The drying of safou is practiced in countries where the crop is grown but dried products are of low quality due to a high rate of rancidity. The drying procedure and the material used for packaging dried safou may be responsible for the high rate of rancid safou. The use of safou powder as an ingredient in the making of biscuits will open up new markets for dried safou especially for sour clones and this may reduce the quantity of rancid dried safou in the market. In order to investigate this, safou fruits were d ried using two different procedures; "rapid" and "slow" procedures and then packaged in polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), vacuum (GR) bags and bottles. Sensory evaluation was performed at 1, 15, 30, 60, 90 days after storage. Safou powder fro m sour and non-sour clones was used as a partial and comp lete substitute of butter in making biscuits and the acceptability of these biscuits tested in comparison with regular b iscuits. The data showed that 100 % of the test panelists accepted the form of the slow-dried safou compared to just 30 % for the rapid-dried (X 2 = 25, df =1, N=36). After 90 days of storage,safou dried using the rapid procedure and packaged in PE and PP were completely rancid while safou dried using the slow d rying procedure and packaged in PE and PP were rated as slightly rancid (X 2 = 19, df =1, N=36). The panellists rated dried safou packaged in GR and bottle and stored for 90 days as not rancid irrespective of the drying procedure used. Biscuits produced were highly acceptable and no difference was recorded in the acceptability of part ial safou biscuits made fro m sour or non-sour safou powder (X 2 = 0.09, df =1, N=36). The proportion of consumers who liked the colour, taste and texture of all biscuits made using non-sour safou powder was higher co mpared to those who disliked o r had no opinion about them (X 2 = 24, d f =1, N=36). Smaller (40 mm 2 )safou slices dried for 4 h got rancid faster than those larger (1500 mm 2 )safou slices dried for 16 h. Vacuu m bags and airt ight bottles stored dried safou better than PE and PP. Safou powder fro m sour and non-sour clone can be used directly as a partial substitute of animal fat (butter) in the making of b iscuits without going through the costly and laborious oil extraction process.


Introduction The study of the light curve of the transiting planet HD209458 provided for the first time an accurate measurement of its mass and its radius. It represents a strong constraint on evolutionary models of Pegasi planets. These planets should be in synchronous rotation, and as shown by Showman & Guillot (2002), should have a significant day/night temperature variation. We present a time-dependent radiative equilibrium model for the transiting planet HD209458b. Our model allows us to calculate the characteristic radiative timescale as a function of depth and, by mimicking atmospheric circulation as a slow solid body rotation, the global temperature map as a function of longitude. We predict day-night temperature variations of ~100K and ~ 200K at the 0.1 bar pressure level, for high rotation rates of 13 and 6 km/s, respectively, in relatively good agreement with the predictions by Showman & Guillot (2002).


ABSTRACT Composite friction materials, with increasing Fe and decreasing Cu content, were produced using the spark plasma sintering technique. The samples were observed to contain a C-layer deposition on their surfaces, which was due to the C transfer from the graphite die. They were subjected to dry sliding tests on a pin-on-disc testing equipment. The friction and wear behaviour were found to be mainly influenced by the characteristics of the surface C-layer. In the specimens containing high Fe content, the surface C-layer was easily shed during sliding, resulting in elevated coefficient of friction and worn sample surfaces covered with smooth, compact, and continuous friction layer. Conversely, for samples containing low Fe and high Cu content, the C-layer was not completely removed during sliding, leading to low CoF and very mild pin wear. The sliding properties of low Fe content samples were improved with a pre-treatment, wherein the C-layer was mechanically removed.


We have established a macro/nano refrigerator model. A possibly new thermodynamic refrigerator based on thermosize effects is analyzed. Expressions for some important parameters, such as the refrigeration load, coefficient of performance, and work input, are derived. By means of numerical calculation and illustration, the influence of the thermosize effects and the additional regenerative loss on the performance of the cycle are discussed and evaluated in detail. Some fundamental optimal relations and general performance characteristic curves of the cycle are obtained. The results obtained here will provide theoretical guidance for the design of some new macro/nano scaled devices.


In this paper we consider the incompressible viscous uid ow through a porous medium whose grains are also permeable and release mass to the ow. In each component porosity and permeability depend on saturation. The ow is modelled with a nonlinear parabolic equation for the pressure, with a degenerate parabolic term, depending not only on the saturations, but also on the space variable and on time averages of the saturation. We generalize the classic approach of Alt and Luckhaus to this situation and establish existence of at least one weak solution and bounds for its absolute value.


Today Brad Anderson, VP for Window Server & System Center, announced, through a blog post, that on October 18 2013 both Windows Server 2012 R2 ...


Traditional Hough transform can not locate the accurate position of line segments. It is too complex in practical liner target detection based on improved Radon. Both transforms is used associated in this paper in order to recognize the attitude of multi-targets as line segments accurately with an acceptable complexity in calculation. A new method called fast approaching algorithm using changing pace nonius length is also presented to determine the scale of targets quickly. Self-adaptive precision is also used in the processing.


Abstract Animal locations estimated by Global Positioning System (GPS) inherently contain errors. Screening procedures used to remove large positional errors often trade data accuracy for data loss. We developed a simple screening method that identifies locations arising from unrealistic movement patterns. When applied to a large data set of moose (Alces alces) locations, our method identified virtually all known errors with minimal loss of data. Thus, our method for screening GPS data improves the quality of data sets and increases the value of such data for research and management.


Today's municipal managers are required to be both successful business managers and technical specialists. This paper outlines a course unit aiming to broaden the knowledge, skills and attitudes of engineers in local government. It discusses the techniques used to achieve success in the post-graduate diploma and MBA (Technology Management) distance education package from the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers (APESMA). Two examples of topics are detailed: the privatisation of service delivery, and the requirements of asset management systems.<<ETX>>


In this work, we present two new novel routes to manufacture composites with improved properties; grafting nano-cellulose onto the surface of natural fibres and surface functionalisation of bacterial cellulose. Both nano-cellulose grafted natural fibre composites and surface functionalised bacterial cellulose nanocomposites showed significant improvement in their mechanical properties.


An examination of the U.S. Army's security force assistance efforts during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM reveals significant issues in effectively advising Iraqi Security Forces due to several organizational and personnel shortcomings within the Army's approach to this crucial mission. The merging of the Army's operational and advisory efforts at the core operational formation—the brigade combat team (BCT)—occurred with the advent of the Advise and Assist Brigade in 2009. This resolved some of those issues operationally, but did not fix the underlying structural issues in the Army. In 2013, the Army began to examine a new way of conducting business in the area of conflict prevention, looking to "engage regionally and respond globally." The tool chosen for this strategy is the regionally aligned forces (RAF) concept, which aligns various units with the geographic combatant commands. One potential mission for RAF that has the possibility of yielding substantial dividends is security force assistance. By aligning units regionally, particularly the BCT, the Army could greatly increase its ability to conduct security force assistance through building enduring relationships with partner militaries and in gaining genuine regional expertise in potential areas of conflict. However, the security force assistance lessons learned in Iraq are currently not operationalized to their maximum level within the BCT. If regionally aligned BCTs are to be truly effective in future security force assistance missions, several changes must take place in how the Army mans, trains, and equips its formations: • First, the Army should expand regional alignment to the majority of its BCTs. • Second, the Army should change its personnel management policies to ensure that soldiers serving in regionally aligned units remain focused on a geographic theater for the majority of their careers. • Third, the Army should institutionalize relations between regionally aligned special forces groups and conventional forces co-located on installations. • Fourth, the Army should create a distinct "Army advisor" functional area for officers and noncommissioned officers to form a cadre of experts in training foreign security forces at the tactical and operational levels. • Finally, the Army should modify the organization of the BCT to increase its security force assistance capacity by assigning these Army advisors down to the maneuver battalion level.


Recent studies demonstrate that autistic spectrum disprders children have deficits in executive functiony, particularly the function referred response inhibition. The antisaccade task provides a new tool for direct evaluation of inhibitory function and a new way to explore the character of response inhibition in children with cognitive impairment. Researchers have used the technologies of eye movement to reveal the ability of oculomotor inhibition in children with autistic spectrum disprders, which is poorer than that of normal children.

Key words:
Autistic spectrum disorders; Antisaccade; Inhibition


School leadership models in India are hierarchical and either vertical or Horizontal. The power flows from top to bottom. This approach hinders the autonomy of the Teaching fraternity and creativity of students. Leadership role of the Indian school ought to be transformed to a 'synchronizing' force and expected to act as 'facilitator' of change. School leader, should have a silver lining of academic leadership who can really contribute in Curricular and Co- Curricular activities of the Educational Institution rather than playing the role of Manager or Administrator. Let us understand the perspectives and paradigms of school leadership in India and develop a pragmatic, proactive and result oriented unconventional academic leadership for Indian schools.


Intergroup conflict contributes to human discrimination and violence, but persists because individuals make costly contributions to their group's fighting capacity. Yet how groups effectively synchronize their contributions during intergroup conflict remains poorly understood. Here we examine whether the evolutionary ancient neuropeptide oxytocin provides a neurobiological mechanism underlying group synchronization to attack or defend during real-time intergroup conflict. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study with N=480 males in Attacker-Defender intergroup conflicts, we found that oxytocin reduced attackers' contributions and over time increased attacker's within-group synchronization of contributions. However, rather than becoming peaceful, oxytocin enabled attackers to track rivals' defense-history and synchronize their contributions into well-timed (when defenders were weak) and hence more profitable attacks. Combined, results reveal behavioral synchronization and coordinated action as critical components of successful attacks, subscribe to the possibility that oxytocin enables individuals to contribute to in-group efficiency and prosperity, even when such implies outsiders are excluded or harmed.


Antenna height, shielding and subsurface properties all impact the observed GPR responses. While the basic concepts are generally understood, our long term goal is to develop parameterized models that will provide for quantitative interpretation of data acquired with real systems. Our first step was to develop modelling capacity and response presentation tools to help with development. We are using three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) modelling. Model results are then presented in a variety of forms. In this paper we compute emitted energy characteristics and display in radiation pattern format for infinitesimal dipoles, resistively loaded dipoles and shielded dipoles. Patterns are computed for free-space and over loss-less half-spaces with various properties as a function of height above the surface. The numerical simulations show the advantage of ground-coupling and the impact of shielding on GPR responses. Further, we demonstrate that total radiated energy is a very effective means of characterizing radiated signal directivity for GPR transient emissions.


This article presents the problem of determining the gas concentration under conditions of changing temperatures. The solution to this problem is based on spectral measurements using chemometric models. Such problems arise when measuring gases during various industrial processes, mainly the pyrolysis process. Chemometric models are built using synthetic calibration data. Line-by-line and statistical models were applied for spectra modelling. The effect of temperature on extracting the gas concentration from spectra of various resolutions was determined. Next, the global model was built and tested using calibration data for specific temperature ranges. The properties of the linear and nonlinear partial least-squares (PLS) models that were applied to the considered issues were demonstrated. CO and CH4 were used as example gases.


Dictation is an effective exercises to develop students' listening and writing competence,and it is also a new examination type in CET 4 6.After the reform of CET 4 6,compound dictation has changed from the preparing test into a new tpye of test,which indicates that we come to realize more and more the close relationship between compound dicatation and the listening competence.But base on the related data and the authors' teaching experience,it is found that the students' performance in this part is not satisfactory,and the students' comprehensive listening abilities are still poor.The paper tries to expound the importance of the method of compound dictation in college English teaching from the view of its form and role and how to carry it out as well.


Author(s): Graven, Heather Dawn | Abstract: Measurements of \¹\⁴C in atmospheric CO\₂ have served as a powerful geochemical tracer since the first observation programs began over 50 years ago. As the nuclear weapons tests of the 1950s and 60s caused an enormous perturbation to natural atmospheric \¹\⁴C levels, tracking the response of \¹\⁴C in CO\₂ provided a measure of exchange rates between different regions of the atmosphere and between the troposphere and the ocean surface and terrestrial biosphere. Early measurements of \¹\⁴C/\¹\²C, or [delta]\¹\⁴C, in tree rings provided clear evidence that rising CO\₂ concentrations were due to human activities by revealing the dilution of \¹\⁴C in the atmosphere by the combustion of million year old fossil carbon, a process termed the "Suess Effect". This thesis aimed to continue and expand the use of [delta]\¹\⁴C in atmospheric CO\₂ for investigating carbon cycle dynamics. Since much of the excess \¹\⁴C derived from nuclear weapons testing has been redistributed into oceanic and biospheric reservoirs, trends and gradients in [delta]\¹\⁴C of CO\₂ have diminished to levels that are nearly commensurate with measurement precision at most laboratories. Development of improved methods for [delta]\¹\⁴C analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory advanced measurement uncertainty to 1.7 permil. Application of the improved analytical procedures to an archive of CO\₂ samples from the Scripps CO\₂ Program produced 2-15 year monthly time series of [delta]\¹\⁴C at seven global sampling stations. The high precision observations show variability in the secular trend of [delta]\¹\⁴C that could enable new insights to the climatic influences on CO\₂ exchange. Measurement of a shift in the [delta]\¹\⁴C gradient between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres since the 1980s also places constraints on regional fluxes of carbon, with particular relevance to Southern Ocean dynamics. The measurements presented here contribute significantly to the amount and global coverage of recent [delta]\¹\⁴C observations available to the community. The thesis also demonstrates the application of [delta]\¹\⁴C measurements for identifying fossil fuel- derived CO\₂ in vertical profiles sampled by aircraft. Similar measurements could be used to distinguish regional sources of industrial or biospheric CO\₂ or to investigate the mixing of surface CO\₂ fluxes in the troposphere


This academic thesis holds that the research of "Emulating Da-Zhai on Agriculture" campaign has achieved spectacular achievements in the past two decades.Centering on the history distinction stage by stage,the launched cause,the"Da-Zhai spirit",and the history evaluation of "Emulating Da-Zhai on Agriculture"campaign,academic circles set off an enthusiastic discussion.To make the "Emulating Da-Zhai on Agriculture"campaign become a stereoscopic research object,we need make a thorough inquiry as to the grasp on a grand scale,the excavation and exploitation of the research material,the thinking transformation and the research-methods creation ,etc.


Despite of preventing in the reduction of sheep numbers in Turkey during the recent years by means of the livestock supports, the sheep breeding activity has been tried to sustain within its traditional structure without performing a notable development. This situation reveals the necessity to investigate effective factors in ensuring the sustainability of the sector besides economic factors. This study aims to determine influencing economic, environmental and social factors on the producers' willingness to continue their sheep-breeding activities in the TR71 region and to provide a guide for policy decision makers for the development of the sector. The primary data of this study was collected from 114 sheep farms by conducting face to face interviews in Nigde and Aksaray provinces, which constitute more than two thirds of the animal numbers in the region Logistic regression method was used to estimate the likelihood of farmers' willingness to continue sheep farming. According to the study results, the improvement of conditions in sheep barn and/or accommodation for shepherd, profitability of the activity, marital status of the farmer, forage production and the lack of shepherd were found as the effective factors on the likelihood of the farmers' willingness to continue their sheep breeding activities. The farmers who improved sheep barn and/or accommodation for shepherd were 14.01 times more likely to continue the sheep farming. Accordingly, one unit increase in the relative profitability increased the likelihood of farmers 'willingness to continue sheep farming by 9.53 times. Similarly, married farmers were 5.03 times more likely to continue sheep farming than single farmers. Farmers who produced forage crops were 4.14 times more likely to continue sheep farming. On the other hand, farmers who had the problem of finding shepherds were 81.1% less likely to continue sheep farming. Continuation of the sheep farming sector requires the implementation of support measures that will improve the structural conditions of the enterprises, together with the improvement of the social and environmental conditions for the sector.


A series of computer models have been developed to predict air quality in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut Air Quality Region. Efforts have been directed at models which have a shorter time scale than climatological models, and which are capable of providing better recommendations for effective abatement and planning, but use input data presently available. The basic dispersion model for these investigations is a steady-state,nondivergent Gaussian-type model. A modified inventory of SO2 sources,based on published data for the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut Air Quality Region, was prepared for use with the model. The basic model has been subjected to various internal sensitivity analyses, in which was isolated the variation produced in the pollutant concentration by a given change in each of the factors that contribute, e.g., wind speed, wind direction,mixing depth, stability conditions, source strengths, and grid size for the area sources. To date, validation tests of the model have been made against ...


The comparison between ultra-fine pitch QFPs and BGAs is presented in this article. The inspection, cleaning, repairing and their availabilities of QFPs and BGAs are also described The development of QFPs and BGAs in the future is discussed in the end


The purpose of this study was to find the most effective between rough horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) and Mexican sword (Echinodorus paleafolius) as a phytoremediation agent in reducing heavy metal lead (Pb). The method used in the study was an experimental method with a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of four treatments and three replications using two aquatic plants, namely rough horsetail and Mexican sword. The physical and chemical parameters observed were temperature, degree of acidity (pH), dissolved oxygen (DO), and the concentration of heavy metal lead (Pb). The optimal research results on the combination treatment to reduce the concentration of heavy metal lead (Pb) was 0,0066 mg/L with a decrease proportion of 90,32% for 14 days. The best phytoremediation results in the rough horsetail and combination treatment used for fish with fish survival was 100%.


Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in combination with anemia of chronic disease (ACD), are of particular interest to both scientific and practical health care. The purpose of the work - to study the activity of systemic inflammation.Material and methods. The results of the examination of 475 patients with exacerbation of COPD were analyzed, which were divided into two groups: group I - 155 people (61,3% men and 38,7% women) with ACD; group II - 320 patients (46,9% of men and 53,1% of women) without the anemic syndrome. Determination of the activity of the inflammatory process was performed by hemocytogram, serum markers of inflammation and integrated hematological indices. The results of the study. It was found that COPD in combination with ACD was accompanied by activation of the inflammatory process (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, segmented neutrophils content) and suppression of lymphocyte-monocyte inflammation, significantly higher integral hematological indices (leukocyte shift index; ratio of leukocytes, non-segmented neutrophils and all neutrophils to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate; the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes and the integrated index of inflammation), which increased with the deepening of the anemic syndrome, increasing patients age and was more pronounced in women. Activation of inflammation was associated with deterioration of bronchial patency according velocity parameters (Tiffno index, mean and peak volumetric velocities, maximal volumetric velocities by 25% and 75% of the forced ungs vital capacity). Anemic syndrome was also associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein (p>0,05), general fibrinogen (p<0,05) and seromucoids (p>0,05), the content of which varied in parallel with the leukocyte shift index. Conclusion. Anemic syndrome, as a manifestation of persistent systemic inflammation, worsens the course of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through affecting the respiratory function and the inflammatory process activation.


The combination of the optical fiber and electrical connectors, and therewith the plug to be fitted is provided. .FIELD 1


Objective To explore the relationship between the surgeons examination-based objective measure method and the patient-based subjective feeling evaluation methodfor distal radius fracture. Methods 205 patients who received operative fixation of distal radius fracture and were up for more than 1 year were retrospectively investigated. The surgeons measure wrist range of motion including flexion-extension arc,supination-pronation,radial-ulnar deviation,and grip strength; while the patient completed the DASH questionnaire and visual analog scale( VAS) to grade the current level of function and pain at 2,4,6 weeks and 3,6,12 months after the operation. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed to evaluate the association of range of motion,girp strength,and VAS score with the DASH score. Results The range of motion and grip strength improved continually after the operation,the flexion-entension arc was( 113. 7 ± 6. 9) °and supination angle was( 81. 2 ± 3. 8) °,grip strength recovered to 81. 6% of the contralateral hand. While the DASH and VAS score reduced gradually and to( 17. 6 ±2. 9),( 16. 1 ± 2. 5) respectively 1 year after. Regression model showed VAS score,grip strength and supination were the significant related to the DASH score,and could count for 61% of the variability of DASH. The regression coefficient was 4. 03,- 0. 19,- 0. 427 respctively in revised model. The other factors had no significant correlation to DASH score. The supination range had important role in wrist function. Conclusion Pain,strength and supination were major factors effects function of wrist after surgery and had significant relationship with the selfexperience of distal radius fracture patients.


It is important to remember that the vertebral end plate epiphyses remain cartilaginous and do not fuse until the early part of the third decade1 and therefore the immature spine persists for 20 years or more. Indeed the spine grows a couple of centimetres on average after the attainment of skeletal maturity as evidenced by increasing sitting height after an X-ray of the left hand and wrist confirms appendicular maturity.2 Therefore children's back pain should be considered in a somewhat longer time frame and, not perhaps surprisingly therefore, idiopathic scoliosis can progress into the early 20s. That condition is however not a source of pain other than a mild intermittent fatigue discomfort over the rib hump until the spine stops growing. Any more obvious spinal pain should be viewed with considerable suspicion while clinical features such as night pain and spinal tenderness should be regarded with frank concern.


Driven by market needs and laws, automotive manufacturers develop ever more feature-rich and complex vehicles. This new functionality plays even an active role in driving, what poses many new challenges on assuring the safety of the vehicle. Safety cases constitute a proven technique to systematically use existing information about a system, its environment, and development context to show its safety. We construct the safety case for a cruise control system describe in a case study in the automotive domain with a special consideration of existing domain-specific models. In the case study, we identify generic safety case modules and several reoccurring patterns, which will simplify the development of future automotive safety cases.


Traffic classification is of fundamental importance to numerous other network activities, from security monitoring to accounting, and from Quality of Service to providing operators with useful forecasts for long-term provisioning. In our proposed system, we present a novel traffic classification scheme to improve classification performance when few training data are available. In the proposed scheme, traffic flows are described using the discretized statistical features and flow correlation information is modeled by bag-of-flow (BoF). We solve the BoF-based traffic classification in a classifier combination framework and theoretically analyze the performance benefit. Furthermore, a new BoF-based traffic classification method is proposed to aggregate the naive Bayes (NB) predictions of the correlated flows. We also present an analysis on prediction error sensitivity of the aggregation strategies. Finally, a large number of experiments are carried out on two large-scale realworld traffic datasets to evaluate the proposed scheme. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme can achieve much better classification performance than existing state-of-the-art traffic classification methods. Keywords—Traffic Classification, Intrusion Detection System, Bag of Flows, Network Traffic Characterization, Naive Bayes.


The novel point of this analysis is a direct use of the Reggeon exchange technique for the description of the reactions πN → two mesons + N at large energies of the initial pion. This approach allows us to describe simultaneously distributions over M (invariant mass of two mesons) and t (momentum transfer squared to nucleons). Making use of this technique, the following resonances (as well as corresponding bare states), produced in the πN→π0π0N reaction, are studied: f0(980), f0(1300) [f0(1370) in PDG notation], f0(1200–1600), f0(1500), f0(1750), f2(1270), f2(1525), f2(1565), f2(2020), f4(2025). Adding data for the reactions (at rest, from liquid H2) →π0π0π0, π0π0η, π0ηη and (at rest, from gaseous H2) →π0π0π0, π0π0η, π0ηη, we have performed a simultaneous K matrix fit of two-meson spectra in all these reactions. The results of combined fits to the above-listed isoscalar fJ states and to isovector ones, a0(980), a0(1475), a2(1320), are presented.


Background : Realizing customer satisfaction is a defense strategy required in
enhancing food business competitiveness. Level of customer satisfaction
depends on the quality of product that is offered. One factor relates to food
quality is the food safety assurance. The outbreak of Hepatitis A in 2008 amon
GMU students triggered awareness in food service practice at university
canteens. Therefore, food handlers play important role in food safety assurance.
Food handlers�s behaviour might be determined by individual characteristics.
Objective : To identify the association between individual charcateristics with
behaviour (knowledge, attitude, and practice) of food safety among food handlers
in canteen of Gadjah Mada University.
Instruments and Methods : Subjects were food handlers who work in canteens
within UGM, which then categorized into 3 clusters based on the discipline of
faculties in which the canteen located, i.e. Agro-Health, Science-Technology, and
Sosio Humaniora clusters. Data of individual characteristics, knowledge, and
attitude of food handlers were obtained through self administered questionnaire
while data of food handlers� practice were collected by using observational check
list. Form of food safety score was used to evaluate the overall quality of foods.
Statistical analysis were performed by using Chi Square test, Spreaman
correlation and One way ANOVA analysis.
Result : There was no significant relationship between individual characteristic
and food handler�s behaviour on food safety (p>0,05). However, there was a
positive correlation between knowledge and attitude and both attitude and
behaviour (p<0,05). Differences of food safety behaviour were found in cluster
Agro-Kesehatan, Sains-Teknologi and Sosio Humaniora. Overall, the quality of
foods in canteen classified as susceptible but it still safe to consume.
Conclusion : Individual characteristics (age, gender, education level,
professional experience, and job training) is not associate significantly with
behaviour (knowledge, attitude and practice) of food safety among food handlers
in canteen of Gadjah Mada University.


ACTA MEDICA PHILIPPINA Vol 54 No 4 (2020): Genetics Issue 6 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Clinical, Biochemical, and Radiologic Characteristics of Filipino Patients with Glutaric Aciduria Type 1 Clinical and Biochemical Profiles of Filipino Patients with Distal Urea Cycle Disorders Detected by Abnormal Expanded Newborn Screening Gaps in the Newborn Screening Process: Using Maple Syrup Urine Disease as a Case Filipino Midwives' Knowledge, Self-perceived Role and Experiences in Educating Parents of Families with Newborns who are Confirmed Cases of Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency


This paper discuss comparative strudies of the tread brake dynamometer between dry and wet conditions. The brake dynamometers are widely used to evaluate the performance of brake systems and test the brake parts under various environments (weight, velocity, brake force, wet-dry conditions). In the process of the brake stops, the friction coefficients between dry and wet conditions must not deviate from each other by more than 15% under the same conditions. Experiments on the brake dynamometer for the high speed train are shown to illustrate the comparative studies of the tread brake dynamometer between dry and wet conditions with initial vehicle speed at 200 [km/h] considering the 920 [mm] wheel diameter.


This study sought to find out the relationship between the elements of strategic management and organizational performance. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach in collecting data and information through personal interviews and field visits, as well as a questionnaire. The study aimed at diagnosing the influence relationship and its analysis of the elements of strategic management in organizational performance. The study reached a set of conclusions, there are significant correlations among the study variables. There was a significant effect between elements of strategic management on organizational performance.


The major and micronutrients govern the fertility of the soils and control the yields of the crops. Soil fertility evaluation of an area or region is an important aspect in context of sustainable agricultural production, particularly for arid region where, sparse and highly variable precipitation, extreme variation in diurnal temperature, high evaporation and low humid-ity, the alluvial and aeolian landforms have given rise to the variability in soils. Besides, acute moisture defi-cit, wind erosion is most serious limiting factor limiting biological productivity of the district. The region had extreme fallowing in past even during the good rainfall years. But because of increase in population and its activities lot of area is being brought under cultivation, even dunes of several meters heights are also cultivated. In present era of technological ad-vancement in agriculture it is of immense interest to study the fertility status of soils. Although the wide-spread deficiencies of major and micronutrients in arid Rajasthan have been reported by Joshi et al. and Gupta et al . the information on availability of major and micronutrients of the study area is meager and mainly based on the widely scattered sampling that is hardly sufficient to bring the variability inherent in the soils of the area. Therefore, a comprehensive study was undertaken to know the fertility


The step barrier technology with multiple parallax images has overcome the problem of conventional parallax barrier system that the image quality of each image deteriorates only in the horizontal direction. The step barrier distributes the resolution problem both to the horizontal and the vertical directions. The system has a simple structure, which consists of a flat-panel display and a step barrier. The apertures of the step barrier are not stripes but tiny rectangles that are arranged in the shape of stairs, and the sub-pixels of each image have the same arrangement. And three image processes for the system applicable to computer graphics and real image have been proposed. Then, two types of 3-D displays were developed, 22-inch model and 50-inch model. The 22-inch model employs a very high-definition liquid crystal display of 3840 x 2400 pixels. The number of parallax images is seven and the resolution of one image is 1646 x 800. The 50-inch model has four viewing points on the plasma display panel of 1280 x 768 pixels. It can provide stereoscopic animations and the resolution of one image is 960 x 256 pixels. Moreover, the structural or electric 2-D 3-D compatible system was developed.


PURPOSE: A method for automatically separating a foreground and a background of an image is provided to divide a photographed image into a background image and a foreground image without additional operation of a user. CONSTITUTION: One or more pixels are divided into pixel groups according to color similarity of each pixel(100). One or more pixels are included in a photographed image. The location of a foreground image is presumed from the image divided into a pixel group(200). The background and the foreground of the image are divided based on a location of the presumed foreground image(300). The photographed image is converted from an RGB color space into a CIE Lab color space.


: The Dennis Gabor College has a long-standing tradition where some tutors choose student demonstrators based on their knowledge and aptitude. For a student, the demonstrator's activity is an extra scope of duties. In such cases, they support their teacher's work, the instructors let them participate in the preparation of learning tutorials as well as encourage them to do scientific research work. as expected. The purpose of our measurements is to show both the students who attend digital image processing courses and both the researchers who are using images and working in the scientific field to how the elements of the images can affect the measurements. We made our software to convert and cut the large TIFF files. The purpose of our software is to cut the large TIFF images without changing them. The popular market leaders are not able to save large TIFF images without lost or changed values after cutting. The software works on MAC OS and Win, too. Based on our newest measurements, we demonstrate the accuracy of classifications which are based on Neural Network as well as how the imaging algorithms can affect the NDVI values. We compared nine different algorithms that have a significant influence and we corroborate them with exact data and results. In this publication, it will be explained how we can reach complex research results with the help of the students. We also demonstrate what are the benefits and pitfalls of educational work with complex methodological elements.


This paper presents a VHDL-AMS description of a direct torque control (DTC) of an asynchronous machine and exposes some high-level-simulation results allowing a behavioral study with a virtual way. A DTC control is a multi-domain system including digital and analogue electronics power, an electrical motor and sensors. So that its simulation presents some difficulties. A VHDL-AMS description provides a good solution to solve this problem and permits to predict system performances when modifying its parameters.


Hard drives featuring sliders with active flying-height (FH) control using thermal expansion of a heating element have been recently introduced in products. This approach allows to actively compensate for static FH variations and achieves sub-3-nm clearance during read/write operation. This paper describes a nonlinear numerical model of a perpendicular magnetic recording head for accurate simulation of pole-tip protrusions and their effect on FH change under various conditions, such as at an elevated drive temperature, with the heater activated or during write operation. The model integrates an electrical-thermomechanical finite-element model of slider and a full air-bearing solver, and includes lapped pole-tip recession and slider/disk deformation due to air-bearing pressure. We are able to predict key parameters that are not easily measurable (e.g., minimum/reader/writer FH, different protrusion profiles for ambient temperature, heater actuation, and during writing). We also present novel experimental methods for measuring protrusion and clearance delta profiles with angstrom-level resolution. The modeling results are compared to experimental data under various test conditions showing excellent agreement. From this method, we are able to quickly evaluate and optimize different heater, head, and ABS designs.


Germanium photoconductors are currently the most sensitive detectors for use in low background, far infrared applications. In particular, between the wavelengths of 40 micrometers and 200 micrometers , these detectors have been used in a number of existing or planned systems for space infrared astronomy. We describe briefly the physical mechanisms of photoconductivity, including a discussion of various non-ideal behaviors seen at low backgrounds. The requirements for specialized cryogenic electronics are discussed along with some current implementations. Examples of past focal plane array designs are given, and the extension of the technology to large format imaging arrays is described.


In this paper, we present a virtual oscillator control (VOC) strategy for power inverters to operate in either grid-connected or islanded settings. The proposed controller is based on the dynamics of the nonlinear Andronov-Hopf oscillator and it provides voltage regulation, frequency support in islanded mode. It also features the potential to respond to real- and reactive-power setpoints for dispatchability in grid-connected mode. In contrast to early VOC incarnations which exhibit undesirable harmonics, the proposed controller offers a sinusoidal ac limit cycle as well as improved dynamic performance. Moreover, the proposed controller intrinsically generates orthogonal signals which facilitate implementation in three-phase systems. We study the controller dynamical model and outline a systematic design procedure such that the inverter satisfies standard ac performance specifications. Numerical simulations validate the analytical developments.


A multipurpose space within The University of Oklahoma's College of Architecture, which suffers from poor speech intelligibility and clarity as a result of excessive reverb and flutter echo produced by finish materials, room volume, and shape, has recently functioned as a pedagogical makeshift architectural sound lab and location for data collection. The multiple phase research project launched Spring 2017 spans disciplines for data collection, design solutions through prototyping and validation, and construction. Faculty and students began research by collecting and analyzing acoustical data, developing a literature review and database of comparable acoustical challenges and results, and validating findings in both computer and physical model form. Collected data led the team to design applications for adaptive and resilient learning environments with minimized acoustical distractions and improved speech intelligibility. This article summarizes the subject matter covered during the December 2017 ASA presentation with additional history, pedagogy, and overall purpose of the research project, showcasing the union of teaching and research through the process of collecting quantifiable data in lieu of dependence upon anecdotal commentary. The space has served as an acoustical teaching tool for students, administrators, and the general public to learn how spatial and material decisions can improve unhealthy learning environments.A multipurpose space within The University of Oklahoma's College of Architecture, which suffers from poor speech intelligibility and clarity as a result of excessive reverb and flutter echo produced by finish materials, room volume, and shape, has recently functioned as a pedagogical makeshift architectural sound lab and location for data collection. The multiple phase research project launched Spring 2017 spans disciplines for data collection, design solutions through prototyping and validation, and construction. Faculty and students began research by collecting and analyzing acoustical data, developing a literature review and database of comparable acoustical challenges and results, and validating findings in both computer and physical model form. Collected data led the team to design applications for adaptive and resilient learning environments with minimized acoustical distractions and improved speech intelligibility. This article summarizes the subject matter covered during the December 2017 ASA pres...


The entire ERCOT interconnection has become one control area, and one of ERCOT's major responsibilities is to maintain the interconnection frequency. This function is carried out by the frequency control system (FCS), which is part of the power operating system (POS). The POS/FCS interfaces with the market operating system (MOS). This paper presents the overview, implementation, tuning, and operational experience of the FCS. The ERCOT FCS actually represents the top level of a hierarchical AGC. Mr. Nelson presented this subject in a panel session of 2002 IEEE PES winter meeting. This paper reports both what Mr. Nelson had presented at the 2002 winter meeting and the updates and enhancements that have been made to the FCS since that presentation.


Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of life-long relapsing and remitting inflammations of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, with complex aetiology and no known cure. Incidence world-wide is increasing, especially among paediatric-onset cases. In addition to known primary morbidities, recent epidemiological evidence suggests an increased life-time risk of cardiovascular events in IBD patients, however the mechanism for this is unknown. This thesis attempts to investigate the hypothesis that chronic inflammation in IBD promotes vascular dysfunction, which leads to increased cardiovascular risk, and is detectable in paediatric IBD. Mechanisms of endothelial microparticle (MP) formation were investigated, and it was found cytokines associated with IBD stimulate MP release in a synergistic manner. Additionally, markers of endothelial injury, hypercoagulability and circulating microparticles (MPs) were assessed in paediatric IBD patients and compared to healthy controls. Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) were raised in paediatric IBD, with even inactive patients having significantly higher CECs. This was corroborated by increased circulating levels of MPs, particularly those derived from neutrophils, the endothelium and those expressing tissue factor (TF). Paradoxically, plasma from patients showed delayed thrombin generation, as well as MP-mediated thrombin generation, measured by an in vitro assay. Patients also showed increased plasma activity of TF and derangement of the TF/TFPI axis. Patients were assessed for structural arterial disease by assessment of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), but showed no difference to healthy controls. Finally, assessment of plasma cytokines and vascular injury markers by multi-plex electrochemiluminescent assay showed an increase in multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines in paediatric IBD. In summary, these novel findings suggest an increase in vascular injury in paediatric IBD along with promotion of a pro-thrombotic state. These findings provide a unique insight into the cardiovascular complications of IBD patients.


IoT technology has made great progress and application results in enterprise application scenarios. Some large and medium-sized enterprises have applied IoT technology to optimise the problems in their own business and operation management and improve their management efficiency and competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to study the enterprise collaborative integrated management system based on IoT cloud technology. Combined with the enterprise's information system construction planning, an integrated management system is established. Three main functions are realised:supplier management module, daily office management module and document receiving and sending management module. The supplier management module uses a clustering algorithm for supplier evaluation and classification. Finally, the system equipment is evaluated, thus enriching the study of the application of IoT cloud technology in the optimal management of enterprises.


The paper introduced the probing method of Ground Penetrating Radar(GPR) and discussed the application of high frequency Ground Penetrating Radar(GPR) into concrete cracks probing on the crest of clay core wall rockfill dam.By use of GPR,the character and cause of concrete cracks on the crest can be probed rapidly and non-destructively.


Abstract:This essay focuses on the observations of animal migration found in the journals of eighteenth-century Hudson's Bay Company naturalists Andrew Graham and Thomas Hutchins. In particular, it examines how the naturalists' locally specific yet globally engaged knowledge of migration depended on a composite of systems, places, and voices—on long-term access to the ecological richness and diversity of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, fur-trading work, information supplied by First Nations peoples, and natural history frameworks derived from Europe. It also considers how the mercantile and colonial forces that underwrote their understanding of migration threatened to disrupt the very ecologies they described.


The etiolation of field-grown, rejuvenated saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) bushes in 1984 and 1985 proved to be a beneficial aid-to-rooting of softwood cuttings under intermittent mist. The cuttings had to be regreened for a short period of time (6 d) before they were exposed to direct sun in the outdoor intermittent mist propagation bed covered with a clear polyethylene tent. The tedious and time-consuming taping of shoot bases during the regreening period to continue the etiolation process at the base of the cutting proved to be unnecessary with the cultivar Smoky, but gave increased rooting percentage and root mass with the cultivar Pembina on regreened etiolated cuttings in combination with a concentrated auxin. The regreened etiolated treatments produced 95% rooting without auxin with both cultivars. The beneficial effect from the use of a concentrated auxin as a quick dip was more evident on the nonetiolated material, but still increased root mass on the etiolated plant material.Key wo...


Introduction: Endometriosis in bowel is rare condition, about 12% of endometriosis cases. Most of bowel endometriosis rising in the rectosigmoid (90% of bowel endometriosis). Incidence of caecal endometriosis is very low (<5% of bowel endometriosis) and almost never causing acute small bowel obstruction(0.1-0.7%). The aim of this paper is to show that although  bowel obstruction caused by caecal endometriosis is difficult to diagnose as it is rare, and may require laparotomy to make definite diagnosis, but it should be considered in infertile female patient. Case: 37 years old woman infertile woman with intestinal obstruction with pre-operative diagnosis total acute small bowel obstruction caused by right colonic mass, with sepsis as the complication. Before the acute small bowel obstruction she complained of chronic right lower quadrant pain with chronic constipation alternate with chronic diarrhea, symptoms that happened both in bowel endometriosis and colorectal malignancy. She also complained of  chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea. She has been married for 10 years with no child. The patient was never diagnosed with endometriosis and never seek medical attention for the infertility and the chronic pelvic pain. The patient underwent Abdominal CT Scan, with result:  massive small bowel obstruction, and caecal mass that causing acute small bowel obstruction. Diagnosis of Acute small bowel obstruction due to right colonic mass was made and emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed the patient. Methods: During the laparotomy, mass at caecum and ileocaecal that causing massive small bowel obstruction was found and standard right hemicolectomy and temporary mucousfistula ileostomy was performed. Result: The patient recovered well, discharged on 7th day post op. The pathology examination showed  ectopic endometriosis lesions in caecum and ileocaecal valve. The histopathology also confirmed with the immunohistochemistry, in which positive ER, PR, CD 10 and CD7 was found the ileocaecal and caecal mass. In the second operation,  reanastomosis of the ileum was done 3 months after the first operation. The chronic pelvic pain is decreasing dramatically after the first and second operation. Conclusion: Although bowel obstruction caused by caecal endometriosis is an extremely rare cause of intestinal obstruction but it   should be considered as a cause in infertile female patient to reduce morbidity and mortality, to reduce stoma creation and to promote resection completeness.


Introducing the layout of the information network and the principia of design, By analyzing the technology of the network, standard of the premises distribution system, and the develop of the network, buliding a fit network model of the applications for information's automatization.


Huntington's disease (HD) is an attractive model for the development of revolutionary disease-modifying therapies. In HD, a readily available genetic test to the IT-15 gene accurately confirms the diagnosis in symptomatic individuals and identifies persons at risk who will develop the symptoms. Consequently, an intervention in presymptomatic subjects with the potential for a higher-yield therapeutic benefit is of easier applicability than in other movement disorders. The recent phase 1-2a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in early-stage HD patients of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) IONIS-HTTRx (HTTRX) shows great promise in the development of a novel disease-modifying intervention for HD. HTTRX is a nonspecificASO that binds to bothwild-type andmutantmRNAcoding the protein Huntingtin (HTT). It targets the central biological feature of the disease on which the genetic diagnosis is based. Allele-specific ASO strategies that only target the mutant mRNA are under clinical development (NCT03225833, NCT03225846). The disease mechanism of the mutated IT-15 gene is chiefly related to toxic gain of function. Nevertheless, an observed loss of function by the mHTT may be exacerbated by reducing the production of both wild-type and mHTT. The knockout of the normal IT15 gene is lethal during embryonic age. Despite its wide expression, the repercussion of suppressing the normal HTT in adult life is largely unknown. In this placebo-controlled study, there was a clear doseresponse relationship between higher doses of HTTRX and a reduction in CSF mutant HTT protein. It is worthwhile noting that important advances in HD research, namely, the ability to synthesize an ASO targeting IT-15 RNA and to measure femtomolar (10) concentrations ofmHTT in CSFmade the study possible. As a first-in-human study with a small sample size, many questions need to be addressed. An ongoing 2-year phase 3 trial (GENERATION-HD1, NCT03761849) will assess the efficacy and safety for a disease-modifying effect of RO7234292 (previously, HTTRX). In this context, disease modification will result more likely in a reduced rate of clinical progression. Stopping clinical progression or regression of clinical disease are far more ambitious outcomes considering that the expected reduction of mHTT will be about 40% and neuronal damage is already present in early HD patients. Comparedwith cortical regions, it is unclear if intrathecal administration of ASOs will reach the basal ganglia in sufficient quantities. Despite the existence of cortical-basal ganglia networks, it is possible that a disease-modifying effect of RO7234292 will result in a new HD phenotype with more motor symptoms (greater basal ganglia dysfunction) and less behavioral/cognitive symptoms (lesser cortical dysfunction). The development of imaging biomarkers may help to document the differences in the effect of RO7234292 across different brain regions. For example, the use of positron emission tomography tracers that target the HTT protein can potentially document regional effects of RO7234292 or other HTT-targeting therapies. Available data from preclinical models suggest that partial inactivation of wild-type HTT in an adult population to the extent of being targeted in human clinical trials is well tolerated despite altering some pathways associated with functions of HTT. The occurrence of chronic side effects by reducing wildtype HTT in an adult human population requires long-term safety monitoring and a comparison with allele-specific ASOs. Finally, when clinical trial programs shift to include premanifest HD gene expansion carriers, we will need to have outcome measures validated in this population. It is important to note that other clinical development programs targeting the transcription and/or translation of the IT-15 gene are under development. The future approval of an indication for HTTRx will represent a landmark in the field of neurodegeneration that will change the life of HD patients and will have significant implications in health-care systems to secure the regular administration of a likely expensive intrathecal treatment to a still significant number of people.


The article thinks the opinion pages of China's newspapers are becoming more mature.It also points out the problems and solution in the practice of the opinion pages.


Written and issued in partnership with: Office of the Attorney General Crime Victims Section, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio Department of Health Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, Ohio Department of Public Safety Office of Criminal Justice Services, Ohio Domestic Violence Network, and multi-disciplinary representatives of Ohio colleges, universities and community -based organizations. Nothing in this publication should be construed as providing legal advice. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only. A GUIDEBOOK ON PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TO SEXUAL & INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE & STALKING FOR OHIO CAMPUSES


We explore quality control problem related to online application stores: automating reviews of submitted applications and organizing online store using categories. We approach both problems by predicting application categories using application descriptions and describe potential positive and negative outcomes of our approach. We discuss suitable multi-class and binary classification methods and describe three experiments we conduct, including details about data preprocessing, validation, testing and the final results. For evaluating our approach, we use an F-measure and Confusion Matrix. As the result, we were able to identify confusing categories that should be taken into consideration.


Abstract The particular and related histories of the Western Sydney suburbs of Green Valley and Cabramatta provide evidence that the category 'westie' was transformed throughout the 1980s under the impact of migration and within the context of a discernable Australian nationalism. By adding oral history to census data and local media, it is also possible to understand how 'westie' was simultaneously a category of assimilation, exclusion and local and national pride. The larger relevance of such a discussion is the way a history of the category of 'westie' can illuminate histories of multiculturalism, Australian nationalism and suburbia.


5 V cathode material LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 was synthesized by citric acid assisted self-propagation combustion method.The effects of calcining temperature and annealing time on the material were studied by XRD,SEM and electrochemical tests.The sample synthesized under the optimum condition(calcining temperature was 820 ℃,annealing time was 24 h) had complete spinel structure and morphology,it had a single voltage plateau at 4.7 V.When charged-discharged at 3.5~5.1 V with 0.2 C under 20 ℃,the initial specific discharge capacity was 122.7 mAh/g,the capacity retention was 96.9% at the 20th cycle.


The increasing number of units in today's systems-on-chip and multicore processors has led to complex intra-chip communication solutions. Specifically, Networks-on-Chip (NoCs) have emerged as a favorable fabric to provide high bandwidth and low latency in connecting many units in a same chip. To achieve these goals, the NoC often includes complex components and advanced features, leading to the development of large and highly complex interconnect subsystems. One of the biggest challenges in these designs is to ensure the correct functionality of this communication infrastructure. To support this goal, an increasing fraction of the validation effort has shifted to post-silicon validation, because it permits exercising network activities that are too complex to be validated in pre-silicon. However, post-silicon validation is hindered by the lack of observability of the network's internal operations and thus, diagnosing functional errors during this phase is very difficult. In this work, we propose a post-silicon validation platform that improves observability of network operations by taking periodic snapshots of the traffic traversing the network. Each node's local cache is configured to temporarily store the snapshot logs in a designated area reserved for post-silicon validation and relinquished after product release. Each snapshot log is analyzed locally by a software algorithm running on its corresponding core, in order to detect functional errors. Upon error detection, all snapshot logs are aggregated at a central location to extract additional debug data, including an overview of network traffic surrounding the error event, as well as a partial reconstruction of the routes followed by packets in flight at the time. In our experiments, we found that this approach allows us to detect several types of functional errors, as well as observe, on average, over 50% of the network's traffic and reconstruct at least half of each of their routes through the network.


This paper presents an approach to determine the optimal PMU locations in order to render the complete observability to given
power system using BPSO. Quadratic programming approach is used in BPSO, and results so obtained are compared with
GAMS-MIP solver. A Method for Pseudo observability is also proposed for depth-one and depth-two with and without Zero
injection measurements for IEEE-7, IEEE-14, and IEEE-30 and IEEE-57 bus systems by BPSO technique.


ABSTRACT This study aims to compare adolescents newly diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls in terms of problematic internet use (PIU) and sleep quality. The study sample consisted of 50 newly diagnosed MDD patients aged 12–18 years and 50 healthy controls. Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) was administered to all cases by a child psychiatrist and sociodemographic data were collected. Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were administered to all participants. Data of the MDD and control groups were compared using Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test and the total scores of the IAT (z = −6.23, p < 0.001) and PSQI (t =–11.42, p < 0.001) scales were found to be significantly higher in MDD cases compared to the control group. The results of analysis of covariance demonstrated that there was a significant positive correlation between CDI and IAT, as well as CDI and PSQI total scores in patients with MDD. While no correlation was observed between the total scores of the IAT and PSQI scales in the MDD group, a significant positive correlation was found between the total scores of the IAT and PSQI scales in the healthy control group. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the PSQI habitual sleep efficiency subscale score and the IAT total score (r = 0.36, p = 0.009), and the IAT responsibility (r = 0.34, p = 0.015), relationship (r = 0.36, p = 0.01), and mood subscale scores (r = 0.30, p = 0.03). A significant positive correlation was also found between the IAT duration subscale score and PSQI sleep disorder subscale score (r = 0.35, p = 0.013). In addition, binary logistic regression analysis showed that PSQI total score (B = 0.79, p < 0.001) and IAT total scores (B = 0.08, p = 0.001) could be significant predictors of MDD. The findings of this study indicate that the prevalence of PIU and poor sleep quality is higher in adolescents with newly diagnosed MDD compared to healthy controls. The results of our study indicated that the severity of depression, PIU, and sleep quality were significantly correlated in adolescents with newly diagnosed MDD, while PIU and sleep quality were correlated in adolescents without any psychiatric disorders. In addition, this study suggests that poor sleep quality and PIU may be risk factors for MDD.


The purpose of this communication is to exhibit, in an important special case, a reformulation of Liapunov' s method which makes the calculations much less onerous and from which one can draw interesting conclusions which do not obviously follow from the classical presentation. Let _ x ̧ ˆ f ̧...x1 ; . . . ;xn† be a system of n ® rst-order di€ erential equations, let V ...x1 ; . . . ;xn† be a well-behaved function and write W ˆ ...1=2† dV =dt. We call V a Liapunov function for the value c if W 4 0 at all points of V ˆ c, and a strict Liapunov function for the value c if W < 0 there. If V is a strict Liapunov function for c then the trajectory through a point of V ˆ c crosses from V > c to V < c there ; in other words, the region V > c is one which trajectories can only leave, and the region V < c is one which they can only enter. The same is often true if V is merely a Liapunov function for c, but in this case a more detailed analysis is needed. If the hypersurface V ˆ c is not connected, then similar results hold for each of its connected components. In practice one normally expresses this di€ erently. Let C be the set of values which V takes on the hypersurface W ˆ 0, let c be any real number not in C, and assume for simplicity that the hypersurface V ˆ c is connected. Then W has ® xed sign on V ˆ c, so that if W < 0 on V ˆ c then V is a strict Liapunov function for c, and if W > 0 on V ˆ c then ¡V is a strict Liapunov function for ¡c. If W ˆ 0 is bounded, then C can be found simply by ® nding the extremal points of V on W ˆ 0; but if W ˆ 0 is unbounded more complicated arguments are needed. The calculation of C becomes rapidly more onerous as the degrees of V and W increase ; and for this reason many workers have con® ned themselves to the case when V and W are inhomogeneous quadratic. It seems not to have been noticed that in this case there is a simpler way of deciding which V are Liapunov functions, and that this has implications which are not obvious from the classical Liapunov approach. Here I shall present this new approach in general terms. In a subsequent paper it will be applied to the Lorenz equations.


This study delves into the pivotal role of educators in nurturing critical thinking skills within Lahore's higher education landscape. By examining pedagogical approaches, cultural influences, assessment practices, and faculty readiness, it offers insights that hold significance for educational practitioners and administrators. Employing a quantitative research design with a sample of 370 teachers selected through stratified random sampling, data collected through structured survey questionnaires is analyzed using statistical techniques, including regression analysis, ANOVA, and correlation analysis. Faculty training emerges as a central finding, emphasizing the critical importance of equipping educators with effective pedagogical strategies to stimulate critical thinking. Cultural diversity, though beneficial, presents nuanced challenges in communication and understanding. Thus, universities must balance leveraging diverse perspectives with proactive mitigation of potential hurdles. This research provides actionable insights for educational institutions aiming to cultivate critical thinking among their students in an era where these skills are highly valued in academia and the workforce.


Experimental measurements have been conducted over a laboratory scale model of the Santa Lucia Escarpment for the purpose of analyzing two‐ and three‐dimensional underwater sound propagation. Transmission loss (TL) was measured as a function of depth at a series of ranges in the downslope direction of the model (referred to as depth profile measurements) and TL was also measured over a finite area in the horizontal plane for fixed source and receiver depths (referred to as two‐dimensional surveys). The two‐dimensional surveys show across slope interference, which may be indicative of bathymetric refraction, and the modal structure of the depth profile measurements appears to change as a function of downslope range (a result which may be caused by mode coupling). In order to investigate the interference observed in the two‐dimensional surveys and also determine if the range‐dependent variation in the depth profile measurements is being caused by mode coupling, an inversion algorithm was applied to measurem...


Learning Commons, as a way to provide better service, has become a very active topic in librarianship on an international level. This paper will present the efforts of five regional campus libraries within the University of Connecticut to transform their physical plant and services to accommodate a Learning Commons. The main focus will be on the Avery Point campus. Avery Point is in a unique position in regards to Learning Commons planning. The overall institutional attitude is that the present pre-World War II library building needs extensive renovation, and that some integration of the Academic Center programs in the new library plan would be desirable. A great deal of information was gathered from environmental scans, surveys, and focus groups with patrons in planning for the development of the main campus' Learning Commons. The same efforts are ongoing as they relate to the Avery Point campus, although the space issues and size of the campus are very different. There has been extensive collaboration between the Library and the Academic Center at Avery Point in an effort to find more efficient and collaborative delivery of services, even before physical renovation. There are several issues to consider if true physical integration becomes reality. Our collaboration will be presented in order to explore the many concerns an institution must face before creating a Learning Commons.


Redcapped like rage I am, and adorned with your metal necklace. The fetid, drying starfish you've thrown me to eat lies at my feet: my habit, swallowing your points. Otherwise and so, I am whittled too long, a kind of homeless. Keywords poetry, performing monkey, monkey Cover Page Footnote "Monkey" was originally published at Booth. This article is available in Booth: http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/booth/vol6/iss5/1 ! ! May 2, 2014 ! Monkey ! by Liz Robbins ! Redcapped like rage I am, and adorned
 with your metal
 necklace. The fetid, drying starfish you've
 thrown me to eat
 lies at my feet: my habit, swallowing your
 points. Otherwise and so,
 I am whittled too long, a kind of homeless.
 Too far
 one of your mealy strays, my dance for
 the public, rehearsed
 as a wedding. My little striped jacket, a jail,
 and you picked me
 for my unveiling, how loud my buttons.
 That I'd perform for
 a squeeze. All I want is the dead's perfect sleep.
 And to trick you
 into collars, curfews. Have you ever written
 a song in pencil?
 Your certainty drying, you give me wine,
 not milk. Such
 organ grinding. To show our differences,
 I defecate your pages.
 Now off to the disapproval woodshed. But
 my smile turns
 others smiling. I wander up freely to children.
 And you are left


The issue of calculating the fire resistance of timber structures is discussed in detail in European Standard EN 1995-1-2. In the calculation it is possible to combine different materials, joints and effect of cavities on the spread of fire. The problem occurs if the design is underestimated, the realization of construction or choice of materials. Improperly designed geometry, poorly chosen materials, products or systems contribute to the intensity of the fire. It is important to remember properties of the individual components of a structural element and subsequent interaction during a fire. Article simply analyses the impacts of possible choices of different products and their behavior in fire. The article is based on EN 1995-1-2:2004 [.


Abstract : Another means of detection of the absorption of laser radiation by individual species in a flame environment is the production of opto-acoustic pulses in a flame at 1-atm pressure. The flame is seeded with alkali atoms and a pulsed laser is tuned to the appropriate absorption line. While some of the electronically excited atoms fluoresce, the vast majority lose their energy by collision with other gases present in the flame. This energy ultimately (though rapidly) is converted into translational kinetic energy of the flame gases, producing a pulsed pressure wave which expands from the region illuminated by the laser. This sound wave is readily audible to an observer in the vicinity of the burner. Quantitative measurements are made using a microphone, and show that the technique is very sensitive and accurate, and perturbs neither the gas dynamics nor chemical kinetics of the flame.


With the application used as switch devices inside the panel, the reliabilty of TFTs has become a serious issue during device operation [1]. In this study, dynamic hot carrier effects in the MILC p-channel TFT device are characterized by a unique test struture preveously proposed and developed by our group [2][3]. This structure is capable of spatially resolving the hot-carrier indeced damage with high sensitivity. Fig.1 shows the structure of the tester consisting of one lateral transistor, denoted as TT, and three monitor transistors (MTs) with vertical source-to-drain arrangement, denoted as SMT, CMT, and DMT, with their location close to source, center, and drain, respectively, of the TT. The dynamic stress is exerted on the TT, and the resulted damage is analyzed by the monitor transistors. The dynamic hot carrier stress in this study is focused on the impacts of the frequency, the rising time, and the falling time. First, on the effect of frequency, the stress voltage conditions are set at VGL = -7.5 V, VGH = 0 V, and VD = - 20 V with both tr (rising time) and tf (falling time) set at 100ns. Duty cycle of the AC stress signal is 50%. The stress time, which is defined as the sum of durations as VGL = -7.5 V, is 1000 sec. Fig.2 shows the on-current degradation versus varied frequency. For static (DC) stress, the degradation is negligible. For AC stress, it can be seen that the major damage is induced in the DMT in which the degradation increases monotonically with increasing frequency. This indicates that extra defects are generated in the channel of TT close to the drain side during the transient periods. Next, in order to study the impact of transient time during dynamic stress, rising time or falling time are changed, and the stress conditions are set at VGL = -7.5 V, VGH = 0 V, and VD = -20V with 500kHz with stress time of 1000s. Under varied falling time, the on-current degradtion become severe with decreasing falling time as shown in Fig.3. It is ascribed to the extra voltage drop during voltage switch, and the induced electrons flowing in the channel during off-state are accelerate by the suddenly increased electric field and result in the degradation. Furthermore, the trends of degradation with various rising time are shown in Fig.4. As can be seen in the figure, degradation increases with decreasing falling time. This is ascribed to the fact that the inversion holes in the channel gain extra energy as the VGD is increased during the transient stage and result in damage. Comparison of Fig.3 and Fig. 4 indicate the latter mechanism is more pronounced. This work was supported in part by the National Science Council under contract No. NSC 98-2221-E-009-160. REFERENCES [1]Y. Toyota, etc. ED-57, 2010, pp429-436 [2]H.C. Lin, etc. EDL-27, 2006, pp561-563 [3]M.H. Lee, etc. JAP-101, 2007, pp54518 Rising time (ns) 10 50 100 DC D el ta Io n (% ) -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5


This invention relates to an input digital signal converter (1) into a digital output signal (3) from a set of filter coefficients. The converter comprises filtering means carrying out a filtering function and providing the set of filter coefficients from phase shifts (2) between a sample of the digital output signal and samples of the input digital signal, the filter function being defined by a set of polynomials. The filtering means further comprise a memory (52) for storing the polynomial coefficients, and calculating means (53) of the set of filter coefficients from the polynomial coefficients and phase shifts. Such a converter allows a large number of format conversions, but with limited memory resources.


UNSTRUCTURED
 If health systems are to effectively employ social distancing measures to in response to further COVID-19 peaks, they must adopt new behavioural metrics that can supplement traditional downstream measures, such as incidence and mortality. Access to mobile digital innovations may dynamically quantify compliance to social distancing (e.g. web mapping software) as well as establish personalised real-time contact tracing of viral spread (e.g. mobile operating system infrastructure through Google-Apple partnership). In particular, text data from social networking platforms can be mined for unique behavioural insights, such as symptom tracking and perception monitoring. Platforms, such as Twitter, have shown significant promise in tracking communicable pandemics. As such, it is critical that social networking companies collaborate with each other in order to (1) enrich the data that is available for analysis, (2) promote the creation of open access datasets for researchers and (3) cultivate relationships with governments in order to affect positive change.


In this paper, we design recommender systems for weblogs based on the link structure among them. We propose algorithms based on refined random walks and spectral methods. First, we observe the use of the personalized page rank vector to capture the relevance among nodes in a social network. We apply the local partitioning algorithms based on refined random walks to approximate the personalized page rank vector, and extend these ideas from undirected graphs to directed graphs. Moreover, inspired by ideas from spectral clustering, we design a similarity metric among nodes of a social network using the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a normalized adjacency matrix of the social network graph. In order to evaluate these algorithms, we crawled a set of weblogs and construct a weblog graph. We expect that these algorithms based on the link structure perform very well for weblogs, since the average degree of nodes in the weblog graph is large. Finally, we compare the performance of our algorithms on this data set. In particular, the acceptable performance of our algorithms on this data set justifies the use of a link-based recommender system for social networks with large average degree.


When economics textbook in general equilibrium,often two men,two kinds of factors of production,products that most simple of society as a research object,which usually deals only with the existence of general equilibrium,but did not explain that the most simple general equilibrium of society determine that as research objects.


Due to the impact of COVID-19, a large number of employees of organizations around the world have been forced to work remotely from home starting in 2020. As a result, leaders and followers face new communication and interaction challenges. If an enterprise is to be successful in the new wave of economic development, it must embrace the role of employee followers. However, there is currently no relevant research. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the interaction between organic leadership and implicit followers from the perspective of followers who are working remotely and further analyze their relationship with trust in their supervisor, organizational citizenship behavior, and active followership. Using the method of questionnaire measurement, multigroup analysis and ANCOVA and PLS-SEM analysis found the following. First, difference in leadership styles (IV) and implicit followers (IV) had significant effects on employees' trust in supervisor (DV), organizational citizenship behavior (DV), and active followers (DV). Secondly, the influence of the leaders' styles (IV) on employees' trust in supervisor (DV), organizational citizenship behavior (DV), and active followership (DV) was significantly affected only when IFTs were anti-prototypical traits. Finally, organizational citizenship behavior (Med) had an indirect effect between trust in supervisor (DV) and active followership (DV). This article not only fills the gaps in the literature related to leaders and followers, but also provides analytical evidence and new thinking which will enable companies to propose management strategies more effectively for employees working remotely in the face of the impact of the epidemic.


Aiming at the problem of multipath recognition of networked expressway,the structure of the expressway network is simplified to the undirected connected graph,the road distance is introduced as route weight value,and the minimal spanning tree is used to generate the algorithm to derive minimum number of the recognition points in the road net and its initial layout position. The overall recognition rate of the loop after the redundancy recognition points are wer laid out is analyzed by enumeration and comparison toobtain the optimal redundancy layout mode of the recognition points,and realize the reasonable layout of the multipath recognition points in the structure of the expressway network. The practice shows that the layout of the recognition points obtained by the minimum spanning tree algorithm and distributed redundancy mode can solve the problem of multipath recognition of expressway


Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality. Studies show that about 20% of these accidents are due to the lack of attention and/or excessive sleepiness. Drowsiness can be considered a potential indicator of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) when combined with overweight or obesity, high blood pressure and enlarged Cervical Circumference (CC). Studies suggest that professional drivers have a higher prevalence of OSAS than the general population, which is a matter of concern for traffic safety. Nevertheless, only in a few European countries is the subject of OSAS included as part of drivers' license regulation criteria. In Brazil, Resolution 425 of 11.27.2012 specifically refers to the evaluation of sleep disorders, including its parameters. Since 2006, a project was initiated called the "Highway Health Command" (HHC), that consists of educational blitzes with spot surveys on Brazilian roads, in order to detect risk factors in truck drivers' health. Thus, during the HHC held in two cities of Sao Paulo in 2014, data obtained from examinations and questionnaires were used for this observational and cross-sectional study, aiming to estimate the prevalence of OSAS predictors in truck drivers in Sao Paulo state (Brazil). Results showed that the indicators fell short of the desirable standards. High blood pressure showed deviations in more than ¼ drivers; body mass index greater than 30kg/ m² was noticed in 29.5% participants; CC was larger than 45cm in 6% drivers and 5.7% participants scored 12 or more at Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). This study forewarns of the severity of drowsiness in national highways, emphasizing the need for progressive inclusion of this disease among medical conditions to which specific attention should be given in examinations of traffic medicine and drivers' health.


The broad applicability of the cross‐linking of enzyme aggregates to the effective immobilisation of enzymes is demonstrated and the influence of many parameters on the properties of the resulting CLEAs is determined. The relative simplicity of the operation ideally lends itself to high‐throughput methodologies. The aggregation method was improved up to 100% activity yield for any enzyme. For the first time, the physical structures of CLEAs are elucidated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Background: The hepatotoxic effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) can deprive cancer patients of its maximum therapeutic benefits. Selenium (Se) is a trace element with potential benefits in some animal models of diseases.
Objectives: This study assessed the ability of Se to nullify the hepatotoxic effect of 5-FU in albino rats.
Methods: In this study, 40 adult male albino rats were grouped into A to D (each 5 rats). Rats in group A (control) were treated intraperitoneally (IP) with normal saline (0.2 mL) daily for 5 days. Rats in groups B1 to B3 were treated IP with Se (0.125, 0.25, and 0.50 mg/kg) daily for 5 days, respectively. Rats in group C were treated IP with 5-FU (20 mg/kg) daily for 5 days. Rats in groups D1to D3 were treated IP with Se with 0.125, 0.25, and 0.50 mg/kg before treatment with 5-FU (20 mg/kg) daily for 5 days, respectively. After treatment, the rats were euthanized, and their blood samples were collected and evaluated for serum liver function. Liver samples were evaluated for biochemical and histological parameters.
Results: Liver and serum aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and conjugated bilirubin levels were significantly (P<0.001) high in 5-FU-treated rats in comparison to the control group. Liver glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione levels were significantly (P<0.001) low whereas the malondialdehyde level was significantly (P<0.001) high in 5-FU-treated rats compared with the control group. Moreover, hepatocyte necrosis was observed in 5-FU-treated rats.
Conclusion: Nonetheless, 5-FU-induced hepatotoxicity was significantly nullified in rats supplemented with Se (0.125 mg/kg, P<0.05; 0.25 mg/kg, P<0.01, and 0.5 mg/kg, P<0.001) in a dose-dependent fashion in comparison to 5-FU-treated rats. Thus, Se may have a clinical benefit in 5-FU-induced hepatotoxicity


This issue marks the tenth year of publishing Lateral. We reflect here on this milestone and highlight work in the current issue, including a new forum on Cultural Constructions of Race and Racism in the Middle East and North Africa / Southwest Asia and North Africa (MENA/SWANA) and a special section on Cripistemologies of Crisis: Emergent Knowledges for the Present. We discuss several of these pieces in relationship to ongoing violence in Israel and attacks in the United States against "critical race theory" and conclude with calls for open access scholarship.


Introduction: The primary objective of an emergency information system is to improve the capacity of decisionmakers to take needed actions. Use of an effective information management system is a key, although difficult aspect of emergency management. Emergency information management is defined as the collection, consolidation, analysis, and dissemination of information. It must be planned, organized, and controlled to ensure that information is given to the right decision-maker at the right time. Objective: The goal of this study was to analyze the importance of information management for increasing the efficiency of post-disaster activities. Methods: A total of 22 tabletop exercises were performed in 22 hospitals in Iran from December 2006 to 2008. A team of experts was responsible for running and evaluating these exercises. Standard data sheets and checklists were used for evaluation. Results: Defects included factors such as a lack of: (1) staff to operate the information system; (2) supervision and feedback; (3) lack of guidelines, laws, and/or standards; (4) coordination and partnership with key internal and external stakeholders; (5) communicative systems; (6) skill; and (7) availability of transportation. Discussion: The hospital disaster plan was not performed completely and accurately. Although some activities were performed on the basis of the Hospital Incident Command System, but the system was not efficient and processes should be redefined.


We present a 40Gb/s DPSK receiver module with athermal free-space DLI. It has a FSR of 43GHz, PDFS of 350MHz and a differential output voltage-swing of 550mVpp. 43Gb/s NRZ-DPSK back-to-back sensitivity was -4dBm (PRBS 231-1).


Summary: Ethical and professional guidelines obligate doctors to disclose medical errors to patients when they occur. But very few doctors are divulging their own errors, especially in a very paternalistic doctor-patient relationship witnessed in sub-Saharan Africa where the prevalence of medical errors is unknown due to absence of error reporting and disclosing mechanisms. Doctors are not disclosing their errors because of perceived consequences when they do and the lack of disclosure skills that is not taught at all stages of the educational system including the postgraduate level. However, patients want to know and be told when things go wrong.This article looks at the barriers to disclosure of medical errors, the benefits of disclosure for both the doctor and patient, and how doctors can begin disclosing errors based on current literature.


Individual differences in personality determine our preferences, traits and values, which should similarly hold for the way we express ourselves. With current advancements and transformations of technology and society, text-based communication has become ordinary and often even surpasses natural voice conversations -- with distinct challenges and opportunities. In this exploratory work, we investigate the impact of personality on the tendency how players of a team-based collaborative alternate reality game express themselves affectively. We collected chat logs from eleven players over two weeks, labeled them according to their affective state, and assessed the connection between them and the five-factor personality domains and facets. After applying multi-linear regression, we found a series of reasonable correlations between (combinations of) personality variables and expressed affect -- as increased confusion could be predicted by lower self-competence (C1), personal annoyance by vulnerability to stress (N6) and expressing anger occured more often in players that are prone to anxiety (N1), less humble and modest (A5), think less carefully before they act (C6) and have higher neuroticism (N). Expanding the data set, sample size and input modalities in subsequent work, we aim to confirm these findings and reveal even more interesting connections that could inform affective computing and games user research equally.


Data poisoning attacks, in which a malicious adversary aims to influence a model by injecting"poisoned"data into the training process, have attracted significant recent attention. In this work, we take a closer look at existing poisoning attacks and connect them with old and new algorithms for solving sequential Stackelberg games. By choosing an appropriate loss function for the attacker and optimizing with algorithms that exploit second-order information, we design poisoning attacks that are effective on neural networks. We present efficient implementations that exploit modern auto-differentiation packages and allow simultaneous and coordinated generation of tens of thousands of poisoned points, in contrast to existing methods that generate poisoned points one by one. We further perform extensive experiments that empirically explore the effect of data poisoning attacks on deep neural networks.


Surveys are frequently used to inform consequential decisions about teachers, policies, and programs. Consequently, it is important to understand the validity of these instruments. This study assesses the validity of measures of instruction captured by an annual survey by comparing survey data with those of a validated daily log. The two instruments produced similar rankings of the frequency with which teachers use particular practices but more than three fourths of the teachers in the study were found to overreport their instruction on the annual survey. Multilevel models revealed a number of teacher and school characteristics related to survey reporting error. The study's implications for users of survey evidence are discussed.


Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are increasingly taking advantage of active materials, allowing to provide specific clues to the cells. In particular, the use of electroactive polymers that deliver electrical signals to the cells upon mechanical solicitation, open new scientific and technological opportunities, as they in fact mimic signals and effects present in living tissues, allowing the development of suitable microenvironments for tissue regeneration. In fact, electrical and electromechanical clues are among the most relevant ones in determining tissue functionality in tissues such as muscle and bone, among others, indicating their requirement for proper tissue regeneration. Piezoelectric polymers have already shown strong potential for novel tissue engineering strategies, once they can account for the existence of piezoelectricity within some specific tissues and also can modulate the electrical signals existing in tissue development and function. In this context, this talk reports on ...


The longest π→π* wave absorption band in the u.v. spectra of 40 alkyl- and aryl-pyrazoles has been calculated by the simple LCAO–MO method. With a suitable choice of parameters, a good correlation has been obtained between the calculated and observed frequencies. Angles of twist have been calculated for some sterically hindered pyrazoles, and the stabilities of some tautomeric forms of 1-unsubstituted pyrazoles and the basicities of a number of pyrazoles have also been examined. Electrophilic and homolytic substitution in pyrazole, 1-methyl- and 1-phenyl-pyrazole and their corresponding conjugate acids have been discussed in terms of reactivity indices.


A key component of JPL's strategy to make space missions faster, better and cheaper is the Advanced Multi-Mission Operations System (AMMOS), a ground software intensive system currently in use andin further development. AMMOS intends to eliminate the cost of re-engineering a ground system for each new JPL mission. This paper discusses SEQ REVIEW, a component of AMMOS that was designed to facilitate and automate the task of reviewing and checking spacecraft sequences.


This paper aims at a theoretical comparative textual analysis of two novels; Chinua Achebe's Arrow of God (1964) and Ibrahim Tahir's The Last Imam ( 1984). The focus is on their similarities generally and roles played by the heroes in their different societies as political and religious leaders of the different societies and how their actions and in-actions affect their communities and the polity generally. The paper relates the portrayal these as synonymous to the current political leadership crisis in Nigeria and other African nations. The study demonstrates how this crisis hinders sustainable development in the country and other African countries. They way out of this as possible solutions the turmoil is proffer at the end.


It was noticed that at high data rates, the CAEN VME digitizer modules[3] were getting paralyzed and remained busy for extended period of time. Hence, either the system stopped counting during high count rates operation or the dead time was very high. In such cases, CAEN digitizer modules were not able to recover to normal working state within reasonable amount of time. To bring the modules back to normal working condition, a data reset sequence is performed after putting them in offline mode. During data reset sequence, the clearing of the event counter and data reset operations are performed. The digitizer modules are, subsequently, put back in online mode. These operations are performed simultaneously for all modules in the CBLT through a multicast write. The performance of DAQ system, post the change, has shown a marked improvement at high trigger rates.


The four articles in this issue discuss four places; two are still very meaningful to Chinese Buddhists today, while two might have been so in times past. Mount Wutai and Mount Putuo are famous pilgrimage centers attracting both pilgrims and tourists from all over China. Baoshan and the S tra Stone Valley at Mount Tai , on the other hand, though of historical, artistic and cultural interest, are not well known to ordinary people other than scholars. There is a common theme shared by the articles. They all deal with the mechanisms and processes by which the Chinese Buddhists created sacred sites in China. While the pedigrees of Mt. Wutai and Mt. Putuo were based on Buddhist scriptures, Baoshan and S tra Stone Valley were modeled upon some Indian prototypes. The articles share the theme of transformation, transposition and replication of sacred sites of Indian Buddhism onto the soil of China. India had always been regarded as the holy land by Chinese Buddhists. Believers made pilgrimages to the places where the Buddha left his traces. In time, driven by what Tansen Sen calls the "borderland complex,"1 they came to recreate Buddhist holy sites by transposing and replicating the Indian prototypes. The four articles in this issue tell us much about how this was done. Wendi Adamek's article is an example of how the Chinese created a Buddhist sacred site based on Indian models but with indigenous characteristics. It was created in conformity to both the Chinese mortuary tradition and the Buddhist cult of relics. The "necropolis" located in Baoshan and Lanfengshan consisting of "ash-remains st pas" was first erected in the sixth century. These are niches in the shape of ornate st pas with relief