L e-mail discussion list to find out what information on aging would be useful to the subscribers' patrons. After private responses were received, resources recommended by MEDLIB-L subscribers were reviewed. Then a search of consumer literature and websites was undertaken to fill in gaps in information needed. Results: Resources that accommodate physical disabilities are mentioned, as are resources that provide information in more than one language. A recommended reading list is appended. Conclusion: This compilation responds to the needs stated by MEDLIB-L subscribers. It is not a comprehensive review; no Medicare and Medicaid information is included and only a few housing care options are discussed. There is no information about sleep disorders, or legal issues other than elder abuse. Lastly, resources outside the United States were not mentioned.


SUMMARY Foam researchers generate large, complex, time-dependent data sets with hundreds or thousands of individual bubbles and thousands of time steps. However, no foam specific visual-ization software exists. We briefly describe foam research and its challenges and we present FoamVis, a software application that provides visualization, exploration and analysis techniques for foam research.


Because of its commitment to conceive of society processually, and because process is predicated on the passage of time, the perspective we have come to call symbolic interactionism has from the beginning paid more than ordinary attention to the topic of time-how we attend to it subjectively (Le., its "feel" and "heft"); the meanings we attach to it; how different institutional and interactional contexts lead us to contract or expand it; how despite its "objective," measurable and unceasing flow we nevertheless somehow manage in sentiment to sharply bound durations one from the other; and, finally, the varying ways different cultures socialize us to anticipate time, experience it and later to reconstruct it. The progenitors of what would later be called symbolic interactionism made important forays into the topic, most notably William James in Psychology (1892). There, for example, he explains why slow moving, uneventful passages of time are later recalled to be of short duration while quickly-paced, eventful passages seem in retrospect to be of long duration. Some years later Mead, too, in the Philosophy of the Present (1932) expands our understanding of how that which is problematic about the present affects our interpretations of the past and our expectations of the future. Still later, several sociologists of a symbolic interactionist orientation


The objective of the invention lies in providing a radiation detection alarm based on STC85C92, and the alarm comprises a storage battery, a charging module, a power module, an 89C52 single-chip microcomputer main control module, a storage unit, a communication module, a display module, a sensor collection module, an alarm module, a clock circuit module and a radiation detection drive module. The alarm is characterized in that the charging module is connected with the storage battery and the power module; the power module is connected with the 89C52 single-chip microcomputer main control module; the 89C52 single-chip microcomputer main control module is connected with the storage unit, the communication module, the display module, the sensor collection module, the alarm module, the clock circuit module, the radiation detection drive module and a control button. The beneficial effects of the invention are that the alarm is simple in structure, is convenient to use, and can effectively monitor the leakage of radiative materials.


This paper proposes a novel method to generate an accurate and adaptive path for indoor mobile robots by using the global and local camera views. The three dimensional indoor map is necessary for the robots to navigate in the narrow rooms. Since the previous researches usually used the only camera or the sensors inside the robot, it was not easy to get a global map of the room for navigating. In the proposed system, the cameras with a fish-eye lens, attached along a line of the ceiling or at high-level positions on wall, provide the global views which can show the positions of both the moving robot and the fixed stuffs in the room. Also, the camera installed on the robot can provide the real-time local views, notifying the appearance of unexpected objects on its way and identifying the fixed stuffs like furniture in the room. Combing the global and local views can increase the probability of recognizing the objects around the robotic environment, and can provide more detail information of the three dimensional map for navigating.


Mark Landau, D.D.S. Carol Stream, IL: Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc., 2004. 34 pp. Illus., indexed. $198 hardcover ISBN 0-86715-428-4

The purpose of this book is to explain potential treatment options to the patient. The atlas is well illustrated with before and after treatment patient photos


Resumen en: In 1994 the Educative Reform Law was established. It includes interculturality and bilinguism as principals aspects to revindicate the importance of the ...


Alcohol consumption is high among farm labourers in the Western and Northern Cape of South Africa. Excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy is common, resulting in a high prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) among children. FAS causes intellectual and behavioural problems, which create considerable obstacles to a child's education. The aim of this study is to provide a prevalence estimate of FAS in a rural school and to examine the effects of FAS on learners' educational outcomes. The study was conducted at a farm school near Clanwilliam in the Western Cape of South Africa. The sample comprises 166 learners from Grades 1 to 4. Educational outcomes include class scores (Afrikaans home language and mathematics), reading ability, and classroom behaviour. A physician diagnosed FAS using a three-stage process. We find FAS prevalence of 127 per 1000 (12.7%). Children with FAS score significantly lower (at the 10% level) for home language and behaviour than children who do not have FAS. Large-scale interventions in rural areas of the Western and Northern Cape that specifically target females of child-bearing age, as well as children with FAS, are necessary.


We investigate the extent to which hedge fund managers smooth self-reported returns. In contrast to prior research on the "anomalous" properties of hedge fund returns, we observe the mechanisms used to price the fund's investment positions and report the fund's performance to investors, thereby allowing us to differentiate between asset illiquidity and misreporting-based explanations. We find that funds using less verifiable pricing sources and funds that provide managers with greater discretion in pricing investment positions are more likely to have returns consistent with intentional smoothing. Traditional controls, however, such as removing the manager from the setting and reporting of the fund's net asset value and the use of reputable auditors and administrators, are not associated with lower levels of smoothing. With respect to asset illiquidity versus misreporting, investment style and portfolio characteristics explain 14.0--24.3% of the variation in our smoothing measures, and pricing controls explain an additional 4.1--8.8%, suggesting that asset illiquidity is the major factor driving the anomalous properties of self-reported hedge fund returns. The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: email@example.com., Oxford University Press.


Nuclear structure determinations using (/sup 6/Li,d) and (d,/sup 6/Li) reactions are discussed in terms of DWBA and shell model calculations. (AIP)


We establish a Harder–Narasimhan formalism for modifications of $G$-bundles on the Fargues–Fontaine curve. The semi-stable stratum of the associated stratification of the ${B^+_{{\rm dR}}}$-Grassmannian coincides with the variant of the weakly admissible locus defined by Viehmann, and its classical points agree with those of the basic Newton stratum. When restricted to minuscule affine Schubert cells, the stratification corresponds to the Harder–Narasimhan stratification of Dat, Orlik and Rapoport. We also study basic geometric properties of the strata, and the relation to the Hodge–Newton decomposition.


One of the trends of regional policy in the European countries is the increasing role of cities as objects of that policy. As the analysis of literature shows, this is due to the increasing problems of the cities, and the growth of their importance for the economic development of countries (due to the presence of the creative class, the best conditions for clustering etc.). The increasing role of cities in regional policy is also a reflection of the ongoing decentralization of decision-making. The analysis of the regulatory framework and statistical data shows that in Russia there are similar processes, in particular, the development of large urban agglomerations. Significant federal support for socioeconomic development of Moscow already exists. However, these processes in Russia are associated with a number of problems: lack of concrete steps in the implementation of policies of urban development, the deepening of the territorial disparities as a result of decentralization, and non-transparency of federal policy toward Moscow.


This research aim to develop peripheral of study orient 4-D model and know result of implementation module Physics of SMP in the Subject of motion by applying direct instruction and cooperative learning, student activity, plan instruction, student response, result learn student. The subjects in this study are class VII students of SMP Laboratorium Unesa with Pre-Test Post-Test Group Design and data analysis descriptively is quantitative. Result of research indicate that highest student activity frequency is component discuss duty at meeting 1 27,2%, meeting 2 22,9%, meeting 3, highest frequency is to conduct perception, attempt, or work equal to 26,2%. Mean ability of teacher in executing study tend to categorize goodness, and student response assessed goodness and also result of learning is complete. Research node, Physics module implementation of Junior High School in the Subject of motion by applying direct instruction and cooperative learning can be categorized goodness and can be complete of result learn.


The existence and uniqueness are established for fourth order nonlinear differential equations by utilizing the Green's functions,theorem of immovable point Schauder's and the method of upper and lower solutions.


The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition propolis of west provinces of Iran. Propolis samples in different area from were collected and underwent the extract procedure was obtained. Propolis samples were investigated by GC/MS. The results showed that 70 compounds of propolis were identified chemical compositions were abundant in total Aliphatic, Aromatic (Benzofuran and etc), phenol and total flavonoid, and most WEP had strong antioxidant activity. Chemical compositions of Ilam and kermanshah Provincec were similar, but Iran propolis were different from those another country because The compounds identified indicated that the main plant sources of propolis that depends on its botanical and thus also on its geographical origin.


During construction of the non-excavation formula railroad crossing the lower structure, with a tube leading to the press device with a subsidence prevention plate has upper and lower horizontal and opposite sides are semicircular arcuate " Capable of preventing ground subsidence during propulsion of the "double-sided semicircular arcuate shape of the steel pipe, a method is provided on both sides semicircular construction of the arched steel pipe loop and a tube leading to the lower transverse rail structure using a press device. Construction method of the lower transverse rail structures, a) the step of installing the pushing base and the base is reached by an exemplary primary teopa the rail on both sides; b) the step of installing the pushing frame for pushing the base and placing a double-sided semicircular arcuate steel pipe leading pipe and a pipe for leading H-beam for the press-in device provided with a lead tube; c) a step of pushing the double-sided semicircle for leading the leading pipe and an H-beam steel pipe for arched tube press-promoting duplex semicircular arcuate steel pipe and an H-beam for the upper structure; d) the steps of an exemplary secondary teopa for driving the vertical wall, and installing the propulsion work surface; e) the step of press-promoting duplex semicircular arcuate steel pipe and an H-beam for the vertical walls; And f) a double-sided semicircular arcuate installing the rebar on the inner steel tube and the reinforcement and the reinforcement, comprising the step of pouring concrete, both sides semicircular arcuate steel pipe has upper and lower horizontal and opposite sides are semicircular arcuate " 'Shape and, c) press-fitting apparatus of the leading pipe stage is characterized in that inserted in the pipe leading to both sides for the class arcuate steel pipe.


There are two stable odd isotopes of mercury with singly ionized hyperfine structure suitable for a microwave atomic clock: 199Hg+ and 201Hg+. We are investigating the viability of a trapped ion clock based on 201Hg+ in a configuration that uses a buffer gas to increase ion loading efficiency and counter ion heating from rf trapping fields. Traditionally, either helium or neon is used as the buffer gas at ∼10−5 torr to confine mercury ions near room temperature. In addition to the buffer gas, other residual background gasses such as H<inf>2</inf>O, N<inf>2</inf>, O<inf>2</inf>, CO, CO<inf>2</inf>, and CH<inf>4</inf> may be present in trace quantities. Collisions between trapped ions and buffer gas or background gas atoms/molecules produce a momentary shift of the ion clock transition frequency and constitute one of the largest systematic effects in this type of clock. Here we report an initial measurement of the He pressure shift in 201Hg+ and compare this to 199Hg+.


Model of satellite data transmission resources workload balance scheduling is constructed,ant colony optimization(ACO) algorithm for the model and the scheduling scheme evaluation function are proposed.The optimization objects of task scheduling proceeds and resource workload balance are taken into account in scheduling model.The ACO constructs a feasible solution through traveling on matrix solution construction graph,and objects in scheduling model are optimized through updating global pheromone based on scheduling scheme evaluation function in ACO.The simulation shows that the model and algorithm in the paper are correct and reasonable.


Summary All but one of ten samples of whey or culture from four dairy plants experiencing "slowness" in their lactic cultures or products contained lactic streptococcus bacteriophage. The activity pattern of the bacteria-free whey filtate prepared from each of these nine samples indicated a multiple-strain bacteriophage infection. On the basis of the test cultures lysed, ten different bacteriophage strains were isolated from a blue cheese whey and six (possibly seven) from a cottage cheese whey. Electron micrographs of the ten bacteriophage strains isolated from the blue cheese whey revealed that all were similar in morphology.


This paper presents a partially coherent point-diffraction digital holographic microscopy (PC-pDHM) prototype and demonstrates its application in label-free imaging of the dynamic processes of live cells. In PC-pDHM, the light scattered by a rotating diffuser is coupled into a multi-mode fiber, and the output light is used as the partially coherent illumination (PCI), which reduces the speckle noise significantly in PC-pDHM. A polarization-grating is used to remold the object and the reference waves, and the fringe contrast of the generated hologram can be adjusted by changing the polarization of the illumination wave. Using the PC-pDHM prototype, transparent samples and notably the dynamic processes of live cells were imaged with high contrast and in a label-free manner, discovering the pathological mechanisms of biology in the cellular and sub-cellular levels.


This project was designed to study the impact of drying on the properties of fiber fines. Three different drying conditions were used : force-dry (0% moisture), force-dry (6% moisture), and air dry (6% moisture). Fines were evaluated in the paper and in the pulp both before and after recycling. In order to study the impact of drying on the fines, fines were removed from the virgin furnish. Characteristics of the control stock containing fines and of the control stock without fines were evaluated and served as a means of comparison. Stocks were tested for wet-web strength, drainage, freeness, and water retention value. Two sets of handsheets (fines-free and fines containing) were made at each condition. Handsheets were evaluated for brightness, opacity, scattering coefficient, absorption coefficient, density, and tensile index. Handsheets were then repulped and tests were performed, as before, on the stock. All recycled pulps were then used to prepare air-dry handsheets which were evaluated again for strength and optical properties. Results show that force-dry (0% moist.) fines, both before and after recycling, contributed the most to density and tensile index because of lower fines-free values, but the least to wet web strength. Force-dried fines were less active than air-dried fines but more necessary because of this. Air-dried fines were more active and had the lowest scattering coefficient and CSF, and had the strongest wet-web and paper. Bonding potential was reduced in all cases by drying, as indicated by lower densities, tensile indexes, wet-web strengths, and water retention values.


This research used quasi experimental method with treatment design by level 2x2. The research instrument used multiple-choice tests to measure learning outcomes and quotionare to measure student self-efficacy. Data analysis techniques include test requirements analysis and hypothesis testing. The collected data was analyzed by using two path Anava test. The result of the research (1) Ho which read the outcome of studying the subject of Psychiatric Nursing on the students which is learned by PBL learning strategy is rejected. (2) Ho that there is no influence of interaction between PBL learning strategy and self efficacy to outcome of Psychiatric Nursing is rejected. (3) Ho that sounds the outcome of studying the subject of Psychiatric Nursing to students who are taught by PBL learning strategy for students who have high self efficacy rejected. (4) Ho that reads the outcome of study of Psychiatric Nursing subjects on the students with low self efficacy which is taught by PBL learning strategy rejected.


Impaired glucagon suppression is an overlooked contributor to the transition of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. Graded Glucose Infusion (GGI) is a technique used to assess Insulin Secretion Rate (ISR) in response to rising glucose concentrations. We used GGI to examine the relationship of ISR and Glucagon Secretion Rate (GSR) with rising glucose. We studied 32 nondiabetic, weight-stable individuals (54 ± 2 yrs, 29 ± 1 Kg/M2) categorized on the basis of fasting and glucose tolerance status following a 75g OGTT at the time of screening. After an overnight fast, at 07:00 a variable insulin infusion was used to maintain glucose at ~4.4 mmol/L (until 08:30) enabling the subsequent measurement of the glycemic threshold for ISR and GSR. At 09:00 GGI commenced, starting at 1 mg/kg/min and doubling every 60 min until 13:00. GSR and ISR were calculated by nonparametric deconvolution from plasma concentrations of glucagon and c-peptide respectively. β-cell responsivity (Φ) was estimated from the relationship of ISR to glucose. The glycemic threshold for glucagon suppression was higher in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) than normal fasting glucose (NFG), 10.9 ± 0.8 vs. 8.3 ± 0.5 mmol/L, p Disclosure J. D. Kohlenberg: None. M. C. Laurenti: None. A. M. Egan: None. C. Cobelli: None. C. Dalla man: Research Support; Self; Becton, Dickinson and Company, Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH. A. Vella: Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk. Funding Endocrine Fellows Foundation (DK078646DK116231)


The recent paper by Lyons et al. (1998) reports on large peak current lightning flashes recorded by the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) during 14 summer months in four years, 1991–95. Lyons et al. examine, arbitrarily, only flashes with peak currents higher than 75 kA. It is an important contribution. High peak current flashes of positive polarity, for example, have been shown to be associated with sprites and elves in the stratosphere and mesosphere. The purpose of this note, however, is to emphasize that ground truth for negative return stroke peak currents exists only up to 60 kA and this is for triggered lightning (Idone et al. 1993, Table 1). No ground truth exists for return stroke positive peak currents. Despite this problem, we are still justified in making peak current estimates as long as the limitations are recognized. I quote from Lyons et al. (1998, p. 2227) and add explanatory comments: