Pulse radiolysis of aqueous monophenyl phosphate was carried out at pH values between 0.3 and 13.5. The rate constants with the primary products of water radiolysis were measured, and kinetic absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the spectra and reactions of the transients. The primary reactions and the spectroscopic characteristics of the radicals produced by the attack of H and OH are mainly determined by the aromatic moiety of the phenyl phosphate molecule. The subsequent reactions, however, are markedly influenced by the phosphate group. The rate of bimolecular decay of OH- and H-adducts is exceptionally low at pH > 6; in neutral and alkaline solutions, no unimolecular elimination of either H2O or inorganic phosphate from adducts occurs on the time scale of pulse radiolysis measurements. Rapid elimination processes are only possible from OH-adducts in acid medium (pH ( 3). Under these conditions, phenoxyl radicals and a previously unreported transient absorption with Xmax = 420 nm and first-order decay are observed. The latter is tentatively assigned to the phenyl phosphate radical formed from OH-adducts by H20 elimination.


An intermediate image beta ray spectrometer has been constructed using the two magnets from two thin lens spectrometers, previously i n use i n t h i s laboratory. A surface b a r r i e r type detector replaces the s c i n t i l l a t o r -photomultiplier arrangement used before, r e s u l t i n g i n greatly reduced background noise. The performance of t h i s spectrometer i s considerably better than the two i t replaces, having resolutions of 0 . 5 1 % , 0 . 7 % , 0 .94 % and 2.2 7o at transmissions of 0 .49 % , 0 .96 % , 1.26 % and 5 .96 %. The normal energy range i s from 25 Kev, to 1 .5 Mev but i t can be extended to 2 .0 Mev with some loss of transmission. 154 An examination of the beta spectrum of Eu was c a r r i e d out with t h i s instrument. A Kurie pl o t of the continuum has been made and s i x primary beta groups found with end point energies of 1.866 Mev, 1 .198 Mev , 0 .976 Mev , 0 .843 Mev , 0 .579 Mev , and 0.274 Mev with r e l a t i v e abundances of 10 .8 %. 0 . 6 7 % , 4 .6 % , 17 .0 7o, 3 7 . 8 %, and 2 9 . 1 %. Both end-points and r e l a t i v e i n t e n s i t i e s are i n excellent agreement with data from other workers.


Immediately after her sexual assault examination at a local hospital, the victim drove to a nearby drugstore to fill her prescription for the morning after pill to prevent her from becoming pregnan...


Paper provides a historical overview and legal framework of the development of continuing education for librarians in Croatia. Characteristics of Training Center for Continuing Education for Librarians in Croatia are compared to the Training centre network - TCN-LIS in Eastern Europe and Central Azia. Performance indicators of the Croatian Training Center for Continuing Education for Librarians indicate specific tendencies of development of structured centralized system for continuous learning in the field of library and information science in Croatia.


Objective : To evaluate the effects of arthroscopic meniscal repair using the method of modified verdical outside-in suture.Methods: Forty-six patients were underwent arthroscopic meniscal suture for repairing of tears. Results: All the patients were followed up for 6 to 26 months with an average period of 15 months, postoperatively.The painness of all patients was released ,the interlocked symptom of arthrosis was disappeared, postoperatively. The results were excellent in 37 cases , good in 6 cases,fair in 3 cases according to Dong's evaluation standard. The excellent and good rate was 93.5%. Conclusion:It is a simple and effective means of arthroscopic meniscal modified verdical outside-in suture to treat meniscal injuries and easy to operate.It can provide the exact coaptation and firm fixation to healing of the meniscal tear.


We challenge the hypothesis of the efficient frontier portfolios by using network approach. In a small-world network interacting agents decide upon the portfolio selection solely upon past returns. Simulation results indicate that agents are capable of forming the efficient frontier, whereas portfolios from the efficient frontier are also the most consistently selected. Introduction of suspicious agents who may depart from seemingly the most promising portfolios resulted in the larger risk that these agents were ready to bear that also significantly attenuated the level of consistence of choices.


An efficient numerical method is developed to solve for the periodic motion of a simple, forced mechanical oscillator. The physical system consists of a mass executing transverse oscillations on the mid-line between two opposing parallel walls, and subject both to a periodic forceas well as restraining forces due to Hookean springs attached to the walls. The governing second-order differential equation is therefore nonlinear and nonautonomous. The numerical solutions computed display a wide range of nonlinear behaviour, including resonances, folds, and symmetry-breaking bifurcations. Solution profiles and phase-plane orbits of high accuracy are presented, and their stability to infinitesimal perturbations is determined automatically by the solution technique, using a numerical implementation of Floquet theory.


The geometrical parameters of annular centrifugal contactors (ACCs) have an important influence on the extraction efficiency. The present work used a home-made 25 mm ACC constructed by 3D printing to investigate the effect of five geometrical parameters on the extraction efficiency. These parameters are annular width (d), clearance height (Hc), rotor inlet diameter (Din), bottom vane number (N), and the bottom vane's bending direction (S). Central composite design was employed to design the experiment, and the response surface methodology was used to analyze the data. The results show that Hc and Din were positive for efficiency, while d and N were negative. When the bottom vane's bending direction was the same as the liquid helical flow direction, the efficiency improved compared to the straight vane. It is found that 3 mm d, 5 mm Hc, 6 mm Din, and four clockwise covered vanes are the parameters where the efficiency reached the highest point of 94.5%. We analyzed the interactions between the parameters based on the coefficients of the quadratic equation, and the interactions were not considered in previous studies. This work surprisingly reveals that the effects of the parameters on the extraction efficiency were not independent, and there were interactions between the parameters. The interaction between the rotor inlet diameter and annular width was significant and could not be ignored. These results could serve as a reference for optimizing extraction processes and the design of ACCs.


The posting of bridges for maximum allowable loads should allow for the safe continued use of existing bridges without unnecessary restrictions. The mechanism for determining load postings must minimize risk to the structure and maximize the benefits for the user by considering economic as well as engineering factors. A rational policy is essential to maximize the remaining service life of existing bridges and to protect the bridge owner's capital investment. The method developed here to determine bridge postings will span the gap between current inventory and operating load levels of AASHTO. It will provide more than one stress level for evaluation and be flexible in the decision-making process by balancing risk and safety levels and taking structural redundancy, load variations, permit operations, load enforcement, and level of inspection into account. This method will help raise the load posting level of deficient bridges and at the same time reduce the risk of bridge failure. The method is equally applicable to reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, structural steel, and timber. Equivalent load factors are identified for use with load factor method (LFM).


BACKGROUND: Women are known to be at high risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its associated cervical pathology. However, limited data are available on circulating genotypes, especially among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative women. Therefore, the present study was designed to gauge the prevalence of HPV genotypes in HIV-negative women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 96 HIV-negative women in the age range of 18–45 years. Cervical samples were collected from the transformation zone of the cervix using the deoxyribonucleic acid collection device (cytobrush), which was rinsed in 20 ml of PreservCyt® vial (Hologic, Inc.). HPV genotyping was done with the linear array HPV genotyping test (Roche, Branchburg, NJ, USA) at National Aids Research Institute, Pune. RESULTS: A significant linear increasing trend in proportion of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic genotypes over grade was observed (P = 0.039 and P = 0.0024, respectively). HPV 59 was reported to be the most common genotype followed by 16, 53, 62, and 72 but without any statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Screening strategies incorporating HPV genotyping and vaccination should be effective in preventing cervical cancer in HIV-negative women.


An array of square antennas is used to detect cancerous tumors in the human brain. The antennais made in such a way as to have dimensions that are just right for practical usage. A polyimide substrate with a permittivity of2.4 and the antenna is made of material with a thickness of1.6 millimeters. Polyimide is used as a substrate due to its low tangent loss, dielectric constant, flexibility, dimensional stability, thermal stability, and high-temperature stability. It reverberates at (2.24GHz-2.43GHz). For the purpose of simulation, a human brain phantom model has been created. The phantom human head is placed with an antenna on top, comprising four homogenous layers with varying electrical properties: brain, fat, bone, and skin. The HFSS software was used tocreate the model mentioned above. The tumor is positioned in several places on the phantom of a human head. Rotating the antenna array while scanning the head will reveal the tumor's location. Antenna arrays are designed to transmit sufficient energy to pierce through brain tissue. The ability of antenna to change its polarization in the 3 GHz operating band has been confirmed by the measured results. The proposed antenna is reasonable for S-band.


This article discusses forced-degradation techniques and exposure studies on ibuprofen (IBP) bulk drug and IBP tablets and describes how the results were used to determine the specificity, selectivity, and the stability-indicating nature of the USP IBP assay method. The authors justify the use of the method for quantitation of IBP content and the limit of 4-IBAP in stability samples exposed to conditions stated in the stability protocol.


Abstract Background In phase III trials, the results of ipilimumab plus nivolumab combination therapy (IPI+NIVO) are promising for metastatic melanoma (MM), despite many treatment-related grade 3-4 adverse events (AEs). Here, we report real-world outcomes of IPI+NIVO for MM. Methods Patients with (non-uveal) MM who received 1st-line IPI+NIVO between 2015 and 2017 were selected from the Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry, a nation-wide population based registry. Probability of 2nd-line treatment was estimated with competing risk analysis and overall survival (OS) with Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Results In total, 2116 pts with MM were treated with systemic therapy of which 151 pts with 1st-line IPI+NIVO. Median age was 58yrs versus 64yrs for pts treated with other systemic therapy in 1st-line. Half of the pts treated with 1st-line IPI+NIVO had elevated LDH, 90% an ECOG PS of ≤ 1, 32% brain metastases (21% symptomatic), 87% stage IV-M1c and 42% had BRAF-mutated melanoma. Grade 3-4 AEs occurred in 90 pts (60%); 39 (26%) had colitis, 37 (25%) hepatitis and 22 (13%) endocrine insufficiency. No deaths due to AEs were reported. For 66 pts who stopped IPI+NIVO because of AEs, 1-yr survival probability was 76% (95%CI: 66-87) compared to 57% (95%CI: 47-69) for the remaining 85 (56%) patients treated with 1st-line IPI+NIVO. A total of 50 (33%) pts completed all 4 courses of IPI+NIVO and 44 (29%) pts received maintenance with NIVO. The 1- and 2-yr OS probabilities (95%CI) were 66% (58-74%) and 55% (46-65%). Probability of still being in 1st-line IPI+NIVO at 1- and 2-yrs was 50% (95%CI; 42-59) and 34% (95%CI; 25-45). Cumulative incidence for 2nd-line treatment and death at 1yr were respectively 24% (95%CI: 18-33) and 27% (95%CI: 20-34). Adjusted HR for ECOG PS of ≥ 2, symptomatic brain metastases, liver metastases were respectively 3.1 (95%CI; 1.2-8.3), 2.0 (95%CI; 1.0-3.8), 2.2 (95%CI; 1.2-4.2). HR for BRAF-wildtype status was 0.5 (95%CI; 0.2-0.9). Conclusions Half of pts receiving 1st-line IPI+NIVO for MM had elevated LDH, one third brain metastases and a majority ECOG PS ≤ 1. Nevertheless, OS is encouraging especially in pts who stopped treatment due to AEs. With appropriate patient selection in real-world, promising results can be achieved with 1st-line IPI+NIVO. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure A.J.M. van den Eertwegh: Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen. A.C.J. van Akkooi: Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen; Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD - Merck; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD - Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy: 4SC. J.W. de Groot: Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck. G.A.P. Hospers: Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck. E. Kapiteijn: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Pierre Fabre; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck. K.P.M. Suijkerbuijk: Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Honoraria (institution), Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Pierre Fabre; Honoraria (institution): Roche. A.A.M. Van der Veldt: Advisory / Consultancy: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Pierre Fabre; Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy: Sanofi; Advisory / Consultancy: Ipsen. J.B.A.G. Haanen: Advisory / Consultancy: Amgen; Advisory / Consultancy: AZ; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Advisory / Consultancy: Bayer; Advisory / Consultancy: Celsius Therapeutics; Advisory / Consultancy: GSK; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche/Genentech; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): MSD; Advisory / Consultancy: Merck Serono; Advisory / Consultancy: Sanofi; Advisory / Consultancy: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy: Seattle Genetics; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Neon Therapeutics; Advisory / Consultancy: AIMM; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Immunocore. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


This paper investigates the finite-time synchronization (FETS) issue for a class of chaotic neural networks with time delays via event-triggered intermittent control. The event-triggered intermittent controller, in which intermittent instants are not predesigned, is explored to achieve FETS for delayed chaotic neural networks (DCNNs). By utilizing finite-time theory and constructing Lyapunov functional, several sufficient conditions for FETS are obtained under the designed control scheme. Meanwhile, the Zeno behavior is excluded. Our results about FETS criterion are new and valid, and enrich some of the existing results. In the end, numerical simulation verifies the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis.


We have prepared thin ordered NiO(100) films by evaporation of Ni in an O2 atmosphere onto Ag(100). The films have been analyzed by using scanning tunneling microscopy and low‐energy electron diffraction. For room temperature deposition a c(1×2) Ni/O Ag structure in two orthogonal domains is obtained in the submonolayer coverage range. Annealing such a film produces regular islands with NiO(100) double layers. For higher coverage (five monolayers) a layer‐by‐layer‐like growth mode is obtained.


The present invention, 5,6-dimethyl hexane tenon-4 compound and NSAIDs acetic acid (DMXAA) wherein such compound of xanthenone acetic classes such as (I), about synergistic combination of diclofenac with antitumor activity especially. More particularly, the present invention includes a such a combination of applications in the treatment of cancer, and to a pharmaceutical composition containing a combination.


rr^he subject of the lecture was supposed to be The Super Powers and the Indian Ocean. I apologize to all those who have come here expecting precise answers to the problems that the super powers pose to the future of the Indian Ocean. I can certainly understand if some among you—not too many I hope—would prefer to leave the room. Now I close my eyes; those of you who are not interested in the subject may leave. I would then talk to those of you who remain on International Security and the Dangers of Nuclear Proliferation. I think that the choice of subject was deliberate. It was also a correct choice because we are faced with a problem that I think is going to preoccupy us indefinitely. The problem is going to become increas ingly important in almost every aspect of life; not just in the military security field but also in the fields of politics, economics, sociology and technology. Therefore, I think that it is very important—from time to time—to concentrate our minds on these problems. That does not mean that I will give you all the answers. The subject is much too complex and, at any rate, I was asked to deal with it only twenty four hours ago. If there are some aspects I have left out, or on which I am not sufficiently documented, I beg you for your indulgence.


Along with the emergence of antibiotic resistance, the steady decline in the discovery of new antibiotics creates one of the greatest current threats to human health. Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been designed to monitor and improve the appropriateness of antibiotic use, which has been shown to be beneficially associated with patient outcomes, adverse events, resistance rates and costs. Current guidelines provide recommendations on three "building blocks" for successful stewardship stewardship prerequisites, stewardship objectives and improvement strategies. This thesis was divided into three main parts: First, we systematically developed a survey based on these three building blocks for ASPs and evaluated the current state of ASP in acute care hospitals in four European countries: the Netherlands, Slovenia, France and Italy. Second, we performed a cluster-randomized multicenter study to assess the difference in effect on length of hospital stay (LOS) and days of antibiotic therapy (DOT) between three recommended methods to measure and feedback information on hospital antibiotic use, when used as the first step of a stewardship intervention. Subsequently, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis alongside the cluster-randomized multicenter study. Third, we applied a modified-RAND Delphi procedure to systematically develop a set of four actionable quality indicators and one quantity metric for appropriate antibiotic use in adult ICUs, In addition, we developed an implementation toolbox, containing possible barriers that lead to poor performance on the selected indicators, and improvement strategies to overcome these specific barriers, with the aim to support stewardship actions aiming at increasing performance on antibiotic use. With this thesis we contributed to optimizing appropriate antibiotic use in hospitalized patients in order to reduce antibiotic resistance rates.


Though Jumbo frame was introduced with large payload size to mitigate the bottleneck of Ethernet frame in the gigabit network with continuous traffic, yet it is not ratified by any standardization committee. The performance of Jumbo frame has been explored by many researchers using TCP as transmission protocol, so we present experimentation on Jumbo frame and Ethernet frame on IPv4 and IPv6 network using UDP protocol. One-way-delay and jitter are measured for various jumbo size data packets on Windows 8 platform using D-ITG as the simulation tool. Our study reveals that Jumbo frame has low delay and jitter values than Ethernet frame for some packet sizes.


In complex system design, it is important to construct several design models focusing on different aspects of a system to gain a better understanding of individual component structure and behaviour. Scenarios of execution are commonly used to specify partial behaviour and interactions between a group of system objects or components. However, partial specifications may hide inconsistencies or an otherwise unintentionally incomplete or underspecified behavioural model. This paper proposes a new powerful technique combining constraint solvers and theorem provers to complete partial specifications and determine overall model inconsistencies. We use a true-concurrent model, namely labelled event structures, which can be used as the underlying semantics of widely used workflow or scenario-based languages. We show how an interplay between the theorem prover Isabelle and constraint solver Z3 can be used for detecting and solving partial specifications and inconsistencies over event structures.


: The emergence of smart environments built on top of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions demand new skills and knowledge for developers. Dealing with inherent complexity of IoT architecture, constrained device limitations, communication faults and vendor lock-in can be drawbacks for successful deploy of IoT projects. With the objective of sharing knowledge between IoT developers, OKIoT project focuses on project-oriented education in Short-term and Long-term modes based on Software Engineering methodology. First qualitative results on a 6-week course on MBA subject offering and a case study of an open architecture for smart speaker executed with 1-year mentoring of a capstone project are summarized. Future steps based on case studies insights are presented.


The silicon (Si) powder has received particular attention as an anode material of lithium rechargeable batteries, due to its higher gravimetric capacity (max. about 4000 mAh g) for the electrochemical reaction with lithium forming LiSi4.4.(1,2) The Li-Si may suffer severe expansion and contraction during alloying and dealloying by as much as 300% by volume. To overcome the mechanical stress occurred by such volume change during charging and discharging processes, the Si has been combined with a carbon or graphite to provide a buffering region against the electrode stresses. The Si powder (Aldrich, >100 nm) was blended with a pitch-coated graphite (Carbonix, XG-15A, D50=15 μm) varying the graphite composition as 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, and 50 wt.%. First, 15 g of blended powder and 150 g of Zr balls were added into a stainless steel jar (200 mL) under an Ar-filled glove box to avoid the oxidation of particle surfaces. Ball-milling was performed using a high-speed ball-mill (SPEX, TH1080) for 2 h with a periodic protocol of operation (15 min) and subsequent rest (5 min). Anode electrode was prepared by making viscous slurry consisting of blended powder as an active material, carbon black (Super P, Timcal) as a conductive agent, and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (Aldrich) as a polymer binder with a weight ratio of 80:5:15. The slurry was applied on a Cu foil (15 μm thick), dispersed using a doctor blade apparatus with the gap of 300 μm, dried at 120C for 2 h, and finally pressed using a double-roll press with a line pressure of 1000 kgf cm to yield an anode electrode sheet (about 45 μm thick excluding the Cu foil). Lithium half-cell was also fabricated by superimposing in sequence into an Al-pouch the anode electrode (2×2 cm), porous polyethylene separator (2.5×2.5 cm), and lithium metal foil (2.2×2.2 cm), injecting an electrolyte solution (1 M LiPF6 dissolved in an equal-volume mixture of ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate), and finally vacuum-sealing the Alpouch. Such the fabrication procedure was carried out under a moisture-free dry room, maintaining its dew point lower than -40C. The obtained graphite-Si milled composite anode was characterized by the crystalline property analysis by Xray diffraction, the morphology observation by scanning electron microscopy, the lowand high-rate redox behaviors by cyclic voltammetry, the repeated galvanostatic discharge-charge tests at low and high Crates, and the interfacial resistance analysis by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. As shown in Fig.1, the graphite suffers a severe loss of graphitic crystalline structure by the mechanical milling, which is reflected by great reductions in the peak intensities of C002 and C101 planes for the milled graphite. It indicates that the graphite component seems to behave like an amorphous carbon that can be expected to be a buffer domain for the mechanical stress occurred by large volume change of Si component during lithium alloying and dealloying. In contrast, main crystalline planes of Si component, e.g., Si111, Si220, and Si311, do not considerably affected by the variation of Si content. It means that the size and shape of Si nanoparticles does not change by the mechanical milling strength. It can also be expected that the Si nanoparticles may play a role of anode active material in their own crystalline phases, endurable to large volume changes during the electrochemical alloying and dealloying within the graphite-Si composite.


This study investigates whether higher input use per stay in the hospital (treatment intensity) and longer length of stay improve outcomes of care. We allow for endogeneity of intensity and length of stay by estimating a quasi-maximum-likelihood discrete factor model, where the distribution of the unmeasured variable is modeled using a discrete distribution. Data on elderly persons come from several waves of the National Long-Term Care Survey merged with Medicare claims data for 19841995 and the National Death Index. We find that higher intensity improves patient survival and some dimensions of functional status among those who survive.


The results of a 1990 soil survey of a salinized region in Darab Plain, southern Iran, were combined with soil sampling data taken in 2002 from the same locations and employed as a basis for salinity change detection in the region. New preprocessing of satellite imagery was used, along with statistical analysis of the digital number (DN)−salinity relationship, in order to determine salinization of the area. Removal of outliers on the basis of interfering land uses improved the correlations. Nonlinear regression (NLR) in the form y = a + bx α provided a suitable predictor of salinity (y, dS m−1) for both 1990 and 2002 based on DNs (x). Among the 12 tested methods of salinity classification in this study, the six salinity class method with intervals 0–4, 4–10, 10–32, 32–64, 64–80 and >80 dS m–1 was selected. A series of accuracy assessments through a trial-and-error procedure was the basis of the selection of the best method and led to a final accuracy of 91%. About 42% of the lands located on 'no saline' and 'low salinity' classes in 1990 had changed to the 'medium', 'very high' and 'new agricultural land' classes in 2002.


Boilers combustion global optimization on efficiency and low NOx emissions object is proposing operations on line for considering efficiency and low NOx emissions object simultaneously. According to this problem, Boilers efficiency and NOx emissions model precision and optimization algorithm efficiency are very important. Simulation studies on boilers efficiency and low NOx emissions object combustion global optimization are carried out by improved MRAN algorithm on combustion efficiency and low NOx emissions object and genetic algorithm on real coding. The results show improved MRAN algorithm and genetic algorithm on real coding are effective on efficiency and low NOx emissions object combustion optimization for the power station boilers. The proposed algorithms can get global optimum conditions of boilers efficiency and low NOx emissions object online for a certain object function.


The paper extends modified compression field theory (MCFT) so that it is more suitable for finite element implementation. The modifications eliminate the need to check that average concrete tensile stresses can be transmitted across the cracks. This is achieved by working strictly in terms of average stresses and strains for both the concrete and the reinforcing steel. Appropriate stress-versus-strain relationships are proposed which take into account the amount, size, distribution, and oreintation of the reinforcing steel. The effect of these modifications is an improvement in the simplicity and generality of MCFT with no loss of accuracy. The proposed constitutive model is implemented into a finite element formulation resulting in a powerful and efficient tool for the analysis of two-dimensional reinforced concrete structural elements.


Enhancement of the anti‐proliferative effect of human interferon (HuIFN) preparations (α, β and γ) by dipyridamole was detected in a human malignant melanoma cell line, MMICB, which we originally established. Cell growth was inhibited by HulFN alone, but a marked increase in inhibition was noted in vitro and in vivo when dipyrydamole was added. Cellular DNA synthesis, as dletermined by 3H‐deoxythymidine incorporation into the acid‐insoluble cellular fraction, was more inhibited by combined treatment than by any of the agents used alone. Two other melanoma cell lines that we established, MM‐2CB and MM‐3CB, also exhibited sensitivity to combined treatment both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the HMV‐I and SEKI melanoma cell lines were susceptible to the combination. Even non‐cytotoxic concentrations of dipyridamole could enhance the effect of HulFN on MM‐ICB, MM‐2CB, and SEKI cells.


The paper is an attempt to analyze the concept of philosophical dialogue in Ancient Greece. Ancient philosophical dialogue was situated in a particular historical context where no absolute distinction was made between self and other, meaning that individuals were not seen as isolated entities. Further, open dialogue was not seen as constituting the linguistic expression of pre-existing knowledge, but rather as a strategy of searching for truth. The paper argues that this awareness of the interactive, dialogical character of thinking and searching for knowledge, one of the greatest achievements of ancient Greek philosophy, can make an important contribution to contemporary critical psychological theorizing, because philosophical dialogue was not only considered a cognitive adventure, but a means to Jive a good and virtuous life and of achieve well-being. To put this argument into context this paper will present some similarities and differences between ancient philosophical dialogue and central contemporary dialogical theories (Bakhtin's dialogical approach, cultural-historical psychology). The ultimate aim then is to demonstrate the importance of ancient Greek philosophy for theoretical psychology and to promote a fresh dialogue between the past and present in theoretical psychology.


Fix an algebraically closed field k of characteristic p 4= 2,3. Let f:X---, C be a non-trivial Jacobian elliptic fibration defined over k with a base, a smooth projective curve C. In our consideration we always assume that f is relatively minimal and "Jacobian" means that f has a global section. Recall Shioda's formula as a special case of the Ogg-Shafarevich formula (cf. [6]). (1) r+p2= 4g(C) 4+2s-Sl where P2 denotes the so-called Lefschetz number (the difference between the 2-nd Betti number b2 and the Picard number p), r is the Mordell-Weil rank, s the number of singular fibres and s denotes the number of semi-stable singular fibres (i.e. of type I in the Kodaira-N6ron classification). Since P2 -> 0 (Igusa's inequality), so if C p1 then from (1) it is clear that s--> 2. On the other hand a non-trivial elliptic fibration over any base must have at least one singular fibres, because the moduli space of elliptic curves defined over k is Ak. It is known also that the case s--1 over an elliptic base is in fact realized. Note one more fact: if C p1 and f is nonisotrivial then s --> 3. This fact should be thought in a different context and in a more general situation (cf. [3]). From the classification below one obtains another proof of this fact: in other words, one sees that elliptic fibrations over p1 with s 2 are isotrivial. Theorem 1. In the situation above assume that K-S(f) 4= O. Then we have: A. In the case C p1 and s <_ 3: X is a rational or K3 surface. Furthermore one has the following complete list (for completeness isotrivial fibrations are also included). 1. Rational surfaces (s 2, r 0):


In this paper, we present a real-time prototype of a robot boxing game based on a novel interaction method which provides a simpler control for a miniature humanoid. Specifically, an upper body of the robot mimics a user's upper body motion, while a lower body of the robot moves autonomously towards a target object (an opponent robot). To the best of our knowledge this is the first robot boxing game which provides semi-autonomous control based on natural human motions. Questionnaire interview shows the users feel immersive gaming experience and companionship with the robot in the living room.


The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans can cause a variety of infections ranging from superficial mucosal infections to life threatening systemic infections with huge economical impact. C. albicans is found as a commensal in healthy individuals, were fungal overgrowth is restricted by epithelial barrier functions and by the immune system. In particular neutrophil granulocytes and IL17-dependent responses are relevant for fungal control both in murine and human hosts. If the immune system is compromised or epithelial barrier functions are breached, C. albicans can disseminate in the host leading to Candida septicemia with mortality rates up to 50%. There is an increasing prevalence of fungal infections due to increasing numbers of patients with immunosuppression and at the same time fungal isolates with resistance to the available antifungal drugs are on the rise. Our aim is to better understand the interaction between C. albicans and its host to be able to identify patients at risk and develop novel strategies for antifungal therapies. In particular, we are interested to understand the impact of the natural diversity of C. albicans on the outcome of the interaction with the host. For this we use a murine infection model and cell-based in vitro assays. Here we would like to discuss current advances in investigating the differences among C. albicans isolates that use distinct infection strategies, resulting in different levels of immune recognition and persistence in the host.


The electro-optic properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dots are studied in an external Mach-Zehnder interferometer setup. The InAs/GaAs quantum dots are found to increase modulation relative to bulk GaAs and exhibit an electro-optic coefficient of 26 pm/V.


Introduction 1. Overseas Chinese and Ethnic Minorities in Imperial and Republican China 2. Overseas Chinese and Minority Nationalities in Socialist Nation-Building 3. Post-Socialist Modernisation and China's National Outlook 4. Ethnic Minorities and Overseas Chinese in the Post-Socialist Modernisation Discourse 5. Trans-nationalising Chineseness: 'Overseas Chinese Work' in the Reform Period 6. The Politics of Localisation: Ethnic Minorities in Post-Socialist Modernisation Conclusion


It can give an excellent antistatic effect with a small amount, and should provide sufficient continuity with the inner antistatic agent, the antistatic agent composition, the antistatic resin composition and a molded article having a (耐) Y pingseong. Coupling the both ends of the block consisting of the polyester (A) having a carboxyl group on, and both ends of the block made of a compound (B) having a hydroxyl group on, to repeat alternately (交互 的) through an ester bond formed by the carboxyl group and a hydroxyl group to the hydroxyl group of the polyol compound (D) is a block polymer (C) a carboxyl group with a polyhydric alcohol compound (D) of having formed, with the block polymer (C) having a structure having a carboxyl group at both terminals, a hydroxyl group at least three an antistatic agent comprising a polymeric compound (E) having a structure formed by binding via an ester bond formed by.


. Suppose F is a field of prime characteristic p and E is a finite subgroup of the additive group ( F , +). Then E is an elementary abelian p -group. We consider two such subgroups, say E and E (cid:48) , to be equivalent if there is an α ∈ F × := F \ { 0 } such that E = αE (cid:48) . In this paper we show that rational functions can be used to distinguish equivalence classes of subgroups and, for subgroups of prime rank or rank less than twelve, we give explicit finite sets of separating invariants .


Background There have been limited published reports on the clinical results of cervical artificial disc replacement. Goffin et al reported a 90% rate of good to excellent results at 1 to 2 yrs after Bryan disc replacement. Wigfield et al reported a 46% improvement in pain and 31% improvement in disability 2 yrs after Prestige cervical disc replacement. Objectives The study was designed to determine whether new functional cervical disc prosthesis can provide improvement in the ability to perform activities of daily living, decrease pain and segmental motion. Methods All patients who had Prestige cervical disc replacement over last 2yrs 3 months were identified. Oswestry disability index score and SF36 Quality of life instrument were administered to each patient. Site specific pain scores were obtained using visual analogue scale. Clinical and operative details were reviewed and correlated. Results 35 Patients underwent 48 Prestige cervical disc replacement during study period. There was 48%, 54% and 70% improvement in Oswestry disability index at 6 weeks, 6 months and 19 months follow-ups respectively. There was significant improvements in both neck and arm pain during immediate post op period and during further follow-ups. There was one neck wound haematoma and one left sided Horner9s syndrome as complications. Conclusion Anterior cervical disc replacement is a viable surgical alternative to fusion for cervical disc degenerative disease and herniation with preservation of motion and alignment without compromising clinical outcomes. At least 5yrs follow-up will be needed to assess the long term functionality of the prosthesis and protective influence on the adjacent levels.


A survey of sixty randomly selected farm households from 4 villages in Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun districts was conducted during 2005–06, to analyze adoption patterns of basmati rice and factors determining the acreage using Tobit regression approach. Results showed that increased incidence of insects and diseases, population growth, higher labour use, more input requirement and poor market price make basmati rice cultivation less attractive. Diversification of crops and varieties, food security, labor out-migration, long maturing and non-targeted varieties, higher input cost, high spatial variability of yield and return and poor market price have led to gradual the decline of area under basmati varieties. In order to reverse the trend, there is need to develop cost-effective management practices, ecosystem-specific and stress-tolerant improved varieties with high yields that could improve adoption, and increase net returns, and thus, makes basmati rice cultivation more attractive.


The loss of quality incurred during image acquisition makes the simplification and enhancement of raster images a complex process. In this paper, we propose an approach that provides contrast and edge enhancement, followed by a polygonization process to produce a vectorized image which can be analyzed with less consuming time and decreasing the cost of searching and matching.


The research intended to determine the optimal concentration of honey addition in sperm dilution to improve sperm motility, fertilization and eggs hatchability of goldfish (Cyprinus carpio). Experimental design used was a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with four treatments each with three replications. The concentration of honey addition used for treatment were A (0 ml of honey in 100 mL of physiological NaCl), B (0,2 mL of honey in 99.8 mL of physiological NaCl), C (0.4 mL of honey in 99.6 ml of physiological NaCl), D (0.6 mL of honey in 99.4 mL of physiological NaCl). Sperm dilution containers used was 12 plastic cups and the container fertilization and hatching eggs container used was 12 brass plates.  Spermatozoa motility observation performed immediately after dilution process. Fertilization observation was performed after 12 hours of fertilization process, and Egg Hatchability observation was performed after 72 hours of fertilization.  The observation results showed that the addition of honey in sperm dilution contributed significant effect on spermatozoa motility, fertilization and eggs hatchability of goldfish (Cyprinus carpio). This observation showed that the addition of 0.6 ml of honey in a sperm dilution was the best treatment indicated by the average percentage of spermatozoa motility (80,00%), fertilization (84,00%) and eggs hatchability (82,33%).   Keywords: Honey, spermatozoa motility, fertilization, eggs hatchability, Cyprinus carpio L


This paper defines the terms "emotion" and "emotion in field work",expounds the content and expression forms of emotion in field work,and makes an analysis of its functions and influences.


Plutonium and oxygen diffusion with the high temperature gradient is one of the important fuel performance concerns in fast reactor (U, Pu)O2 fuel during irradiation, and will affect nuclear fuel materials properties, power distribution and overall performance of the fuel pin. This paper focuses on the plutonium, oxygen and heat diffusion within (U, Pu)O2 fast reactor fuel pellets. In this study, the correlations from the literature are used for thermal conductivity, specific heat, density, plutonium diffusion and oxygen diffusion. Three dimensional burnup dependent oxygen diffusion, plutonium diffusion and heat diffusion models are fully-coupled in steady states and transients to account for the effects on each other. The models are implemented into COMSOL Multiphysics to perform this analysis.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


In this study, we applied for the first time a multivariate analysis to describe the anatomy of cerebellar molecular layer interneurons. Forty variables extending over a variety of morphological features (geometrical, topological, and metrical) were obtained from a three‐dimensional reconstruction of 26 rat rapid Golgi‐stained neurons. The subsequent principal component analysis showed that the first principal component was strongly correlated with variables related to the depth of each cell's soma in the molecular layer. The second principal component was strongly correlated with parameters describing axonal morphology. Finally, an analysis of the distribution of these anatomical features suggested that these cells cannot be classified into distinct groups but, instead, represent one continuously varying population. Thus, the classical division of molecular layer neurons into deep basket cells and superficial stellate cells is not supported by our analysis. These results have important implications for the development of the cerebellar cortex as well as for the expected patterns of Purkinje cell activity following activation of the granule cell layer. J. Comp. Neurol. 393:353–373, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


By using the means of document-based research and the logic method,this paper made derinition on the concept of international competitiveness of China's sports goods industry.The advantage and disadvantage of the developing condition of the sports goods industry in China was analyzed and studied.It put forward the countermeasures to promote the development of our sports goods industry.


As Colonel Rogers intimated in his introduction, I was born here, which few Washingtonians can say. Except for a few expeditions to foreign countries, to nearly every state in the Union, and to some of our possessions, I have lived here since before the turn of the century. As a result of my long sojourn here, I can give the welcome of a Washingtonian to you. I can also welcome you on behalf of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, whose members are happy to have you meet here, and probably would like to have you learn a little about medical Washington. My parents moved here from a midwestern state long before my birth, and like most people who move to Washington discovered they had a lot of relatives back home. All of them had to see the Capital City, and all of them, of course, thought that "Will will be glad to have us stay with him." I didn't know I had so many relatives, and they all had to be shown around. One thing I liked about that was that since my father was busy trying to support a family and my mother trying to raise it, one of the boys had to get out of school to show the relatives around. They paid the carfare. They bought the lunch. All I had to do was to wear their legs out taking them all over Washington, including the top of the Washington Monument! It was wonderful. Washington is a fascinating city. One historian said that it is "the only virgin capital of a nation in the world," meaning, I suppose, that it didn't just grow like most capitals, but was planned. It is a new city as compared with so many in the world. Established in 1800, it is scarcely out of the incubator. In the early days there was so much trouble with livestock roaming the muddy roads where streets lined with commercial and public buildings now are, that the city authorities had to take steps to regulate how much freedom should be accorded to oxen, pigs, and goats. A lot of history, including medical history, has been packed into the intervening 154 years. Among the medical highlights was the organization of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia which had its first meeting in about 1815. It is said that at that time there were about twenty-eight members. Two years later, when the Society received its charter from Congress, signed by the President of the United States, James Monroe, twenty-one physicians signed


Content from this paper was presented at the Globalization and the Management of Information Resources conference in Sofia, Bulgaria on November 13, 2008. This conference was co-sponsored by the Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management, and University of Sofia St. Kliment Ohridski.


Objective To evaluate the effect of 0.03% tacrolimus ointment and total glucosides of paeony in the treatment of erosive oral lichen planus.Methods 72 cases of erosive oral lichen planus were randomly divided into control group and observation group,and control group were treated with total glucoside of paeony(TGP),while observation group were treated with tacrolimus ointment and TGP.Results After 2-month treatment,the total efficacy rate of the observation group is higher than that of the control group,with significant differences(χ2=6.89,P0.05).Conclusion TGP and tacrolimus ointment have good curative effect on the treatment of erosive oral lichen planus.


A method for operating a matrix converter in which m phases of a generator generating alternating Voltage With n (n-m) phases of a load are alternatingly connected via a multiple number of controllable bi-directional Switches arranged in an (mxn) matrix, wherein Switching over from a selected connected phase of the generator to a Selected non-connected phase of the generator takes place in a controlled sequence of commutation instants of the indi vidual switches. While being able to use low commutation frequencies and correspondingly low commutation losses adapted, improved target voltage curves or target spectra of the generated alternating voltage can be obtained by (1) calculating the output spectrum of the matrix converter based on the connectivity of the phases, on the phase relationship between input and output, and on the instants when commutations of the Switches are initiated and/or on the instants when commutations of the Switches are com pleted, by (2) assessing the influence of individual commu tations or groups of commutations based on calculated deviation output spectra for deviated individual commuta tions or groups of commutations, and by (3) amending the sequence of commutation instants to the target Voltage curve or target spectrum using the information of these calculated deviation output spectra.


Abstract In order to expand the current repertoire of cancer treatments and to help circumvent limitations associated with resistance, the identification of new metallodrugs with high potency and novel mechanisms of action is of significant importance. Here we present a class of di-copper(II) complex based on the synthetic chemical nuclease [Cu(Phen)2]+ (where Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) that is selective against solid epithelial cancer cells from the National Cancer Institute's 60 human cell line panel (NCI-60). Two metallodrug leads are studied and in each case two [Cu(Phen)2]+ units are bridged by a dicarboxylate linker but the length and rigidity of the linkers differ distinctly. Both agents catalyze intracellular superoxide (O2•−) and singlet oxygen (1O2) formation with radical species mediating oxidative damage within nuclear DNA in the form of double strand breaks and to the mitochondria in terms of membrane depolarization. The complexes are effective DNA binders and can discriminate AT/AT from TA/TA steps of duplex DNA through induction of distinctive Z-like DNA or by intercalative interactions.


NLOS (non Line of Sight) problem has been a main impact on TOF/TDOA based localization algorithm in WSN network. In this paper, a second-order cone relaxation weighted least square (SOCR-WLS) is proposed to mitigate NLOS. The method simplifies the constraint conditions of weighted least square formulation by second-order cone relaxation, and presents a new NLOS weight updating scheme. The proposed method does not need any statistical property or parameters. Simulation results show that the proposed SOCR-WLS based NLOS mitigation algorithm is more robust than the existed methods.


Abstract : This is the Final Scientific Report on a Satellite Symposium on the mathematical modeling of circadian systems which was held on June 21, 1981 in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Association for the Psychophysiological Study of Sleep in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The purpose of the satellite symposium was to present and critically review recently developed mathematical models of the circadian timing system, with particular emphasis on human sleep-wake organization, as designed by various investigators from both the United States and abroad who would be invited to participate.


The paper explored the implied ecofeminist ideas by analyzing and interpreting one of Virginia Woolf's most famous novels To the Lighthouse.It pointed out that man and nature,male and female can become equal in the real sense by disorganizing the traditional patriarchy culture where the father is always the lord and the principle of binary oppositions is dominant,and by setting up a new union made up with the human being and the nature,which all conveys her ecofeminist ideas.


Servicing society for higher vocational teachers is the urgent requirement to realize talents' training goal of higher vocational colleges,as well as the urgent requirement of higher vocational colleges' construction.Teachers' social servicing capability determines social servicing level of higher vocational colleges.Only from the promotion of teachers' social servicing capability,could higher vocational colleges play the role of their social servicing functions with the developing direction of servicing local economic society to complete the constructing objectives of national key higher vocational colleges.


Decaying superheavy particles can be produced by Topological Defects or, in case they are quasi-stable, as relics from the early Universe. The decays of these particles can be the sources of observed Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays ($E \sim 10^{10} - 10^{12} GeV$). The Topological Defects as the UHE CR sources are critically reviewed and cosmic necklaces and monopole-antiminopole pairs are identified as most plausible sources. The relic superheavy particles are shown to be clustering in the halo and their decays produce UHE CR without GZK cutoff. The Lightest Supersymmetric Particles with Ultra High Energies are naturally produced in the cascades accompanying the decays of superheavy particles. These particles are discussed as UHE carriers in the Universe.


Thanks to features related to the difficulty and the increased responsibility that human intervention involved in various hypostases of life and activity, activity in the field of psychology with imposed requires a act with power of legislation that regulates access to various areas of activity of Applied Psychology, controlling instruments psychological investigation, responsibilities taken following a psychological intervention on various categories of people. This regulation is necessary in these circumstances and many cases of practice of psychology by person without preparing the necessary expertise, the existence of the instruments of investigation that does not comply with requests elementary professional domain, the practice of non-adequate or false on people psychologically assisted. These attract serious negative consequences on social, professional, family matters investigated, may adversely affect the psychological balance of the latter, bringing serious damages to individuals and society as a whole.


BACKGROUND: The use of surgical meshes for the repair of abdominal wall defects has been increasing its share in surgeries worldwide. AIM: To study two different surgical meshes (Proceed® and Ultrapro®) on the healing of defects produced in abdominal wall of rats evaluating the macroscopic, microscopic and tensiometric parameters. METHOD: Thirty two Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 16 animals and four groups of eight animals euthanized within 15 and 30 days for evaluation. The macroscopic variables were: the presence of hematoma at the edges of the sutures of the surgical mesh in the abdominal wall; the knitting of the surgical mesh and the edge of the wound; presence of infection at the surgical site; presence of viscera fistulas on the surgical mesh; presence of adhesions in the abdominal cavity; presence of incisional hernia. During microscopy the stages of the inflammatory process of healing where evaluated, and tensiometry evaluated the tensile force required to rupture the material. RESULTS: The knitting of the mesh and the edge of the surgical wound was better in the 15 days Ultrapro subgroup than in the 15 days Proceed subgroup; within 30 days the knitting was similar in both subgroups. There was no significant difference for the variable of macroscopy. Both groups in both periods had the same proportion of cases with chronic inflammation, but there were higher scores of inflammation in the 15 days Ultrapro subgroup than the 30 days Ultrapro subgroup. The subgroup 15 days Ultrapro showed greater rupture strength than the subgroup 15 days Proceed, but in 30 days there were no difference. Ultrapro showed equal rupture strength in both periods, but 30 days Proceed showed greater rupture strength than 15 days Proceed. CONCLUSION: The meshes are similar in variables.


The investigation showed that the molecules of the preparation break down with the secretion of elementary selenium on the mycelium of mushrooms in incubation of mushrooms on the nutritious medium when selenium-organic preparation DAFS-25 is introduced in different concentrations. And acetophenon is accumulated in the nutritious medium. In vitro the same reaction takes place between DAFS-25 and glutathione, cysteine in alkaline conditions with the secretion of elementary selenium and acetophenon.


As an alternative to the use of laser scanners for bar code readers, we have developed a global solution based on a 2D vision system. It is composed of two main functions: bar code localization on the overall image, and the reading stage. The localization of the symbol which can be oriented in any direction is carried out with an original method which relies upon the extraction of high density area of mono-oriented gradients. The reading method is based on the detection of the transitions between the stripes by extracting the zero-crossings of the second derivative of the 1D signal reconstructed from the 20 bar code block. This system has been tested on several hundred images, the results show a global success rate (localization and decoding) of 100% within a wide range of acquisition parameters, resolution and depth of field, as the camera is not auto-focused the images can be deeply blurred.


Societies often institutionally commemorate histories marred by atrocity crimes through the development of permanent memorials in efforts to create a national collective memory. While scholars have documented the gendered silences within collective memories more generally, the processes that variously enforce and/or break such silences are less clear. In analyzing these silences—as well as resistance against them—across three memorials in Rwanda, I argue that memorial characteristics (physicality, orientation, and internal structure) affect the extent to which certain narratives of victimhood are remembered or forgotten. By analyzing the dynamics of memorialization on a micro level, what I call "memory-in-interaction," we can better understand the process through which national narratives come to exclude or include experiences of gendered violence. Such processes reveal that a difficult past, such as one wrought with mass rape, can be silenced, even within a political climate in which women are otherwise heavily represented in government, policy, and civic life, suggesting that women's promising inclusion in some public realms does not ensure their inclusion in others.


In this paper, a non-data aided desired signal-blocked interference-blocked (SBIB) receiver with enhanced multiple access interference (MAI) suppression is proposed over a multipath fading channel. Without pre-known data used, the proposed receiver can offer the similar performance as that of the maximum signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (MSINR) receiver with the channel estimation correctly obtained beforehand. Computer simulation results demonstrate that the proposed blind receiver can effectively resist MAI and significantly outperform than the conventional receivers


In the modern production of electronic devices, even a fraction of their unreliability is very important. The mathematical aspects of taking these fine nuances into account are the approach to increasing the adaptation of mathematical models of quasi-normal distributions are described in this paper.


The effect of intercropping on stem anatomy of both supporting (Lupinus albus) and supported (Vicia narbonnensis and V. sativa) annual forage legumes was investigated using stereological method. Intercropped plants showed minimal differences in volume densities (Vv) of stem tissues and forage chemical composition compared to sole crops. The proportions of lignin and NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) positively correlated with xylem Vv. The proportions of ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber), cellulose and ash in intercropped plants were increased or decreased mostly by less than 10% compared to those in pure stands. The Anatomical Equivalent Ratio (AER) defined as the ratio based on anatomical quality-determining parameters, can assist in the evaluation of the benefits of specific intercropping systems. Intercropping of the legume species studied in this work, especially L. albus with V. sativa, showed encouraging results from anatomical perspective since it would not cause a decline of forage quality.


Nowadays, due to the availability of low-cost and high-resolution digital cameras, and the rapid growth of user-friendly and advanced digital image processing tools, challenges for ensuring authenticity of digital images have been raised. Therefore, development of reliable image authenticity verification techniques has high importance in digital life. In this paper, we proposed a blind image splicing detection method based on color distribution in the neighborhood of edge pixels. First, we extracted edge pixels using contourlet transform. Then, to accurately distinguish the authentic edges from tampered ones, Interquartile Range (IQR) criteria are utilized to illustrate the distribution of Cr and Cr histograms of the spliced boundaries in YCbCr color space. Finally, a segmentation method is used to improve the localization performance and to reduce especially the computational time. The effectiveness of the method has been demonstrated by our experimental results obtained using the Columbia Image Splicing Detection Evaluation (CISED) dataset in terms of specificity and accuracy. It is observed that the proposed method outperforms some state-of-the-art methods. The detection accuracy is approximately 97 with 100% specificity.


Introduction: The HR and BP responses to exercise (exercise pressor reflex, EPR) predict adverse clinical events in patients with Heart Failure (HF). Although studies have shown that hyperglycemia ...


PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aqueous dispersion for chemical mechanical polishing which decreases a polishing rate for a low-dielectric-constant insulating film, has both a high polishing rate and high flattening characteristics for an interlayer dielectric (cap layer) such as a barrier metal film and a TEOS film, and suppresses surface defects such as dishing, erosion, a scratch, and a fang; and to provide a chemical polishing method using the same. SOLUTION: The aqueous dispersion for chemical mechanical polishing contains (A) silica particles and (B) an organic acid having two or more carboxyl radicals. The silica particles (A) have such chemical properties that the number of silanol groups calculated based on the signal area of a 29 Si-NMR spectrum is 2.0 to 3.0×10 21 groups/g. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT


Wearable therapeutic device to promote subject of care is provided. Wearable therapeutic device may include a garment having a sensing electrode. The garment comprises at least one inductive element and capacitive element, the controller identifies the capacity of inductance or capacitive element of the inductive element, based on inductance or capacitance, the reliability of the information received from the sensing electrode to decide. Wearable therapeutic device, coupled to the controller, including an alarm module configured to provide a notification to the subject based on the reliability.


The rapid development in mobile and telecommunication industries together pushed up the popularity of multimedia streaming applications among the smartphone users. The streaming applications in smartphones heavily depend on wireless networking activities as a substantial amount of data is transmitted from a server to the streaming clients. Because of the very high energy requirement of wireless network interfaces, multimedia streaming applications are considered as the most energy hungry applications. Therefore, improving battery life time of the smartphones is essential while experiencing multimedia streaming. In this thesis, we investigate the energy consumption of modern mobile devices while experiencing multimedia from different video services and propose two energy efႡcient streaming techniques to reduce energy consumption of the smartphones when receiving multimedia content via Wi-Fi, 3G or LTE. The Ⴁrst technique is a server-side technique. It considers the available free buffer space at the client, burst size and TCP Ⴂow control while sending content to the client in periodic bursts. The second technique is a client-side technique that considers the probability of a user's abandonment during a video streaming session. In addition to the energy savings, we also study the performance of cellular networks in presence of our Ⴁrst proposed streaming technique.


SUMMARY

A review has been made of published information on the phage groups and types of staphylococci concerned in food-borne intoxication. It revealed that the majority belonged to phage group III with the types 6 and 47, either alone or, with others, being the most common. In Great Britain the yearly incidence of food-borne intoxication, from 1950 to 1962, due to strains of phage group III ranged from 64.5 to 94.7%.

In food handlers incriminated in outbreaks the nose was the most common focus of infection, and the hand came next.

Meat and milk were the foods most commonly incriminated. Group III phages lysed 64.3% of strains found in meat and 58.1% of those in milk. Group IV phage lysed nine times as many milk-borne as meat-borne strains, which were also quite common in milk taken direct from cows, with and without mastitis or abnormal secretion.

The meager data on staphylococcal contamination of "wholesome" food, meat, milk and fish, were tabulated. A high proportion of these strains were untypable, but one-fourth to one-third of the strains were lysed by phages of Group III.

The results of phage typing of staphylococci from milk, dairy workers, market milk and dairy products were summarized. Phages obtained from strains of human and animal origin have been used for typing purposes. Of the phages in the "international set" obtained from staphylococci of human origin, 42D, Group IV, lysed more strains than any other phage. A set of phages of bovine origin has not yet been internationally recognized.

About two-thirds of the strains obtained from bovine mastitis but three-fourths of strains front normal milk were lysed by the typing phages employed. Group III phages lysed two-and-one-half times as many strains from normal as from mastitis secretion.

Cheese, butter, butter-milk, skim milk, cream, ice cream, kefir, and dried and condensed milk have yielded staphylococci lysed mainly by phages of Groups III and IV.

Dairy workers, veterinary surgeons, and farmers have yielded strains similarly lysed. Some of the people in these groups as well as the animals they tended have suffered clinical disease processes, due to strains with identical phage reactions.

Phage-typable strains have been found in the noses of cattle, in dogs, pigs and chickens; their human attendants have, in some cases, carried identical strains.

The proportion of staphylococci, lysed by the 52/52A/80/81 complex of phages has shown a twofold increase in hospitalized human patients and a two-and-one-half increase in animals in the last few years. Staphylococci lysed by this complex are regarded as particularly invasive in and pathogenie for man.

No comparison has appeared on the frequency distribution of staphylococci among the phage groups from food-borne intoxication and food handlers. A comparison was therefore made of such reported strains from: i) food causing intoxication; ii) the nose; iii) the feces; and iv) superficial lesions of apparently healthy persons. The main features were: a) the low proportion of strains lysed by phages of Group 111 in ii, iii, and iv; b) the low proportion of untypable strains, especially in i.

Systematic phage typing of staphylococci from wholesome food, food incriminated in intoxication outbreaks, hospital patients and the general population in defined geographical areas is recommended. Sites such as the nose, hands, feces, and perineum of healthy people and disease processes in hospitalized patients should be searched for staphylococci, which then should be typed by the use of a standard technique with the aid of the international set of phages from strains of human origin, augmented, where necessary, by phages from strains of animal origin.

In addition to the international set of "human" phages, it would be useful to establish and use an international set of phages of animal, especially bovine, origin.

Phage typing cannot be used to determine whether a given staphylococcus has produced or can be induced to produce enterotoxin; but is an excellent means of assisting in determining whether staphylococci from victims of food-borne intoxication, suspected food and suspected food handlers are related.


The layered lithium-rich transition-metal oxides with the general formula xLi 2 MnO 3 ·(1-x)LiMO 2 (M=Mn, Co, Ni, etc.) have been the focus of intense research interest as one of the most promising cathode materials for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. However, these materials suffer from poor rate capability and voltage decay during cycling. In the present work, we extensively investigated the effect of the content and stacking faults of Li 2 MnO 3 , and Li/M ratio on its microstructure and electrochemical profile, such as voltage decay and cycling stability etc. The electrochemical degradation of x Li 2 MnO 3 · (1– x )LiMn 1/3 Ni 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 electrodes upon cycling not only results from the remarkably increase in impedance caused by the damage of the electrode surface, in particular for low Li 2 MnO 3 content; but also arises from structural rearrangement, especially for high Li 2 MnO 3 content. Upon cycling, high Li 2 MnO 3 content in the crystal structure of lithium-rich transition metal oxides can stabilize the electrode\electrolyte interface at high potentials, facilitates the rapid formation of cracks and porosity in the cycled electrodes, and promotes the distortions and breakdown of the original well-layered lattice. We prepared the layered 0.5Li 2 MnO 3 . 0.5LiMn 1/3 Ni 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 cathode materials with various degrees of stacking faults via a facile molten-salt method using a variety of fluxes including KCl, Li 2 CO 3, and LiNO 3 . The frequency of the stacking faults is highly dependent on the temperature and molten salt type used during the synthesis. A well-crystallized nanomaterial with a larger amount of stacking faults synthesized at 800 o C for 10 h in an inactive KCl flux delivers a high reversible capacity of 310 mAh/gat room temperature, while the samples prepared in the chemically active fluxes with a smaller amount of stacking faults show poor electrochemical performance. We also employed several approaches, including surface modification, ion-doping and morphology control, to stabilize its structure and performance. The P 2 O 5 treatment results in forming a uniform nanoscale coating layer of ionic conductive Li 3 PO 4 and spinel-like material on Li-rich layered oxide, thus greatly improves its rate capability and charge/discharge columbic efficiency for the first cycling.


The present work deals with the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 aluminum alloy which was produced via thixocasting process under different casting conditions. Feedstock billets were heated to a target temperature to obtain a semi-solid slurry with the required solid fraction. Some billets were heated to a fully-melted condition. In order to obtain fine and spheroidized Al grains, some billets for the partially melting were compressed axially by 33% at a room temperature before heating. The completely-melted and partially-melted slurries were die-cast by using a die-cast machine, and hour glass-shaped rod-type tensile specimens and small-size plate-type tensile specimens were obtained. Small cubic specimens were also collected from the die-cast products for microstructural evaluation. They were polished, and etched by Weck's reagent. The partially-melted specimen which was compressed before heating shows the spherical Al grains. But the grain of the strain-free partially-melted specimen exhibited complicated morphology. The fully-melted specimen shows the fine and dendrite structure.


Changing the electrical boundary conditions applied to a piezoelectric film by means of an external tunable capacitor is one of the possible mechanisms to induce frequency tunability in acoustic resonators. Its application to Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) resonators requires the implementation of composite structures obtained by stacking two piezoelectric films, ideally of largely coupled materials, one of which being connected to a tunable capacitor which controls the operation frequency. Leveraging progresses in the development of BAW resonators based on lithium niobate thin films, we propose here a first demonstration of such tunable devices, operating in the GHz range, obtained by transferring in sequence two 500 nm-thick films by crystal ion slicing along with patterned electrodes. Similar to classical coupled resonator filters, the device exhibits several resonance modes, the two of which are located at respectively 1.1 and 2.9 GHz. They are respectively tunable over 2.4 and 13 MHz.


Introducing of advanced and innovative technology for optimizing physical operations resulted from increased flow of goods through container terminals. The paper highlight about automatization in the terminals, which might lead to better productivity level, flexible work environment and effective utilization of resources. Many terminals are seeking the proper solutions for reducing the operational costs and providing an increased level of service to its customers. Information technology is now essential element of global economy. Container terminal operators are providers of container handling services and deals with the shifting of trend towards containerization of exports and imports. The efficient operation of a container terminal also depends on how efficiently it can process large volumes of information. Therefore the application of information technology to container terminal operations and management is critical to the success of the terminal. This will also include electronic data interchange of information between the terminal and its users. In this paper are proposed some decisions, concerning automation of process at terminals.


Film photoresist according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light-heat conversion layer formed on a support film; And the light-heat conversion layer of the temperature-sensitive polymer PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer three won formed on the layer, and a. Accordingly, the temperature control and the separation film photoresist composition from the transfer substrate only through (Detach film) can easily be removed to form a desired pattern according to the use of the photoresist composition of the novel using a temperature-sensitive polymer.


Studies of interspecies biofilms have shown that the interactions of species within biofilms influence the susceptibility of the biofilms to antimicrobial agents. The efficacy of antimicrobial agent is clearly decreased and this leads to a reduced microbial eradication from biotic and abiotic surfaces. It is known that phages are able to infect and lyse cells found on single species communities. However, dual species biofilms challenged with phages are not well studied.


Hypertension is a health problem in the community and requires specific care attention. The disease has an impact on reducing the quality of life and can be life threatening if not treated early. One of the nonpharmacological interventions of hypertension is Slow-Deep Breathing exercise and isometric hand grips. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Slow-Deep Breathing and isometric hand grips exercise on blood pressure for patients with hypertension. Pre experiment with one group pretest post-test design was used in this study. Forty respondents were selected using purposive sampling done in Kembaran I Public Health Center working area. Data collected were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon test. The result showed that the statistics analysis of p value of systolic and diastolic pressure is < 0,005. There are changes in systolic blood pressure (p value = 0,005) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0,018). The Wilcoxon analysis showed a decrease in systolic blood pressure (p value = 0,001) and diastolic blood pressure (p value = 0,016). It can be concluded that slow-deep breathing and isometric hand grip exercise are effective in lowering blood pressure of patient with hypertension Keywords— Slow-Deep Breathing, Isometric Handgrip, Blood Pressure, Hypertension


Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) must comply with the key principles of Sharia which prohibits interest, gambling and speculation and requires profit and loss sharing (equity-based) as well as backing by a real asset. In addition to the traditional corporate governance requirements for financial institutions (FIs), Sharia governance is key to ensure the stability of the Islamic finance industry. As IFIs gain in strength and spread, the importance of standardized processes and regulated systems becomes increasingly crucial. We believe that Sharia governance will become an important subject to IF regulators and standard setting bodies.The past years has in fact seen encouraging progress on the governance front with significant steps taken by market players and local regulators. Nevertheless, we believe that existing Sharia governance frameworks show a number of shortcomings and a room for improvment, especially in Islamic finance core markets. In particular, we think that the industry should move from ex-ante Sharia approval to ex-post Sharia external audit.


Starting with a curious childhood memory, the author considers the practices of imbibing – or otherwise transforming and internalising – sacred texts as modes of reading in their own right. At the heart of the argument is a call for a receptive apprehension of reading, open to worlds beyond substance dualism and the detachment of text and meaning residing therein. Kaleidoscopic autobiographical elements merge with and extend through a variety of transmutational, syncretic practices, such as the rituals of 'erasure' (e.g. kombe) across the African continent, or the magical inscriptions ( zapisi) and the ritual of 'horror pouring' ( salivanje strave) in Bosnia. Water appears as a particularly efficacious agent, flowing between humans and more-than-humans and connecting different bodies, religions, and forms of knowledge. Noticing that the recurring motif of such practices is healing, the author wonders if the drinking of text might be a remedy against the political ontology of inter-corporeal distance. A radically intimate engagement with text, it is suggested, requires the kind of trust that allows for permeability – an always-potential openness, a new sort of liquid critical reading.


In order to solve the problem of locating unknown nodes in three-dimensional space,this paper proposes a three-dimensional weighed centroid localization algorithm based on tetrahedral model.The tetrahedron consists of four anchor nodes.The unknown nodes are located according to the distances between unknown nodes and anchor nodes,which are weighted sum.It uses the data information of Received Signal Strength Indicator(RSSI) to revise weighting factor.Simulation results show that the localization accuracy of the algorithm is high.


The impact of two dietary organic acids (OAs) on nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology was determined in Nile tilapia under conditions of dissolved oxygen in the water: normoxia and hypoxia. Four diets designated as control (0 g/kg organic acid salt), KDF (2 g/kg potassium diformate), CAB (2 g/kg calcium butyrate) and their combination (4 g/kg of a mixture of KDF and CAB, ration 1:1) were formulated with 520 g/kg of soybean meal in order to produce soybean meal enteritis-like symptoms. The four diets were tested first under normoxic conditions (6 mg/L) for a period of 5 weeks, followed by a test period under hypoxic conditions (3 mg/L). The results showed that OAs were unable to significantly improve growth and nutrient digestibility under normoxic conditions but under hypoxic conditions, there was a significant enhancement of the growth and nutrient digestibility. Fish fed OA-supplemented diets showed improvements in the intestinal morphology under the normoxic conditions, and these effects were more pronounced under the hypoxic conditions. Experimental findings suggest that OAs can improve the nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology under hypoxic conditions. A synergistic effect by the combination of formic and butyric acid on growth, digestibility and intestinal morphology was not found.


Due to the importance of interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity to the complex analysis of human movement, and in an attempt to seek to bring Kinanthropometry and Biomechanics closer together, through anthropometry, this review article was compiled in order to: present the historical evolution of anthropometry and the theoretical presuppositions on which its anthropometric models are based; to present anthropometry as a method for measurement in biomechanics; to describe the role and scope of anthropometry in biomechanics by discussing some of its applications and contributions. Initially, an analysis is made of historical and conceptual aspects and anthropometric models are presented and characterized together with their theoretical presuppositions and limitations. Anthropometry is then analyzed in the context of the different methods for measuring in biomechanics, studying its position within the process of analyzing human movement as a prerequisite of kinemetry and dynamometry and also of synchronized analysis. What follows is a refl ection on the role and scope of anthropometry within the analysis of movement, with examples from drawn from several studies, and an identifi cation of their respective contributions. Finally, some considerations resulting from this refl ection are presented; the degree of development of anthropometric models is identifi ed and the constant pursuit for improvement over recent years, with the use of ever more sophisticated techniques, is demonstrated.


An integrated study based on field observation, petrography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the Early–Middle Eocene carbonate rocks has been carried out, which were deposited in the Ceno-Tethys Ocean. The study area of the Yadgaar Section lies on the eastern margin of the Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. The Early–Middle Eocene Margalla Hill Limestone and Chorgali Formation act as reservoir rocks in other parts of the basin and are also present in the Yadgaar Section. The lack of comprehensive study in this area makes these reservoir rocks highly attractive for sedimentological evaluations and future exploration of hydrocarbons. The Early–Middle Eocene carbonate rocks are divided into nine microfacies: dolomicritic foraminiferal mudstone–wackestone microfacies (EMI); green algae dominated, mixed foraminiferal wackestone–packstone microfacies (EMII); ostracod, green algae and gypsum dominating mudstone–wackestone microfacies (EMIII); algae and mixed foraminiferal wackestone–packstone microfacies (EMIV); Nummulites dominating mudstone–wackestone microfacies (EMV); algal limestone mudstone microfacies (EMVI); Assilina bed wackestone–packstone microfacies (EMVII); micritized larger benthic foraminiferal wackestone–packstone microfacies (EMVIII); and algal limestone, mudstone microfacies (EMIX). The transgressive-regressive environment in the Ceno-Tethys Ocean leads to the deposition of these microfacies in the platform interior, open marine platform, platform edge, platform margin reef, toe of the slope apron, arid–humid platform interior, platform edge, open marine platform interior, and restricted marine platform interior, respectively. Initial post-depositional diagenetic stages are identified from the base to the top of the strata by their respective cement types, i.e., the base–lower middle part of the strata demonstrates an eogenetic sub-stage with the appearance of drusy cement, the middle section indicates a mesogenetic sub-stage by the appearance of blocky cement, while the top portion again reveals an eogenetic sub-stage of diagenesis by the presence of drusy and blocky types of cement. The ascending–descending hierarchy of cement generations is directly proportional to the grade of diagenesis from the base to the top of the carbonate strata. Variable diagenetic effects on the various microfacies also increase the secondary porosity range and enhance the reservoir characteristics of the Formations. The presence of foraminifera microfossils determined that these carbonate formations date from the Early–Middle Eocene.


This paper derives the definition of web culture from the concept of culture,expounds the connotations and features of web culture,analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of library service under the impact of web culture,and probes into the quality of the librarians under the Internet environment.


Preschoolers now play digital games on touch screens, e-toys and electronic learning systems. Although digital games have an important place in children's lives, there needs to be more information about the meanings they attach to games. In this context, the research aims to determine the perceptions of preschool children studying in different regions of Turkey regarding digital games with the help of metaphors. Four hundred twenty-one preschool children studying in seven regions of Turkey participated in the research. The data were collected through the "Digital Game Metaphor Form" to determine children's perceptions of digital games and through "Drawing and Visualization", which comprises the symbolic pictures children draw of their feelings and thoughts. Phenomenology, a qualitative research model, was used in this study. The data were analyzed using the content analysis method. When the data were evaluated, the children had produced 421 metaphors collected in the following seven categories: "Nature Images, Technology Images, Fantasy/Supernatural Images, Education Images, Affective/Motivational Images, Struggle Images, and Value Images". When evaluated based on regions, the Black Sea Region ranked first in the "Fantasy/Supernatural Images and Affective/Motivational Images" categories. In contrast, the Central Anatolia Region ranked first in the "Technology Images and Education Images" categories, and the Marmara Region ranked first in the "Nature Images and Value Images" categories. In addition, it was determined that the Southeast Anatolia Region ranks first in the "Struggle Images" category.


The invention relates to an automatic electric spark reinforcing device for cylindrical work pieces with semicircle surface and arc-shaped groove, comprising an automatic vibration reinforcing devicefor electric sparks and a step motor (3), wherein the step motor (3) is connected with the automatic vibration reinforcing device for electric sparks through a poking connecting rod (4); the front part of the automatic vibration reinforcing device for electric sparks is arranged on a platform (6) through a flexibly connected rotary pivot (2); a roller (8) on the rear part is positioned on the platform. The automatic electric spark reinforcing device for cylindrical work pieces has the advantages of precise positioning, speed and acceleration control, the ability to adjust motion radius according to the circular arc of work piece, convenient usage and evener coating.


Freshwater mussels {EUiptio complanata) were transplanted into the Sudbury River, Massachusetts, to evalu ate the bioavailability of total Hg and methyl mercury (MeHg) and the potential impacts to resident species. The prin cipal Hg source is the Nyanza Superfund site, a former textile dye production facility. Mussels (initial tissue concentrations = 640 ng Hg-g dry weight"' and 120 ng MeHg-g dry weight"') were transplanted to eight locations in the Sudbury River watershed for 12 weeks. Tissue total Hg concentration increased significantly in mussels at the sta. tion closest to the Nyanza site (950 ng Hg-g dry weight"'). Mussel growth, which increased downstream with distance away from the site, was significantly negatively correlated with tissue concentrations of total Hg {r = -0.95) and posi tively correlated with average temperature (r = 0.85). Due to growth differences, uptake was best assessed by changes in content. Tissue total Hg and MeHg burdens were greatest in mussels at two stations closest to the Nyanza site, with less Hg accumulated in downstream mussels. However, the MeHg content in mussel tissue increased significantly at all Sudbury River stations, indicating that MeHg was bioavailable in all portions of the river evaluated. Resume : Des bivalves d'eau douce {EUiptio complanata) ont ete transplantes dans la riviere Sudbury (Massachusetts) pour evaluer la biodisponibilite du Hg total et du methyl mercure (MeHg) et les impacts potentiels chez les especes re sidantes. La principale source de Hg est le site Nyanza, une ancienne installation de production de colorant de textile, convert par le Superfund pour la depollution. Les bivalves (concentrations initiales dans les tissus = 640 ng Hg-g poids sec"' et 120 ng MeHg-g poids sec"') ont ete transplantes, pour une periode de 12 semaines, a huit endroits dans le bassin hydrographique de la riviere Sudbury. La concentration de Hg total dans les tissus a augmente significativement chez les bivalves de la station la plus proche du site Nyanza (950 ng Hg-g poids sec"'). La croissance des bivalves, qui augmentait en aval a mesure que Ton s'eloignait du site, presentait une correlation negative marquee avec les concen trations tissulaires de Hg total (r = -0,95) et une correlation positive avec la temperature moyenne (r = 0,85). A cause des ecarts de croissance, les modifications de la teneur ont permis une meilleure evaluation de I'absorption. Les char ges de Hg total et de MeHg dans les tissus etaient plus importantes chez les bivalves de deux stations situees a proxi mite du site Nyanza, I'accumulation de Hg etant plus faible chez les bivalves des zones situees en aval. Toutefois, dans toutes les stations de la riviere Sudbury, on a note une augmentation considerable de la teneur en MeHg dans les tissus des bivalves, ce qui est une indication de la biodisponibilite du MeHg dans toutes les parties de la riviere qui ont ete evaluees. [Traduit par la Redaction] introduction 57 t of Hg, and other textile dye production wastes, from ac tivities conducted at the Nyanza site from 1917 to 1978 The Nyanza chemical waste dump site, declared a Super (JBF Scientific Corporation 1973; U.S. Fish and Wildlife fund site in 1982, is the former location of several textile Service 1990; NUS Corporation 1992). Concentrations of to dye production companies near the Sudbury River in tal Hg as high as 55 mg-kg"' and 8 mg-kg"' have been mea Ashland, Massachusetts (Fig. 1). Numerous studies have as sured in sediment and fish, respectively (NUS Corporation sessed contamination in the river from the release of 45 to 1992). The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Received August 29, 1997. Accepted May 18, 1999. have posted advisories against consumption of fish from the J14191 river because of the continued bioavailability of Hg within the Sudbury River system. Atmospheric Administration, Office of Response and In 1994, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis Restoration, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115tration (NOAA) participated in an U.S. Environmental Pro 6349, U.S.A. N. Beckvar' and K. Finkelstein. National Oceanic and tection Agency sponsored, multiagency study to define the S. Salazar and M. Salazar. Applied Biomonitoring, extent and magnitude of Hg contamination in the Sudbury 11648 72nd Place NE, Kirkland, WA 98034, U.S.A. River. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will use 'Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed, the data generated from these studies to develop a scientifi e-mail: beckvar(5)hazmat.noaa.gov cally defensible ecological risk assessment for the Sudbury Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 57: 1103-1112 (2000) © 2000 NRC Canada 1104 Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. Vol. 57, 2000 Fig. 1. Nyanza site and sampling locations in the Sudbury River drainage basin in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Sampling Locations Stn. Type Distance Wliitetiall Reservoir (WHR) 1 [ ' NA Wood Street (WS) 2 R» -4 km Reservoir 2 Inlet (R2I) 3 R 2.5 km Reservoir 2 G^ES2) 4 I 4 km Saxonville linpoundraenl (SXI) 5 [ 13 km Stierman Street Bridge (SSB) 6 R 26 km Fairhaven Bay (FHB) 7 I 33 km Tlioreau Street Bridge (TSB) 8 R 39 km I = impoundment, R = river NA = not available *: reference station (see text for station selection) [' Fairtiaven Bay •f •• (S'taiion#7) : GMNWR ' • Great Meadows National ' Wildlife Refuge White Hall Reservoir , Impoundment Reference 0 1 2 3 4 5 (Slauon#l) •,»'••''


Recognition of Arabic handwritten and its variants such as Farsi (Persian) and Urdu had been receiving considerable attention in recent years. Being contrast to Arabic handwritten, Jawi, as a second method of Malay handwritten, has not been studied yet, but if any, there were a few references on it. The recent transformation in Malaysian education, the Special Education is one of the priorities in the Malaysia Blueprint. One of the special needs quoted in Malaysia education is dyslexia. A dyslexic student is considered as student with learning disability. Concluding a student is truly dyslexia might be incorrect for they were only assessed through Roman alphabet, without considering assessment via Jawi handwriting. A study was conducted on dyslexic students attending a special class for dyslexia in Malay Language to determine whether they are also dyslexia in Jawi handwriting. The focus of the study is to test the copying skills in relation to word reading and writing in Malay Language with and without dyslexia through both characters. A total of 10 dyslexic children and 10 normal children were recruited. In conclusion for future study, dyslexic students have less difficulty in performing Jawi handwriting in Malay Language through statistical analysis.


Key Points Question Is the risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) associated with diabetes duration or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels? Findings In this population-based cohort study, longer duration of diabetes was associated with the development of TB, showing a dose-response association. TB was more common among participants with FPG levels greater than or equal to 202 mg/dL. Meaning These findings suggest that for TB prevention, FPG control should be reinforced even in patients with new-onset diabetes.


A cyclone can be employed as tribocharging device for free-fall electrostatic separation of granular plastic mixtures. The objective of this work is to validate the possibility of modifying the "standard" operation of such a device, so that the turbine of the cyclone to participate in the charging process of the granules. Thus the granular product is introduced through a funnel into the turbine and then blown into the cyclone. When processed independently in the cyclone tribocharger, the charge acquired by the granules is significantly higher than in a fluidized bed device. On the contrary. when mixtures of granules are introduced into the tribocharger, the electrostatic separation efficiency is lower than with the latter device. However, the efficiency of the triboelectrostatic separation increases when covering the inner wall of the cyclone with a material that is located in the triboelectric series in-between the plastics to be sorted.


Evolutionary Strategies (ES) are effective forms of Evolutionary Algorithmsthat enable solving optimization problems. Effective use of ES algorithmhas been made in numerous fields. Major optimization problems oftoday possess a very complex fitness landscape with numerous modalities.The optimization in these complex landscapes is much more difficult as it ispossible only to explore a relatively small section of the entire landscape.Also the fitness function behaves in a very sensitive manner with a largeamount of change for small changes in the parameter values. We hencepropose a hierarchical ES to optimally explore the fitness landscape and returnthe optima. The inner or the slave ES is controlled by a controlling algorithmor the master. The master has a number of slave ES, each trying to finda solution at some different part of the complex high dimensional fitness landscape.Each ES tries to find the optimal point in its local surroundings. Hencethe variable step size is initially kept low. As the iterations of the master increase,we keep reducing the number of ESs and increase the step size togive it a global nature. This is the local to global nature search performed bythe algorithm. Since the fitness landscape is complex, the master mutatesthe locations of the ESs and adds new ESs (deleting the non-optimal ones)as iterations or generations proceed. The novelty of the suggested approach lies in the tradeoff between the search for global optima and convergence tolocal optima that can be controlled between the two hierarchies. Experimentalanalysis shows that the proposed algorithm gives a decent performance insimple optimization problems, but a better performance as we increase thecomplexity, when compared with the conventional Genetic Algorithm, ParticleSwarm Optimization and conventional ES.


Abstract : A specially modified version of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) was installed in a Bell Long Ranger helicopter in order to investigate the feasibility of TCAS operation in rotorcraft. This installation employed TCAS air-to-air surveillance to provide automated traffic advisories that were displayed in the cockpit on a color cathode ray tube display. As part of this study, 12 subject pilots evaluated the utility of the installation through brief test flights in the vicinity of a major airport. Among the topics investigated were the rate of alarms, the computer logic for issuing advisories, the bearing accuracy, and the display symbology. Several recommendations for adapting TCAS to the rotorcraft environment resulted from the testing.