Ḥadīth Kurayb RA about him being sent by Umm al-Fadl from Madīnah to Sham, is one of the main chronicles of the Shāfi'i School regarding the outcomes of rukyah hilal which is applicable to the same maṭla' only. This ḥadīth is narrated in most ḥadīth books including Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Sunan alTirmidhī, Abū Dāwud, al-Nasā'ī, al-Bayhaqī, alDaruqutnī, Musnad Ahmad bin Ḥanbāl and Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah, the isnads are authentic and the narrators are thiqah. The reality today is that the appreciation of the ḥadīth is difficult to fulfil; although the distance from Madinah to Sham is only around 1055 kilometers it is considered ineffectual to employ the outcomes of rukyah in Sham. However, it is important to have a matching Gregorian date on the appearance of the Ramadan hilal so that the date stated in the ḥadīth could be confirmed. Thus, an analysis from the historical and astronomical perspective was conducted to determine the relevant Gregorian dates. The results of the historical analysis revealed that Kurayb's proclamation could not have occurred earlier than 19H/640M in view of the presence of Muawiyah in Sham and could not be later than 36H/657M as the last event involving Umm al-Fadl recorded by some historians occurred in that year. The results of the data analysis revealed that the Gregorian date in the ḥadīth that corresponded to the appearance of the crescent moon, April 4, 653M (Thursday) was used to determine the beginning of Ramadan 32H/653M based on the parameters of the position of the moon including age, altitude, elongation, arc of vision (ARCV) and width (W) all of which were larger at Sham than at Madīnah during the rukyah evening, hence it could have been sighted in Sham and not Madīnah. It is hoped that this study could provide a clearer understanding to the community on the background of events in the ḥadīth, hence, the proposal for the potential implementation of a more global hijri calendar can be accepted.


In this paper we are going to investigate the capabilities of local transmit algorithms in reducing the total number of transmissions that are required to achieve full release. In the active (dynamic) approach, home algorithms determine the status of each node "on-the-fly" based on home topology information and transmit state information. Using the active (dynamic) approach, it was recently shown that home broadcast algorithms can achieve a stable approximation factor to the optimum solution when location information is available, with help of location information can simplify the problem in static approach so we have to design a local transmit algorithm(DBR-Dynamic Broadcast Routing) in which the status of each node is decided "on-the-fly" and prove that the algorithm can achieve both full delivery and a constant approximation to the optimum solution.


This paper examines finitie element models for studying of the frictional heating of rolling stock wheel by wheel tread braking. The Main purpose of this study is to obtain the thermal stress distribution in wheel. CFD(Compter aided Fluid Dynamic)analysis is performed to obtained reliable heat convection coefficients in wheel surface. Heat convection coefficients from CFD analysis is compared with reference data. Various thermal loading case is investigated and fluctuating heat flux is calculated by considering actual operation condition of wheel. Finite element method is adopted to ged temperature distribution and thermal stress distribution in wheel with linear analysis.


Two designs for antenna-coupled Ni-NiO-Ni diodes are fabricated and tested for dual-band detection in the millimeter-wave (MMW), 94-GHz, and infrared (IR), 28.3-THz, frequencies. The detector noise, antenna receiving properties, and noise equivalent power (NEP) are measured. The simultaneous dual-band response is verified.


The aim of this study was to employ qualitative and quantitative survey methods in a concurrent mixed model design to assess stressors and strains in graduate assistants. The stressors most frequently reported qualitatively were work overload, interpersonal conflict, and organizational constraints; the most frequently reported psychological strains were frustration, anger, and anxiety. The groups formed by the qualitative incident reported (e.g., work overload) partially discriminated between those scoring high versus low on the corresponding stressor scale. Finally, participants who qualitatively reported a stressor indicated more physical symptoms on a quantitative scale. The results show support for the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in stress research, as the two types of measures provided different information about stressors and strains.


Abstract During the early years of the twentieth century, educators challenged the traditional organization and content of the high school curriculum, including the social studies. Nevertheless, many teachers continued their loyalty to an elitist curriculum until World War I, which served as a catalyst for rapid change in the teaching of history, geography, and current events. Indicators of that change are found in the methods and professional journals of that period, particularly The History Teacher's Magazine. Social studies in public schools after WWI was more like our current curriculum than like the history and geography taught prior to the War.


Since the invention of the telescope in the 1600's, astronomers have been striving for a clearer definition of the objects they observe. This has led to the development of larger and larger telescopes. As the telescope size increase, fainter objects became easier to see. The detail seen in the images improved as well, although not as much as it should have theoretically. The problem was that the turbulent layers of the atmosphere, caused by temperature distortions which led to random refractive index variations, altered the passage of light waves throught the atmosphere. This problem was seen in the visible, at the clearest viewing sites, for telescopes of more than about 10cm in diameter. Up to 10cm diameter, telescopes were not too affected by the atmospheric distortions [Readhead1988].


Parental engagement in learner's learning process is credited with benefits of improving children behaviour and development of moral values. This study explored parental engagement in the development of values in pupils through grade four social studies curriculum. Through the application of grounded theory research design, 25 parents were interviewed for this study. Data analysis was done inductively using grounded theory techniques through the constant comparative technique. The study revealed that parents engaged in a wide range of activities while developing children's values through grade four social studies curriculum. These activities included: Assigning duties to their children; Setting moral standards; Role modelling; conducting moral conversations; Provision of basic needs to deter social crimes; Correcting bad behaviour through punishment; and Offering praises for good behaviour. Further, parents utilised the institutions of: family, peer group, religious organisations and media in the development of children values. The study recommends for parental sensitization programs on their roles in the development of their children values. it also recommends for closer collaboration between parents and the institutions of: family, peer group, religious organisations and media in the development of children's values.


Bruce Mazlish & Ralph Buultjens, eds., Conceptualizing Global History Westview, 1993 New Global History Pr, January 2004Reviewed by Vitaliy SholokhovThis collection of works on globalization is worthwhile to revisit, or to ponder for the first time, if you are unfamiliar with it. Its essays reveal that the philosophical problems of globalization have been for twenty years a focus of the international scientific community, since global history is the only source for justifying the correctness of any scientific sociological theories. But global history requires a conceptualization, a formulation of its general ideas and concepts.The contents of the book are as follows:An Introduction to Global History, Bruce MazlishPart One: The Theory of Global History1 The Rounding of the Earth: Ecology and Global History, Neva R. Goodwin2 Global History: Historiographical Feasibility and Environmental Reality, Wolf Schafer3 Global History and the Third World, Ralph Buultjens4 From Universal History to Global History, Manfred Kossok5 Global History in a Postmodernist Era? Bruce MazlishPart Two: Applied Global History6 Migration and Its Enemies, Wang Gungwu7 A Globalizing Economy: Some Implications and Consequences, Richard J. Barnet and John Cavanagh8 Human Rights as Global Imperative, Louis Menand III9 The Globalization of Music: Expanding Spheres of Influence, John JoycePart Three: An Overview10 On the Prospect of Global History, Raymond GrewLet us consider briefly the contents of the collection. In the introduction to the collection editor Bruce Mazlish describes the time since 1993 as "the era of globalization." But he also writes that, as sociologists and historians know, there is nothing absolutely new. Well before 1993, scientists had identified industrial processes as global and gave them the definition of "industrial revolution." Travel around the globe had created a vision of the world as a "whole." Time zones for the globe were established in the nineteenth century. Already at that time it was possible to identify the early signs of a global era. However, new factors like international migration, ideas of universal human rights, the expansion of the transnational corporations, and environmental problems created by the scientific and technological revolution, have increased the intensity of the processes of globalization.Raymond Grew and Neva R. Goodwin consider questions of method. Should Global History be mainly descriptive or analytical? Answer: it is necessary to describe the experience of globalization, and the structures and processes must be obtained by analysis. If the states are no longer the object of historical study, who are now the principal actors of global history? Answer: international movements and transnational corporations. …


Islam and the Occident at the crossroads, This article resumes the essential information that was presented at a conference that took place at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies on May 24th, 2003. Chris Patten stood up against the theory of the « choc of the civilizations » and came back to the current problems in the Middle East. He also discussed Turkey's adhesion to the EU and the relationship between Europe and the Muslim world. The subtitles are from the editorial board.


Cannabinoids have been suggested as possessing immunomodulatory properties, and cannabinoid receptors are present on leucocytes. Clinically, there is some evidence that cannabinoids may be therapeutically useful in treating multiple sclerosis, which is generally believed to be an autoimmune condition. This paper reports data derived from the Cannabinoids in MS (CAMS) study, which was the largest randomized controlled trial yet conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of cannabinoids. We found no evidence for cannabinoid influence on serum levels of interferon (IFN)‐γ, interleukin (IL)‐10, IL‐12 or C‐reactive protein as measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in comparison to control values. Mitogenic stimulation experiments also failed to demonstrate any significant reduction in percentage of CD3+, IFN‐γ producing cells after exposure to cannabinoids in vivo, although numbers were small. Further work is needed to establish the functional significance of cannabinoid receptors on immune cells.


A method of weak magnetic fields measurement with nutation nuclear-magnetic magnetometer on the flowing liquid is considered. Technical requirements for various construction elements of magnetometer and flowing liquid parameters are defined both experimentally and theoretically. Operation of the measuring sensor has been tested experimentally with the use of the most optimal liquid medium. Further avenues for improvement of the construction and of accuracy characteristics of the developed magnetometer are formulated.


In the reconstruction of Shen-Ying Line asphalt pavement,through correct selection of asphalt pavement cold regeneration technology,and select cold regeneration mixture with different cement content according to site raw material to carry out unconfined compressive strength test so as to determine construction mix proportion,and constructed strictly with construction technique,and the construction finally meets the design requirements.


Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) are an important part of innate immunity involved in antimicrobial phagocyte functions such as chemotaxis, secretory degranulation, and respiratory burst. These phagocyte responses are observed in both acute and systemic chronic inflammation. Abundant or constant release of pro-inflammatory ligands leads to the pre-activation of phagocytes when subsequent stimulation induces more intense cellular response. Binding of the formyl peptide receptor with its agonist activates production of reactive oxygen species, due to triggering phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic subunits p47phox and p67phox followed by their translocation to the plasma membrane and assembly into the NADPH oxidase complex. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by an imbalance of immune processes and autoimmune responses against the own joint tissues. It is known that, granulocytes produce increased amounts of oxygen radicals in various pathologies, including rheumatoid arthritis. We suggest that such enhancement may be due to increased expression of formyl peptide receptors or components of the FPR/PKC/NOX2 signaling pathway. Our aim was to study the mRNA expression of fpr1/fpr2 genes and the FPR-dependent production of reactive oxygen species by isolated peripheral blood granulocytes from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods. The objects of the study were isolated peripheral blood granulocytes. We analyzed, respectively, 166 and 85 samples from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy donors. The production of reactive oxygen species was assessed using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. For FPR1 activation we used a distinct concentration of the formyl peptide fMLF: the response to it was completely inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with FPR1 antagonist N-t-boc-MLF. FPR2 activation was performed by synthetic peptide WKYMVM, a specific receptor agonist. In the patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we have revealed an increased level of spontaneous and phorbol ester-induced production of reactive oxygen species by isolated peripheral blood granulocytes, thus reflecting a pre-activated state of the phagocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. We have found the increased FPR1-mediated production of oxygen radicals and expression of mRNA of fpr1 gene in blood granulocytes of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Furthermore, the enhancement of oxidase function may be associated with constitutive activation of the FPR1/PKC/NOX2 pathway as shown by positive correlation between the processes. The production of reactive oxygen species induced by stimulation of the FPR2 receptor is also increased, but it cannot be directly attributed to overexpression of the receptor mRNA or PKC/NOX2 activation, and requires further study. Understanding the mechanisms of regulation of the FPR1 and FPR2 signaling cascades may reveal new targets for anti-rheumatoid therapy.


Addresses the variation of the raindrop size distribution (RDSD) through space. The importance of this feature lies in that it is one of the central quantities which a multiparameter weather radar determines in order to generate propagation and hydrological predictions. For a more precise estimation of propagation effects and rain intensity by polarimetric radars, it is important that the radar technique enables an independent estimate of the 'third parameter mu "' (RDSP shape) as well. Such an extension of the dual-polar technique, which uses accumulated differential propagation phase, derived from complex correlations, as the extra radar observable to effect a direct radar estimate of the mu parameter, is reported.


A microwave imaging system using a microwave radiation is supplied by a microwave source to image targets. The system includes an array of antenna elements that are to be programmed with a respective transmission coefficient in a position to direct the microwave illumination from a microwave source to a position on the target object out. The antenna elements are further configured to be programmed with a respective additional transfer coefficient in a position to receive a reflected microwave illumination reflected from the position on the target object, and to direct the reflected microwave illumination to a microwave receiver through. A processor is operable to measure an intensity of the reflected microwave illumination to determine a value of a pixel within an image of the target object. Multiple beams can be directed to the target object out to obtain corresponding pixel values for use in a building of the image by the processor.


Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancre- atography (ERCP) for pancreaticobiliary diseases in children. Methods Data of 9 patients younger than 14 years who underwent ERCP at between November 2004 and May 2010 were indentified through a computer database search. Therapeutic methods, success rate and procedure-related complications were evaluated. Results A total of 9 patients underwent 17 ERCP procedures under anesthesia, including 16 therapeutic and't diagriostic procedure. The success rate-was 94. l%,(16/17) an, d, the complication rate was 11.8% (2/17), including 1 mild panereatitis and 1 peri-panereatic infection. Conclusion ERCP. is an important. tool with high safety and efficacy for diagnosis and treatment of pancreatieobiliary diseases in children.

Key words:
Cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde ;  Child ;  Safety;  Efficacy


Based on the theory of dynamic cluster,a method is presented to appraise the fouling condition inside a marine heat exchanger.


Based on the limitation of analytic model, the virtual prototype of grab-trolley system for bridge-type grab ship unloader was given under the MSC.ADAMS environment. Equivalent modeling of wire rope was intensively invested, and the calculation of Young's modulus for wire rope was improved. Dynamics of grab-trolley system was simulated without grab-sway control, and the influence of loading and air resistance on grab sway angle was analyzed. Then, the reideal grab-sway curve was obtained by the simulated velocities and dynamics of trolley and grab,soitprovides the theoretical guidaoce for developing the control method of grab sway.


A case of pruritus and lichenification localized to a band area on the arm is reported. It is interpreted as a dermatomal pruritus due to C5‐C6 radiculitis caused by degenerative spine disease. This unusual case is compared to an other entity known as branchioradial pruritus.


This study assessed the impact of surgical, histopathologic and patient‐related factors on the risks of local and distant recurrence and overall survival for patients with stages I through IIIA nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) undergoing definitive resection with or without adjuvant chemotherapy.


Irrigation management has been one of the keys to achieve sustainability and marketability in agriculture, which is estimated to account for over 70% of global water use. The optimal use of water through irrigation is important for the evolution of agriculture. Many progressive growers make irrigation decisions using crop evapotranspiration (ETc). With the advent of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), lightweight sensors, such as thermal camera, can be mounted on the UAVs to take high-resolution images. Compared with satellite imagery, the spatial resolution of the UAV images can be at the centimeter level. Thus, in this article, the authors proposed a reliable individual tree-level irrigation inference system using a small UAV platform and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). A field study was conducted at the USDA-ARS Research Center in Parlier, California to train and test CNN models using images of the pomegranate trees. The pomegranate field was randomly designed into 16 equal blocks to test two irrigation levels, the low irrigation volume (35% and 50% of ETc) and high irrigation volume (75% and 100% of ETc), measured by a weighing lysimeter in the field. Results showed that the trained CNN model could successfully classify the individual tree using the thermal UAV imagery into the targeted irrigation levels. The overall prediction accuracy was around 87%, which showed a state-of-art performance and indicated that UAV thermal imagery could infer the irrigation levels at individual tree level.


The present invention is a system for providing a vacuum to the moving elements of the transport system, the vacuum chamber on the moving element for storing the vacuum; A vacuum source; Vacuum inlet is connected to a vacuum source for providing vacuum to the chamber; And in communication with the vacuum chamber, and relates to providing a vacuum system including a vacuum vent located on the movement element. A vacuum source is provided on the transportation system or to one weeks with it are provided on the moving element it can be engaged periodically with jingo chamber. If the vacuum source is provided on the moving element, the vacuum chamber may not be needed. In addition, a vacuum source may be driven by the electric energy and / or mechanical energy in various configurations.


A rapid, efficient, and reliable sample preparation method based on temperature-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was developed for simultaneous extraction of cobalt, copper, nickel, and zinc ions at a low level from high volume water samples. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate was used as a chelating agent. In the proposed method, the temperature of a high-volume aqueous phase containing the analytes and chelating agent was adjusted at an elevated temperature and then a mixture of a dispersive solvent and extraction solvent was rapidly injected into it. After placing the tube in an ice water bath, phase separation was performed by centrifugation and the enriched analytes in the sedimented phase were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Several variables possibly affecting the extraction efficiency, including the amount of the chelating agent, type and volume of the extraction and dispersive solvents, temperature, pH, salting out effect, and centrifugation rate and time, were investigated and optimized. Under optimum conditions, calibration graphs were linear in the range of 2.85–100 ng L−1. The method resulted in low limits of detection and quantification within the ranges of 0.89–1.82 ng L−1 and 2.85–5.20 ng L−1, respectively. Enrichment factors were in the range of 671–715. Relative standard deviations obtained for six repeated experiments (15 ng L−1) were less than 4%. The accuracy of the developed procedure was checked by analyzing NRCC-SLRS4 Riverine water, a certified reference material. Finally, the proposed method has been successfully applied for the simultaneous analysis of the selected analytes in environmental water samples.


Objective: Extravasation is an effect of a highly unexpected chemotherapy drug administration, because it will cost patients a long time of care, cost, pain and also body image disturbance. The signs of extravasation should also be very recognizable. Extravasation can also cause permanent skin damage. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a role of NaCl Compress Provision Against Extravasation Prevention In Chemotherapy Patients In Edelweis Room Ulin Hospital Banjarmasin. Method: This research is Descriptive. The sample consisted of 46 respondents in the patients using Purposive sampling technique in accordance with inclusion and excretion kretiria. Data were collected using an observation sheet. The data are then analyzed using the results of the percentage observation sheet. Result: The results showed the giving of NaCl compress to extravasation prevention on 46 respondents was very good. Judging from the percentage that 100% of patients who performed compress NaCl not seen signs of extravasation. NaCl compresses are proven to prevent extravasation. This is evident from the absence of signs of extravasation in patients undergoing chemotherapy, meaning that the administration of NaCl compresses is very well done in patients undergoing Chemotherapy in Edelweiss Room of Ulin Banjarmasin Hospital. Conclusion: The giving of NaCl compress is very good in the prevention of immediate extravasation at Ulin Hospital Banjarmasin.


Cross-linked carboxymethyl starch CMS was synthesized with cross-linked starch as raw material, sodium chloroacetate as etherification agent and sodium hydroxide as catalyst, and the structure of the product was characterized by FTIR, SEM and XRD. The optimum synthesis conditions of CMS were m (CSt): m (MCA) = 5:3, NaOH dosage 12 ml, reaction temperature 55 °C and reaction time 3 h. When the concentration of copper ion in the simulated water sample was 25 mg/L and the dosage of CMS was 2 g/L, the removal rate of copper ion was 96.0%, and the adsorption capacity of CMS was 15.4 mg/g.


Steep performance advancement is achieved in TIPS-pentacene OFETs by combined effect of polymer additive and SVA. Average and maximum mobility values rising from 0.20(±0.08) and 0.31 cm2/Vs for neat case to 1.32(±0.53) and 2.3 cm2/Vs for TIPS-pentacene:PS blend with 10 min of SVA. The performance enhancement can be associated with addition of polymer in the solution, which creates a fine quality semiconductor:dielectric interface and SVA collectively which enhances the degree of crystallinity of the active semiconductor layer.


The electrical energy is an integral utility not only in the in modern society, but also has become a basic need in the Indian rural culture too. In spite of the claim by central and state government that 80% of the rural population is facilitated by the electricity in India, still large portions is either facing a severe shortage or are not connected to grid system so far. The conventional energy sources are over stressed and the use of renewable energy sources is becoming technically and economically feasible due to advancement in technology. These renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and bio mass are creating an opportunity to develop an energy system, exclusively for a village to achieve the energy security. This paper presents a feasibility study of a village for energy security through the wind energy. A wind energy generation system is proposed which will address the minimum energy needs including for household and streetlighting in a village. The life cycle cost analysis of a proposed wind energy generation system for a village is done. The unit cost of electricity is obtained for four phases in analysis period of 20 years, and it is found that the same tunes with the existing ones. A sensitivity analysis is also carried out for different rate of interest and different plant load factors


In today's world, there is more qualitative research than quantitative research observed especially in social sciences. However, it is also observed that researchers are not fully equipped with doing qualitative research. The objective of this study is to describe how to do qualitative data analysis by way of computer programs and to introduce it to young researchers. Qualitative data analysis is the sum of procedures in which qualitative data are collected through data collection techniques such as observation and interview and are categorized by way of computers as wells as themes are discovered, and ultimately where the entire process is reported. The main objective in qualitative data analysis is to unearth the data waiting to be found in the social construct. In this process the researcher uses their own subjectivity and builds the social construct using inductive methodology. In the study, the question of how to do a more effective qualitative data analysis using computer programs is investigated and the focus is on introducing some computer programs to researchers.


Participation in organized youth sports and training for performance is occurring at increasingly younger ages in recent years. There are various sport preparation clinics as well as high-intensity group exercise programs currently available that specifically target young aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts. This has raised concern among parents, clinicians, coaches and other fitness professionals as to the competency of these groups as well as the potential negative implications of participating in such programs. The key question arises – how young is too young to safely engage in specialized physical training involving high-intensity weightlifting activities? There are a number of factors that must be considered to properly address this question such as chronological age, sex (gender), psychological maturity, current training age physical experience and the specific activities/programmatic stresses being prescribed. The term youth refers to children (approximately up to age 11 among girls and 13 among boys) and adolescents (approximately ages 12-18 among girls and 14-18 among boys). The term preadolescent refers to boys and girls who have not yet developed secondary sex characteristics.


Objective To establish the xenograft acute vascular rejection(AVR) model of guinea pig to rat discordant cardiac xenografts by depletion of complement with purified Chinese cobra venom factor(CVF). Methods In a cervical heterotopic cardiac transplantation model by Cuff technique, guinea pig donors and SD rat recipients were divided into three groups: group Ⅰ(n=30), unpretreated recipients as control; group Ⅱ(n=10), recipients pretreated with low dose of CVF(200 μg/kg); group Ⅲ(n=8), recipients pretreated with high dose of CVF(400 μg/kg). The survival time of xenograft was measured and histopathologic observation was carried out after the graft arrested. Results CVF therapy had significantly prolonged xenograft average survival time(P0 01). There was no significant difference between various dosages of CVF therapy(P0 05). The histological changes of hyperacute rejection(HAR) were shown in group Ⅰand those changes of AVR were shown in other two groups. The numbers of inflammatory cell infiltration in cardiac xenografts of group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ were more than those of group Ⅰ(P0 01), whereas the complement C 3 deposition on cardiac xenografts of group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ was less than those of groupⅠ(P0 01). Conclusion An appropriate dosage of purified CVF administration showed excellent effects to deplete complement C 3 in rats and can prevent guinea pig to rat discordant cardiac xenografts from HAR, prolong the survival time. A xenograft AVR model with the characteristic of a mass of inflammatory cell infiltration was thus established.


Growth correlations among axillary buds and young shoots in one-year-old apple trees were investigated. Darkening of every second bud for 3-5 days during bursting time resulted in the formation of mainly short shoots. Thinning of part of the buds caused a higher percentage of the remaining ones to form long shoots. High nutrition level favored the formation of long shoots. When no special treatment was given to the trees, the initial size of the buds played an important role in the determination of future shoot vigor. The medium-size and large buds, in most cases, showed an ability to accumulate more 32 PO 3- 4 per unit of dry weight than did the smaller ones. This indicates that the initial differences among the buds are amplified by a positive feedback mechanism. In horizontally placed trees, the buds on the lower side showed inhibited phosphate uptake. Different growth regulators applied in very small amounts, in a droplet of water to every second bud or shoot tip, markedly changed the correlative interrelations among the developing shoots. The development of vascular connections between the main axis and the lateral buds and shoots of different sizes was investigated.


In recent years, food safety has become an urgent problem to be solved, especially in China's dairy industry. After the 2008 Chinese milk scandal, how to rise again by green innovation is a very important issue. As a representative of China's dairy enterprises and with the enterprise positioning of "a milk manufacturing service provider that commits itself to human health", MengNiu Dairy has achieved "MengNiu speed" and "MengNiu miracle" attracting worldwide attention within ten years. Therefore, the green innovation strategy implemented by MengNiu Dairy is worthy of research. In this paper, MengNiu Dairy, the leading dairy enterprise in China, was taken as the research object, and the author mainly applied narrative research method to analyze the green innovation strategy implemented by MengNiu Dairy from all aspects, and summarized that through the combination of charity marketing and green innovation, MengNiu Dairy developed the system and model of sustainable strategy, which had farreaching significance in its development and adapting to the current environment at home and abroad. Green Innovation in the Absence of Social Trust: A Case Study of MengNiu Dairy


The Holarctic genus Piezura Rondani (Diptera, Fanniidae) is reviewed. Phylogenetic relationships among the species in this group, as well as the biogeography of these species, are discussed on the basis of a cladistic analysis. Piezura graminicola shanxiensis Xue, Wang and Wu, 1998 is redescribed and elevated to species rank based on comparison of its morphology and phylogenetic relationships. Syllegopterula flava Hsue, 1983 and its replacement name Thricops flavidus Xue, 1998 are treated as junior synonyms of Piezura graminicola (Zetterstedt, 1846).


Ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy (UVRRS) has the potential to become a sensitive, specific, versatile bioanalytical and biophysical technique for routine investigations of proteins, DNA, and their monomeric components, as well as a variety smaller, physiologically important aromatic molecules. The transition of UVRRS from a complex, specialized spectroscopic method to a common laboratory assay depends upon several developments, including a robust sample introduction method permitting routine, in situ analysis in standard laboratory environments. To this end, we recently reported the first fiber-optic probes suitable for deep-UV pulsed laser UVRRS. In this paper, we extend this work by demonstrating the applicability of such probes to studies of biochemical relevance, including investigations of the resonance enhancement of phosphotyrosine, thermal denaturation of RNase T1, and specific and non-specific protein binding. The advantages and disadvantages of the probes are discussed with reference to sample conditions and probe design considerations.


The purpose of this study is to describe the role of the Aqidah Akhlak teacher in improving the morals of students at MTs Al-Urwatul Wutsqo Jombang, to describe the morals of students at MTs Al-Urwatul Wutsqo Jombang, to describe the supporting and inhibiting factors for moral development at MTs Al-Urwatul Wutsqo Jombang. This type of research is qualitative research with data collection techniques using observation techniques, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Data analysis starts from data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The role of the teacher at MTs Al-urwatul wutsqo is the role of the moral creed teacher as a communicator, motivator and mentor. The communicator looks familiar to the students and the teacher. The motivator can be seen from every time the teacher always gives encouragement to do good, both ukrowi and worldly motivation in the form of praise. As a mentor, it can be seen that the teacher always reminds students, for example, if there is student misbehavior, the teacher must guide students in a good direction so that they do not deviate from Shari'a.'at-syar'adhere to Islam and motivate students not to do that again. Morals that appear are commendable morals. Examples of not exaggerating, good behavior, humble, knowledgeable, charitable, honest, true to promises, istiqamah, steadfast, courageous, patient, grateful. The supporting factors are the Madrasah environment, namely the pesantren, curriculum,. The inhibiting factors are the different backgrounds of students, the home environment of students, and the lack of awareness in students.


The post-crosslinking fiber was prepared by cross-linking PP-ST-DVB fiber with p-xylylenedichloride according to the friedel-crafts reaction and was given a series of synthesis tests.The effects of several important factors including reaction temperature,time,catalyst,and material ratio on the friedel-crafts reaction were investigated in detail and the optimal synthesis conditions of post-crosslinking fiber were obtained.Then,the post-crosslinking fiber was given a series of static adsorption tests for pyridine. The results showed that the post-crosslinking fiber has excellent adsorption capacities for pyridine and the adsorption equilibrium data can be well fitted by Freundlich model.The thermodynamic studies supported the conclusion that the mechanism of adsorption for pyridine on the post-crosslinking fiber is physical adsorption and lower temperature is favourable to the exothermic physisorption process.


Supporting Information ABSTRACT: Due to the synergic feature of individual components in hybrid (nano)biomaterials, their application in regenerative medicine has drawn signi fi cant attention. Aiming to address all the current challenges of aerogel as a potent sca ff old in bone tissue engineering application, we adopted a novel synthesis approach to synergistically improve the pore size regime and mechanical strength in the aerogel. The three-dimensional aerogel sca ff old in this study has been synthesized through a versatile one-pot aqueous-based sol − gel hybrid-ization/assembly of organosilane (tetraethyl orthosilicate) and silk fi broin (SF) biopolymer, followed by unidirectional freeze-casting of the as-prepared hybrid gel and supercritical drying. The developed ultralight silica-SF aerogel hybrids demonstrated a hierarchically organized porous structure with interesting honeycomb-shaped micromorphology and microstructural alignment (anisotro-py) in varied length scales. The average macropore size of the hybrid aerogel lied in ∼ 0.5 − 18 μ m and was systematically controlled with freeze-casting conditions. Together with high porosity (91 − 94%), high Young ' s modulus ( ∼ 4 − 7 MPa, >3 order of magnitude improvement compared to their pristine aerogel counterparts), and bone-type anisotropy in the mechanical compressive behavior, the silica-SF hybrid aerogel of this study acted as a very competent sca ff old for bone tissue formation. The results of in vitro assessments revealed that the silica-SF aerogel is not only cytocompatible and nonhemolytic but also acted as an open porous microenvironment to trigger osteoblast cell attachment, growth, and proliferation on its surface within 14 days of incubation. Moreover, to support the in vitro results, in vivo bone formation within the aerogel implant in the bone defect site was studied. The X-ray radiology and microcomputed tomography analyses con fi rmed that a signi fi cant new bone tissue density formed in the defect site within 25 days of implantation. Also, in vivo toxicology studies showed a zero-toxic impact of the aerogel implant on the blood biochemical and hematological parameters. Finally, the study clearly shows the potential of aerogel as a bioactive and osteoconductive open porous cellular matrix for a successful animal room 5 days before starting the experiments. The relative humidity of 60 ± 10% and a 12 h light/dark daily cycle were applied in the animal room. During the studies, standard polycarbonate stainless steel wire-topped cages were used for housing the animals, and free access to rat chow and water ad libitum were provided. The results are expressed as mean ± standard deviations (SD) of at least three independent sets of measurements. Statistical analysis was achieved by means of one-way and two-way analyses of variance with the level of signi fi cance set at probabilities of * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001, analyzed with GraphPad Prism 7


To investigate the effects of xylazine on pregnant goats, xylazlne induced changes in heart rate (HR}, arterial blood pressure (ABP) and arterial blood pH and gases in the mether and fetus, as well as changes in intrautcrine pressure {IUP) and uterine blood flew (UBF), were studied using a chronic preparation medel of pregnant goals. Intramuscular administration of xy]azine (O.2 mglkg b.w.) caused a marked decrease in HR and ABP of the mother, which remained significantiy reduced up to 120 min. In the fetus, a significant decreas ¢ in HR anci a significant increase in ABP were recerded after Dnly 5 rnin, Signifieant decreases of rnaternal arterial blood pH and oxygen partial pressure <Po!) were observed up to 120 and 30 min after the injection, respectively. Fetal arterial blood pH and Po2 also decreased, but these changes were milder and less persistcnt than those of the mother. Within 2 to S min after the administration of xylazine, IUP began to increase and remained high fer about 1S min. Thereafter, there was a frequent periodic increase in IUP. After S min, UBF decreased significantly and remained low up to 120 min. A fall in UBF was assoeiated with a rise in IUP. These findings suggesled that adrninistration of xylazine to pregnant goats results in adecrease in UBF artsing from the induetion of uterine contractions, a decrease in circu]ating blood volurne, hypoxem{a and acidosis in the mother. KEy woRDs/ pregnant goat, xylazine. J. Ven Med. Sei, Sg{3): 211-217, 1996 Xylazine is an a2-adrenoceptor agonist with analgcsic and sedative effects. It is widely used in yeterinary medicine, and for the preparation of experimental animalmodels [3, 13], as is also the case with detomidine and medetomgdine. These drugs are used singly or in combination with anesthetic agents (i.e. injectable general anesthetics or inhalation anesthetics), and their inhibitory actions can be suppressed by administering a specific antagonist foreach drug, Due to these characteristics, they have been used widely in veterinary medicine, however, they do have some side effects, of which the induction of uterine contraction is ol' particular eoncern. Knight [4] reported that xylazine may cause abortion in cattle during the later stages ot' pregnancy, because of its oxytocin-like uterine contraction inducing action, and advocated that its use must be avoided. Later, xylazine jnduced uterine contractions wcre confirmed by electromyography and observations using a catheter inserted into the uterus in cattle [7-9, 12], horscs [9], sheep [3] and pigs [S]. Jansen et al, [3] studied the effects of xylazine induced uterine stimulation on pregnant animals and fetuses using a chronically catheterized pregnant goat model, and demonstrated that the administration of xylazine doubled the activity of the uterine rnuscle, caused respiratory arrest in the fetus, deereased arterial blood oxygen partial pressure (Po2) in both the mother and fetus, and decreased their heart rates (HR). The meehanism underlying these responses was postutated to be a decrease in the uterine blood flow (UBF) due to contraction of' the uterus, however, there have been no detailed studies of the retationships between xylazine induced uterine contraction anct UBF, or between the above changes and circulatory changes in both the mother and fetus. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate if there was any correlation between the circulatory and metabolic changes induced by xylazine in the mother and tetus, and the uterine stimutatory action of xylazine. Using a chronic preparation model of pregnant goats, we analyzed xylazine induced changes in the HR, arterial blood pressure (ABP), arterial blood pH, arterial Po2 and carbon dioxide partial pressure (Pco2), and base excess in both the mother and fetus, plus changes in the intrauterine pressure (IUP) and UBF in the mother. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental animals: The studies were carried out on six pregnant Japanese Saanen goats (mean 31 kg ± 5,4 SD in body weight), between 11O and l40 days of gestation, The animals were subjected te the experiments, after checking their clinical soundness by pre-operative examinations, including physical examination, etinica} laboratory evaluation, radiograph of the thorax and abdomen, and echographic evaluation of the fetus. The scheme for the chronic preparation model in the goats is shown in Fig, 1. The operation was diyided into two steps to reduce the surgical stress. The first operation was performed on the mothers. 4.7F polyethylene catheters (PE160, Intramedic, Clay Adams, Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A.) were inserted into the femoral artery and vein, under local anesthesia. The goats were then kept without food or water for 24 to 48 hr before the second operation. The second surgical procedure was performed under rachianesthesia with mepivacaine hydrochioride (3 mgfkg b.w.), An incision was macte in the peritoneum, and a blood flow meter probe (type FH020T, FC-040T, Nihon Kouden


Objectives of this study are to investigate the effect of compressive strength, stirrup ratio and stirrup spacing on the diagonal compressive capacity and propose the predicting equation for the diagonal compressive capacity of RC beams considering the effect of compressive strength and stirrup spacing. Five I-beams were tested by three-point bending. As a result, the effect of compressive strength and stirrup spacing on the diagonal compressive capacity is interrelated. The proposed equation provides a better estimation in case of using high-strength concrete than the existing equations.


The venous thromboembolism is a serious and complex pathological condition especially for its potential complications. It is related to both congenital and acquired factors. Among the congenital factors, different mutations have been identified leading to a reduced activity of enzymes (even higher than 50%) involved in the homocysteine-methyonine methabolic pathway, such as the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme (MTHFR). The homozygotic TT genotype is found in approximately 10–12% of the population and is associated with a 25% higher homocisteine level in these patients than those without this mutation. The heterozygotic genotype is found in 40% of the population. The aim of this study is to define in children the correlation between venous thrombosis and MTHFR mutations. Between december 2002 and april 2008 nine children aged between 1–132 months were admitted in the Department of Hematology of Children Hospital Bambino Gesu in Rome. They were affected by deep venous thrombosis and were submitted to thrombophilic screening and vascular imaging. The MTHFR polymorphism C677CT was found in all the patients (four in homozygosis and seven in heterozygosis) and also in their parents. Four heterozygous and three homozygous patients presented increased plasmatic and urinary levels of homocysteine. Since venous thrombosis was only referred in the clinical history, two patients did not received treatments. Nine were treated with low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin 100 U/kg s.c. × 2 daily), then seven continued the treatment with oral anticoagulant for 6–12 months and all of them performed long term profilaxis with folic acid and B group vitamins. Only one patient presented further thrombotic event and restarded the oral anticoagulant therapy. These data confirm that the measurement of homocysteinemia and MTHFR may be indicated in unexplained idiopathic venous thrombosis or recurrent episodes or venous thrombosis occurred at an early age or at an uncommon site. It is to be discussed whether to perform anticoagulant profilaxis in all patients with MTHFR mutation, in homozygosis or heterozygosis, with or without hyperhomocysteinaemia, with previous thrombotic events, with other thrombotic risk factors (pregnancy, oral contracceptives, sepsis and immobilization). In addition in presence of hyperhomocysteinemia, it might be reccomended to perform therapy with folic acid and B6 vitamin.


As the earth sensor ground calibration equipment,small earth simulator determines the accuracy of the overall level of sensor calibration,if the structural design of optical modulation,which is the core components of the earth simulator,is reasonable,properly or not will directly impact on the output accuracy of simulator.The mode theoretical model is established and analysed in this paper for optical modulator plate of small earth simulator in detailed solution,and results is reasonable,correct for the proposed structure of modulation disc.


PART I: THEORIES AND CONCEPTS Criminologists and the Welfare State Criminological Theory and Social Policy Poverty, 'Race', and Gender PART II: POLICY AREAS Crime and Housing Policy Crime, Health and Education Crime and Unemployment Crime, Family and Youth Policy Police, Prisons and Social Welfare PART III: EMERGENT ISSUES The Criminalisation of Social Policy The Pursuit of Social Justice


A manually retracted safety needle device is provided having a rigid wing structure to stabilize the safety needle against the body of a patient. The safety needle device includes an elongate housing having a hub movably mounted therein. A tissue penetrating needle extends distally from the hub and a fluid conveying tube extends proximally from the hub. The rigid wing structure extends substantially along the length of the elongate member and, in one embodiment, includes wings extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the elongate member. The safety needle is also provided with various finger gripping structures to facilitate manipulation of the safety needle device relative to the patient.


Parenting remains a mystifying subject about which almost everyone has opinions. It is the principal and continuing task of parents in each generation to prepare children of the next generation for the physical, economic, and psychosocial situations in which those children must survive and thrive. This paper therefore addresses questions about the positives of parenthood, the purview of parenthood and present-day problems of parenthood. Jaishree Misra's Ancient Promises turns one's attention to the nature and dimensions, the conditions and the concerns of parenthood.


Objective:We investigated the inhibitory effects of AngII receptor antagonists Valsartan, CGP42112A and MAPK blocker PD098059 on the AngII-induced cardiac myocyte viability in order to observe whether different interferences can effectively influence the cellular energy metabolism and provide the new experimental evidence for the application of those agents in pharmacological therapy of congestive heart failure. Methods:Based on that the mitochondria of viable cells can act on MTT to produce formazan of the purple, we investigate the effect of AngII on the cultured myocyte viability and the intervention of Valsartan, CGP42112A and PD098059 by means of colorimetric method. Results:Our results showed that AngII caused the gradual increase of formazan optical density(OD) within definite concentration and time,and then decreased, even lower than the normal after about 24 hours. CGP42112A had no distinct effect of AngII on the cardiac myocyte viability, but Valsartan and PD098059 had the inhibiting effect, respectively. Conclusion:AngII-induced myocyte viability is mainly mediated by AT 1-Rand ERK is concerned with cellular energy metabolism.That has important meanings for the application of different interferences among the cellular signal transduction in pharmacological therapy of congestive heart failure in the future.


The authors report on critical dimension metrology on nanoscale gratings by means of laboratory-based spectroscopic reflectometry in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV). EUV reflectivity spectra of nanoscale gratings under grazing incidence illumination and their dependency on the geometrical grating parameters are discussed. A laboratory-based setup to measure such spectra is introduced and its main features are presented. A nanoscale grating with a grating period below 100 nm, consisting of multiple nanometer-size layers of materials, is experimentally investigated in the setup. The experimental results are consequently compared to a rigorous model fit of the reflectivity and thus the ability to model the grating's interaction with EUV radiation is shown.


In the research, it was tried to determine the mediating role of management innovation in the effect of agile leadership on firm performance. The data were obtained online from authorized employees of a corporate company in January 2022. Questionnaire method was used in the research and questionnaires were distributed to 116 employees, but 103 questionnaires were replied. Pearson Correlation and Regression Analyzes were used to test the research hypotheses. In addition, Frequency Analysis was used to examine the distributions according to demographic variables. As a result of the research, it has been determined that agile leadership has a statistically significant effect on firm performance and management innovation, and the effect of management innovation on firm performance is statistically significant. The argument that management innovation has a mediating role in the effect of agile leadership, accepted as the main hypothesis of the research, on firm performance has not been statistically proven.


Theoretically the public universities have no financial risks, however, the situation is that the public universities borrow loans from the banks to solve the problem of fund insufficiency, so the risks of the commercial loans may become the financial risks of the universities. This paper analyzes the inner-equations and outer-equations that bring the financial risks by studying from the angles of the public universities' demand, structure and supply of the loans, and then it brings forward micro and macro measures to control the risks of loans.


The paper presents the results of multi-element thermodynamics analysis of the process of non-organic metal-fluorides under low-temperature plasma of high-frequency discharge using the method of equilibrium thermodynamic simulation. The calculated example of SiF4 and GeF4 thermo-hydrolyze in the flow of water-vapor high-frequency plasma shows that the most output of metal oxides lays in the temperature range from 1500 to 2500 К under the pressure in discharge zone of 0,05 MPa and proportion of argon, water and processing metal fluoride as 1:1:1.


FIELD: physics, computer engineering. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods of training interaction of a group of participants of any actions, with group movements, particularly methods of training emergencies ministry personnel, special forces and athletes in games and other types of sport. Evaluation and training of the ability to see the action field is realised on the action field with or without controlled dynamic illumination. Dynamic illumination is used to form, during a given time, individual and/or group light zones/routes for participants, which participants must maintain while executing their tactical-technical operations. Change in the position, shape and area of the zones, the duration thereof and training modes are set manually or with software and hardware in a manner that is unpredictable for the participants. The ability to control near zones of the action field is evaluated from the number of times a participant strays from the boundary of the allowed zone and the ability to see the action field is evaluated from the arithmetic mean value of the delay between the visual signal to which the participant must respond and the response arbitrary signal or tactical-technical action of the participant. EFFECT: invention is intended to evaluate and train a person to see mobile objects on an action field.


Objective: To investigate the role of wild type Notch signaling in human hepaocarcinogenesis.Methods: The correlations and biological effects of Notch1 and Ras were analyzed by introducing recombinant vectors NICD-pEGFP-C1 and/or H-Ras-pEGFP-C1 to human non-tumor hepatic cell line L02 cells.The viability of L02 cells transfected with recombinant vector was performed by MTT and the proliferation of L02 cells was tested using clone assay.The transformation of L02 cells was evaluated in vivo.Results: MTT assay show that forced overexpression of Notch1-ICD and H-Ras promoted proliferation and growth of unmanipulated L02 cells(P0.01).Cells treated with DAPT showed a significant reduction in cell viability compared with controls(P0.01).Constitutively active Notch1 alone failed to do so by transform immortalized L02 cells in vivo,it synergized with the Ras pathway to promote hepatic cells transformation(P0.01).Conclusion:We show that Ras-Notch signaling cooperation drives hepatic cells transformation and stimulates proliferation.Dysregulated Notch signaling cooperation with the Ras in transformation and proliferation offers combined inhibition of the two pathways as an attractive avenue for therapeutic intervention for this advanced disease.


This paper discusses learning communities as pedagogy for introductory sociology courses, which are often plagued by student apathy. Most importantly, it examines the potential for learning communities to incorporate active and collaborative learning techniques as a vehicle to subvert dominant views of diversity, to see diversity as intersecting social inequalities that can be rearranged in favor of greater social equality. The effectiveness of a learning community with the theme of diversity for meeting these goals is assessed using qualitative and quantitative data. It is concluded that the pedagogic framework of the learning community did indeed push students to problematize their student role. Finally, a review of results from a pre/post-test questionnaire suggests that students entered the community as a fairly homogenous group in their views of diversity and left as a more heterogeneous group, indicating some shift in consciousness, however slight.


A 28 year-old caucasian lady, with nine years of uncontrolled bronchial asthma, rhinosinusitis and mild upper limb paresthesia, came to our attention to be followed for coeliac disease (CD). She had a biopsy performed elsewhere which proved the diagnosis five years before. Since there was no clinical improvement on a strict gluten-free diet, we re-evaluated the slides of her duodenal biopsies and we found an overestimation of the duodenal lesions due to the wrong orientation of the specimens. Moreover, she had never had positive CD-related antibodies and she was negative for DQ2/DQ8 MHC Class II heterodimers. Months later, she referred she was suffering from diffuse joint pain, epistaxis and a substantial weight loss. A few days later she was hospitalized because of a sudden onset of dyspnea, peripheral edema and pleural effusion. Her echocardiogram showed global left ventricular hypokenesia with an ejection fraction of 24%. The patient was discharged with a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy and NYHA Class II. After a large spectrum of haematological exams, the diagnosis of Churg Strauss Syndrome (CSS), a rare multisystemic small-vessel necrotizing vasculitis, was confirmed by the presence of four/five out of six diagnostic American College of Rheumatology classification criteria (Asthma, Eosinophilia >10%, Neuropathy, Non-fixed pulmonary infiltrates, Paranasal sinus abnormality and Biopsy containing a blood vessel with extravascular eosinophils). Our patient had been under-diagnosed by pulmonologist and by gastroenterologists although she presented the criteria required for CSS diagnosis. Our case report emphasizes that often seemingly unrelated symptoms can be caused by a single rare clinical complex.


Methylammonium chlorochromate adsorbed on silica gel is described and evaluated as a convenient reagent for efficient oxidation of a variety of primary and secondary alcohols. This reagent is easily prepared and very stable. Primary and secondary alcohols are oxidized by the reagent into corresponding carbonyl compounds in good yields. The oxidation of alcohols with the reagent can proceed easily in some solvents,the oxidation condition is mild and the products are unique and easily separated.


The paper aims to presents a review about the wireless monitoring methods used to identify the thermal stresses of electrical equipment within Medium Voltage (MV) switchgear cabinet. There are presented several advantages and disadvantages of the current non-intrusive methods of the electrical equipment temperature monitoring. In the final part of the paper there are presented the results obtained from a laboratory experiment, which aimed to highlight the disadvantages of the sound acoustic waves (SAW) monitoring of a busbar. Also, in the case study it intend to present in what matter the SAW monitoring method is appropriate for MV Switchgear Cabinet.


Alternative oppositions to "infinity" and "totality" are suggested, examined and shown to be inadequate by comparison to the sense of the opposition contained in title Totality and Infinity chosen by Levinas. Special attention is given to this opposition and the priority given to ethics in relation Kant's distinction between understanding and reason and the priority given by Kant to ethics. The book's title is further illuminated by means of its first sentence, and the first sentence is illuminated by means of the book's title. Special attention is given to explicating the nature and significance of the hitherto unnoticed "informal" fallacy contained in the first sentence.


Being the true source of competitive advantage in the 21 st century, intellectual capital of the companies is a well-studied topic in the literature. However, there still is a strong need to research its application in the national level. Considering these, this study proposes a model to measure the national intellectual capital. Its components and their indicators are weighed using AHP yielding a ready-to-use model. Then the model is used for 11 European countries and the results are discussed.


Abstract : In this study, the author focuses on France, exclusively, to illuminate the potential causes for material and/or ideological support to terrorism in that society, and further indicates how these trends may be evident throughout Western societies. As in recent years, the word "Muslim" has become synonymous with terrorism in the daily lexica of France and other Western societies, this thesis demonstrates that terrorism is not a spontaneous or stand-alone problem. Terrorism and other forms of extremism in France -- whether imminent or imagined -- mark an end form of the true issue: social exclusion, or alienation, or isolation of French Muslims. French society's Republican values of liberty, equality, and fraternity make no distinction for such identity factors as ethnicity and religion. This thesis focuses on the French head scarf ban, with its goal of promoting integration. The thesis demonstrates that the wearing of head scarves by Muslim girls in French society was manifested as a challenge to French identity and the tradition of secularism. These ideas, and others central to Frenchness, are seen in the French polity as threatening as well as a visual representation to the threat posed by the influx of Muslim immigrants and their failure to assimilate. The thesis concludes by demonstrating that issues such as racism, Islamaphobia, and social alienation or exclusion are the vehicles that radical Islamists prey upon to find potential jihadists. If the head scarf ban is politicized by the fundamentalist Muslim community, the ban ultimately might prove counterproductive, resulting in reduced integration in public schools, more segregation, and a radicalized Muslim community hostile to the Western traditions that France holds so dear.


The numerous declarations, communications and decisions made by the EU Commission as well as the many reports and articles written by Europeans on flexicurity bear witness to the success of this concept, at least on paper. Even in the US the Danish model has been enthusiastically discussed by prominent commentators and economists, such as Robert Kuttner and Dani Rodrik. The concept is now wellknown worldwide, and seminars on flexicurity have taken place in such diverse countries as Argentina, China, India and Vietnam. More importantly, flexicurity is now the overriding guideline for labour market reform in the EU. Research and policy action following the "common principles of flexicurity" that were adopted by the Lisbon ministerial council in late 2007 have been increasingly funded by EU sources.


The present invention discloses a storage container, having a sensor means for detecting the state of loading of the storage container of food, and discloses a refrigerator having a storage receptacle. Sensor means detachably mounted to the storage container. Sensor means comprises an electrode terminal, the electrode terminal can be used to achieve not only charging operation but also can be used to implement the measurement operation salt. Thus, the sensor device having a user convenience while having a compact size.


This paper presents an experimental program conducted to investigate the punching shear behaviour of selfconsolidating (SCC) two-way slabs, and the influence of using different sizes of coarse aggregate and slab thickness on this behaviour. For this purpose, a total of six slabs were tested. Two groups of labs with targeted compressive strength of 30 MPa were used; for group A, 10 mm coarse aggregate size was used, and 20 mm coarse aggregate size was used for the slabs in group B. Each group consisted of three slabs with different thicknesses of 150, 200, and 250 mm. The results revealed a significant effect of slab thickness and size of coarse aggregate. The failure criterion proposed by (Muttoni 2008) based on the slab rotation was used to predict the tested slabs capacities. In addition, comparison with other codes of practice (CSA A23.3-04, ACI 318-11, BS8110-97, and EC2) was carried out. These codes except the EC2 can be safely used to check the punching shear capacity of SCC slabs without the need of any modification to the equations used.


Background/Objectives: Resource poor conditions, marginalization of holdings and gradual commercialization of farming needs assessment of D-S scenario, utilization and impact of institutional credit on farm returns under agro-climatic diversities of Jammu and Kashmir. Methods/Statistical analysis: A multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 400 (200 borrowers+200 non-borrowers) respondents, representing each agro-climatic zone to collect primary data to estimate the short term credit requirements and capture the impact of agricultural credit on overall gross farm returns by employing regression analysis technique. Secondary data was also used to supplement the findings. Results: Various institutional agencies involved in advancing agricultural credit have differential role across agro-climatic zones. Financial institutions advanced only 7.61 per cent of total credit requirement in the state which varied across zones. The productive credit utilization ranged between 65 per cent in IMZ and 98 per cent in SBTZ. The unproductive credit use was higher in IMZ (34.7%) followed by TMZ (24.2%) and CAZ (5.9%). The regression estimates for credit were positive and highly significant in all the agro-climatic zones except in IMZ where it was non-significant due to its higher miss-utilization. However, credit indirectly increased returns through capital formation and adoption of technology in all the zones. Educated farmers understood the possible benefits of scientific application in farming business, however, lacked wisdom for its productive utilization. Irrigation influenced returns positively, however, non-adoption of scientific recommendations was demonstrated by the negative coefficient of expenditure on variable costs across the zones. Conclusion: Study highlighted huge D-S gaps in institutional credit to agriculture across different zone. Regression estimates revealed that extension of credit encouraged capital formation, adoption of technologies and increased farm returns.


Hematological parameters play important role in multiple diseases. This study was to investigate the possible association of the routine hematological parameters involved in immunity, inflammation, and metabolism with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in patients of Zhuang ethnicity in Guangxi, southwest China.


BACKGROUND: Male-pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is a common clinical condition in adult men that is often associated with negative self-perception and has been the target of a number of therapeutic interventions. Despite the importance of self-perceptions of hair growth and appearance with such interventions, no standardized validated questionnaire exists for use in clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: Develop and evaluate a questionnaire to measure patient-perceived changes in hair growth and appearance in clinical trials of medical intervention for androgenetic alopecia in men. METHODS: Literature review and focus groups with men having androgenetic alopecia initially identified 28 potential questions. These questions were assessed in an observational study (n = 204) and a placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 181). RESULTS: The final questionnaire contained seven global questions addressing change since the start of the study in satisfaction with hair appearance (three questions), hair growth and ap...


China has made rapid strides in developing its space capabilities and is in the process of integrating them in the war doctrines of People's Liberaton Army (PLA) to challenge any adversary in a future conflict. PLA recognises the importance of controlling space as a means of achieving true information dominance. It advocates the development of space capabilities as an essential pre-requisite for executing successful military campaigns and for maintaining the initiative on the battlefield. In line with this thinking, it has developed high resoluton imaging satellites, high bandwidth multi-band communication satellites, electronic intelligence (ELINT) constellations and an indigenous satellite navigation constellation called Beidou. These capabilities are not only force multipliers but also enable success in electronically controlled warfare regime. China also views the denial of an adversary's space systems as an essential component of information warfare and prerequisite for victory. It emerges that China's ambitious space plans will not only give China the confirmed strategic advantage but also alter the power dynamics in Asia and the world. China's emergence as a military space power has a direct bearing on India's security, its standing in the fraternity of nations and the security environment in Asia.


This work presents a novel method to simultaneously measure a quarter-wave plate's phase retardation and fast axis using radially polarized vector beams and spatial Fourier analysis. The light beam is converted into a radially polarized beam after passing through a polarizer and a vortex retarder. The tested quarter-wave plate and a polarizer are placed after the vortex retarder in sequence, and an hourglass intensity distribution image is recorded by a camera. Then the phase retardation and fast axis of a quarter-wave plate can be calculated by using Fourier analysis of the recorded intensity image with a snapshot. The theoretical model of the proposed method is built based on the Stokes-Mueller formalism. And both simulation calculation and experiments are carried out with different fast axis angles of a quarter-wave plate. The measurement errors of the phase retardation and fast axis are also analyzed to validate the proposed method. Both simulation calculation and experimental results show good agreement with the theoretical values. It is demonstrated that the proposed method is convenient, simple, and accurate to measure the phase retardation and fast axis of a quarter-wave plate.


In this paper, the seismic responses of a cable-stayed bridge with different longitudinal restraint at the tower-girder connections are investigated. The results show that supplement of an elastic restraint or a fluid damper is useful measure to reduce structural response. Besides, a method which is used to estimate design parameters of longitudinal elastic restraint or fluid damper is presented, and the corresponding ranges of these parameters are suggested.


Teacher autonomy can be realized only in the interaction between teachers and outside sociocultural environment;therefore,this paper is intended to explore the construct of teacher autonomy from sociocultural perspective.Teacher autonomy has the narrow sense and broad sense,which can be overt and covert.The constraints of teacher autonomy are carefully analyzed on the basis of the construct,followed by the route aiming at realizing teacher autonomy of China foreign language teachers.


A novel distributed feedback optimisation (FO) based control method is proposed to control grid‐forming inverters (GFMIs) in fully inverter‐based islanded AC microgrids (MGs). The proposed controller has two control layers. The upper layer uses FO to calculate the frequency and voltage setpoints of GFMIs, whereas the lower layer makes GFMIs track these setpoints. The proposed control method takes advantage of the flexibility of voltage control to regulate the system frequency, maintain both active power and reactive power sharing accuracies, keep bus voltage within allowable range and meanwhile preserves the optimality of the closed‐loop system in term of optimal power flow. The gradient descent method is used to solve the proposed FO problem based on the real‐time measurements in the MGs, which is implemented in a distributed way, and thus eliminates the need for a central controller. Case studies show the effectiveness of the proposed method.


There was no American literature in the nineteenth century. So said a chorus of British and European critics of the new nation. "Literature the Americans have none – no native literature . . . It is all imported," the Rev. Sydney Smith pronounced in the Edinburgh Review. In 1820, Smith famously insulted American pride: "In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book?" Two decades later, Alexis de Tocqueville was obliged to agree. During his 1830s' tour of the United States, the liberal aristocrat found much to admire about "democracy in America" but not its literary productions: "The inhabitants of the United States have . . . at present, properly speaking, no literature." What did exist was best hidden from foreign guests. "If the American nation be judged of by its literature," the English traveler Harriet Martineau concluded in 1837, "it may be pronounced to have no mind at all." That verdict persisted, even as the United States was rising to world power. In 1888, the English critic Matthew Arnold echoed Sydney Smith. For all their industrial success and national wealth, Americans were lacking in civilization: "In literature they have as yet produced little that is important." Many Americans unhappily agreed. With high hopes for the Revolution, aspiring poets had anticipated a "rising glory" of the arts in a free republic. That expansive vision soon faded. Far from heeding Noah Webster's dictum that "America must be as independent in literature as she is in politics," most writers in the early republic took their cues from the former mother country. America remained a cultural colony of the Old World well into the nineteenth century. In 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson summoned the "American Scholar" to answer "the postponed expectation of the world." "We have listened too long to the courtly muses of Europe." This call for literary independence was but one in a litany of complaints about native mediocrity heard throughout the century. American literature was deemed inferior either because it failed to realize European models or because it tried too hard to imitate them. Perhaps the critics were looking in the wrong place. In the eighteenth century, literature carried a distinctive meaning it no longer bears today. Samuel Johnson defi ned 23 Building a National Literature: The United States 1800–1890


Background: COPD is one of the non-communicable diseases related to lung parenchyma and airways which are one of the leading causes of death and disability in India. COPD is not only considered as lung disease but also it has systematic effects that lead to co-morbidities contributing to poor performance in functional level and decreased quality of life. COPD has considerable effects in musculoskeletal system. It ranges from muscle dysfunction of respiratory system to skeletal muscle system to reduced bone density. It is also associated with decreased range of motion in cervical and thoracic region. Physiotherapy plays vital role in preventing and managing the complications in COPD patients. It has been long since exercises that consists of breathing techniques, thoracic expansion exercise and techniques to clear the secretion has been used for management of COPD. One of the emerging techniques for management of musculoskeletal dysfunctions is manual therapy. Hence current study is intended to compare the acute effects of breathing exercises and thoracic expansion exercises with high velocity low amplitude thrust.


Situated inside the urban sprawl of a culture that sells just about everything, we lose ourselves and find something to buy instead.

Two Peacocks is one of a series of exhibitions in the Gallery North programme that consider the fictional narratives offered by consumer culture. Two Peacocks questions the marketing of art and the art of marketing. Each one merges into the other as we try to wade through the difference between desire for material comfort and desire for art. Art and Design have always been considered our way of expressing our unique and spiritual self, but at what point does it move away from that thing called shopping. This collision, offered by Two Peacocks, suggests our relationship with the material and the divine is muddled at best.

Helen Baker
Director Gallery North


The use of synchrotron radiation for the analysis of samples of historical and artistic importance (archaeology, palaeontology, conservation sciences, palaeo-environments) has been increasing over the past years, and experiments related to the study of our cultural heritage (CH) have been routinely performed at many beamlines of Elettra, the Italian synchrotron radiation facility. Fundamental parameters such as the high photon flux, the small source size and the low divergence typical of synchrotrons make it a very efficient source for a range of advanced spectroscopy and imaging techniques, adapted to the dishomogeneity and complexity of the materials under study. The continuous tunability of the source (from infrared to X-rays) is essential for techniques based on a fine tuning of the probing energy to reach high chemical sensitivity such as XANES, EXAFS, STXM, UV/VIS spectrometry. Moreover, the small source size attained in the vertical plane leads to spatial coherence of the photon source itself, giving rise to a series of imaging methods already crucial to the field. The increasing number of scientific publications shows that microfocused hard X-ray spectroscopy (absorption, fluorescence, diffraction), full-field X-ray tomography and infrared spectroscopy are the most popular synchrotron techniques in the field. The Elettra laboratory now offers a platform dedicated to CH researchers in order to support both the proposal application phase and the different steps of the experiment, from sample preparation to data analysis. We will present this activity and the main instrumental setups and experimental techniques in use at Elettra, and describe their impact for the science being applied to ancient materials using synchrotron rad


Abstract : The goal of the conference was to establish mutually beneficial scientific interactions between researchers in Taiwan and AFRL scientists. It was to foster basic research innovation and interactions between scientists and enhance future USAF capabilities through support of Air Force fundamental nanoscience research efforts. The definition of USAF Nanoscience is to work at the atomic, molecular and supramolecular levels, in the length scale of approximately 1-100 nm in range; undertand novel phenomena, properties and functions that occur on nm length scales; manipulate matter at the nanoscale to control those properties and functions; and achieve macroscale functionality based on properties at the nonoscale.


The problem of guaranteed cost reliable control with constraint of decay rate is investigated for time-varying delayed uncertain systems against actuator failure.In the considered systems,the parameters uncertainties satisfy generalized matching conditions,and the time-varying delay and its derivative are bounded.A general model of actuator failure is adopted.The cost function of the systems is given in terms of integral quadratic function including both index exponent and failure controls.By means of state variables transformation,the problem of guaranteed cost reliable control with constraint of decay rate is reduced to an equivalent problem of guaranteed cost reliable control.Based on Lyapunov stability theory,a sufficient condition for the existence of guaranteed cost reliable controller with constraint of decay rate is derived and transformed to a Linear Matrix Inequality(LMI).The guaranteed cost controller designed enables the closed-loop system to tolerate certain actuator failures and to retain exponential stability while to possess the performance index of guaranteed cost.


In this paper, we consider the existence and multiplicity of periodic solutions for the asymptotically linear wave equations. We will establish an index theory for the linear wave equation and define a relative Morse index to measure the difference between the linearizations of the nonlinearity at the origin and at the infinity. Taking advantage of a generalized linking theorem for the strong indefinite functionals, we obtain existence and multiplicity of periodic solutions and the nonlinearity is not assumed to be .


A precursor solution was synthesized using a mixture of acrylic acid and ammonia solution as the buffer solution and ammonia solution as the precipitator.Hollow composite ferrite micro-spheres of a diameter of 20μm were prepared by spray-drying the precursors followed by a flame-spraying.


A low-coordinate iron(I) species can reversibly reduce pyridine, either by one electron to give a new C-C bond, or by two electrons to give a pyridine-derived bridge with an unprecedented μ-η(1):η(3) binding mode.


Abstract : Contents: An associativity technique for automatically optimizing retrieval results; A syntactically oriented natural language document retrieval system with a browsability feature; Phrase indexing.


A study, using the methods of growth analysis, is reported of the accumulation of dry matter in two Natal Common groundnut crops grown at Kongwa, Tanganyika under conditions of relatively low population (26,000 plants/acre) with phosphate fertilizer (F series), and at a higher population (56,000 plants/acre) without fertilizer (O series). The uptake and distribution of N, P, K, Mg and Ca was followed in the F series. In the F series, the dry weight per plant at maturity was 32·7 g., of which 14·9 g. (45%) was kernels, while in the O series the corresponding figures were 20·6 and 10·4 g. The relative growth rates, net assimilation rates and leaf-area ratios were similar in the two crops, with small but consistent advantages to the F series. Nevertheless, the yields per acre were markedly higher in the O series, where total dry-matter and kernel yield were 2540 and 1290 lb./acre, respectively, against 1910 and 870 lb. in the F series. It is shown that this was the result of consistently higher leaf weights per acre and a higher total leaf-weight duration (4180 lb. weeks/acre) in the O series than in the F series, where total leaf weight duration was 2810 lb. weeks/acre. The formation of the kernels continued to maturity in each case, largely at the expense of current assimilation rather than by net translocation from the vegetative parts. The uptake of N, in the F series, reached a total of 63 lb./acre, of which 45 lb. was in the mature kernels. It went largely into the vegetative parts during the first two-thirds of the crop's life, but in the final stages most of the uptake went into the kernels and there was some evidence of translocation of N from the vegetative parts and the shells. N accumulation did not seem to be affected by rainfall fluctuations within the season. The net assimilation rate did not appear to be directly associated with the activity of the plant in accumulating N, but the leaf-area ratio, and the relative growth rate, were associated with the rate of N uptake per unit of plant dry weight. The total P taken up was no more than 4 lb. (of the element) per acre of which nearly 80% was found in the kernels at maturity. There was considerable evidence of translocation of P into the kernels from the vegetative parts of the plant. P uptake (unlike that of N) was heavily reduced in a mid-season dry period, suggesting that P was largely derived from the upper layers of the soil. The total amount of K found in the crop at maturity was about 26 lb./acre, mostly in the vegetative parts. Rather under a fifth was in the kernels, although they constituted 45% of the total dry weight. The data for Ca and Mg are incomplete, but it may be suggested that the maximum accumulation of Ca was around 10 lb./acre, almost all in the vegetative parts, and that of Mg about 5 lb./acre, of which 2 were in the kernels. The grateful thanks of the authors are due to Dr M. T. Friend, of the East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Organisation, Muguga, Kenya, who determined N and P in the samples of the F series, and to Mr G. T. Chamberlain, of the same Organisation, who carried out the estimations of K, Ca and Mg. They would also wish to express their indebtedness to the members of the former Scientific Department of the Overseas Food Corporation who assisted with the work in laboratory and field, and in particular to Mr B. W. Culy, Manager of the Kongwa Experimental Station, who was responsible for the production of the crops.


Understand the subjectivity implies that a psychological study must encompass the fields of interaction between the personalities and the world. The social imaginary has a series of performances and set of schemas that are instituting forms of life, relationship and action of the subject. The understanding of the world which is full of unknown aspects is generated in this articulation through representation. The representations and meanings mobilized emotions and attitudes, but is based on conceptions on some phenomenon that translates into knowledge. From this perspective the knowledge flows in the ways of conceiving the world and become structural aspects within social relations. The construction of gender and the determination of distinctive roles for men and women gives an account of the social and political construction, since it is based on relations of hierarchy and power that throughout history has been playing in practices of discrimination, violence, inequality, etc. However, around all these actions have been formed a number of representations and social imaginaries of type that are fixed in there and the young people and that are reproduced in the language, the gestures, the speeches and actions. The status of domain present in social relations and in this case from the sexual division has legitimized a series of practices that can be understood as violent actions that manifest themselves in different ways. Gender-based violence is understood as any manifestation that involves the devaluation, exclusion and even physical destruction, psychological and political of a subject because of their gender.


the Church can be carried on only in unbroken connection with the whole theological affirmation of which it is a part. This is a fundamental presupposition of the argument which follows. The attempt to carry such a discussion through this essay is justified by the intrinsic importance of the subject. The difficulties of such a discussion arise from an elusiveness of the subject which matches its importance. When the Church attempts, for example, to state her faith in the living God whom she knows as triune, she is at least attempting to speak truly af One who Stands aver against herself-one who is not the Church, but her ground and iystification. Or, when the Church explicates her faith in Jesus Christ the Lord as Christology, the Church is testifying from Scripture and from experience of One whpm & knows-One whom she knows as other khan herself. These are the most searching and demanding of all subjects; for it is frem the doctrine of God and of his act of reyelation and redemption in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit that all gther doctrines derive (and in relation to which they have significance). Now, if the problem of the Church is less doctrinally complex than Trinity or Christology, it may be more elusive; for when the Church attempts to formulate a doctrine of the Church, she is serving simultaneously as the object of inquiry and as the inquiring subject. Here the Church speaks not only of something she knows, but as something she is. For this cause, the de f inmn of the Church isat least in important part-the Church's own description of &self. This means therefore, as R. Seeberg pointed out long ago,l th& defects in the definition of the Church must find their counterpart in perverted views of the Christian life.


Glass-contacted human serum infused into animals induces stasis thrombi similar to red thrombi observed in man (1). The activity in glass-contacted human serum initiating these thrombi has been termed serum thrombotic accelerator (STA) activity (2). It can be measured by a rabbit assay (3) and is distinct from tissue thromboplastin, platelets, and thrombin (4, 5). Silicone-processed ("intact") serum from normal subjects and glasscontacted serum from patients deficient in coagulation Factors XII (Hageman), XI (PTA), or IX (PTC) develop little, if any, STA activity (2, 5). In contrast, glass-contacted serum from patients with other clotting defects develops normal STA activity (2). These observations led to the hypothesis that elaboration of STA activity was mediated through activation of the initial three procoagulants (Factors XII, XI, and IX) involved in the in vitro formation of intrinsic, or blood, thromboplastin (1). The role of Factor IX in the elaboration of STA activity has been recently brought under fresh scrutiny. Preparations rich in activated Factor XI (activation product, AP) and essentially devoid of other known clotting factors, have been found to be thrombogenic (6). This is true whether the AP is isolated from normal or Factor IX-deficient plasma or serum (6). As a result of these studies, it has been suggested that the thrombogenic activity originally described as STA activity is attributable to AP and that STA activity, in fact, represents the in vivo manifestation of AP (6). To examine the validity of this thesis, the thrombogenic activity of serum obtained from patients with established heredofamilial defects of Factor


Terrorism has been a threat to humanity and directly causing many countries to be underdeveloped. The devastating effect of terrorism has hampered the idea of industrialization in different parts of the countryNigeria thereby destroying the tentacles that can lead to employment, progress and development. It has been a challenging issue leading to destruction of socio-cultural cohesion, properties and lives then paving ways for economic and environmental degradation, panic, fear and intimidation. Nigerians have been affected directly or indirectly by the structural and coordinated violence by the terrorists. Moreso, the political unity and the religious way of life are made fragile by the activities of the terrorists. The invading of human rights and liberty has been complex and calls for urgent attention precisely for government to address the following, discrimination, injustice, insecurity, marginalization and then providing the necessary amenities for people. Although terrorism has been a common problem to many countries but our leaders including the follows have the responsibilities to address this issue with structural and objective ideas to better development. Therefore, through critical analysis the paper advocates for proper synergy between the leaders and followers on their responsibilities in order to achieve maximum results in the area of governance and development and mostly through ideological approach.


A wide diversity of organisms is dispersed on abiotic floating substrata, but little is known about the succession of fouling communities on these items. The main abiotic floating items found in the oceans (volcanic pumice, plastics, and Styrofoam) differ in 3 principal characteristics, namely surface rugosity, buoyancy, and floating behaviour, confirmed herein by light and electron microscopy (SEM), measurements of buoyancy, and laboratory tests to determine floating stability. In order to examine how these properties affect colonization and com munity succession on these substrata, 3 experiments were conducted in the field for 14 wk: (1) substrata were permanently submerged to determine if colonization depends on substratum surface ('Rings' experiment); (2) substrata were tethered at the sea surface to examine the importance of buoyancy ('Lines' experiment); and (3) substrata were caged to test the role of their floating behaviour ('Cages' experiment). The most common colo nizers in all 3 experiments were diatoms, Ulvales, and clonal ascidians from the genus Diplosoma. Surface rugosity of the substrata had only minor effects on the taxonomic richness of the developing communities. Buoyancy caused some differences in taxon cover, but taxon richness was similar on all 3 substrata. Finally, the floating behaviour at the sea surface had a strong influence on the communities developing on the floating substrata. Plastics (fewest changes in position) presented a higher richness and cover of taxa, while Styrofoam (most positional changes) harboured very few taxa. We conclude that colonization and succession on floating substrata is strongly influenced by positional changes, while surface rugosity and buoyancy appear important only during initial stages of community succession. Dispersal of organisms across the oceans is brought about by dense aggregations of pumice (left), which may appear sporadically after submarine volcanic eruptions, and by ubiquitous accumulations of anthropogenic debris (right). Photos: A. van den Broek, S. Bryan (left); M. Thiel (right) OPEN ACCESS


Issue of Standing Courts have consistently focused on the issue of standing when addressing claims brought by proposed transferees under state statutes. Almost uniformly, the courts have con? cluded that the proposed transferee lacks standing. In Horn v. Mazda Motors of America, Inc.,2 for example, two prospective franchisees sued Mazda because it had refused to enter into a franchise agreement with them as pro? posed transferees of a car dealership. During the application process, the plaintiffs had been asked certain personal infor? mation, including whether they had been a defendant in any lawsuit or legal proceeding or convicted of or imprisoned for any crime.3 The plaintiffs had answered each question in the negative. The application form was completed and submitted to Mazda on April 30, 1990 and further documentation required for the transfer was negotiated through August 7, 1990. On that date, the plaintiffs were told that the application was still incomplete. The next day Mazda learned that one of the applicants had made false representations on the application. Specifically, Mazda learned that criminal narcotic charges were pending against him and that he was currently out on bail. Mazda's investigation revealed four outstanding indict? ments, including a grand jury indictment for possession of


The mitigation of threats posed by the potential introduction of improvised explosive devices into passenger aircraft via the cargo vector is the subject and driver of the Cargo Supply Chain Integrity Technology (CSIT) Research, Development, Test and Evaluation project undertaken jointly by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate. Recognizing the security capability gap represented by unscreened cargo loaded into/ carried in the holds of passenger aircraft, section 1602(a) of the "Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007", (Public Law 110-53) mandated TSA to establish, by August 3, 2010, a system to screen 100% of all cargo shipped via passenger aircraft. The objective of the project is to develop standards and a process to evaluate and qualify technologies used to insure the security of screened cargo in transit to loading aboard aircraft.