Introduction . Competition between plants on a mat (intramat) and between plants on different clumps (intermat) is quite common in crops such as banana. A study was therefore undertaken to know the extent of intramat and intermat competition using isotopic techniques. Materials and methods . The competition between plants in a mat and between mats were recorded in a combination of three spacings and five physiological phases of sucker retention by giving 32 P to an experimental plant using soil injection techniques and monitoring the levels of recovery. The recovery of the isotope was recorded in the applied plant and its daughter (intramat) and in the neighboring border plant and its sucker (intermat). Results . The study revealed that, when 32 P was given by soil injection techniques to one plant, it could be recovered in the border plant and its sucker during both years of study. In the first year, activity in initial samplings in border clumps were the highest, with the widest spacing in the experimental plant showing the highest recovery, but a differential pattern of recovery was observed at different samplings in the border clumps. In the irrigated crop of the second year, the highest recovery was observed at the closest spacing in both the experimental and border clumps. With respect to sucker retention at definite physiological phases, the recovery was the highest at the late vegetative phase, the flower bud initiation and the shooting phase. The recovery in the mother plant and its sucker and the border plant and its sucker studied separately gave a measurement of the intramat competition. Conclusion . The differential nature seen with retention phases confirms the requirement and intensity of activity with defined physiological phases and the overall need to evaluate and redefine recommendations, taking into consideration the critical physiological phases.


At an annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) in Seattle in 2007, a special panel on the post‐9/11 status of community policing featured several top researchers, with Seat...


An experimental study of precision finishing machining of cylindrical gears by shaving-pressing on a lathe with CNC Top Turn CNC S16C. Describes the methodof machining, the operating cycle of the lathe, control program. Shows the results of measurement of radial run, changing the length ofthe common normal, Just steps before and after shaving-pressing.


Coalescing massive black hole binaries, formed during galaxy mergers, are expected to be a primary source of low-frequency gravitational waves. Yet in isolated gas-free spherical stellar systems, the hardening of the binary stalls at parsec-scale separations owing to the inefficiency of relaxation-driven loss-cone refilling. Repopulation via collisionless orbit diffusion in triaxial systems is more efficient, but published simulation results are contradictory. While sustained hardening has been reported in simulations of galaxy mergers with N ∼ 106 stars and in early simulations of rotating models, in isolated non-rotating triaxial models the hardening rate continues to fall with increasing N, a signature of spurious two-body relaxation. We present a novel approach for studying loss-cone repopulation in galactic nuclei. Since loss-cone repopulation in triaxial systems owes to orbit diffusion, it is a purely collisionless phenomenon and can be studied with an approximated force calculation technique, provided the force errors are well behaved and sufficiently small. We achieve this using an accurate fast multipole method and define a proxy for the hardening rate that depends only on stellar angular momenta. We find that the loss cone is efficiently replenished even in very mildly triaxial models (with axis ratios 1:0.9:0.8). Such triaxiality is unavoidable following galactic mergers and can drive binaries into the gravitational wave regime. We conclude that there is no 'final parsec problem'.


Based on the principle of electromagnetic wave absorption, through the double-layer matching design and simulation analysis, taking foam cement panel as the dielectric material, combining with the resistive film, the paper has successfully prepared high-performance and broad-band foam cement absorbing panel for electromagnetic pollution control. The result shows, with the use of double-matching design that combines 140 Ω/□ resistive film with foam cement absorbing panel whose each layer thickness is 1.4 cm, in the S band , 100% of bandwidth below-10 dB and 95% of bandwidth below-14 dB can be reached, a maximum absorption of-19.6 dB at 2.45 GHz, the width of the absorption is far more than that of λ/4 type absorber. New materials can be used for the improvement of indoor electromagnetic environment and pollution control.


this paper presents the classification process in a recommender system used for textual documents taken especially from web. The system uses in the classification process a combination of content filters, event filters and collaborative filters and it uses implicit and explicit feedback for evaluating documents.


Significance: The synthesis of highly substituted pyrroles 3 from cyclopropanes 1 and amines 2 via an iron-mediated sequential ring opening–cyclization–dehydrogenation reaction is reported. The conditions were optimized using different solvents, reaction times, and iron catalysts. The scope was studied and cyclopropanes 1 bearing methyl and aryl substituents at R1 were tested with the latter giving better yields. EWGand EDG-substituted aryl amines as well as R2 = OEt were well tolerated. Also, a methyl group in the cyclopropane (R4 = Me) was suitable, furnishing 1,2,3,5-substituted pyrrole 3 in good yield. A series of aromatic and aliphatic amines were screened as well: aliphatic amines furnished pyrroles 3 in low yields, while aromatic amines gave better results, although the yields decrease according to the position of the phenyl substituent. A reaction mechanism involving a radical process was suggested based on radical trapping experiments. Comment: Cyclopropane derivatives can be used as precursors to synthesize a variety of useful heterocyclic motifs (C. A. Carson, M. A. Kerr Chem. Soc. Rev. 2009, 38, 3051; J. R. Green, V. Snieckus Synlett 2014, 25, 2258). The present work reports an efficient synthesis of triand tetrasubstituted pyrroles in moderate to good yields from readily available cyclopropanes and amines. The reaction shows a broad substrate scope; both EWG and EDG in 1 and 2 affording pyrroles 3 in comparable yields. While anilines with different patterns of substitution furnished 3 in good yields, a large excess of amine was required when benzylamines were used. The readily available cyclopropanes can be easily prepared in high yields by the reaction of a dicarbonyl compound with 1,2dibromoethane (Z. Zhang et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 1726). R1 O


In 1864 when Western Empires struggled for supremacy on the global scene, the British historian James Bryce published a successful book entitled The Holy Roman Empire. Quite naturally, Bryce began his outline of thousand years of history with the time of Charlemagne's reign and aspiration of the imperial title. With regard to this pivotal point of his subject, Bryce arrived to the following conclusion:


The Lebanese Druze are well known for their solidarity despite the fact that for centuries they have suffered deep internal divisions. It is generally believed, although not systematically researched, that their particular social and religious structures have been a major factor in preserving their unity and distinctive way of life at a time when deep and rapid changes are sweeping the area.' However, these two structures are apparently not strong enough to end the internal division which more than once has made the community vulnerable to outside pressures. Animosity remains between the two major factions the Yazbakis, who today are represented by the princely Arslan family, and the Junblatis led by Walid Junblat. In other Muslim societies religious figures intervene successfully to reconcile quarreling individuals or groups, but for various reasons this has been ineffective in healing the long-term rift between the two Druze families. The political consequences of this division are as serious for this small and vigorous community in post-war Lebanon as they ever were. There are signs that the tightly-knit Druze community of the civil war years, may again divide its loyalties between the rival clan leaders as important yet contentious community issues arise. Paradoxically, one such issue concerns the very symbol of Druze solidarity and fraternity their spiritual leader, the Shaykh al-'Aql. Shaykh al-'Aql Muhammad Abu-Shaqra's appointment of a shaykh to replace him temporarily the day before he died in October 1991 ignited a full-blown controversy which swept the community. Curiously, the issue appeared more political than religious since customary selection procedures, which involved the prerogatives of both political leaders, had apparently been waived. But even the ascetic and revered Abu Hassan Arif al-Halawi, one of the few holy men fully initiated into the Druze faith, was troubled by the Shaykh's initiative, feeling that he too should have been consulted. Moreover, Walid Junblat and Talal Arslan immediately squared off on the merits of the man who was tapped and the reasons behind his selection. The issues raised suggest the importance of the Shaykh al-'Aql in the Druze political equation, and seem to belie the peacekeeping function ordinarily linked with Druze spiritual leadership. Using this controversy as a point of departure, this study investigates the roles of the Druze


PURPOSE: to relate yeasts identified by laboratory tests to clinical signs and symptoms in patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis, and to investigate the importance of the sexual partners in the recurrence of the infection. METHODS: from July 2001 to July 2003, a sample of 179 patients aged from 18 to 65 years old, with clinical suspicion of fungal vaginitis were analyzed in a prospective study in Great Sao Paulo. Exclusion criteria included: pregnancy, impaired intrinsic or extrinsic immune response (including Aids), diabetes or immunosuppression; patients undergoing corticosteroid, antibiotic or hormone therapy, in post menopause, with intrauterine device (IUD) or making use of vaginal douches or spemicides. Samples of vaginal and penis secretions from partners of patients with relapse of vaginitis episodes were collected for microscopy and fungal culture. Fungal colonies isolated in CHROMagar Candida were identified by classical methods. Fisher's exact t-test was used to correlate the clinical picture with the yeasts isolated from patients. RESULTS: the most relevant clinical signs and symptoms were pruritus and vaginal discharge followed by erythema and edema, statistically independent from the etiological agent. Direct microscopy revealed yeasts in 77 patients with vulvovaginitis, and 40 Candida spp cultures were obtained. Candida albicans (70%), C. glabrata (20%), C. tropicalis (7,5%) and C. guilliermondii (2,5%) were identified. The yeasts prevalent in partners were C. albicans and C. glabrata. The same species were detected in female and male sex partners in 87% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: fungal vulvovaginitis was more frequent in women between 18 and 34 years old. No correlation was observed between the species of yeast detected and clinical symptomatology. Sexual partners are important Candida spp reservoirs and may be related to the maintenance of the vulvovaginal candidiasis.


Listening strategy is one of the most important factors that affect the process of listening comprehension. This article makes an empirical study on the listening strategies used by 174 non-English majors and 35 college English teachers. It aims at finding out how students use and teachers teach listening strategies, making comparison and contrast between teachers and students in using listening strategies, and recommending some constructive suggestions related to listening activities.


In complex systems design, multidisciplinary constraints are imposed by stakeholders. Engineers need to search feasible design space for a given problem before searching for the optimum design solution. Searching feasible design space can be modeled as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP). By introducing logical quantifiers, CSP is extended to quantified constraint satisfaction problem (QCSP) so that more semantics and design intent can be captured. This paper presents a new approach to formulate searching design problems as QCSPs in a continuous design space based on generalized interval, and to numerically solve them for feasible solution sets, where the lower and upper bounds of design variables are specified. The approach includes two major components. One is a semantic analysis which evaluates the logic relationship of variables in generalized interval constraints based on Kaucher arithmetic, and the other is a branch-and-prune algorithm that takes advantage of the logic interpretation. The new approach is generic and can be applied to the case when variables occur multiple times, which is not available in other QCSP solving methods. A hybrid stratified Monte Carlo method that combines interval arithmetic with Monte Carlo sampling is also developed to verify the correctness of the QCSP solution sets obtained by the branch-and-prune algorithm.


INTRODUCTION: A significant number of complications is still a serious problem in abdominal surgery. It is known that patients with low baroreflex sensitivity are more prone to hemodynamic instability during general anesthesia, which allows them to be identified as a risk group. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamics of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) during major abdominal surgery in patients with different risk of critical incidents under combined anesthesia with propofol or sevoflurane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized study was conducted in 160 patients (80 high-risk and 80 low-risk patients), who were randomized into subgroups according to the type of anesthesia (propofol or sevoflurane) to assess the effect of the type of anesthesia critical incidents and baroreflex dynamics. RESULTS: After the induction there was a trend towards a decrease in BRS, while in subgroups with initially low values of BRS, it decreased below 3 ms/mmHg. After the end of operation and 6 hours after ex-tubation, there were no significant changes in comparison with intraoperative values. Evaluation of BRS after 24 hours showed that BRS in all subgroups was significantly higher than at previous time points, but did not return to baseline values. At 6 hours postoperatively, in low-risk patients, BRS values were below 3 ms/mmHg in 12.5 % with propofol, and in 10 % with sevoflurane, in high-risk patients - in 45 % and 42.5 % of cases, respectively. At 24 hours, in the low-risk group, only two patients in the propofol anesthesia group and one in the sevoflurane anesthesia subgroup experienced this dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Both anesthesia with propofol and anesthesia with sevoflurane lead to a decrease in the sensitivity of the arterial baroreflex, which is not fully restored 24 hours after the end of the operation. High-risk patients with initially reduced baroreflex sensitivity show more frequent postoperative baroreflex dysfunction.


Individuation is one of the requirements of future society. So the education which aims at developing the students' individuality becomes the main goal of modern education. That demands the teacher should characteristics use every impossible measures to mastering the of students' individual psychology promote the overall development of the students. So, we can make the historic task bestowed by the new time.


Despite the neuromechanical complexity underlying animal locomotion, the steady-state center-of-mass motions and ground reaction forces of animal running can be predicted by simple spring-mass models such as the canonical spring-loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP) model. Such SLIP models have been useful for the fields of biomechanics and robotics in part because ground reaction forces are commonly measured and readily available for comparing with model predictions. To better predict the stability of running, beyond the canonical conservative SLIP model, more recent extensions have been proposed and investigated with hip actuation and linear leg damping (e.g., hip-actuated SLIP). So far, these attempts have gained improved prediction of the stability of locomotion but have led to a loss of the ability to accurately predict ground reaction forces. Unfortunately, the linear damping utilized in current models leads to an unrealistic prediction of damping force and ground reaction force with a large nonzero magnitude at touchdown (TD). Here, we develop a leg damping model that is bilinear in leg length and velocity in order to yield improved damping force and ground reaction force prediction. We compare the running ground reaction forces, small and large perturbation stability, parameter sensitivity, and energetic cost resulting from both the linear and bilinear damping models. We found that bilinear damping helps to produce more realistic, smooth vertical ground reaction forces, thus fixing the current problem with the linear damping model. Despite large changes in the damping force and power loss profile during the stance phase, the overall dynamics and energetics on a stride-to-stride basis of the two models are largely the same, implying that the integrated effect of damping over a stride is what matters most to the stability and energetics of running. Overall, this new model, an actuated SLIP model with bilinear damping, can provide significantly improved prediction of ground reaction forces as well as stability and energetics of locomotion.


Hospitality services market is one of the fundamental branches of tourist economy. In the era of globalization that is characterized by striving to homogenization and unification, lack of standardized categorization system of accommodation facilities in Europe and in the world is surprising. Therefore, an analysis of existing categorization systems in different countries and EU regulations is necessary. Results of the research show that the hotel industry appreciates the need for classification of accommodation facilities and aspires to work out a standardized system. Hotelstars Union is an association that proposed their own classification system that allows to accurately inform customers about the standard of the facility, leading to an increase in the transparency of the whole industry. Hotelstars Union system has been implemented in 15 European countries and it has the potential to solve the issues regarding the subjectivity of evaluation of the accommodation facilities and services they provide. Therefore,  instead of updating and correcting the out-dated Polish system, it makes sense to join the HU system and become an active member to ensure that the needs of Polish hoteliers and consumers are taken into account.


OBJECTIVE To pay pharmaceutical care on hyperlipidemia caused by continued use of sedative propofol for patients who suffer from mechanical ventilation.METHODS To the case which the patients with necrotizing fasciitis,who are treated with propofol emulsion,and lead to hyperlipidemia,clinical pharmacist timely put their intervention advice forward during pharmaceutical care.And they should also analyze and summarize the data to guarantee the smooth progress of the treatment.RESULTS Pharmacist's recommendations has been adopted.It's proved to be a kind of successful pharmaceutical care in this case.Also,it contributes to improve drug safety,medical quality assurance.CONCLUSION In the process of clinical drug treatment,clinical pharmacist should play their special skills to not only assure the safety and effection of drug treatment,but also reduce the incidence of adverse drug events.


According to the results of the analysis of scientific-methodical, special and reference literature established, insufficient number of scientific and methodological works on the development of specialized programs, applied methods, technologies of physical therapy (occupational therapy) of athletes, in particular young men aged 14-15, who specialize in martial arts after treatment of coronavirus disease, which requires further research and emphasizes the relevance (practical component) of the chosen area of research.
The main purpose of the study is to develop a program of physical therapy for young people aged 14-15 who specialize in Greco-Roman wrestling after treatment of coronavirus disease. During the theoretical research the following methods were used: abstraction, questionnaire, measurement, expert evaluation, survey, comparison, observation, etc.
In the process of research and analytical work developed a program of physical therapy for young people 14-15 years old, who specialize in Greco-Roman wrestling after treatment of coronavirus disease. The program developed by the members of the research group provides for the young people to go through the following stages of the research category: corrective stage (17 classes); stage of general physical training (10 classes); stage of technical-tactical and functional training (18 classes). We believe that the gradual and balanced use of physical therapy will provide: increase the individual level of physical (special physical), technical, tactical and psychological readiness of young people 14-15 years' old who specialize in Greco-Roman wrestling (other sports) for competitive activities. Prospects for further scientific research include approbation of an experimental program of physical therapy for young people aged 14-15 who specialize in Greco-Roman wrestling after treatment of coronavirus disease.


Objective:to explore its therapeutic mechanism by observing the effect of Tingli Shengmai Fang on myocardial apoptosis of rats with congestive heart failure. Methods:CHF models,copied by abdominal aortic coarctation,were randomly divided into sham operation group,model control group,high and low dose group,Xinbao Wan control group. Then the effect was observed on myocardial morphology of CHF rats and the myocardial apoptosis of each group detected with flow-type cytometry. Results:In model group,myocardial fiber with uneven coloring could be seen,with texture disappeared,interstitial edema mildened,focal interstitial cell proliferated,nuclear shrinked and chromatin deepened. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptosis was significantly higher than that of normal group (P0.01). In both high and low group,compared with model group,the myocardial damage reduced,with slightly granular degeneration and no obvious interstitial hyperemia,and apoptosis was lower than that of model group (P0.05 or P0.01). Conclusion:Tingli Shengmai Fang can inhibit the myocardial apoptosis of CHF rats and reduce the loss of myocardial cells during heart failure,which may be one of the mechanisms of treating CHF.


Summary The severe burn injury patients (more than 40%) were studied in two randomized groups. Both groups were treated similarly except that one group received heparin both topically and systemically. Significant relief of pain, early healing in cases of superficial and deep dermal burns without hypertrophic scarring and contracture formation, early separation of eschar, excellent graft take in full thickness burns were few of the important advantages observed in heparin group patients. Significant decrease in the incidence of respiratory complications, septic shock and decreased mortality were also noticed in patients receiving heparin. The only disadvantage being that the doses required are quite heavy. No complication in the form of bleeding disorder, despite heavy dosages have been observed.


The cycloaddition of carbon dioxide with aziridine into cyclic carbamate catalysed by purine/HI has been investigated using exchange–correlation functional B3LYP of DFT and the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set for non-iodine atoms and the LANL2DZ for iodine in order to understand the catalytic efficiency of purine/HI system. Two hypothetical reaction mechanisms were proposed for the studied reaction in each catalyst systems. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were computed for each step to determine the more favourable route. The calculations reveal that the reaction prefers to proceed through a three-step mechanism in both purine and purine/HI catalyst system. HI plays a co-catalytic role to promote the initial ring-opening of aziridine. The obtained results emphasise purine/HI system had better catalytic efficiency than purine and mechanism II of purine/HI catalysed reaction is more favourable than mechanism I. The more favourable pathway comprises three steps such as ring-opening of aziridine by iodine anion, CO2 insertion and ring-closure. The CO2 insertion step was determined as barrierless. The ring-opening of aziridine was rate-determining step which requires 16.79, 16.33, and 15.94 kcal/mol in the gas phase, water and diethyl ether (better), respectively. Finally, this work endorsed that purine/HI is an effective catalyst for CO2 fixation with aziridine. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


Simulation and modelling has been widely accepted as one of the most important aspects of the Industrial engineering. The application and use of simulation models has grown exponentially since the 1950' until today. Over the years, the complexity of the simulated aspects has been adapted to the complexity of the analysed cases which has risen proportionally too. That is why techniques used many years ago, can often not give an adequate representation of the real world any more. For that reason, we propose to use hybrid simulation models, which are a combination of simulation paradigms in order to cope with this problem. In this paper, we will give an overview of selected researches and applications with an emphasis on Discrete Event Simulation and System Dynamics, as one of the core simulation based techniques in that area. Key words: Hybrid, Simulation, Model, System Dynamics, Discrete-event simulation


We study an undamped, simply supported, Euler-Bernoulli beam given an instantaneous impulse at a point G, far from its ends. The standard modal solution obscures interesting mathematical features of the initial response, which are studied here using dimensional analysis, an averaging procedure of Zener, a similarity solution for an infinite beam, asymptotics, heuristics, and numerics Results obtained include short-time asymptotic estimates for various dynamic quantities. as well as a numerical demonstration of fractal behavior in the response. The leading order displacement of G is proportional to √t. The first correction involves small amplitudes and fast oscillations: something like t 3/2 cos(t -1 ). The initial displacement of points away from G is something like t cos(t -1 ). For small t, the deformed shape at points x far from G is oscillatory with decreasing amplitude, something like x -2 cos(x 2 ). The impulse at G does not cause impulsive support reactions, but support triremes immediately afterwards have large amplitudes and fast oscillations that depend on inner details of the impulse: for an impulse applied over a time period ∈, the ensuing support forces are of O(∈ -1/2 ). Finally, the displacement of G as a function of time shows structure at all scales, and is nondifferentiable at infinitely many points.


Sputter deposited lithium nickel vanadate thin films are investigated as a possible anode for lithium microbatteries. As-deposited films showed almost amorphous characteristics, but included a small amount of crystalline phase. The electrochemical behavior of thin-film electrodes exhibits consistent voltage charge curves for the first and subsequent cycles, and excellent cycling performance, which are different from the results obtained with bulk electrodes. These characteristics and a high specific capacity make lithium nickel vanadate thin films very attractive candidates for lithium rechargeable microbattery anodes.


A methodology for jointed rock mass characterization starts with a research based on geological data and tests in order to define the geotechnical models used to support the decision about location, orientation and shape of cavities. Afterwards a more detailed characterization of the rock mass is performed allowing the update of the geomechanical parameters defined in the previous stage. The observed results can be also used to re-evaluate the geotechnical model using inverse methodologies. Cases of large underground structures modeling are presented. The first case concerns the modeling of cavities in volcanic formations. Then, an application to a large station from the Metro do Porto project developed in heterogeneous granite formations is also presented. Finally, the last case concerns the modeling of large cavities for a hydroelectric powerhouse complex. The finite element method and finite difference method software used is acquired from Rocscience and ITASCA, respectively.


: In the present work a new controller called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) based state feedback gain (K) controller has been proposed for frequency regulation of a two area system and then its performance is compared with earlier designed controllers such as Linear Quadratic Regulator– Proportional Integral (LQR-PI) controller and Integral controller. The performance comparison has been done for the power system network comprising of two thermal power plants which are tie line connected. For using the optimal control based method such as LQR-PI controller and computationally intelligent method such as PSO based state feedback gain (K) controller, the state space modeling of the system has been done. Transfer function model for the system is used for finding the response of Integral controller. In an effective generation control scheme the change in frequency should be minimum during the load variation. The proposed PSO based state feedback gain (K) controller technique has been found most effective for improving the frequency response.


The process of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation is a mainly method for the production of styrene nowadays.The characteristic,principle and the advances of three processes at home and aboard for etylbenzene production,including benzene alkylation in gas phase,benzene alkylation in liquid phase,and the process with dilute ethylene as a raw material,are(introduced?.)The research status and the main indexes of several technologies for the production of styrene such as the dehydrogenation process under the conditions of heat insulation and negative pressure,and the process for the co-production of styrene and epoxy propane,are reviewed.The development trends of the technology for manufacturing styrene are also pointed out.


The new coronavirus has far-reaching economic impacts all over the world and, due to the openness of the Slovak economy, it also has an impact on Slovak companies as well as car plants. Except that paralyzed European demand for vehicles, as well as the entire supply chain. The result was the fact that there was no one to make or something to make. And so the manufacturers, together with the suppliers, closed their productions for operational and hygienic reasons. However, this will have a very big impact on the economy as a whole, as the car industry is a fundamental pillar. The paper is pointed to highlight the current effects of the pandemic and measures in the automotive industry in Slovak republic and selected countries.


Curatorial challenges in the field of visual arts have lent itself to a wider scope of issues in recent times as the contemporary art practice has evolved rapidly in last two decades. The effective shifts were evident from 1980s when display and showcasing of art in general and sculpture in particular began to feel the need of curatorial intervention as an essential requirement. The present paper is an attempt to investigate the new scopes and challenges in curating art exhibitions with specific references to two self-curated shows taken up by the author. Considering them as field studies, the author critically analyses the scopes and challenges encountered in real space and creates room for future development and expansions in the curatorial ideas.


Australian travellers are purchasing electric bicycles for their daily commute. However, statistics show that riders are seeking to use their bicycle for longer commutes but are held back by the limited battery life. This paper explores an effective design to apply and control a regenerative braking system to an electric bicycle to significantly increase its travel distance and battery life. In this paper, an important foundation is laid for developing a high-performance regenerative braking system which could be added to any commonly available electric bicycle conversion kit.


This experiment found out the viscosity change of chitosan solution that under the function of ultrasound,tested the influences of the four main factors of ultrasound:functioning temperature,intensity,frequency and time.


Four commercial flour samples with starch components were studied. They were characterized by Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and low field NMR (T1H).


Microbial biosensors can be used to provide information about the cells' environment in large-scale fermentations. In this project an oxygen sensitive biosensor is being developed in Escherichia coli to determine what kind of conditions cells are growing in: aerobic or anaerobic. This project specifically studies expression from the fumarate and nitrate reductase (FNR) promoter (PFNR) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In fluorescence experiments, the expression levels of green fluorescent protein (GFP) were used to quantify the effectiveness of the PFNR in the DH5α, MG1655 and BL21 strains of E. coli. The negative control of the experiments, which are the E. coli strains without a GFP plasmid, showed very high levels of background fluorescence until the emission and excitation wavelengths of the fluorescence plate reader were adjusted. Overall, the PFNR expressed more GFP under anaerobic conditions in the DH5α and BL21 strains. The results of the MG1655 strain indicated that the strain has the fnrgenotype and did not draw any definite conclusions of PFNR. Another oxygen sensitive promoter plasmid, pKVS-vgb-GFP, was constructed using circular polymerase extension cloning (CPEC) to be tested in the future. A positive control plasmid, pKVS-J23101-GFP, was also constructed using CPEC that should not produce as high of an amount of GFP relative to the current positive control plasmid. Once verified as the correct plasmid size, the new positive control can be used in future fluorescence experiments.


In this study, MREs based on natural rubber and carbonyl iron were prepared. The Taguchi method was utilised to study the effect of a number of dominating factors during the fabrication process, namely, pre-curing time, pre-curing temperature and applied magnetic field on the microstructure and tensile properties of MREs. Tensile properties were measured with a universal tensile testing machine. It was found that the pre-curing temperature had the greatest influence on ultimate tensile strength and elongation at break. Morphology characteristics of MREs were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that isotropic MREs cured without an applied magnetic field had a homogenous carbonyl iron particle distribution in the rubber matrix, and that applying a magnetic field at elevated temperature allowed the particles to organise into chain-like columnar structure in anisotropic MREs.


Tim Salm joined the Library staff as Systems Librarian on October 15, 2009. He will be leading the Library's IT and automation projects. Tim comes to us from the University of Illinois – Springfield. He earned his MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and, in the past, has worked for Microsoft Corporation, Ministry Health Care of Wisconsin, and Web Associates of San Luis Obispo, CA.


Although rice is a well-known source of nutrients, it unfortunately accumulates As the most compared to other cereal plants. Due to the growing interest in rice-based cosmetics, the aim of the work was the multi-element analysis of various home-made (natural) rice waters and commercialized ready-to-use rice-based cosmetics for skin/hair. The total concentrations of Al, As Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in raw rice and rice products were determined using inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) after wet sample decomposition in the presence of concentrated HNO3. In the case of As, the hydride generation (HG) technique was used as a sample introduction system to the ICP OES instrument. Five different procedures, including washing/rinsing, soaking, boiling, and fermentation steps, and three rice types, i.e., white, brow, and jasmine, were used for this purpose. The effects of the water temperature, the contact time of rice grains with water, and the type of rice on the water-soluble concentrations of elements were examined and compared. A significant difference in the solubility of elements was observed depending on the type of rice, with the lowest percentage of extraction noted for brown rice. The best option was soaking unwashed rice grains in a six-fold excess of cold water for 30 min. The selection criterion was to preserve the highest content of essential elements (Ca (0.76–1.2 mg kg−1), Cu (9.2–43 ng k−1), Fe (0.096–0.30 mg kg−1), Mg (6.9–11 mg kg−1), Mn (0.16–10.32 mg kg−1), and Zn (0.083–0.25 mg kg−1)) with reduced to a minimum As level, i.e., <5 ng g−1 (2.8–4.8 ng g−1), making this water safe for consumption. In contrast, regularly drinking water after boiling or soaking rice grains in hot water carries the risk of consuming an excessive amount of this element due to As content exceeding the permissible value, i.e., 10 ppb. Finally, these home-made products were compared with commercialized cosmetics for skin/hair, with satisfactory results.


The influence of electron-electron scattering on the strongly degenerate plasma conductivity is investigated with a linear response theory. In the present work the temperature dependence of the electron-electron scattering term of the electrical conductivity and further modification of the Ziman formula are discussed.


strate best how emphasis on practice can challenge scholarly stereotype and ideological straitjackets. Since this is the goal of the book, one could say the collection is successful. Absent, however, is the acerbic conflict that has sometimes accented Americans' struggle for "authentic" religion; perhaps such action is too "oppositional" to be "lived"—perhaps it is too dramatic and political to be "quotidian" and therefore lies beyond the rubrics of the genre.


An important strategic objective of the food industry is to meet the demands of all categories of the population in high-quality, biologically valuable, and safe food. At present, structured products based on dairy raw materials are commonly used. Food materials used to generate the necessary rheological properties or modify the existing properties for food systems that adjust or form the consistency of food products are referred to as structure- stabilizing agents. Both individual ingredients and complex mixtures thereof can be structure-stabilizing agents. The use of these agents contributes to an increase in the density and to the formation of a specific structure of the food product, which is retained even after heat treatment. In this study, the composition and properties of structure- stabilizing agents for products based on dairy raw materials have been analyzed. The following characteristics have been selected to examine: bulk density, viscosity, the fraction of undissolved residue, microvoid content, specific volume, specific surface area, and characteristic diameter. The dynamics of structural changes that occur during the interaction with the solvent have been analyzed from micrographs. The weight fraction of chemical elements (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, sodium, chlorine) has been determined via analyzing the spectrophotometric profile.


Small particles (diam 150 A) of anatase (TiO2) may be reduced on surface by uv irradiation at room temperature in vacuo. Irradiation in oxygen creates O2− species which are active in the oxidation of hydrocarbons at room temperature in ultraviolet.


The paper deals with recent botanical enigma of India's hottest chilli 'Bhoot Jolokia', or 'Bih Jolokia' earlier identified as Capsicum chinense, now identified as Capsicum assamicum Purakyasth et al., as new species from Assam, India. But after the detail investigation as well as literature survey it has been found the new species has no novel characters other than Capsicum chinense Jacq. Hence the establishment of the species is in question. (Verma, P. K; Rawat , K.K; Das, N. & Pradhan, B. A Botanical Enigma of India's Hottest Chilli 'Bhoot Jolokia' (Capsicum Chinense Jacq). N Y Sci J 2013;6 (11):49-51). (ISSN: 1554-0200). http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork. 7


In order to meet the needs of homogeneous submarine-launched UAV clusters in complex environments, UAV formation and formation reconfiguration algorithms with discrete initial states are investigated. A fast cluster formation method is proposed, and the effectiveness of this method is verified through comparative experiments, which can effectively reduce the entanglement of UAV trajectories in the process of clustering, reduce the probability of collision, and effectively shorten the time of forming cluster formation. Based on second-order consensus and DWA localized path planning algorithms, we improve the obstacle avoidance constraint function, design the speed and distance constraint cost function, propose the space-time coupled formation and formation reconstruction method, and verify the feasibility and effectiveness of this method, which provide some technical support for the subsequent transformation to engineering applications.


Hybrid lipid-polymer-nucleic acid nanoparticles (LPNPs) provide a range of delivery strategies for nonviral gene therapy. However, due to several pairwise interactions between their components, these formulations are difficult to predict and characterize. Here, we employed, for the first time, a novel methodology based on fluorescence cross correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) to directly quantify the extent of association between polycation-DNA cores (polyplexes) and cationic liposome shells. This leads to a rapid and easy evaluation of LPNP formation. As a result, we were able to unveil two critical insights for predicting LPNP assembly. Firstly, the interaction between the polycation (polylysine) and DNA is robust, with the polycation not being displaced by liposomes. Hence, the polyplex cores and liposome shells have to be oppositely charged to associate. Secondly, and most importantly, the liposome:poliplex number ratio (ρN), as opposed to the more common charge ratio, is a critical parameter to predict stable LPNP formation. We find that ρN≥1 is required to ensure that every polyplex is enveloped by a liposome, avoiding the coexistence of oppositely charged species, thus inhibiting aggregation. Since the chosen LPNP components are common, these observations should be applicable to many LPNP systems. Furthermore, this FCCS-based methodology is relevant to other self-assembly composite materials, for applications beyond gene delivery.


This paper presents a systematic study on vibration control of wind turbines considering soil-structure interaction(SSI).The transfer function of the wind turbine attached with a ball vibration absorber(BVA) is derived including the foundation translation and rotation relative to the soil medium.Based on the classical random vibration theory,the r.m.s values of responses of the structure with and without control are simulated.The results show that SSI has significant effect on the dynamic properties of the wind turbine tower system.The first natural frequency of the system is reduced and the peak value of the transfer function is increased due to SSI.For the soft soil,the SSI will lower the effectiveness of the BVA,when it is tuned to the natural frequency of the fixed-base structure.Therefore,it is included that in the analysis and design of vibration control of wind turbines,the effect of SSI should be taken into consideration.


This paper reports biosorption of Cr(VI), Cu(II), and Ni(II) onto Acinetobacter sp. FM4 biomass isolated from soil irrigated with tannery effluent from single, binary, and ternary metal solutions. Optimum pH for biosorption was found to be 2.0 for Cr(VI), 5.0 for Cu(II), and 6.0 for Ni(II) ions. Sorption capacities for Cr(VI), Cu(II), and Ni(II) ions were estimated as 90 mg g-1, 93.3 mg g-1, and 66.7 mg g-1, respectively. The combined effect of adsorbing one metal ion in the presence of another metal ion reduced the adsorption capacity of either metal ion. The presence of functional groups on the cell wall surface of the biomass that may interact with the metal ion was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.


The present invention provides a buckled strap dispenser member (10,200,300), comprising: a housing (11,202), forming a container (12,204) and an outlet (32,227); buckled length of the strap member (14,206) is placed in within said container, through the outlet set for allocation, the dispenser there is a ratchet (40,246). The tape comprises a bottom strip having two opposed wide surfaces (81, 83) (82) and a junction member fastening element projecting from a surface of said surface. The underlying single configuration along its entire length buckled strap member spaced intervals to form a low tear strength of the tear region (50), said spacer is formed of a single strip and each of buckled member articles engaging structure (52, 52 ') tape. When fitting the pawl such that the leading strip through the outlet in the preamble of the subsequent strip engaging a belt structure, a detent for preventing subsequent movement of the strip so that the strip preamble to apply sufficient tension OFF tear strip region disconnected subsequent strip.


Abstract In the presence of a triplet sensitizer such as camphorquinone the photodegradation of spiro-indolinonaphthoxazines in oxygen-saturated acetonitrile solutions can be achieved with visible light. From the resulting degradation product distribution it becomes evident that the formation of 3,3-dimethyloxindole and its derivatives is enhanced when compared to UV-induced photolysis, thus suggesting that these compounds originate from the spiro-indolinonaphthoxazine promoted to the first excited triplet state by energy transfer from the sensitizer.


Emotions have an important role in daily life, not only in human interaction, but also in decision-making processes, and in the perception of the world around us. Due to the recent interest shown by the research community in establishing emotional interactions between humans and computers, the identification of the emotional state of the former became a need. This can be achieved through multiple measures, such as subjective self-reports, autonomic and neurophysiological measurements. In the last years, Electroencephalography (EEG) received considerable attention from researchers, since it can provide a simple, cheap, portable, and ease-to-use solution for identifying emotions. In this paper, we present a survey of the neurophysiological research performed from 2009 to 2016, providing a comprehensive overview of the existing works in emotion recognition using EEG signals. We focus our analysis in the main aspects involved in the recognition process (e.g., subjects, features extracted, classifiers), and compare the works per them. From this analysis, we propose a set of good practice recommendations that researchers must follow to achieve reproducible, replicable, well-validated and high-quality results. We intend this survey to be useful for the research community working on emotion recognition through EEG signals, and in particular for those entering this field of research, since it offers a structured starting point.


Coatings based on mineral binders with inorganic hollow microfillers are effective thermal insulation materials. However, they have poor physical and mechanical characteristics, and this prevents from their extensive practical use. The purpose of the work is to develop the composition of a thin-layer thermal insulation coating based on Portland cement with addition of a complex additive intended to improve its physical and mechanical properties. The use of this additive facilitated the additional on-surface synthesis of microspheres of crystalline hydrates in the form of aggregate gels, ettringite needles and laminar structures, as well as the compacting of the structure of a thin-layer thermal insulation coating with crystalline hydrates formed during the clinker aluminate phase. These structural changes contributed to the improvement of physical and mechanical parameters of the thermal insulation coating.


An extensive reading of Wigner's scholarly contributions brings to light how he was led to pursue two radically different purposes when he appealed to models. The present paper sketches the logical background for this distinction, and illustrates it with some specific models Wigner considered.


Creating and changing a drawing with one of the current interactive drawing programs, e.g. MacDraw (Apple, 1984), illustrator (Adobe, 1987), Freehand (Aldus, 1987) or Gargoyle (Pier, Bier and Stone, 1988), is not easy when the nwnber of objects becomes large. From psychological theories of visual perception it is known that humans reduce a large nwnber of objects by perceiving groups of objects as single objects (Koffka, 1935; Miller, 1956), which implies that the mental representation of a drawing has a hierarchical structure (Buffart, 1986; Palmer, 1977). Although the current drawing programs do allow the user to create a drawing with a hierarchical structure, only the objects at the highest level of the hierarchy can be selected and edited. This paper presents a different approach which allows the user to select and edit objects at each level of the hierarchy. The main concept, a current object, allows the user to travel through the hierarchical structure of the drawing in order to select objects at each level of the hierarchy. This approach not only enables the users to use the hierarchical structure that corresponds to their mental representation, but also eliminates some inconsistencies in the current drawing programs. A drawing program has been made in which the proposed way of structure editing has been realized. The first impressions of this implementation will be discussed. 1987 CR Categories: 1.3.4. [Computer Graphics] Graphics Utilities 1.3.6. [Computer Graphics] Methodology and Techniques


In this work, we develop a new framework for image and video compression. In traditional frameworks, images are considered 2-D arrays of pixels and encoded using spatiotemporal prediction and transform. Here, we consider an image as an orderless set of atom units, called structurelets, which satisfy a set of imaging constraints. We use lossless image compression as an example to demonstrate how the image encoder and decoder can be designed. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outputs existing methods for lossless image compression.


Synchronous optical network (SONET) management modeling is discussed from an organizational aspect, in accordance with a framework of OSI (open systems interconnection) system management. In view of network operation and SONET layering scheme, the SONET management environment is partitioned into three generic management domains: administration, logical link, and network element domains. A logical link domain is further divided into path, line, and section subdomains. The relation between individual domains is specified with an object-oriented approach. Based on the domain organization, a hybrid management structure is proposed to include both centralized and distributed operations. The keys to realization of an end-to-end management in this hybrid management environment are agent, supervisor, and interdomain management processes. The proposed architecture model provides the capabilities of end-to-end management under a multivendor environment and with flexibility of management systems. Operational examples of provisioning and alarm surveillance functions are shown.<<ETX>>


Aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH) is a unique cancer target that is expressed exclusively on the surface of cancer cells. It is a type II transmembrane protein predominantly expressed during embryogenesis where it promotes cell migration for organ development, but has very low expression in healthy adult tissue, and is localized to the intracellular compartment of the endoplasmic reticulum. However, re-expression and translocation to the tumor cell surface has been detected in more than 20 different types of cancers, with expression levels inversely correlated with disease prognosis. Promising phase I clinical trial results have been achieved with our ASPH-targeted vaccine, SNS-301, in the treatment of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer (reported previously: Nordquist, et al. (2018) J Clin Oncol. 36, suppl; abstr e15166; Nordquist, et al. Annals of Oncology, 29, suppl_8, 1 October 2018, mdy279.404). This study demonstrated reductions in disease-specific biomarkers (i.e. PSA) which correlated to the breaking of immune self-tolerance as indicated by stimulation of both cellular and humoral ASPH-specific immune responses. Importantly the vaccine was well tolerated with minimal numbers of adverse events or off-target effects. Thus, ASPH represents a promising target for immunotherapeutic approaches to human cancers. Here we present studies that we have initiated towards the development of ASPH-targeted CAR (chimeric antigen receptor)-T cell therapies. A series of ASPH-targeting chimeric antigen receptor constructs have been produced which combine various ASPH-specific scFv domains and either the 4-1BB or CD28 co-stimulatory domains. The ASPH-specific scFv explored include several scFv that we previously isolated from a fully human non-immune scFv library displayed on the surface of yeast and targeted at different epitopes within the extracellular domain of ASPH as well as several affinity matured variations of these scFv (Yeung, et al. (2007) Human Antibodies 16, 163-76). All constructs were incorporated into a lentiviral vector which was used to transfect human CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. CAR expression and affinities were determined by flow cytometry using a fluorescently labeled antigen. Cell killing efficacy and cytokine responses of the resulting CAR-T cells were observed in co-culture experiments with a series of ASPH-expressing human cancer cell lines allowing for the ranking of the CAR constructs in terms of overall extent of immune stimulation ex vivo. It is our expectation that the unique features of the ASPH tumor specific antigen will help overcome one of the major hurdles in T-cell therapy: the identification of antigens that permit effective targeting of tumors in the absence of non-tolerable and/or off-target toxicities to essential tissues and organs. Experiments to further characterize ASPH-targeted CAR-T cells are ongoing with the goal of moving these promising therapeutics into clinic. Citation Format: Thomas Thisted, Kanam Malhotra, Michael S. Lebowitz, Hossein Ghanbari. CAR-T cell therapies targeting aspartyl β-hydroxylase (ASPH) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2306.


Due to recent industrial developments and the COVID-19 pandemic, people are spending more time indoors. Consequently, many researchers have focused on the indoor environment, and indoor air quality is considered more important for human health. Improving indoor air quality depends on effective ventilation and reasonable air distribution. In an air-conditioned room, the form of airflow organization affects air quality, so air distribution is an important aspect of air-conditioning system design. In this study, we used Airpak software by Fluent to perform numerical calculations on the indoor humidity calculation model and study the effects of different ventilation methods on indoor temperature and humidity distribution. The Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equation and the RNG (Re-Normalisation Group) k-epsilon model were used to predict the airflow pattern in a room, the effects of ventilation on the dew rate, the effects of different ventilation methods, and the effect of indoor wall condensation. The results of the simulation showed that the ventilation mode significantly affected the distribution of condensation on the indoor wall surface.


(57) [Summary]
By treating or preventing the progression and disease of inflammation in dogs associated with the activity of inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), while selectively inhibiting COX-2 activity relative to COX-1 activity. The selectivity, ie, the inhibition of COX-2: COX-1 activity, is at least 3: 1 based on the level of ex vivo inhibition measured in whole blood. It is associated with the simultaneous inhibition of the activity of constituent cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). In reducing or eliminating the undesirable side effects described above, the inhibitor consists essentially of salicylic acid derivatives, p-aminophenol derivatives, indole and indene acetic acids, heteroaryl acetic acids, aryl propionic acids, anthranilic acids, enolic acids, and alkanones. A compound selected from the group of anti-inflammatory compounds Substances, in particular, the 6-chloro -α- methyl -9H- carbazole-2-acetic acid (+) (S) -, comprised of enantiomers.


Results from a plasma chemistry model provide predictions of spatially and temporally averaged plasma properties. Application of the model to chlorine‐etch process conditions, typical of a high plasma‐density transformer coupled plasma reactor, provides plasma composition dependence on reactor operating parameter such as power and pressure. Model results also show the dependence of species concentrations on the atomic‐chlorine recombination rate at reactor walls. Comparison of model predictions to measured composition trends as determined by Langmuir probe, actinometry, and ion‐energy analysis reveals a critical wall‐recombination probability of about 0.1 for chlorine atoms on a chlorinated anodized‐aluminum surface. At or above this critical value, the model reproduces the experimentally observed trends, while employing a recombination probability below this value results in predictions that are inconsistent with the data. The model determines gas‐phase and surface‐species compositions in plasma‐etch rea...


Theoretical and applied aspects of the new network-centric approach to the management of tourism destinations, sustainable tourism development and dissemination of knowledge based on the use of information technology. We develop and motivate the concept of «attractor tourism and recreation». Discussed the idea of creating a network of «electronic University tourism» on the basic principles of the UNWTO.


The research focuses on large-scale national infrastructures and their impact on landscape. In order to determine their specific interactions we assessed the quality of the landscape affected by the infrastructure, objectively classifying different landscape typologies, considering physical, visual and ecological aspects, hence we developed a new methodology based on the innovative construction of a check list, a series of questions to be followed during the project design and the consecutive evaluation. It leads to the development of guidelines for the conservation of the landscape and the environment whilst also developing the infrastructure. Furthermore, the check list is an open tool, letting the user (project designer or evaluator) employ the right degree of detail, according to specific conditions or problems.


This paper proposes reinterpretations of the concepts of cosmopolitanism and of Eurasia, both of which are commonly perceived negatively inside and outside anthropology. Cosmopolitanism is here understood as central to the character of anthropology as a comparative discipline, the antithesis of the 'national ethnography' (Volkskunde) tradition. It can be practised at various levels. On historical grounds, both short term and long term, it is argued that Eurasia is a highly appropriate level for comparative analysis. Eurasia is defined here as the entire landmass between the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Arctic Oceans. In addition to Asia and Europe, Africa north of the Sahara is included on historical grounds. While some parts of this "mega-continent" are well represented in the anthropological literature, many have been neglected. Recognition of the unity of the whole has been hindered by Eurocentric preoccupations with civilisational differences and by the dominant research methods of modern anthropology. The second part of the paper relates these considerations to some of the practical challenges currently faced by those trying to establish a more cosmopolitan style of anthropology in countries where Volkskunde has been dominant hitherto. Specifically, it is suggested that this concept of Eurasia could provide a new platform for teaching and research in the former socialist countries. This might ease the task of grafting new anthropological programmes onto existing intellectual traditions, thereby facilitating a gradualist transition to cosmopolitanism and avoiding the dangers of imperialism and missionisation; but the level of Eurasia does not, of course, exhaust the possibilities for anthropological comparison. 1 Chris Hann, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, PO Box 110351, 06017 Halle/Saale, Germany, Tel.: 0049-345-2927-201, Fax: 0049-345-2927-202, e-mail: email@example.com


This paper considers the theoretical tendencies of Cuban Social Work from the beginning of the socialist transition in the island (January 1959). For this purpose, revisits aspects of recent Cuban history, locates the importance of the 26 of July movement (M-26-7) which fought Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship and culminated with socialist transition and the reorganization of Social Work in Cuba. The paper also emphasizes the most important theoretical inspirations which oriented Cuban social work in the last 25 years, its various tendencies, its constitutive elements and central theses. Finally, based on its findings, the paper analyses the limits and potentialities for the consolidation of a critical professional social work university education in the island, aligned to its socialist tradition and in the light of its progressive militant experiences.


An experiment with low-cost capture of conference presentations is described. The goal was to produce material for ondemand replay through the ACM Digital Library. RGB capture was used for high-quality capture of presentation material, and a "capture-and-compress-to-disk" recording that is similar to broadcast industry "live-to-videotape" recording was used to reduce the cost of production. The technology used and the lessons learned are described.


Original scientific paper The given article describes the hardware-software complex aimed to teach students how to control the mechatronic mechanisms remotely by means of standard industrial automation. The purpose of this paper is to consider the following problems: the curved trajectory movement algorithm control, the corresponding software development for the industrial controllers using CoDeSys environment, CoDeSys software package usage for the development of interactive HTML-applications with WEB-interface.


In this paper the cloning of a cDNA encoding a forkhead containing transcription factor, denominated TTF-2, was reported. In Figure 8 we showed the expression of TTF-2 in the developing thyroid at embryonic days (E) 13.5 and 15, demonstrating a down-regulation of TTF-2 expression at E15 (panel D). In repeating these experiments with a novel TTF-2 probe that gives a stronger signal and that includes the sequence used as a probe in the original manuscript, we have been unable to con®rm such down-regulation. The ®gure below, that should substitute panel D in Figure 8 of the original manuscript, shows the hybridization signal that we now routinely obtain on sections of E15 thyroid with the new TTF-2 probe. The presence of TTF-2 in E15 thyroids has also been con®rmed with a newly developed anti-TTF-2 antibody (data not shown). Thus, TTF-2 expression in thyroid development shows no discontinuity. As a consequence, the hypothesis presented in the original manuscript proposing that the onset of differentiation correlated with disappearance of TTF-2 is no longer supported. However, all other data presented in the manuscript have been con®rmed, including the repression activity of TTF-2 (Perrone et al., 2000). Finally, the presence of TTF-2 in the developing thyroid, even if not discontinuous, has since been demonstrated to be of relevance in mice (De Felice et al. (1998) Mutation of the gene encoding human TTF-2 associated with thyroid agenesis, cleft palate and choanla atresia.A mouse model for hereditary thyroid dysgenesis and cleft palate. The thyroid transcription factor 2 (TTF-2) is a promoter-speci®c DNA-binding independent transcriptional repressor. Biochem. Fig. 8. (D) In situ hybridization on a sagittal section of mouse embryo at E15.5 using a TTF-2 speci®c probe. TTF-2 mRNA is clearly expressed in thyroid cells at this stage.


ABSTRACT This article addresses the questions of how hotel managers perceive the impact of information technology (IT) on hotel service operations, particularly transaction costs, and whether its impact on these costs affects the decision-making framework. A multiple case study approach using a two-stage interview process was adopted. This comprised a closed, fixed-response questionnaire administered to a group of managers followed by a standardized, open-ended interview intended to capture both objective and subjective views. Although the managers objectively identified a positive impact for IT, their subjective views indicated that this impact is only superficial. This gap points to the existence of bounded rationality in managerial decision making about state-of-the-art IT systems.


Mechanical gyro limitations and reliability issues drove the development of the ring laser gyro in the 1960s. Just as production prototypes began to emerge in the mid-1970s the first fiber gyro breadboard emerged. This paper provides an overview of factors that have driven the development of the fiber optic gyro, its applications, and recommendations for further information.


Little is known about the historical biogeography of alpine plants that are disjunctly distributed across the mountains of the Iberian Peninsula. Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) variation were surveyed in the Spanish alpine endemic, Senecio boissieri, to resolve the causes of its disjunct distribution in the southern Sierra Nevada and Baza, centrally located Sierra Guadarrama, and northern Cordillera Cantabrica. RAPD analysis identified two divergent genetic groups, one containing individuals from the Cordillera Cantabrica and another comprising individuals from the three other mountain ranges. Chloroplast DNA variation was much more limited with only one of forty-two cpSSR loci examined showing polymorphism. At this locus the same allele occurred at high frequency in material from each mountain range. A possible reason for RAPD divergence in the Cantabrian material is its derivation from plants surviving the last glacial maximum in a northern refugium, isolated from the main distribution of the species spanning the area between the southern and central Spanish sierras. Postglacial fragmentation of the species range in southern and central Iberia would have resulted in the current disjunction of genetically similar populations in southern and centrally located mountains.


The A1 adenosine receptor is the best characterized of the widely distributed purinergic receptor family. The purified brain A1 receptor is a monomeric 35‐ to 36‐kDa glycoprotein. A1 receptors can be clearly distinguished from A2 adenosine receptors on the basis of structure activity relationships with selective ligands. Recent structure activity data suggest that subtypes of A1 (A1a, A1b, and A3) and A2 (A2a and A2b) receptors may exist. A1 receptor‐mediated responses are coupled via multiple pertussis toxin‐sensitive GTP binding proteins (G proteins) to many different effectors in various tissues: adenylate cyclase, phospholipase C, Na+‐Ca2+ exchange, Ca2∗ channels, Cl– channels, and K+ channels. The formation of calcium‐mobilizing inositol phosphates can either be enhanced or inhibited. In general, adenosine has been found to act in concert with other hormones or neurotransmitters in either an inhibitory or a stimulatory way. The myriad modulatory actions of adenosine suggest that: 1) adenosine may simultaneously produce multiple effects within the same cell; and 2) activation of A1 receptors may lead to either a decrease or an increase in the coupling of other receptors to their G proteins.—Linden, J. Structure and function of A1 adenosine receptors. FASEB J. 5: 2668‐2676; 1991.


Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine changes on dimensions of irrational beliefs (demand for success, demand for comfort, demand for respect) according to the dimensions of internal- external locus of control and gender in early adolescence. Method: The sample consisted of 348 students in 7th and 8th grade who were recruited from three junior high schools. Data was collected by using Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale and Irrational Beliefs Scale for Adolescents. Twoway analysis of variance were applied for data analysis. Results: Findings indicated no significant interaction between internal-external locus of control and gender on three subscales of irrational beliefs (demand for success, demand for comfort, demand for respect). Externally oriented adolescents exhibited more demand for comfort than internally oriented adolescents in four dimensions of locus of control (family relationships, peer relationships, supersitition, and fate). Externally oriented adolescents had more demand for success in family relationships and fate than internally oriented adolescents. Surprisingly, internally oriented adolescents demonstrated more demand for comfort and demand for respect than externally oriented adolescents in achievement dimension of locus of control. Generally, boys had higher scores on demand for success and demand for comfort than girls in dimensions of locus of control. Discussion: Observed changes on irrational beliefs according to dimensions of internal-external locus of control and gender were discussed in regard to developmental and cultural factors.


We develop and estimate a structural model of strategic network formation to study the determinants of firms collaborations for patenting new technology in the medical device industry. Our aim is to bridge the strategy literature on interorganizational networks and the economic literature on structural estimation of network models. In our model, firms have payoffs that depend on linking costs and benefits, as well as externalities from common partners and popular partners. Firms are characterized by observed and unobserved characteristics, that affect both their opportunity and their willingness to form links. The equilibrium networks are sparse and match the aggregate clustering levels observed in the data. We use the network of patent collaborations among medical device firms, to estimate the structural parameters using a Bayesian approach. Our results show that firms tend to partner domestically and collaborate with companies in similar markets, perhaps due to technological complementarities or regulation effects. Unobserved heterogeneity matters: we find that firms' payoffs vary by type. Finally we show that the estimated model including unobserved heterogeneity provides a better fit of crucial features of the data.


Objective: To explore the values of CA199,CEA,and CA242 single or combined detection on clinical diagnosis for patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods: Serum tumor markers CA199,CEA,and CA242 of 96 patients with pancreatic cancer,133 patients with pancreatitis,and 1400 health examinates as the control group. Results: The levels of CA199,CEA,and CA242 in patients with pancreatic cancer were significantly higher than those in patients with pancreatitis and the control group( P < 0. 05). The sensitivity of CA199 alone was the highest in the four tumor markers for the patients with pancreatic cancer( 94. 6%). The specificity of combined detection of CA199+ CEA + CA242 was the highest( 98. 9%). Conclusion: Single detection of CA199 could improve the diagnostic sensitivity,and combined detection of tumor markers CA199 + CEA + CA242 could improve the diagnostic specificity.


Orthodoxies – Old and New The setting: a Liverpool lecture hall; the topic: the Roman empire's territorial organisation, its provinces and instruments of imperial rule; the audience: an average class of mostly state-educated undergraduates. The author of this paper points out to the students the empire's centre-periphery structure, using the British empire as an explanans. His hopes, the more recent example might ring a bell with some students, were met, but not in the predicted way: his mention of the British empire caused discomfort in the audience until finally one student declared: 'How can you possibly use the British empire as a model? We all know that it was evil.' The episode is telling in more than one way: obviously, students find it difficult to distinguish between heuristic models and role models. By choosing the British empire as a heuristic model, no one has, of course, suggested that the European colonial empires of the 19th and 20th centuries should set an example for the world order of the 21st century. Nobody wants to justify mechanisms of expropriation and exploitation inherent in Europe's colonial empires – and indeed in more recent structures of dependency. But the student's remark also makes clear to what degree post-colonial theorising has become a common place in modern British society and education; to what extent it has been vulgarised; how profoundly normative categories have infiltrated the way we confront our past. History lessons at secondary school are soaked with anti-colonial reflex, not only in Britain, but all over the (Western) world. Not surprisingly, the reaction to the intellectual Eurocentrism of past generations has left its mark on scholarship dealing with the more remote past of Europe's classical and pre-classical history too. The very idea of defining the Greek and Roman civilisations as 'classical' has become subject to criticism – and rightly so. No longer are Greek and Latin texts the measure of all things. Archaeology has given a voice to those who had been condemned to muteness, before systematic archaeological exploration began. And scholars have long since realised that the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome can best be understood if we examine them from their fringes. 1 A fresh view from the fringes of the world of the Iron Age Mediterranean is now presented in Tamar Hodos's recent volume, which has the merit of having triggered the present discussion. In order to achieve its objective: to explore 'local responses' to 'colonisation' in this extremely dynamic period of Mediterranean history, the book comes up with an impressive array of archaeological material. Hodos's analytical approach is lucid, her methodology adequate to the subject. The three regional case-studies accounting for the 1


Being different from general continual-data stream BER tester, the receiver of burst-mode BER tester is required to extract clock and recover data accurately from the incoming datasteam characterized by phase variation within a dozen bits time before error bits detection is conducted, moreover, while error bits detecting, the receiver should filter the preamble and delimiter and execute error bits statistic only for Payload. In this paper a design method for Burst-mode BER Tester Based on FPGA is put forward. First of all, the whole structure of this design is introduced, and then the logic function modules implemented in the FPGA and system control program are presented in detail separately. The experimental results of applying this test equipment to 1.25G burst-mode optical receiver in GPON system illustrate that it has good performance and practical value.


The technical and economic feasible study on exploitation of lunar 3 He for fuelling the fusion reactor burning D-3He has been carried out. It is divided into the following section: analysis of solar wind parameters and estimation of potential quantity 3 He in the lunar regolith; feasible on exploitation of lunar 3He; the comparisons of cost of electricity between D-3 He and D-T fuel cycle for different reactor types have been discussed.


The relative efficiency of three types of graphic symbol displays was examined for an experienced augmentative system user. The learner matched photographs to symbols in displays that included fixed (all symbols appearing on one page), dynamic active (each symbol on one page electronically linked to a second page), and dynamic passive (two pages of symbols linked by a "go to" symbol). Accuracy and response time were measures used to determine if one type of symbol display was easier to learn and/or use than another. Response time was the fastest and accuracy was the greatest for the fixed and dynamic active display types. Differences between the three display types became more apparent after the addition of distractor symbols. The limitations of the findings of this single participant investigation are discussed along with implications for future research.


This article treats parallel service system modelling in the GPSS simulation language. The transactions entering such systems select between numerous different servers and we can mostly detect two rules in the selecting of the appropriate server. The first rule always gives the first few (regarding its position in the system) entities (either servers or queues) precedence over the others, while the second rule always treats all the equal entities evenly and selects among them quite randomly. Since GPSS normally operates by the first rule, we frequently come up against difficulties when modelling systems that serve by another rule. The present article offers a methodology how to solve this problem within GPSS.


. The article presents the results of the experiment aimed at studying the features of the formation of arbitrary self-regulation among the children of the late preschool age with general underdevelopment of speech. The design technique was used to determine the level of arbitrary self-regulation. The Graphic dicta-116 tion technique was used to study the formation of arbitrary self-regulation criteria. The experiment involved children of the senior group and the compensatory group. Features of arbitrary self-regulation among the children of the late preschool age with general underdevelopment of speech of the third level are significant-ly different from those of normally developing peers and require special corrective effects to compensate for disorders.


This dissertation contributes to the definition of minimum-complexity approaches that allows for representing realistic effects typical of modern fixed- and rotary-wing configurations, limiting as much as possible increase in order and overall complexity of the dynamic model of the class of aerial vehicles considered. In particular, the thesis deals with (1) the development of a novel low-order mathematical model for including structural deformation effects in the analysis of response to control inputs of flexible aircraft; (2) the derivation of a simplified models for unsteady aerodynamic effects, with an application to helicopter main rotor; (3) modeling and assessment of the maneuvering potential for a novel quadrotor configuration with tilting rotors. A mixed Newtonian-Lagrangian approach is proposed for the derivation of flexible aircraft equations of motion, where Lagrange equations are used for flexible degrees of freedom, discretized by means of Gal¨erkin method, whereas the evolution of transport degrees of freedom (position and attitude variables) is obtained by means of Newton second law and generalized Euler equation. A strong link with conventional rigid aircraft equations of motion is maintained, that allows highlighting those terms less relevant for aircraft response. When negligible, these terms are removed and a minimum complexity flexible aircraft model is derived, suitable for real-time simulation and control law synthesis. Similarly, unsteady aerodynamic effects over a rotating blade are modeled by means of an available approach, namely the ONERA dynamic stall model. Some reasonable simplifying assumptions based on the comparison of simulation results with a quasi-static aerodynamic model are then derived and a minimum complexity, 6 degree-of-freedom helicopter model is proposed which takes into account the issues related to retreating blade stall. Finally, an existing inverse simulation algorithm is applied for the first time to the determination of the control laws for tracking desired maneuvers by means of an unconventional quad-rotor configuration featuring four tilting rotors. This novel configuration allow access to an extended maneuver envelope and ad hoc instruments are needed for assessing its maneuvering potential. For all the considered problems, the approaches developed are demonstrated by means of numerical results, applied to a particular class of modern fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft, but the possibility of extending the results to different classes of vehicles is also highlighted


An improved time-domain spectral element method (ITSEM) is developed for seismic analysis of I-sectioned steel structures in this paper. The developed method considers the effect of section type on spectral stiffness using shear correction coefficient. In the calculation process of the time-domain spectral stiffness and mass matrices, the invariant integral operations of the element matrices are extracted and saved in advance. Thus, the global mass and stiffness matrices of the structures can be obtained only by simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division operations, which greatly improves computational efficiency. Next, the natural frequencies of a I-sectioned beam are computed and compared with the finite element method (FEM) and analytical results to validate the ITSEM. Then, the seismic responses of a ten-story steel frame using ITSEM are obtained and compared with those by FEM, which proves the effectiveness, accuracy and high efficiency of ITSEM in elastic seismic analysis.


The blue tilapia, Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864) is exotic fish and became widely distributed throughout different natural waters of Iraq during the last years. The present study describes the length compositions, age, growth, reproduction and food habit of the species in the Garmat Ali River from September 2018 to August 2019. A total of 1050 specimens were caught using gill nets, cast net, and electro-fishing. The lengths of O. aureus ranged from 6.6 to 22.9 cm, and the most dominant lengths were 14.0 to 18.0 cm representing 61.6% of the catch. A positive allometric growth pattern was observed for males (b= 3.317),  females (b= 3.231) and all individuals (b= 3.283). There were three peaks for relative condition factor (K n ) that appeared during October, April, and July for both sexes. The age estimated on the basis of scales showed that the population comprised of 1 to 5 years. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth curve were L∞= 27.6 cm, K= 0.193 and t o = 1.18. The growth performance index (o) of O. aureus was computed as 2.17. The overall sex ratio (male: female) was1:1.04. Females attained sexual maturity at a lower size than males with mean size at first maturity determined as 6.6 cm for females and 9.2 cm for males. Two peaks of the gonado-somatic index were shown, the higher one in April and the lower one in September in both sexes. The estimated fecundity ranged from 352 to 1033 eggs in the fish ranging from 12.2 to 20.5 cm in length. O. aureus is an opportunistic feeder that will successfully utilize whatever food source is available, its diet comprised of detritus (43.1%), diatoms (23.9%), algae (22.8%), macrophytes (7.1%) and crustaceans (6.0%). The results highlighted basic biological features on invasion fish species which can assist in fisheries management and conservation of the fish species in Iraqi waters.


Rescheduling has abundant issues yet to be explored. The local rescheduling problem in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been firstly addressed and investigated in this paper. The algorithms of local rescheduling have been proposed and evaluates the performance of reschedule solutions with different metrics. The solutions have to be under the limitation that the network should stay connected after the process of rescheduling. This paper introduces a theoretical bound of maximum degree after node insertion. Along with empirical results in real world settings, the results motivate the design of algorithms and give possible reasons why existing rescheduling algorithms do not work efficiently. Two local link rescheduling algorithms and one local broadcast rescheduling algorithm are developed as improvements. With different node densities and other critical parameters, simulations show that the developed algorithms greatly improve the ratio of finding proper solutions successfully in both types of scheduling compared with other existing simple algorithms.


System for controlling the temperature of electronic or optoelectronic devices or assemblies in which a temperature control fluid flows for temperature control by a heat exchanger element, characterized in that the heat exchanger element (1) is designed as an open-pored metallic body and, formed on at least one surface of the body which is oriented in the direction of at least one electronic or optoelectronic component (2) or such an assembly a fluid-tight or with a for the thermal treatment dense coating is provided.


[Objective]To seek for a method to rebuild radial head for comminuted radial head fractures,and recommend a new technique of bipolar radial head replacement.[Method]Five patients with fresh comminuted radial head fractures were treated by Tornier cement stem and bipolar radial prothesis.Among them,three were females and two were males,with the average age of 37.4Y(29-48Y).Four cases were to Mason type Ⅲ and one Mason type Ⅳ.All the patients underwent operation within 3-11 days with an average of 6 days after injury.Rehabilitation began in Mason type Ⅲ radial head fracture patients 48 h postoperatively.Both medial and lateral ligaments were repaired in one case of Mason type Ⅳ fracture.Plastic brace were used for 3 weeks during functional rehabilitation.The postoperative elbow joint was evaluated clinically by Broberg and Morrey score.[Result]All the patients healed by first intention were followed up for 7 to 50 months,with an average of 30 months.According to elbow functional evaluation criteria by Broberg and Morrey scores,there were excellent results in three and good in two respectively with an average of 92.2 points.[Conclusion]Cement stem and bipolar radial head prothesis replacement is a good technique for treating comminuted radial head fractures because it meets the designing principle of modern orthopaedics.


The present invention relates to total electric field intensity of ultra-high voltage direct current power transmission line measurement mechanism and measuring method.The inventive system comprises microcontroller, field mill sensor, current signal voltage of transformation signal circuit, bandpass filtering, variable gain amplifier, A/D converter, motor-drive circuit, receiver, D/A converter, communication module and memory module.Microprocessor controls D/A converter exports analog voltage signal, a road analog voltage signal input motor-drive circuit, and control the rotating speed of direct current generator, DC motor Driver gear case operates, and gear case drives moving plate to rotate; Another road analog voltage signal input variable gain amplifier.Current signal voltage of transformation signal circuit converts the current signal on still in blade to voltage signal, then sends bandpass filtering to, then sends A/D converter to through variable gain amplifier, and A/D converter sampled voltage signal also sends microcontroller to.This device can on-line checkingi total electric field intensity of ultra-high voltage direct current power transmission line.


In order to study the law of the adsorption isotherm of organic vapour on activated carbon C40/4, the adsorption isotherms of toluene and acetone on activated carbon (C40/4) were measured by time integration of the breakthrough curves at 288.15 K, 293.15 K and 298.15 K using an apparatus developed for this purpose. The relationship between these parameters of the adsorption isotherm and the temperature, which is based on the theory of langmuir from the aspect of a dynamic equilibrium, was theoretically analyzed. The experienced adsorption isotherm model, which describes the adsorption isotherm of organic vapour on activated carbon C40/4 at different temperature, was proposed. The experimental data were correlated with the Langmuir adsorption isotherms, which is a fundamental theoretical relation for temperature. An excellent agreement between experimental data and computing data of these equations, whose tolerance is less than 6%, is observed. The mathematical model method offers effective solution for the capacity of organic vapour on activated carbon to forecast and optimize the adsorption process.


Self-regulated learning and critical reasoning are two important dimensions in government policies to improve the quality of education which is manifested in the form of the Pancasila student profile. These two dimensions are able to describe the character and competencies of students that must be possessed in the Industrial Revolution 4.0. This research is a meta-analytic study that aims to analyze the relationship between self-regulated learning and mathematical critical reasoning abilities. Data were collected through searching scientific articles that have been published in scientific journals and proceedings in the period 2018-2020. There were 10 research samples that matched the exclusion and inclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using the JASP V-0.11. The results of heterogeneity test with a value of Q=111.610 and p=0.0010.05. The effect size model used was the random effect model. The results showed that the mean effect size was 0.72 in the moderate effect category and the results of the Funnel Plot and Egger's Test with a value of z=1.368 and p=0.1710.05 indicated that there was no publication bias. In conclusion, self-regulated learning is strongly correlated with mathematical critical reasoning.


Graduate and undergraduate student researchers are continually learning and performing research methodologies as part of research assistantships or for independent theses and dissertations. Particularly in engineering education research, it is important for student researchers to have working knowledge of and practice using a variety of methodologies. To support the growth of student researchers, this "tricks of the trade" paper explains Q methodology, a mixed methods research methodology, and how it can be utilized in engineering education. Q methodology is a social science research methodology focused on systematically studying subjectivity utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. The methodology is used to study how people think about a topic (e.g., their viewpoints, perspectives, or beliefs), resulting in a set of subjective viewpoints which represent the way of thinking regarding a topic. As an inherently convergent mixed methods design, Q methodology explains the quantitative results of a factor analysis using the qualitative findings from interviews. While Q methodology has had limited use in engineering education research to-date, it has a larger presence in education and educational psychology research more broadly. This paper details the history of Q methodology, when it is appropriate to use it as a research design within engineering education research, the components of the methodology, how to execute a Q methodology study, and how to analyze and interpret the results. A detailed example from a dissertation is provided for how Q methodology is currently being used to study the experiences of early career women engineers when they encounter gender-based challenges in the workplace. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates and promotes the strengths of Q methodology within engineering education research and provides student researchers actionable steps and knowledge to advance their research skills.


The Vakf-ı Nükûd (money foundations) were established in the Ottoman Empire in the XV. century. But these foundations were legalised by Şeyhülislam Ebüssuud Efendi in the XVI. century.These foundations were founded in Cyprus in the XVIII. and XVIII. centuries but we have not seen any detailed researches about the positions of these foundations. In addition to, there are not any researches or knowledge about these foundation, in the early of XIX. century. Acccording to the records of Kadi"s Court in Nicosia, these foundations were founded in the early of XIX. century, too. These foundations were founded by one person or a group.These persons determined the conditions of working of Vaqf and they were registered in the records of Kadi"s Court, by Kadi. The aim of this study is to reveal the money foundations (vakf-ı nükûd) which founded in the earyl of XIX. century, their legal statutes", the conditions of foundations, the goals of foundations and their methods of working. We will, also compare these foundations with the other money foundations that founded in the Ottoman Empire and avaluate our findings. We will use the records of Kadi"s Court in Nicosia, in our study.


We present a new direct approach to obtain the Green's function of the Oseen equations, also known as the oseenlet. This approach is different in that it does not assume an initial form of the solution to begin with. The final solution is expressed in a new, simplified form that resembles the OseenBurger's tensor of the stokeslet equations, from which the contributions due to inertia are easily appreciable.


A MIMO channel estimation model using implicit training sequence method is extended,which is not taking any extra signal spectral and having high accuracy.By exploiting least square method,a closed-form solution for the estimation of variance is derived,as well as the lower bound of channel capacity simulation results confirmed that system performance is improved about 5 dB using implicit training sequences than using training sequences in the same condition,and inappropriate number of antennas can′t increase channel capacity is also proved.


Abstract Aluminum and its alloys are known to be susceptible to liquid metal embrittlement (LME) by mercury. In this paper, the authors report measurements of crack velocities, da/dt, as a function...


The shear-induced ordering of the lamellar phase of hexaethylene glycol monohexadecyl ether, C16E6, in a Couette shear cell has been observed by small angle neutron scattering, SANS. Two distinct lamellae orientations have been identified. At low shear gradients the lamellae are ordered parallel to the flow−vorticity plane, whereas at higher shear gradients the lamellae order parallel to the flow−shear gradient plane corresponding to a rotation through 90° of the axis of orientation. At shear gradients intermediate to those two extremes both orientations are observed simultaneously, this being the first report of such a morphology. A novel extension of shear alignment reported here is the application of oscillatory Couette flow. Here, orientation parallel to the flow−vorticity plane and the intermediate state corresponding to components oriented in the two orthogonal directions are observed. These observations are discussed in the context of recent results of shear-induced effects observed in related syst...


Two issues have emerged from the innovation spurred by the investment chapter (Chapter 11) of NAFTA which provides for the settlement of investor-State disputes outside of the State's domestic courts. First, it represents the recognition that the legal standing of the natural and/or corporate legal person, when acting in the economic capacity of investor, is equal in international law to that of the State. Second, the inclusion of a private party-State alternative dispute resolution mechanism in an intergovernmental treaty is contradictory to the voluntary commitment by parties to such an agreement underlying this method, known as "privity of contract". These innovations have given rise to challenges in international public law, particularly given the strong influence that this NAFTA alternative dispute resolution mechanism has exerted on many intergovernmental bilateral investment treaties and free trade agreements. If the Free Trade Area of the Americas, which is modelled on these developments, is adopted, then this will complete the institutionalization of the investor-State alternative dispute resolution innovation. It is not too late to review and debate in an in-depth manner this possibility in order to secure consistency within international public law.