Congestion games are an elegant model to study the effects of resource usage and routing with strategic agents, but due to their simplicity they are inadequate to realistically model many features of traffic in computer and/or road networks. In my talk I survey our recent results on extensions of congestion games towards more realistic modeling of network routing scenarios. Our results concentrate on the existence and computational complexity of exact and approximate pure-strategy Nash and strong equilibria. Whereas in some cases it is possible to provide efficient algorithms for centralized computation, for a sufficient level of generality we can establish lower bounds by proving computational hardness results. In addition, we study the more demanding goal of reaching equilibria using decentralized protocols and the duration of the resulting improvement dynamics. More fundamentally, our treatment sheds light on the tractability of coordinated behavior of players in network routing.


Aim: To evaluate association of apolipoproteins A1 and B and fasting lipid profile (FLP) with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in adults. Materials and Methods: This is a hospital based 9 months case control study of diabetic subjects (n= 169) by Ophthalmological examination and Biochemical parameters ( Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), FPL , Apolipoproteins A1 and B) .Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 17. Results: Out of 169 diabetic subjects studied(mean age 55.46±9.78 years; mean BMI 24.25±3.71; Mean duration of diabetes 10.17±7.45years) , 51.5% (87/169) had no signs of DR, 11.8% (20/169) had mild NPDR, 16.6% (28/169) had moderate NPDR, 6.5% (11/169) had severe NPDR and 13.6% (23/169) had proliferative DR. FPG (p-0.02), TC (p-0.009), LDL-C (p-0.053), HDL-C (p-0.001) and TG (p-0.0001) were found to have a statistically significant association with DR. ApoA1 (OR-0.996 and p-0.393) and apo B (OR-1.006 and p-0.145) showed no statistically significant association with DR apo B /Apo A1 ratio (OR-2.11 and p-0.048) showed a statistically significant association with DR. No significant correlation was observed between various lipid parameters and apolipoproteins with different stages of diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: The significant association of serum lipids and Apolipoprotein B/apo A-1 ratio with DR shown by this study indicates, along with glycemic control, correction of hyperlipidemia is important in preventing the development of DR. Besides, the Apo B / apo A -1 ratio can be used as an index of DR.


Sparse unmixing (SU) of hyperspectral image (HSI), as a semisupervised approach, aims to find the optimal subset of the spectral library known in advance to represent each pixel in HSI. However, most of the existing SU methods cannot take full advantage of spatial information and mixed noise in HSI. To this end, we propose a superpixel-based noise-robust SU method (SNRSU) in the presence of mixed noise. First, we perform superpixel segmentation (SS) on the first principal component of HSI to extract the homogeneous regions. Then, we unmix each superpixel based on sparse representation (SR) and low-rank representation (LRR) in the maximum a posteriori framework, which can make full use of the spatial–spectral information in HSI under complex mixed noise. A number of experiments on simulated and real HSI datasets confirm the superior performance of the proposed SNRSU both qualitatively and quantitatively.


Duplex sonography in conjunction with ECG and M-mode was used for assessment of state of common carotid artery in patients with arterial hypertension. In patients with hypertension, compared with a control group were reliably above the following indicators: diameter CCA, bends, intima-media thickness. Acceleration time index was higher in those with arterial hypertension than in control group. Systolic velocity of CCA posterior wall was lower than in healthy subjects.


Abstract Observations from two Doppler sodars and a radar wind profiler have been used in conjunction with data from a rawinsonde station and a mesoscale surface observation network to conduct a case study of a gravity current entering into an environment containing a nocturnal inversion and an elevated neutral layer. On the basis of synoptic and mesoscale analyses, it is concluded that the gravity current might have originated either as a scale-contracted cold front or as a gust front resulting from thunderstorm outflows observed very near the leading edge of a cold front. Despite this ambiguity, the detailed vertical structure of the gravity current itself is well resolved from the data. Moreover, the vertical velocity measurements provided by the sodars and the radar wind profiler at high time resolution have given unique information about the height structure of gravity waves excited by the gravity current. Although only wave periods, and not phase speeds or wavelengths, are directly measured, it is p...


In this paper,it reviewed the methods of organic silicone modifing acrylate polymer emulsion used to pressure-sensitive adhesive,and its stability,structure and property were reviewed,as well as its prospect.


Cyclopentadienyl-zirconium(IV) and -titanium(IV) halides and alkyls react with hydroquinones to give bridged dinuclear complexes. Such compounds are also formed upon treatment of titanium(III) precursors with benzoquinone. Various cyclopentadienyl derivatives were used [cyclopentadienyl (C5H5), pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (C5Me5), ethyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl (C5Me4Et) and trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl (C5H4SiMe3)]. Several synthetic routes are described leading to the products [{Zr(C5H5)2Cl}2(µ-OC6H4O)]1a, [{Zr(C5H5)2Cl}2{µ-O(C6H3But-2)O}]1b, [{Zr(C5H5)2Cl}2{µ-O(C6H2But2-2,5)O}]1c, [{Zr(C5Me4Et)2Cl}2(µ-OC6H4O)]1d, [{Ti(C5Me4Et)Cl2}2(µ-OC6H4O)]2, [{Ti(C5Me5)2Cl}2(µ-OC6H4O)]3, [{Ti(C5Me5)F2}2{µ-O(C6H2But2-2,5)O}]4, [{Zr(C5Me4Et)2F}2(µ-OC6H4O)]5, [{Ti(C5Me5)2F}2(µ-OC6H4O)]6a, [{Ti(C5H4SiMe3)2F}2(µ-OC6H4O)]6b, [{Ti(C5Me5)Me2}2{µ-O(C6H2But2-2,5)O}]7 and [{Ti(C5Me5)Cl2}2O]8. Furthermore it is shown that the formation of the monobridged products is independent of the steric requirements of the substituents of the quinonide ring. The structures of [{Zr(C5Me4Et)2Cl}2(µ-OC6H4O)]1d and [{Ti(C5Me5)2Cl}2(µ-OC6H4O)]3 were solved by X-ray diffraction analysis.


Ratok Bawak is a wailing culture owned by Bukit Limbuku nagari community in Minangkabau. As the descendants of Datuak Penghulu Basa Nan Koruik, Ratok Bawak has become the identity of Bukit Limbuku nagari community. This culture began to be abandoned since the community's understanding of Islamic teachings is getting stronger. This research is done to preserve Ratok Bawak as an asset of the national identity of Indonesia. Specifically, this study aims to express Ratok Bawak into the work of Dance "Ratok Lareh Pangulu", and to inform the community. In order to realize the artwork "Ratok Lareh Pangulu", used Gadamer's interpretation theory, about the understanding of the reality of events. The research method used is a qualitative method, by doing literature study, observation, interview, and documentation. In order to know the form of embodiment of Ratok Bawak, done by reconstructing ratok bawak ritual process, which is documented into the form of vidio and photo. The reconstruction result is poured and packed into Ratok Lareh Pangulu dance and documentary film. The achievement of this dance showcases the spectacular elements (mise on scene) such as the design of concepts, emphasis on authentic characters of strong character, the expression of motion that expresses the character's character, explores the visualization of the characters in the laments, which combines events in the Ratok Bawak, to form a dramatic ladder. The sharpening of the unity of performances is reinforced by Minangkabau


A new iterative method of finding the minimum eigenvalue of a symmetric matrix is described. This method does not utilize matrix inversions and is applicable to any matrix R for which the matrix-vector product Rx is rapidly computable. It seeks the minimum eigenvalue of R by minimizing the quadratic form XTRx on the unit hypersphere, using a search technique derived from the conjugate gradient method. The computational complexity of each step of the algorithm depends on the speed with which Rx can be computed.


A non-contact receiving device comprises: a receiving unit (110) for receiving power in a non-contact manner from a transmitting device (200) outside a vehicle (100); and a control device (180) for controlling the transmitting power of the transmitting device. The control device controls the transmitting power on the basis of a monitoring result obtained by monitoring the surroundings of the vehicle and an occupant detection result obtained by detecting occupant's riding on the vehicle. It is preferable that the control device controls the transmitting device to reduce the transmitting power when the monitoring result indicates that a moving body approaches the vehicle. It is also preferable that the power transmission between the receiving unit and the transmitting device are performed by electromagnetic resonance in a non-contact manner.


Abstract Harry Joe in the Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, is an expert on the topic of multivariate dependence concepts. He received his Ph.D. in statistics from Florida State University. Professor Joe has taught a graduate course entitled Multivariate Models for Non-normal Response, with Covariates at both the University of Pittsburgh and the University of British Columbia. The current book is based in part on the materials developed for that course.  Ram Shanmugam was an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Colorado when this review was completed. He has been actively engaged in both teaching and research work in multivariate statistics. He is an elected fellow of the International Statistical Institute.


In the interleukin‐3 (IL‐3)‐dependent lymphoid cell line DA‐1, functional p53 is required for efficient apoptosis in response to IL‐3 withdrawal. Activation of p53 in these cells, by either DNA damage or p53 overexpression, results in a vital growth arrest in the presence of IL‐3 and in accelerated apoptosis in its absence. Thus, IL‐3 can control the choice between p53‐dependent cell‐cycle arrest and apoptosis. Here we report that the cross‐talk between p53 and IL‐3 involves joint control of pRb cleavage and degradation. Depletion of IL‐3 results in caspase‐mediated pRb cleavage, occurring preferentially within cells which express functional p53. Moreover, pRb can be cleaved efficiently by extracts prepared from DA‐1 cells but not from their derivatives which lack p53 function. Inactivation of pRb through expression of the human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 oncogene overrides the effect of IL‐3 in a p53‐dependent manner. Our data suggest a novel role for p53 in the regulation of cell death and a novel mechanism for the cooperation between p53 and survival factor deprivation. Thus, p53 makes cells permissive to pRb cleavage, probably by controlling the potential activity of a pRb‐cleaving caspase, whereas IL‐3 withdrawal provides signals that turn on this potential activity and lead to the actual cleavage and subsequent degradation of pRb. Elimination of a presumptive anti‐apoptotic effect of pRb may then facilitate conversion of p53‐mediated growth arrest into apoptosis.


Introduction: This article analyses TVE"s drama series El Ministerio del tiempo to determine whether greater knowledge about this TV series, and the use of social networks and multimedia resources influence viewers" perception of the series. Methods: The analysis is based on the information provided by 124 viewers through a questionnaire based on a character identification scale. Results: It was concluded that greater knowledge of the TV series and the use of transmedia storytelling increases viewers' identification with the series" fictional characters, although this only applies in the items with greater emotional or sentimental charge. Discussion: The results indicate that the findings are not applicable to the cognitive evaluation of the most loyal viewers of the series. Conclusions: Based on the results, it can be affirmed that transmedia contents influence viewers" rational and emotional responses. Prior knowledge of the series and the use of transmedia storytelling extend the relationship between viewers and the TV series beyond occasional enjoyment.


This case is not presented as propaganda against the eating of tomatoes but merely to emphasize a possible surprise that one may encounter in a case diagnosed as acute appendicitis. History. —J. L., a white man, aged 41, employed as the supervisor of a warehouse, seen by Dr. Bernhard, Aug. 18, 1932, complained of pain in the abdomen to the right of the umbilicus. The pain had started and remained localized in that spot. The patient's appetite was good and his bowel movements were regular. There had been no nausea or vomiting. Tomatoes had been eaten that morning, and pain had begun toward evening. He had never been in any accidents and had never under-gone an operation. He had had mumps and measles in childhood, and a left inguinal hernia had been present for about twenty years. The patient's mother had died at the age of 50 of pleurisy. His


The essays by Alcides Maya show the changements the 19th century literary criticism in RioGrande do Sul have undergone. In this respect, the essay "Machado de assis: algumas notas sobre ohumour" (1912) makes the reading of the passage from the naturalistic literary criticism to anotherbased on the questions of erudition and cosmopolitism, antecipating the very issues of contemporarycomparative approaches as in literature. The comparative approach to the study of the humour alsocontributed to revitalize the paradigms of the Brazilian literary criticism at the end do the 19th century,by rejecting the reducing aspects of nationalism and following the path initated by Machado de Assishimself in "Noticia de Literatura Brasileira: Instituto de Nacionalidade" (1873).


Guided‐ion beam integral cross section measurements, product ion time‐of‐flight (TOF) measurements, and doubly differential cross sections are presented for the O+(4S)+Xe→O+Xe+ charge‐transfer reaction. The integral cross section is observed to increase monotonically with mean center‐of‐mass collision energy (ET) from 0.72 A2 at 0.1 eV to 26.9 A2 at 35.2 eV. Product ion TOF measurements show that the primary contribution to the charge‐transfer cross section arises from a direct electron transfer at long range of the Demkov type. The collision energy dependence of the cross section for center‐of‐mass (c.m.) forward‐scattered Xe+ ions reveals that this minor contribution to the total cross section arises from a hard‐sphere‐type scattering that primarily involves a Landau–Zener‐type diabatic curve crossing at shorter range. Doubly differential cross sections at 4.4 eV indicate that translational to product internal energy transfer is inefficient even at small impact parameters and that the spin‐allowed Xe+(2...


BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications in patients who undergo open heart surgery are serious life-threatening conditions. Few studies have investigated the potentially beneficial effects of preoperative physiotherapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. OBJECTIVES: Assess the effects of preoperative chest physiotherapy on oxygenation and lung function in patients undergoing open heart surgery. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with planned open heart surgery were randomly allocated into an intervention group of patients who underwent a preoperative home chest physiotherapy program for one week in addition to the traditional postoperative program and a control group who underwent only the traditional postoperative program. Lung function was assessed daily from the day before surgery until the seventh postoperative day. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in measures of respiratory function and oxygen saturation. Length of postoperative hospital stay was a secondary outcome. SAMPLE SIZE: 100 patients (46 in intervention group, 54 in control group). RESULTS: Postoperative improvements in lung function and oxygen saturation in the intervention group were statistically significant compared with the control group. The intervention group also had a statistically significant shorter hospital stay (P<.01). CONCLUSION: Preoperative chest physiotherapy is effective in improving respiratory function following open heart surgery. LIMITATIONS: Relatively small number of patients. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04665024).


The main challenge in an automated diagnostic system for the early diagnosis of melanoma is the correct segmentation and classification of moles, often occluded by hair in images obtained with a dermoscope. Hair occlusion causes segmentation algorithms to fail to identify the correct nevus border, and can cause errors in estimating texture measures. We present a new method to identify hair in dermoscopic images using a universal approach, which can segment both dark and light hair without prior knowledge of the hair type. First, the hair is amplified using a universal matched filtering kernel, which generates strong responses for both dark and light hair without prejudice. Then we apply local entropy thresholding on the response to get a raw binary hair mask. This hair mask is then refined and verified by a model checker. The model checker includes a combination of image processing (morphological thinning and label propagation) and mathematical (Gaussian curve fitting) techniques. The result is a clean hair mask which can be used to segment and disocclude the hair in the image, preparing it for further segmentation and analysis. Application on real dermoscopic images yields good results for thick hair of varying colours, from light to dark. The algorithm also performs well on skin images with a mixture of both dark and light hair, which was not previously possible with previous hair segmentation algorithms.


Nitrogen dry deposition causes pH modification of ecosystems, promotes eutrophication in some water bodies, interferes with the nutrient geochemical cycle on land, and has a deteriorating effect on buildings. In this study, a water surface sampler (WSS) and knife-leading-edge surrogate surface (KSS) covered with both a Nylasorb filter and a greased disk were used to directly measure nitrate dry deposition in Chicago between May and October 1997. Concurrently, the KSS covered with both a citric acid-coated paper filter and a greased disk and the WSS were used to measure ammonia dry deposition. The average measured dry deposition flux for HNO3 was 3.78 ± 1.24 mg m-2 day-1; for particulate nitrate, it was 1.46 ± 0.3 mg m-2 day-1; and for ammonia gas, it was 2.64 ±1.15 mg m-2 day-1. Nitrate fluxes to the WSS and Nylasorb filter on the KSS were statistically equal, as were the total ammonia fluxes to the WSS and the citric acid-impregnated filter on the KSS. The experimental measurements indicated that HNO3 an...


Summary Soils and sediments contain only small amounts oforganic matter, and large concentrations ofparamagnetic metals can give poor solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra oforganic matter. Pretreatment of samples with hydrofluoric acid (HF) dissolves significant proportions of the mineral matrix and extracts paramagnetic elements. We investigated the effects of 10% HF treatment on the stable isotope content ofcarbon (C) and nitrogen (N) oforganic matter f soils, composts and shales. Additionally we inferred molecular and isotopic characteristics of lost materials from calculations of isotope mass balances. Treatment with HF enriched C and N in mineral samples substantially (factors 2.5–42.4), except for Podzol B horizons (1.1–1.7) and organic material (1.0–1.3). After treatment most of the C (59.7–91.7%) and N (53.7–86.6%) was recovered, although changing C/N ratios often indicated a pref erential loss ofN-rich material. Isotope ratios ofC and N in the remaining material became more negative when net alterations exceeded 0.3‰. The isotope ratios ofthe lost material contained more 13 C (1–2‰) and 15 N (1–4‰) than the initial organic matter. Acid hydrolysis typically removes proteins, amino acids and polysaccharides, all ofwhich are enriched in 13 C, and in the case ofproteins and amino acids, enriched in 15 N as well. We conclude that HF treatment released fresh, soluble, probably microbial, biomass in addition to carbohydrates. Net changes ofthe bulk chemical composition oforganic matter were small for most soils, size fractions and plant material, but not for samples containing little organic matter, or those rich in easily soluble organic matter associated with iron oxides, such as Podzol B horizons.


This paper describes the novel treatment for a patient who presented with a massive puerperal spontaneous onset retroperitoneal haematoma (RH) following a normal vaginal delivery. Fortunately, our patient was managed conservatively with the input from an obstetrician, from radiologists, vascular surgeons, general surgeons and from gynaecologists. The aetiology remains unclear, although the traction and damage of pelvic veins during the second stage cannot be completely ruled out.


Potential output is a notoriously elusive concept. It leaves some freedom for ‡exible in‡ation targeting central banks to conduct policy in ways that are observationally equivalent to a regime in which the output target of the central bank changes over time, and about which the public is not fully informed. With rational expectations this haziness forces the CB to take into consideration the impact of its current policy choices on future in‡ationary expectations even under discretion, limiting the ability of the bank to stabilize output and in‡ation around their respective targets. The paper demonstrates those claims in a version of the Clarida, Gali and Gertler (1999) forward looking economy in which the public is not fully informed about the moving output


A 53 year old male presented with a type I acute aortic dissection managed surgically, with placement of a tube graft and aortic valve re-suspension procedure. We present a complication associated with the adjunct cerebral protection employed, in the form of an acute cold injury in the right occipital region secondary to packing the head in ice.


PBL has become a popular topic in educational research studies. Several studies examine the effect of PBL toward students' mathematical connection abilities. A total of 8 articles qualified for inclusion. This study analyzed them using Meta Analysis with the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) application by selecting the Hedge's equation to determine its effect size and bias publication was assessed by the funnel plot, and Rosenthal's fail-safe N (FSN) test. Based on the analysis result, the overall effect size is 0.797 according to random-effect model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). It was classified as a moderate level. The findings of the study showed that the overall implementation of PBL had a larger positive effect significantly compared to conventional learning on the students' mathematical connection's ability. Because, in the implementation of the PBL model, students are faced with problems that are closely related to everyday life. This shows that mathematical connection ability is needed one of which is the aspects of the connection between mathematics and daily life. Doing this research can support the development of learning and can be an alternative learning model to improving students' mathematical connections ability.


A fundamental study of the hydropyrolysis of small coal particles at high pressures and short residence times of both solid and gas is underway to elucidate the chemical and physical rate processes governing delineated conditions favorable toward high yields of gas and light aromatic liquids. Our aim is to develop an understanding of short-contract-time hydropyrolysis based on studies which carefully isolate events occurring within single particles from effects due to gas phase reactions or slow quenching of the solid. A novel laboratory reactor has been fabricated which will provide short residence times with rapid heating. Detailed chemical and physical analyses of both the parent coal and the product distribution will be obtained as a function of extent of reaction and the process conditions. This data will then be analyzed in terms of a model for the coupling between the heat and mass transfer and chemical reactions within an individual particle. During the past quarter the reactor system was readied for kinetic studies of weight loss with PSOC 102, Pittsburgh seam HVA bituminous.


For assessing the rock applicability of accelerated tests for alkali-aggregate reactivity and the effect of aggregate particle size on determining alkali reactivity of concrete aggregates in accelerated tests, experimental studies on microstructure and expansion behaviors of Potsdam sandstone and a Norwegian quartzite were conducted in Concrete Prism Test and in various accelerated tests, i.e., Accelerated Mortar Bar Test, Chinese Autoclave Method, and Chinese Accelerated Mortar Bar Test. Results indicate that, in comparison with Concrete Prism Test results, the alkali expansivity of both rocks are generally underestimated in these accelerated tests. It is mainly attributed to the use of a large proportion of very fine aggregate particles in which the original microtexture characteristic of rocks was lost during sample preparation. The effects of microtexture and the particle size of aggregate on reasonable prediction of alkali expansivity of aggregates in concrete by accelerated tests were discussed.


Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) from ship observations are assimilated into the Mellor-Yamada level 2 one-dimensional model of the mixed layer using a nonlinear version of the Kalman filter, similar to the extended Kalman filter. The model is initialized from expendable bathythermograph (XBT) temperature profiles at a weather ship location and is driven using the ship's observed meteorological forcing. As the SSTs arrive, usually every 3 hours, they are blended with the model results to produce an analysis. At the end of 3 and 5 days, the analyses are compared with another XBT profile at the same location. The data assimilation improves on the model forecasts by giving greater accuracy in the 20 to 25 m near the surface, which is a large portion of the very shallow mixed layer in these data. No improvement was found below the mixed layer.


An imaging method for measurement of refractive-index profiles in graded-index POF preforms which are fabricated by interfacial-gel technique is proposed. It is a nondestructive measurement. The experimental results show that this method is simple and effective.


In a previous preprint (quant-ph/0012122) we introduced a ``contextual objectivity" formulation of quantum mechanics (QM). A central feature of this approach is to define the quantum state in physical rather than in mathematical terms, in such a way that it may be given an "objective reality". Here we use some ideas about the system dimensionality, taken from quant-ph/0101012, to propose a possible axiomatic approach to QM. In this approach the structure of QM appears as a direct consequence of the non-commutative character of the (classical geometrical) group of "knobs transformations", that relate between themselves the different positions of the measurement apparatus.


Biodiversity planners increasingly recognise the need for delivering action on a 'wider countryside', rather than on a purely site‐centred, basis. Ecological processes often take place at the 'landscape scale' and are not sufficiently accommodated within reserves, and a failure to reflect this in biodiversity planning has been one of the contributors to species and habitat decline. However, there are generally few powers to enforce compliance with spatial rural land‐use strategies, and biodiversity plans at the landscape scale must rely heavily on incentives, advice and goodwill. Not surprisingly, this results in a substantial gap between policy and implementation. One way of analysing the causes of, and potential solutions to, implementation failure is to examine the barriers to plan uptake. This paper addresses barriers to biodiversity action in three case‐study areas in terms of 'force fields', depicting the nature and strength of negative and positive influences on land managers and conservation staff. It is concluded that a clearer understanding of the nature of 'barriers' can lead to improved targeting on potential 'bridges' to a better future.


In a device and a method for monitoring the transit time of transported articles, in which the movement of a consignment is recorded by a monitoring system acceleration sensor of which the measured values are stored and delivered to an evaluation arrangement, a predetermined number of K frequency spectra are determined in each predetermined cycle period T in order to give predetermined number of N measured values in each case, the K frequency spectra are integrated, and the integrated frequency spectra are stored in a memory.


The exact soliton solutions of the quasi-one-dimensional nonlinear Schrodinger equation with a square-tanh potential is investigated.Both the dark soliton and the bright soliton for the repulsive interparticle interaction are found under the existence of the external confining potential.Their stability is examined using analytical method.


High repetition rate laser pulses amplified was of great significance. It was reported that the 320MHz mode-locking pulses were amplified by using a double-cladding ytterbium-doped fiber. The maximum output power is 1.2W and the gain is 16dB when the power of signal is 31mW and the launched pump power is 10W. The experiment demonstrated the self-oscillation was happen near the 1080nm when the fiber length is 9m.The experiment also demonstrated that the output power can be higher with increasing the pump power.


'Parasitology Division, 'Livestock Investigation Division, 'Veterinary ClinicFCAHPT, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. 'Mohamet Lawan College of Agriculture, PMB t427, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, 'Centro de Ensenanza, Investigaci60 y Extension en Ganaderia Tropical, FMVZ·UNAM, Km 5.5 Carretera Federal Tlapacoyan-Martinez de la Torre, C.P. 93600, Martinez de la Torre, Veracruz, Mexico. 'Corresponding author: Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. Phone: +2347035517715 INTRODUCTION Ticks and tick borne diseases are among the most important constraints to livestock productivity in tropical regions of Africa (Uilenberg, 1982). They cause serious morbidity and mortality in susceptible exotic cattle and their crosses, limiting the genetic improvement of indigenous breeds. Tick infestation causes anaemia, secondary infections such as dennatophilosis, as well as direct loss in weight gain and milk production (Okello Onen et aI., 1994). Ticks also serve as vectors of viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria and protozoans (Jongejan and Uilenberg, 2004; Lord, 2008). In Africa, traditional control methods of ticks are based on the use of organophosphates, synthetic pyreth roi ds, amitraz and macrocyclic lactones (Pegram et al., 1989). However, these compounds have been partially successful due to their higb cost, environmental pollution and development of resistance (Klafke et al., 2010; Fernandez-Salas et al., 2012a).


Parents' participation in the development of their children cognitive and communicative abilities has been analyzed in the last fifteen years especially from a social interactionist perspective. Recent studies indicate that children learn to narrate about their memories of past events in an organized manner, in collaboration with their parents. A number of authors suggest that the development of narrative forms allow the child to create meaning for their living experiences. The aim of this article is to revise the literature on the development of children's ability to narrate their personal experiences as well as on the role of the verbal support offered by the mother in the course of this development.


The paper deals with a simplified assessment of distribution of Specific Absorption Rate averaged over a whole body (SARWB) for the human exposure to near RFiD reader antennas. SARWB is computed for various distances between the antenna and the user featuring parallelepiped model of the human body. The frequencies of interest are $f = 100$ kHz, $f = 13.56$ MHz, $f = 915$ MHz and $f = 2.4$ GHz, and the reader is assumed to radiate EIRP of 4 We.i.r.p.. The obtained results show that for distances between 1 cm and 2 m from the reader antenna SARWB values are below the allowed limit of 0.4 W/kg for workers.


The involvement of Helicobacter pylori in the pathogenesis of extragastric diseases continues to be an interesting topic in the field of Helicobacter‐related pathology.


International standard setters' approach to the appropriate design of regulatory bank capital requirements is currently in a state of flux. We examine the potential effects of recent Basel III and proposed Basel IV changes on the future role of risk sensitivity and internal models in capital requirements, competitive advantages from and incentives for banks to attain IRB status, and the implications for the Australian mortgage market.


Many novel medical echography modalities, like super harmonic imaging (SHI), employ imaging of higher harmonics arising from nonlinear propagation. Design optimization of dedicated imaging probes for these modalities requires accurate computation of the higher harmonic beam profiles. The existing iterative nonlinear contrast source method can perform such simulations. With this method, the nonlinear term of the Westervelt equation is considered to represent a distributed contrast source in a linear background medium. The full transient nonlinear acoustic wave field follows from the Neumann iterative solution of the corresponding integral equation. Each iteration involves the spatiotemporal convolution of the background Green's function with an estimate of the contrast source, and appropriate filtering enables a discretization approaching two points per smallest wavelength or period. To further reduce the computational load and to anticipate extension of the method, in this presentation, the effect of line...


The purpose of this research was to explore whether qualitative research interviews impacted participants' views of their situations. Forty-five workers who reported handling well changes that affected their work were interviewed to explore their experiences of change, factors that helped and hindered their ability to handle change, and assess the impact of the interview. Using a pretest/posttest design, participants rated their view of themselves in their situations on a scale from 0 to 10 at the beginning and then the end of a semi-structured interview. Statistical and practical significance were found, suggesting the research interviews had an impact. Research and ethical implications for researchers are discussed.


Type Research which conducted is research of survey, executed with responder asked to get the needed information. This method apply to the standart thing in proffering of conducted by question at Company Of Jamb " Barokah" Tulungagung with title " Influence Of Attribute Product At Decision Of Purchasing Of Product Jamb ( Study At Company Of Jamb " Barokah" Tulungagung )
Target of this research is to know product attribute covering brand, quality of, tidiness, lable, complement service and each product guarantee have an effect on significant to decision of purchasing of jamb product and to know variable giving biggest contribution to decision of purchasing of jamb product. Usefulness of research which wishes to be reached specially to company that is expected to earn as supplementary information in order to make-up of the amount of sale pursuant to behavioral analysis all consumer in this case is to regarding product attribute. Analyzer which is used in this research that is by using logistics regression.
From result of solution and research which have been conducted by hence can be pulled by conclusion that product attribute covering brand, quality of, tidiness, lable, complement service and product guarantee have an effect on by significant to decision of purchasing of jamb product. Service complement variable give biggest contribution to decision of purchasing of jamb product.
Pursuant to result of conclusion from result of research, hence raised some suggestion that is as follows: expected by company to be more try to define product to consumer especially to regarding the quality of which on the market. The effort done in order to give information completely of excellences had by jamb product. In effort to give positive impression to existence of product and company expected by owner of company more paying attention various facility form which on the market by company in effort water down to consume product that is hitting service between and buyer through telephone media. To enthusiastic researcher hereinafter to continue this research is expected to completing him that is by using other variable which have an effect on to purchasing to jamb product covering price, distribution channel and promotion.


Rig-less well intervention operations, typically including well-works, stimulation and testing (S&T), in bp Block 61 in Oman, normally requires the utilization of diesel-operated engines, such as generators and pumps. This is due to the fact that the nature of these activities call for constant movement from one well site to the other, and hence ease of equipment moveability is paramount to ensure efficient mobilizations. However, the concern with diesel engines is that they generate carbon emissions. As a result, with bp Wells Oman team's vision to reduce dependency on diesel generators and ultimately reducing emissions, a mobile containerized solar-battery-diesel hybrid power system was implemented.
 The rig-less minicamp was identified as one of the main energy consumers in well intervention operations. Conventionally, the minicamp was powered by two diesel generators, one served as primary and the second as back up. Not only did this lead to carbon emissions, but it also created noise pollution for the personnel.
 To reduce the dependency on diesel generators in the minicamp, the containerized hybrid power system was introduced. On a single trailer, two containers housed both the solar panels and the battery system. The solar panels were designed in a sense where they could be easily unfolded and folded. This allowed the system to be not only more environmentally friendly, but also remain mobile to be suitable for remote well sites.
 The hybrid system was commissioned in December 2021. The cumulative emission savings since then is estimated to be up to 53,500 kg CO2eq. The combination of battery storage and solar panels enabled to completely shut down the diesel generators during daytime hours. Additionally, a great milestone was achieved in November 2022, where the electricity produced from solar, and battery covered 50% of the minicamp energy requirements. In addition to the environmental benefits, the system also provided operational benefits, as the containerized design allowed for easy transport and installation. During 2022, the system was mobilized at least 28 times and commissioned in every new wellsite on average in less than 6 hours. To add to that, the crew welfare was significantly enhanced as the noise produced by diesel generator was eliminated during the day-time hours.
 The system was complemented with remote real-time monitoring of its performance. This aided in optimizing its efficiency and identify potential issues. Several lessons learned and improvement opportunities were captured during the implementation of this system.
 The purpose of this paper is to detail how the team pushed the operational envelope to introduce this hybrid technology, and share the journey detailing the planning, design, implementation, lessons learned, scalability and improvement opportunities with the target of minimizing carbon emissions in wells operations.


The paper presents the results of strength, stereological and fractal tests and examinations carried out on concretes based on coarse basalt aggregates. The testing programme was set up based on the two-factor design with two repetitions of the test at the central point. The variables in the composition of concretes were water-cement (w/c) ratio in the range from 0.41 to 0.61 and amount of coarse aggregate in relation to fine aggregate in the range from 1.6 to 3.0.


Tocqueville's Democracy in America is, among other things, an argument about the social consequences of constitutions. He draws attention to various features of the democratic constitution he observed in the United States, such as universal suffrage, the system of elected officials, the jury system and freedom of association and of expression. He then goes on to discuss how these institutions have various consequences for certain social values, such as prosperity, happiness and religious faith. His goal is clearly to evaluate democracy, as compared to other arrangements such as despotism, monarchy or aristocracy. For this he needs a method for tracing the full social effect of democratic institutions. It will not do to look at local effects, partial effects, short-term effects or transitional effects. Rather we must see the problem as one of general equilibrium. We must compare democracy as a going concern with other regimes also considered as going concerns. Tocqueville is not generally considered an important figure in the development of social science methodology. He wrote as an historian, with the historian's peculiar brand of arrogance, which is to make the theories and methods employed as unobtrusive as possible. They serve as scaffolding, useful in construction but not to be left visible in the finished work. Hence posterity has tended to focus on Tocqueville's substantive views, notably his theory of liberty and equality as the main values of modern societies, sometimes in harness with one another, sometimes in conflict.


The aim of the verification study was to determine and analyse the temperatures of the rock mass, specific heat capacities and specific energies extracted from the rock mass by two types of vertical heat exchangers namely single U-tube heat exchanger (U1) and double U-tube heat exchanger (U2). The exchangers were used as lowpotential energy source for heat pumps. Design and operating parameters influencing the process of heat transfer between the rock mass and the heat-transfer fluid were also evaluated. The results demonstrated the advantages of using double U-tube heat exchanger U2 both in terms of its impact on the performance factor of the heat pump, and in terms of specific heat outputs and specific energies extracted from the rock mass. The average daily temperatures of the heat-transfer fluid in heat exchanger U2, specific heat outputs and specific energies extracted from the rock mass were higher by 4.5%, 26.8% and 25.6%, respectively than in the heat exchanger U1.


A medium-grained rock composed of clinopyroxene, othopyroxene, garnet, and olivine, apparently not previously found in the Colorado Plateau diatremes, was recently discovered at the Moses Rock dike, San Juan County, Utah. The occurrence of this mineral assemblage is of importance in the light of recent discussions proposing that dense xenoliths of these diatremes represent possible fragments of the upper mantle.


Starting from the rotationally invariant nonlinear equations of electroelasticity the initial derivative of the propagation velocity of elastic waves with respect to the magnitude of an electric biasing field is derived. This derivative is given by an expression which is linear in third‐order material constants. From propagation measurements of ultrasonic waves under the application of a constant electric field, values for the eight independent components of the nonlinear piezoelectric tensor eKABCD and for the eight independent components of the electrostriction tensor lKLAB for alpha quartz are obtained. While some of the electrostriction constants remain rather uncertain, the nonlinear piezoelectric constants are determined with good accuracy.


IT is generally acknowledged that, under pathological conditions, a diversion of venous blood may occur from the portal system to the caval systems. Perhaps the most universally recognized example of this is the development of the '' caput Medusae " around the umbilicus in cases of hepatic cirrhosis. This represents an anastomosis by which blood in the portal vein, unable to pass the liver, finds its way to the heart through one of the many communicating channels which exist between portal and systemic circulation: namely via veins in the round ligament of the liver to the abdominal wall, and thence to the superior and inferior caval systems through the epigastric veins. Another very important example, which has been fully discussed by the present author elsewhere,' occurs in cases of haemorrhoids. In this condition blood may flow at times from the portal system, via the haemorrhoidal plexuses, to the caval system, and when an individual suffering from haemorrhoids suddenly loses a pint or more of blood at stool, it is pwtd blood which is lost. If proctoscopy is performed on the same patient shortly afterwards the bleeding point may be easily visible, but the escape of blood will now be a mere trickle, for the patient is lying down and relaxed, and the hindrance (straining at stool) to the normal return of the portal blood is no longer operative. In the author's experience, patients with a varicocele have always large haemorrhoidal varices, and it seems likely that in these cases an enlargement has occurred of normal communications between the pampiniform plexus and the pudendal plexus' in the pelvis. The conception of the tributaries of the internal iliac vein as forming a plexus is not common among English writers; but its constitution and extent may be understood from the following description written by M. E. Paul, in his translation of Toldt's Atlas of Anatomy : ' I Vesical, Prostatic and Pudendal Venous


This work investigates the effects of interlayer hybrid fiber dispersion on the impact response of carbon-flax epoxy hybrid laminates at low carbon volume fractions, and benchmarks the mechanical performance enhancement against the non-hybrid flax epoxy. Five hybrid laminate stacking sequences with similar carbon-to-flax weight ratio were fabricated and subjected to low-velocity impact at three different energy values, generating non-perforated and perforated damage states. A virtual drop-weight impact test that models intralaminar failure based on continuum damage mechanics approach, and delamination using cohesive elements, was also implemented to evaluate the material behavior and damage development in the composites. Simulation results were then verified against experimental data. Results suggested that positioning stiffer carbon plies at the impact face does not necessarily lead to enhancement of the hybrid's impact properties. On the contrary, flax plies at the impacted side lead to significant improvement in impact resistance compared to the non-hybrid flax composite with similar thickness. Results of finite element analysis showed that carbon plies play a significant role in the hybrid laminate's energy absorption characteristics due to lower failure strain.


Abstract Background Erdheim‐Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non‐Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with ECD harboring a BRAF V600E mutation. Successful treatment has also been reported with MEK‐targeted therapies, likely because of the fact that BRAF mutant–negative patients harbor MEK pathway alterations. In our Rare Tumor Clinic, we noted that these patients have frequent drug‐related toxicity, consistent with previous reports indicating the need to markedly lower doses of interferon‐alpha when that agent is used in these patients. Patients and Methods We performed a review of ten patients with ECD seen at the Rare Tumor Clinic at University of California San Diego receiving 16 regimens of targeted BRAF, MEK, or combined therapies. Results The median age of the ten patients with ECD was 53 years (range, 29–77); seven were men. The median dose percentage (percent of FDA‐approved dose) tolerated was 25% (range, 25%–50%). The most common clinically significant adverse effects resulting in dose adjustments of targeted therapies were rash, arthralgias, and uveitis. Renal toxicity and congestive heart failure were seen in one patient each. In spite of these issues, eight of ten patients (80%) achieved a partial remission on therapy. Discussion Patients with ECD appear to require substantially reduced doses of BRAF and MEK inhibitors but are responsive to these lower doses.


Altered state of consciousness is a consequence of quantum change which is presented by photons. There is not exist adequate theory, to describe this phenomenon. Linearized single photon Hamiltonian is used for the analysis of its features in coordinate systems. It can be concluded that photon behavior is equally determined by its translation characteristics (impulse components) and its rotation characteristics expressed by way of spin operators.


Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and morbidity among individuals under 45 years old, worldwide. It is unknown why patients with similar extent of injury, similar care, and similar demographic factors have different recovery outcomes. Previous studies using animal models have identified robust DNA methylation changes post-TBI. This project aims to detect CpGs whose methylation levels associate with TBI patients' recovery outcomes in human subjects.
Methods: We obtained DNA methylation profiles of cerebrospinal fluid samples collected at three different time points, first or second day, third or fourth day, and fifth or sixth day post-TBI from 120 severe TBI patients. Measures of recovery were collected including Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), Disability Rating Scale (DRS), Neurological Rating Scale (NRS), Anxiety (ANX), Depression (DEP), and Deiner Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) at third month, sixth month, twelfth month, and twenty-fourth month post-TBI, as well as covariates such as age, gender, BMI, and smoking. We dichotomized the third-month GOS to create a binary variable, which is the first phenotype used in the regression model. We also clustered the patients into poor recovery group and good recovery group based on the last available GOS, DRS, NRS, ANX, DEP, SWLS records, which is the second recovery phenotype we analyzed. After quality control and methylation data normalization, we used a linear regression model with empirical Bayes moderation to assess the association between DNA methylation at 307,187 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites and two recovery phenotypes with adjustment for age, gender, and surrogate variables.
Result: No significant associations between CpG methylation and recovery outcomes were observed at the genome-wide threshold for statistical significance (2.4 x 10-7). 24 CpGs were suggestively associated with TBI recovery at p-value less than 1 x 10-5. Most of these were located in/near genes which are associated with neurological phenotypes.
Public Health Significance: This pilot project provides a framework for a proposal to collect a larger dataset with higher power to detect potential genes and pathways related to methylation change post-TBI, and has the potential to develop novel interventions or improve the efficacy of existing interventions.


FLIR technology continues to expand at a near exponential rate. Even with the rapidly changing FLIR technology the ways in which we evaluate these imagers in the lab have in some ways changed very little from the early days. The history of FLIR testing has had its earliest roots from the image intensifier and television community and a tri-service group put together in the early 1970s as a means of developing a standard set of tests that could be used to quantify an IR imager. This paper will chronicle the people and testing techniques used throughout the history of the development of the FLIR from the infancy stages of FLIR testing to the testing methods of today.


Introduction: CD20-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHL); however, a significant proportion of patients (pts) present with refractory disease or will experience relapse. GEN3013 (DuoBody®-CD3×CD20) is the first subcutaneously administered IgG1 bispecific antibody (bsAb) that targets the T-cell surface antigen CD3 and the B-cell surface antigen CD20, triggering T-cell-mediated killing of B cells. In vitro, GEN3013 efficiently activates and induces cytotoxic activity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the presence of B cells (Hiemstra et al. Blood 2018), and results in long-lasting depletion of B cells in cynomolgus monkeys. Subcutaneous (SC) GEN3013 in cynomolgus monkeys resulted in lower plasma cytokine levels, and similar bioavailability and B-cell depletion, compared with intravenous administration. GEN3013 has higher potency in vitro than most other CD3×CD20 bsAbs in clinical development (Hiemstra et al. HemaSphere 2019). SC GEN3013 in pts with B-NHL is being evaluated in a first-in-human, Phase 1/2 trial (NCT03625037), which comprises a dose-escalation part and a dose-expansion part. Here we report preliminary dose-escalation data.
 Methods: Pts with CD20+ B-NHL with relapsed, progressive, or refractory disease following anti-CD20 mAb treatment, and ECOG PS 0-2 were included. During dose escalation, pts received SC GEN3013 flat dose in 28-day cycles (q1w: cycle 1-2; q2w: cycle 3-6; q4w thereafter) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was mitigated with the use of a priming dose and premedication with corticosteroids, antihistamines, and antipyretics. Primary endpoints were adverse events (AEs) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity (anti-drug antibodies [ADA]), pharmacodynamics (PD) (cytokine measures; laboratory parameters), and anti-tumor activity (tumor size reduction; objective and best response).
 Results: At data cut-off (June 28, 2019), 18 pts were enrolled into the dose-escalation part of the trial, with safety data available for pts receiving doses starting at 4 µg. Most pts had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL; n=14) and were heavily pre-treated; 10 pts had received ≥3 prior lines of therapy (overall median [range]: 3 [1-11]). The median age was 58.5 years (range: 21-80), and 13 pts were male. At a median follow-up of 1.9 months, pts received a median of 5 doses (range: 1-14); treatment is ongoing in 6 pts. Twelve pts discontinued treatment due to progressive disease. Six pts died (2 during treatment, 4 during survival follow-up), all due to disease progression and unrelated to treatment. The most common (n≥5) treatment-emergent AEs were pyrexia (n=8), local injection-site reactions (n=7), diarrhea (n=5), fatigue (n=5), and increased aspartate aminotransferase (n=5). The most common Grade (G) 3/4 AEs were anemia (n=3) and neutropenia (n=3). Despite increasing GEN3013 doses, all CRS events were non-severe (initial observation: 3/8 pts, G1: n=1, G2: n=2; following modification of premedication plan [corticosteroids for 3 days]: 6/10 pts, G1: n=4, G2: n=2). Increases in peripheral cytokine (IL6, IL8, IL10, IFNγ, TNFα) concentrations after GEN3013 dosing correlated with clinical symptoms of CRS in most pts. No pts had tumor lysis syndrome or neurological symptoms. No DLTs were observed. GEN3013 PK profiles reflect SC dosing; Cmax occurred 2-4 days after dosing. No ADAs were detected. PD effects following GEN3013 dosing were observed at dose levels as low as 40 µg and included rapid, complete depletion of circulating B cells (if present after prior anti-CD20 therapy) and peripheral T-cell activation and expansion. The first evidence of clinical activity was observed at a dose level of 120 µg, with complete metabolic response observed in a pt with DLBCL.
 Conclusions: Subcutaneously administered GEN3013, a potent CD3×CD20 bsAb, shows good tolerability and early evidence of clinical activity at low dose levels in heavily pretreated pts with relapsed or refractory B-NHL. All CRS events were non-severe and did not lead to discontinuation. No DLTs were observed. Dose escalation is ongoing; updated data will be presented. Dose expansion will begin upon determining the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) (NCT03625037).

 Lugtenburg: Janssen Cilag: Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genmab: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Mous:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Sandoz: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria; MSD: Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Clausen:Abbvie: Other: Travel grant to attend ASH 2019. Johnson:Boehringer Ingelheim: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Epizyme: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Genmab: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Rule:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sunesis: Consultancy, Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Napp: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy. Oliveri:Genmab: Employment, Equity Ownership. DeMarco:Genmab: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hiemstra:Genmab: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Warrants. Chen:Genmab: Employment. Azaryan:Genmab: Employment. Gupta:Genmab: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ahmadi:Genmab Inc: Employment, Other: stock and/or warrants. Hutchings:Incyte: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Genmab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding.


This paper examines how competition in the transatlantic aviation market has evolved over the last decade and evaluates the effects of Open Skies agreements on service levels in specific U.S. and European markets. The authors route analysis reveals that, in aggregate since 2000, transatlantic routes have seen an increase in number of competitors. U.S. carriers have gained a disproportionate share of new transatlantic service, leveraging the network effects of flying from their hubs. In the analysis of the effects of Open Skies between European countries and the U.S., the authors find that the agreements have resulted in both increases and decreases in service levels. Of the 22 European countries with U.S. Open Skies agreements in place by 2007, only seven demonstrated overall increases in service levels while six demonstrated overall reductions. Five countries saw no significant change and the remaining four have yet to receive direct transatlantic service, suggesting that liberalization alone does not oblige service level increases.


The invention relates to a method for detecting a direction change of a vehicle using a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a resultant of Radimpulssignalen speed information according to the following steps: - determine the stoppage of the vehicle from the speed information; - determine the associated longitudinal acceleration value when the vehicle and deposited as an acceleration reference value; - a predetermined threshold speed is reached after the standstill, the direction of travel of the vehicle is determined from the relative acceleration to the reference value the current longitudinal acceleration signal. The invention also relates to a control module for implementing the method.


In order to evaluate the effects of different organic and chemical fertilizers on yield, yield components and seed oil content of sesame an experiment was conducted in a split plot layout based on randomized complete block design with four replications at Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in year 2006. Four types of fertilizer, including chemical fertilizer, cow manure, municipal compost and no fertilizer (control) were allocated as main plots and three sesame cultivars (two local varieties of Kalat and Esfarayen, and Oltan cultivar) were used as sub plots. The results showed that fertilizer treatments had significant effect (P<0/05) on number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant and biological, grain and oil yield. Grain yield increased by fertilizer application compared to no fertilizer, the highest yield (1518 kg/ha) was obtained in chemical fertilizer treatment. In addition, grain yield in manure (1418 kg/ha) and compost (1259 kg/ha) treatments, was significantly higher than control (1078 kg/ha) treatment. Plant height, 1000 seeds weight, number of seed per capsule, and oil percentage were not affected by fertilizer treatments. Effect of cultivar was significant on all studied traits. Esfarayen variety was the tallest (122 cm) and had the greatest number of capsules per plant (94 capsules) compared with two other cultivars. Kalat variety had the highest 1000 seeds weight (3.50 g), grain yield (1533 kg/ha) and oil percentage (52.03%) compared with two other cultivars. Highest oil yield was obtained in Kalat cultivar with chemical fertilizer treatment.


Simple Summary No stockperson or producer of lamb wants or likes to euthanase their young animals (neonates). At present, there are few reliable methods of achieving a humane dispatch of a neonate lamb should it be required. In the United Kingdom, the main method used in these cases is manually impacting the head by swinging the animal against a hard surface or hitting the animal with a hard object such as a hammer. This paper examines the use of a blank cartridge powered device to stun-kill neonate lambs immediately (i.e., before the animal can feel the application). Using this method, a suitable application point and power of cartridge has been determined, providing the stockperson with a reliable and repeatable single application method for euthanasing young lambs without the animal feeling any pain, as the device produces brain death faster than the nerve impulse can travel to the brain. This will improve animal welfare on-farm in these circumstances. Abstract A non-penetrating captive bolt device, powered by a 1-grain 0.22″ cartridge delivering a calculated kinetic energy of 47 Joules was tested as a euthanasia method on 200 neonate lambs (Ovis aries) of 4.464 kg (SD (Standard deviation) ± 1.056) mean dead weight, to assess effectiveness and shot position. Every lamb (n = 200) was effectively stunned when the weapon was applied powered by a brown, 1-grain cartridge but 10/200 (5%) of the lambs displayed rhythmic or agonal breathing and were subsequently euthanased using euthatal (Merial, UK, GTIN: 03661103015550). Evaluation of the method was conducted using behavioural indicators of brain dysfunction followed by post-mortem examination of the heads. A second trial was conducted using a higher velocity 1.25-grain cartridge and a specific shot position on 48 lambs (mean dead weight = 6.21 kg, SD ± 1.24) averaging 5 days old. One hundred percent of the lambs in the second trial were immediately stun-killed. Given this complete kill rate and the sample size of the study, the study provides a statistical 95% confidence interval of 92.6% to 100%. The use of the Accles & Shelvoke "CASH" Small Animal Tool (Birmingham, UK) can therefore be recommended for the euthanasia of neonate lambs with a 1.25-grain cartridge and a specific shooting position.


Abstract Understanding electronic structures is important in order to interpret and to design the chemical and physical properties of solid-state materials. Among those materials, tellurides have attracted an enormous interest, because several representatives of this family are at the cutting edge of basic research and technologies. Despite this relevance of tellurides with regard to the design of materials, the interpretations of their electronic structures have remained challenging to date. For instance, most recent research on tellurides, which primarily comprise post-transition elements, revealed a remarkable electronic state, while the distribution of the valence electrons in tellurides comprising group-I/II elements could be related to the structural features by applying the Zintl-Klemm-Busmann concept. In the cases of tellurides containing transition metals the applications of the aforementioned idea should be handled with care, as such tellurides typically show characteristics of polar intermetallics rather than Zintl phases. And yet, how may the electronic structure look like for a telluride that consists of a transition metal behaving like a p metal? To answer this question, we examined the electronic structure for the quaternary RbTbCdTe3 and provide a brief report on the crystal structures of the isostructural compounds RbErZnTe3 and RbTbCdTe3, whose crystal structures have been determined by means of X-ray diffraction experiments for the very first time.


the purpose of this paper is to study how to cultivate a university teacher with noble morality, loyal and dedicated to education, rigorous scholarship, and teach by personal example as well as verbal instruction, then he is able to shoulder the historic mission of" Morality Fostering and Talents Cultivating". We employed inductive and deductive method, and based on the author's work experience of many years in the college personnel department and the research of relevant theories. First of all, we studied some strengthening teacher construction way of improving training mechanism, promoting team building, optimizing the evaluation system and highlighting the humane care. Then, we proposed a scientific strategy for training distinguished teachers, including implementation of the training project of the outstanding teachers and focusing on the construction of teaching successors for quality courses.


Apoptotic cell clearance (efferocytosis), a process essential for organismal homeostasis, is performed by phagocytes that inhabit a wide range of environments, including physiologic hypoxia. Here, we find macrophages, the predominant tissue-resident phagocyte, display enhanced efferocytosis under prolonged (chronic) physiological hypoxia, characterized by increased internalization and accelerated degradation of apoptotic cells. Analysis of mRNA and protein programs revealed that chronic physiological hypoxia induces two distinct but complimentary states in macrophages. The first, 'primed' state consists of concomitant induction of transcriptional and translational programs broadly associated with metabolism in apoptotic cell-naïve macrophages that persist during efferocytosis. The second, 'poised' state consists of transcription, but not translation, of phagocyte function programs in apoptotic cell-naïve macrophages that are subsequently translated during efferocytosis. Importantly, we discovered that both states are necessary for enhanced continual efferocytosis. Mechanistically, we find that one such 'primed' state consists of the efficient flux of glucose into a noncanonical pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) loop, whereby PPP-derived intermediates cycle back through the PPP to enhance production of NADPH. Furthermore, we found that PPP-derived NADPH directly supports enhanced continual efferocytosis under chronic physiological hypoxia via its role in phagolysosomal maturation and maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. Thus, macrophages residing under chronic physiological hypoxia adopt states that both support cell fitness and ensure ability to perform essential homeostatic functions rapidly and safely. Highlights - Macrophages residing in chronic physiological hypoxia have enhanced apoptotic cell uptake and degradation - Chronic physiological hypoxia induces both primed and poised states in macrophages - Both primed and poised state programs directly support enhanced continual efferocytosis - A noncanonical PPP loop, a unique primed state, directly supports enhanced efferocytosis and maintains redox homeostasis


Evaluation of carbon monoxide exposures during rescue operations using personal watercraft Robert E. McCleery Alberto Garcia The HHE Program evaluated carbon monoxide (CO) exposures during rescue operations involving personal watercraft. CO concentrations were measured during simulated surf rescues using two personal watercrafts. Some fire fighters' peak CO exposures were above occupational exposure limits. The highest CO levels were found when the personal watercraft was stationary or moving at slower speeds. Using a rescue board helped direct exhaust away from the personal watercraft, so the investigators recommended that rescue boards be required during responses and training. They also recommended that the employer develop a maintenance schedule for personal watercraft that follows the manufacturer's recommendations and consider replacing older personal watercraft with newer models that have emission controls. The final report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/2008-00143151.pdf


Methanol extract obtained from Lindera erythocarpa leaves was successively fractionated with n-hexane, ethylacetate, n-butanol, and . From ethylacetate fraction, an active fraction was isolated through repeated silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization, and was identified as a stereoisomer complex of methyllucidone by MS and MMR analyses. The complex showed 85% antifungal activity at 50 against the disease wheat leaf rust.


This paper analyses the mechanism through which the financial system influence the service industry in a country or area.The entire service industry is categorized as finance and non-finance sectors,and the finance sector's development is measured by its scale and efficiency.Then,a production function of non-finance sector including the finance sector's efficiency is constructed.Based on the established two-sector model,the impetus function and spillover effects of financial development on the increase of service industry are investigated.To validate this model,the panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2002 to 2009 has been utilized for empirical testing.


The ``dark‐sheath'' region in plasmoidal discharges is known to be a high field region, and measurements of the relative emission rates from molecular oxygen ions and neutral oxygen atoms show that only the intensity of the molecular ion lines drop sharply in the ``dark‐sheath.'' It is proposed that the dark‐sheath region occurs because the lifetimes of the excited states of the molecular ions are long enough to permit an appreciable fraction of newly created ions to be swept away by the static electric field prior to radiative de‐excitation.


Recent developments, results, and perspectives arising from double beta decay experiments at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) of the INFN by using HPGe detectors and crystal scintillators and by exploiting various approaches and different isotopes are summarized. The measurements here presented have been performed in the experimental set-ups of the DAMA collaboration. These setups are optimized for low-background studies and operate deep underground at LNGS. The presented results are of significant value to the field, and the sensitivity achieved for some of the considered isotopes is one of the best available to date.


Tsunagawa T, Arai T. Migratory history of the freshwater goby Rhinogobius sp. CB in Japan. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2011: 20: 33–41. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Abstract –  The migratory histories of Rhinogobius sp. CB collected from 32 locations connected to the sea were studied by examining the strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in the otoliths using X-ray electron microprobe (EPMA) analysis. The Sr and Ca contents in the riverine water were also determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. The Sr:Ca ratios in the riverine waters were highly different among rivers and correlated with those in the otolith outer region corresponding to the river life period. Consequently, almost all samples (159 of 160 individuals) showed a typical amphidromous life history, with one individual showing a landlocked life history. These results suggest that the clear differences of migration history in population or locality were not found in Rhinogobius sp. CB. Therefore, it was thought that Rhinogobius sp. CB most commonly had an amphidromous life history.


Cell voltage equalization is essential in a battery pack to guarantee high performance, safety and extend the lifetime by eliminating the charge unbalancing problem. Many conventional charge balancing systems have been designed and developed to solve this problem. Besides this, there are some problems still exist: switching power loss and longer charge balancing time that lead to a less efficient charge balancing system. In this paper, resonant-boost LC converter base charge balancing system has been proposed. The switching power loss in the switching components is reduced by achieving zero current switching and the speed of balancing is substantially accelerated using a resonant boost converter. In the simulation, the result of charge balancing with current and voltage characteristics of a series connected cells has been shown. The result shows that the balancing process is substantially improved.


Effects of rolling speed, rolling interface heat exchange coefficient, initial temperature of rolled piece and reduction rate on temperature field of hot rolled 3003 aluminum alloy plate were studied by a three-dimensional finite element simulation method. The results show that with rolling speed increasing, the temperature of rolled piece increases, and the surface temperature difference also increases. Therefore, increasing rolling speed needs to increase the amount of emulsion injection. With the interface heat transfer coefficient becoming larger, temperature of rolled piece decreases gradually,and temperature difference of rolled piece surface reduces. Meanwhile, larger interface heat transfer coefficient can reduce the amount of emulsion injection. With the increase of the initial temperature of rolled piece,the temperature difference of rolled piece surface decreases. In order to make the rolled piece temperature distribution more uniform, the initial temperature of rolled piece can be moderately increased if conditions permit. With the increase of reduction ratio, the average temperature of the rolled piece in rolling zone increases. The variation amplitude of surface temperature of rolled piece is also enhanced.Therefore, with the increase of the reduction ratio, the amount of emulsion injection needs to be increased.


Technology integration models are theoretical constructs that guide researchers, educators, and other stakeholders in conceptualizing the messy, complex, and unstructured phenomenon of technology integration. Building on critiques and theoretical work in this area, the authors report on their analysis of the needs, benefits, and limitations of technology integration models in teacher preparation and propose a new model: PICRAT. PIC (passive, interactive, creative) refers to the student's relationship to a technology in a particular educational scenario. RAT (replacement, amplification, transformation) describes the impact of the technology on a teacher's previous practice. PICRAT can be a useful model for teaching technology integration, because it (a) is clear, compatible, and fruitful, (b) emphasizes technology as a means to an end, (c) balances parsimony and comprehensiveness, and (d) focuses on students.


The right to social security is recognised as a basic human right in a number of international instruments. While most nations give recognition to social security rights and generally enforce them within the dictates of domestic legislation to their nationals, the narrative is different for non-nationals, particularly the migrant worker. The article examines the measures that have been deployed at international and regional levels to protect the social security rights of migrant workers, with particular attention to the regular ones. It argues that a number of factors, including the doctrines of territoriality and nationality, account for the marginalisation of the migrant worker in the enforcement of these rights. Some migrant-specific international instruments and series of bilateral and multilateral agreements to overcome these perceived challenges are being hindered by the low number of ratifying countries and disparities in the design and level of development of schemes for specific branches of social security across countries. The article concludes that the social security right of the migrant worker would be enhanced if more countries ratify, domesticate and enforce relevant international instruments on the social security rights of the migrant worker and complement same by a much more coordinated bilateral and multilateral social security agreements.


A method for the extraction and quantification of synthetic drilling fluids in sediment, which could be adapted for different concentrations and types of synthetic fluid, was developed. Six different base fluids were investigated at four different concentrations (≤5, 100, 500 and 5000 µg g–1). The method used varied depending on the type and concentration of fluid in the sediment. Extraction of the base fluids was achieved by sonication in dichloromethane and methanol. The extract was purified using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Quantitative analysis was carried out by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection. Recoveries and limits of detection were calculated for each of the six synthetic fluids at each of the four concentration levels by spiking clean sediment. This method was used to monitor synthetic fluid concentrations in samples from sea-bed surveys and from a solid-phase test designed to assess the biodegradability of these compounds.


We previously reported that two nuclear factor 1‐like elements mediated the transcription of the rat p53 gene. A 40‐kDa protein was shown to bind to these elements, which was different from common NF1 family proteins. In this study, the biochemical properties of the 40‐kDa binding protein were investigated. The metal ion dependency of the protein was examined with various chelators; the protein was proved to require Mg2+ for maximum DNA‐binding activity. The binding protein was highly resistant to ionic strength and denaturant. The protein‐DNA complex was reduced at high NaCl concentration, but residual DNA‐binding activity remained. Even 2 M urea did not completely eliminate the formation of protein‐DNA complex. DNA‐binding activity of the protein was also stable at high temperature. Treatment of the protein‐DNA complex with increasing concentrations of proteinase K or trypsin demonstrated the existence of a protease‐resistant DNA‐bound core. These biochemical properties provide new insight into the 40‐kDa NF1‐like nuclear factor. J. Cell. Biochem. 78:1–7, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


The importance of the vaccination guides in canines. The aim of the present study was to carry out a systematic review (SR) on vaccination guidelines at the global levels, to evaluate vaccination conditions and veterinarians in the care of veterinary attention of animals in resolution 0121 in Pichincha. 2018. The SR was carried out with databases such as Scopus and Google Schoolar; The documents were analyzed using the PRISMA method, with a result of 9 vaccination guidelines for children. When analyzing the vaccination guidelines and the results of the surveys, it was concluded that they are similar in: time intervals between vaccines, the age for each vaccination and the vaccination protocol for individuals more than and less than 16 weeks; and it differed in: types of vaccines (essential, complementary and not recommended), revaccination and adverse effects. Finally, it is important that Ecuador has vaccination guidelines for canines because of the geographical difference and epidemiology of canine infectious diseases.


This study aimed to determine work motivation, work discipline, and job satisfaction for the performance of district service employees partially and simultaneously. This study used a sample of 40 respondents. The sampling technique used is jenuh sampling or census where the sampling technique that takes all members of the population as a sample. A questionnaire is an instrument used to collect data. The test data in this study are validity, reliability, multiple linear analysis of the f test, t test and coefficient of determination. The data is processed using SPSS version 16. The results of the study found tcount > ttable calculation (4,150 > 2,028) and a significant value of 0.000 < 0.05. This means that work motivation has a positive and significant effect on the performance of District Service employees. tcount work discipline calculation > ttabel (4,887 > 2,028) and a significant value of 0.000 < 0.05. This means that work discipline has a positive and significant effect on the performance of District Service employees. thitung job satisfaction known to > ttabel (2,328 > 2,028) and a significant value of 0.022 < 0.05. This means that job satisfaction has a positive and significant effect on the performance of District Service employees. It is proven by the results of the F test that the F-value of the Fcount > Ftabel (125,053 > 2.84) and a significant value of 0.000 < 0.05 means that motivation, discipline and work satisfaction together have a positive and significant influence on the performance of district office employees.


Objective To determine serum erythropoietin(EPO) levels in patients with thalassemia. Methods Serum EPO levels were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 42 thalassemic patients, including 8 patients with thalassemia major (TM) , 17 patients with thalassemia intermedia (TI) and 17 patients with hemoglobin H (HbH), and 25 normal controls were compared. Results The mean serum EPO levels were significantly higher than others study groups ,TM (91.53±3.19)pg/ml, TI( 82.53±11.63)pg/ml and HbH(50.83±22.70)pg/ml compared with control group(5.76±1.50)pg/ml(P0.001).The difference of the mean serum EPO levels was statistically insignificant between thalassemic children and adults (P0.05). Conclusion These data suggest that serum EPO levels may increase in thalassemic patients.


In gravure printing, excess ink is removed from a patterned plate or roll by wiping with a doctor blade, leaving a thin lubrication film in the nonpatterned area. Reduction of this lubrication film is critical for gravure printing of electronics, since the resulting residue can lower device performance or even catastrophically impact circuit yield. We report on experiments and quantitative analysis of lubrication films in a highly scaled gravure printing process. We investigate the effects of ink viscosity, wiping speed, loading force, blade stiffness and blade angle on the lubrication film, and further, use the resulting data to investigate the relevant lubrication regimes associated with wiping during gravure printing. Based on this analysis, we are able to posit the lubrication regime associated with wiping during gravure printing, provide insight into the ultimate limits of residue reduction, and, furthermore, are able to provide process guidelines and design rules to achieve these limits.


Cirrhosis is an advanced stage of fibrosis; it is a consequence of the progression of chronic liver disease, characterized by destruction of architecture and predisposes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cirrhosis cause complex metabolic changes that led to the development of alterations in bone metabolism known as hepatic osteodystrophy (HO). In general deterioration of bone mass and quality are due to multiple factors such as nutritional deficiencies, hypogonadism, use of medications, vitamin D deficiency, chronic inflammation and severity of the disease. The incidence of osteoporosis is twice as high in patients with chronic liver disease compared with the general population. The rates of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures are increased in chronic liver disease, especially in postmenopausal women. The availability of DXA bone densitometry (BMD-DXA) has led to an increase in the diagnosis of osteoporosis and low bone mass (LBM)in patients with liver disease. Moreover, vertebral morphometry (VMP) has a high diagnostic yield of asymptomatic vertebral fractures. This an update of the literature on bone disease in patient with chronic liver disease and recommendations for the management of patients with cirrhosis, focusing on bone health.


With seed materials of different peanut varieties,hydroponic experiment was carried out to study the relationship between seed shape and peanut seedlings growth.The results showed that the water absorption rate of seed was different among varieties.The water absorption of different varieties from more to less was:HY22,HY33 and HY20.The weight,length,width and thickness all had significant positive relationship.In other word,if the weight increased,the length width and thickness all increased.The change of length width and thickness was different with the weight increase among different varieties by regression analysis.Using principal components analysis and grey relational degree.the water absorption rate of HY20,HY33 and HY22all had a positive correlation with length/weight,width/weight and thickness/weight.HY20 had the maximum with width/weight.The largest water absorption was 1.49mg/min.Both HY33 and HY22had the maximum grey relational degree with length/weight.The largest water absorption was 1.61mg/min and 3.49mg/min respectively.


Rachel Levy is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. In addition to her work on fluid mechanics, she is the founder of the blog Grandma got STEM and an investigator on two NSF-funded education projects: one studying flipped classrooms and the other preparing teachers for mathematical modeling in the elementary grades. She is the incoming vice president for education for SIAM, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics and the outgoing Editor in Chief of SIURO, an online undergraduate research publication. She also is a recent winner of the Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member.


Olfactory sensenory neurons (OSNs) of the olfactory epithelium are located in the nasal cavity and project axons that synapse onto dendrites of second-order neurons within the olfactory bulb in neuropil structures termed glomeruli. Each OSN expresses one of the over 1000 odorant receptors (ORs) and are randomly dispersed across one of the four partially overlapping regions of the olfactory epithelium. OSNs expressing a single OR project their axons to typically two symmetrically bilateral glomeruli, one each on the medial and lateral surfaces of the olfactory bulb. The target choice of the OSN axons appears to depend on a combination of molecular determinants that first promote segregation of axons into broad regions of the olfactory bulb and then favor sorting and convergence into specific glomeruli. The role of ORs has clearly been demonstrated to play a significant role in axon sorting and targeting to the glomeruli, however other guidance molecules have clearly been shown to be required in the precise targeting of the OSN axons. During development of the mouse olfactory system, olfactory sensory axons first contact their terminal zone in the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb during late embryonic period and target to their appropriate glomeruli over the next few days. During this period, many axons can branch inappropriately into several glomeruli and overshoot the target layer and enter deeper layers of the olfactory bulb. The aberrant axonal projections are normally detected within the deeper layers of the bulb up to postnatal day 12. By the end of the second postnatal week, axon trajectories are refined and axons over-projections are seldom observed in adult animals. A detailed understanding of the process of axon over-projections enabled the identification of directional cues that navigate the outgrowing axons to their defined destination. There are two aims of the present thesis, first, to investigate the role of cell surface carbohydrates in the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying axon navigation in the developing olfactory system. To achieve this aim, transgenic mice expressing two glycosyltransferases (Mgat3 and 5) under the control of OMP promoter to drive expression in all mature OSNs have been generated. The results obtained from these transgenic mice showed that the transgene is expressed based on the ability to detect GFP reporter expression, however no apparent targeting defect in the olfactory pathway was observed from these transgenic mice. The purpose of the second study was twofold: 1) To examine the trajectory of olfactory sensory axons that penetrate past the glomerular layer in OMP-Zsgreen transgenic mice and 2) using in vitro cultures of the olfactory epithelium from OMP-Zsgreen mice which allowed visualization of mature OSN and their axons, together with extract prepared from inner layers of olfactory bulb to elucidate the impact of distinct molecular and cellular cues on defined OSN populations. Our results revealed that targeting of OSN axons was initially imprecise where extensive axons over-projection was observed in early postnatal animals. This targeting error was then refined later in development after the first two postnatal weeks and rarely observed in adult animals. The in vitro study using cultured OE explants to examine the effect of the extract prepared from the inner layers of the olfactory bulb on the axon outgrowth suggests the presence of a repellent activity in the inner layers of the olfactory bulb and that this inibition is stronger in P17.5 animals than P8.5 and P2.5 animals.


This paper discusses a problem that a half‐bridge circuit can generate, namely a false trigger by high‐speed switching transition. In general, a false trigger occurs by charging a gate–source capacitance because of high‐speed voltage transition and influx of current via a reverse transfer capacitance. Therefore, it is thought that the ratio of the input capacitance and the reverse transfer capacitance is important to check whether a false trigger occurs. However, we find another reason and propose a novel assumption. A novel false triggering mechanism appears by considering the source‐side parasitic inductance. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


In this paper we prove that with respect to every ergodic invariant measure the positive Lyapunov exponents for the billiard flow in an open billiard in $\R^d$ ($d\geq 3$) are all equal. We should stress that we do not make any particular assumptions about the shape and size of the components of our obstacles -- they are just assumed to be strictly convex and compact with $C^3$ boundaries and satisfy the so called no eclipse condition.


[1] Vallina et al. [2007] report a positive correlation between solar radiation (SR) and the net accumulation of dimethylsulfide (DMS) in the surface ocean. This is a valuable result. In trying now to understand the mechanism(s), it is important that SR is not treated as if it were a single biological forcing agent. [2] SR has three components: photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (400–700 nm), broadband heating, and ultraviolet radiation (UVR), itself divided into UVA (320– 400 nm) and UVB (280–320 nm). Each have different biological consequences for the production of DMS, our understanding of which are still incomplete and reliant on only a few species. However, from work to date, some indication of the overall sign of the forcing might be made for each. In the discussion below, (+) and ( ) indicate the probable sign of a correlation for the sea-air DMS flux with increased SR (vice versa for decreased SR).


The DRIVE II project ATT-ALERT has, over the past three years, developed a family of protocols for disseminating traffic and travel information. Building on the ALERT C protocol for the radio data system-traffic message channel (RDS-TMC) developed in DRIVE I, ATT-ALERT has addressed communications bearers and applications. In addition, considerable work has taken place preparing the ALERT C protocol for its passage through the standardisation process.


The paper presents the results of a scientific research using an original experimental setup dedicated for studying the influence of surface material and topography on tribological behavior. The experimental setup is provided with a safety clutch with two steel disks. On the frictional disk, permanently maintained, a ferodo ring is bonded. The other disk, with the material to be tested, was changed each time. Silicon microtextured wafers and chromium (non)textured thin layers deposited on silicon wafers were tested. The size and shape of the depressions were varied and their influence on the friction coefficient was studied. The angular speed of driver and driven shaft was measured with two non contact tachometers.


In recent years there has been a big buzz surrounding non-ablative energy delivery systems to treat superficial rhytids and skin sagging accompanying the aging face. Laser, light, radiofrequency, heating, just to name a few forms of energy, have been utilized for the sake of looking younger. Non-ablative skin tightening is associated with minimal downtime and reduced risk of adverse events allowing patients to resume their normal activities much quicker compared with rhytidectomy. However energy-based devices used in the cosmetic arena for facial rejuvenation have failed to replace ablative skin tightening and lifting due to their lack of efficacy, long-term satisfactory results, consistency and reliability. Whereas it is easier to volumize the face in a non-surgical manner (e.g. dermal fillers, sculptra) when it comes to skin tightening and lifting things start becoming pretty difficult as potentially effective treatments should simultaneously deal with loss of facial volume, gravity, reduction of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans and underlying soft tissue and skeleton changes secondary to the aging process. Numerous broadband light devices, monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency devices and various other energy-based devices are on the market promising reduction of wrinkles and skin sagging or, in bolder statements, results similar to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) lift. However it has been impossible, so far, to address all the above issues with the use of a single non-surgical device or modality. On September 30th, 2010 Dr Diane Duncan, an American plastic surgeon, gave a talk to BACD members along with a demonstration on a newly introduced therapeutic ultrasound device, Ulthera, which combines visualization beneath the skin's surface with the delivery of focused acoustic energy, which is selectively absorbed, causing rapid heating inflammation of the discreet thermal coagulation points on an order of 1mm. The company and the presenting surgeon claimed that the 'high amounts of delivered energy convert into remodelling of the dermis and deeper tissues' leading to significant and almost instant skin tightening and lifting without any serious adverse reactions except for mild to moderate discomfort. Too good to be true or is it actually the beginning of the application of ultrasound focused energy in dermatology and plastic surgery?


Rabbit epizootic enteropathy: a study of Clostridium perfringens infections role in the aetiopathogeny of this syndrome. In a first study, bacteriological, virological and parasitical examinations were carried out on intestinal samples coming from 12 rabbits dead of REE of 8 rabbitries. Only 17 bacterial species were isolated. In 10 of the 12 samples the anaerobic flora was dominated by Clostridium perfringens. To confirm a putative role of this bacteria in the aetiology of the REE, 62 strains of Cl perfringens coming from other rabbits dead of REE were toxinotyped. Broadly, 66 and 34% of strains were toxinotype A or C, respectively, the gene encoding for the enterotoxin being present in 73 % of the strains. In a second study, a research of alpha toxin in the digestive contents of 86 rabbits dead of digestive pathology was carried out. This toxin was detected in digestive contents of 31 animals, 22 died of REE and 9 of other pathologies. It missed digestive contents of 55 rabbits including only 10 died of REE (P < 0,0001 by the test of χ2).


Kosovo crisis is the first important crisis in the history of Russia-NATO relation since the end of the Cold War. This paper examines the development of the crisis and its impact on Russia-NATO bilateral relation first, and then explores the influence of it over the future development of the relation and European security. Kosovo crisis breaks the myth of establishing and institutionalizing an equal and cooperative partnership between Russia and NATO, and predicts the future adjustment and reform of the cooperation mechanism. While strengthening the dominant role of the United States and NATO in the establishment of a new European security system, the crisis also has Russia to face the challenge of being marginalized in world politics.