Agency theory identifies managerial shirking as the cause for takeovers, while other explanations focus on low-ability managers. This paper formalizes Michael C. Jensen's free cash flow variant of agency theory by constructing a simple two-period game that captures the distinctive empirical implications of the two theories. Using data for petroleum firms following the oil price shock of 1979-80, the authors find that firms undergoing financial restructuring exhibited higher values of Tobin's q. Additionally, evidence of management turnover and workforce cuts emphasizes that takeovers appear primarily designed to address agency concerns. Copyright 1992 by Oxford University Press.


Motivation and students' attitudes are generally cited as two of the most important factors influencing language-learning performance. Motivation and attitude not only enhance students' understanding of learning and make them more open to learning, but also raise their expectations of the learning process and lower their anxiety. Therefore, the current study sought to establish the university students' perceptions of their lecturers' motivational strategies and their attitudes towards the English language, and the English Academic module. The study was quantitative in nature and a survey research design was followed. A questionnaire was used to solicit data from 150 first-year Foundation students who were conveniently selected. Likert items were used to measure the respondents' perceptions of their lecturers' motivational strategies and their attitudes toward the English Language and English Academic module. To analyse data, the most frequent responses are considered by working out percentages that agree, disagree, etc. The findings showed that the students perceived their lecturers as using a range of motivational strategies. These include, but are not limited to, allowing students to ask questions, providing feedback, motivating students to read more material, and praising students for good learning behaviour. The findings further revealed that the majority of students had a positive attitude towards the English language and English Academic module. Lecturers' motivational strategies and students' attitudes towards the English language and English Academic module could be perceived as significant considerations for lecturers when they tailor instruction and module design to the needs of the students. In addition, lecturers' awareness of students' attitudes can serve as vital information that could be used as a springboard to change the students' attitudes for the better.


An investigation of two North Carolina case studies assesses the impacts of changes in trip generation rates over time. The first case study considers a regional travel demand model and the second a traditional trip based travel demand model for a small urban area. The evaluation includes three different sets of trip generation rates for the regional model and four trip rate sets for the small urban area. The trip rate sets describe rate changes from five different household travel surveys, three from Baltimore, Maryland administered in 1977, 1993, and 2001; and the other two from the Research Triangle region of North Carolina administered in 1995 and 2006. The change in total trip rates ranged from ten to twenty percent depending on the years compared, a statistically significant change considering the t-statistic at a 95% confidence level. Trip generation, system level, and project performance measures quantify the effects of the rate changes on the model results. The results of this investigation show that trip rates that do not remain stable over time can have implications for system level and project level planning, resulting in unexpected changes in vehicle miles traveled and associated emissions, transit ridership, traffic forecasts, and local travel.


This research examines US mortgage defaults and foreclosures and howthey relate to housing price changes and unemployment. State level dataare examined to exploit the wide variation in economic and housingconditions across the country, as well as differences in state foreclosurelaws. In addition to examining the performance of all mortgage loans, primeand subprime mortgages are analyzed separately to assess differences inperformance between the two types of mortgages. Results show thatdefaults and foreclosure are positively related to unemployment andnegatively related to the change in housing values. In addition, large dropsin home values, which proxy for negative equity, are positively related todefault and foreclosure. Examination of prime and subprime mortgagesshows that subprime mortgages are less sensitive to unemployment thanare prime mortgages. Differences in the legal rights of lenders andborrowers across the states also have an impact on defaults andforeclosures.


Tracer study is one of the elements in the assessment and accreditation of academic policy making, especially in the preparation of curriculum. But in the process of the tracer study in STIKES there are some problems, and that problem is uneven distribution of questionnaires, costs a lot, waiting times filling out of the questionnaires are too long, problems possibility of mistake entering the data and the problem of data security is not guaranteed because there is no distribution of privileges. To solve that problems, STIKES need a web-based system tracer study. stakeholders can access the system to be able to answer the questionnaire quickly, so that the data from the questionnaire can be processed quickly and accurately. With this application can help the STIKES in conducting tracer easily and quickly. Stakeholders can do a tracer study questionnaire online that can be accessed anywhere. STIKES parties can see the direct results of tracer study reports and graphs based on the desired criteria.


Objective To evaluate the role of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) to select target vessel, to monitor the opacification zone and to avoid complications during transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy(TASH) for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM). Methods In 37 HOCM patients cardiac apex four chamber view, parasternal left ventricular long axis view and left ventricular short axis view were recorded after injection of the myocardial agents and absolute ethanol 5 minutes later respectively. And the opacification zones of the myocardial agents and absolute ethanol were observed. Results Among 37 patients,2 patients gave up treatment because of no appropriate vessel to provide ablation by coronary Doppler flow imaging.Two of 37 patients gave up treatments and did not undergo myocardial contrast echocardiography because of diffused coronary arteries in coronary angiography. Among 33 patients who underwent MCE, 5 patients gave up TASH including one of the opacification of left ventricular mammary muscles, one of the opacification of right ventricular and right ventricular mammary muscles, one for the opacification zone out of the target area and two for the large opacification zone. Other 28 patients underwent TASH successfully. Just after operations and 7 days, left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient decreased at no less than 50%. Distribution zone of absolute ethanol was smaller than that of myocardial opacification zone in some patients. Conclusions MCE is a credible reference for selection of target vessels in TASH for HOCM.


The invention discloses an osmanthus heterophyllus 'ougon' propagation method. The osmanthus heterophyllus 'ougon' propagation method comprises the steps that (1) branches are cultivated through base fertilizer application in winter, topdressing in a growing period, and trimming and pinching enhancement in early spring; (2) branches with the length being 4cm to 5cm, the thickness being 0.3 cm and the number of joints being 1 to 2 are cut and then cut again, and cuttings obtained after secondary cutting is provided with one joint and one to two complete leaves; (3) a shadowing shed is established, and a seedling bed is arranged; (4) after the cuttings are soaked in a rooting agent for two hours, the cuttings are inserted into a matrix of the seedling bed, and a small shed is arranged above the seedling bed; (5) after cuttage, temperature and humidity management is conducted. By the adoption of the method, the rooting percentage is increased, the propagation time is shortened, and the problems that during osmanthus heterophyllus 'ougon' propagation, the number of cuttings is small, the rooting performance is low and the rooting time is long are solved; the cutting rooting condition is greatly improved, operation is easy, convenient and practicable, the cost is low, and application and popularization are easy.


The relatively frequent change in the operating mode of a shunting diesel locomotive determines efficiency and feasibility of equipping it with an energy storage device. In addition to smoothing the load on the power plant, the energy storage device will allow to regenerate energy during braking, thereby increasing energy efficiency of a shunting diesel locomotive. This topic is frequently discussed in World of Transport and Transportation Journal, that is the evidence of its timeliness. The theoretical background for developing an inertial capacitive energy storage device, which is technically designed as a DC machine with a super flywheel that makes it possible to smooth the load on the power plant, thereby reducing its power and mass and dimensions, is presented. The increase in mass thanks to the energy storage device can be compensated by a decrease in the mass of the engine. As the diesel locomotive is equipped with electromechanical transmission, then it minimizes the framework of development for it of a considered inertial capacitive drive, making it even more advantageous. The article provides initial calculations and circuits.


The paper gives a description of the hitherto unknown or poorly known larvae of Allogamus antennatus (McLachlan 1876), Allogamus mendax (McLachlan 1876) and Allogamus pertuli Malicky 1975. Information on the morphology of the larvae isgiven and the most important diagnostic features are illustrated. In the context of already available keys, the larva of A. anten- natus keys together with Annitella obscurata (McLachlan 1876) and Annitella thuringica (Ulmer 1909). The species may beseparated by the presence of setal groups between posteromedian and lateral metanotal sclerites in A. antennatus and differ-ences in head width, central prosternite proportions and lateral fringe length. Allogamus mendax keys together with Allogamus uncatus (Brauer 1857); both species are very similar except in head width. Finally, A. pertuli keys with Melampophylax mucoreus (Hagen 1861) and M. nepos (McLachlan 1880). Whereas a setal band anterior of the lateral protuberance on the firstabdominal segment is present in A. pertuli, such a feature is lacking in the two Melampophylax species. With respect to distri-bution, A. antennatus is restricted to the southern Alps and the Appennine peninsula, A. mendax to the western Alps and A. pertuli is endemic to the Pindos region in Greece. In addition, ecological characteristics are briefly discussed.


The Environmental Quality Assessment Based on Expected and Comprehended Indicators in Coastal Area of Ramsar- Iran
The main object of this paper is evaluating the qualitative indicators of the coastal areas with tourism functions and providing a pattern based on perception and expectation of individuals. According to this, qualitative indicators of the environment were evaluated by the users and compared to their expected indicators and the differences in their significance were analyzed. For achieving to this goal, by use of systematic sampling method, 304 questionnaires were distributed among sea coastal tourists and after gathering the data, they were analyzed.


Innovative information technologies and the rapid rate of information updates reveal the need for more effective two-way communication, facilitation of interaction and collaboration, information exchange and flexibility. The article presents a research on cooperation tools in the virtual exchange project between the Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi Hryhorii Skovoroda State Pedagogical University (Ukraine) and the Trakia University (Bulgaria). A brief description of a specialized course in virtual exchanges related to energy efficiency psychology for future entrepreneurs and industrial workers is presented. In addition to covering the subject matter, educational information is designed in such a way that it enables one to acquire and practice ICT skills, in particular, to use various collaboration tools allowing interaction between students and teachers and having implications for learning strategies. The article's goal is to test software tools that can be used for virtual exchange in higher education institutions at international level, evaluate their attractiveness to students, and determine whether the use of already familiar collaboration tools influences the general impression from virtual exchange. The experimental work involved 12 useful tools for cooperation in the information field. Leaders and outsiders were identified, that is, tools that participants in the virtual exchange preferred outside the exchange process and those that the participants never used. During each week of the virtual exchange course, new tools for teamwork were used. Leaders in terms of satisfaction with the process of virtual exchange were Skype, Zoom, Webex, Google G-suite, Workplace by Facebook, Cliqtalk, Padlet. The study provides a theoretical basis for informing all individuals interested in the virtual exchange about the relationship between specific tools for collaborative work in the process of virtual exchange and their influence on each other. The results will be taken into account for a more in-depth analysis of the tools functionality in the virtual exchange process. It was also important that absolutely new tools for virtual exchange could have a high assessment in terms of satisfaction with the process and its results. This suggests the motivation to learn, especially in the field of cooperation with the help of information technology, which is so appreciated by young people.


The purpose of this article is to present the results of semi-structured interviews with grandparents who regularly look after one or more grandchildren. Grandparents' behavioural patterns and their efforts in support of the younger generation were investigated to test the basic assumption that they pamper their grandchildren. The 20 grandparents interviewed look after their 2to 9-year-old grandchildren one or more days per week while the parents are absent. The literal transcriptions of these interviews were evaluated by means of a qualitative content analysis. They indicate that the grandparents behave responsibly with respect to their grandchildren's upbringing. The general accusation that they pamper their grandchildren was not confirmed. Instead, despite a higher tolerance level in certain situations, the grandparents consciously support the efforts of the parents. Wenn Groseltern (v)erziehen 9


Electroanalytical tests were carried out to investigate the corrosion behavior of various Pb-free solder alloys in NaCl bulk solution under room temperature. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) method was applied to investigate the corroded surface structure and corrosion depth using cross-sectional samples. Furthermore, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) method was also applied to identify the elemental composition of the corrosion products of the solders. The results showed that one of the tested Pb-free μ-alloyed solder have lower corrosion resistance compared to other μ-alloyed Pb-free solders and to the widely used SAC305 solder alloy as well. The different corrosion resistance was explained by the different content and volume of the corrosion products, which can lead back to the differences of the original alloying components.


Oxide-charge generation determines the lifetime for hot-carrier degradation of PMOSFET's. We present a model for the generation of oxide charge and its influences on transistor characteristics. Our model explains the logarithmic time dependence for the generation of oxide charge that is observed systematically for many PMOSFET types. This model is in accordance with an empirical prediction method for PMOSFET degradation that has been published earlier. Furthermore, a relation between the injected charge and the amount of degradation is presented. The paper ends with some applications. >


If the very rare B 0 → µ + µ − decay is enhanced to (3-4) ×10 −10 level or higher, it can be discovered with existing 2011-2012 LHC data. It might then cast some doubt on the Higgs boson nature of the 126 GeV boson, since the likely explanation would be due to the fourth generation tquark. There is a mild motivation from the known tension in sin2β/ϕ1. If discovery is made before the 13 TeV run, then the b → d quadrangle (modulo mt') would suddenly fall into our lap. Continued pursuit in future runs can probe below 3 × 10 −10 .


As a natural hazard, drought is a complex multivariate phenomenon that requires more comprehensive analysis. In this study, we studied meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological drought events with precipitation, soil moisture, and stream flow data for the study area. The risk analysis for drought duration and severity of three kinds of drought events were analyzed with univariate and three kinds of bivariate return periods based on the copula. Furthermore, the propagation of three kinds of drought was studied. From the investigation, it is observed that agricultural drought events are longer and more severe, besides the risk associated with agricultural drought is high compared to other kinds of drought. Moreover, the average time taken for meteorological drought to propagate into agricultural drought is 4.3 months and for the hydrological drought is 3.8 months for the river basin. The comprehensive study of three kinds of drought is helpful to adopt suitable drought management plans in the region.


Results from epidemiologic studies examining pancreatic cancer risk and vitamin D intake or 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] concentrations have been inconsistent. For most people, more than 90% of their vitamin D status is produced endogenously from exposure of the skin to solar ultra-violet B (UVB) light (280-320 nm) resulting in cutaneous production of precursors to 25(OH)D. 25(OH)D is the major circulating vitamin D metabolite in humans and is also considered the best indicator of vitamin D status from both sun exposure and diet. Therefore, we conducted a pooled nested case-control study of participants from 8 cohorts within the Vitamin D Pooling Project-Rarer Cancer Consortium (VDPP) to test whether pre-diagnostic circulating 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with the development of incident pancreatic cancer. In total, 952 incident pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases occurred among participants (average follow-up 6.5 years). Controls (n=1333) were matched to each case by cohort, age, sex, race, date of blood draw, and follow-up time. Circulating vitamin D levels were measured using the DiaSorin LIAISON 25(OH)D TOTAL assay or an older DiaSorin radioassay. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate smoking-, body mass index-, and diabetes-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for pancreatic cancer. Clinically relevant cut-points were compared to adequate status (defined as 50 to 100 nmol/L) was associated with a significant 2-fold increase in pancreatic cancer risk overall (OR=2.12, 95% CI 1.23-3.71). No statistically significant associations were observed for deficient ( Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2801.


We investigated the effect of insulin on the vascular reactivity to noradrenaline, serotonin and potassium chloride in rat mesenteric resistance arterioles in vitro. Mesenteric artery segments were placed in


[Zn(en)2]3 [V10O28]·5H2O is hydrothermally synthesized from a mixture of ZnSO4, NH4VO3, en, and H2O in a molar ratio of 1:4.1:2.1:500 (autoclave, 180 °C, 4 d, 33% yield).


The force to drive crustal move ment include the public turn's inertia force and the private turn's force with identical velocity of the earth, inter plane lary gravitation and gravity, their synthetic force is the true driving force of continent drift.


Objective To investigate the effects of volatile oils of Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii (RAT), Semen Myristicae (SM) and Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae (PCR) on percutaneous penetration of total alkali of Shortstalk Monkshood Root through mouse skin in vitro. Methods By using an improved Franz diffusion cells, the effects of these 3 kinds of volatile oil on the percutaneous penetration of total alkali of Shortstalk Monkshood Root were observed and compared with Azone, and the cumulative amount of Bullatine A was determined by HPLC. Results 7% (v/v) volatile oil RTA and SM, 5% (v/v) volatile oil of PCR and 3% (v/v) Azone were best concentration, the penetration coefficient were 5.88, 6.91, 5.30, 5.75, respectively. Compared with the group without penetration enhencers, the enhancement ratios were 1.09,1.28, 0.98, 1.06, respectively. Conclusion The volatile oil of RAT and SM enhance penetration of total alkali of Shortstalk Monkshood Root. The volatile oil of PCR cannot enhance penetration.


Abstract Because the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an obstacle for drug-delivery, carrier systems such as polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA) nanoparticles (NPs) have been studied. Yet, little is known of how physiochemical features such as size, surfactants and surface charge influence BBB passage in vivo. We now used a rat model of in vivo imaging of the retina - which is brain tissue and can reflect the situation at the BBB - to study how size and surface charge determine NPs' ability to cross the blood-retina barrier (BRB). Interestingly, for poloxamer 188-modified, DEAE-dextran-stabilised, fluorescent PBCA NPs, decreasing the average zeta-size from 272 nm to 172 nm by centrifugation reduced the BRB passage of the NPs substantially. Varying the zeta potential within the narrow range of 0–15 mV by adding different amounts of stabiliser revealed that 0 mV and 15 mV were less desirable than 5 mV which facilitated the BRB passage. Moreover, whether the fluorescent marker was adsorbed or incorporated also influenced the transport into the retina tissue. Thus, minor changes in design of nano-carriers can alter physicochemical parameters such as size or zeta potential, thus substantially influencing NPs' biological distribution in vivo, possibly by interactions with blood constituents and peripheral organs.


The Editorial Office has been made aware of potential issues surrounding the scientific validity of this paper, hence has issued an expression of concern to notify readers whilst the Editorial Office investigates. It has been noted that the Figure 5A Arg1 blots appear very similar to blots seen in an unrelated manuscript by Xing et al. 2018 (doi: 10.1186/s40659-018-0199-y) and that the control, CIH and CIH+Atr+siSIRT3 bands appearing extremely similar to each other, including identical background features.


Based on the analysis of daily and weekly electric load power variability the typical daily power load graphics for medium-sized dairy plant were determined, which can be used to short-term forecasting of power and electricity demand. For the purposes of forecasting electricity demand over longer time horizons, regression models using the relationship between monthly consumption of electricity and the quantity of processed milk and season were developed.


Multiband antenna stacking satellite positioning system comprises a stack of magnitude of conductive patches, each of which operates respectively a dedicated frequency band. Excitation line section comprising a pair of conductive strips is disposed below the stacked conductive patches. Each conductive strip pairs, in the conductive patch stack is radiated connected to the associated conductive patch. RF front-end having at least one electrical circuit arranged in triplate section of the lower excitation line section, connected to operably satellite positioning receiver conductive strips pairs. The at least one electrical circuit includes a filter and an amplifier for signals respectively filtered and amplified from the conductive strip pairs during antenna operation.


In the mass production of multi-element silicon p-i-n photodiodes, the problem of systematic rejection of products due to a decrease in the insulation resistance between the active elements of photodetectors has been revealed. The purpose of this work is to study the causes of insulation resistance degradation and to establish optimal methods for avoiding this phenomenon. A comparative analysis of three insulation methods was carried out: classical insulation by the surface of a non-conductive substrate and a dielectric layer; insulation by means of mesaprofile grooves with a dielectric film; insulation by means of areas of limitation of surface leakage channels isotypic with the substrate material (in this case, p+-type) formed in the gaps between active elements. The study found that the reason for the deterioration of the insulation resistance between the active elements of photodiodes is the presence of conductive inversion channels at the Si-SiO2 interface due to the use of silicon with high resistivity. One mechanism for the formation of inversion channels is the redistribution of impurities in the masking oxide (in particular, phosphorus) and their diffusion to the interface during thermal operations. Another mechanism for the formation of inversion layers is the diffusion of boron from silicon into SiO2 during heat treatment due to the fact that the boron segregation coefficient is less than one. In the manufacture of samples with insulation using non-conductive areas of the substrate, a decrease in insulation resistance was observed as the technological route was performed (after each subsequent operation, the resistance degraded). The degree of degradation can be reduced by reducing the duration of thermal operations. It has been shown that reducing the thickness of the masking oxide causes a decrease in insulation resistance. When using mesa-technology, it is possible to increase the insulation resistance by eliminating the high-temperature oxidation operation and, in fact, due to the absence of a masking coating during phosphorus deposition. Insulation by means of p+-type areas in the gaps between the active elements    allows to obtain the highest insulation resistance values. The formation of these regions with a width of 100 μm in the gaps with a width of 200 μm allowed us to obtain an insulation resistance of 25-30 MΩ. To ensure the insulation of the active elements of photodiodes by this method, two thermal operations are added to the technological route. The number of thermal operations can be reduced by doping the entire silicon surface with a low boron concentration before forming a masking coating.


Two distinctly different approaches have been used to simulate the movement of bands through a chromatographic column. One example of the first approach is the Craig distribution model, which replaces the continuous column with a specific number of discrete equilibration processes. Thus it introduces the concept of (theoretical) plates into chromatography, but is not able to explain satisfactorily their significance. The second approach is based on the mass balance equation which can be integrated numerically over time and space to give the elution profile. In this paper we discuss the physical meaning of the numerical integration process followed by the finite difference methods


Films of PEO and PEO blends were efficiently crosslinked by exposure to ultraviolet radiation with high-pressure mercury lamp. Photochemical crosslinking proceeded in the presence of photoinitiator such as benzophenone or pentaerythritol triacrylate. PEO networks obtained by UV irradiation in the presence of potassium salts (thiocyanate, perchlorate and triflate) as templates showed enhanced cation binding ability for Li + and Na + cations. Cationic networks were prepared from crosslinked PEO modified with ethyl methacrylate dimethyl dodecyl ammonium bromide. Stimuli-sensitive hydrogels (pH and temperature) were prepared from combinations of PEO and poly-N-isopropyl acryl amide, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyvinyl acetate and poly-2-vinyl pyridine subjected to UV irradiation.


Wavelet based image compression has proved its superiority over DCT based methods. However, wavelet based techniques did not have so much success in video coding because motion compensation usually produces residuals that are not suitable for wavelet compression. This paper discusses a motion compensation technique which should fit naturally into wavelet based compression schemes. The motion compensation is solely based on blocks of wavelet coefficients in order to reduce "wavelet-unfriendly" blockin g artefacts. This involves wavelet coefficients to be shifted spatially in the wavelet domain.


This research was conducted to figure out the feasibility of several sorption materials to treat various pollutants in road runoff. In advance of the major feasibility test with various sorption materials, the separation process with filter was conducted and showed that slight portion of pollutants was removed(Orgamic pollutant - 20%, Nutrient salt - 50%, Heavy metals - 0~30%). To remove dissolved pollutants in runoff, various materials were tested through an isotherm sorption experiment. As a result, GAC showed most effective material among them to lessen most contaminants such as organic compounds and nutrients. On the other hand, ion-exchange resin and Zeolite showed limited usefulness on the some heavy metals. Freundlich model was most suitable for the current experiment data, and the amount of adsorbent (GAC) could calculated based on this model.


Building on recent results for adiabatic gauge potentials, we propose a variational approach for computing the generator of Schrieffer-Wolff transformations. These transformations consist of block diagonalizing a Hamiltonian through a unitary rotation, which leads to effective dynamics in a computationally tractable reduced Hilbert space. The generators of these rotations are computed variationally and thus go beyond standard perturbative methods, with error controlled by the locality of the variational ansatz. The method is demonstrated on two models. First, in the attractive Fermi-Hubbard model with onsite disorder, we find indications of a lack of observable many-body localization in the thermodynamic limit due to the inevitable mixture of different spinon sectors. Second, in the low-energy sector of the XY spin model with a broken U(1) symmetry, we analyze ground-state response functions by combining the variational Schrieffer-Wolf transformation with the truncated spectrum approach.


AbstractThis study discusses practical implications of considering unit head loss in different pipe sizes and in different locations of water distribution systems (WDSs) with regard to operation an...


does it perform much of the processing required to construct a spectrum ana-lyzer, it's also highly integrated, simple to lay out, and easy to control. When I found this part, I knew I had to try to design yet another spectrum analyzer. The result of my effort is the single 4″ × 4″ PCB shown in Photo 1a. You can use my spectrum analyzer board as a stand-alone system with its own keypad and display, or you can connect it to a PC. If you do the latter, the output will be displayed on the PC's screen and all of the keypad's functional-ity will be available with a mouse. You can also connect the spectrum analyzer It is funny how simple beginnings can lead you down convoluted paths of learning and discovery. About a year and a half ago, I was playing around with my automatic garage door remote control unit. I was experimenting with signal encoding at the time, and I wanted to look at the scheme used in my remote. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was trying to determine the RF frequency at which the transmitter was operating. I then built RF filters to look at signal levels and RF generators to aid in prototyping and testing. Next came RF mixing, frequency doubling, and so on. You can see where I'm going here. I became hooked on RF and all of the art that goes along with getting RF circuits working properly. Currently, all of my design-related pursuits are focused on circuits and test equipment at radio frequencies. When it comes to RF test equipment, the spectrum analyzer is the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, both new and used RF spectrum analyzers are extremely expensive. There are a variety of home-brew spectrum analyzers available on the 'Net. Some are more sophisticated than others because all of the circuit elements are built from scratch. They feature complex filter constructions, have precise PCB layouts that turn PCB traces into inductors, and include a lot of discrete components. Other somewhat simpler designs feature integrated modules borrowed from the TV/VCR tuner world. These are easier to build, but they lack sophistication and functionality. As I was browsing the 'Net for an alternative to a home-brew spectrum analyzer, I stumbled across the Maxim MAX3550, which seemed almost too good to be true. Not only board directly to an oscilloscope …


Abstract. Two species of North American sawflies are newly reported to feed on plants in the family Asteraceae, bringing the total to four, all in the genus Macrophya Dahlbom. Larvae of M. phylacida Gibson feed on Verbesina spp. and those of M. senacca Gibson feed on Solidago spp. The larvae of each are described and illustrated.


The average water-extractable micronutrient content of pine bark, with the exception of Fe, is similar to Hoagland's micronutrient solution (Ogden et al., 1987). Yet, amending bark with micronutrients is a common nursery practice. Both positive plant growth responses (Penningsfield, 1972; Whitcomb, 1978, 1984) and no growth responses (Conover et al., 1975; Leda, 1986) have resulted from the addition of micronutrients to container media. In one case, response to micronutrient addition was found to depend on addition of lime (Wright and Hinesley, 1991). The method used for extracting micronutrients is important in assessing micronutrient availability. Berghage et al. (1987) and Handreck (1989) found the extractant diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) to be a relatively reliable indicator of media micronutrient status. The quality of DTPAextracted micronutrients was highly correlated with growth (Handreck, 1989). Container-grown nursery crops are irrigated with as much as 4500 mm of water per growing season, but the effect of this leaching on micronutrient supply has not been documented using DTPA as the extractant. Broschat and Donselman (1985), evaluating several micronutrient fertilizers, showed relatively constant micronutrient supplies over time in irrigated media; however, ammonium acetate, which has been shown to be a relatively poor indicator of media micronutrient status (Handreck, 1989), was used as the extractant. Handreck (1989) determined the DTPA iron content of Pinus radiata D. Don bark, but no reports have documented the DTPA extractable Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn of pine (P. taeda L.) bark, Additionally, there have been no reports documenting DTPA extractable micronutrients from bark amended with micronutrient fertilizers. I, therefore, determined the DTPA-extractable micronutrient supply of pine bark amended with two micronutrient fertilizers (Micromax and Ironite) as influenced by irrigation rate. Pine bark, amended with 3 kg dolomitic


This is the report on the case of a 2 year old boy, known from the age of 1 month with recurrent symptomatology indicative of an intermittent gastric outlet obstruction. The imaging studies confirmed the gastric outlet obstruction syndrome, in the presence of a dilated and plicated stomach suggesting an intermittent gastric volvulus. During the surgery a pyloric fibrotic stenosis was discovered, therefore a pylororomy was performed, followed by a HeinekeMikulicz pyloroplasty and gastropexy. After the surgery, the patient's condition improved fast, with complete remission of all symptoms. The few cases of pyloric fibrous stenosis described in children were secondary, either of toxic etiology (ingestion of caustic or corrosive substances, nonsteroidal antiinflamatory drugs) or associated with peptic ulcer disease. In our case no certain etiology could be


In this paper, we shall show an equivalence relation between extensions of order pre- serving operator inequalities and monotonicity of related operator functions.


Abstract. One of the significant consequences of the autosegmental theory of representations is a different way of drawing the distinction between glides and vowels. The distinction is made in terms of syllable structure rather than in terms of the feature [[+ or -]syllabic], as was the case in SPE phonology. This article pursues the problem of the glide-vowel distinction for Polish and shows that with few exceptions this distinction is derivable from distributional generalizations. The generalizations are first stated in terms of rules and then reanalyzed in terms of OT constraints. It is argued that the OT-based analysis is superior to the rule-based analysis. 1. Introduction The goal of this article is to compare the analysis of gliding processes in Polish in two frameworks, the rule framework and the Optimality Theoretic framework. It is argued that the latter is superior to the former. The distribution of high vowels and glides in Polish has been studied before, notably by Gussmann (1980), Rubach (1984), Rubach and Booij (1990a), and Bethin (1992). It became a central issue in autosegmental phonology, which recognizes a distinction of three tiers of representation: the melodic tier, the skeletal tier, and the syllable tier (Clements and Keyser 1983, Levin 1985, Hayes 1989, and others). The adoption of this theory of phonological representation is tantamount to eliminating the feature [[+ or -]syllabic] from the repertoire of phonological features. The distinction between [i] and [j] as well as [u] and [w] is delegated to syllable structure. At the melodic tier, the rep resentation of vowels and glides is identical. The difference is a matter of syllabification: vowels are syllable nuclei while glides are syllable margins (onsets or codas). The details of how this difference is represented depend on the type of skeletal theory employed. In the moraic theory (Hayes 1989), which I adopt here, syllable nuclei carry a mora while syllable margins do not. (1) Since vowels and glides are non-distinct prior to syllabification, their underlying representation is identical at both the melodic tier and the moraic tier (1a). In order to be syllabified into an onset or a coda, vocalic segments must lose their moras (1b). Glide derivation is therefore a process of mora deletion. (1) jej [jej] 'her' [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As is well known, syllable structure is non-distinctive at the underlying level and therefore is always derived. If, as noted above, the distinction between vowels and glides is a matter of syllabification, the prediction is that this distinction should be derivable because all syllable structure is derivable. I show that with few exceptions this prediction is borne out in Polish. Section 2 introduces the data (3) and shows how gliding processes can be analyzed in the rule framework. Section 3 looks at the same facts from the perspective of Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 1993/2004, McCarthy and Prince 1995). Section 4 is a summary of the conclusions. 2. Rule-Based Analysis The basic generalization regarding the distribution of high vowels and glides is that //i// and //u// erect syllables in the three contexts in (2); (4) otherwise we have glides. Dots denote syllable boundaries in polysyllabic words. (2) a. word-initially before a consonant: (5) iskr+a [i.skra] 'spark', Iren+a [i.re.na] 'Irene' urwis [ur.vis] 'urchin', u+raz [u.ras] 'injury' b. between consonants: mit [mit] 'myth', komitet [ko.mi.tet] 'committee' mur [mur] 'wall', profes+ur+a [pro.fe.su.ra] 'professorship' c. word-finally after a consonant: grub+i [gru.bi] 'fat' (masc nom pl), alibi [a.li.bi] 'alibi' mit+u [mi.tu] 'myth' (gen sg), tabu [ta.bu] 'taboo' Postvocalic and prevocalic contexts induce gliding. (3) Gliding after a vowel a. maj [maj] 'May', klejnot [klej.not] 'gem', slajd [slajt] 'slide', sejm [sejm] 'parliament' (3) b. …


Abstract Abstract 375 B cell receptor (BCR) signaling promotes survival of the malignant clone in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) through its ability to stimulate NFkB pathway signaling. In lymphoid cells, antigen receptor stimulation of this pathway is achieved by engaging the Carma-1 – Bcl10 – MALT1 (CBM) complex for eventual activation of I-kB kinases (IKKs). In B cells, protein kinase C beta (PKCbeta) is an important mediator of CBM complex activation. However, in CLL cells we found that PKCs do not appear to have a role in BCR-mediated NFkB pathway signaling, despite high expression levels of PKCbeta, because the presence of specific inhibitors of this kinase (LY379196 and bisindolylmaleimide-I) has no effect on the induction of IKK phosphorylation during BCR crosslinking. Examination of CBM complex expression suggests an explanation for this phenomenon; the expression levels of Carma-1 and MALT-1 are largely similar in CLL and normal B cells, but the expression of Bcl10 is much reduced in CLL cells. These findings, taken together with the established role of Bcl10 in the pathway of BCR-induced NFkB activation, suggest that CLL cells may employ a different mechanism to activate this pathway during BCR stimulation. Tyrosine kinases are known to play a role in BCR-induced IKK activation in CLL cells because compounds like dasatinib and PP2 inhibit NFkB pathway activation by BCR. One possible tyrosine kinase is c-Abl because we have shown this protein to be overexpressed in CLL cells, where it plays a role in activation of the NFkB pathway. To investigate the role of c-Abl in BCR-induced IKK activation, we used the inhibitor imatinib and found that the presence of this compound partially inhibited IKK phosphorylation in BCR-stimulated CLL cells. However, imatinib can also inhibit Lck, a T cell-specific src-family tyrosine kinase that is expressed by CLL cells. To differentiate between Lck- and c-Abl-mediated BCR signals we used the specific inhibitor 4-amino-5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[3,2d] pyrimidin-7-yl-cyclopentane (Lck-i). We found that the presence of this compound in CLL cell cultures undergoing BCR stimulation almost completely inhibited the induction of IKK activation. Investigation of Lck-i specificity revealed this compound did not inhibit either c-Abl or Lyn at the concentration used to inhibit Lck in CLL cell cultures. Further investigation of the effects of Lck-i showed that this compound was also effective in inhibiting BCR-induced activation of the Akt and ERK signaling pathways. Taken together, these data suggest a major role for Lck in BCR-mediated signaling in CLL cells, and question the existing paradigm on the importance of Lyn. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Gas mixing(GM) in spout-fluid bed was investigated by simultaneously injecting different tracer gas(TG) into the spout region and the annular region,respectively.The concentrations of TG at various bed locations were obtained.A multi-channel pressure signal analysis system and high-resolution digital camera were used to determine the flow patterns.Effects of two most important operating parameters(spouting gas velocity and fluidizing gas flow rate) on GM were examined with flow patterns.The results show that gas transfer from the spout region to the annular region and GM in the annular region are promoted by increasing spouting gas velocity.Gas transfer from the annular region to the spout region and GM in the annular region are promoted by increasing fluidizing gas flow rate. The distributions of spouting gas and fluidizing gas decrease with bed height.


Museum collaboration and object return has been discussed and examined widely in practice and literature in recent decades (e.g. Fienup-Riordan 1998; Peers and Brown 2003; Basu 2017). This paper examines an instance of object return, a wooden bowl. The bowl was part of the Roald Amundsen/Gjoa Haven Collection held at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway, and returned to the Nattilik Heritage Centre in Gjoa Haven in 2013. Upon its return to Gjoa Haven, the bowl became the focus of interrogations and discussions to determine how it might be related to local heritage and traditional knowledge. This paper explores how this particular instance of memory work might contribute to our understanding of the processes at play in repatriation activities, or, to quote Paul Basu, the bowl's "entanglements of ongoing social, spatial, temporal and material trajectories and relationships, dislocations and relocations" (2017, 2) as seen from the perspective of Gjoa Haven residents.


Abstract From the system of isomeric complex ions [Os(NCS)n(SCN)6-n]3-, 9 of 10 possible species, n = 1-6, are isolated, including for n = 2, 3, 4 the first representatives of pure geometric bond isomers. By reaction of K2[OsCl6] with aqueous KSCN solution at reflux temperature, trans(mer)-complexes, and on treatment at 60 °C exclusively cis(fac)- complexes are formed. By ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose columns, from mixtures of pairs of geometric isomers the pure trans(mer)-compounds are enriched in front, the cis(fac)-species at the end of the zones. Characterization and assignment of the configuration of the geometric isomers is based upon the reproducible differences in the IR and Raman spectra.


IN ATTEMPTING TO CORRELATE POOR RESULTS IN ORAL EXPRESSION PRACTICE with specific semantic fields (areas of the vocabulary0), I have found expressions bearing on the idea of movement in space to be almost completely lacking for the majority of students. Most of my first-year university students, with previous exposure to French, have acquired bouger, as well as the mistaken notion that it is the most general verbal expression for the idea of movement. Even elementary oppositions such as avancer / (se) retirer seem largely unknown. Beyond these, there remain other important matters such as the necessity of distinguishing between movement originated by an external force and movement by self-propulsion, which challenge the teacher to demonstrate that they are indispensable elements of syntax and semantics, and not, as students may suspect, pedantic distinctions. Even a little reflection from the perspective of a teacher's command of the language easily shows that, taken as a whole, this area of the vocabulary is rich in potential teaching material, ranging from basic oppositions such as those mentioned above, to relatively sophisticated degrees of distinction (se remuer / bouger / se deplacer). Given such richness, the question which demands attention is one of selection and organization. But the field of expressions of motion is so vast that the question is not easily decided. In addition, there are the perennial questions of coordination with course curriculum, manner of presentation, and planning of subsequent practice work which will maximize active use by students of the newly acquired knowledge. Ideally, the answer to all these questions lies in finding a topic or context in which the vocabulary of movement is indispensable to the expression of the main idea-a context which can generate numerous possible statements requiring the use of that vocabulary. At the same time, the context should be overtly suggestive of those statements and sufflciently delimited to elicit them within the students' transitional competence. Finally, the context should focus on an essential part of the vast total vocabulary of movement. During the past three years I have refined a classroom activity which invariably creates keen student interest, a high degree of participation, and, insofar as I can determine, a better retention rate than that of"enrichment" material presented in a more en passant manner. I have used the activity with six groups of first-year students whose program is based exclusively on 417


Formation of pedagogical system of preventive maintenance behavior of teenagers has stage-by-stage character. Methods, receptions, forms, models, systems, technologies of preventive work get forms of scientifically well-founded programs, the standards necessary for purposeful work of teachers, psychologists, lawyers, and also for preparation of the experts, capable to conduct effective preventive work. The big role in this system starts to play social and cultural activity.


The occurrence of several land ownership claims for salt ponds in several areas in Pamekasan initiated the Community Service Team to carry out legal counseling activities related to the importance of certifying ownership rights to salt pond land belonging to salt farmers in Pagagan Village, Pademawu District, Pamekasan Regency for which currently still has the status of girik land. This activity uses the method of presenting material about the urgency and benefits of land certification, as well as providing assistance to the community in the process of land certification. The results obtained in this community service activity are increasing public understanding regarding the importance of salt pond land certification. This activity provides benefits for the community to avoid ownership disputes over salt pond land.


Rural psychologists are frontline primary behavioral health care providers for nearly 60 million Americans, but they face limited access to peer consultation and continuing education. This article describes a program thatmatched 70 rehabilitation inpatients who had new brain injury with rural clinicians from patients' home communities. Neuropsychologists provided one-on-one training for clinicians through telehealth video teleconferencing. Clinicians showed gains in brain injury knowledge, and clients rated trained providers higher than untrained providers. Families seeking brain injury services can connect with these trained rural providers through a Web site, which receives more than 800 hits per month. Telehealth offers potential for rural clinicians to receive support, reduce professional isolation, gain working knowledge of specialty conditions, and deliver high-quality services for their rural clients.


In order to evaluate the power quality reasonably,a method based on improved analytical hierarchy process(AHP)and weighted technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution(TOPSIS)is presented.The element which has the greatest impact on the consistency of the judge matrix can be identified and modified by analyzing the relationship between the comparison matrix and the judgment matrix inconsistency.The inverted sequence of the weighted TOPSIS is solved by considering the specified values of the national standards of power quality as the absolute ideal solution and the limit values as the absolute negative ideal solution.Combined with the weight value which is gained from the improved AHP,the distance between the evaluation objects and the ideal solution is calculated.Therefore the method can judge whether the results are qualified and be qualitative to grade them.An analysis example of evaluating the power quality is given.


Within many traditional Jewish texts, women's bodies are portrayed as fertile vessels through which they can birth children and fulfill their nation-building roles. When Zionism arose as a prominent Jewish movement in the mid-1800s, Theodore Herzl envisioned this nationalist movement as an alternative to religious Judaism. Nevertheless, he accessed the Jewish narratives of female fertility as a means of enabling Jewish survival and of contrasting the newly masculinized Jews. Women's natural, passive fertility became a fundamental part of the nation-building endeavor and a necessity to Jewish survival. Women's reproduction became not only a physical necessity but also a social role and a means of her political enfranchisement. Although the pronatalism in the early era of Israel's statehood maintained loose tethers between the reproductive policies and religious narratives, the recent and nearly unilateral support for modern fertility treatments tightened those connections and galvanized the religious subtexts within Israeli society. These treatments, particularly in vitro fertilization, facilitate women's national duty to bear children, appealing to a complex narrative of nationalism which affirms the reproductive role of the female body. http://depts.washington.edu/chid/intersections_Spring_2009/Elena_Bloomfield_The_Jewish_Female_Body_in_Israeli_Reproductive_Practice.pdf © 2009 intersections, Elana Bloomfield. This article may not be reposted, reprinted, or included in any print or online publication, website, or blog, without the expressed written consent of intersections and the author intersections Spring 2009 228 Conceiving Motherhood The Jewish Female Body in Israeli Reproductive Practices


Three methods were used to protect the primary hydroxy group of methylα-D-glucopyranoside. Three important derivatives were prepared with the improved methods: ① p-toluenesulfonyl chloride was used to protect the 6th position hydroxy, acetic anhydride was added to protect other hydroxyl directly ,and methyl -2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-OTs-α-D-glucopyranoside(Ts:p-tolysulfonyl )was prepared with the yield 56%;② Triphenylphosphine and tetrachloromethane was applied to chloridate the 6th positionhydroxy, and methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-chloro-6-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside was prepared with the yeild 48% after acethylation and purification; ③ chlorotriphenylmethane was used to protect the 6 position hydroxy, methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-OTr-α-D-glucopyranoside (Tr:trityl)was prepared to after acetylation with acetic anhydride, and the yield was elevated to 80%.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a theory-driven, evidence-based approach to developing a brand's messaging strategies on social media encompassing three messaging dimensions, namely, appeal, content, and richness. Design/methodology/approach – Using longitudinal data from three Fortune 200 companies – Delta Airlines, Wal-Mart, and McDonald's – the authors empirically investigate comprehensive strategic messaging framework. Using ANOVAs and regression analyses, the authors test a set of hypotheses regarding the relations between a brand ' s purchase involvement, its message appeal, message content, and message richness, and engagement. Findings – Findings reveal significant relations between purchase involvement and appeal. Furthermore, the authors find that abstract content categories are best combined with richer media. Finally, both transformation appeal and richer media have a highly significant and positive effect on engagement. Research limitations/implications – The authors offer a t...


In this paper, we propose a universal dual-polarisation modelling method for the simulation-based propagation models. We adopt the universal definition of dual-polarisation radiation pattern and apply the definition to model the dual-polarised propagation channel. By adopting the universal definition of dual-polarisation using the ray reference, we clarify the misunderstanding caused by the widely accepted polarisation definition using ground reference. Furthermore, we integrate the universal dual-polarised model to a simulation-based propagation model. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of this dual-polarisation model in the simulation-based propagation models.


Research Objectives: My paper aims at studying the psychology of worship in the Mauritian Bhojpuri folk songs. Songs from the Mauritian "Geet-Gawai" (Bhojpuri songs sung before the wedding ceremony in Mauritius) will be analysed. Themes like pantheism, fear and awe in religion, nature worship or nature mysticism will be discussed. How do these singers perceive worship? Which theories are reflected in these songs? For how long will this tradition of worship exist? Methodology: Besides discourse analysis, interviews with the singers have shed light on these questions. Research Findings: Mauritian Bhojpuri folk songs depict the belief that reality is same as divinity. Everything is part of a merciful and eternal God. Theory of Pantheism of Baruch Spinoza prevails in the analysis where a similarity is also seen in the Vedas-philosophy of Advaita (Non-Dualism). This ceremony depicts that there are no barriers of caste and class as it contributes in the making of a strong multiracial community identity. It is no longer only for women as men are also actively participating in it.


The purpose of this paper is to analyze the different Project Management Maturity Models (PMMM) and give suggestions on how to select or develop a model to assess the Project Management Maturity of an organization. While it seems consolidated to classify PMMM into 5 levels, it would be useful to evaluate separately as "determinants of maturity": a. the individuals (project managers and team members), b. the projects and how they are managed (with extension to portfolio and programs too), and c. the organization as a whole and its capacity to deploy and apply Project Management. This paper is the most recent, complete review on PMMM.


The goal of this paper is to develop a robust depth estimation method from a single-view video sequence. We utilize an estimated initial depth to establish a reference depth for further obtaining the reliable depth information, and then it is refined with a temporal-spatial filter. At first, we use adaptive support-weight block matching to extract disparity information from consecutive video frames. The disparity is compensated with the camera motion and then transformed to the initially estimated depth. Based on the initial depth, two kinds of depth maps, the propagation depth and the optical flow depth can be established. Finally, these three depth maps are fused together by using voting merger, and then applied with the superpixel segmentation and a temporal-spatial smoothing filter to improve the noisy depth estimation in the textureless region. The experiments show that the proposed method could achieve visually pleasing and temporally consistent depth estimation results without additional pre-processing and time-consuming iterations as required in other works.


This paper uses the daily seasonally-adjusted data for net revenues and openings of small businesses in the accommodation, food services, leisure, and hospitality sectors in the United States from January 10, 2020, to June 24, 2021. The results from the Dorta-Sanchez bootstrap unit-root test for a random walk with drift show that the COVID-19 crisis has significantly affected revenues and openings of small leisure and hospitality firms. Moreover, the results remain valid when the data for the national level and 51 states are considered.


Abstract Cumulative tests (CTs) require learners to recall previously learned words. The scope of the tested words gradually increases with increased study sessions. A potential limitation of CTs is that less learning may occur for words introduced later than earlier. This study proposes random selection tests (RSTs), which may compensate for this problem. We randomly selected the tested words from all target words, such that learners can review all words in a balanced manner. To investigate whether RSTs compensate for CT limitations, the study randomly assigned 69 Japanese learners of English to the RST or CT group. They were given 45 Japanese and English word pairs and weekly small tests across three weeks. The CT group recalled 15 words per small test, in which the scope of the tested words increased (15 → 30 → 45 words). Alternatively, the RST group recalled 15 words, which were randomly selected from 45 words, per small test. The posttest revealed that the RST group compensated for the limitation and retained the second and last 15 words better than did the CT group. The findings suggest that RSTs enable L2 learners to study all words in a balanced manner.


Mesenteric traction syndrome consists of sudden tachycardia, hypotension, and cutaneous hyperemia, and frequently occurs during mesenteric traction in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) reconstructive surgery. The etiology and clinical impact of this phenomenon are unknown, but the symptoms suggest a release of vasoactive materials from the mesenteric vascular bed. Thirty-one patients who underwent AAA surgery were studied. Mesenteric traction was accompanied by a decrease in systolic (p = 0.005) and diastolic (p < 0.05) blood pressures, and in systemic vascular resistance (p < 0.005), and was accompanied by an increase in heart rate (HR) (p < 0.005), and cardiac output (p = 0.01). These hemodynamic changes coincided with an increase (p < 0. 001) in plasma concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 (6-K-PGF1). No apparent change was found in prostaglandin E2, thromboxane B2, and histamine concentrations. The concentration of 6-K-PGF1 was correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r = −0.52, p < 0.005) and HR (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). Cutaneous hyperemia was observed in 58% of the patients. In an additional six patients, who had taken aspirin daily before AAA surgery, no significant changes were observed in the hemodynamic measurements or 6-K-PGF1 concentrations. These data suggest that mesenteric traction syndrome may be mediated at least in part by a selective release of prostacyclin.


In this paper, we present static verification of security requirements for CSCW systems using finite-state techniques, i.e., model checking. The coordination and security constraints of CSCW systems are specified using a role based collaboration model. The verification ensures completeness and consistency of the specification given global requirements. We have developed several verification models to check security properties, such as task-flow constraints, information flow or confidentiality, and assignment of administrative privileges. The primary contribution of this paper is a methodology for verification of security requirements during designing collaboration systems.


The optimal conditions to adsorb phenol with Cr(superscript 3+)-bentonite were investigated. Results showed that phenol was adsorbed effectively by Cr(superscript 3+)-bentonite and alkalinity conditions were favorable to the adsorption. The best removal ratio was over 83% in the experiment. The last water level was less than the national third let level.


Scientific models are important, if not the sole, units of science. This thesis addresses the following question: in virtue of what do scientific models represent their target systems? In Part i I motivate the question, and lay out some important desiderata that any successful answer must meet. This provides a novel conceptual framework in which to think about the question (or questions) of scientific representation. I then argue against Callender and Cohen's (2006) attempt to diffuse the question.
In Part ii I investigate the ideas that scientific models are 'similar', or structurally (iso)morphic, to their target systems. I argue that these approaches are misguided, and that at best these relationships concern the accuracy of a pre-existing representational relationship. I also pay particular attention to the sense in which target systems can be appropriately taken to exhibit a 'structure', and van Fraassen's (2008) recent argument concerning the pragmatic equivalence between representing phenomena and data. My next target is the idea that models should not be seen as objects in their own right, but rather what look like descriptions of them are actually direct descriptions of target systems, albeit not ones that should be understood literally. I argue that these approaches fail to do justice to the practice of scientific modelling. Finally I turn to the idea that how models represent is grounded, in some sense, in their inferential capacity. I compare this approach to anti-representationalism in the philosophy of language and argue that analogous issues arise in the context of scientific representation.
Part iii contains my positive proposal. I provide an account of scientific representation based on Goodman and Elgin's notion of representation-as. The result is a highly conventional account which is the appropriate level of generality to capture all of its instances, whilst remaining informative about the notion. I illustrate it with reference to the Phillips-Newlyn machine, models of proteins, and the Lotka-Volterra model of predator-prey systems. These examples demonstrate how the account must be understood, and how it sheds light on our understanding of how models are used. I finally demonstrate how the account meets the desiderata laid out at the beginning of the thesis, and outline its implications for further questions from the philosophy of science; not limited to issues surrounding the applicability of mathematics, idealisation, and what it takes for a model to be 'true'.


The story of Reuben and Bilhah, which appears in an abbreviated fashion in Genesis 35:22, was expanded to an entire chapter in Jubilees. While Jacob is away, Reuben, his first-born son, sleeps with Jacob's concubine Bilhah. According to 1 Chronicles 5:1, Reuben's act resulted in the revocation of his birthright and its transfer to Joseph. Despite the negative assessment found in these two passages, neither of them prescribes a punishment against Reuben himself; rather, they describe the penalty incurred by the tribe of Reuben as a whole for the actions of their forefather. According to the legal passage, both people in a case of intercourse with a father's wife are to be put to death because of the impurity created by their actions. Both Bilhah and Reuben should have been punished, but were instead pardoned because the law had not yet been revealed to them.Keywords: Bilhah; Chronicles; Genesis; Jacob; Joseph; Jubilees; Reuben


The entropy density, energy density, pressure and equation of state around the RNAdS black hole are calculated in the WKB approximation on the Teukolsky-type master equation. The appearance of spin-dependent terms is demonstrated. The existence of these terms shows that the black hole radiation is not exactly thermal radiation and the black hole entropy is not strictly proportional to the area of the event horizon.


Central to the mission of Catholic higher education are the themes of Catholic
 social teaching. This contribution to the Education in Practice section recounts a
 15-week undergraduate course that deepened student engagement in Catholic social
 teaching themes through comparative education studies and a study abroad experience to
 Japan. A detailed description of the course's main segments draws on artifacts of
 student coursework and post-interviews. The contribution of comparative education is
 that students are provided a platform upon which they can explore deeper, underlying
 principles to individual Catholic social teaching themes. This contribution further
 provides practitioners step-by-step guidance in how to develop similar learning
 experiences for students in their university context. This report of Catholic Education
 at the classroom-level fits into the existing knowledge of how universities in the
 United States are engaging undergraduates in Catholic social teaching themes, as an
 expression of Catholic mission.


This article abstracted from dissertation entitled "State and Society's Relation in Rote". This article discusses the relation between the state and society in Rote Island. Rote Island (Rote Ndao District) consisted of 19 Kingdom ( Nusak ) with different culture, language, and customs on each Nusak . Nusak divides the government structure into 3 (three) functions: First is the executive institution body which run custom law, second is the legislative body which make custom law, and third is the judicative body which monitoring custom law. By this condition, Nusak is considered as Ethnic State. From this explanation, Indonesia should be seen as nations state, not as a nation state.


is said to be entire if it is C 2 on all of R", and exterior if it is C on R" ~ U, where U is a bounded open subset of R". In this paper we present a number of new results concerning asymptotic behavior of exterior and entire solutions, and in addition we establish the existence of many new examples of nonlinear entire solutions. Prior to this work, only the example constructed by Bombieri, De Giorgi and Giusti [3] in each even dimension n > 8 was known. (To be precise, these were the only nonlinear examples known modulo the additional examples obtained by scaling, rigid motions and adding "redundant variables", i.e., writing ύ(x, ,x+) = u(x, ,x) to get a solution ύ on R from a solution u on R.j The main results about asymptotic behavior are given in §5, and include some fairly precise upper estimates on rate of growth (given in Theorem 5) under suitable a priori restrictions on the "tangent cylinder at oo"; the notion of tangent cylinder at oo is discussed in §4. We also obtain corresponding lower growth estimates in Theorem 5. Caffarelli, Nirenberg and Spruck [7], Nitsche [18], and Ecker and Huisken [8] were already able to obtain lower growth estimates for entire solutions; while their estimates are not sharp in general (see the discussion in Remark (5.8) below), they have the advantage of being applicable to all nonlinear entire solutions, without a priori restrictions on the tangent cylinder at oo. The new examples referred to above are constructed in §6. It is proved that for each of the codimension 1 minimizing cones C in the list of Lawson [14] or in the list of Ferus and Karcher [10], there is an entire solution of the minimal surface equation which has C x R as tangent


Ticks that have been removed from foreign cattle, horses, numerous kinds of zoo animals, animal products and miscellaneous items presented at ports of entry and in some cases within the United States represent nine genera and 37 species: Amblyomma americanum, A. cajennense, A. dissimile, A. gemma, A. hebraeum, A. longirostre, A. maculatum, A. ovale, A. pomposum, A. rotundatum, A. testudinis, A. tholloni, A. variegatum, Boophilus annulatus, B. decoloratus, B. microplus. Dermacentor nigrolineatus, D. nitens, D. parumapertus, D. reticulatus, Haemaphysalis leachii muhsami, Hyalomma albiparmatum, H. anatolicum anatolicum, H. dromedarii, H. marginatum, H. rufipes, H. truncatum, Ixodes hexagonus, I. ricinus, I. scapularis, Ornithodoros amblus, Otobius megnini, Rhipicephalus bursa, R. evertsi, R. pulchellus, R. simus simus, and R. sanguineus. This study revealed three important points: (1) Most of the exotic ticks found on imports are males; females apparently drop off at foreign quarantine stations and while the imports are en route. (2) Native as well as exotic ticks on imported animals may be vectors of exotic disease. (3) Harmful ticks occur on strange items and abnormal hosts. Soon after the establishment in 1884 of the old USDA Bureau of Animal Industry, parent organization of our present research division, a collection for all kinds of animal parasites was established. Ticks, like other parasites, were accessioned into the parasite collection by assigning them a number with information on the host, locality, collector's name and date, and the name of the individual determining the species. Ticks collected from zoo, wild, and domestic animals within the United States and from animals, animal products, and miscellaneous items presented for entry into the country have been received for identification and deposited in this collection, now housed for over 70 years at the Beltsville Parasitological Laboratory. The information in this report is based on the ticks in this collection that were found on animals and items that were offered for entry or recently imported into the United States. The purpose of this report is to indicate those species that have been found at ports of entry (POE) as well as where they have been found within the country. Several of the ticks named herein transmit a number and variety of diseases. The diseases they transmit have been covered by other writers (Hoogstraal, 1956; Arthur, 1961; and Philip, 1963). Received for publication 23 January 1968. * Presented at the 2nd International Congress of Acarology, University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, England, 19-25 July 1967. TICKS FOUND ON IMPORTS The ticks found on animals and various items are listed in Table I with the host or item on which they were found, locality collected, and place of origin. The information relating to hosts is indicated as provided with the ticks. Comments on the hosts and their origin are included in the subsequent discussion and conclusions. Several hosts were infested with more than one species of tick and these hosts are listed accordingly under each tick. Amblyomma Amblyomma americanulm, A. cajennense, and A. maculatum are native species of the Americas. These ticks are easily distinguishable from Boophilus ticks by tick inspectors; therefore, it is highly possible they have not been routinely sent in for identification. Consequently, they may occur more commonly on animals from countries south of the United States than Table I indicates. Both A. americanum and A. maculatum are common parasites of wild and domestic animals in the southern United States; whereas, A. cajennense is only established in southern Texas. The ticks of the last named species reported in Illinois and Georgia were collected in 1915 and 1916, respectively, on horses from Guatemala. The specimens of A. gemma, A. hebraeum, A. longirostre, A. ovale, A. pomposum, A. tholloni, and A. variegatum were all males. Three


Objective:To find a best method to treat wounds of mentalpatients.Method:A retrospective as- sessment of 76 cases of skin wounds treated with MEBO collected from author's department in the past 2 years was made. MEBO was applied either in exposed or in bandaged way,depending on the wounds conditions.Result:All wounds of 76 cases healed under the cooperation of all patients for the treatment.The shortest wounds healing time was 6 days and the longest 53 days.There was little scar formation except with a few soft hyperplasia and the function appeared well.Conclu- sion:MEBO is efficacious in treating skin wounds of mental patients.It is easy and simple to apply.


In Nepal and the regions along with the Andes, sediment erosion is one of the major causes of the failure of hydro turbines. Every year lots of the components of turbines exposed to sediment-laden water got eroded resulting unexpected shutdown of the power plants. The cheapest method of repairing these eroded runners and other components of turbines are welding which may induce residual stress, embrittlement, and increase carbide content. Therefore, post welding heat treatment especially stress relieving annealing is always carried out to reduce the induced residual stresses, enhance strength and other mechanical properties as well as reduce the risk of cracking. As heating time is relative of low importance, great care should be taken during heat treatment to maintain the soaking time and cooling rate. Holding time for heat treatment will vary with the thickness of casting sections involved, but should be sufficiently long enough to heat all sections to a uniform temperature throughout. The cooling rate determines the material properties at room temperature and rapid cooling avoids the formation of chromium carbide. In this paper, the post-weld heat treatment used for repair and maintenance of turbines in Nepal is studied along with the investigation of heat treatment conditions on mechanical properties and microstructures of 13Cr4Ni stainless steel used as turbine materials to optimize the heat treatment itself. First of all relative analysis of five different heat treatment conditions with respect to 'no heat treatment' regarding mechanical properties i.e. toughness, hardness, and fatigue life was carried out. Heat treatments of the specimen were done in a muffle furnace. Hardness, toughness, and fatigue strength of the specimen using the Rockwell Hardness Test, Charpy Impact Test, and Fatigue Life Test were conducted respectively. Subsequently, microstructures of all the heat treatment conditions are closely examined using the metallurgical microscope. It was observed that holding time plays a great impact on improving mechanical properties.


The stock market has come along with the developed market-oriented economy.A healthy stock market needs the following requirements: socialized market capital equity mechanism,highly-developed social credit system,and clear market-oriented property right.China's stock market has been established in the transitional process from the traditional planned economy to the market economy,during which the market is far from mature and the purpose of the government is to satisfy the state-owned companies' capital needs.In fact,the government has given preference and privilege to the state-owned companies and the stock market.The special outer-rooted stock market mechanism needs inner-rooted government mechanism for the balance of the stock-hold parties;that is, the IPO's companies can obtain capital from equity even though the profit is limited.Moreover,the monitor system is backward compared with companies' deeds and credit,the re-issued stock and increasing capital needs requirements are in low standard,and the exiting period is man-made instead of market oriented.Actually,the government has given numerous advantage points to list companies.Under this condition,the list companies understand well the government's motivations and deeds,and in such a way does the game go on.The outcome will be that the government deregulates the monitor system,and the low-profit companies can attain the equity capital preferential arrangement.Studying the game strategies between the government and the list companies has significant function in regulating the authorities' monitor system,and hence perfects the construction and development of the stock market.


The present invention provides a spin coater including a rotation table that rotatably holds the disc substrate, a spin-cup that surrounds the outer circumference of a disc substrate held on the rotation table, a dropping unit configured to drop an ultraviolet-curable resin composition onto the surface of the disc substrate, a rotating unit configured to rotate the disc substrate via the rotation table to spread the ultraviolet-curable resin composition over the surface of the disc substrate, a heating unit configured to heat the ultraviolet-curable resin composition on the disc substrate, and the temperature being increased by the heating unit each time the ultraviolet-curable resin composition is spread, and a temperature controlling unit configured to control a reaching temperature of the spin cup so as to be constant over multiple spin coating processes.


The SAS/GRAPH® ODS Graphics Designer is a GUI based interactive tool for users who want to create custom graph quickly without any programming. This video presentation will show you how you can combine different types of plots, insets and legends to create the graph you need. Use this flexible tool to incrementally build single-cell or multi-cell graphs adding rows and columns as you go. Build data driven classification paneled graphs as easily as simple scatter plots. Start from scratch, or build on top of graphs from a customizable gallery, adding your own custom graphs to the graph gallery for future use, or to share with others.


Taxonomy of the intertidal Diaulota Casey is briefly reviewed and 12 species are listed including a new species. Diaulota submarina sp. nov. is described with illustrations of diagnostic characters and a revised key to the species of Diaulota is provided. The new species is remarkably similar to D. uenoi (Sawada) and indistinguishable by external morphological characters. They can be regarded as cryptic species.


Following from Robin Wood, Conte locates a dialectic of sublimity and destructiveness within the film's fraught hybridization of American culture. Carrie's fondness for metaphors of deviance and sexual becoming thus invokes its eponymous character's abjection as not just a gendered, but an explicitly nationalized negotiation of the politics of normalcy.


: The article presents a description of the research method and the results of research regarding the difference in the reception of space depending on the way it is perceived. The research concerned one space (the square in front of the building of the Eastern Innovative Centre of Architecture at the Lublin University of Technology) and three different reception methods. One group of respondents was physically in the square, the other group virtually – with the use of virtual reality (VR) technologies, and the third one saw only pictures of the square. Each group of respondents chose the emotions with which they identified most from the semantic scale developed for this study. The results of the groups were compared, and the conclusions were presented in the summary. The study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of using VR technology and photographs to study emotions that a given space evokes in its recipients.


Abstract nova sp.: a new marine Oscillatoriacea. — Thallus bundles, dirty white at the base and dark blue-green at the top. Bundles erect di-trichotomically branched and up to 2 cm long, 1–2 mm broad. Filaments very densely aggregated; sheath thin, firm, hyaline and homogeneous; trichomes blue-green 4,5–6,5 μ broad granulated at the cross walls; cells up to twice as long as broad (9–11 μ); apical cell rounded, without calyptra; on submerged rocks and epiphyte on brown algae at 10–100 cm depth. Tyrrhenean Sea off Punta Raisi (Palermo) leg. Giaccone, Ionean Sea off isle Lachea (Catania) leg. Furnari G. and Scammacca A. Typus in Herbarium Giaccone, Istituto Botanico dell'Universita, Trieste - Italy.


The first chromatic hard x-ray interferometer with a large and variable path length difference (PLD), based on a variation of the all-Bragg Graeff–Bonse x-ray interferometer has been built and successfully tested. See W. Graeff and U. Bonse, Z. Phys. B 27, 19 (1977). Such a capability can be used for better beam coherence measurements and also opens up the possibility of Fourier transform spectroscopy in the x-ray regime. Going through this interferometer, the beam is split in two and then recombined, by a set of four Bragg reflections in a (+−−+) geometry. In order to incorporate a large variable PLD between the two beams, a small angle (1°) was partly cut into the mirror faces (middle two reflections) in one of the arms of the interferometer. The PLD thus varies depending on the incident beam location on the beamsplitter surface. In this design, a very large PLD (millimeters) is easily achievable and is limited only by the available size of the silicon crystal. A larger angular cut in the mirror surface...


The aim of the research is to find out what words are used in Lithuanian and Latvian to name the rural population. The study was performed by applying descriptive, comparative and quantitative methods. The novelty of the article is the presentation of the Lithuanian language material in Latvian, as well as the analysis of the Latvian language material and the comparison of the meanings and use of Lithuanian and Latvian words. The study is sociolinguistic, not normative; therefore, not only systematic but also contextual, situational synonymy is important. Dictionaries and texts of literary and common languages, synonyms, slang and jargon, the text of the current Lithuanian language (Dabartinės lietuvių kalbos tekstynas) and the Latvian language text corpus (Latviešu valodas tekstu korpuss), are the main sources. A Lithuanian word kaimietis ('a villager'), which has long been a neutral name for a rural resident or a person born in a village, is a synonym for both neutral and stylistically connoted words. The most common synonyms are sodietis ('a homestead peasant') and valstietis ('a peasant'). In this synonym sequence, a peasant is a remote word that includes the concept "kaimo gyventojas" ('a rural resident') and the concept "žemdirbys" ('an agriculturalist'), thus linking the synonym sequence of the word a villager to a word farmer in the sequence of synonyms ūkininkas ('a farmer'), laukininkas ('a field peasant'). Recently, the word kaimietis ('a villager') has acquired a second – pejorative – meaning: "sakoma apie neišsilavinusį, prasto skonio ir pan. žmogų, kuris nebūtinai kilęs iš kaimo" ('it is said of an uneducated, a person of poor taste, and so on, a person who does not necessarily come from the countryside'). It is already recorded in the written dictionary of the common language, which indicates that the common connoted meaning in slang is codified. The word kaimietis ('a villager'), used in a pejorative sense, appears in the order of words that have a systemic or contextual pejorative meaning, as well as in a despising way: prastuolis, prasčiokas, mužikas, runkelis. The name of the villager in Latvian – the word laucinieks ('a villager') – is stylistically neutral, its synonyms consist of the neutral words lauksaimnieks ('a farmer') and zemnieks ('a peasant'). The word zemnieks, similarly to the valstietis ('a peasant') in Lithuanian, is the dominant in the order of distant synonyms zemkopis ('an agriculturalist') and zemesrūķis [?]. The approach to the synonym sādžinieks ('a homestead peasant') is ambiguous: its definition in current dictionaries associates the word either with Latgale or Russia, although according to its origin, it is considered to be a borrowing from the Lithuanian language. The word with root lauk- (from word 'field') lauķis [?] is used in a pejorative sense in Latvian (its shade is similar to the Lithuanian words prasčiokas ('a hick') and runkelis ('a person as mindless as a beetroot')), as well as slang word pāķis [?] and barbarisms – slavism mužiks ('a kern'), Germanism bauris [?] (in jargon bauers). The material of Lithuanian and Latvian texts shows that in both Lithuanian and Latvian, the words of different connotations are used synonymously in different contexts.


Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a commonly performed procedure for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, results are inconsistent. Patients in whom the UPPP procedure has failed have a smaller change in airway size as compared to responders, and also many demonstrate continued obstruction at the palate. We present a modification, transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty, that increases upper oropharyngeal and retropalatal airway size by advancing the soft palate. Eleven patients with severe OSA and multiple sites of airway narrowing were corrected by this method. Three patients had prior UPPP and 5 patients had concomitant tongue‐base procedures. Overall results demonstrate clinical enlargement of the retropalatal space. In the 6 patients who had transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty alone, 4 (67%) were successful responders as defined by a respiratory disturbance index (RDI) of less than 20 events per hour. RDI decreased from 52.8 ± 12.2 to 12.3 ± 2.8 events per hour. For the entire group, RDI decreased from 73.3 ± 29.4 to 25.1 ± 28.2 events per hour (P<.001). There were four complications, including a transient oronasal fistula(1), transient dysphagia(2), and serous otitis media(1).


It is remarkable that the artificially raised allopolyploids show high irregularities in maturation divisions. They are often highly sterile. For instance, Aegilotricum, obtained in our Laboratory (KIHARA and KATAYAMA 1931) had often 2 univalents in the first maturation division, while they are rarely found in the parents. The fertility was 39%, by selfing and 61% in open pollination. Cor respondingly gametes with 20 (or 22) chromosomes, besides normal ones, were expected. The occurrence of the 20-chromosome gamete was proved by the crossing experiments. Abnormality is more frequent in Secalotricum studied by LEWITSKY and BENETZKAIA (1931). 2-6 or even more univalents were found during the first maturation division. Abnormalities do exist also in the maturation divisions of the natural allopolyploids. But they are rather rare. The reason why the abnormalities in the maturation divisions of newly produced allopolyploids are very often, is not sufficiently investigated.


The purpose of this paper is to suggest that property investors should engage with governments to influence outcomes. Global collaboration is required from the real estate investment community, working closely with governments and legislators, to provide a clear road map to zero carbon emissions. Covid-19 has shown how quickly governments around the world can react with draconian responses, including widespread lockdowns, when faced with an existential threat. What bigger existential threat is there than climate change?,Personal viewpoint from general research.,Three pillars of likely government and legislative interventions are identified; namely, increased and enhanced energy regulation and carbon pricing to force a rapid switch to green energy sources for buildings; an enhanced role for Energy Performance Certificates, standardised methodologies and strict enforcement; and mandatory reporting of financial and physical climate risks based on the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. It is suggested that property investors should now engage with governments to influence outcomes.,Personal viewpoint to encourage greater involvement of the real estate investment community in governmental and regulatory decision making.


Objective To discuss the 64 slice spiral CT imaging character in isolate myocardial bridge patients and the clinical significance of two-phrase reconstruct.Methods 90 patients with isolate myocardial bridge were undergone coronary angiography with 64 slice spiral CT.All the raw data were rebuilded in two phrases.All the CTA were compared with ECG and clinical manifestations.Results In the 90 patients,90 segment vasculars were stenosis in 45% phrase while 42 segment vasculars were stenosis in 75% phrase.By comparing the result with ECG and clinlcal symptom,vascular were stenosis is relevant to myocardial ischemia and ECG ST-segment elevation.Conclusion That two-phrase reconstructing in 64-slice CT coronary angiography can make a prejudgement to the clinical significance of isolate myocardial bridge.


Annealing of pressed mechanical mixtures of finely grained La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and coarse-grained SrZrO3 at T
= 1000–1300 °C was accompanied by a systematic decrease in SrZrO3 lattice parameters with increasing La0.7Sr0.3MnO3
∶ SrZrO3 ratio and a corresponding decrease in sample magnetization at room temperature. EDX nanoprobe analysis of the composites confirmed substantial out-diffusion of La and Mn from La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 into the SrZrO3 particles. This process, detectable at 1100 °C, leads to an almost uniform distribution of La and Mn (6–8%) in the SrZrO3 grains and the corresponding changes in manganite particle composition at 1300 °C. Zr diffusion backflow is almost absent.


There is a clear need in most developed countries to increase the level of physical activity to achieve a recognized public health gain. It has been suggested that walking is 'the nearest activity to perfect exercise' (Morris and Hardman, 1997: Sports Medicine, 23, 306-332). Walking is one mode of activity that most people can do without skills, equipment, facilities or extra expense and walking has less bias in terms of age, sex and social class than more structured activities. The aim of this study was to determine, using the transtheoretical model of behaviour change (Marcus and Simkin, 1994: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 26, 1400-1404) as a theoretical framework, how people increased their walking behaviour. It is part of a larger study investigating the physiological and psychological effects of self-paced walking.


Internationally recognized Golestan forests are among the most endangered features threatened by anthropogenic activities. Being located in north-west of Iran, south-east of Caspian Sea, Gorganroud watershed is mostly influenced by deforestation activities. In this study the identification of regional atmospheric and hydrologic patterns and their role in conforming floods in Gorganroud water basin are discussed. A 33-year period (1970-2003) was taken in to consideration in the process of data gathering. Gradual change from Mediterranean to Semi-arid climate during recent decades in Gorganroud watershed indicates regional climate change. Increased share of 24- hour precipitation in average annual precipitation in one hand and decreasing rate of snowy on rainy days ratio on the other hand stipulate this climate change. The relatively sharp ascending pattern of annual peak flow of the basin during recent years may be considered as an alarming factor concerning streams inundation. Climate study in suspected water basins may provide invaluable data concerning flood forming potential of regional precipitations. The results of this study confirm the fact that precise analysis of climatic and hydrologic in watersheds threatened by flood-forming run-offs may be used efficiently in monitoring such areas and saving human lives.


Purpose – To evaluate the science and technology (ST in the biotechnology sector this ratio is 11:5:1. The structure of research expenditure in the public sector mostly reflects the success of Estonian biosciences rather than the success of biotech as a business sector.Practical ...


The present invention, at least two parts with the axis of rotation (P1, P2) An apparatus for mechanically coupling, the axis (X) around at least two that are hinged relative to one another an apparatus adapted to extend in the longitudinal direction (X) through the coaxial holes (A1, A2) which are formed in the parts (P1, P2), at least one longitudinal slot (13a) is at least one end are provided (13) a cylindrical body (10) comprising, provided with a cylindrical bore in the longitudinal direction (X), a cylindrical hole, part (P2) holes (A2) of at least one end that is disposed within the is intended is extended by a frustoconical bore (12) extending through the (13), a cylindrical body (10), frustoconical substantially against the hole (12) Internally threaded aperture extending in the longitudinal direction (X) when an insertion member of frustoconical shape that is complementary to (20), which inserts into the frustoconical bore (12) (20) is accommodated in inserts containing (21) and (20), a screw (30 having an insert threaded end adapted to cooperate by screwing with internally threaded apertures (21) (20) (31) ) comprising, and a screw (30) to form a revolute joint with possible and to and axis (X) about locking the cylindrical body (10) into the hole (A2), an apparatus.


We introduce a general framework for modelling the dynamics of the propensity to offend in a population of (possibly interacting) agents. We consider that each agent has an 'honesty index' which parameterizes his probability of abiding by the law. This probability also depends on a composite parameter associated to the attractiveness of the crime outcome and of the crime setting (the context which makes a crime more or less likely to occur, such as the presence or not of a guardian). Within this framework we explore some consequences of the working hypothesis that punishment has a deterrent effect, assuming that, after a criminal act, an agent's honesty index may increase if he is caught and decrease otherwise. We provide both analytical and numerical results. We show that in the space of parameters characterizing the probability of punishment, there are two 'phases': one corresponding to a population with a low crime rate and the other to a population with a large crime rate. We speculate on the possible existence of a self-organized state in which, due to the society reaction against crime activities, the population dynamics would be stabilized on the critical line, leading to a wide distribution of propensities to offend in the population. In view of empirical works on the causes of the recent evolution of crime rates in developed countries, we discuss how changes of socio-economic conditions may affect the model parameters, and hence the crime rate in the population. We suggest possible extensions of the model that will allow us to take into account more realistic features.


The sorption of urea to biochars produced by pyrolysis of corn cob (CC) with different pyrolytic temperatures was investigated to understand its related sorption mechanisms. Biochar samples were studied by elemental analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. Batch sorption experiments revealed that the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.999) fitted better with the sorption process than the Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models. Furthermore, the sorption mechanisms of biochars derived from CC changed from adsorption-dominant at low pyrolysis temperatures (300 and 400°C) to partitioning-dominant at higher pyrolysis temperatures (500 and 600°C). Column study indicated that CC-300 has the highest urea sorption capacity with 20.9 mg g−1 followed by CC-400, CC-500, and CC-600. A germination test was also conducted and the results showed that the exhausted biochar positively influenced the plant growth and can be potentially used as soil conditioner.


The L-lactide was reacted with Si-OH on attapulgite clay surface via a ring-opening under the protection of nitrogen at 140 ℃ to produce polylactic acid oligomers,which were grafted onto the treated attapulgite clay(AT),and then they melted blending with polylactic acid(PLA) and poly(butylene succinate)(PBS) to obtain PLA/PBS/attapulgite clay(AT) composites.They were analysed and characterized by means of FTIR,SEM,mechanical property testing and Vicat softening tester.The results showed that the best content of attapulgite was 1.5%.The addition of PBS could greatly improve the toughness of PLA;for best mechanical properties,the optimal amount was 25%.


The sustainable management of natural forest - the issues Queensland, Australia - an approach to successful sustainable management Africa South America and the Caribbean Aisa natural forest managemnt - a commentary conclusions recommended action.