This comprehensive literature review examines the impact of green finance on corporate sustainability performance. The synthesis of diverse research methodologies reveals a consistent narrative of green finances positive influence on sustainability. Green finance, encompassing digital finance and green financial policies, emerges as a driving force behind green technology innovation, enhanced energy efficiency, and environmentally responsible practices. Beyond economic benefits, it extends its positive impact to social and environmental dimensions, aligning with broader sustainable development objectives.
Financial constraints and regional variations are acknowledged challenges, prompting the consideration of policy interventions, such as green finance pilot policies, to mitigate these hindrances. The implications extend to policy development, business strategies, investment decisions, and further research, emphasizing the need for holistic approaches to integrating environmental considerations into financial practices. Chinas experiences with green finance offer valuable insights for addressing global environmental challenges while promoting sustainable economic growth and responsible financial development.
KEYWORDS: Green Finance, sustainable development, systematic literature review


In order to improve the output voltage distortion of the inverter under rectifier loads,a control method which combines the repetitive control theory and the predictive control theory was proposed.Then the analysis of stability for repetitive control and the predictive control was presented,and the design method of the control parameters for repetitive control and predictive control was also given.The feature of repetitive control and predictive control was analyzed based on the experiment.The experimental results show that repetitive control can reduce the voltage distortion under rectifier loads effectively,and the dynamic performance of the system can be enhanced by means of current predictive control.


Dynamic rheological properties of honey samples with 3 different moisture contents (17.2, 19.0, and 21.0%) were evaluated at various low temperatures (-15, -10, -5, and 0℃) using a controlled stress rheometer. The honey samples displayed a liquid-like behavior, with loss modulus (G") predominating over storage modulus (G") (G">>G"), showing the high dependence on frequency (ω). The magnitudes of G" and G" decreased with an increase in temperature and water content while a predominant increase of G" was noticed at -15℃. The time-temperature superposition (TTS) principle was applied to bring G" values for honeys at various temperatures together into a master curve. The G" over the temperature range of -15 to 0℃ obeyed the Arrhenius relationship with a high determination coefficient (R²=0.98-0.99). Activation energy value (Ea=112.4 kJ/mol) of honey with a moisture content of 17.2% was higher than those (Ea=98.8-101.1 kJ/mol) of other honey samples with higher moisture contents.


In this paper the research and development of a new microcomputer line protection device based on DSP are introduced. The principle of compositionality and the design proposal of both the hardware and software are expanded afterward. On the hardware, the equipment adopts the 32 bit floating TMS320F2812 as the digital central processing unit. The system is composed of CUP unit, analog acquisition unit, signal input/output unit, keyboard display unit and power source unit; on the software, we choose the integrated development circumstance CCS (Code Composer Studio) that is developed by TI to assist its DSP development, The DSP solutions have indicated the great potential of this design because of its strong mathematical processing ability and prominent performance, which represents the development direction of microcomputer line protection in the future.


In this study, the potential for microbially catalyzed NO 3 - reduction with iron oxide was examined using Klebsiella pneumoniae strain L17 and four types of iron oxides under anaerobic conditions. The results showed that L17 had the capacity of nitrate reduction, and iron oxides can accelerate the reduction rate significantly. The biogenic Fe(II) contributed to the acceleration slightly, which was not enough to reduce so much nitrogen. To investigate the role of iron oxide for the nitrate reduction, a series of minerals but iron oxides with L17 were combined for nitrate reduction, and the results showed all the oxides can accelerate the reduction rate, indicating that the electron might transfer to nitrate through the oxides but not experiencing iron oxide's reduction. Hence, besides the well-known mechanism: direct microbial reduction and reduction by the biogenic Fe(II), a new mechanism was proposed whereby soil minerals can mediate electron transfer to accelerate the microbial nitrate reduction. This study could be helpful in understanding the relationship between the redox cycles of Fe and N in subsurface sedimentary environments.


The effects of therapeutic doses of dillsun, garsin, antum and statins on rat liver cytosolic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP) activity, a key enzyme in triacylglycerol synthesis, and on serum and liver lipids were examined. Lovastatin and simvastatin both stimulated the enzyme activity by 29% and 43%, respectively. The stimulatory effects were dose-dependent and accompanied by the decline in triacylglycerol and cholesterol concentrations of serum (20-29%) and liver (12-29%) suggesting a possible feed-back mechanism for PAP control. Dillsun (0.5-2 ml/day) did not affect PAP activity and liver lipids but lowered serum triacylglycerol (27%) and cholesterol (20%) concentrations at a dose of 2 ml/day. Antum administration also showed similar pattern as dillsun except that it caused a decrease in the liver lipids as well. Garsin (250-1000 mg/Kg) inhibited PAP activity (14-22%) with simultanous decrease in the liver and serum lipids; maximum decrease in serum triacylglycerol and cholesterol were 14% and 21%, respectively. The data demonstrated that the antilipidemic drugs tested exert their effects, at least in part, through alteration of hepatic PAP activity.


With a special focus on the commercialization of creative videos, this article explores the research question of how digital platforms' affordances simultaneously allow and constrain video producers' commercialization activities in the platform era. This study adopts a case study design that focuses on the Chinese digital video producer Zheng Yun, founder of Zheng Yun Studio, using ethnographic participant observations and in-depth interviews. It explains how creative producers such as Zheng Yun struggle to survive in the context of intensified platformization and how they benefit from the digital platforms by employing various commercialization mechanisms, including the Revenue Sharing Program (RSP), Embedded Product Placement (EPP), Franchise Chains, Agent-commission, and Crowd-funding. This research also demonstrates the asymmetrical power relationships between platforms and video producers, which prompt us to rethink the political nature of platforms and the diversified nature of platformization in the digital platform age.


In his recent article, Ian Johnson identifies a need for research into neurodegenerative diseases that makes use of animal models more closely resembling the complex, age-related reality of these diseases in people (Johnson, 2015). The purpose of this commentary is to build upon this idea using insights from animal and human models of frailty.

Johnson has highlighted the growing importance of finding suitable treatments for neurodegenerative disorders as our population ages and these diseases become more common. Current animal models of neurodegenerative disease largely ignore the context in which many of these diseases arise; they are inextricably linked to aging. We argue that the process of aging represents more than just the passage of time. As the author notes, "age at the time of neuronal injury affects neuronal survival, so it is a small step to suggest that age-related differences in neuronal survival requirements could explain the disappointing translation of basic research to clinical situations" (Johnson, 2015). We would like to take the reader one step further to consider the differences between young and old individuals. Specifically, we draw attention to the concept that aging represents the accumulation of deficits in a complex system, such as a living organism. It is hypothesized that subcellular deficits accumulate to eventually give rise to tissue level deficits and continue to "scale up" to organ and system level deficits that are clinically recognizable (Howlett and Rockwood, 2013; Rockwood et al., 2015).

The accumulation of health deficits has been used to measure a person's level of frailty, which can be conceptualized as a state of increased vulnerability to poor health outcomes that differs among people of the same chronological age (Mitnitski et al., 2001; Rockwood and Mitnitski, 2007; Clegg et al., 2013). In this way, among people who are the same age, different individuals have differing levels of health and risk of death (Mitnitski et al., 2013). This difference in health state can be characterized as the number of health deficits present in an individual; someone with 3 health problems is less likely to suffer adverse health events than someone with 10 health problems (Mitnitski et al., 2001). Thus, frailty can be measured as the accumulation of deficits, and this quantification has been shown to be valid and reliable across both human and, more recently, rodent populations (Mitnitski et al., 2002, 2004; Goggins et al., 2005; Parks et al., 2012; Wallace et al., 2014; Whitehead et al., 2014; Feridooni et al., 2015; Kane et al., 2015).

To truly understand the origins of (and thus, appropriately treat) age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, we must consider them in the context in which they arise—in aging organisms as Johnson has suggested. Identifying and modeling frailty may be useful in this endeavor. One of us (SH) has developed an approach to modeling frailty in mice, allowing researchers to quantify health deficits (Parks et al., 2012; Feridooni et al., 2015; Huizer-Pajkos et al., 2015; Kane et al., 2015). Interestingly, mice exhibit an exponential increase in frailty with age, with a pattern that is remarkably similar to that seen in human populations (Whitehead et al., 2014). Further, increased frailty is associated with other adverse health effects, including poor heart cell function in mice (Parks et al., 2012). Studies in mice have also shown that frailty is attenuated by known longevity interventions including caloric restriction and treatment with the anti-oxidant, resveratrol (Kane et al., 2015).

Johnson presents some barriers to modeling aging in mice, particularly that mice tend to acquire age-related health problems, which may pose a threat to the quality and accuracy of research. If we consider (1) that very few people with neurodegenerative disease suffer from no other health problems, and (2) the presence of multiple age-related conditions that may be complex and inter-related create the exact conditions we describe as characteristic of the aging process, this may not serve as a barrier. To date, research on neurodegenerative disease has largely ignored the fact that age-related conditions come as a package in a complex system, the human body. Thus, research conducted on young animals with few health problems in attempts to isolate mechanisms may not be useful for this particular research problem and could contribute to the lack of translation we see in clinical trials. Given the research efforts and funding devoted to understanding the mechanisms and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases without major gain, waiting 2–3 years for animals to age to acquire quality results seems like a better alternative than doing research that does not translate well to humans.

Another point we argue in considering how best to translate research from animal models to humans, is to encourage the inclusion of female animals in models simulating age-related disease. Females are frequently excluded from studies because effects of hormone cycles are considered to be a confounder, although the evidence suggests that results obtained in females are not inherently more variable than results in males (Clayton and Collins, 2014). Further, the reality is that women live longer than men and tend to suffer from age-related diseases at a disproportionate rate. Including female animals may be another way to improve the translational ability of animal models in studies of aging.

Based on research to date, a single mechanism responsible for each age-related disease is unlikely. Instead, it may be useful to consider these problems as arising in complex, interacting systems, and embrace the possibility that these age-related diseases are of multiple origins. Aging animal research can play a significant role in realizing this aim, particularly in modeling disease among frail older individuals. We applaud the author of the original editorial for bringing this issue to light and hope that readers will consider frailty in how we can bring about meaningful change in animal modeling of age-related neurodegenerative disease.


The article describes a  clinical case of familial neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis type  1 was diagnosed in a 9-year old patient according to diagnostic criteria by the International Expert Committee on Neurofibromatosis, based on two criteria: 2 or more neurofibromas and neurofibromatosis type 1 and type 2 in the first-degree relatives. The particulars of the clinical case include the absence of any skin manifestations and an unfavorable prognosis. High awareness of this disorder among primary care physicians, including pediatricians, generalists and family doctors, neurologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists and surgeons, is necessary for early clinical identification of neurofibromatosis type  1 patients and their regular clinical monitoring, continuity of management and implementation of adequate measures of primary and secondary prevention of its complications.


The training quality of medical students is determined by clinical skill level largely,and scientific and effective evaluation and monitoring of clinical skills is becoming an indispensable part of medical education.On the analysis of the necessity and feasibility for the building of clinical skill's supervision system,the basis content and characteristic of clinical skill's supervision system,the paper uses delphi expert consultation to build indicators and weights of evaluation system,to achieve the purpose of building clinical skill's supervision system:to establish clinical practice files of students,to monitor the clinical skills level of medical students effectively and to provide quality evaluation of clinical practice.


Anaerobic co-digestion of agricultural solid waste, wastewater, and manure was evaluated in batch reactor. The performance of anaerobic digestion (AD) was monitored by assessing the methane production potential, maximum methane production rate and methane production lag time. An intermediate advanced oxidation processes by ozone was used to increase in the amount of methane produced and reduce the AD time. The production of methane from pure substrate (cow manure and wheat straw) was found to be 325 and 130 L/kg VS, mixed substrate of wheat straw, cattle manure and wastewater generated more than 368 L/kg VS. An intermediate ozonation process between two AD processes increased the % methane recovery form the ultimate value 60-85%, and reduce the total AD time to 20 days.


Molecular interactions, in particular H bonds may be influenced by the substitution of the active protons by deuterons [1]. This fact should be recognized in any property, which is dependent on molecular interactions. Although the effect of deuteration on the rotatory power is not unknown [2], we describe in this paper the investigation especially of the variation of the rotatory power [<*] caused by deuteration in some systems, which are able to undergo association. ([«] means always the specific rotatory power). For this purpose we chose the following systems: At first, we investigated menthol as a system with intermolecular interactions only. Secondly, we looked at the behaviour of systems with additional intramolecular H bonds, namely isopulegol as a compound related to menthol, and elemol. Further we carried out tentative measurements on terpinenol-(4). Last but not least we investigated the changes in the rotatory power of an amino acid conjugate, namely diphenyl acetyl-L-leucin (abbreviated as DPAL). The results and a short discussion are given.


The report presents research activities at the Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research located at Oslo University Hospital and the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo. The Center s research focuses on hiPS cell production, differentiation, characterization and genetic modification (TALEN and CRISPR/CAS approaches), the role of epigenetics and DNA repair in stem cell differentiation, as well as neural imaging and functional assessment (including neuro-optogenetics). The University of Oslo Medical Faculty is establishing bilateral agreements with research and teaching institutions in St. Petersburg.


The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship that Ethical Work Climates and National Culture have on business faculty in universities. Most studies involving ethics focus on students or professions outside academia. We felt that looking at the teaching profession and in particular business faculty across cultures would provide an insight to the question of whether academic elites were influenced by their organizational culture or national culture when introducing the subject of ethics to their students. The most significant difference was in the egoistic climate. Contrary to the hypothesis that the United States would score higher, it in fact scored the lowest of the three. It also held true that the United States is slightly more principled than Ghana and Taiwan. In all other climates there was no significant difference


Offshore wind farms are a growing business. The knowledge of the local wind climate stands as one of most critical issue to assess the potential outcome of a wind farm. Wind climatology analysis usually relies on at least one year of accurate wind in-situ measurements. As a preliminary step, satellite based wind mapping can be helpful in giving the first estimates of the wind conditions. The city of Brest is concentrating today the biggest and longest archive in Europe of spaceborne radar measurement of sea surface wind field at a global and regional scale as well as a very high level of expertise. A wide panel of spaceborne radar instruments are available today to provide unique source of information on sea surface winds. Taking advantage of this unique opportunity, the derivation of instantaneous high spatial resolution coastal wind field using SAR imagery as well as statistical analysis on long term time series of scatterometer-based wind vector estimates are successfully demonstrated by the BOOST Technologies company. Satellite SAR imagery stands today as a very interesting source of information for high-resolution coastal wind field mapping because of its high resolution properties, its independency upon daylight and clouds conditions and, perhaps the most important, because of a significant improvement of spatial coverage and temporal resolution. Wind field maps generated from SAR provide wind vector at 10 m height with a spatial resolution as high as 500 m. They uniquely help to identify and assess very specific coastal wind field behaviour such as relief shadowing or funneling effect, breeze and katabatic winds or atmospheric fronts. Complementarily, a more than 10 years long archive of wind fields measurements derived from scatterometry is available at the laboratory of oceanography from space, CERSAT/IFREMER, in Brest. Intensive comparisons with in-situ buoy wind measuremements led by the BOOST Technologies company enabled to conclude that long term times series of scatterometer-based wind measurements can satifactorily provide reliable estimates on directional wind distribution and probability density function of the wind speed. Huge potentiality of Remote sensing wind sea surface measurements is already strongly supported by preoperational demonstration (WEMSAR project) and ESA initiave for Earth Observation Market development (EOMD). This will undoubtedly contribute to improve cost-effectiveness in the emerging and promising field of renewable wind energy sources.


deficiency in some ethnic groups of Pakistan. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2005;15:137‐41. 4. Wang J, Luo E, Hirai M, Arai M, Abdul‐Manan E, Mohamed‐Isa Z, et al. Nine different glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) variants in a Malaysian population with Malay, Chinese, Indian and Orang Asli (aboriginal Malaysian) backgrounds. Acta Med Okayama 2008;62:327‐32. 5. Matsuoka H, Thuan DT, van Thien H, Kanbe T, Jalloh A, Hirai M, et al. Seven different glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase variants including a new variant distributed in Lam Dong Province in southern Vietnam. Acta Med Okayama 2007;61:213‐9. 6. Nikhoma ET, Poolee C, Vannappagari V, Beutler E. The global prevalence of glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: A systematic review and metaanalysis. Blood Cell Mol Dis 2009;42:267‐78. Access this article online


We propose a novel scheme for fiber nonlinearity mitigation based on geometric constellation shaping using RNN-based end-to-end autoencoder structure. Simulation results show a Q-factor gain of 0.65 dB and the transmission distance extension compared to the unshaped constellation schemes at the optimal launch power.


Background: The 4th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of the 2030 Agenda is supported by new educational trends that consider game-based learning as a pedagogical method in the classroom. In particular, simulation games and motivation are relevant elements since they can play a significant role in quality education. As a result, during the last few years, research into potential interventions as well as business simulation games (BSGs) for the development of intrinsic motivation (IM) in higher education have skyrocketed. However, no reviews of the interventions and outcomes in this topic have been released. Therefore, the goals of this research were (1) to analyze the relationship between the use of BSGs and the IM of students in higher education, and (2) to identify the aspects that can be promoted by the BSGs to develop IM. Methods: In accordance with PRISMA recommendations, a systematic review was carried out of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest. Results: From the 329 investigations that were initially selected, 12 studies underwent a complete assessment, in which all interventions and results were gathered and assessed. Conclusions: There was unanimity on the importance of using BSG to foster IM in higher education.


Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is an uncommon soft-tissue sarcoma, with origin from the peripheral nerves or somatic tissues associated with nerve sheath. This tumor rarely affects the nose. The clinicopathological presentations vary from one case to another and depend on cells of origin. Hence, the diagnosis is often difficult. We report a 36-year-old woman who presented in our facility with progressive nasal swelling, facial deformity, and mucopurulent rhinorrhea of 3 years duration. Examination revealed a significant facial disfigurement. She was also found to be seropositive. Computerized tomography scan of paranasal sinuses showed an expansile, subtle enhancing, predominantly low-density mass, with area of air density within it, completely occupying the nasal cavity. No calcific focus, lytic or sclerotic surrounding bones changes seen. Her tumor was resected under general anesthesia with a wide margin, and regional vital structures were preserved. The histological/immunohistochemistry revealed MPNST. She had adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy 2 weeks after surgery. However, a nodule was seen on the floor of the nose few days after completion of radiotherapy, which was biopsied, and histological report was positive for malignancy. The persistence of the malignancy and HIV hampered her facial reconstruction. Also, limited finance hampered procurement of the nasal prosthesis. She was followed up for 1 year before she was lost.


The study investigated the relationship between teacher-student interaction and secondary school student academic performance in public secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey and correlational research methods were employed for the study. The Teacher-student Interaction Questionnaire (TSIQ) was used to collect data from a sample of 1,074 respondents. A validated inventory was also used for the study. Proportionate simple random sampling technique was used to select 376 teachers and 707 students from 24 public secondary schools in the state. The study revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between teacher-student interaction and secondary school student academic performance in public secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria. It was concluded that teacher-student interaction has a positive influence on secondary school student academic performance in Ekiti State, Nigeria. It has been established that teachers-students interaction is one of the determinants of secondary school student academic performance.


Introduction: Formal guidelines to transfer critically ill children (pts) to PTCs have been proposed. Critics claim such guidelines are unnecessary and that an informal system of referral effectively transfers pts to PTCs. To determine the efficacy of this informal system we compared the number of deaths in PTCs versus non-PTCs for head trauma(HT) and/or respiratory failure (ARF). We assumed that children who died were critically ill. We hypothesized that if the informal system is functioning efficiently, then few children (<10%) would die in non-PTCs.


By calculating dynamic reserves and water influx of water driving gas reservoir,we propose a new convenient method for calculating dynamic reserves and water influx.According to material balance equation of water driving gas reservoir,we point out the chart of dimensionless extrapolated pressure and degree of reserve recovery in water driving gas reservoir.Based on curve matching as well as data of production performance and measuring pressure,we adjust the parameters to make the actual curve of dimensionless extrapolated pressure and degree of reserve recovery in water driving gas reservoir and the theoretical curve achieve a good fitting.According to parameters obtained by type curve match analysis,the dynamic reserves and water influx of water drive gas reservoir can be calculated,and the strength of the energy of the water body can be evaluated.It is not required for the new method to do any assumption of aquifer shape and size,the inputting data is easy to collect,and calculating process is simple.The case indicates that the new method is accurate and practical.


With evolution of clinician‐performed bedside ultrasonography, noninvasive markers of venous congestion such as hepatic, portal, and intrarenal venous Doppler waveforms are gaining importance as an adjunct to volume status assessment. The intent of this clinical image is to illustrate the classic sonographic stigmata of severe venous congestion, associated with worse prognosis.


The potential of coal mine dust to cause disabling pneumoconiosis has long been recognised, but research now suggests that pneumoconiosis is not the only respiratory hazard of coal mining. Over the last 30 years evidence has accumulated that miners also experience an excess of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and this has led the British Government to classify chronic bronchitis and emphysema in coal miners as an occupational disease for which industrial injuries benefit can be paid. In Germany, too, COPD in miners is now compensated as an occupational disease. However, some scientists have expressed doubts as to whether coal mine dust can cause clinically important loss of lung function in the absence of complicated pneumoconiosis.1 In view of this continuing controversy, it is helpful to review the evidence as it now stands.

The epidemiological investigations that bear on the relation between coal mining and COPD are of four main types: (1) studies comparing lung function in miners and non-miners; (2) studies of the patterns of symptoms and lung function in miners according to their exposure to coal mine dust; (3) analyses of mortality from COPD in relation to coal mining; and (4) analyses of the relation between emphysema in coal miners at necropsy and their previous exposure to dust. In addition, investigations in the laboratory provide information about the toxicological mechanisms whereby coal mine dust might cause obstructive lung disease.

A series of early studies by the MRC Pneumoconiosis Research Unit in South Wales found significantly lower mean levels of indirect maximum breathing capacity (IMBC) in miners and ex-miners than in non-miners of the same age.2 However, there was no clear relation between IMBC and duration of underground or face work. Moreover, in a sample of men who were examined at two surveys five years apart, the …


Abstract. Within telecommunications, it is well established that optical preamplified receivers offer better sensitivity than linear-mode (LM) avalanche photodiodes (APDs) for direct-detection measurements. Long-range light detection and ranging (LiDAR), however, has predominantly made use of LM APDs for detection. This discrepancy arose due to the high coupling loss between the multimode return signals in LiDAR and single-mode optical preamplifiers. Recently, few-mode (FM) optical preamplifiers have been experimentally demonstrated, which solve this modal mismatch. We evaluate the applicability of FM preamplified receivers to long-range pulsed LiDAR in comparison with currently deployed LM APDs by considering the two receivers' noise, gain, and bandwidth characteristics. We show that FM preamplified receivers can offer an improvement in both receiver signal-to-noise ratio and bandwidth.


As an ectopic pregnancy, hepatic pregnancy is extremely rare. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent acute bleeding caused by the invasion of trophoblasts into maternal hepatic vessels. Here, we report a case of hepatic pregnancy diagnosed by ultrasonography in early pregnancy. Diagnostic laparoscopy, followed by laparotomy, wascarriedoutand the intrahepaticmasswasexcised, andpathological results confirmed the ultrasonographic findings. Based on a current literature review, this report aims to investigate the ultrasonic features of hepatic pregnancy and summarize the application of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic pregnancy.


In the last decade, full-waveform airborne laser scanning (ALSFW) has proven to be a promising tool for forestry applications. Compared to traditional discrete airborne laser scanning (ALSD), it is capable of registering the complete signal going through the different vertical layers of the vegetation, allowing for a better characterization of the forest structure. However, there is a lack of ALSFW software tools for taking greater advantage of these data. Additionally, most of the existing software tools do not include radiometric correction, which is essential for the use of ALSFW data, since extracted metrics depend on radiometric values. This paper describes and presents a software tool named WoLFeX for clipping, radiometrically correcting, voxelizing the waves, and extracting object-oriented metrics from ALSFW data. Moreover, extracted metrics can be used as input for generating either classification or regression models for forestry, ecology, and fire sciences applications. An example application of WoLFeX was carried out to test the influence of the relative radiometric correction and the acquisition scan angle (1) on the ALSFW metric return waveform energy (RWE) values, and (2) on the estimation of three forest fuel variables (CFL: canopy fuel load, CH: canopy height, and CBH: canopy base height). Results show that radiometric differences in RWE values computed from different scan angle intervals (0◦–5◦ and 15◦–20◦) were reduced, but not removed, when the relative radiometric correction was applied. Additionally, the estimation of height variables (i.e., CH and CBH) was not strongly influenced by the relative radiometric correction, while the model obtained for CFL improved from R2 = 0.62 up to R2 = 0.79 after applying the correction. These results show the significance of the relative radiometric correction for reducing radiometric differences measured from different scan angles and for modelling some stand-level forest fuel variables.


s 12th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine, Lyon, France S23 4. SAMU Mondial, SAMU 75 Paris, FRANCE 5. SAMU Mondial, SAMU 93 Bobigny, FRANCE 6. Securite Civile DDSC, Asnieres/seine, FRANCE After a violent earthquake occurred in El Salvador (magnitude on the Richter scale, 7.9), the Salvadorian government requested international help. In response to their call for assistance, French and German teams were sent. The poster illustrates the cooperation with many teams in order to give help and assistance to the Salvadorian population.


In this work,Ti-V-based hydrogen storage alloys have been studied because of their high hydrogen absorption/desorption capacities and good activated properties. Experimental data of phase equlibria and thermodynamic assessments of the sub-binary/ternary systems in the Ti-V-based multi-component systems are reviewed in reported literature. Based on the measured phase diagram data and thermochemica information, thermodynamic parameters formulating the Gibbs energies of various phases in some sub-binary/ternary systems of Ti-V-based multi-component alloys are assessed using the CALPHAD method. A set-consistent thermodynamic database of the Ti-V-based multi-component system is developed, which is helpful to study the relations between alloy compositions, microstructure and hydrogen storage properties in order to design novel Ti-V-based hydrogen storage alloys.


LIMITED EXTRAPOLATION: If we possess the evidence that it has snows in Moscow every year for at least one thousand consecutive years, and if we possess no contrary evidence suggesting a change in the Russian climate, and if, as a matter of fact, it Snows in Moscow the next year not belonging to this set, then we are in a position to know that it snows in Moscow the next year. That is, if, on the basis of our evidence that it snows every year in this set, we form the belief that it snows the following year, then this belief will constitute knowledge.


High resolution X-ray mapping and dating of monazite (Th, REE-phosphate) using the electron microprobe is an exceptionally powerful technique for structural, metamorphic, and tectonic analysis in geology. Age determination of geologic materials has been conventionally accomplished by mass spectrometry-based analysis of radioisotopic ratios in minerals from hand-picked mineral separates, careful sampling of individual grains out of petrographic thin sections, or by detailed ion probe analysis. Recently, use of the electron microprobe for dating purposes has been attempted. In principal, the concentrations of Th, U and Pb uniquely define the age if non-radiogenic Pb is either not initially present or can be subtracted from the total Pb. Monazite contains high concentrations of Th and U and does not appear to incorporate significant non-radiogenic Pb during mineral growth. Furthermore, monazite is a ubiquitous accessory phase in many metamorphic and igneous rocks, making it ideal for microprobe dating.


Objective: To study the the dangerous factors of prognosis of chronic severe hepatitis B(CSHB).Method:Retrospective analysis 180 cases of patients CSHB clinical material,divided into better group(75 cases) and death group(n = 105),recorded and compared to two groups of patients with general information,clinical data and laboratory data.Result: Patients died were older than fifty years old,with a history of smoking,with idiopathic peritonitis,other parts of the infection,hepatic encephalopathy,electrolyte disorders,liver cancer,serum total bilirubin(TBil).Conclusion:Binary Logistic regression analysis shows that older patients with CSHB,by taking a series suit processing factors,control methods such as complicated adjuvant therapy,so as to improve the prognosis of patients.


Results of a computer analysis of a p-i-n structure a-Si:H solar cell for different impurity gradients of p-i transitions and for various added acceptor and donor impurities in the i-layer are presented. It was found that the impurity gradient of a p-i transition in the p-i-n structure of an a-Si:H solar cell, when the illumination is incident on the p/sup +/-layer, has little influence on cell optoelectrical properties. This is true as long as the p-layer does not penetrate too deeply into the i-layer. Acceptor impurities, added into the i-layer, lower cell efficiency strongly, while the addition of donor impurities reduces cell properties only slightly.<<ETX>>


Low-cost European carriers are seeking more access to the French domestic market. At present, despite the fact that it is the most populous Western European country after Germany and a destination for 75.5 million visitors each year, it lags other countries in penetration by low-cost carriers. Carriers have tried, but have faced hurdles. Describes various efforts by carriers such as Ryanair and Virgin Express, which have been hampered by slot allocations, legal challenges and a decline in the French travel market. Others say the existing French air service and the TGV rail service make additional service unnecessary. Nice is one of the few success stories, with 29% of its passenger throughput generated by low-cost carriers. But outsiders say any significant growth will be hampered by regulations and taxes. Another barrier is a history of failure by earlier low-cost alternatives and airports' unfamiliarity with the low-cost approach and unwillingness to change over from long-time partners.


In this paper, an application artificial neural network (ANN) is presented to estimation the coefficient of performance (COP) in the transcritical CO2 one-stage vapor compression cycles. The thermodynamic properties of the transcritical CO2 one-stage vapor compression cycles were obtained from CoolPack program. The obtained data were used for training and testing artificial neural network. The results of the ANN are compared with the actual data. The coefficient of multiple determination (R2) value was obtained as 0.99907 for the coefficient of performance (COP), which is very satisfactory. A new formulation was derived for the determination of the coefficient of performance (COP) in the transcritical CO2 one-stage vapor compression cycles


Objective: Chronic inorganic arsenic exposure and loss of muscle mass are both public health problems affecting millions of individuals in the US. This study aims to explore the relationship between the two.
Methods: The association between inorganic arsenic exposure and appendicular lean mass (ALM) was assessed via the 2005-2006 NHANES data on 1007 adults. Arsenic exposure was assessed via urinary laboratory measurements. ALM was measured via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). All models were adjusted for participant age, race/ethnicity, height, and gender.
Results: We conducted a comparison between the quartiles of arsenic exposure. No significant association was found in non-adjusted analyses or after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, height, and gender. However, there after additionally adding creatinine to the model there was a marginal significant difference in ALM between the lowest and highest quartiles of arsenic exposure (p=0.0539).
Conclusions: The association between inorganic arsenic exposure and ALM seem to be greatly affected by inclusion of a creatinine. While no statistically significant results were achieved, there are interesting trends that invite further exploration.


Ollier's disease is a rare, non-hereditary skeletal disorder characterized by a multifocal intra medullary proliferation of hypercellular cartilage. The lesions have a tendency to be metaphyseal and are sometimes eccentrically placed, with predominant unilateral involvement of the appendicular skeleton. The clinical manifestation typically appears during childhood and the extent of skeletal involvement is variable from case to case. At one end of the spectrum are cases in which there is limited involvement of one bone and at the other end are cases with massive involvement of multiple bones and severe deformities. Although Ollier's disease has a predilection for the appendicular skeleton, in more severe forms the trunk bones can also be involved. The short tubular bones of hand are the commonest site, the pelvis being the most frequently involved of the trunk bones. Typically, the vertebral column or craniofacial bones are not affected. The most common symptom is slowly increasing swelling of the fingers. Radiologically the lesions have a tendency to be metaphyseal and diaphyseal, showing translucency with punctuate calcification which is typical of the radiographic appearance of cartilaginous matrix. The morphology of lesions in Ollier's disease is somewhat similar to that of solitary enchondroma. In general, the lesions are more cellular and less calcified than most typical solitary enchondromas. The cartilage cells are larger and double nucleated cells are also present. In summary, the cartilage in Ollier's disease has features consistent with grade I chondrosarcoma, so it must be interpreted in its radiographic and clinical setting.


Modern agricultural development has entered the era of brand economy under the condition of globalization,and building up brand agriculture has become the inevitable choice for our country's agricultural development. This paper analyzes the basic trend of brand agriculture development in our country as well as the major problems in brand management,and proposes countermeasures for Chinese brand agriculture development in the era of globalization based on developed countries' experience in brand agriculture management.


An optimality criteria approach for the synthesis of compliant mechanisms is presented in this paper. Several possible multi-criteria optimization formulations that can accommodate the conflicting flexibility and stiffness requirements of compliant mechanisms are considered using which the optimality property for compliant topologies is deduced. The property states that the ratio of the mutual potential energy density to the strain energy density is uniform throughout the continuum, but for portions otherwise bounded by gage constraints. It is noted that this multi-criteria formulation is non-convex and that the resulting optimal solutions are, in general, not unique. Based on this observation, a synthesis algorithm is developed that combines both the efficiency of optimality criteria methods and reliability of mathematical programming schemes. Examples are included to illustrate the synthesis procedure using linear frame finite elements which are easy for implementation and are capable of appropriately accounting for the bending behavior in the continuum.


No other Reformer has made such an extensive use of the concept of analogy. But is this concept more than an explanatory tool ? Could it become something like a heuristic principle? On the whole, the author's exposition shows us clearly enough that "the formal analog}' becomes a positive error unless the Holy Spirit 'fills' its terms with the proportion between God and man given to faith in the person of Jesus Christ" (p. 85, see also p. 172). However, some of the author's interpretations, particularly such as concern Lutheranism, seem to introduce the analogical character of the incarnation as a methodical principle, a key notion to solve all other problems (e.g. pp. 125 and 208).Furthermore if there should be an intention to show in Martyr a "sacramental theology," in which the sacraments are not only (and soundly) understood in analogy to the incarnation, but also, in the reverse way, everything in our faith becomes "sacramental," then we should not think ourselves to be any longer on Martyr's ground or any other Reformer's doctrine. Evidently the word "sacrament" as used in Martyr's writings has more than one meaning (one of them being "mystery" in the most general sense). The author gives several indications of this problem. But a systematic semantic study of this and related words could have been very helpful for the otherwise excellent presentation of a dynamic, deep and sober theology.


175 patients using oral contraceptives (OCs) for periods from 2 months-6 years were studied. A survey was made of the secondary effects of the treatment. Among the total group, 101 of them had not presented headache before the use of contraceptives, and the remaining 75 patients had previously complained of chronic headaches which were considered due to different etiologies. 50 patients from the group without previous headache claimed that OC treatment marked the initiation of the headaches. 25 had vascular headaches and 25 had tension headaches. Among the 75 patients included in the other group as complainers of chronic headache prior to treatment, 30 had a worsening of the symptoms after use of the OCs. The authors compare their results with those referred to in the literature. (author's)


This contribution reports the results of comprehensive quantum-mechanical calculations of low-temperature oxidation (i.e., below the softening point) of polyethylene (PE) film in a corrosive NOx environment, by mapping out the potential energy surface for a large set of reactions, developing thermokinetic parameters for each elementary reaction and discussing in detail the most energetically favorable paths. Remarkably, addition of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) results in formation of C-nitroso and nitro species, respectively, and successively leads to internal tautomerisation or concerted elimination of nitroxyl (HNO) and nitrous acid (HNO2). We demonstrate that, the presence of molecular oxygen sustains the formation of O-nitroso compounds, organic nitrites and nitrates. Reaction rate parameters have been established for all considered reactions over the temperature range of 300 to 800 K. The results presented herein provide new insights into the solid-state polymer-gas reactivity of PE i...


In this paper, we integrate a Demand Response (DR) program into the multi-objective dynamic economic emission dispatch (DEED) optimization problem. The resulting optimization problem is termed DR-DEED. The DR program is a time based program known as the Time of Use DR program. The DR program has been developed using the customers' Price Elasticity Matrices, which models the customer behavior under different conditions. An interactive control strategy between utility and consumers is proposed for the combined DR-DEED model, which determines the optimal power to be generated by minimizing fuel, emissions, and DR costs and also the optimal price. The customer in light of the utility's optimal price minimizes its electricity cost and optimally schedules power consumption. Obtained results indicate that DR programs are mutually beneficial to utility and consumers alike and can bring about desired demand reduction in the power system.


Method for controlling a control system for a printing press (52) with a graphical user interface (2) for controlling the printing machine (52) through actions of an operator of the printing machine (52) in the context of the user interface (2), and (with an electronic documentation 60 ); characterized, that the electronic document (60) by actions of the operator in the context of the user interface (2) selectively to the user interface (2) is displayed and an instruction manual for the printing machine (52), a parts catalog for the printing machine (52), the part numbers and spare parts drawings contains, and maintenance instructions for the printing machine (52), and a list of associations between electronic addresses of electronic components in the printing machine (52) and part numbers and / or replacement part drawings comprises and, if it is a fault of an electronic component, indicating the its electronic address is notified, on the user interface (2) indicative of the fault and to an action of the operator towards the associated (n) part number (s) and / or replacement part drawing (s) on the user interface ...


We report on some results from a three-year program of RXTE observations of 4 Seyfert galaxies: NGC 4051, NGC 5548, MCG-6-30-15 and NGC 5506. We focus here on color-color and color-flux diagrams obtained using the count-rates of the PCA instrument in different energy ranges: 3--5, 5--7 and 7--10 keV. The data of the different sources show interesting trends in the different color-color and color-flux planes. These trends are quite similar from one source to the other, even in the case of the narrow line Seyfert 1 NGC 4051 which exhibits strong flux and spectral variability. We discuss these results in term of a simple spectral model: a power law with high energy cut-off + reflection + Iron line, with the scope of understanding the relations between the observed variations of different components and the physical causes of the variability.


Debris flows play an important role among natural hazards in the mountainous areas of Italy. This paper provides an overview of the recent research on debris flows conducted in Italy, taking into account both hydraulic and morphological studies. Moreover, the most encouraging research perspectives in this field are briefly presented, such as the monitoring in instrumented basins, the geotechnical analysis of the processes leading to debris flow initiation and modelling. Finally, three study cases are reported, with the aim of outlining the main characteristics of these phenomena and the consequent risk conditions in representative sites in the Italian mountains.


Five polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for  Pteria penguin  by mining microsatellite sequences in GenBank, and used to evaluate the genetic structure and relativeness of 3 wild (ZW, LW and SW) and 2 cultured Pteria penguin populations (ZC, LC) from Zhanjiang, Guangdong and Lingshui & Sanya, Hainan. These five loci were all in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium in the 3 wild populations, but one each deviated in the two cultured populations ( Ppen9 at ZC, and Ppen12 at LC). Comparing to 3 wild populations (5.6/4.9 for SW, 3.6/3.4 for LW, and 6.0/4.8 for ZW), the average number of alleles and allele richness were significantly decreased in the two cultured populations (2.4/2.1 for LC and 3.2/3.1 for ZC); and the average observed and expected heterozygosity (0.16-0.35/0.30-0.48) were also lower than those of the wild populations (0.40-0.45/0.53-0.65). Average inbreeding coefficient F IS of cultured populations (0.28 for LC, and 0.17 for ZC) were significantly higher than that of wild populations (0.00 for SW to 0.12 for ZW). Population SW shows the highest genetic diversity, and relatively large genetic distances to all the other four populations, while the genetic distances between two cultured populations, and ZW were the smallest, which verified that the cultured P. penguin cohurts in Lingshui and Zhanjiang were derived from the wild-caught parents in Zhanjiang hatchery. The genetic differentiation between wild populations LW and ZW was significantly lower than that between LW and SW, possibly due to the persistent introduction of artificial seeds form Zhanjiang to Lingshui in recent years, which may cause extra gene flow from Zhanjiang to Lingshui and consequently affect the wild population genetic structure in Lingshui. The results highlighted the urgency of genetically testing and controlling the artificial mating system of P. penguin , and of monitoring the genetic structure of natural population, especially in the sea area to where the translocation seeds were constantly introduced.


Abstract: In carrying out oversight functions, the Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) equipped with special rights that can support the effectiveness of the work as one of the institutions of control in the area. and most importantly that in determining whether or not accepted the draft budget proposed by the executive, the Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) had a very big right. Based on an evaluation of the State Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia through the representatives of North Sulawesi, assess the use of the Regional Budget (APBD) South Minahasa, from Fiscal Year 2009 to 2012 Budget gets a "disclaimer, meaning that can not be assessed and checks in Budget 2014, to use the Regional Budget (APBD) in 2013 there was an increase in ratings of disclaimer to the unnatural. This is due to Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) South Minahasa District by each regional work units (SKPD) does not fit the designation and use of Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) and assets much abused by the head of the regional work units (SKPD) and subordinates. This study aims: "To analyze the effect of supervisory functions Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) to use the Regional Budget (APBD) South Minahasa District". The method of analysis in this research is quantitative descriptive analysis method. Results of this research is that the supervision of Parliament is one of the determinant factors increase the effectiveness of the use of the budget, particularly in the South Minahasa District. In line with the Strategic Plan (Restra) South Minahasa District Government which sets one of the priority program is the use of the regional budget (APBD) is done effectively, efficiently and economically oriented public interest. Thus, efforts to increase the effectiveness of the use of local budgets is through an increase in the budget managers profesionalism apparatus itself by trying to implement i-budgeting. Keywords: Effect, Function Control, Parliament, Budget


Xenon‐129 (129Xe) gas‐exchange MRI is a pulmonary‐imaging technique that provides quantitative metrics for lung structure and function and is often compared to pulmonary‐function tests. Unlike such tests, it does not normalize to predictive values based on demographic variables such as age. Many sites have alluded to an age dependence in gas‐exchange metrics; however, a procedure for normalizing metrics has not yet been introduced.


The interaction of ultra-intense lasers with solid targets can lead to multi-MeV ions. The mechanisms responsible for the highest energy ions in recent experiments are still under strong debate, but our recent work shows that for intensities above to 10 W/cm collisionless shocks can be responsible for the highest energy protons in thin solid targets [1]. We have performed 1 dimensional (1D) and 2 dimensional (2D), fully explicit particle in cell (PIC) simulations of laser plasma interactions in an overdense regime under the framework OSIRIS [2]. A wide range of simulation parameters (density, target thickness, laser intensity) has been studied. When the laser interacts with a long-scale near-critical density plasma, we observe a Rayleigh-Taylor like instability [3], leading to bubble structures in the shock front. These instabilities can be successfully suppressed either by increasing the plasma density, or by suppressing the preplasma.


Aman in his 20s presented reporting blurry vision in his right eye. Visualacuitywas20/25OD.Fluoresceinangiographyrevealedanonleakingmacular lesionwith late intermixed lobulesof hyperfluorescence and hypofluoresence consistent with a retinal cavernous hemangioma (Figure). Retinal cavernous hemangiomas are typically low-flow lesions and thus not associated with transudation (fluid, lipid), which aids in their differentiation from Coats disease and capillary hemangioblastomas.1 Macular retinal cavernous hemangiomas are rare and they can occasionally be associatedwith vision loss.2,3 Because retinal macrovessels can occur as an asymptomatic finding independent of other retinal vascular abnormalities, one cannot excludewith certainty thepossibility that the retinalmacrovessel is coincident to theretinal cavernoushemangioma.Nevertheless, these images illustrate the possible association of a retinal cavernous hemangioma with a congenital retinal macrovessel, underlining the role of abnormal vascular development in the rise of eachof these lesions.4


The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II has provided unprecedented information of water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere. For the purpose of comparison with output from climate models, the present study assesses the impact of the SAGE II sampling strategy on the tropospheric water vapor climatology in a general circulation model. Since water vapor is sampled only in {open_quotes}non-cloudy{close_quotes} regions in the SAGE strategy, the sampled water vapor concentration is smaller than the real climatology. This difference is associated with two factors. One is the water-vapor sampling frequency, the other is the humidity variability inside and outside the clouds. It is shown that maximum difference is at around 300 to 500 mb where it reaches up to 40% in the zonal mean humidity. 10 refs., 5 figs.


The environmental protection industry is the future economic development of one of the most potential new economic growth points,which plays an irreplaceable role to our country to optimize the industrial structure,and change the mode of economic development.In this paper,taking the construction of the "beautiful China" and "green Hunan" as the background,using empirical methods to study the environmental industry in Hunan economy development contribution,in analyzes the existing problems of Hunan environmental protection industry,and puts forward the policy measures and optimal path.It has positive significance to Hunan's development.


. The international community recently agreed on a cost-e⁄ective mechanism called REDD+ to reduce deforestation in tropical countries. However the mechanism would probably fail to induce an optimal reduction of deforestation. The aim of this article is to propose an alternative class of mechanisms for negative externalities that is both e¢ cient and satis(cid:133)es some fairness properties. It implements the Pareto optimum as a Nash Subgame Perfect Equilibrium. It is also individually rational, it takes into account environmental responsibility. An d a weak form of environmental responsibility can also be combined with envy freeness.


A brief review is made on the history of submarine hydrothermal deposits researches in China.The history could be divided into five stages.Take into consideration the global exploration and exploitation activities of relevant mineral resources,we suggest that China should select some parts of international seabed with large reserve of submarine hydrothermal deposits,low mining cost and high return on the basis of the survey data in hands and make application for mining privilege from the International Seabed authority as early as possible.Meantime,China should concentrate its survey cruises more on enclosure of rich areas,and at the same time,invest more on development of mining technology as preparation for future exploitation of the resources.


Chronic gastritis is a complex, polyetiological pathology with no clear clinical presentation. The most significant etiological factor of gastritis to date is H. pylori infection. A common clinical manifestation is the dyspepsia syndrome, which is caused by impaired motility. Symptoms can significantly affect a patient's quality of life, necessitating rapid and effective pharmacotherapy. This paper discusses the algorithm of the physician actions in the case of a patient with uninvestigated dyspepsia. PPI has significant negative impact on the accuracy of H. pylori diagnostic test results. In this regard, it is proposed to use empirical therapy with prokinetics before diagnostic test would be performed. Among the prokinetics available on the Russian market, itopride hydrochloride stands out due to its high safety profile and proven efficacy. Current evidence supports the use of the prokinetic Ganaton® (itopride hydrochloride) as empirical therapy for dyspepsia of undetermined etiology, including patients with a preliminary diagnosis of gastritis. Due to its dual mechanism of action, itopride hydrochloride alleviates dyspeptic symptoms by improving gastric evacuation and can be used for an extended period. Several studies have shown the superiority of itopride in treating functional dyspepsia compared to other prokinetics, including metoclopramide and domperidone. Thus, prescribing the prokinetic Ganaton® (itopride hydrochloride) as empirical therapy for dyspepsia of undetermined etiology, including patients with a preliminary diagnosis of gastritis, is a pathogenetically justified approach aimed at improving the patient's condition in the short term before establishing a final clinical diagnosis.


Three pellet injector designs developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are planned for the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) to reach the goal of a tritium pellet injector by 1983. These are the Repeating Pneumatic Injector (RPI), the Deuterium Pellet Injector (DPI) and the Tritium Pellet Injector (TPI). Each of the pellet injector designs have similar performance characteristics in that they deliver up to 4-mm-diara pellets at velocities up to 1500 m/s with a design goal to 2000 m/s. Similar techniques are utilized to freeze and extrude the pellet material. The injector systems incorporate three gun concepts which differ in the number of gun barrels and the method of forming and chambering the pellets. The RPI, a single barrel repeating design, has been operational on TFTR since April 1985. Fabrication and assembly are essentially complete for DPI, and TPI is presently on hold after completing about 80% of the design. The TFTR pellet injector program is described, and each of the injector systems is described brieflv. Design details are discussed in other papers at this symposium.


Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) is a causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin‐9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9mAbs) can lower Lp(a) levels in clinical trials, but their effects in patients with elevated Lp(a) in clinical practice remain unclear.


As a result of a comprehensive assessment of the climate of the Canadian Arctic Islands and adjacent waters, five climatic regions were identified. The regional boundaries were delineated by an analysis of the influence of the major climatic controls while further regional subdivisions were arrived at through consideration of the fields of the standard observed meteorological elements. Short discussions of the climatic characteristics of each sub-region are given and tables outlining values of selected climatic elements are presented. A brief discussion of climatic change across the entire area is included.


Despite laws allowing cameras at traffic signals, East Bay cities in California have mixed feelings about using them to catch traffic violators


When observing contemporary computing culture and its relationship to software development, it is easy to become cynical. The promises of open source software have attracted grifters and deceivers, while innovators have had their code easily lifted and applied to nefarious and criminal purposes. In addition, online spaces have shifted from decentralized freedom [1] to a struggle between algorithm, brand and influ-encer [2]. The result is a bleak picture: A Dark Eden of limited code bases, stagnating innovation and corporate control. Although this coded dystopia threatens to smother us, salvation may lie in the lighter side of art and science's collisions. To explore this notion, this paper examines Demoscene: an underground computing culture of art and science. Demoscene is characterized by the community's unrelenting pursuit of innovation by pushing the limitations of software, harder, and programmer. We propose that a reflection on Demoscene may provide a remedy to our Dark Eden.


Zhao Yanchun. 2005. [A Reductionist Approach to Translatology]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language and Education Press, 2005. xxiii + 324 pp. ISBN 7-81095-618-3. Price: RMB 18.00


Due to their unique optical properties, Bi-doped glasses have a great potential for the development of new tunable laser sources. Particular attention is given to high-silicate Bi-doped glasses as active media for fiber lasers and optical amplifiers, capable to operate at the second and the third near-infrared (NIR) transparency windows. Although significant practical advances have been achieved in this area, the origin of the NIR luminescence remains unclear. In the present paper, a set of glasses 95.5SiO2–4.5Al2O3–xBi2O3 (x = 0; 0.005; 0.01; 0.05; 0.1; 0.2) were synthesized using a conventional melt-quenching technique and investigated using a multiscale approach. Variation of the NIR emission was correlated with the change of other optical properties, structure and bismuth redox, supported by fluorescence/absorption, Raman, and XANES experimental studies, respectively. It was found that redox of bismuth shifted toward the formation of more reduced Bi species with the decrease of the dopant level. Based...


Basic investigations of the weldability of modern 9--10% Cr creep resistant steels for application in high efficiency and low emission thermal power generation plants were performed on a pipe P91 and a W-containing cast steel G-X 12 CrMoWVNbN 10 1 1. Gleeble simulation, representing the manual metal arc welding process, were applied to produce HAZ-simulated microstructures. They were exposed to different PWHT-treatments and tested using hardness tests, metallographic investigations, constant strain rate tests, creep tests and toughness tests. Primary attention was given to the softening effect in the HAZ and its influence on the creep resistance of the welded material. The decrease shown by the W-modified version seems to be less pronounced than that observed in the P91 material. The preheating temperature during welding can be selected through determination of the M{sub s}-transformation behavior of the base materials and the welding deposit.


A pack of tissues (50) contains a lot of PANUELOS, REFERRAL commonly referred to as pocket-sized package, HAS A releasable (58) opening is located on an exposed edge (33) of the upper SCARF (38) HEAP, SO SE enables dISTRIBUTION AND EASIER OPENING OF TISSUE.


The paper presents the results of investigations on the influence of the starting mass grain size distribution on microstructure of sintered magnesia-spinel products. The model investigation was conducted using magnesia clinkers and fused spinel. The grain size distribution of starting mixes were selected according to Dinger and Funk's theoretical curves with different values of n coefficient. The results clearly indicate that the best properties were achieved when n value changed in the range of 0.22 - 0.30 and forming pressure was contained in the range of 160 - 200 MPa.


Design, synthesis and characterization of a highly effective Hog1 inhibitor : a powerful tool for analyzing MAP kinase signalling in yeast


The invention relates to a method for realizing a metal embossing effect on a plastic-rubber base material, which is characterized by comprising the following steps of: carrying out spraying of UV (ultraviolet) paint on the surface of the plastic-rubber base material so as to lead the UV paint to be cured; carrying out laser etching on the surface of the base material which is treated by paint spraying; carrying out appearance film coating treatment on the plastic-rubber base material; and carrying out spraying of the UV paint on the plastic-rubber base material which is treated and leading the UV paint to be cured. In the method for realizing the metal embossing effect on the plastic-rubber base material, the metal embossing effect with any depth can be realized on the plastic-rubber base material, any effect treatment does not need to be carried out in the processes of mold design and forming of the plastic-rubber base material, and a plane only needs to be directly formed without considering the pattern effect needed in the following process.


This paper examines an experimental investigation of the chemical diffusion coefficients and ionic conductivity of temperature and the degree of imperfection of silver telluride. The authors studied the development and decay of concentration polarization in an electrochemical cell by using AgI to attain purely ionic current flow in the silver telluride sample studied. The steady-state values of the potential differences measured between two potential probes Ag/AgI are determined by the difference in electrochemical potentials of ions and can be used to calculate the specific ionic conductance. Results obtained when investigating the ionic conductivities at different temperatures are reported. The most typical functions of silver telluride at different temperatures and degrees of nonstoichiometry are shown. The experimental results obtained for the chemical diffusion coefficients of silver telluride as functions of the degree of nonstoichiometry at different temperatures are presented.


The characteristics of a bulk, optically controlled, GaAs switch was studied by means of a rate-equation model. The modeling was performed for copper-compensated silicon-doped semi-insulating GaAs (GaAs:Si:Cu) as switch material. A picosecond laser pulse ( lambda =1.054 mu m, full-width, half-maximum=300 ps) was assumed to turn the switch on. The effect of different parameters, such as concentrations of various deep centers and the laser pulse energy, on switch characteristics has been studied. Simulation results show that the switch performance has a strong dependence on the partition (N/sub CuA//N/sub CuB/).<<ETX>>


Background Antibodies (Abs) produced during HIV-1 infection rarely neutralize a broad range of viral isolates; only eight broadly-neutralizing (bNt) monoclonal (M)Abs have been isolated. Yet, to be effective, an HIV-1 vaccine may have to elicit the essential features of these MAbs. The V genes of all of these bNt MAbs are highly somatically mutated, and the VH genes of five of them encode a long (≥20 aa) third complementarity-determining region (CDR-H3). This led us to question whether long CDR-H3s and high levels of somatic mutation (SM) are a preferred feature of anti-HIV bNt MAbs, or if other adaptive immune responses elicit them in general. Methodology and Principal Findings We assembled a VH-gene sequence database from over 700 human MAbs of known antigen specificity isolated from chronic (viral) infections (ChI), acute (bacterial and viral) infections (AcI), and systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD), and compared their CDR-H3 length, number of SMs and germline VH-gene usage. We found that anti-HIV Abs, regardless of their neutralization breadth, tended to have long CDR-H3s and high numbers of SMs. However, these features were also common among Abs associated with other chronic viral infections. In contrast, Abs from acute viral infections (but not bacterial infections) tended to have relatively short CDR-H3s and a low number of SMs, whereas SAD Abs were generally intermediate in CDR-H3 length and number of SMs. Analysis of VH gene usage showed that ChI Abs also tended to favor distal germline VH-genes (particularly VH1-69), especially in Abs bearing long CDR-H3s. Conclusions and Significance The striking difference between the Abs produced during chronic vs. acute viral infection suggests that Abs bearing long CDR-H3s, high levels of SM and VH1-69 gene usage may be preferentially selected during persistent infection.


Water quality guarantee in remote areas necessitates the development of portable, sensitive, fast, cost-effective, and easy-to-use water quality detection methods. The current work reports on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) integrated with a smartphone app for the simultaneous detection of cross-type water quality parameters including pH, Cu(II), Ni(II), Fe(III), and nitrite. The shapes, baking time, amount, and ratios of reaction reagent mixtures of wax μPAD were optimized to improve the color uniformity and intensity effectively. An easy-to-use smartphone app was established for recording, analyzing, and directly reading the colorimetric signals and target concentrations on μPAD. The results showed that under the optimum conditions, the current analytical platform has reached the detection limits of 0.4, 1.9, 2.9, and 1.1 ppm for nitrite, Cu(II), Ni(II), and Fe(III), respectively, and the liner ranges are 2.3–90 ppm (nitrite), 3.8–400 ppm (Cu(II)), 2.9–1000 ppm (Ni(II)), 2.8–500 ppm (Fe(III)), and 5–9 (pH). The proposed portable smartphone-app integrated μPAD detection system was successfully applied to real industrial wastewater and river water quality monitoring. The proposed method has great potential for field water quality detection.


A central aspect of eHealth is the electronic healthcare record (EHR) which integrates all relevant medical information of a person and represents a lifelong documentation of the medical history. By virtue of their sensitive character it is crucial that medical data can only be accessed by the patient herself and persons who are directly involved in the treatment of the patient. Since eHealth portals can be accessed via the Internet, security and privacy issues arise that have to be considered carefully. Besides traditional security properties, we mainly focus on additional threats, namely the trivial disclosure attack and the statistical analysis of metadata. Thereby a disclosure attack takes place if a person enforces another person to present her EHR, e.g. during a job interview. Additionally, by applying statistical analysis on the metadata of an eHealth portal, it is possible to determine relevant information (e.g. psychological treatment) which could have negative effects on the patient. In this paper we present a concept including pseudonymization of medical data, identity management, obfuscation of metadata and anonymous authentication to prevent disclosure attacks and statistical analysis.


In this paper, we consider two coded SFBC-OFDM systems for four transmit and two receive antennas in broadband wireless channels. Using a linear simplified ZF receiver and a reduced complexity APP detector, we compare QO-SFBC and hybrid SM-SFBC in time varying multipath fading channels. We examine the results in terms of bit-error-rate and capacity for different channel characteristics. We show that QO-SFBC scheme gives better performance than SM-SFBC at 1bit/subcarrier. We also show that the correlation between the antennas causes a degradation on the performance of the SFBC-OFDM systems.


Abstract The aim of this paper is to distinguish early Buddhist compassion from Mahāyāna Buddhist compassion, and to suggest that the former can be a feminist choice. Early Buddhist compassion takes a principle of equal-regarding and does not encourage self-sacrifice. It rejects self-sacrificial altruism as well as other-sacrificial egoism. Contrarily, Mahāyāna Buddhist compassion encourages one to sacrifice oneself without seeking one's own happiness and to take the suffering of all sentient beings. Early Buddhist equal-regarding compassion can be a feminist choice because it rejects self-sacrifice. When equal-regarding compassion is applied to an ethic of care, the feminist concern—care can force women to sacrifice themselves and deepen their submission and subordination—is expected to be resolved to some degree.


Chapter 1: A Library of Functions Chapter 2: Key Concept: The Derivative Chapter 3: Short-Cuts to Differentiation Chapter 4: Using the Derivative Chapter 5: Key Concept: The Definite Integral Chapter 6: Constructing Antiderivatives Chapter 7: Integration Chapter 8: Using the Definite Integral Chapter 9: Sequences and Series Chapter 10: Approximating Functions Using Series Chapter 11: Differential Equations


This paper focuses on the implementation of a novel semantic-based Conversational Agent (CA) framework. Traditional CAs interpret scripts consisting of structural patterns of sentences. User input is matched against such patterns and an associated response is sent as output. This traditional CA approach, which solely takes into account the structural form of a sentence, requires the scripter to anticipate the inordinate ways that a user may send input. This is a tiresome and timeconsuming process. As such, a semantic-based CA that interprets scripts consisting of natural language sentences alleviates this burden by removing the process of pattern generation. The CA was evaluated by participants using a domain of a specific nature, that is, student debt management, which indicated promising results.


Disclosed are a polarizing plate manufacturable by a manufacturing method safe in work and less imposing a burden on the environment using protective films excellent in adhesion with the polarizer and a method for manufacturing the same. A liquid crystal display device using the polarizing plate and having both a large viewing angle and a high visibility (high contrast and so forth) is also disclosed. The polarizing plate made by holding both surfaces of the polarizer held with protective films is characterized in that at least one protective film is a protective film hydrophilized by either a plasma treatment or a corona treatment and that the surface energy of the protective films before the hydrophilization and the surface energy of the protective films after the hydrophilization satisfy a predetermined relational expression.


The article examines the relationship between the use of corporate entrepreneurship tools and their impact on the competitiveness of organizations in the banking sector. Recommendations for Sberbank to improve the main indicators of banking efficiency are presented, which will lead to an increase in the competitive position of the organization.


These notes are based on a talk given at the Summer School "Infinite-dimensional representations of finite-dimensional algebras" held at the University of Manchester in September 2015. They intend to provide a brief introduction to the notion of Ziegler Spectrum and Krull-Gabriel dimension.


Abstract Transcribing RNA polymerase (RNAP) can fall into backtracking, phenomenon when the 3′ end of the transcript disengages from the template DNA. Backtracking is caused by sequences of the nucleic acids or by misincorporation of erroneous nucleotides. To resume productive elongation backtracked complexes have to be resolved through hydrolysis of RNA. There is currently no consensus on the mechanism of catalysis of this reaction by Escherichia coli RNAP. Here we used Salinamide A, that we found inhibits RNAP catalytic domain Trigger Loop (TL), to show that the TL is required for RNA cleavage during proofreading of misincorporation events but plays little role during cleavage in sequence-dependent backtracked complexes. Results reveal that backtracking caused by misincorporation is distinct from sequence-dependent backtracking, resulting in different conformations of the 3′ end of RNA within the active center. We show that the TL is required to transfer the 3′ end of misincorporated transcript from cleavage-inefficient 'misincorporation site' into the cleavage-efficient 'backtracked site', where hydrolysis takes place via transcript-assisted catalysis and is largely independent of the TL. These findings resolve the controversy surrounding mechanism of RNA hydrolysis by E. coli RNA polymerase and indicate that the TL role in RNA cleavage has diverged among bacteria.


The present invention discloses a failure analysis method and analysis system events, the system comprising a storage module, an event setting module and a calculation module, a storage module for storing a fault tree assembly, the event is set to Fault tree module assembly to generate a fault tree structure, and for inputting a plurality of event information set in each node of the fault tree structure, and to select each event trigger logic from a set event between a node and its child node at least each trigger logic, trigger logic calculation module is based on fault tree structure and each event, to calculate the probability of the occurrence of the event information to the top of the root node of the fault tree structure belongs.


The catalog number indicates the student clas si fi ca tion for which the course is primarily intended: 001–099 Noncredit courses 100–299 Undergraduate general program 300–499 Undergraduate advanced or specialized program Within the College of Arts and Sciences, the alphabetical catalog-number suffix es-I and-O generally are not used. Other al pha bet i cal suffixes have specific Credit Credit for a course is indicated by the number or numbers in pa ren the ses fol low ing the course title. It may be expressed (3), (1–3), or (2 or 3). A course with one quarter hour of credit (1) is the equivalent of one rec i ta tion or two or more laboratory periods per week throughout a quarter. In a course carrying variable credit, the credit may be expressed (1–4, max 8), indicating that one hour is the min i-mum and four hours the maximum amount of credit allowed for the course in one quarter. However, you may en roll in the course any number of times and for any number of credit hours within the quar ter limit, provided the total reg is tra tion for the course does not exceed the over all maximum. Courses that satisfy one of the University General Education Tier I or Tier II re quire ments are indicated by a no ta tion on the title line. Tier I courses are marked either (1E) for En glish com-po si tion or (1M) for quan ti ta tive skills; Tier II designations are (2A) ap plied sciences and tech nol o gy, (2C) cross-cultural per spec tives, (2H) hu man i ties and fine arts, (2N) natural sciences and math e mat ics, and (2S) social sciences. Courses that satisfy General Education Tier III requirements are grouped under the heading Tier III. Prerequisites Course prerequisites are indicated at the beginning of the course description, following the ab bre vi a tion " Prereq. " If you have any doubts about whether you have ful filled prerequisites due to changes in the numbering system over the past several years, check the course titles and consult with your advisor and the office of the dean. Even if you have not met the prerequisites, you may add a course by ob tain ing the in struc tor's per mis sion. Once you have completed an advanced course, you may not sub se-quent ly enroll in a …


Active contour model (ACM) approaches for image segmentation and feature extraction have emerged as very appealing and powerful tools in image processing. The basis of ACM approach is to evolve a curve, called level set, to extract the desired object (s) under some constraints. In this course, various extensions of earlier Osher's level set model have been suggested in the litareture. More recently, a new ACM model referred to selective binary and Gaussian filtering regularized level set (SBGFRIL) has been put forward as a fruitful combination of geodesic active contour model (GAC) and Chan-Vese (C-V) active contour models. This paper attempts to put forward some appealing performance indices to assess the performances of the suggested SBGFRIL compared with GAC and V-C models. The performance metrics involve the clustering based quality evaluations.


This paper presents the analysis, design and practical considerations of several low cost high-power-factor ballast for compact fluorescent lamps. The proposed topologies are a combination of a boost converter and a half-bridge parallel resonant converter. The high frequency supply to the lamp is made by a self oscillating half-bridge converter, using integrated circuits IR2151 and IR51HD420. The high-power-factor is guaranteed by using a boost converter operating in discontinuous conduction mode. These topologies have been developed for 20 W compact fluorescent lamps for 110 V, 60 Hz utility line.


In this essay the origins of the term hypervalence and its application in p-block element chemistry are considered and it is argued that the term should now be consigned to the graveyard of concepts that no longer afford any discernible value or insight, certainly from an educational perspective. In contrast, the educational merits of the octet rule are also examined where it is concluded that this rule does have significant pedagogical value, albeit mostly within the ambit of introductory level explanations. For a few of the chosen exemplar compounds, a selection of orbital-based analyses, at different levels of sophistication, are also considered, and their values appraised together with a brief survey of some of the more general computational studies which have been employed in relation to this topic.


Flowing, cold magnetospheric ions have been observed in conjunction with geosynchronous orbit magnetopause crossings since the earliest ATS and OGO missions. The authors have reported on the occurrence and convection of low-energy (10-100 eV) ions seen by multiple satellites in association with geosynchronous orbit magnetopause and low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL) encounters. More generally, Los Alamos 3-D plasma instruments observe these ions following storm sudden commencements (SSCs), when activity levels are high. The ions appear to be convecting radially outward and usually westward at speeds of a few to several tens of kilometers per second. Often the energy spectra reveal peaks at energies appropriate for cold convecting H{sup +}, He{sup +} and O{sup +}. The occurrence frequency distribution of these dense cold ions is peaked near 1400 LT, with an overall range from 1000 to beyond 1800 LT. This local time distribution is greatly skewed from the overall plasmaspheric distribution, which peaks closer to 1800 LT. Multisatellite observations show that the ions are seen first at late afternoon local times and then at progressively earlier and earlier local times (though usually no earlier than 1000 LT). This apparent evolution in local time suggests that the late-afternoon plasmaspheric plasma moves out andmore » dawnward during times of increased magnetospheric activity. The three-satellite observations also allow the authors to track cold plasma convection at multiple points in the magnetosphere, and potentially provide a glimpse of the large-scale convection pattern.« less


Purpose
Crowdfunding can be an effective fundraising vehicle to independent restaurants to overcome fundraising limitations due to its small-size and high risk. A few studies have identified contents of communication for successful crowdfunding, yet missing is on how to say. The purpose of this paper is to investigate linguistics styles that are effective in pitches in restaurant crowdfunding.

Design/methodology/approach
The study analyzed 500 restaurant crowdfunding projects listed on Kickstarter.com that is one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms with sizable restaurant projects. By text analysis, this study identifies four linguistic categories – concrete, precise, interactive and language with low psychological distancing – from the project descriptions. A binominal linear regression analysis identified effective language styles that increases success of restaurant crowdfunding.

Findings
Drawing on the language expectancy theory and uncertainty reduction theory, this study found that project descriptions that are concrete and delivering stories with fewer usage of first person pronouns are likely to succeed in restaurant fundraising. Interactive style was counter-effective while preciseness of language did not affect funding success significantly. Findings further reveal the roles of non-linguistic attributes shown in the project pitches.

Research limitations/implications
Despite the increasing practice of restaurant crowdfunding and good matches with small- and medium-sized restaurants' needs, scant research has been conducted. Notably absent from the research is work on linguistic styles that are effective in restaurant crowdfunding. This study extends the prior literature by investigating how restaurant entrepreneurs should communicate with potential crowdfunders to make crowdfunding successful in the restaurant context. Simply knowing what are important does not provide holistic help to restaurant entrepreneurs; they also should know how to communicate well.

Practical implications
The findings of this study are important for restaurant entrepreneurs who need to present their projects and communicate effectively with potential investors online. Based on the study's findings, crowdfunding platforms could enhance their project posting systems by developing algorithm that automatically measures language cues embedded in a project description and providing suggestions to improve persuasiveness of languages to maximize funding success for restaurant projects.

Originality/value
Scant research has been conducted in the restaurant crowdfunding; prior crowdfunding literature has focused on the projects other than restaurants such as technology, design and film. This study is the first that uncovers the role of the linguistic styles for the specific context of restaurant crowdfunding. This study sheds the light on the critical communication strategies used by small-sized restaurant entrepreneurs on crowdfunding platform.


The present invention provides a high-power X-band microwave radiation measurement system integration, the high power microwave field signal received by the antenna through the waveguide attenuator power attenuation, through the waveguide coaxial converter is in turn transmitted to the programmable attenuators and power attenuation coaxial attenuators, to a single board computer after the signal detected by the detector by envelope waveform digitizer acquisition, monitoring computer monitors digital converter and a temperature sensor via fiber optic transceivers; digital conversion and controlling the programmable attenuator. Set the present invention, an electromagnetic shield, attenuation control, signal detection, data acquisition and processing, remote monitoring, and fiber optic data transmission and other functions, compact, simple and easy to carry, easy to quickly expand the field measurement; improves overall system electromagnetic protection ability to increase the measurement dynamic range, with a wider tolerance for different power levels measured radiation field.


We exploit highly disaggregated bank-firm data to investigate the dynamics of foreign vs. domestic credit supply in Italy around the period of the Lehman collapse, which brought a sudden and unexpected deterioration of economic conditions and a sharp increase in credit risk. Taking advantage of the presence of multiple lending relationships to control for credit demand and risk at the individual-firm level, we show that foreign lenders restricted credit supply (to the same firm) more sharply than their domestic counterparts. Based on a number of exercises testing alternative explanations for such procyclicality, we find that it mainly reflects the (functional) distance between a foreign banki?½s headquarters and the Italian credit market.


Carbon dioxide (CO2) hypersensitivity represents an individual difference response to breathing CO2 enriched air. People with a history of panic attacks or panic disorder are particularly prone to anxious response, suggesting that CO2 hypersensitivity is a robust risk marker of panic spectrum vulnerability.


The article deals with social processes that contributed to the formation of the social fault lines in the Ukrainian society and weakened its integrity. The subject of philosophical research is social integrity. The goal of research is to comprehend the way social fault lines are formed thus endangering the integrity of Ukraine's social organism. Methods of research are systematic, logical, historical, statistical, and dialectical. They reveal contradictory social processes which endanger the integrity of Ukraine's social organism. The first social fault line is the new social class structure in which the poor are the overwhelming majority, while the middle class, who ensures economic, social and political stability, is of no importance. The second social fault line is determined by the economic interests of manufacturers from different regions in market outlets as reference points of external integration. The third social fault line was formed during the struggle of regional political elites, who, being in the opposition, actively supported schismogenetic process in socio-cultural space of Ukraine. The fourth social fault line is formed according to spheres of influence among oligarchic groups in different regions of Ukraine. The fifth social fault line exists between Ukrainian people and ruling circles, the latter used the state power as a means to satisfy group interests thus ignoring national interests. The scientific novelty of the article is to substantiate a contradictory role of certain social processes causing social fault lines and threatening the integrity of Ukraine's social organism. A number of these social fault lines in Ukrainian society shows that changing the system of state power in Ukraine is not a simple borrowing of certain European models. It is better to identify dangers ruining the integrity of Ukraine's social organism and implement certain structural and functional changes into organs of state administration that are capable of adequate response to destructive trends and protection of social integrity


We investigate the Ising model on the square lattice with correlated random fields which take the values ±h0 and 0. The random fields are assumed to vary from row to row but not from column to column. In the limit [MATH] ? 0, the system shows the phase transition, where [MATH] is the uniform external field with [MATH] ? h0.


We present a methodology that automatically selects indexing algorithms for each heading in Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine's vocabulary for indexing MEDLINE. While manually comparing indexing methods is manageable with a limited number of MeSH headings, a large number of them make automation of this selection desirable. Results show that this process can be automated, based on previously indexed MEDLINE citations. We find that AdaBoostM1 is better suited to index a group of MeSH hedings named Check Tags, and helps improve the micro F-measure from 0.5385 to 0.7157, and the macro F-measure from 0.4123 to 0.5387 (both p < 0.01). Category: Convergence computing


Conservation biology is a field of science that is heavily biased against insects and allied invertebrates, largely due to a data deficiency feedback loop that maintains a cycle of ignorance and inaction. Because many invertebrate groups are, and remain, extremely data poor, it is frequently difficult to conduct even the most basic conservation actions, such as status evaluation, listing, recovery and monitoring of threatened species. Thus, declines and extinctions of invertebrates are frequently undetected and poorly documented. To address this data deficiency, we have developed a new national database – Butterflies Australia – for one insect taxon that integrates citizen science (data collectors) with global, standardised monitoring protocols and emerging tools in technology and biodiversity informatics. The database is created from a platform, which consists of a phone app and website, that offers the potential to rapidly increase data availability on the occurrence of Australian butterflies at a far greater scale than was previously possible, as well as to monitor trends in their distribution and abundance over time. We discuss the attributes and importance of successful citizen science projects and quantitative methods for monitoring butterflies, both from an Australian perspective and in an international context, and then outline the operational aspects of the Butterflies Australia platform. A review of survey methods that have been used for monitoring or inventorying butterflies in Australia over the past 50 years revealed a diverse array of sampling techniques, with little standardisation between studies and wide variation in space (sampling unit) and time (sampling effort). Transect counts, in particular, have rarely followed the international guidelines recommended for standardised global butterfly monitoring. Finally, we discuss the benefits of our new citizen science tool for butterflies and potentially other invertebrates. We envisage that our platform will engender increased community awareness, improved quantity and quality of data collection, better conservation policy and planning, as well as enhanced resourcing and research for the conservation management of butterflies.