Over the past several years we have investigated viewer response to temporal fluctuations in the quality of digital television pictures, which occur when video is coded into relatively low bit rates. Three phenomena of interest have been identified: (1) a forgiveness effect, (2) a recency effect, and (3) a negative-peak (duration-neglect); these are described and discussed in the paper. In collaboration with our partners in European projects MOSAIC and TAPESTRIES, we have developed a three-stage method of measuring time-variant quality, which has been accepted by the ITU-R. The first stage is a Single Stimulus Continuous Quality Evaluation (SSCQE) of instantaneous quality; the second a calibration stage to link SSCQE with conventional DSCQS, and the third stage a numerical procedure for relating continuous and overall quality. Some of the factors we have identified as being important in producing good overall quality judgements have relevance to the design of optimal coding strategies for digital television.


The greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector are the primary cause of climate change. As a result, many studies have developed new powertrains with reduced CO2 emissions for the automotive industry. The gas turbine cycle coupled to an alternator is an autonomy booster for series hybrid electric vehicles. Many gas turbine configurations are proposed in the literature to obtain the highest cycle efficiency. This paper suggests a new architecture offering higher efficiency than all the previous cycles. The two-step methodology consists at first of a sensibility analysis using VBA and Refprop to determine the optimal operating conditions in terms of higher efficiency. The selected cycle consists of two compression stages with an intercooler, a combustion chamber, a cooled hot pressure turbine, an uncooled low-pressure turbine, and a recuperator. The efficiency of this design reaches 51.39%, which approximately matches the designs compared in the literature, but is more compact because it does not require a second combustion chamber.


Abstract  The pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia is poorly understood, thus diagnostic and therapeutic options for this disease are limited. We assessed the relevance of a simple test for chemical hypersensitivity by applying an oral capsaicin load. After a preliminary dose‐finding study, 61 healthy controls and 54 functional dyspepsia patients swallowed a capsule containing 0.75 mg capsaicin. A graded questionnaire evaluated severity of symptoms before and after capsule ingestion; an aggregate symptom score was calculated by adding all symptom scores. Controls developed moderate symptoms (symptom score: 6.0 ± 4.1; median: 5.0). The 75% quartile (9.0) was considered the upper limit of normal. Functional dyspepsia patients had significantly higher symptom scores (10.0 ± 6.5) than controls. About 54% of functional dyspepsia patients tested positive; clinically this group was not different from the group testing negative besides being on average younger and suffering more from bloating. In additional 13 patients with functional dyspepsia who tested positive (symptom score: 15.8 ± 0.9), symptom response to placebo capsules (1.9 ± 0.6) was similar to controls. In reliability testing, the Cronbach α‐value of the capsaicin test was 0.86. The capsaicin test is a simple and non‐invasive method to detect a subgroup of functional dyspepsia with chemical hypersensitivity.


T
he article is concerned with the problem of the study of the text
of the Bible as one of the fundamental sources of formation of the Russian
conceptual sphere. The Synodal Translation played an important role in the
development of the Russian linguistic picture of the world. The article suggests
an original philological interpretation of
 The Synodal Translation. The author
is focused on the analysis of the concept of Family in the Russian Synodal
Bible looked upon from the point of view of language conceptology. The
article is aimed at such audience as specialists in the sphere linguistics and
linguadidactics.


The effects of high-pressure treatment on the colour (objective measurement) and sensory characteristics of white grape juice were studied during storage at 4 °C for 60 days. Grape juice was subjected to three different treatments: 400 or 500 MPa at 2 u °C, and 400 MPa at 40 °C during 10 min. Untreated juice was used as control. Colour parameters (CIE L * a * b *), hue angle (tan m 1 b */ a *), chroma {( a * 2 + b * 2 ) 1/2 }, luminosity Q *{(10 2 log( L *) + 100} and saturation S *( C */ L *) were measured. Juices were evaluated for sweetness, acidity, off-flavour and aroma. High-pressure treatments did not affect the colour parameters of juice, and similar sensory characteristics were observed in both control and treated samples on the first day. The colour and sensory characteristics of pressure-treated samples remained more stable than those of the control juice during 60 days of storage. The control juice was slightly fermented developing some changes in flavour and colour.


In this paper, the old - fashioned KJ elevator system in carefully researched, and existing defects are fully analysed. The transformation idea is presented and algorithm in theory is designed. Transformations on spindle device, braking system, electron control and so on are concretely discussed and advantages of transformed system are summarized. The work makes bases on optimization and improvement of KJ elevator system transformation technology.


The applicability of the various hydrocode methodologies (Lagrangian, Eulerian, Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian, and Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian) for structural response to underwater explosions is reviewed. Only codes employing "structural elements" are realistically applicable to the analysis of thin-walled structural response to underwater explosions.


Abstract Introduction Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a well-established intervention for people with dementia shown to improve cognition and quality of life. Past research includes development of a longer term 'maintenance CST' and an individual CST programme. Previous reviews of CST have focused on quantitative outcomes or excluded certain formats of CST. This review aimed to fill this gap by evaluating how the voices of facilitators, carers and people with dementia in qualitative studies of CST can contribute to our understanding of its implementation and how it is experienced. Methods The current systematic review explored the experience and perspectives of people with dementia, facilitators and carers. Thematic Analysis was used to analyse this data, alongside guidance on synthesising qualitative findings. Results A systematic literature search retrieved 10 relevant studies using qualitative methodology. Eighteen themes were generated, which were grouped into three categories: 'Acceptability and feasibility', 'Features of CST' and 'Key outcomes'. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the only review to explore solely qualitative studies of CST. Findings provided insight into the shared features, outcomes and factors affecting implementation, and suggested theories for discrepancies between quantitative and qualitative findings in the literature. Some of the common themes were also in keeping with past reviews.


The process of plasmin-mediated intravascular fi brinolysis is primarily initiated by the incorporation of the enzyme tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) into the fibrin clot, where it can then convert fibrin-bound plasminogen to plasmin. 1 The rate of endogenous fibrin olysis is largely determined by the activity of t-PA, which is present in normal plasma in picomolar concentrations. t-PA activity is regulated by plasminogen activator inhib itor type 1 (PAI-1), a member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family which has several unique fea tures. 2 It exists in both an active and latent form and has a half-life of minutes. Synthesis of PAI-1 can be stimulated in vivo by 3-to 40-fold with agents such as endotoxin, which results in PAI-1 activity as high as 4 nM. 3 ' 4 For these reasons, PAI-1 has an essential role in the regula tion of fibrinolysis. 1,5-8 In contrast, α 2 -antiplasmin, a serpin that is the spe cific inhibitor of plasmin, has a half-life of 2.6 days. 9 Plasma levels, which are usually 1 |xM or approximately 70% those of plasminogen, do not undergo acute in creases. α 2 -Antiplasmin is cross-linked into the fibrin clot where it can regulate fibrinolysis at a localized area. 10 PAI-1, which has been recognized within the past 8 years, is the major PAI that is detected in normal plasma. 11-15 Other PAIs that are not present in normal plasma include PAI type 2 (PAI-2), which is synthesized by the placenta; PAI type 3 (PAI-3


Two-dimensional imaging of gas temperature and concentration is realized by hyperspectral tomography, which has the characteristics of using multi-wavelengths absorption spectral information, so that the imaging could be accomplished in a small number of projections and viewing angles. A temperature and concentration model is established to simulate the combustion conditions and a total number of 10 near-infrared absorption spectral information of H2O is used. An improved simulated annealing algorithm by adjusting search step is performed the main search algorithm for the tomography. By adding random errors into the absorption area information, the stability of the algorithm is tested, and the results are compared with the reconstructions provided by algebraic reconstruction technique which takes advantage of 2 spectral information contents in imaging. The results show that the two methods perform equivalent in low-level noise environment, but at high-level, hyperspectral tomography turns out to be more stable.


Purpose

– This article reports on the findings of the Best Innovator competition, which was launched in Germany in 2003, to identify and communicate the best practices of innovation management of the country's businesses. After ten years of research, the contest has not only been expanded to identify the most innovative companies in much of the developed world but also to document the success of their best practices over time.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article details five tested sets of best practices.

Findings

– A major research finding is the strong correlation between superior innovation management capabilities and sustainable, profitable growth. Another finding was that, given the mix of industries, the diversity of businesses and the range of sizes in the Best Innovator club, it is striking that there is no correlation between R&D budget and innovation.

Practical implications

– Best Innovators first develop and then manage their innovation portfolios. All of them pursue clarity on a fundamental question: what do we want our innovation strategy to do for us?

Originality/value

– The researchers found that to get their innovation strategies right, Best Innovators invest upfront in understanding market, technology and service dynamics. They are investing time more than money. Leaders can learn how Best Innovators address innovation management "from the market to the market" and manipulate five areas to improve their innovation performance and propel sustainable and profitable growth.


This research to develop an instrument to measure the knowledge and habit related to general nutrition and nutrition labels with good validity and reliability. The Comprehensive General Nutrition and Nutrition Label Questionnaire (CGN2LQ) were developed in Bahasa by modifying its content to suit the latest trend in nutrition education. The questionnaire tested on 67 adolescent students (universities and high school) in Semarang, Indonesia. The Cronbach's alpha for validity and alpha value for reliability was used. There were seven section of the questionnaire with total 132 questions. The result showed that 62 questions were valid for the final version of CGN2LQ. The questionnaire were reliable. The validity by scoring consistently more than 0.2404 which is 0.241-0.909 on each section. The reliability shown high alpha ranging from 0.686 to 0.974. The CGN2LQ meets the criteria for validity and reliability. The CGN2LQ useful to understand the relationship between nutrition knowledge, nutrition labels knowledge and habit of nutrition labels use.


I [PRACTICAL MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND THE RULE OF LAW] I.L.M. Page 376 [Democratic institutions can be supported by fostering a democratic culture in civic education, the media, religious and civic movements, political parties, the professions, the judiciary, public administration, the armed forces and the police; other crucial elements include the independence and authority of the judiciary and the reform of private law]


What are the present travel patterns of elderly city dwellers, and what have been the long term changes in those patterns? The ageing of the population and changes in the lifestyles of pensioners make it interesting to study changes in the daily mobility of those aged over 60. For this purpose, we use data from household surveys carried out in the Lyon conurbation in 1976, 1985 and 1994. A longitudinal study of the successive cohorts enables us to analyse the changes, and to separate generation effects and period effects from ageing effects. The overall number of movements is found to be little changed. On the other hand, there have been major changes in the choices of transport mode. With the recent arrival at retirement age of those who have been very accustomed to using cars, local journeys have given way to longer trips that are made by car, with dispersion of an individual's activities over a large part of the urban area.


The flow characteristics of liquids in microtubes driven by a high pressure ranging from 1 MPa to 30 MPa are studied in this paper. The diameter of the microtube is from 3 μm to 10 μm and liquids composed of simple small molecules are chosen as the working fluids. The Reynolds number ranges from 0. 1 to 24. The behavior of isopropanol and carbon tetrachloride under high pressure is found different from the prediction from conventional Hagen-Poiseuille (HP) equation. The normalized friction coefficient C* increases significantly with the pressure. From an analysis of the microtube deformation, liquid compressibility, viscous heating and wall slip, it may be seen that the viscosity at high pressure plays an important role here. An exponential function of viscosity vs pressure is introduced into the HP equation to counteract the difference between experimental and theoretical values. However, this difference is not so marked for di-water.


Women Empowerment simply means the provision of an environment or situation that will help women to be independent on the issue that concern them and that of others. This will enhance economic growth and social change. The paper evaluates a situation where authority is given to the rural dwellers economically and poverty reduction. Questionnaire was used to solicit the opinion of the rural women and girls on the issues and prospects of empowering rural women. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to examine the data. The results indicate that there is significant relationship between economic empowerment of rural women and education. This means that insufficient fund and education hinder the economic strength of women in the remote areas of the state. The level of significant shows that there are other factors that affect women empowerment. Again, the result shows that economic empowerment of rural women contributes to improve economy and eradicates poverty. The researchers conclude that rural women can overcome many problems they face with the effort of the government. Economic empowerment will enhance the independence of the rural women, exposing their abilities and encourage them to contribute meaningful to the development of their environment and economy at large. The study recommends that government should provide necessary infrastructures to the rural areas, mechanized agriculture to generate jobs and reduce poverty of International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Research Vol. 1, No. 01; 2017 http://ijebmr.com www.ijebmr.com Page 14 rural women. Means of finance should be made available to enable them commence petty business to enhance their independence and self reliance.


This article examines positions in favor of the inclusion of popular culture in art education curricula by Vincent Lanier, June King McFee, Laura Chapman, and Brent and Marjory Wilson. It is argued that their work, both individually and collectively, focused on the realm of the everyday and helped posit popular cultural images as legitimate objects of study in art education. Mindful of the differences between popular culture and visual culture, it is argued that their positions help form some of the antecedents of visual culture today. These antecedents are investigated through the trope of the palimpsest, where previous writing is written over again, with new re-marks and re-visions.


The Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) is a joint project of the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Public Health Agency of Canada, which undertakes the surveillance of rare diseases and conditions in children and youth. For more information, visit our website at www.cpsp.cps.ca. A 12-month-old boy is referred to you for developmental delay. He was slow to roll over and began sitting unassisted at 10 months of age. In retrospect, the parents believe he was floppy and less sociable compared with his older sister. Otherwise, his health is generally good, with normal growth. The pregnancy and delivery were uncomplicated. On the maternal side, an aunt experienced infertility secondary to early menopause in her twenties, and the grandfather, currently in his sixties, has experienced some balance problems and a tremor. On physical examination, the height, weight and head circumference are all in the 50th to 85th percentiles. There are no dysmorphic features. The examination is noteworthy for generalized low muscle tone and reduced social interaction. The child is diagnosed with global developmental delay. Investigations show a full mutation in the FMR1 gene, consistent with fragile X syndrome (FXS). A referral for genetic counselling is recommended.


How did the food subsidy in Sri Lanka affect labor supply? This paper shows that for both men and women, in rural and urban areas, the receipt of the subsidy had a marked impact on the days worked, although, little effect on the decision as to whether or not to work.


The invention relates to an arrangement for characterizing the radiation sources (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) in an analysis device (1). The radiation sources (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) are assigned to data storage associated with a read / write unit (11) communicatively connected, wherein between the data memory and the read / write unit (11) data are exchanged, both the identification of the each radiation source (5.1, 5.2, 53) relate as well as guidelines for their control. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for the characterization of radiation sources (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) within an analysis device (1) based on each radiation source (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) associated with the data storage, wherein the stored data in response before use, and the use of the respective radiation source (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) are updated at intervals.


Through analyzing the management of Valve World of Holland, the paper proves that B2B mode is the way for Chinese trade periodicals to position in right markets, readership, distribution and content.


In this letter, we analyze the performance of a category of phase detectors (PDs) for carrier synchronization phase-locked loops (PLLs) in M-ary phase shift keying (MPSK) receivers working at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). These PDs have the property that their outputs are functions of the inputs' phase only, and thus, their performance is independent of the automatic gain control (AGC) circuits. We deduce closed-form expressions about the linearized gain and equivalent noise variance of these PDs when SNR goes to zero and sum up simple approximate formulas for three typical PDs at all SNRs. We also prove that the modified Mth-power PD performs asymptotically best in this category of PDs as SNR goes to zero.


The effects of various concentrations of sodium tosylate (NaT) hydrotrope on aggregation phenomena of antidepressant drug imipramine hydrochloride (IH) were investigated at four different temperatu...


Background: Noninvasive perfusion imaging with CT (CTP) or MRI (PWI) provides key physiologic data regarding hemodynamics of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). Parameters of delayed perfusion such as Tmax, time to peak (TTP), mean transit time (MTT) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) or flow (CBF) may disclose important mechanisms of stroke in ICAD. We analyzed CTP and PWI acquired in SAMMPRIS to identify the principal perfusion patterns, correlation with conventional angiography and potential links with clinical outcome.

Methods: CTP and PWI were identified in the SAMMPRIS imaging archive. Perfusion datasets were processed with Olea Sphere® to yield Tmax, TTP, MTT, CBV and CBF maps graded by 2 expert readers to identify markers of decreased, normal, or increased perfusion in the symptomatic territory. The resultant multiparametric perfusion patterns were correlated with clinical and angiographic variables, using Fisher's exact test and Kaplan-Meier methods followed by log-rank tests.

Results: Perfusion imaging was available in 59 subjects at baseline and 42 at follow-up. Baseline perfusion included Tmax (decreased in 2, normal in 18, increased in 39); TTP (decreased in 2, normal in 18, increased in 39); MTT (decreased in 2, normal in 27, increased in 30); CBV (decreased in 5, normal in 42, increased in 12); CBF (decreased in 7, normal in 48, increased in 4). The baseline Tmax increases in 66% of subjects were associated with the combined (TICI and collaterals) diminished angiographic flow patterns (p=0.016) and with increased 30-day SIT (p=0.015). Baseline CBV changes were associated with stroke as a qualifying event (p=0.007), NIHSS (p=0.039), presenting symptoms of hypoperfusion (p=0.071), severity of stenosis (p=0.015), and angiographic flow patterns (p=0.009). Follow-up CTP or PWI revealed similar patterns to baseline, although delay maps normalized in patients after stenting.

Conclusions: Noninvasive perfusion imaging with CT or MRI discloses delayed flow caused by ICAD, often compensated by autoregulatory vasodilation (increased CBV) to maintain CBF in the downstream territory. Perfusion imaging parameters may reflect angiographic collateral flow patterns in ICAD, warranting further investigation as predictors of stroke risk.


Logical analysis of the problem posed by the constant formation in nature of type III porphyrins, e.g. protoporphyrin-IX (6), focuses attention on C–C bond making and bond breaking around the carbon atoms from which the interpyrrolic bridges are built (at C-5, C-10, C-15, and C-20). An approach to the study of such processes is outlined, based on double [13C] labelling combined with n.m.r. spectroscopy.[2,11-13C2]Porphobilinogen (17) has been prepared and applied (a) to determine the size of 13C–13C coupling for directly bonded carbon atoms in the porphyrin macrocycle and (b) to indicate that a biosynthetically significant 13C–13C coupling occurs between carbon atoms separated by three bonds. A coupled enzyme system has been developed from chicken blood cells and beef liver mitochondria which produces sufficient protoporphyrin-IX for spectroscopic and chemical work (20–30 mg); a similar system from Euglena gracilis is also described.[2,11-13C2] Porphobilinogen diluted with unlabelled porphobilinogen has been converted enzymically into protoporphyrin-IX; the 13C spectra of the dimethyl ester (i) as such, (ii) with a praseodymium shift reagent, and (iii) after chemical modification establish that the formation of type III porphyrins by both enzyme systems (avian and algal) is characterised by the same three precise features which are described.


ABSTRACT This research describes an implementation of the Palermo Protocol as an international law in Indonesia in an affort to overcome the problems of Indonesian's Woman Labour who are victims of human trafficking throught the point of view of human security. Indonesia not only as a sending country, but also a transit and destination country for the human trafficking issue. This study will elaborate on three things: first, there has been setup in an effort to combat and prevent human trafficking throught the international instruments called the Palermo Protocol in 2000. Second, in Indonesia human trafficking has occurred since the royal era in Indonesia. However, Indonesia does not have a law that can be used to view the exact definition related to human trafficking, the punishment that is fitting to the perpetrators, and to provide protection for victims of human trafficking so that problem can not be solved properly. Third, Indonesia have ratified the Palermo Protocol, this is expected to be a solution to law enforcement for victims of human trafficking in Indonesia Key Words: Indonesian's Woman Labour, the Protokol Palermo, Human Security, Human Trafficking


As bit and track densities increase, more complex detection schemes must be devised to combat the nonlinearities inherent in high-density magnetic-recording channels. With an accurate model we can quantify the departure of the channel from linear superposition, leading to optimized detectors providing improved system performance. Two distinct models have been developed. The first attempts to account for many nonlinear effects created by the physical properties of the medium; the other tries to combine all of these effects into a simple nonlinear function. Both models show excellent agreement using parameters derived from experimental signals. Simpler detection schemes result from the second model, while the first, more complex, model ensures preservation of generality. Apart from devising nonlinear detectors, we can also generate pseudo-random signals with enhanced nonlinear distortions, which may be used to test the robustness of various detection schemes. In this paper we present the results of parameter extraction and nonlinear distortion for several magneto- resistive tape-recording channels at a wide range of densities.


The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Shopping Lifestyle and Positive Emotion on Impulse Buying both partially and simultaneously. This research is a type of survey research using descriptive and verification approaches. The object of consumer research shop UD Putra Tiga Saudara Majalengka.The results showed that 75.48% of consumers behaved in Shopping Lifestyle, 75.45% of consumers were in Positive Emotion conditions and 75.39% showed impulse buying behavior. Partially Shopping Lifestyle has a positive and significant effect on Impulse Buying with a contribution rate of 13.76%. Meanwhile, Positive Emotion has no effect on Impulse Buying with a contribution rate of 1.88%. However, simultaneous Shopping Lifestyle and Positive Emotion have a significant effect on Impulse Buying with a contribution rate of 15%. Seeing these results, it is important to do research again on the Positive Emotion variable.


The third untreated leaf was challenge inoculated with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae 3 d after rice seedlings (except the third leaf) pre treated with 0 5 mmol/L and 2 0 mmol/L salicylic acid (SA) solution. The lesion lengths of the third leaf in the two treatments were reduced by 10 2% and 18 2% than those in the CK respectively two weeks after inoculation. It indicated that SA had induced systemic resistance to bacterial blight in rice seedlings. Determination of enzyme activities showed catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities declined significantly in untreated leaves, while no significant changes in peroxidase (POD) activity. It was also observed that there was a difference of effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity between 0 5 mmol/L and 2 0 mmol/L SA. No significant changes of SOD activity were showed in treatment with 0 5 mmol/L SA, however, that in treatment with 2 0 mmol/L SA increased relatively significantly. The H 2O 2 content increased by 23 6%-72 8% and 31 2%-122 6% respectively in the third leaf when rice seedlings were treated with 0 5 mmol/L or 2 0 mmol/L SA within 1-4 d. Therefore, the significant increase in H 2O 2 content may be due to both the enhancement of production and the decline in degradation (2 0 mmol/L SA), or to the decline in degradation only (0 5 mmol/L SA). It was also showed that SA could enhanced phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity 3 d following treatment. The results indicated that accumulation of H 2O 2 and increase in PAL activity might involve in the systemic resistance to bacterial blight induced by SA in rice seedlings.


In order to discuss process and mechanism of rock-burst in the surrounding rock of horseshoe section caverns,a physical model,800 mm long and 800 mm wide and 200 mm thick with a horseshoe section cavern,was produced with hard brittle physical model materials from orthogonal experiments by the generalized indexes of uniaxial compressive strength(σc),brittleness coefficient(K) and exponential of strike energy(WB).The physical model was tested in the large triaxial model-test machine of geotechnical engineering under the high stress and plane strain condition.It was shown that a rock-burst which was paroxysmal in hard and brittle surrounding rock of horseshoe section cavern occurred during a transitory time in a limited loading-zone under the high stress condition when crack appeared,and that a relatively steady period appeared during relatively long time and a relatively broad loading-zone appeared after the rock-burst,following stress adjusting.The results of physical simulation were basically consistent with the actual engineering situation.


Clustering is one of the main methods for getting insight on the underlying nature and structure of data. The purpose of clustering is organizing a set of data into clusters, such that the elements in each cluster are similar and different from those in other clusters. One of the most used clustering algorithms presently is K -means, because of its easiness for interpreting its results and implementation. The solution to the K -means clustering problem is NP-hard, which justifies the use of heuristic methods for its solution. To date, a large number of improvements to the algorithm have been proposed, of which the most relevant were selected using systematic review methodology. As a result, 1125 documents on improvements were retrieved, and 79 were left after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The improvements selected were classified and summarized according to the algorithm steps: initialization, classification, centroid calculation, and convergence. It is remarkable that some of the most successful algorithm variants were found. Some articles on trends in recent years were included, concerning K -means improvements and its use in other areas. Finally, it is considered that the main improvements may inspire the development of new heuristics for K -means or other clustering algorithms.


Introduction Temporal correlation of BOLD signal has been observed between remote cerebral areas even in the absence of task performing (1). Such correlation is commonly believed to be neuronal and reflect the functional connectivity or default mode of the brain. Known as a vessel contractor, caffeine has been found effective in modulating the hemodynamic response in task-based BOLD fMRI (2). A recent study showed that caffeine significantly reduced resting-state BOLD connectivity in the motor cortex (3), although the underlying mechanism and whether the effect is global remain unanswered. In the present study, we further investigated the effect of caffeine on resting-state BOLD connectivity by performing measurements at different anatomic areas (primary motor cortex, primary visual cortex, and thalamus) in combination with multiple TE's. The results were also correlated with local perfusion. Materials and Methods The Institutional Review Board approved this study. Five healthy volunteers (age = 23-30 yrs) were scanned and all gave informed written consent. MR imaging was conducted on a 3T whole-body system (Tim Trio, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) using the body coil for transmission and a 32-channel phased-array head coil for reception. The subject underwent two imaging sessions (preand post-dose), each of which included a 3D high-resolution T1-weighted MPRAGE, a BOLD-fMRI (TR/TE = 2s/30ms, matrix = 64x64, voxel size = 3.75x3.75x5 mm), three runs of resting-state BOLD imaging (TE = 20, 30, and 40 ms, respectively), a 2D phase-contrast imaging, and a pseudocontinuous arterial spin-labeling imaging (pCASL (4,5)) (TR/TE/tagging duration/post-labeling delay = 4s/18ms/1s/1.2s, 40 pairs of tag and control acquisitions). A single-shot gradient-echo echo-planar (EPI) readout was used for both BOLD and ASL scans. Physiological signals were prospectively recorded using the system's built-in pulse oximeter and respiratory belt. After the pre-dose session, the subject was removed from the magnet to injest a 200mg caffeine pill, and rested outside for about 30min before re-entering the scanner. A whole-field black-white flashing checkerboard was used for visual stimulation (5 cycles of 20s ON and 40s OFF, preceded by a 40s OFF). The subject was also instructed via the intercom to perform self-paced finger tapping (all right-handed; five 20s ON epochs with semi-random overlaps with the visual stimulation). Complex data were reconstructed into magnitude images and then exported to a workstation for off-line processing. After realignment, BOLD series were corrected for physiological noise using the RETROICOR algorithm (6). For ASL series, the tag and control images were processed separately. Surround subtraction and signal calibration were applied to the corrected images to generate quantitative flow maps. The activated area detected from the fMRI scan (pFWE < 0.05 and cluster size >= 10) served as the seed for connectivity calculation on the resting-state images. The region of right thalamus was manually defined on the high-resolution anatomic image coregistered to the EPI images. Correlation coefficient was computed on a voxel-wise basis. Off-line analysis was performed using homemade MATLAB (http://www.mathworks.com) program and SPM2 (http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/). Results The caffeine dose used in this study did not cause significant difference in the pulse and respiratory periods, and the flow velocity in the carotid arteries. Figs 1 and 2 show the connectivity maps obtained from a representative subject (for pcorrected < 0.01, t > 7). For the seed regions investigated, the connectivity is more significant when data was collected with a longer TE, and noticeably drops after caffeine intake. For TE = 40ms, the voxels connected in the pre-dose map (t > 7, cluster size >= 10) were then sorted according to the post-dose t-value decrease. The 200 voxels where t-value drops the most were divided into 10 bins and compared to their resting-state perfusion as measured by pCASL. As shown in Fig 3, the t-value drop is larger in the region where caffeine causes more flow decrease. Conclusion Both TE and resting-state perfusion affect the measurement of BOLD connectivity. We have demonstrated in multiple functional regions that caffeine reduces BOLD connectivity. The degree of reduction is associated with flow decrease, which suggests the role of vascular regulation in the functional connectivity measured by BOLD. References Fig 1. Connectivity maps. The functional seed was placed at the primary visual cortex (left panel) and the primary motor cortex (right panel), respectively.


Cherished throughout Christian history, the Psalter is a significant part of the liturgical heritage of the Presbyterian Church. James H. Nichols says that the two most extravagant flowerings of the Psalter were by the Benedictines in the Middle Ages and by the people of the Reformed tradition. It was in Calvin's time that the Psalter was translated into French and widely used for congregational singing in Reformed worship.


The present study was designed to investigate the effect of working capital management on the performance of Algerian firms listed on the Algiers Stock Exchange over the 2015-2019 period, we collected their annual financial statements from the COSOB's database in order to determine the different variables needed for our study. Pearson's correlation and pooled ordinary least square regression models were used for the analysis. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between the independent (cash conversion cycle) and the dependent variable (firms' performance), the same result was found for the number of days of inventory, whereas the number of days of accounts receivable and number of days of accounts payable showed a negative relationship with firms' performance. These results will allow Algerian listed firms to improve their performance by efficiently managing their working capital.


A 74-year-old man with a patent foramen ovale was admitted with dyspnea and cyanosis that had become progressively worse along with dehydration. Transthoracic echocardiography (iE33, Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA, USA) revealed a normal ventricular size and function and no evidence of intracardiac shunting by Doppler color interrogation. Neither chest x-ray nor chest computed tomography (Aquilion 64, Toshiba Medical Systems, Otawara, Japan) revealed any apparent pulmonary disease that could cause his dyspnea. A right and left heart catheterization demonstrated normal coronaries with a mean right atrial pressure of 3 mmHg and a normal mean pulmonary artery pressure of 13 mmHg. Careful history taking revealed that he developed dyspnea in a sitting position, whereas the symptoms were relieved in a supine position. The transesophageal echocardiographic images taken in the supine position showed the foramen ovale was closed (Fig. 1 right), and no apparent right-to-left shunt by Doppler color flow (Fig. 1 left). The images taken in the sitting position showed the foramen ovale was wide open (Fig. 2 right, Fig. 3), with a massive rightto-left shunt across the patent foramen ovale by Doppler color flow (Fig. 2 left), caused hypoxemia and dyspnea. The patient was given the diagnosis of platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. Platypnea-orthodeoxia, a syndrome character-


It's a generative art project that for the first time creates a network of creators-co-authors. Two drops of water are always different in Nature and the same thing applies to this work of art. Every screen of every "player" will be different, but with a relation and every one will influence the other. It's from the join of maths and art, colours and numbers... that abstraction and order, symmetry and chaos melt together giving birth to the magic of something not expected which is the source of life. It's a chaotic algorithm that drives the images built on the screens and in the rooms creating the installation. I remember when at the university my professor Carlo Bernardini talked about P.M.Dirac for the first time. Dirac was one of the father of quantum theory and he declared that every step in his research was driven by Beauty... Beauty was the measure to judge how accurately a mathematical law could describe reality... and this brought us the world as it is, at least for a physicist. I always asked to myself how could Dirac see beauty in a mathematical law, in a small formula written on the blackboard or on a paper after a huge amount of calculation and assumptions... during the years of study at the university of Rome La Sapienza slowly something come to my mind... and maybe today another small piece of the aesthetical vision of this master appears clear to my mind. Topic: Art


Transient phenomena in Raman optical amplifiers are studied. For the first time, transient effects are observed in saturated Raman amplifiers. An accurate model is developed to explain these transient effects.


The equivalent width of the blended line at Lyman α is given for 48 stars measured with the OAO-A2 scanning spectrometer. This provides an upper limit to the neutral hydrogen column density. In the Orion association these upper limits are significantly lower than the column densities determined from 21-cm emission line measurements. The determination of the Lyman α equivalent width for θ Ori by Carruthers is rediscussed and agreement between 21-cm absorption measures and Lyman α absorption is obtained for a spin temperature in the range of 40–70 K. It is suggested that the most likely explanation for the discrepancies found for the other Orion stars is that the 21-cm emission primarily occurs beyond the Belt stars.


Intergovernmental cooperation refers to "equal" and multi-form cooperation among governments,their branches and other organizations authorized by governments based on mutual needs.There exist the necessity,conditions and advantages in the Binhai New Area to carry out intergovernmental cooperation.As far as intergovernmental cooperation in the Binhai New Area is concerned,it is necessary to make a breakthrough in administrative system reform and comprehensive reform,and cooperation forms include intergovernmental joint meeting,intergovernmental cooperation agreement,jurisdiction transfer,and so on.Furthermore,the issues of division of work and responsibilities should be well solved among Tianjin Municipal Party Committee,Tianjin Municipal Government,the Binhai New Area and related administrative bodies in cooperation.


Fishery resources management in Huay Luang reservoir is one program affiliated by Department of Fisheries and MRRF component since 2001. Continuing consultation with local stakeholders identified that they have lacked adequate information of Huay Luang for their management and planning. Even some information has been regularly collected by government organizations, but there were no appropriate data sharing mechanisms. The workshops among all local stakeholders from ten communities, four primary schools, three Tambon Administration Organizations (TAO), Provincial Fisheries Office, Udonthani Inland Freshwater Research and Development Center (IFRDC), Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, Tourism Office and Irrigation Project Office were held in January and September 2005 to identify the data and information needed by all local stakeholders and to develop a sustainable way of data collection methodology and sharing system for resources management and planning of Huay Luang Reservoir. An information needed by all local users were identified as initial priorities in four main issues, namely, water level and management strategies of Department of Irrigation; water quality in reservoir and sources of water pollution; and fish production from reservoir; annual development plan which related to Huay Luang Reservoir of all government organizations and non-government organizations. The Data collection methodology agreed among all users was to conduct a so called "folk research" on water quality monitoring by monthly basis and collection fish catch by fisherman in all target communities by local researchers represents from each community within technical supervision by government agencies. Data sharing mechanisms was developed during the workshop and based on current capacities and lesson learned of government agencies and integrated with existing sharing system of TAOs and communities and schools under their affiliated area. The activities at Huay Luang were promoted in the context of a DfID-funded project on "Data Collection and Information Sharing for Fisheries Co-management" which is jointly implemented by a number of fisheries development organizations under the leadership of MRAG Ltd, England. A draft "Field Guide on Data Collection and Sharing", which is a product from the DfID-project, was useful in developing the methodology used at Huay Luang. The promising data 1 MRRF, Udonthani, Thailand 2 Khon Kaen Inland Fisheries Research and Development Center


We discuss implementation of reactive co-evaporation (RCE) to deposit high temperature superconducting films on metal tapes. Our method utilizes alternating high-rate deposition and oxygenation and can be extended to coating of moving tape in a continuous fashion. We have demonstrated our method with YBa2Cu3O7 films on 8 cm long ion-beam assisted deposition textured template tapes. Critical current densities of approximately 2.5 MA/cm2 at 75.5 K were achieved in HTS films with 2 mum in thickness, and a maximum measured self-field critical current of 950 A/cm-width was achieved in a 6 mum thick film. We discuss some practical possibilities for manufacturing superconducting wire and discuss a cost model for this RCE process. We make the case that the cost of HTS deposition using RCE in manufacturing can be less than $5/kAmiddotm.


The invention relates to an electrolysis system for producing electrolytic manganese dioxide. The system comprises an electrolyte preheating device and an electrolysis device, wherein the electrolysis device comprises a tank body, wherein an anode region enclosed by a diaphragm is formed in the middle of the tank body; a plurality of cathode regions are partitioned between the anode region and the tank body; electrolyte inside the preheating device is conveyed to each cathode region through a pump; an anode plate is inserted into the anode region; a cathode plate is inserted into each cathode region. The electrolyte is preheated in a concentrating manner, and then conveyed to each cathode region, so that the electrolyte inside the electrolysis device is quickly electrolyzed. Thus, the electrolysis efficiency is improved. Meanwhile, each cathode region adopts a stepped tank bottom; the cathode plates can be gradually started just by starting the cathode plates in the cathode regions to electrolyze when the electrolyte is led to the cathode region with the deepest tank bottom. Thus, the electrolysis cost is reduced. A heat-conducting oil heating device is also adopted to heat, so that not only can the heating temperature be accurately controlled, but also electrolytic products can be prevented from being polluted. Therefore, the product quality is improved.


This paper reports a study on a real three-echelon supply chain operating in the beverage sector. The authors, starting from the actual supply chain configuration, propose a detailed study of the inventory systems. The test of a comprehensive set of different operative scenarios, in terms of customers' demand intensity, customers' demand variability and lead times, becomes a powerful tool for inventory systems analysis along the supply chain. The main objective is the comparison of the actual supply chain configuration with optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for studying the behaviour of different inventory control policies and optimizing the inventory system of each supply chain node. Due to the dynamically changing and stochastic behaviour of the supply chain variables as well as the complex interactions among its actors, the authors have been pushed to implement an advanced simulation model supported by a 'well-planned' experimental design. In addition the paper aims to underline the research effort for conceptualizing, modelling, validating and simulating a real stochastic supply chain.


A supine position of an infant while bottle feeding is a predisposing factor in inflammations of the middle ear cleft. The condition is occasionally observed in elderly sick patients who require feeding by hand while lying in a supine position, but it is relatively common in infants and sucklings. A search of the literature discloses no similar series of patients but references to the problem are found as general statements in text books,1-5in papers on the subject of infantile diarrhea and ear infections,6,7and on the subject of teething and otitis media.1Wilson5is aware of the problem when discussing the Eustachian tube and simple acute suppurative otitis media in infants and says "this is not a fanciful explanation because numerous observers have found milk in the mastoid antrum at operation." Similar findings at autopsy are reported in papers8on infantile diarrhea and ear


The design of an optimal m-sequence input signal for the identification of linear systems is considered for practical situations, where both the maximum amplitude as well as the duration must be constrained to finite values. A simple criterion for computing the minimum observation time is also proposed.


To comprehend the Earth's climatic system we develop more and more complex models of its atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere (the icy regions), and even biosphere to understand the interactions that control climate. Ice sheet modeling is tied intrinsically to the understanding of past and future climatic change. Many climate models behave well in recreating present conditions, but we must test them against different climates of the past to see if they are predictive. One time period with a reasonably well understood and yet very different climate was the most recent ice age, late in the Pleistocene Epoch, climaxing approximately 18000 years ago. How do we recognize a good theoretical framework, or model, within which to interpret experimental data? In glaciology, the model must describe as completely as possible the physical processes connecting different aspects of the data. Computers have allowed scientists to apply numerical methods to equations that were not amenable to analytic evaluation, and thus obtain approximate solutions without restrictive assumptions or simplified domains. One such numerical technique, the finite element method, can be used to solve differential equations that arise when we deal (as we do in glaciology) with conserved quantities, that is, mass, momentum, and energy. Having applied this technique to model glaciers and ice sheets, this approach is a robust alternative to traditional numerical techniques.<<ETX>>


ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effects of air humidity on the spontaneous combustion characteristics of coal. Four levels of air relative humidity (dry air, 30%, 60%, and 100%) were used as the experimental air flow. The crossing point temperature (CPT) and oxidation products were measured using a self-designed spontaneous combustion system. We found CPT values of 153°C, 151°C, 150°C, and 148°C for the four levels of air humidity, respectively. The concentration of oxidation production increased with an increase in air humidity. Then, the thermal characteristics of coal were studied using the thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric methods. It was found that a peak temperature II appeared at 417.28°C, 411.25°C, 402.64°C, and 385.68°C for the four air humidities, respectively. As a consequence, the adsorbed water had pushed the coal oxidation into the next stage.


The U.S. infrastructure system is well behind the needs of the 21st century and in dire need of improvements. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) graded America's Infrastructure as a "D+" in its recent 2013 Report Card. Bridges are a major component of the infrastructure system and were awarded a "C+". Nearly 25 percent of the nation's bridges are categorized as deficient by the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA). Most bridges were designed with an expected service life of roughly 50 years and today the average age of a bridge is 42 years. Finding alternative methods of condition assessment which captures the true performance of the bridge is of high importance. This paper discusses the monitoring of two multi-girder/stringer bridges at different ages of service life. Normal strain measurements were used to calculate the load distribution factor at the midspan of the bridge under controlled loading conditions. Controlled progressive damage was implemented to one of the superstructures to determine if the damage could be detected using the distribution factor. An uncertainty analysis, based on the accuracy and precision of the normal strain measurement, was undertaken to determine how effective it is to use the distribution factor measurement as a damage indicator. The analysis indicates that this load testing parameter may be an effective measure for detecting damage.


The apparatus introduced in this paper was made according to resistivity model using a practical six-electrode technique for segmental BIA.The apparatus only needed the subject to stand on a measuring board with the feet naked and to tackle a pair of measuring sticks.It was accurate,convenient,quick,low-cost,stronger in function and fit for the needs of the community and family.The precision of the apparatus was0.1kg.


The interfaces between organic and inorganic phases in natural materials have been shown to be a key factor contributing to their high performance. This work analyzes crack propagation in a 2-ply laminate subjected to uniaxial tensile mode-I crack propagation loading that has laminate properties derived based on biological material constituents (marine exoskeletonchitin and calcite). Interfaces in such laminates are explicitly modeled based on earlier molecular simulations performed by authors. Extended finite element method and cohesive zone modeling based simulations coupled with theoretical analysis are used to analyze crack propagation. Analyses explicitly quantify the effect that interface mechanical property variation has on the delamination as well as the transverse crack propagation in examined 2-ply laminates. Keywords—Chitin, composites, interfaces, fracture.


Memory is not uniformly stored in the brain. There are various types of memories and only some are retained over time. Much is forgotten, and of those memories retained, their representations are transferred into long-term stores, a process called consolidation, which occurs predominantly during sleep. Sorting out how sleep contributes to memory has not been straightforward, but nonetheless, emerging data suggest that sleep plays a causal role in how our memories are formed and ultimately stored. One of the intriguing aspects of sleep-dependent memory consolidation is its selectivity. Memories of future relevance are tagged during encoding and prioritized for consolidation during subsequent sleep, leading to the discriminatory selection for memories that are emotional, show difficultly during learning, have high retrieval expectancy, or are associated with rewards. Several brain regions, electrophysiological oscillations and neurotransmitters are at the heart of this process, guiding each organism through its unique life.


A Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is used to evaluate the performance of an optical differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) communication system impaired by in-band crosstalk. The MC simulation results are used to study the validity range of an analytical work proposed in the literature addressing the same problem. It is shown that the performance estimates obtained using the analytical work become incorrect, whenever the effect of inter-symbol interference (ISI) is enhanced, for example, for optical filter bandwidths below twice the DPSK signal bandwidth. When ISI is negligible, a slight discrepancy is observed between the performance estimates of both methods, because the two formalisms consider different models for the random phase noise.


An all-optical recirculating shift register with inverter that uses entirely semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) is demonstrated operating at 10 GHz. SOAs provide nonlinear switching in a Sagnac interferometer as well as feedback amplification. The device could hold arbitrary pattern profiles recirculating stably for hours. This demonstration also proves the cascadability of the SOA-assisted Sagnac switch up to 10 GHz.


Abstract This paper examines Msgr. John A. Ryan's economic thought regarding the mechanics by which an increase in the minimum wage is funded. In particular, a mathematical comparative-static model is used to explore Msgr. Ryan's economic assumptions concerning the channels by which income is redistributed to workers from other factor owners. The analysis shows that Msgr. Ryan's approach includes assumptions regarding economic relationships and implies specific values of wage elasticities.


Evidence presented from our investigation indicates that egg-laying in Clonorchis sinensis is neither periodic nor irregular, but is a continuous process, beginning as soon as the worm matures and probably continuing until the death of the worm. Variations in the number of eggs in the stool are due to irregularities in fecal output of the host, to differences in consistency of the stool, and to temporary lodgement of eggs in the bile tracts or gall bladder, and are not due to actual differences in egg-production per unit of time. Mature worms in recently acquired infections have the same egg productivity as worms that have resided in a host for many months. In a given species of host egg-production per worm unit of time is constant. There is, however, a difference in egg-production in different species of hosts, apparently independent of the size of the host. For this reason data on the relation of Clonorchis egg-production to the number of worms present in experimental mammals are not directly applicable in human cases of Clonorchis infection. Reckoning from the relation of the average number of eggs per worm per day found in the host's feces to the number of worms found at autopsy of the host immediately after egg-counts have been completed, the average egglaying capacity of Clonorchis sinensis in the cat is 2400; in the guinea pig, about 1600; while in the dog it is estimated at about 1100. Data are presented to show that calculatim of Clonorchis worms present in the bile passages, based on the average number of eggs per worm per diem in an infection in a particular species of host are more reliable than those based on the average number of eggs per gram of feces (Stoll method).


The malting and brewing characteristics of three sorghum varieties were investigated in a micromalting and microbrewing plant. The optimum malting conditions for Sorghum vulgare c.v. Fara Fara (Australia), Sorghum bicolor (South Africa) and Sorghum vulgare c.v. SK5912 (Nigeria) were found to consist of steeping for 21 h, at 30°C, initial germination at 30°C for 24 h, followed by a further germination period of 4 days at 25°C. Kilning temperatures of 50°C and 82°C were investigated. Evidence of the presence of hydrocyanic acid was found. The extent of modification in all malts was markedly irregular with the kernels showing brown coloration on the outer layers. The brewing trials with 100% sorghum malt showed a slow and incomplete saccharification, slow lauter tun filtrations and very difficult beer filtrations. By supplementing commercial enzymes in the mash only the speed of lauter tun filtration improved significantly.


Background. Currently accepted risk assessments of periodontitis progression are determinants of indirect stability: periodontal pockets, persistent bleeding of the gums, tooth mobility, local risk factors. In the era of case-oriented medicine, a relevant solution would be to choose periodontal therapy according to one-time consideration of the maximum available range of individual risk factors rather than on general clinical guidelines.Objectives. The study was aimed at determining the relative risk of periodontitis progression after active basic therapy using neural network modeling.Methods. A cohort retrospective study was performed on 109 patients of both sexes, aged 30 to 70 years, after basic treatment of chronic periodontitis (mild, moderate and severe) in the period from 1999 to 2016, who were on supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) for 5 years ≤SPT≤ 20 years. The authors considered data from objective examination of the periodontium and categorical indices (24 in total) assessed before treatment, 4–6 months after basic (active) treatment and 5 years ≤SPT≤ 20 years. Following the analysis of descriptive statistics, target quantitative indices were determined for prognostic modeling of treatment outcomes in periodontitis patients and calculating the residual risk of disease progression. Statistical processing of obtained data was carried out using the Statistica 13.3 package (Tibco, USA). Mean values of the indicators at different time points were compared by means of Wilcoxon's and Signs criteria; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate relevance between predictors and target indicators. The level of statistical significance p = 0.05 was accepted in all cases of analysis. DataMining, an automated neural network of Statistica software, was used as a tool to build neural network models. The task of classifying the level of risk of disease progression was solved by means of ROC analysis. The prognostic potential of the model was assessed using sensitivity and specificity measures.Results. The heterogeneous dynamics of predictor variables describing the state of the periodontium was determined. The outcomes of regenerative periodontal surgery, regardless of gender, age of patients and comorbidities, significantly outperformed those of other approaches, due to the formation of a new dentogingival attachment, although to different extent. Another positive functional outcome was recorded in restoring the dentition integrity by implantation, without any mutually damaging effects. Since revealing the interrelationships between indicators is not equivalent to the predictive value, prognostic models were built for target indicators and stratification of the relative risk of periodontitis progression using automated neural networks. The networks with the best prognostic properties were selected out of 1000 automatically built and trained neural networks — double-layer perceptrons. The sensitivity of the relative risk prognostic model on the training, control and test samples made up 90%, 67%, 80%; the specificity of the model made up 81.481%, 85.714%, 100%. Overall, in the cohort, the sensitivity and specificity accounted for 85.937% and 86.666%. The area under the curve (ROC AUC) is 0.859.Conclusion. The use of an artificial intelligence algorithm for the construction of neural networks for target predictors and stratification of the relative risk of periodontitis progression has advantages over classical methods — it is instrumental in solving classification and regression problems with categorical and quantitative predictor variables using data of arbitrary nature of large and small volumes. The practical implementation of the study results is reflected in the development of a relative risk calculator based on a written computer program.


Introduction The aim of this seminar series is to contribute to the national debate about agreement making and the potential for a treaty between Indigenous people and settler Australia. It is designed to provide an arena for legal, historical and sociological examinations of treaties, negotiated settlements and agreements between Indigenous peoples and settler states, drawing out the significance of agreement-making for present-day Australian circumstances. It is intended that it will inform the debate on the negotiated settlement of disputes over resource use, service delivery and other citizenship entitlements in the Australian context.


up a research school which was exceptionally active in New Guinea. But he continued his personal interest in the African field, as is evident in the penetrating review article on recent developments in the study of primitive law which appears elsewhere in this number of Africa. Professor Nadel was equally stimulating in his writings, as a lecturer, and in debate. He presented his concepts and developed his argument with exceptional clarity; he could marshal a wide range of data with skill and yet maintain a forceful, conversational style. The loss to anthropology and to African studies by his death at the height of his powers is a grievous one, and the sincere sympathy of this Institute will be extended to his family and his colleagues. They may be encouraged by the assurance that his contribution will continue to stimulate the advancement of knowledge in these fields. DARYLL FORDE


Research on reverse engineering and automated design pattern detection currently focuses most on some programming languages, i.e. Java and C/C++, with little interest in the .NET area. In this paper we present a tool for analyzing .NET executables to produce output compatible with the design pattern detection tool we are developing, MARPLE (Metrics and Architecture Recognition PLug-in for Eclipse).


DPL ALPHA differs from Codd's original DSL ALPHA only in one essential aspect, namely, that in Data Processing Language ALPHA primitive notions are mostly from predicate calculus (i.e., relation calculus without quantifiers). Boolean algebra and edge-notched card system rather than from relation calculus and relational algebra. ALPHA concepts then can be synthetized from these. [6]


Purpose : Cancer cells produce innate immune signals following detection of radiation-induced cytosolic DNA via signaling pathways such as cGAS-STING. High linear energy transfer (LET) radiations induce more DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) per unit dose than low-LET radiations, potentially enhancing immunogenic effects. This work explores the in vitro dose response characteristics of pro-immunogenic interferon-beta (IFN b ) and cGAS-STING antagonist three-prime repair exonuclease 1 (TREX1) from varying-LET radiations. Methods : IFN b and TREX1 expression were measured in MCC13 cells irradiated with graded doses of x-rays or fast neutrons (comparable LET to carbon-12) via ELISA, immunofluorescence, and qPCR assays. Laboratory measurement of the RBE for IFN b production (RBE IFN b ) and TREX1 upregulation (RBE TREX1 ) was compared to the modeled RBE for DSB induction (RBE DSB ) from Monte Carlo DNA damage simulations. RBE IFN b models were applied to radiation transport simulations to quantify the potential secretion of IFN b from representative proton, helium-4, and carbon-12 beams. Results : Maximum IFN b secretions occurred at 5.7 Gy and 14.0 Gy for neutrons and x-rays, respectively (RBE IFN b of 2.5). TREX1 signal increased linearly, with a four-fold higher upregulation per unit dose for fast neutrons (RBE TREX1 of 4.0). Monte Carlo modeling suggests an enhanced Bragg peak-to-entrance ratio for IFNb production in charged particle beams. Conclusion : High-LET radiation initiates larger IFNb and TREX1 responses per unit dose than low-LET radiations. RBE IFN b is comparable to published values for RBE DSB , whereas RBE TREX1 is roughly twofold higher. Therapeutic advantages of high-LET versus low-LET radiation remain unclear. Potential TREX1-targeted interventions may enable IFNb-mediated immunogenic responses at lower doses of high-LET radiations. Aim : To implement lattice radiotherapy using proton pencil beam scanning, and demonstrate treatments that are spatially fractionated in physical dose (PD), with significant escalation of biologic dose (BD) and dose-averaged linear energy transfer (LET d ) in the vicinity of the high PD regions. Method : For 5 patients with bulky tumors, spatial proton dose fractionation inside the GTV was achieved using proton lattice radiotherapy (pLRT). This involves a 3D lattice of 1.5-cm diameter spherical dose regions separated by 3 cm on average. pLRT plans were created with Eclipse (Varian Medical Systems). Two fields with an opening angle of at least 40 degrees were used to reduce skin dose at entrance. Dose valleys between spheres were kept below 40% of the peak PD. The resulting LET d distributions were calculated with an in-house GPU-based Monte Carlo simulation. BD was estimated from LET d and PD by using published formulae that are based on the linear-quadratic model, as well as a simpler model that assumes a linear relationship between BD and the product of LET d (in keV/ l m) and PD: BD ¼ 1.1PD(0.08LET d þ 0.88). Results : Within the high dose spheres, peak BD values in excess of 140% of the prescription dose were observed (see figures). LET d values in the spheres reached values greater than 4 keV/ l m. This was achieved without using any explicit LET d optimization technique, and is a direct consequence of end-of-range energy deposition within the spheres. Conclusion : Besides spatial fractionation, a feature of pLRT is BD escalation. This can be advantageous for debulking radioresistant or hypoxic tumors. Background : This study investigates the radiosensitizing effect of Ganetespib for proton irradiation at a proximal and distal position in a SOBP in comparison to photon irradiation. Rad51, a key protein of homologous recombination repair (HRR), is downregulated by HSP90-inhibiting Ganetespib which provides a promising rational for a specifically proton-sensitizing approach. Methods and Materials : A549 and FaDu cells were treated with low-dose Ganetespib and irradiated with 200kV photons respectively protons at a proximal, low linear energy transfer (LET, 2.1keV/ l m) and a distal, higher LET (4.5keV/ l m) position within a SOBP. Cellular survival was determined by clonogenic assay, cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry, Rad51 protein levels by western blotting and c H2AX foci by immunofluorescence microscopy. Results : Ganetespib reduced clonogenicity in both cancer cell lines exclusively in response to proton irradiation of both investigated LETs. Upon proton irradiation, a more pronounced accumulation of cells in S/G2/M phase became evident with Ganetespib reducing this population. Rad51 protein levels were more extensively and more persistently elevated in proton-than in photon-irradiated cells and suppressed by Ganetespib at each investigated time point. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated a similar induction and removal of c H2AX foci independent of Ganetespib which suggests compensation by more error-prone Rad51-independent repair pathways. Conclusion : Low-dosed Ganetespib significantly cancer Hence, this study supports pursuing research on the combination of Ganetespib with proton radiotherapy for a prospective clinical exploitation. Purpose: The normal tissue sparing effects of ultra-high dose rate radiation (FLASH) remain poorly understood. We present preliminary results of mouse FLASH proton radiation from a low-energy proton system (50 MeV) optimized for small animal radiobiological research. Methods: We radiated 6-7 week old female C57BL/6 mice with whole lung radiation using the plateau region of a cyclotron-generated 50 MeV preclinical proton beam, transmitting through the whole mouse lung, with beam-shaping via customized vertical and horizontal collimators. Mice were stratified into 3 groups: 1) control/sham radiation; 2) conventional dose rate (17Gy at ~ 0.5Gy/sec); and 3) FLASH (16-18Gy at 42-70Gy/sec). Mice were observed for dermatitis. Lung tissue was harvested post-radiation (1-hour, 5-days, 1-month, 3-months, 6-months). H&E and immunohistochemistry was performed for: yH2aX, cleaved caspase-3, and trichrome. Results: Radiation dermatitis was different between FLASH and conventional groups: FLASH (grade 0-1 ¼ ~ 90%, grade 2 ¼ ~ 10%); conventional (grade 0-1 ¼ ~ 40%; grade 2-3 ¼ ~ 60%) [Figure 1]. One-hour post radiation, lower cleaved caspase-3 IHC staining was seen in the FLASH group versus conventional group, while yH2aX staining was similar in both groups [Figure 2]. More lung airspace disease (fluid and inflammatory cells) was seen in the conventional group at 6-months. Conclusion: Preliminary results of mouse FLASH proton radiation from a 50 MeV beam suggest FLASH proton radiation leads to less normal tissue toxicity than conventional dose rate radiation. More studies are ongoing. Experimental setup: The HollandPTC R&D room is equipped with a fixed horizontal beam line providing beam from 70 up to 240 MeV, and intensities from 1 to 800 nA. The room can provide single pencil beam and large fields with 98% beam uniformity and Spread-Out-Bragg Peak (SOBP) produced with 2D passive modulators. Recently, the maximum energy of 250MeV has been released in the R&D room for FLASH applications. The full beam characterisation has been performed together with absolute dose measurements. Results: A 43% transmission efficiency of the ProBeam cyclotron is achieved at a 250 MeV energy. This resulted in a current of around 300 nA at target position. The beam spot size has a standard deviation of 3.6 mm. The fluence rate was found to be 8e6 protons/cm 2 s, more than a factor of 100 with respect to conventional beams. To further characterise the 250 MeV proton beam at maximum beam current a specific integral monitor chamber is currently under commissioning in collaboration with the company DE.TEC.TOR. Different cutting-edge solutions are adopted for the ionisation chambers to cope with FLASH intensities and minimise the recombination effects.The device is also equipped with X-Y strip ionisation chambers to measure beam size and position. compare out-of-field dosimetry in proton, neutron, and photon radiotherapy with a 3D printed anthropomorphic phantom created using a non-ionizing surface scan. Methods: We used a 3D printed phantom and tissue-equivalent chamber to measure absorbed dose in a phantom constructed from surface imaging of a female volunteer. Absorbed dose was measured in locations approximating the isocenter, thyroid, pacemaker, esophagus, and fetus positions. Square intracranial fields ranging from 2.8cm 2 to 12.8cm 2 were delivered using 6 MV flattened and flattening-filter-free (FFF) photon therapy, magnetically scanned layered proton therapy, and 50.5 MeV proton generated fast neutron therapy. out-of-field dose. For field was small but measurable with of esophagus and fetus proton therapy which measured dose not distinguishable from to proton out-of-field dose 6 MV FFF photon 60% 30% pacemaker. Out-of-field dose FFF out-of-field dose than conventional fields. Out-of-field dose in all locations. Our that out-of-field absorbed dose is reduced in magnetically scanned proton therapy more than photon and is in neutron radiotherapy. In each modality distance from the field edge the magnitude the out-of-field dose. Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of range uncertainty in conjunction with setup errors on dose-averaged linear energy transfer (LET d ) distribution in robustly optimized pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton lung plans. Additionally, the variability of LET d distribution in different breathing phases of 4DCT data set was evaluated. Methods : In this study, we utilized the 4DCT data set of an anonymized lung patient. The tumor motion was approximately 6 mm. A PBS lung plan was generated in RayStation using a robust optimization technique (range uncertainty: 6 3.5% and setup errors: 6 5 mm) on the CTV for a total dose of 7000 cGy(RBE) in 35 fractions. The average RBE was 1.1. The LET d distributions


Two vacuum interrupters in the series have been subjected to testing, and the surface of their contacts has been thoroughly examined. The obtained results are related to the vacuum interrupter of another type tested earlier. It has been established that the character of the work surface melting is not affected by the contact geometry, or load current or the number of switching operations.


Two real-world problems of the medical domain are addressed in this work using a novel approach belonging to the area of neural-symbolic systems. Specifically, we apply evolutionary techniques for the development of neural logic networks of arbitrary length and topology. The evolutionary algorithm is consisted of grammar guided genetic programming using cellular encoding for the representation of neural logic networks into population individuals. The application area is consisted of the diagnosis of patient postoperative treatment and the diagnosis of the Breast cancer. The extracted solutions maintain their interpretability into simple and comprehensible logical rules. The overall system is shown capable to generate arbitrarily connected and interpretable evolved solutions leading to potential knowledge extraction.


The electrical conductivity of Ge films is traced during and after pulsed medium power laser irradiation (≲1 kW/pulse, 10−6‐sec pulse duration). A model is given which allows one to understand the physical processes involved in laser‐induced crystallization, namely, the influence of the film‐substrate interface on nucleation, crystal size, and crystal growth.


Photograph of the train station in Jal, New Mexico. The Jal Depot was located just north of what is now Merryman Avenue and was torn down in the mid to late 1970s. Text on the image says "[sic] Texas-New Mexico Depot Jal, New Mexico." Written below the picture is "Jal, New Mexico Oct. 1964" and "H. D. Conner."


The present study aimed to check the sand flies' fauna on the municipality of Lassance, Minas Gerais, Brazil and detect the presence of Leishmania DNA on the female captured and determine the risk areas of the municipality. Sand flies were collected monthly from May 2018 to April 2019 using automatic light traps for 3 consecutive nights. Eight houses were selected as sample points due its previous reports of tegumentary leishmaniasis and/or canine leishmaniasis. The sand fly's fauna found on the present study it's represented by several medical importance species and the most abundant species found were Lutzomyia longipalpis (77.09%) and Nyssomyia intermedia (10.06%). Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in a pool of Lu. longipalpis resulting on a 2.81% of infection rate. By the frequency of the two most abundant species on this study, we developed a risk area map and it draws attention to sample point 6 due to disparate abundance of sand flies at this site (81.81%). Statistical overview shows Lu. longipalpis as dominant species and, still, Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling analysis reveal high similarity on fauna's diversity on the study area. Our findings suggest that the diversity of sand flies from the municipality of Lassance may promote the circulation of Leishmania infantum parasites putting in risk the habitants and other mammal's species. Still, our study reinforces the necessity of specific studies focused on breed sites of phlebotomine and its' ecology to expand the knowledge about the behaviour of this group of insects applying directly to leishmaniases' epidemiology.


Background/Aims: Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening appears to play a key role in myocardial cell survival after ischemia-reperfusion injury and can be inhibited by cyclosporin A (CsA). We investigated whether low-dose CsA added to histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) cardioplegia solution could improve myocardial protection during longer periods of global myocardial ischemia as encountered during cardiac surgery. Methods: Rabbit hearts perfused on a Langendorff apparatus were arrested with cold HTK solution containing 1 µmol/l CsA. After 90 min of ischemia, the hearts were reperfused and pmax, max dp/dt, min dp/dt, myocardial stiffness, pO2, coronary flow and heart rate recorded. Tissue ATP and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to assess cell energy content and oxidative stress, respectively. Results: CsA-treated hearts recovered pmax (p = 0.026), max dp/dt (p = 0.028) and min dp/dt (p = 0.025) more quickly and to a greater extent than non-treated hearts. They required markedly less oxygen (p = 0.041) in the first 10 min of reperfusion. Hearts treated with CsA produced 44% less MDA (1.09 vs. 1.93, p = 0.008), while ATP levels were unchanged. Conclusions: HTK cardioplegia solution containing CsA at a dose well below that expected to cause systemic immunosuppressive effects leads to a significant and timelier recovery of myocardial contractility, while consuming less oxygen.


Objective To study the indication and microsurgical skill of the extended subfrontal epidual approach to resect skull base tumors in middle region.Methods 16 cases of skull base tumors in middle region treated microsurgically were analyzed retrospectively.Results Total resection was achieved in 13 patients,gross resection in 3 patient.There was no complication in all cases.Conclusion This approach is appropriate to remove the skull base tumors in middle region.The microsurgical skill,the repairation of dura,and the skull base reconstruction are the main factors that affect the operative outcome.


Preparation of packed capillary columns with supercritical carbon dioxide as the packing carrier is demonstrated; column performance was evaluated by both HPLC and SFC. It is shown that this procedure yields excellent column performance. The density of the packed bed can be controlled by varying the restrictor dimensions and the packing pressure. Column preparation using a supercritical fluid is more rapid than with liquid slurry packing and yields good column stability. Because supercritical fluids have a wider range of viscosities and velocities, in comparison with gases and liquids, a wide choice of packing conditions is available. Several applications of columns packed by this method are presented.


This review is for Manuscript ID: hess-2018-214, entitled Evaluating Residual Error Approaches for Post-processing Monthly and Seasonal Streamflow Forecasts, authored by Fitsum Woldemeskel and coauthors. With this manuscript the authors' aim is to evaluate different residual error models, including logarithmic (Log), Log-Sinh, and Box-Cox transformation schemes, for postprocessing monthly and seasonal streamflow forecasts. Overall, the postprocessed streamflow forecasts demonstrate skillful, reliable and sharper forecasts compared to the uncorrected forecasts. Furthermore, postprocessor employing the Box-Cox transformation scheme demonstrate the sharpest forecasts, without sacrificing skill and reliability. This manuscript is generally clear, however, it reads like a book chapter rather than a journal article. I believe the results


The article introduces the concept of sustainability and its application to the building industry. Sustainability is a holistic approach to protecting the environment. Sustainable buildings or structures are those that meet specified building performance requirements while minimizing disturbance to and improving the functioning of local, regional, and global ecosystems both during and after its construction and service life. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Subcommittee on Sustainability, a subcommittee of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings, has issued standards addressing terminology (E2114, Standard Terminology for Sustainability Relative to the Performance of Buildings) and selection of products used in buildings (E2129 Standard Practice for Data Collection for Sustainability Assessment of Building Products). The conservation of energy and resources during construction and service of buildings is a sustainability concern. The use of alternative building materials, such as adobe or rammed earth, is discussed. An example is disclosed where earth for building the walls of a rammed earth building came from the excavation for an on-site underground parking garage.


A novel all fiber interleave filter using Mach Zehnder based sampled fiber gratings was proposed and fabricated. The operation principle of this device was introduced, and its performances were analyzed mathematically. In this proposed interleaver, the splitter ratio of coupler, the spectrum of sampled fiber grating and path length difference of two arms are the three key parameters that decide the performances of the interleaver. The interleaver demonstrates channel spacing of 100 GHz.


Ghee is an important constituent of Indian meal. Ghee is prepared using different methods. The SNF part of cream was coagulated out during ghee preparation is known as ghee residue.  The present research work was carried out to compare ghee residue obtained from direct cream and creamery butter method of ghee preparation. Ghee yield was higher from creamery butter method in comparison to direct cream method, whereas ghee residue content was higher in direct cream method in comparison to creamery butter method. Ghee residue was utilized for preparation of candy, chocolate and burfi. On the basis of sensory evaluation candy, chocolate and burfi had sensory scores of 7.92, 7.77 and 7.12 points for overall acceptability on 9 point hedonic scale and liked by the panel of judges. Storage study of the products packed in polyethylene bags and glass containers revealed significant changes in free fatty acid from 1.400 to 1.531% and 1.410 to 1.558%, respectively in case of candy, 0.939 to 1.043%, and 0.930 to 1.108%, respectively in case of chocolate and 1.128 to 1.249% and 1.128 to 1.278%, respectively in case of burfi, however, increase remained within desirable limits upto 30 days.


His work consists of about sixty prints, of which 170 states are known. Less than twenty paintings are thus far known by him. But from the inventories of his time we may conjecture that more will turn up in due course, for thirty-three paintings were owned by an Amsterdam dealer in 1640, while Rembrandt owned eight and Jan van Capelle five. The present painting is the second to find its way into an American museum collection; there is another small landscape in the Johnson Collection, Philadelphia. W. R. Valentiner 1 Acc. No. 38.68. Canvas. Dimensions: Height : 15%"; Width'. 25". Presented by the Founders Society from the General Membership and Donations Fund. The best account ofHercules Seghers is by Eduard Trautscholdt, in Thieme-Becker, Künstlerlexikon, 1936.


The geometrical tolerance verification of machined part is a process composed of a set of inspection procedures and rules that are complex, tedious and slow. The methods and instruments used to inspect geometrical tolerance of the parts are quite conventional and require a high skill and knowledge to assess the quality of the machined parts. For this reason, this research develop a method to effectively perform the inspection process by recommending non-contact approach using machine vision and new simple mathematical models that can be used for the creation of an inspection system to assist in the verification of an important form tolerance of machined parts. The main goal of this research is to develop method and procedure of roundness measurement that are simple to implement but at the same time is fast and effective to provide reliable technique that help the metrologist to make evaluation for the inspected parts.


Abstract This study examined variables hypothesized to influence behavioral intentions of visitors to frontcountry areas managed by the USDA Forest Service. Data were obtained over a stratified 12-month sampling period (n = 281). Analyses revealed that visitor attitudes toward perceived effectiveness of Leave No Trace practices and perceptions of difficulty of practice were statistically significant predictors of behavioral intentions. Forest Service managers may be successful in influencing visitors' behavioral intentions by utilizing communication efforts that focus on the effectiveness of practices, the ease of practice, and the overall appropriateness of practicing Leave No Trace when visiting frontcountry areas.


This article explores the current development of the right to social assistance as well as its potential for improving income support policies. Focusing on Article 13 of the European Social Charter (ESC), it aims to shed light on the content of such provision by identifying a list of comprehensive defining standards from the monitoring activity conducted by the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR). Secondly, it asks whether the right can effectively enhance access to social assistance in practice by studying the implementation of the right in two national cases, the UK and Spain. The article concludes that Article 13 ESC imposes clear obligations on States Parties regarding aspects of the implementation of assistance schemes, such as the level of assistance and the right to appeal. Nevertheless, practical aspects of implementation should be taken into account for the effective realisation of the right. The ESC provisions, as well as the ECSR's Conclusions, should be enforced by States at the national level. Furthermore, the standards developed by the ECSR for Article 13 can be complemented by recommendations currently suggested by civil society, such as the increased flexibility of activation measures for households with parenting duties, and the splitting of payments to achieve financial independence.


The rapid development of digital technology infrastructure in the People's Republic of China together with the government's recent support of grassroots innovation has led to a growing mood of techno-nationalism, as well as a feeling that digital technology can play an important role in renovating China's international image. Powerful internet companies are challenging the dominance of traditional state-owned media. Cultural products are digitized, distributed and consumed on online platforms. Such platforms offer consumers a choice of content through subscription, either free or paid. With China's media and culture striving to 'go out' (zou chuqu), typified by CCTV and Confucius Institutes, we pose the question: can China use the 'digital power' of the Internet to achieve international recognition as an 'innovative nation' or will the internet perpetuate a stereotype of China as a copycat nation?


Under strong winds, the effect of sudden windbreak transition (WT) on high-speed trains is severe, leading to a deterioration of train aerodynamics and sudden yawing motion of the car body. To address these problems, based on a high-speed train and the specific geometric conditions derived from Xinjiang railway, first, the impact of a WT on the train and reasons for sudden changes in aerodynamic forces were determined by flow structural analysis. Furthermore, based on a multibody system dynamic model, the dynamic responses to WT were analysed. The results show that the impacts of WT were the strongest on the head car. WT had a strong effect on the train due to the unreasonable structural shape and the insufficient height of the windbreak in the transition region. This led to a strong push effect on the train; subsequently, the train's dynamic characteristics deteriorated.


Potato is an important product in Colombian agriculture. About 10% of total production is lost due to partial damages incurred during the processes of harvest, storage and transport, and to imperfections in form, color and size, which are undesirable for the food industry and fresh consumption in the market. On the other hand, the production costs of this crop have been increasing in recent years. The exploitation of remnants of potato crops for the production of bioethanol and bioplastics is therefore a viable solution to address these problems. In this review we assess the situation of potato crop in Colombia, the perspectives of bioethanol as a high-impact product for the economy of our country, and the advantages that potato starch offers in the production of alcohol and other materials, such as bioplastics. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________


An object of the present invention is for performing fine adjustment of the lifting force of the upper electrode. A plasma processing apparatus comprising a support member and a contact member and a sliding member. Support member is partially disposed in the cooling plate, it supports the top electrode in the direction of gravity. Contact member is partially disposed in the cooling plate extends in a radial direction of the cooling plate, and engaged with the support member. A sliding member by sliding the contact members in the radial direction inner side of the cooling plate, the pushed up the support member in an upward direction, thereby lifting the upper electrode to the cooling plate.


This paper studies will FGS coding technology and P2P streaming media best combination.FGS will be a basic source coding layer and enhancement layer.Strengthens the basic layer information through the enhancement layer.Its expandable manifests in may act according to the transmission band width transmission random length the code class,but the receiving end decoder can achieve receives how many to decode how many,bit several which reduces is affected the demonstration quality,does not have other influences to the decoder,a transmission class bit number are more,then the video frequency demonstration quality is better.Thus each user can be greatly enhanced by the acceptance of video quality,at last,through exemplification,we describe a better method to solve the asynchronism and heterogeneity.


The present invention provides a liquid crystal module packaging bag, comprising: a liquid crystal module (10) front front unit (2) and (10) located at the back of the rear surface of the liquid crystal module unit (4), the front unit (2) a thickness greater than the thickness of the rear unit (4). LCD module packaging bag of the present invention, by thickening the liquid crystal module front the front section, the effective protection of the liquid crystal module, while avoiding the conventional adhesive tape pattern Chinese and American packaging process, simplifies the packaging process, increase packaging efficiency and reduce packaging costs.


In the published article the mathematical model of dynamics of multifactor economic development of the company formed by two industries, according to which as a result of modernization of production factors, the new production displaces the old. The balance equations of such two-component system are described by coupled nonlinear differential equations. It is shown that the maximum efficiency of such an enterprise is shown in incomplete expulsion of the old production.


We have developed an intelligent authentication system for highly confidential data. Our aim is to provide the user with a most secure authentication according to the condition. Normally authentication is based on the biometric Thumb/Finger Detection or Eris Scan considered as most secure way for authentication, but as in the war like condition there may be chance where authorities may be forced to give authentication for system. In such cases where data might be important and life maters too. Here actually we worked on, we have developed an Intelligent Authentication System which is adaptive in nature and can be efficiently used for data security purpose. We are using same biometric mean for normal authentication but in case of emergency we are using a gesture to intimate a system that it has to change its working nature.


In Romania the term entrepreneurship became popular after 1990 when private capital companies were brought under regulation. In this context, the terms used in this paper come to supplement or to emphasize the elements necessary to assess the entrepreneurial phenomenon. Thus, in the first part of the paper we have presented besides an evolution of the term "entrepreneur", a classification according to classical theories, such as the one belonging to Adam Smith, as well as current classifications regarding changes in the business environment, namely the exponential growth of businesses in online field due to the Internet. At the end of the paper we have presented a statistical analysis of the entrepreneurial phenomenon in Romania and on European or international level, according to several criteria, such as attitude towards entrepreneurship and the development of a business, age groups and the attitude towards entrepreneurship, the reasons that influence the development of a business, etc.


Background Nucleolar organizer regions are parts of chromosomes that code ribosomal RNA and correlate to cellular proliferation. They have been identified by means of an argyrophilic technique that reveals NORs as black dots in the nuclei. The method has been recently applied in some malignancies, as lymphoma or melanoma. Only few investigations on  hormonal-dependent tumours have been published. Our aim was to investigate on the total number of AgNORs and cell type of endometrial tumors. Material and Methods We studied 21 cases of formalin fixed paraffin embedded endometrial tumors including hyperplasia. The number of AgNORs was counted in both epithelial and stromal components. A total of 13 cases were benign and 8 malignant lesions.  Results The total number of AgNORs was found to correlate with mitotic counts both in benign lesions and malignancies. The mean number of AgNORs increased from 2.79 in simple endometrial hyperplasia to 10.0 in adenocarcinoma. Conclusions Our data indicate that the AgNORs visualization can assist to differentiate between different malignancy grades of endometrial proliferations, especially between complex endometrial hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia as well as endometrial adenocarcinomas.


Achieving representative, timely recruitment to acute stroke trials is challenging, yet little research has explored the factors determining whether or not stroke patients agree to participate in clinical research. This prospective study collected survey data from 200 acute stroke patients (or their consultees) from two NHS Trusts in the West Midlands to determine the influence of sociodemographic, clinical or attitudinal factors on decision-making about trial participation. Respondents were offered either a real or hypothetical trial.

128 respondents (64%) agreed to trial participation. Few measurable factors were associated with decision-making, although patients able to consent for themselves were more likely to agree participation than consultees deciding on their behalf. Participation decisions may be strongly influenced by attitudes and perceptions about trial research rather than sociodemographic factors. Participants who perceived their stroke severity to be moderate or severe were significantly more likely to agree to trial participation. Respondents offered a real trial were almost six times more likely to participate than those offered a hypothetical trial. Disparities were found between self-rated stroke severity and clinician assessed NIHSS scoring.

Acute stroke trial recruitment would benefit from recruitment strategy planning and training if trials are to produce timely findings based on representative patient samples.