Objective Comparison of the results of potassium sodium determining in mixed serum by direct potentiometric method,indirect potentiometric method and dry chemistry direct potentiometric method.To explore the importance of calibration and comparison in electrochemistry analysis.Methods Calibrated Vitros 250,AVL 9180,EX-Z Hitachi 7600-020 biochemistry analysators.Then evaluated the precision,the recovery,the linearity and the contrast test.Finally,the results were analyzed with statistics.Results The results of the analysators showed the good comparability and correlation,statistical significance was less different obviously.Conclusion For showing good accuracy and consistency,the calibration and contrast test for analysators must be done well in routine work.


Response modeling is a well-known research issue for those who have tried to get more superior performance in the capability of predicting the customers' response for the marketing promotion. The response model for customers would reduce the marketing cost by identifying prospective customers from very large customer database and predicting the purchasing intention of the selected customers while the promotion which is derived from an undifferentiated marketing strategy results in unnecessary cost. In addition, the big data environment has accelerated developing the response model with data mining techniques such as CBR, neural networks and support vector machines. And CBR is one of the most major tools in business because it is known as simple and robust to apply to the response model. However, CBR is an attractive data mining technique for data mining applications in business even though it hasn't shown high performance compared to other machine learning techniques. Thus many studies have tried to improve CBR and utilized in business data mining with the enhanced algorithms or the support of other techniques such as genetic algorithm, decision tree and AHP (Analytic Process Hierarchy). Ahn and Kim(2008) utilized logit, neural networks, CBR to predict that which customers would purchase the items promoted by marketing department and tried to optimized the number of k for k-nearest neighbor with genetic algorithm for the purpose of improving the performance of the integrated model. Hong and Park(2009) noted that the integrated approach with CBR for logit, neural networks, and Support Vector Machine (SVM) showed more improved prediction ability for response of customers to marketing promotion than each data mining models such as logit, neural networks, and SVM. This paper presented an approach to predict customers' response of marketing with Case Based Reasoning. The proposed model We deployed logit model with a database including the promotion and the purchasing data of bath soap. After that, the coefficients were used to give different weights of CBR. We analyzed the performance of proposed weighted CBR based model compared to neural networks and pure CBR based model empirically and found that the proposed weighted CBR based model showed more superior performance than pure CBR model. Imbalanced data is a common problem to build data mining model to classify a class with real data such as bankruptcy prediction, intrusion detection, fraud detection, churn management, and response modeling. Imbalanced data means that the number of instance in one class is remarkably small or large compared to the number of instance in other classes. The classification model such as response modeling has a lot of trouble to recognize the pattern from data through learning because the model tends to ignore a small number of classes while classifying a large number of classes correctly. To resolve the problem caused from imbalanced data distribution, sampling method is one of the most representative approach. The sampling method could be categorized to under sampling and over sampling. However, CBR is not sensitive to data distribution because it doesn't learn from data unlike machine learning algorithm. In this study, we investigated the robustness of our proposed model while changing the ratio of response customers and nonresponse customers to the promotion program because the response customers for the suggested promotion is always a small part of nonresponse customers in the real world. We simulated the proposed model 100 times to validate the robustness with different ratio of response customers to response customers under the imbalanced data distribution. Finally, we found that our proposed CBR based model showed superior performance than compared models under the imbalanced data sets. Our study is expected to improve the performance of response model for the promotion program with CBR under imbalanced data distribution in the real world.


In the Research Article "Tumor Microenvironment-Specific Chemical Internalization for Enhanced Gene Therapy of Metastatic Breast Cancer," the authors made an error in Fig. 6A. In Fig. 6A, the image of "pre" in the "Free Cy5-siRNA" group was misused. When incorporating the final images in Fig. 6A, another image of "24 h" in the "Free Cy5-siRNA" group was inadvertently chosen as the "Pre" image, so they appear to be remarkably similar. After the error was discovered, the authors repeated the experiments that concluded that this error did not affect the results, discussion, or conclusion of this paper. Figure 6A has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML (full text).


This paper was first posted on www.bmj.com on 13 March 2000

Britain fares rather badly in international comparisons of cancer patients' survival rates. Relative survival rates in England and Wales1 are generally lower than in Europe, 2 which in turn are lower than rates in the United States.3 The differences between England and Wales and the rest of Western Europe in survival rates for colon cancer and female breast cancer arise primarily in the first six months after diagnosis, suggesting that these differences may relate to later presentation or delays in treatment for British patients.

Given this background, the government has pledged to "end waiting times for cancer surgery, thereby helping thousands of women waiting for breast cancer treatment." The assumption is that reduced waiting …


ABSTRACT In this paper, the dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) behaviour under the strain rate of 0.1 s−1, 1 s−1 and 10 s−1 within the deformation temperature of 900°C∼1100°C of Ti-Zr microalloyed low carbon steel with different Zr content was studied using Gleeble-3800 thermal simulation test machine. The stress–strain curves of investigated steels were obtained under the diferent deformation conditions, and the thermal deformation equation and DRX volume fraction model are established based on the stress–strain curve. The result showed that the peak stress, critical stress and deformation activation energy (496.2 kJ mol−1) of the Ti-Zr steel containing 0.091 wt% Zr were higher than those of the steels with 0.035 and 0.073 wt% Zr. The increase of Zr content will increase the deformation activation energy of Ti-Zr steel and inhibit the growth of austenite DRX grains of Ti-Zr steel at high temperature. When the deformation conditions are the same, the DRX degree of austenite of Ti-Zr steel will first decrease and then increase with the increase of Zr content.


In practice, audit fees are determined based on agreement, negotiation and consensus between auditee and auditor. With the exception of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants' schedule for determining minimum audit fees, no specific
guideline has been issued either by the Malaysian government or other accounting bodies. This study examined the explanatory power of previously identified factors
that could influence the pricing of audit services in the Malaysian setting. The factors examined included the size of company (measured either by total assets or turnover), complexity of company (measured by the number of the companies in the same group, i.e., holding, as well as subsidiaries), profitability, liquidity and leverage of auditees, audit opinion, size and location of the auditors, audit season, audit delay, and classification of the industries in which the auditees operate. Consistent with previous studies, the size and complexity of the audited companies were found to be the major determinants of audit fees.


【In Oriental medicine the primordial Qi and the defensive Qi are considered as important for immunity. Therefore it is anticipated that the improvement of the primordial Qi and the defensive Qi can enhance the ability of immune cells. This experiment was conducted to investigate how Ginseng Radix, Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Glycyrrhizae Radix, representative of Qi tonifying herbs, affect the immune system in terms of controlling and balancing immune cells. Using the MTS assay, increased proliferations were observed from herbal treated cells, among which Gins-eng showed the highest proliferation. When splenocytes were activated with anti-CD3 plus herbal extracts, levels of IFN-g and IL-4 were increased but those of IL-2 showed little change compared with the control cells. Levels of IL-2, IFN-g and IL-4 were increased in purified CD4 T cells when activated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 but at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ of Astragali and Atractylodis, levels of IL-2 were decreased by 11% and 42%, respectively and those of IFN-g were decreased by 55% and 12%, respectively. Under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions, levels of IFN-g in Th1 cells treated with herbal extracts were all decreased but when it comes to IL-4, its levels were increased in Ginseng and Glycyrrhizae treated cells but decreased in Astragali and Atractylodis treated cells. Taken together, the data show that compared with other qi tonifying herbs, Ginseng and Glycyrrhizae have a tendency to favor Th2 cell differentiation in vitro.】


Egg mortality is one of the main factors affecting life history and conservation of oviparous species. A massive and cryptic colonisation of many leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) eggs is presented in the most important rookery for the species in Gabon. A total of 163 nests were exhumed at Kingere beach, revealing that only 16.7% of eggs produced hatchlings. In the 59% of the nests, more than half of the eggs were dead and attacked by invertebrates and 94% had at least one egg affected by invertebrates. The rate of eggs and SAGs (yolkless eggs) affected by invertebrates within a clutch ranged from 0% to 100%, with an average proportion of 39% and 52%, respectively. The most common invertebrates interacting with the eggs were ghost crabs and insects that affected 51% and 82% of the nests, respectively. Crab and insect co-occurred in 33% of the affected nests. Ants, identified as Dorylus spininodis (Emery 1901) were found in 56% of the excavated nests. However, it was not possible to determine if the ants predated alive eggs or scavenged dead eggs. Very often, hundreds of ants were found dead within dead eggs. Termites and other invertebrates were associated with the clutch environment and identified as opportunistic feeders. An unusual ecological interaction within the leatherback clutches between termites and ants was found in 11% of the nests. The abrupt transition between the soil forest and the beach might be favouring a thriving microbial and invertebrate activity in the sand profile that colonises the nests.


Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate in‐house counsel's dual role in the context of a wrongful discharge claim against his corporate employer and its effect on privileged corporate communications.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of legal research and analysis.Findings – A multipart factors test is proposed focusing on three areas: first, rationale for discharge; second, in‐house counsel's claim; and third, risks to privileged corporate information.Originality/value – The paper creates new means to evaluate corporate privilege and in‐house counsel access.


Antenna amplifier for a magnetic antenna with a built in the signal path standing wave barrier in the form of an exclusively designed for transmitting a push-pull signal device (11, 13, 16).


We propose that cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 poor metabolizers (PMs) are inherently resistant to the beneficial effects of antidepressants that act by altering serotonin-norepinephrine neurotransmission and that this phenomenon is responsible for the curvilinear concentration-antidepressant response relationship observed with nortriptyline over 30 years ago. The impetus for this hypothesis was the recent finding by Lobello and colleagues that CYP 2D6 PMs treated with venlafaxine (VEN) have low antidepressant response and remission rates: 2to 3-fold lower than those achieved in CYP 2D6 extensive metabolizers (EMs) and comparable to rates seen in placebo-treated patients. The details concerning the work that lead to the finding of poor antidepressant response to VEN in CYP 2D6 PMs is summarized next.


The proposed system adopts neither position nor velocity sensor but uses only measurement of the stator current and stator phase voltage commands to estimate the rotor velocity and to identify the resistance of the stator and rotor for an ac induction motor. In the proposed scheme, the integral variable structure control approach is firstly applied to design an observer and identifier. Also, Lyapunov functions are chosen for determining the adaptive law for a speed estimator and a resistance identifier of an induction motor. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach can achieve accurate speed estimation and resistance identification under load disturbance and motor parameter variation.


Abstract The occurrence of several non-slewing articulated mobile (NSAM) crane tipping accidents in Australia has raised concerns about their stability. This paper examines the inherent stability of the NSAM crane design. It does this using geometrical modelling and theoretical static force analysis. An investigation into the tip-over and roll-over stabilities of the model under a number of static conditions is presented. The results suggest that having the articulation joints at the centre of wheelbase is a suitable design for the NSAM cranes for the manoeuvrability and tip-over stability but not for the roll-over stability.


A solid-phase enzyme-receptor assay (sPcR.A) has been developed for glycopeptide antibiotics of the vancomycin class such as teicoplanin, vancomycin, ristocetin, avoparcin, actaplanin,A-47934, A-41 030, and A-3551 2-B. The assay exploitsthe mechanismof most action of these antibiotics, which is based on their interaction with acyl-D-alanyl-Dalanine, a constituentof the walls of mostgrowingbacterial cells. The antibioticsand enzyme-labeled teicoplanincompete for a syntheticanalog of the biologicalreceptor,albumin-e-aminocaproyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine. The various antibiotics produced different competition curves, 50% displacement being obtained with antibiotic concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 4 mg/L, vancomycin and actaplanin being the weakest and strongest competitors, respectively. For teicoplanin in human serum the intra-assay CV was 7.2%, the interassay CV was 11.2%, and the analytical recovery 94%. Teicoplanin concentrations obtained by SPERA (x) correlated well with those obtained by microbiological assay (y: y = 1.03x + 0.053 (r = 0.943; n = 60). We conclude that SPERA is a powerfultool for identificationand quantitativedetectionof glycopeptideantibiotics,even in complexmedia.


A procedure is described for calculating empirical models based on the combined data collected in a series of sequential experiments. A hypothetical example involving ten independent variables is used to illustrate these procedures. Issues related to the comparability of data from several experiments, the use of both continuous and discrete variables in the model, the specification of additional data needed to calculate a second-order polynomial, and the procedure for determining the optimal combination of variables are discussed. Necessary rules for combining data from several studies are suggested. Mathematical criteria of efficiency, variance of coefficients, and orthogonality are used to evaluate this procedure.


SLA,LDMC and modules dynamics of Artocarpus nanchuanensis in Chongqing were studied systematically.The results showed that with the increase of A.nanchuanensis seedling ages,the biomass of the single A.nanchuanensis increased significantly,in which the difference of branch biomass was the biggest,the disparity even to477.23times between 2and 5age seedlings.The reserved modules biomass generally allocated in the order:branch biomassleaf biomassroot biomass.The average biomass distribution rate of stem and branch increased generally,leaf ratio decreased,root ratio changed small.It showed that the chance to receive biomass varied among different modules.Branches had priority over stems in this aspect.With the increase of A.nanchuanensis seedling ages,the trend of SLA change was increased firstly,then decreased,and SLA of one-year-old leave was higher than those of two-year-old.At the same time,LDMC increased generally,but LDMC of current year leave was higher than those of one year.


BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by Schistosoma. Due to its complex life cycle, evolutionary position and sexual dimorphism, schistosomes have several mechanisms of gene regulation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by targeting mRNA transcripts. OBJECTIVES Here, we tested 12 miRNAs and identified their putative targets using a computational approach. METHODS We performed the expression profiles of a set of miRNAs and their putative targets during the parasite's life cycle by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). FINDINGS Our results showed differential expression patterns of the mature miRNAs sma-miR-250; sma-miR-92a; sma-miR-new_4-3p; sma-miR-new_4-5p; sma-miR-new_5-5p; sma-miR-new_12-5p; sma-miR-new_13-3p and sma-miR-new_13-5p. Interestingly, many of the putative target genes are linked to oxidative phosphorylation and are up-regulated in adult-worms, which led us to suggest that miRNAs might play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes related to energetic metabolism inversion during parasite development. It is noteworthy that the expression of sma-miR-new_13-3p exhibited a negative correlation on SmNADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex I. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our analysis revealed putative miRNA genes related to important biological processes, such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling, proteasome regulation, glucose and lipid metabolism, immune system evasion and transcriptional regulation.


This research aimed to study the effect of pectin and xanthan gum on the Monascus pigment turbidity, DPPH radical scavenging ability, pH and sensory evaluation of Monascus-pigment extract beverage (MPEB). The pectin and xanthan gum contents used in the beverage were 0.50 – 0.70 % w/v and 0.01 – 0.03 % w/v, respectively. The results showed that the addition of 0.60 % w/v of pectin in MPEB showed the highest values of the turbidity of Monascus pigment (OD 660 = 2.59), DPPH radical scavenging ability (45.68 %) and sensory evaluation ( >8 of all attributes).


In this study, a maintenance schedule optimization model is developed for multi-unit, multi-state systems with multi-level of preventive maintenance actions or activities. The decision variable in this model is the sequence of preventive maintenance actions applied to the system in a finite time horizon. The total maintenance cost includes preventive maintenance, minimal repair, and downtime costs. Moreover, the developed model includes three types of constraints, which are system reliability, minimum interval between maintenance activities and crew availability. The proposed model is solved using simulation technique combined with a specialized constrained genetic algorithm technique. The presented approach has the potential to solve realistic scale problems. The proposed model is applied to an existing case study, which is carried out in South Cairo Power Station in Egypt. This station consists of ten units; three similar gas turbines connected to four similar steam turbines, two small steam turbines and one combined cycle turbine. The maximum capacity of the power station is 710 MW. Major preventive maintenance actions performed on the system consist of three levels, which are either combustion inspection, hot gas path inspection or major inspection. Those actions are characterized by their ability to reduce the age of a gas turbine (or equivalently make a power unit younger). Five different proposed maintenance plans are presented as a result applying the model, and they all require less cost and better expected system reliability than the existing plan. A proposed plan of comparable reliability performance to the existing one is shown to achieve a 72% cost saving. Four other proposed plans are shown to give better system reliability measure and yet are less in cost. A comparison between the existing and the proposed maintenance schedules supports the applicability of this model.


Although alternative perspectives continue to be part of TESOL research methodology, there are approaches to social science inquiry that are still not widely known to researchers in the field. More specifically, it may be argued that language education research needs further qualitative approaches that can interweave research and life, language and context, and self and society in processes of inquiry. Therefore, in this article the author invites the academic community of TESOL to consider autoethnography as a qualitative research approach with significant potential for research on issues of language teaching and learning. Based on a discussion of the theoretical and methodological perspectives of autoethnographic inquiry, he argues that, by bringing the self and society together, such an approach can contribute to the ongoing endeavor for deepening the epistemological understanding and widening the methodological scope of research in the field.


Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe the reported incidence of COVID-19 in Wisconsin high school athletes in September 2020, and to investigate the relationship of COVID-19 incidence with sport and face mask use. Methods: Surveys were sent to athletic directors of all Wisconsin high schools regarding sports during September 2020. The association between reported case rates in athletes in each county and the county general population were evaluated with a weighted linear model. Multivariable negative binomial regression models evaluated the associations between COVID-19 incidence and sport type and face mask use by players, adjusting for the county COVID-19 incidence for each school. Results: 207 schools that had reinitiated sport reported 270 COVID-19 cases among 30,074 players, for case and incidence rates of 809 cases per 100,000 players and 32.6 cases per 100,000 player-days, respectively. The case rates for athletes in each county were positively correlated with the case rates for their respective county general population ({beta}=1.14{+/-}0.20, r=0.60, p<0.001). One hundred fifteen (55%) of cases were attributed to household contact, 85 (41%) to contact outside sport or school, 5 (2.4%) to school contact, and 1 (0.5%) to sport contact. No difference was identified between team and individual sports (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.03 [95% CI=0.49-2.2], p=0.93) or between non-contact and contact sports (IRR=0.53 [0.23-1.3], p=0.14), although the difference between outdoor and indoor sports approached statistical significance (IRR=0.52 [0.26-1.1], p=0.07). 84% of schools required face masks while playing. For those sports with >50 participating schools, there were no significant associations between COVID-19 incidence and face mask use in cross country (IRR=0.71 [0.2-2.2], p=0.52), football (IRR=1.6 [0.6-5.1], p=0.404), boys soccer (IRR=2.3 [0.5-17], p=0.31), or girls volleyball (IRR=1.4 [0.3-6.6], p=0.64). Conclusions: Incidence of reported COVID-19 among athletes was related to background county incidence and most cases were attributed to household and community contact. Although not statistically significant, reported COVID-19 incidence may be lower in outdoor sports. Face mask use did not have a significant benefit, which may be due to relatively low rates of COVID-19 and the small number of schools that did not report using face masks.


This study was carried out to assess some physical, chemical and sensory properties of fish waste oil extracted by two different methods: physical (boiling) and chemical (acid fermentation). Samples of common carp viscera were collected from local markets in the city of Basrah, which included viscera of the common carp Cyprinus carpio. The most prominent and significant difference was the extraction yield which amounted to 57.14% vs 35.71% (vol./wt.) for the physical and chemical methods, respectively. Other physical properties: refraction index, specific weight, specific gravity, viscosity, cloud point and pour point, Were superior in physical method of the physical method. Measured chemical indices (free fatty acids FFA, fatty acid profile, peroxide value, iodine number and Thiobarbituric acid value TBA) indicated some variability between oil types, the most obvious was FFA which increased significantly from 0.107 to 0.205% for physical and chemical methods, respectively. The sensory tests (color and odor) were in favor of oil extracted with the physical method characterized by a light amber color and a mild fishy flavor.


watts. A unique, molded silicone-plastic package and ingenious lead design employed by this family of silicon n-p-n power transistors provide for simple mounting procedure. Transistor types are available either in "vertical-lead" configurations, which will fit standard sockets, or "horizontal-lead" versions for mounting on circuit boards. The 2N5034 is designed to fit a standard TO-3 socket, while the 2N5295 is easily accommodated by a TO-66 socket. More than two years of rigorous field testing of these plastic devices in all types of applications have demonstrated product reliability and thermal characteristics approximating those of premium-quality non-plastic devices. "Hometaxial-base" construction of this new product family provides users with the industry's answer for freedom from transistor "second breakdown."


Scholars have increasingly sought for a systematic understanding of mechanisms explicating organizations' heterogeneous experiences with logic plurality. To address this, I examine organizations th...


The efficiency of plant growth-promoting rhizosphere (PGPR) in various conditions, observing that PGPR are effective under determined conditions only. Awareness of the structure of rhizosphere microbial communities and their diversity, as related to other essential processes within the system such as complexity, natural selection, inter populational relations (symbiosis, parasitism, mutualism or competence), succession or the effect of disturbances, is the key to a better understanding of the system and for the correct utilization of PGPR in biotechnology. PBW274 wheat varieties posses higher amount of Chl.a +b (13.67 mg g), when treated with isolated PGPR1. Ascorbic acid was significantly increased in all the three selected varieties. PGPR3 isolates showed better response in comparison to PGPR1 and PGPR2 isolates. PGPR3 isolates treatment showed high ascorbic acid content (178.52 mg/g). PGPR1 treated plants showed better result in comparison to other isolated PGPR treated plants. TPC (Total phenolic compound) concentrations were increased significantly by the incorporation of PGPR isolate and showed wide variation (161.6 mg GAEg to 635.6 mg GAE g). In this biochemical analysis, results were found to be significant (p<0.05).


In this essay I argue that we ought to posit a necessary reciprocity between the responsibilities of human action and the formal densities of aesthetic experience. I take it as an Aristotelian given that human action and aesthetic form share their most common ground in the understanding that both are epiphenomenal of productive subjective agency. Aesthetic production is a strong predicate oÃPoetics inasmuch as Aristotelian mimesis is stipulated to be an imitation, not of men, but of actions. What is often overlooked in considerations of the mimesis of action is the degree to which it privileges a view of the aesthetic subject as inherently choicemaking. Even Aristotle's account of the lexical elements of mimetic plot makes them variables of a choice-making protocol. I therefore want to focus specifically on the exigencies of human choice-making through which productive agency gains expressive scope, in both the realms of ac-


Blackshaw, R. E., Johnson, E. N., Gan, Y., May, W. E., McAndrew, D. W., Barthet, V., McDonald, T. and Wispinski, D. 2011. Alternative oilseed crops for biodiesel feedstock on the Canadian prairies. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 889–896. Increased demand for biodiesel feedstock has encouraged greater napus canola (Brassica napus L.) production, but there may be a need for greater production of other oilseed crops for this purpose. A multi-site field study was conducted to determine the oil yield potential of various crops relative to that of napus canola in the semi-arid, short-season environment of the Canadian prairies. Oilseed crops evaluated included rapa canola (Brassica rapa L.), juncea canola (Brassica juncea L.), Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata L.), oriental mustard (Brassica juncea L.), yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.), camelina (Camelina sativa L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Max.]. Crop emergence and growth were generally good for all crops, but soybean did not fu...


Context: Previous studies have shown that intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is associated with poor clinical outcomes and is thought to be a mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Aims: We aimed to determine how ITH affects the response to drug therapy in breast cancer (BC). Settings and Design: We assessed ITH using mutated allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH) data from BC patients in the TCGA database. Methods and Material: The study enrolled 515 patients with BC treated with chemotherapy from the TCGA database who had available data on survival, whole-exome sequencing, and genome-wide transcriptome sequencing. Additionally, 399 MSK-BRCA cohort patients were treated with chemotherapy. Statistical Analysis Used: All statistical analyses were conducted using R. All comparisons were made using the two-sided Mann–Whitney test, Pearson's Chi-squared test, and the Kruskal–Wallis test. Statistical significance was defined as P values less than 0.05 (*P < 0.05). The survival package in R was used to conduct the analysis. Results: Additional analysis was performed on 515 BC patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. MATH was associated with overall survival (OS) in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio (HR), 1.432; 95% confidence interval, 1.073–1.913; P = 0.015). Pathway enrichment and immune cell analysis revealed that the low MATH group had significantly higher infiltration of 24 different types of immune cells than the high MATH group. Conclusions: Individuals with low MATH scores had a longer OS than those with high MATH scores. Immune responses were significantly enhanced in breast cancer patients with low MATH scores.


The major reason for the disappearance of poliomyelitis in developed countries is the existence of extremely safe and effective vaccines of which the Cutter vaccine was not an example. The Cutter Incident is possibly the single most well known and best documented collection of adverse reactions to vaccination. It is described in three papers by Nathanson and Langmuir published in the American ]ournal of Hygiene in 1963. The first of the series, reprinted here, summarises the data and background, and would serve as its own introduction except that poliomyelitis no longer has the profile that it had at the time when the papers were published. Poliomyelitis first became a significant public health issue towards the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century as it began to occur in large epidemics rather than in small numbers of endemic cases, and by the 1940s it had achieved the kind of high terrifymg public profile currently enjoyed by AIDS. From the first transmission of the virus to animals by Landsteiner and Popper in 1909, and possibly before, a great deal of work went into understanding the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the disease.' Much of the effort was in retrospect spectacularly misplaced, especially in the use of animal models where the view that the virus was transmitted to the CNS directly from the nose was so strongly held that progress towards the current view of poliovirus as primarily an enteric virus was


Current-driven domain wall motion is investigated experimentally in in-plane magnetized (Ga,Mn)As tracks. The wall dynamics is found to differ in two important ways with respect to perpendicularly magnetized (Ga,Mn)As: the wall mobilities are up to ten times higher and the walls move in the same direction as the hole current. We demonstrate that these observations cannot be explained by spin-orbit field torques (Rashba and Dresselhaus types) but are consistent with nonadiabatic spin transfer torque enhanced by the strong spin-orbit coupling of (Ga,Mn)As. This mechanism opens the way to domain wall motion driven by bulk rather than interfacial spin-orbit coupling as in ultrathin ferromagnet/heavy metal multilayers.


Here Q<J,L;KJ and d<JJ are the projection operators expressed by the tensors of rank2J and are defined by Eq. (AI) in the Appendix and Eq. (2) of Ref. 1), respectively. Equation (2) states that Q<J,L;KJ (the symmetric and traceless projection operator of 0 (3)) forms a basis for the symmetric and traceless space of operators of 0(4). Singh and Hagen2' have formulated their Lagrange theory for particles with arbitrary spin based on the symmetric and traceless tensor field,


Gradient echo memory is the most efficient quantum memory protocol to date. Recent additions of machine learning and compatible single photons can raise its performance and the possibility of using it as a quantum gate.


By analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the general financial reporting model, the author proposed the idea of interactive financial reporting model using the expansibility of XBRL. Based on the analysis of the financial information supply chain, the author discussed the implementation methods of interactive financial reporting model.


This study aims to determine character of student after learning CIRC and effect of CIRC learning to creative thinking skills on atomic structure and the periodic system of unsure matter. This research used an experimental method, the type of quasi experiment with Pretest-posttest control group design. Sample consists of 2 class of experiment class (CIRC learning) and control class (a lecture and question and answer) were selected by Cluster Sampling. Data retrieval research using observation sheet for character development and for creative thinking skills using the form of description test. Data on the observation of student character shows the character of students do not get better after learning CIRC compared with a lecture and question and answer on atomic structure of matter and the periodic system of unsure, as looking the average value of the experiment class is 76,97 lower than the control class is 79,12. Data analysis for hypothesis using u-test with SPSS 15.0 for Windows. Based on data analysis get significant value (0,166) > significant a (0,05). It can be concluded that there is no effect CIRC learning to creative thinking skills on atomic structure of matter and the periodic system of unsure.


There is an increase in the propagation of phytoplankton in upwelling zones by reason of raising the deep water involved much more nutrient salts to near sea level by wind oncurrent. Therefore, the bottom of food chain will be raised and the fishing ground become well. At the present time, so many researches and developments have been done for artificial reclamation in such zone. Most of the research in the above have treated the homogeneous flowfield but have not taken account of the density charcteristic in such zone. So that, there are so many problems in practial use.In this paper, flow visualization is treated in order to recongnize the flow puttern around an artifical upwelling structure in the case of accornting stratified flow. The way of flow visualization is dyeflow method of tracer method.As the results, next points become clear. One is characteristic of flow puttern of artifical upwelling structure in stratified flow. The other is the direction of the developments of these structures in future.


Commitment is an incredible instrument to success. Presently, people are highly committed to various things. Therefore, this research discovered that contemporary society can be categorized into two. The first group is the people that are appropriately committed to deserving things. The second category is those that are committed to unnecessary things. Hence, commitment to unnecessary things cannot lead to victory. It might be a waste of time. For instance, a person who only spends hours and hours watching television every day and he watches more than one should. So, this person is dedicated to inappropriately. However, the greatest commitment that creates success is to be committed usefully to relevant things. This is because all of the successful people find their destiny based on the relevant things that they are committed to. For example, the Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said that he had got his mobile phone at the age of 12, since that time he was so fascinated and interested in technology. He also said he used to commit himself in reading about Silicon Valley. The place where many technologies were invented. Specifically, this research mentioned three logical principles on commitment: what is the meaning of pulchritudinous commitment? How to have a pulchritudinous commitment? And what is the importance of pulchritudinous commitment to promoting global prosperity? Finally, the research found that beautiful commitment helps to build intrinsic motivation, maintain positive engagement, optimize performance, uphold accomplishment and promote global prosperity.


Lipid as well as fatty acid is important substrate fueling normal metabolism and development of marine fish larvae.The changes in lipid characteristics and fatty acid contents of developing yolk-sac larvae of Epinephelus awoara and Trachinotus ovatus were investigated in this study.The newly hatched larvae and 1 d,2 d,3 d post hatching larvae of E.awoara and T.ovatus were sampled and their lipid contents and fatty acid profiles were assayed quantitatively.The results indicated that there were different lipid compositions between the two larvae.The neutral lipid/polar lipid ratio in E.awoara was between 0.97 and 1.22 during the development of yolk-sac larva.While in T.ovatus it was between 1.88 and 3.21.The total lipid contents of the two larvae both decreased with the development due to large consumption of neutral lipid.The dominating fatty acids in neutral lipid of E.awoara yolk-sac larva were 18∶ 1n-9,16∶ 0,DHA,16∶ 1 and 18∶ 0.While DHA,16∶ 0,18∶ 0 and 18∶ 1n-9 were the dominating in polar lipid.However,the dominating fatty acids in neutral lipid of T.ovatus larvae were 18∶ 1n-9,18∶ 2n-6,DHA,16∶ 4n-3 and 16∶ 0,and in polar lipid were DHA,16∶ 0,18∶ 1n-9 and 18∶ 2n-6.Significant decreasing of main fatty acids in neutral lipid appeared at 1 day post hatching in T.ovatus larva and at 2 days post hatching in E.awoara larva respectively.But the contents of main fatty acids in polar lipid increased significantly at 1 day post hatching in both larvae.It is therefore suggested that despite the significant differences in lipid and fatty acid profiles,the lipid consumption law was similar during the development of yolk-sac larvae of E.awoara and T.ovatus.


This paper discusses the quality and potential performance in concrete that ranges in degree from unacceptable and rejectable to unbelievable levels of excellence. Concrete has great potential, with research advancements being achieved in building and architecture plus serviceability in functional performance. In spite of tested recommendations, "games" sometimes played by the architect or engineer from time to time adversely affect the quality and performance of good concrete. These individuals may cut corners needlessly or out of necessity to deal with unexpected economical problems. It is recommended that they play it safe before varying from accepted or tested specifications. In addition to specifications, problems concerning air, water, slump, and water-cement control; slump loss; mixing and placing; curing; strength; and quality control and assurance are discussed. /Author/


Arabic sign languages still lack exhaustive scientific studies of their grammatical structure, morpho-syntactic rules, as well as the rules that govern the construction of sentences in these languages. Such studies are necessary for the development and evolution of any language (spoken or sign language). In addition, the lack of tools that help researchers and all those interested in studying Arab sign languages is another obstacle. Among these tools, we highline the importance of the availability of a language for representing Sign Language (SL) in a written form. In this context, we present a new initiative toward the creation of an Arab Gloss writing system for Arab sign languages based on gloss annotation system like American Sign Language. This new transcription system can be useful for learning, teaching or studying as well as developing Sign Language Processing tool like machine translation or building n-gram models.


Sodium Injection (SI) is a commercially available new and retrofit technology used to control SO{sub 2} emissions. This report presents technical guidelines for designing and operating the waste management system of an SI facility equipped to burn coal. Waste transfer, storage, pretreatment/conditioning, transport, and disposal are addressed. Current SI waste management practice is limited; therefore, these guidelines are based primarily on critical waste properties (e.g., chemical constituents, gradation, density, moisture content, flowability, strength, leachate properties, etc.). Consequently, results of waste property tests conducted as part of this study, and test data from other studies are reported and compared. The report also describes the limited existing information on SI waste management practices. Conceptual designs of new and retrofit SI waste management systems are presented to demonstrate the economic impact of SI on waste management. Parametric cost sensitivity analyses illustrate the impact of significant design parameters on waste management costs. 79 refs., 68 figs., 54 tabs.


This researcher measures the effectiveness of discovery learning on reading descriptive text at eight grades of SMP Diniyah Al Falahiyah Lamongan in academic 2020/202. The discovery learning method strategy works for the students' mental, easy to interact (actively) and new information independently. The method of the research utilized a quantitative experimental method by using a pre-experimental design. Conducted the sample of the study was at VII-A class with 30 students. The instrument of collecting data used try-out and test (pre-test and post-test). The test had utilized to know students' abilities before and after the experiment run. The result of the research showed the mean score in the pre-test was 57.33, and the post-test was 74.50. The result was that the post-test was higher than the pre-test. The analysis using the SPSS based paired sample t-test formula produces a significance value of sig. (2-tailed) had 0.000 at the critical value for the 5% level (0.000 < 0.05). The obtained t-test had -21.908, and the t-table was 2.042. So, the test score was higher than the t-table (-21.908 > 2.042). It means rejected Ho and Ha is accepted. It can conclude that the discovery learning method has significant and effectiveness to reading descriptive text.


The general public sometimes regards accounting as a rule-bound, algorithmic profession—as simple bookkeeping—when in fact it has been and is increasingly focused on creative thought. Accounting "rules" are fundamentally invitations to the accountant to practice critical thinking. The accounting profession faces increased demands from students, parents and employers to prepare students better; programs must "do more" with ever-diminishing resources. In response to these demands, many programs now go beyond teaching traditional accounting knowledge to focus on writing, critical thinking and other important skills to help develop more graduates that are successful. After discussing the general background of critical thinking skills, we discuss how college programs have and can more effectively implement this important skill. We thus summarize proven methods to develop critical thinking skills and show how faculty members can use these ideas in an accounting context.


To solve the bottleneck problem of low deep coal seam permeability and difficult coalbed methane (CBM) mining. Combining hydraulic splitting technology and directional drilling technology, a directional hydraulic splitting enhancement method of deep CBM mining was proposed. The selection equation for the directional hydraulic splitting of deep coalbed was constructed. The numerical simulation reveals the variation in coal fractures around different split angles. The split angle under the maximum coal damage effect was obtained. It was found that the combined effect of the double crack damage disturbance region led to reciprocal stress fluctuations during crack development and, eventually, the formation of a zigzag fracture. The larger the splitting angle, the larger the fissure development length and the larger the coal-damaged area. A double crack takes 25% less time to complete propagation than a single crack. When the splitting angle is 90°, the disturbed area occupies 2/3 of the area around the borehole, and the overall fracturing effect is the best. In the application process, the new directional hydraulic splitting technology can increase CBM mining by 5.08%, greatly improve CBM mining efficiency, and reduce the coal mining risk, which is of great significance to the project.


There is a lack of uniformity of reporting on features of celiac disease (CD) on small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE). This makes determining extent of disease and comparison of severity of disease challenging.


XML has been established as a format for data exchange on the Internet, which has a large volume scale. By the increase of the volume of XML data, applications need to have a standard query language for efficient retrieving and integrating XML data. XQuery, which is proposed by W3C, is one of the standard query languages for XML data which is widely accepted by many applications. In relation to this, the efficient processing of XQuery queries has become a new research topic and a few researchers have proposed the methods for optimizing XQuery queries to resolve the problem of efficiency. A number of previous researches refer to other information like XML schema or DTD for optimizing the queries. However, our optimization technique does not use any other information except the XQuery query instance itself. Also, some researches just define system dependant optimization methods. In other words, they optimize the execution plan of XQuery queries therefore their methods depend on their XQuery execution engine. However our method can be used in any XQuery engine and in any middleware like a mediator over distributed XQuery engines, because our input is an XQuery query and output also is an optimized XQuery query- The express power of XQuery language is abundant but its syntax is very complex because XQuery borrowed features from several other languages. Therefore, we think that it is necessary to classify the queries and give an optimization method according to the characteristics of classified queries. For these reasons, we consider FOR clauses in XQuery queries because FOR clauses can generate some redundant execution of unnecessary operations. In this paper, we classify the general cases of XQuery queries including FOR clauses, and propose the rewriting rules based on these cases. The focus of our optimization is to reduce the frequency of iterations generated by FOR clauses, of course, without semantic modification of the original query. We implement a prototype system for our optimization algorithm and evaluate the performance between original XQuery queries and optimized XQuery queries.


This book explores the origins and history of the debate over the Equal Rights Amendment (the ERA). Co-authored with the late Hal Draper, the book explores the competition between two different approaches to the rights of women workers. These approaches can be characterized broadly as the "pure" feminist approach of Alice Paul and the National Organization for Women and the "social" feminist approach advocated by Florence Kelley and Eleanor Roosevelt. Special attention is paid to the battle between union women in California with the California branch of the NOW.


Lameness associated with musculoskeletal disorders of the forelimb accounts for approximately 25 per cent of the authors' canine referral caseload. Lameness due to an underlying neurological disorder is less common and is often associated with weakness and, in some dogs, neurological deficits. Most cases of chronic forelimb lameness of musculoskeletal origin seen at the authors' clinic involve the elbow or, less frequently, the shoulder. The practitioner should, however, be mindful of the fact that lameness can be associated with any aspect of forelimb function. When dealing with chronic forelimb lameness, a diagnosis can be elusive and, with limited investigative techniques, frustrating. A structured approach to the investigation of lameness is therefore vital if the practitioner is to treat or refer animals appropriately. This article describes a step-by-step approach to investigating lameness in the forelimb in dogs. A second article, to be published in the February issue of In Practice, will describe the approach for investigating hindlimb lameness.


In this paper,problems in processing waste home appliance are analyzed.Referring to Japan's recy- cle policy and technology of waste home appliance,suggestions and countermeasures for dealing with waste home appli- ance in our country are put forward.


The present paper shows the first results of an ongoing project devoted to explore the castilianization of the city of San Sebastian in Spain. We will o er a series of data and testimonies that show the quantitative importance of both competing languages in San Sebastian during the first three quarters of the 19 th century. Drawing from that information, we will also intend to imagine what the linguistic situation of the city was according to some sociolinguistic variables as linguistic situation, social class, literacy or gender. The provisional conclusions thus collected should help us to detect the groups that determined and featured the shift towards Spanish in the last years of the century. By so doing we hope to contribute to a better understanding of a process that needs to be compared with similar language replacements in the 19 th century cities of Spain and Western Europe.


The color reaction of silver with 3,5-dibromo-2-pyridinediazoaminoazobenzene(3,5-DB-PDAB) was studied.Based on the color reaction of 3,5-DB-PDAB with silver(Ⅰ) and the solid phase extraction of its colored complex with Waters Xterra TM RP_ 18 cartridge,a new method for the determination of silver(Ⅰ) was established.In pH 11.0 borax-sodium hydroxide buffer solution and emulsifier-OP medium,3,5-DB-PDAB can react with silver(Ⅰ) to form a stable 2∶1 complex.The colored complex can be extracted by Waters Xterra TM RP_ 18 cartridge and eluted from the cartridge with ethanol(containing 0.01mol/L of pH 11 pyrrolidine-acetic acid buffer),then determined by spectrophotometry.The molar absorptivity is 1.72×10~5L·mol~-1·cm~-1 at 526 nm.Beer′s law is obeyed in the range of 0.01~1.0μg/mL.This method was applied to the determination of silver in water with good results.


Tests were performed at ambient temperatures up to +50°C still achieving chip temperatures down to 55 °C leading to optimum detector performance for all detector sizes. The maximum Peltier power was in parallel reduced by more than 50% compared to the current thermoelectric cooler at a given fixed temperature. Long term stability tests revealed that the vacuum integrity of the new SDD modules is given even at permanent storage temperatures of +80°C.


The effects of economic and political reforms on pa tronage in Africa remains unclear. In particular there is much disagreement about whether or not str uctural adjustment programs and democratization have helped to make patronage less pervasive in Afr ican politics. Here I examine the case study of Uganda, which has received much praise for its larg e-scale economic and political reforms since the late 1980s. However, at the same time Uganda has also experienced a near explosion in the number of districts (the highest level of local government), going from 39 to 80 in less than a decade. I exami ne a variety of potential reasons why these districts mi ght have been created, and argue, through the use o f both qualitative and quantitative analysis, that di strict creation has functioned as a source of patro nage. Specifically, I show that President Museveni's gove rnment has created new districts as a means to compensate for other patronage resources lost throu gh reforms, and that new districts have helped him to continue to win elections. This paper thus cons titutes the first rigorous demonstration that the creation of new sub-national political units can co nstitute a form of patronage, and suggests that sim ilar processes may be currently taking place across Afri ca.


Because the output beam of the semiconductor laser is elliptical,it is always disadvantageous to use semiconductor laser in holograph.This paper is focused on the orthopedics of the near field light beam of semiconductor laser,which will be used in holograph,by trapezoidal prism combination.The holograph beside the waist of Gauss beam is also discussed.The hologram is vivid.


Because the skin microbiota is valuable for elucidating health status and common disorders in the host, this study aimed to describe the bacterial community composition of the skin of Barbour's seahorse ( Hippocampus barbouri ) using high-throughput sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Water and sediment samples from the surrounding environment were also analyzed for comparative purposes. The results revealed the presence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) affiliated to the Aeromonas genus in the skin, whose abundance was slightly similar to the sediment samples. Given that some Aeromonas species are known to be important pathogens in humans and fish, these results may provide information to show the dependency of the skin microbial composition on the environment, as well as determine whether the presence of Aeromonas species has implications on seahorse health.


Wet grinding is one of the most common forms of technology in powder production and preparation. Sand mill is the latest technology of wet grinding, which can effectively reduce the grinding particle size and improve the powder reactivity. LiFePO4 is one of the widely used cathode materials for lithium batteries at present, and the grinding process will affect the product performance. In this paper, parallel type and series type grinding processes were simulated by the single-cylinder system and the double cylinder system, which were studied and compared through the preparation of LiFePO4. It was discovered that the series type grinding process can not only increase the grinding efficiency but also improve the consistency of particle size distribution. LiFePO4 prepared by the series type grinding process has better rate performance and a higher discharge voltage platform. Attributing to the uniform particle size of LiFePO4, the lithium-ion diffusion coefficient was raised, which was proved by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). To sum up, based on the results of this paper, the properties of lithium iron phosphate will be affected by the particle size distribution, which is related to the grinding process. Therefore, in order to obtain the best performance of LiFePO4, it is necessary to choose the appropriate production process. This research work provides references and the basis for the research of powder grinding production technology.


A green and efficient one-pot synthesis of benzylamino coumarin derivatives was conducted
by a three-component condensation of 4-hydroxycoumarin, cyclic secondary amine, and
aromatic aldehyde in the presence of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) as a heterogeneous catalyst in
water at room temperature.


Project-based learning is an effective teaching method for improvement of academic achievement and problem-solving ability so that is often applied to programming education. However, a strategy of enhancing motivation is required by a course design considering a learning style of students for advantage of PBL to take effect. Yet, studies on considerations with learning style still lack, when designing project-based programming learning courses for improvement of learning motivation. This research aims to address issues for consideration in designing PBL programming course. Accordingly, we analyzed learning motivation's difference between learning style in PBL programming class. We designed PBL programming course focusing ARCS model, where students making simulation The Kolb Learning Style Inventory is used to determine learning preferences. To assess students' motivation, Keller's Course Interest Survey was used in a pre-post-test-design. The result indicates that pre-post students' motivation differed. Also, we found considerations through comparing difference of ARCS model's detailed elements between learning styles.


This study introduces a principle, which unifies two experimental methods for airborne indoor virus-transmissions adapted to several ventilation measures. A first-time comparison of mechanical/natural ventilation and air purifiers with regard to infection risks is achieved. Effortful computational fluid dynamics demand detailed boundary conditions for accurate calculations of indoor airflows, which are often unknown. Hence a suitable, simple and generalized experimental set up for identifying the spatial and temporal infection risk for different ventilation measures is required. A trace gas method is suitable for mechanical and natural ventilation with outdoor air exchange. For an accurate assessment of air purifiers based on filtration a surrogate particle method is appropriate. The release of a controlled rate of either trace gas or particles simulates an infectious person releasing virus material. Surrounding substance concentration measurements identify the neighborhood exposure. One key aspect of the study is to prove that the requirement of concordant results of both methods is fulfilled. This is the only way to ensure that the comparison of different ventilation measures described above is reliable. Two examples (a two person office, several classrooms) show how practical both methods are and how the principle is applicable for different types and sizes of rooms.


> PDGF (Platelet-derived growth factor): inducing the proliferation of undifferentiated cells (Potent mitogen and chemotactic factor for cells of mesenchymal origin. Anabolic action on bone formation in vivo) > IGF (Insulin-like growth factor): Enhances osteoblast activity, blocks apoptosis and induces bone formation > VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor): an important component of the regeneration of the vascular system at the fracture site. VEGF mediates the capillary invasion that constitutes a prerequisite for the complex process of endochondral ossification [3]. > BMPs (Bone Morphogenic Protein): stimulates differentiation of osteoblasts > TGF-β (Transforming growth factor): inducer of committed bone cell replication and osteoblast matrix production


Objective: This study aims to evaluate the degree of readiness to practice virtual PLCs in light of the COVID-19 crisis from the perspectives of school leaders and teachers at Amman Educational Directorate in Jordan.
Methods: This study used the descriptive analytical method. The sample of the study consisted of 155 respondents chosen randomly. The psychometric properties of the Professional Learning Communities Scale, consisting of 52 items distributed across six dimensions, were validated.
Results: The results showed that the degree of readiness to practice virtual PLCs in light of the COVID-19 crisis, from the perspectives of school leaders and teachers, was high across all dimensions of the scale. Specifically, Supportive Conditions – Relationships were ranked first with a high score, while Supportive Conditions – Structures were ranked second with a medium score. The Shared Values and Visions, Shared Personal Practices, and Shared and Supportive Leadership were ranked third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, with a medium score. The results indicated significant statistical differences in work type and authority supervising schools, in favor of school principals and UNRWA schools, respectively. However, there were insignificant statistical differences regarding the respondents' gender, years of experience, and academic degrees.
Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the degree of readiness to practice virtual PLCs in the light of the COVID-19 crisis, from the perspectives of school leaders and teachers, was high. The study recommends conducting related studies and holding workshops for school leaders and teachers.


Let C be a general connected, smooth, projective curve of positive genus g. For each integer i≥0, we give formulae for the number of pairs (P, Q) ∈ C × C off the diagonal such that (g + i − 1)Q - (i + 1)P is linearly equivalent to an effective divisor, and the number of pairs (P, Q) ∈ C × C off the diagonal such that (g + i + 1)Q − (i + 1)P is linearly equivalent to a moving effective divisor.


Automatic classification of text documents refers to the computerized allocation of class numbers from existing classification schemes to natural language texts by means of suitable algorithms. Based upon a comprehensive literature review, this thesis establishes an informed and up-to-date view of the applicability of automatic classification for the subject approach to electronic documents, particularly to Web resources. Both methodological aspects and the experiences drawn from relevant projects and applications are covered. Concerning methodology, the present state-of-the-art comprises a number of statistical approaches that rely on machine learning; these methods use pre-classified example documents for establishing a model - the "classifier" - which is then used for classifying new documents. However, the four large-scale projects conducted in the 1990s by the Universities of Lund, Wolverhampton and Oldenburg, and by OCLC (Dublin, OH), still used rather simple and more traditional methodological approaches. These projects are described and analyzed in detail. As they made use of traditional library classifications their results are significant for LIS, even if no permanent quality services have resulted from these endeavours. The analysis of other relevant applications and projects reveals a number of attempts to use automatic classification for document processing in the fields of patent and media documentation. Here, semi-automatic solutions that support human classifiers are preferred, due to the yet unsatisfactory classification results obtained by fully automated systems. Other interesting implementations include Web portals, search engines and (commercial) information services, whereas only little interest has been shown in the automatic classification of books and bibliographic records. In the concluding part of the study the author discusses the most significant applications and projects, and also addresses several problems and issues in the context of automatic classification.


Background: to evaluate reading performance and to obtain comparable results in multi-center studies carried out in several countries, it is necessary to use rigorously developed standardized tests in different languages. Aim: to develop a Russian version of the Minnesota low vision reading chart (MNREAD) and to test it for measuring the near vision reading performance in normally sighted young adults. Patients and Methods: sixty sentences were composed using the most common words selected from the frequency dictionary and the school curriculum of 1st — 4th grades. The number of characters per sentence and the sentence length were adapted to match the MNREAD design principles. 38 sentences were selected. Then, two versions of the test in Russian language (MNREAD-R) with different series of sentences were printed out and tested randomly in 30 subjects aged 18–22 years during one session. The reading parameters were assessed at a 40-cm distance; subjects were asked to read the charts for testing their monocular (right and left eyes) and binocular reading. The measured reading acuity (RA), maximum reading speed (MRS), critical print size (CPS) and reading accessibility index (ACC) were evaluated using statistical analysis. Results: the time taken to read a standardized short test sentence was approx. 3 s. Binocular MRS for test chart 1 was 198±4.51 words/min, for test chart 2 — 200±4.76 words/min; CPS in binocular conditions was the same for both charts and equaled to 0.08±0.02 logMAR; binocular RA for test chart 1 was (-)0.04±0.01 logMAR and test chart 2 — (-)0,06±0,01 logMAR; binocular ACC was 1.00±0.02 and 1.03±0.02, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between all parameters measured with the use of test charts 1 and 2 (р>0.05). Conclusion: the developed MNREAD-R test charts can be used for Russian speaking population to measure RA, MRS, ACC and RT. Keywords: MNREAD, reading speed, tests to assess reading performance, visual acuity, low vision. For citation: Stepanets I.R., Kulikov A.N., Koskin S.A., Zhilchuk D.I. Development of a Russian version of the Minnesota low vision reading chart. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2022;22(3):150–155 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2022-22-3-150-155


The model of inventory management on the basis of which the calculations of the efficiency of the use of inventories, minimizing the total costs associated with their delivery, storage and fines for lack of stocks in the presence of demand for them have been made and presented in the article. Using it in practice will allow managing the logistics and warehouse costs, the risk of not receiving or reducing the company's profits due to the excess costs and the efficiency of turnover of inventories. The proposed model takes into account the depending on the price of shipment from the supplier to the warehouse, the cost of holding stocks, the cost of holding the stocks, the amount of storage costs and penalties for non-shipped products. It is proved that rationally organized order in stock management allows companies to calculate the order quantity, its optimal size and time interval between orders taking into account the prospect of delay in supply, to plan the amount of profit, to organize the accounting of the profitable level of stocks, to determine the sizes of the highest and guarantee level of the stock. Approbation of the developed model was carried out on the basis of the data of the woodworking enterprise. We used elements of the Data Mining Results technology – the MARSPline module in the application package Statistica to achieve the goals. This made it possible to construct a regression model in multidimensional space and spline surfaces through the main functions.


The study used the quantitative descriptive research design. The research population comprised all the stocks listed in the IDX30 index published biannually with a total of 30 stocks. The variables in the study were stock return, market return, stock risk, and market risk. The calculation of the expected return used the capital asset pricing model.The results of the study to find out the optimal portfolio of stocks by using capital asset pricing model were as follows. (1) The stock that made up the optimal portfolio were those of (1 adalah TBIG ( Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk.), MDKA (Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk.) dan UNTR ( United Tractor Tbk )  2) The composition of the proportion of funds formed by using the Composite Stock Price Index as the market return proxy was  allocated for the stocks of, 23% allocated for the stocks of TBIG ( Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk.)  , 45%, allocated for the stocks of) MDKA (Merdeka Copper Gold Tbk.), 32%. allocated for the stocks of UNTR ( United Tractor Tbk ).


Vegetation optical depth and scattering albedo are crucial parameters within the widely used τ-ω model for passive microwave remote sensing of vegetation and soil. A multi-sensor data integration approach using ICESat lidar vegetation heights and SMAP radar as well as radiometer data enables a direct retrieval of the two parameters on a physics-derived basis. The crucial step within the retrieval methodology is the calculus of the vegetation scattering coefficient KS, where one exact and three approximated solutions are provided. It is shown that, when using the assumption of a randomly oriented volume, the backscatter measurements of the radar provide a sufficient first order estimate and subsequently lead to effective estimates of vegetation optical depth and scattering albedo acquired with the novel multi-sensor approach.


Objective To investigate the relationship between serum matrix metalloproteinase-8(MMP-8) level and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods 60 subjects were enrolled in the normal control group(NC group),and 89 patients with diabetes were included in the diabetic group(DM group).DM group was divided into 2 groups based on carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and carotid plaques.One consisted of diabetics without carotid atherosclerosis(DM1 group,n=16) and the other one consisted of diabetics with carotid atherosclerosis(group DM2,n=73).We compared MMP-8 level of these three groups.DM2 group was divided into 3 sub-groups based on carotid IMT and the characteristic of plaques:the carotid IMT thickening group(group A,n=12),the stable plaque group(group B,n=27) and the unstable plaque group(group C,n=34).We compared IMT,Crouse score and carotid ultrasonic indexes in these three sub-groups and then analyzed the relevance of serum MMP-8 level and carotid ultrasonic indexes.Results Both serum MMP-8 level and carotid IMT in DM2 group were higher than in NC group and DM1 group,and DM1 group had higher MMP-8 level and carotid IMT than those in NC group(P0.05).Moreover,the level of MMP-8 in group C was higher than group A and group B,and group B had a higher MMP-8 level than group A(P0.05).The serum MMP-8 level had a positive co-linearity with IMT(r=0.68,P0.05) and Crouse score(r=0.72,P0.05).Conclusion The serum MMP-8 level had a co-linearity with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanied with carotid atherosclerosis,and it could be an index which can predict the emergence and stability of carotid plaques.


Short-periods of improved nutrition associated with temporary weaning increased early pregnancy rates in grazing conditions, but the underlying mechanisms involved in this response remain unknown. Primiparous beef cows (n = 25; 388 ± 7 kg BW and 3.6 ± 0.2 units BCS) in anestrus were used in a randomized block design with a 2x2 factorial arrangement of short-term supplementation, with 2.5 kg/cow of whole rice middlings (90.3%DM, 10%CP, 9%EE, 14%NDF; SUP, n = 12 vs. CON, n = 13) for 23 d, and temporary weaning, by applying nose plates to calves for 14 d (with, n = 13 vs. without, n = 12), before initiation of the breeding period (103 ± 1 d postpartum) to study hepatic expression of GH-IGF axis genes. Liver biopsies were obtained at the initiation and end of the treatment period. The abundance of mRNA of growth hormone receptor (GHR), GHR-1A, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding proteins-2 (BP2),-3 (BP3), and insulin receptor (INSR) were measured by real time RT-PCR normalized by hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase and β-actin as endogenous control genes. Means from a mixed model analysis were considered to differ when P < 0.05. Neither short-term supplementation nor temporary weaning affected cow BCS. Expression of GHR and IGFI mRNA were not affected by any of the factors evaluated in this study while the expression of INSR mRNA tended be greater (P = 0.11, 2.96 vs. 1.83 ± 0.55) in temporary weaned than suckled cows. Expression of BP3 and BP2 mRNA was greater in SUP than CON cows (1.38 vs. 0.85 ± 0.003 and 18.50 vs. 12.63 ± 0.04, respectively). In addition, BP2 mRNA was less in temporary weaned than suckled cows (12.60 vs. 18.53 ± 0.04). The BP3/BP2 ration was not affected by short-term supplementation but was greater in temporary weaned than suckled cows. Short-term supplementation and temporary weaning before initiation of the breeding season could affect IGF availability through changes in hepatic IGFBP synthesis.


Management inefficiency and object mismatching are two major drawbacks of conventional SNMP/CORBA gateway-based distributed network management systems. The paper describes a new CORBA-based distributed network management architecture, DiNM/CORBA, which seamlessly integrates the SNMP-based network management with the CORBA distributed computing environment through Java and JMAPI technology. By doing so, the service objects in the CORBA environment are able to directly access the managed objects within the SNMP agent, so there is no need for dynamic protocol translation during management operation. The paper describes the DiNM/CORBA architecture, while focusing on the design and implementation of its basic services of data collection and event management. Compared with a conventional SNMP management environment, the DiNM/CORBA performance is about 20% higher than that of a typical SNMP/CORBA gateway approach.


Following the creation of the Metropolis project and its network of research centres in the mid-1990s, there has been a flood of publications on immigration and settlement issues in Canada, and Integration and Inclusion of Newcomers and Minorities across Canada is a welcome addition to this burgeoning literature. Edited by John Biles, Meyer Burstein, James Frideres, Erin Tolley, and Robert Vineberg, this volume examines the settlement and integration programs across Canada in an integrated fashion. The volume consists of a general introduction, 13 substantive chapters, and a conclusion. Expectedly, the introduction charts the course of the book, detailing its objectives and the themes of the subsequent chapters. Besides the first two chapters that chronicle the history of federal and provincial/territorial relations in immigration, the volume moves from the west coast, with British Columbia as Chapter 3, through the Prairies and Central Canada to Atlantic Canada, before dealing with the northern territories in the last substantive chapter.


New simulation procedures are presented for generating synthetic data from either a nonseasonal or a seasonal Box-Jenkins model. The simulation techniques are designed so that random realizations of the underlying stochastic process are employed for starting values. Because fixed beginning values are not utilized, systematic bias is not introduced into the synthetic trace. When the data have been transformed by a Box-Cox transformation, the inverse transformation can be conveniently incorporated into the simulation process. Also a new algorithm is presented for simulating integrated models. A method is developed for incorporating parameter uncertainty into simulation studies, and it is explained how this technique can be used in the design of reservoirs. Practical applications are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the aforesaid simulation methods. In addition, the Fortran computer subroutines for the simulation procedures are included in an appendix with the microfiche edition of this paper.

Appendix is available with entire article on microfiche. Order from American Geophysical Union, 1909 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. Document W78-006; $1.00. Payment must accompanyorder.


The problem of determining spacecraft attitude and angular rates from vector measurements is analysed; a number of approaches to the problem are compared and their relative merits discussed with particular reference to the problem of attitude and rate determination from magnetic field vector measurements.


A subset [Formula: see text] of a group [Formula: see text] invariably generates [Formula: see text] if [Formula: see text] is generated by [Formula: see text] for any choice of [Formula: see text]. A topological group [Formula: see text] is said to be [Formula: see text] if it is invariably generated by some subset [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] if it is topologically invariably generated by some subset [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we study the problem of (topological) invariable generation for linear groups and for automorphism groups of trees. Our main results show that the Lie group [Formula: see text] and the automorphism group of a regular tree are [Formula: see text], and that the groups [Formula: see text] are not [Formula: see text] for countable fields of infinite transcendence degree over a prime field.


In this paper we investigate linear dependence of points in Mordell-Weil groups of abelian varieties via reduction maps. In particular we try to determine the conditions for detecting linear dependence in Mordell-Weil groups via finite number of reductions.


This article presents the author's findings and reflections following a comparison of reported 'mentoring relationship enablers' from participants in 14 Indigenous mentoring programs and over 30 non-Indigenous mentoring programs.


Abstract: The development of biologically synthesised nanoparticles using plant extracts plays an important role in the field of nanotechnology as it is eco-friendly and does not involve any harmful chemicals. The present study deals with green synthesis and characterization of Copper oxide and Iron oxide nanoparticles using Hymenocallis littoralis floral extract. To our knowledge, this is the first report where this flower extract was found to be a potential source for the green synthesis of copper oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles. Aqueous floral extract of fresh flowers of Hymenocallis littoralis were utilised for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The aqueous extract acts as both reducing and capping agent. The synthesised oxide nanoparticles of copper (CuONPs) and iron (IONPs) were confirmed by the change of colour after addition of floral extract into the precursors CuSO4.5H2O and FeCl3.6H2O salt solutions separately. The synthesised nanoparticles were characterised by UV-Visible Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM). The UV-VIS spectroscopy showed the absorption peaks at 300nm and 314nm for CuONPs and IONPs respectively. The SEM analysis confirmed the presence of CuONPs and IONPs nanoparticles and the average size of some selected particles ranged from 100nm-200nm. It was observed that the aqueous floral extract can reduce copper and iron ions into their oxide nanoparticles within a day. Following the synthesis and characterization, the antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated. Thus, the method followed has the potential for simple, safe and stable biosynthesis of these nanoparticles.


This article carries on the analysis take the Weaver-Thomas model to the Anhui Province industry leading industry as an example,discusses under the MATLAB environment the Weaver-Thomas model solution,finally indicated,programs easily with MATLAB, computation convenient,the efficiency is high.


Shared counters are among the most basic coordination structures in multiprocessor computa tion with applications ranging from barrier synchronization to concurrent data structure design This paper introduces di racting trees novel data structures for shared counting and load balanc ing in a distributed parallel environment Empirical evidence collected on a simulated distributed shared memory machine and several simulated message passing architectures shows that di rac ting trees scale better and are more robust than both combining trees and counting networks currently the most e ective known methods for implementing concurrent counters in software The use of a randomized coordination method together with a combinatorial data structure overcomes the resiliency drawbacks of combining trees Our simulations show that to handle the same load di racting trees and counting networks should have a similar width w yet the depth of a di racting tree is O logw whereas counting networks have depth O log w Di racting trees have already been used to implement highly e cient producer consumer queues and we believe di raction will prove to be an e ective alternative paradigm to combining and queue locking in the design of many concurrent data structures A preliminary version of this work appeared in the Proceedings of the Annual Symposium on Parallel Algorithms and Architectures SPAA June Department of Computer Science Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel Contact Author E mail shanir math tau ac il


We propose a novel biometrics cryptosystem where one can send and receive secure information using just the fingerprints. This cryptosystem is a judicious blend of the asymmetric cryptosystem like RSA and the symmetric fuzzy vault scheme having the advantages of both the aforementioned crypto systems. We have proposed a modification of the fuzzy vault scheme to make it more robust against variations in the values of biometric features. Finally, we propose the use of invariant features as a key to producing a hierarchical security system where the same key (fingerprint) can be used to generate encrypted messages at different levels of security


High-frequency market making is a algorithmic trading strategy in which an agent provides liquidity at the same time as quoting a bid price and an ask price on a security. The strategy reap profits in the form of the spread between the quoted price placed on the buy and sell prices. Due to complexity in inventory risk, counterparties to trades and information asymmetry, the understanding of high-frequency market making algorithms is relatively unexplored by academics across disciplines. In this paper, we develop realistic simulations of limit order markets and use them to design a high-frequency market making agent using Deep Recurrent Q-Networks. Our approach outperforms a prominent benchmark strategy from literature, which uses temporal-difference reinforcement learning to design market making agents. Using the simulation framework, we analyse how the maker-take fee, a feature of market design, affects market quality and the agent's profitability. The agents successfully reproduce stylised facts in historical trade data from each simulation.


The present paper uses the computational power of Microsoft Excel 2007 software system to perform interactive simulations for advanced undergraduate and first year graduate students in biology, biochemistry, biophysics, microbiology and medicine in college and university classroom setting. We developed the required computer algorithm, which uses a built-in pseudo-random number generating function, to computer model two basic Mendel's Laws of heredity in evolution for plant and animal species. The results of simulations corroborate the experimental observations of Mendel's research on inheritance in Pisum hybrid species.


The paper addresses the generalization of the half-quadratic minimization method for the restoration of images having values in a complete Riemannian manifold. We recall the half-quadratic minimization method using the notation of the c-transform and adapt the algorithm to our special variational setting. We prove the convergence of the method for Hadamard spaces. Extensive numerical examples for images with values on spheres, in the rotation group SO(3) and in the manifold of positive definite matrices demonstrate the excellent performance of the algorithm. In particular, the method with SO(3)-valued data shows promising results for the restoration of images obtained from Electron Backscattered Diffraction which are of interest in material science.


Background The importance of the angiosome concept in critical limb ischemia remains controversial. The peroneal artery is relatively spared from the terminal stages of atherosclerosis and is often the last tibial vessel to become occluded in diabetes or end-stage vascular disease. The main prejudice, on the contrary, against its use in distal revascularizations is that the perfusion of the foot is indirect, via collaterals from its anterior and posterior branches, despite an extensive collateral arterial bed, so the target vessel may be inadequate for treating a septic or gangrenous foot. The value of peroneal artery revascularization has always been debatable, especially in patients with tissue loss. As one of the most important factors of wound healing is the establishment of in-line flow to the foot, the role of peroneal angioplasty has to be defined. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the outcomes of single peroneal indirect revascularization (IR) (nonangiosome-targeted tibial angioplasty) versus other tibial direct revascularization (DR) (angiosome-targeted), in infra-popliteal arterial disease. Patients and methods Thirty patients were included and presented to the Vascular Surgery Department of Al-Azhar University Hospitals and El araby Specialized Hospital, Menoufia with infra-popliteal arterial lesions, distributed into two equal groups: 15 patients were treated with single peroneal IR, while 15 patients were treated with other tibial DR during the period from June 2019 to June 2019. Results Fifteen patients reached the endpoint of adequate healing (nine patients with 'DR' technique and six patients with 'ID' technique) and nine patients underwent major amputations. The limb salvage after 1 year was 70%. Conclusion DR of tibial vessels appears to improve wound healing and limb salvage rates compared with IR, with no effect on patency, morbidity, mortality, or reintervention rates.


The authors describe a learning strategy motivated by computational constraints that enhances the speed of neural network learning. Decision regions in feature space are of three types: (1) well separated clusters (Type A). (2) disconnected clusters (Type B) and (3) clusters separated by complex boundaries (Type C). These decision regions have psychological validity, as is evident from E. Rosch's (1976) categorization theory. Rosch suggests that in taxonomies of real objects, there is one level of abstraction at which basic category cuts are made. Basic categories are similar to Type A clusters. Categories one level more abstract than basic categories are superordinate categories and categories one level less abstract are subordinate categories. These correspond to Type B and Type C clusters, respectively. It is proved that, in a binary valued feature space, basic categories can be learned by a perceptron. A two-layer network for classifying basic categories in a multi-valued feature space is described. This network is used as a basis to construct neural network STRUCT for learning superordinate and subordinate categories.<<ETX>>


Sociocultural theory is an emerging theory in psychology that looks at the important contributions that society makes to individual development. This theory stresses the interaction between developing people and the culture in which they live. Sociocultural theory also suggests that human learning is largely a social process. Psychology is one of the newest sciences. Over the years, social scientists have developed theories or perspectives based off of their observations, research, and the perspectives of other scientists. Although there is some overlap, each of the major perspectives of psychology is unique. As a result, they each have strengths and weaknesses and explain psychology in a different way. SLA research in the tradition of sociocultural theory examines the dynamic relationship between interaction and acquisition, exploring how language, cognition, and culture are acquired through collaborative interaction. This paper presents an analysis of The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Sociocultural Theory and to present a general overview of Sociocultural Theory (SCT), and its relation to human cognitive development.


We proposed and demonstrated a switchable terahertz device composed of patterned graphene and vanadium dioxide (VO2). The device can achieve function switching within the same structure and frequency range. When the graphene Fermi energy level is EF=0.6 eV and the VO2 is in the metal phase, the proposed terahertz device can act as a broadband absorber with the absorption over 90% from 1.15 to 2.13 THz. When the graphene Fermi energy level is EF=0 eV and the VO2 is in the insulator phase, the device can be switched into the broadband filter mode, in which the 3 dB bandwidth is 1.22 THz with the center frequency of 1.58 THz.


East Asia is a treasury of archaeological information when examining the origins and development of early sedentism in human societies. Since the early 20th century, conditions, causes and consequences of sedentism have been major research foci of anthropological archaeology. Traditional archaeological approaches, which were heavily based on data from Europe and the Near East, tended to view the begin ning of food production as the direct cause of sedentism (e.g.. Braidwood 1958, 1960; Childe 1942, 1951; MacNeish 1964, 1972). Developments in hunter-gatherer archaeology over the past several decades, however, have revealed that seden tism is not necessarily restricted to food-producing societies. In particular, the prehistory of the Japanese Archipelago and the Korean Peninsula (Map 2.4.1) does not fit into the con ventional chronology' of the "Palaeolithic-Neolithic-Bronze Age" sequence of West Eurasia: the Jomon Culture in Japan (c. 16,000—3000/2500 10') and the Chulmun Culture in Korea (c. 11,500—3300 sp) are associated with large amounts of pot tery but, unlike many other pottery-producing cultures, the pri mary subsistence strategy was hunting-gathering-fishing (çf. Jordan & Zvelebil 2009). An examination ofthe development of early sedentism in these regions will help us understand why historically' unique trajectories of human sociopolitical and economic systems developed in different parts of the world. Recent discussions on the origins of agriculture also indi cate that the boundary between hunter-gatherers and agricul turalists is not as clear-cut as scholars once assumed. Many "hunter-gatherer" societies did/do practise plant cultivation or small-scale agriculture. The common practice of environmen tal management, in which important food resources, such as nut trees, are tended, is also known. The use of fire to periodi cally clear the land to maintain biodiversity is well documented as well (e.g., Pyne '999). Archaeological data from East Asia are critical for tackling these issues (e.g., Bleed & Matsui 2010; Crawford 2006, 2008). 'fhe definition of sedentism has also gone through many changes. Over the past years, the idea that the measurement ofsedentism should be scalar and multifaceted, just like in the case of cultural and social complexity, has gained significant support (e.g., Kelly 1995: 148—9). Archaeological case studies from East Asia are instrumen tal in understanding the development of sedentaty ways oflife from the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene. Rich archaeologi cal data from this region provide us with an excellent oppor tunity for understanding the correlations between sedentism and other key elements of prehistoric societies. They include subsistence intensification, population increase, long-distance trade, craft specialisation and social inequality. Changing human-envirotiment interaction in relation to long-term changes in prehistoric societies is also a key to understanding the development of sedentary ways of life. With the development of historical ecology (e.g., Balée 1998, zoo6; Balëe & Erickson 2006; Crumley 1994; Erlandson & Rick


Lake Otori-ke, in latitude 38°22' N., lies at an elevation of 963 ± 3 m to the northern side of Mt. Ito-dake, the northernmost peak of the Asahi mountain range in Yamagata Prefecture. lt is noticeable that this deep mountain lake, having the greatest depth of 65 m, was formed behind a landslide dam which happened in the geological past. The present-day lake, which occupies 0.342 km2 in superficies (when 966 m, 0.406 km2), is situated at the bottom of a small drainage basin of granitic rocks. The lake is fed by three short streams of melted water at the southern shore, and the lake water discharges over the top of the dam at its north-eastern corner and runs down as a rapid. Its volume is 1.1 (or 1.23) × 107 m3. It is natural that such a body of water lying in the igneous rock basin and in the subalpine climatic conditions is oligotrophic in nature.The lake appeared, when the writer visited there in the end of July, 1959, to be dark green and turbid, probably due to the heavy rain in the preceding days. Transparencies were smaller than 2 m. The probable shortness of the daily period of insolation due to the situation of the lake, which is surrounded by steep mountains, may cause the decrease of heat income to the lake. The surface water did not exceed 21°C at the end of July. Sharp but unstable thermal stratification developed at the layers below the surface. This seemed to facilitate heat transport into deep water, where temperatures were observed above 4°C. The oxygen dissolved in the surface water was in an amount of 8.46 mg/l, and its diminution in the deep water was rather great. The water showed acid reaction, probably owing to the acidic igneous rocks of the basin ; its pH values were 6.4 in the surface water and gradually became lower toward the bottom, at which the pH was 5.8. The chemical analyses for some major and minor constituents suggest that this lake has rather dilute water, as is discussed in a separate paper. Besides the surface water, there existed slightly turbid water at the layers below 20 m, suggesting the presence of heterogenous water mass, for which the chemical analyses showed the increase of the amounts of organic matter and nitrogenous compounds. Phosphorus was not found throughout the bottom.There were found deposits of soft dark grey ooze on the bottom of the limited area deeper than 60 m, where a considerable amount of fragments of fallen leaves from the surrounding forests of the lake was present. No bottom-inhabiting animals were found, but a considerable number of ephippial eggs occurred on the surface of mud. These eggs, it was determined in hatching experiments, belonged to Daphnia living in the lake. In the bottom ooze there were found 28 species of diatoms, among which Cyclotella Meneghiniana Meneghiniana and C. stelligera were dominant.The plankton is characterized by the occurrence of a few species of animals, among which Conochilus unicornis is the most abundant. The others are crusta-ceans, namely Holopedinm gibberum, Cyclops vicinus, Acanthodiaptomus pacificus and Daphnia ambigua. They were, however, small in quantity, and were concentrated in the upper layers, shallower than 10 m. The primary productivity (phytoplankton), too, was extremely small in quantity, only a small number of Dinobryon cylindricum occurring in the end of July. TheDaphnia found in this lake is peculiar in having a very short shell-spine, and is identical with the races inhabiting the lakes of northeastern Japan (including Hokkaido). It is presumably a peculiar race of thelongispina group, and is identical withDaphnia ambigua Scourfield.


Metal ions (Ag+, Cu2+, Hg2+) are incorporated into an electropolymerized, poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide), pNIPAM, thermosensitive polymer associated with an electrode using the "breathing‐in" method. The ion‐functionalized pNIPAM matrices reveal ion‐dependent gel‐to‐solid phase‐transition temperatures (28 ± 1 °C, 25 ± 1 °C, 40 ± 1 °C for the Ag+, Cu2+, and Hg2+‐modified pNIPAM, respectively). Furthermore, the ion‐functionalized polymers exhibit quasi‐reversible redox properties, and the ions are reduced to the respective Ag0, Cu0, and Hg0 nanocluster‐modified polymers. The metal‐nanocluster‐functionalized pNIPAM matrices enhance the electron transfer (they exhibit lower electron‐transfer resistances) in the compacted states. The electron‐transfer resistances of the metal‐nanocluster‐modified pNIPAM can be cycled between low and high values by temperature‐induced switching of the polymer between its contracted solid and expanded gel states, respectively. The enhanced electron‐transfer properties of the metal nanocluster‐functionalized polymer are attributed to the contacting of the metal nanoclusters in the contracted state of the polymers. This temperature‐switchable electron transfer across a Ag0‐modified pNIPAM was implemented to design a thermo‐switchable electrocatalytic process (the temperature‐switchable electrocatalyzed reduction of H2O2 by Ag0‐pNIPAM).


N-(Trifluoromethylsulfonyl)trifluoromethanesulfonimidoyl fluoride 4 was prepared by the oxidative fluorination of N-(trifluoromethylsulfinyl)trifluoromethanesulfonamides 3a,b which are formed by the reaction of trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane with N-(sulfinyl)trifluoromethanesulfonamide in the presence of fluoride ions. Addition of MF to N-(sulfinyl)trifluoromethanesulfonamides affords the stable N-(fluorosulfinyl)trifluoromethanesulfonamides 2a,b. Reaction of 4 with N-nucleophiles readily forms the corresponding amides 6–8.