We propose a new clustering method called LGKSC, which is an alternative model based on gravitational kinematics to simulate local synchronization. The difference from existing clustering algorithms is that the algorithm makes objects over time. The dynamics of interaction are gradually synchronized dynamically, forming a local cluster corresponding to the internal structure of the data set. LGKSC can determine clusters with any shape, size and density, and can identify the amount of clusters automatically. LGKSC can adaptively identify the neighbors of the data objects based on the Davies-Bouldin (DB) index, so it can choose the best clustering results. Experiments indicate that the proposed method may take more time to run, but the algorithm have advantages in detecting the amount and the accuracy of clusters.


Chromatin-associated protein HIM-17 was previously shown to function in the chromosomal events of meiotic prophase. Here we report an additional role for HIM-17 in regulating the balance between germ cell proliferation and meiotic development. A cryptic function for HIM-17 in promoting meiotic entry and/or inhibiting proliferation was revealed by defects in germline organization in him-17 mutants grown at high temperature (25°) and by a synthetic tumorous germline phenotype in glp-1(ar202); him-17 mutants at 15°.


PURPOSE: An optical fiber fusion splicer having an inspection function is provided to perform an optical fiber splicing test with one device. CONSTITUTION: An adaptor(180) is connected with an input part of an optical fiber having a splicing part spliced by an optical fiber splicer and receives light from an output part. A control unit(140) is connected with the adaptor and calculates the optical insertion loss by the ratio of the intensity of the output part of the optical fiber to the intensity of the input part of the optical fiber. A monitor(150) is connected to the control unit and displays the optical insertion loss. [Reference numerals] (110) Body; (120) Connection unit; (130) Fusion unit; (140) Control unit; (150) Monitor; (160) Input unit; (170) Power unit; (180) Adaptor


The present invention relates to a back contact solar cell module and a method for manufacturing same, which can simplify the manufacturing process of the solar cell module. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the back contact solar cell module, manufacturing cost can be reduced by using a glass sheet as a back sheet and as an insulation substrate, thereby eliminating the need for being separately provided with the insulation sheet. Also, a manufacturing process can be simplified by forming a laminated structure, and then melting an adhesive film and a charging material together, instead of laminating for melting the adhesive film during a solar cell module manufacturing process.


The impact of large dam construction projects on the human environment, and particularly on resettlers, is often the main reason for opposition toward large dam construction projects. The World Commission on Dams (WCD) published its only and final report 'Dams and Development' in November 2000. The report contains a set of 26 guidelines. The WCD itself mentioned that the guidelines are not intended as a blueprint, and that these should be used as a starting point for discussion. Despite the clarification by the WCD, some non‐governmental organizations argue that these guidelines must be immediately adopted for all future large dam projects. The authors assume that only several of these guidelines are operational and many of these are either too experimental or theoretical to be put into use. Furthermore, some seemingly 'ready for operation' guidelines still need to be enhanced to be really operational in the real world. About 2000 large dams were constructed in Japan after World War II. Various principles and mechanisms were then developed to better address the issues related to involuntary resettlement. The knowledge accumulated through large dam construction projects in Japan may be applied to other countries. The aim of this paper is to identify the lessons, out of the experiences gained in Japan through large dam construction projects in the past, which could be applicable for future large dam construction projects in other nations. The socio‐economic setting, as well as the legal framework, in Japan differs much from those in the developing world. Nevertheless, the following aspects of the experiences gained in Japan are found to be both applicable and useful for future large dam construction projects abroad: (a) integrity of community in the negotiation process, (b) provision of alternative occupations, (c) funding mechanism in the post‐project period, (d) measures needed during planning process; and (e) making resettlers 'shareholders'. These lessons may prove useful to enhance the WCD guidelines. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


This study aims to contribute some thoughts from an archaeological point of view on the economic models (mainly those referring to agriculture) that have been put forward for the Neolithic in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. Several variables are presented as relevant to the subject (settlement size and distribution, size
of domestic units, economic and social data) and a summary of these variables for the studied period is offered. Archaeological interpretations are compared with the ethnographic data gathered around these relevant variables. After discussing the validity of the proposals put forward in the archaeological literature, an input to the discussion is brought forward by taking the archaeobotanical data into account. These have recently been increased with this author's doctoral dissertation. It is concluded that archaeological, ethnographical and archaeobotanical data indicate that permanent and probably intensive agriculture must have been the general (not the only) crop husbandry technique for the Neolithic period. Several farming traditions are observed during the 6th and 5th millennia cal BCE, which could imply cultural differences that survived until the Middle Neolithic, when a new set of crops seems to have arrived from the north.


The facile entrapment of oxidoreductase enzymes within polyaniline polymer films by inducing hydrophobic collapse using phosphate buffered saline (PBS) has been shown to be a cost-effective method for fabricating organic biosensors. Here, we use fluorescence anisotropy measurements to verify enzyme immobilization and subsequent electron donation to the polymer matrix, both prerequisites for an effective biosensor. Specifically, we measure a three order of magnitude decrease in the ratio of the fluorescence to rotational lifetimes. In addition, the observed fluorescence antiquenching supports the previously proposed model that the polymer chain assumes a severely coiled conformation when exposed to PBS. These results help to empirically reinforce the theoretical basis previously laid out for this biosensing platform.


In this talk, we will illustrate with two examples how temporal activity naturally emerges from the structure of what is a priori atemporal models. The two examples are (i) the process of rate selection in a history-dependent manner in a neuron and (ii) the occurrence of temporal associative memory, where the time falls out naturally as a result of noise in the system. The rst example presents the elements of a mathematical computational model that re ects the experimental nding that the time scale of a neuron is not xed; but rather varies with the history of its stimulus. Unlike most physiological models, there is no predetermined rates associated with transitions between states of the system nor are there predetermined constants associated with adaptation rates; instead the model is a kind of \modulating automata" where the rates emerge from the history of the system itself. We focus here on the temporal dynamics of a neuron and show how a simple internal structure will give rise to complex temporal behavior. The internal structure modeled here is an abstraction of physiological structure reasonably well understood. We also suggest that this behavior can be used to transform a \rate" code to a \temporal one". The second example (to be presented as time allows) shows that in a complex memory system such as Albus' CMAC model of (static) associative memory; the natural assumption of a certain level of fallibility inthe mechanism leads in a natural way to temporal storage and retrieval. This analysis leads to a speci c physiological prediction.


The hydrophilicity and density of polypropylene fibers were improved by coating with CaCO_3.The coated and uncoated polypropylene fibers were used for making handsheets together with other plant fibers.The results showed that the dispensability of the modified polypropylene fiber increased.


Received: 12 December 2018 Accepted: 5 April 2019 The Morning Glory spillway is one of the types of spillways that are used for the passage of excess waters and floods from the dams' upstream to the downstream of the dams. Numerical simulations and examination have been rarely done on the sectoral Morning Glory spillways, which are used due to special conditions in the topography of the construction site. In this research, the simulation of the flow through the sectoral morning glory spillway was done using the three-dimensional numerical model. The characteristics of flow in this type of spillways were investigated and a relation was proposed for the rate of water discharge. To do this, five sector angles were considered in the geometry of the spillway crest and the characteristics of the flow, as well as the amount of drainage capacity in them were compared. Finally, a relation was provided to calculate the discharge flow rate of the sectoral morning glory spillways. The results obtained from the relation indicated that the maximum error of the calculations with the help of the relation provided is equal to 7.77 % and occurs at a sector of 62 degrees. This error percentage confirms the reliability of the relation.


Excimer laser ablation (308nm) of canine aortic samples was performed via an UV grade fused silica fiber. The influence of the repetition rate (2-20 Hz) and of the applied pressure (1-6 Atm) on the ablation rate was studied. Operative fluences between 30mJ/mm2 to 40mJ/mm2 were used. Results show a linear dependence of the ablation rate on the repetition rate for all fluences. The linearity was also preserved at various applied pressures and at low repetition rates for the same range of fluences. A saturation effect was observed at increased values of repetition rate. No dependence of the ablation rate on the repetition rate was observed when the experiment was performed using direct irradiation with a mask instead of a fiberoptic.


We present a 3D positioning system called Pokeball, which uses a single-source magnetic sphere. The system comprises three mutually orthogonal coils and an Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG) to generate the designated signals. By applying Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Pokeball generates two rotating magnetic fields with different frequencies of phase-quadrature current signals. The positioning object is equipped with a three-axis magnetoresistive sensor that measures the strength of the magnetic field and extracts the results into two signals with different frequencies. The phases of the two signals are used to determine the elevation and azimuth angles, while the amplitudes of the signals are used to calculate the distance between the source and the object. Then, based on the calculations, the location of the object is determined. The results of a comprehensive set of experiments demonstrate that Pokeball can achieve an accuracy of less than 40 cm for positioning errors in its effective positioning range. Moreover, Pokeball does not require site surveys, and it is robust against radio interference and environmental obstructions. Our approach has a great deal of potential for use in a wide range of applications, such as mobile systems, wearable computing devices, and location-based applications, where an instantaneous and accurate indoor 3D positioning system is essential.


We consider the discrete analogue, called the finite Radon transform, of the classical Radon transform from functional analysis. While others have approached the invertibility question of the finite Radon transform using techniques from graph theory and lattice theory, we approach the problem by considering spaces, which we call Gel ′fand spaces in which we can show that finite Radon transforms are invertible. We start with a vector space and add some group structure, as well as some representation theory, to build, largely axiomatically, what we call a convolution algebra of a finite set. The convolution algebra will serve as a foundation for the Gel′fand space. We also include a few examples of finite Radon transforms and their invertibility formulæ.


...................................................................................................ii DEDICATION.................................................................................................iv ACKNOWLEDGMENT.......................................................................................v VITA............................................................................................................vi FIELD OF STUDY............................................................................................vi TABLE OF CONTENT......................................................................................vii LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................xi LIST OF FIGURES..........................................................................................xii CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW....................................................................1 1.1 COLOR................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Color perception.......................................................................................1 1.1.2 Color measurement...................................................................................3 1.2 FOOD COLORANTS................................................................................5 1.2.1 What are food colorants?.....................................................................................................5 1.2.2 Regulations of food colorants.......................................................................6 1.2.3 Concerns about synthetic colorants................................................................7 1.2.4 Colorants from natural sources.....................................................................7 1.3 ANTHOCYANINS...................................................................................8 viii 1.3.1 Properties and chemical structure...................................................................8 1.3.2 Health benefits of anthocyanins...................................................................10 1.3.3 Anthocyanins as food colorants...................................................................10 1.4 Blue Colorants.......................................................................................11 1.4.1 Synthetic Blue Colorants...........................................................................11 1.4.2 Blue color from natural sources..................................................................13 1.5 ANTHOCYANINS BLUEING FACTORS.....................................................14 1.5.1 Factors affecting the production of blue color...................................................14 126.96.36.199 pH.............................................................................................14 126.96.36.199 Substitution of the B-ring.................................................................15 220.127.116.11 Acylation and glycosylation..............................................................16 1.5.2 Factors affecting the stability of blue color......................................................18 22.214.171.124 Co-pigmentation...........................................................................18 184.108.40.206 Metal complexation........................................................................19 CHAPTER 2: EGGPLANT ANTHOCYANINS AS POTENTIAL SOURCE OF BLUE COLOR.........................................................................................................21 2.1 ABSTRACT..........................................................................................21 2.2 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................22 2.3 MATERIALS AND METHODS.................................................................23 ix 2.3.1 Plant materials and reagents........................................................................23 2.3.2 Extraction preparation..............................................................................23 2.3.3 Solid phase purification............................................................................24 2.3.4 Acid hydrolysis of anthocyanins..................................................................24 2.3.5 HPLC analysis.......................................................................................25 2.3.6 Monomeric anthocyanin count....................................................................26 2.3.7 Color measurements.................................................................................26 2.3.8 Statistical analysis...................................................................................27 2.4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS.................................................................27 2.4.1 Anthocyanin content................................................................................27 2.4.2 Anthocyanins identification........................................................................28 184.108.40.206 HPLC and PDA results....................................................................28 126.96.36.199 Confirmation of the identity..............................................................29 2.4.3 Color variation with pH............................................................................31 2.5 CONCLUSION......................................................................................33 CHAPTER 3: SCREENING FOR ANTHOCYANIN BASED BLUE COLORANTS.............34 3.1 ABSTRACT..........................................................................................34 3.2 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................35


The conception of traffic activities in urban framework is the major endeavor in the study of traffic troubles. This examination is chiefly processed on the maximization of traffic flow, and the minimization of traffic accidents, congestions and pollution. In common, network representations of transport systems are understood to be fixed, but these representations do not permit an exact recreation of seriously packed urban road networks. For this rationale, traffic engineers happened to judge some substitute models such as simple object recognition and localization of road vehicles based on the position and orientation of vehicle image data. But the drawback of the approach is that if the shape of the vehicle and its pose varies in multiple junction coordination, the model based recognition is an inefficient one. To enhance the process of traffic flow mechanism, in this paper, we are going to implement a surveillance image object recognition and localization using improved local gradient model. At first, the vehicle images are taken by camera which is taken on the junction board of the traffic coordination. Based on location, position, angle and height of the camera to be fixed on the junction board, the vehicle images are obtained clearly in an aerial view and extracted the entire road for identifying the vehicle densities and postures using ray traced templates. An experimental evaluation is carried out to estimate the performance of the proposed vehicle object observation using position based local gradient model in terms of vehicle density, acquired image clarity, pose recovery and compared with an existing model based on simple object recognition and localization.


Let B_p~n={x∈R~n|‖x‖_p≤1} be a unit ball of n-dimension normed space l~n_p.It is shown that B~n_p is isotropic convex body if 1≤p≤∞,and the isotropic constant formula of B~n_p is given.Moreover,asymptotic properties of isotropic constant of B~n_p is obtained as n→∞ and p→(∞.)


Summary Introduction: The agricultural airplane pilot are daily exposed to intense noises, being susceptible to the noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and its auditory and extra auditory effects. Objective: To analyze the audiological profile of this population, verifying the work's influence on its hearing. Method: It was realized a retrospective, individual, observational, and cross-sectional study through the data obtained by means of a questionnaire and audiometric thresholds of 41 agricultural pilots. To the statistical analysis were utilized the chi-square, Spearman, and Wilcoxon tests with significance level of 5%. Results: It was verified that 95,1% of the pilots use PPE (personal protective equipment) during flight and 58,5% have contact with pesticides. More than half of individuals referred to feel auditory and extra auditory symptoms, being the buzz the more frequent (29,1%). It has the occurrence of 29,3% of NIHL suggestive hearing loss and 68,3% of normality, taking this presence of unilateral notch in 24,4% and bilateral notch in 31,7%. It was found correlation statistically significant in the associations between time of service and the average of the acute frequencies in the right ear (p = 0038), and in the left ear (p = 0,010). It has a statistical tendency in the association between audiometric configuration and contact with pesticides (p = 0,088). Conclusion: The hearing loss prevalence in this study was showed high. More than half of the sample has normal audiometric thresholds with notch configuration. Such data lead to the conclusion that the agricultural pilots, even with PPE use, they still suffer with the damages caused by noise, needing best proposals of hearing loss prevention.


Forssberg, A. und B. Tribukait. Bestimmung der Lebenszeit der nach akuter Blutung gebildeten Rattenerythrozyten (C14-Hamin). Acta physiol. scand. 1962. 54. 152–158. – The average life time of rat erythrocytes following an acute bleeding was found to be about 55 days, similar to that of normal animals. The rats were bled 1/3 of their blood volume by heart puncture. On the third day they were given 10 μC C14-2-glycine each intraperitoneally. The hemin was isolated from volumes of 0.1–0.2 ml blood drawn from the tail vein and the specific activity was computed. Simultaneously the total amount of hemin was determined following the CO method, giving the total haemin activity. The hemin of the control animals was found to retain 0.2–0.3 % of the injected activity against 0.4–0.5 % in the anemic ones. The hemin activity in both groups of animals remained on a plateau level for 40 days, and fell thereafter exponentially up to the 85th day.


In vitro or in situ single spot or area excitation of human tissue with either 337 nm or 365 nm results in a fluorescence spectrum at about 470 nm. Since in most tissue samples the spectra obtained look alike and differ in intensity only, the 2D tomographical distribution of the fluorescence intensity was also investigated. It could be shown that the fluorescence images of unfixed and unstained cryosections match the histological images (HE stained cryosections). They exhibit a fluorescence pattern unique for the different types of diseases investigated (basalioma, melanoma, nevi, psoriasis, seborrheic keratosis). Additional information can be obtained by elastica van Gieson stained images and by illuminating the HE stained cryosections with 365 nm. Since the cryosections can be prepared and evaluated in less than 5 minutes, this technique might be used as a fast cut technique for determining e.g. the diagnosis of a biopsy sample, also during surgery.


The impact of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) incompatibility between donor and recipient on graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) and graft failure after reduced‐intensity conditioning stem cell transplantation (RICT) remains to be elucidated. We retrospectively analysed outcome in 341 patients who underwent RICT from related donors for haematological malignancies. The overall cumulative incidence of grade II–IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 40% for all subjects; 39% in recipients with HLA‐matched donors, 44% in those with one‐locus‐mismatched donors, and 50% in those with two‐ to three‐loci‐mismatched donors. In a Cox regression model adjusted for potential confounders, the tendency for grade II–IV aGVHD (P = 0·01), chronic GVHD (cGVHD) (P = 0·05) and graft failure (P = 0·033) increased with HLA disparity. Use of peripheral blood grafts instead of marrow was a risk factor for cGVHD. Use of antithymocyte globulin was associated with reduced aGVHD and cGVHD. Overall survival (OS) in recipients of two‐ to three‐loci‐mismatched RICT at 2 years (18%) was significantly worse than that in patients who received one‐locus‐mismatched RICT (51%) and HLA‐matched RICT (48%) (P < 0·0001). A two‐ to three‐loci mismatch was identified as an independent risk factor for OS (P < 0·001), but there was no significant difference in OS between HLA‐matched and one‐locus‐mismatched RICT. HLA incompatibility between the donor and recipient is an important risk factor for graft failure, aGVHD, cGVHD and OS after RICT. RICT from a one‐locus‐mismatched donor may represent an effective alternative approach in patients with high‐risk malignancies who lack HLA‐matched related donors.


Transplantation of palatal patch-grafts before insertion of subperiosteal implants can be helpful in producing a better stress-bearing area for a prosthesis. Careful use of the technique assures adequate attached mucosa around the implant posts and reduces the possibility of infection and wound dehiscence.


ever before. "Industry in Athens proved to be more than the visionary experiment of the 1830s, and greater than the model for emulation of the 1840s," observes Gagnon; "Instead, by the 1860s, Athens emerged as a mature regional center for industrial enterprise, a status it achieved well before the arrival of the New South era" (pp. 200–201). Richly detailed, Gagnon makes excellent use of an impressive variety of sources, and he deftly navigates between local, state, and national subjects and historiography. Innovative, challenging, and frequently entertaining, Transition to an Industrial South is an important addition to our understanding not only of Southern industrialization, but also the broader industrialization of the United States as well.


Stephen Spencer's promisingly entitled volume suggests a much welcome addition to the growing body of literature on visual research methods. A book of two halves, the first considers the contribution of the visual to social science knowledge, the research process and analysis and includes chapters on 'visualising identity' and 'mapping society'. The second is comprised of what Spencer entitles, 'practitioner essays' in which Panizza Allmark, Sarah Atkinson, Roger Brown and Roger Canals explore respectively: photography of the city; the interactive film process; photography as process, and a visual ethnography of the image. For the social scientist and visual researcher these are enticing themes through which Spencer promises readers 'a critical review of some of the key theoretical ideas which underpin visual research' and 'an integrated approach to doing visual research, showing the potential for building convincing case studies using a mix of visual forms' (i). In both endeavours however, there was scope for more to have been delivered.


BACKGROUND:
An accurate duplication of the patients hard and soft tissue is an significant. one to give a precise fitting cast restoration. Impression making an integral part of prosthetic dentistry. Development of material science has allowed integrating qualities of hydrophilic poly ether and hydrophobic polyvinyl siloxane into a newer hybrid material vinyl polysiloxane ether. The aim of this In vitro experiment is to compare the newer material vinyl polysiloxane ether with the poly ether and polyvinyl siloxane in terms of accuracy and
dimensional stability.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Stainless steel dies with ADA specification 19 was made. Die has 3 horizontal and 2 vertical lines are used for taking impression. The horizontal lines are labeled one, two, and three. The horizontal line has a width of the 0.60 mm. Two cross-points at the junction of the vertical lines with line 2 were patent as x and x' serve. These lines were the beginning and end points of dimensions for dimensional accuracy. Accuracy was evaluated 30 minutes after making each impression stored in room Stainless steel dies with ADA specification 19 was made. Die has 3 horizontal and 2 vertical lines are used for taking impression. The horizontal lines are labeled one, two, and three. The horizontal line has a width of the 0.60 mm. Two cross-points at the junction of the vertical lines with line 2 were patent as x and x' serve. These lines were the beginning and end points of dimensions for dimensional accuracy. Accuracy was evaluated 30 minutes after making each impression stored in room temperature. Continuity of line of replication is measured. If at least 2 of the 3 horizontal lines were reproduced continuously between cross points, this impression was considered satisfactory. The specimens are poured with type IV gypsum product and allowed to set completely for 24 hours. Then dimensional stability was measured in the model by measuring the distance between the two lines and comparing the distance with the measurement of line on metal die which was used to make the impression.
RESULTS:
The mean value obtained for the vinyl polysiloxane ether light was 0.0 5370 and for medium was 0.05330. the mean value for light and medium bodied polyvinyl siloxane was 0.06370 and 0.07150 and the mean value for poly ether monophase was 0.06430 respectively. A 2-way ANOVA statistical analysis gave a significance of p=0.005 while the post- hoc test for inter group analysis gave a p value of > 0.05.
CONCLUSION:
The newer vinyl polysiloxane ether material showed good surface detail reproduction and Dimensional Stability among all five materials. Although these differences when compared to the master die were significant, such a small discrepancy between the five groups, in relation to the overall dimension can be considered clinically insignificant, such a small discrepancy between the five groups, in relation to the overall dimension can be considered clinically insignificant.


Higher education competition in Medan City is currently developing very rapidly, this can be seen in every university evaluating and changing every side. One of the most prominent things in the evaluation is service to students, an image of a tertiary institution is considered good depending on whether or not the student service is provided to students. A good image of students is a positive value for universities which is a promotional value for the campus. Good service is a service that can know the desires and needs of people who use it. STMIK Budi Darma is one of the Private Universities who participated in evaluating student services in order to compete with other Private Universities. The purpose of this study is to measure student satisfaction with student services using the Facilities and Quality variables influence student satisfaction. This study used 97 respondents from a total population of 2800 people by testing the Multiple Linear Regression Test, Determination Coefficient Test (R2), Partial Test (t test) and Concurrent Test (F Test).


Designing of widely used concrete structures requires certain information on the load bearing capacity, ductility, failure mode, etc., which should be obtained by expensive and time consuming experiments. Hence, analytical investigation of nonlinear behavior of concrete structures need to be studied. Concrete is a relatively unknown material, although it is increasingly used, because of its brittle nature, which leads to sudden failure under compressive stresses. The amount of flexibility and energy absorption capacity in structures, especially under lateral load, are so important that new methods are needed to improve them. Strength and flexibility of concrete can be highly increased by controlling the lateral expansion by confining and enclosing. Using rectangular stirrups is one of the most common methods of confining the concrete members. In this paper, in order to investigate the function of stirrups in increasing the strength and ductility of reinforced concrete columns, the behavior of such structures is studied using an analysis conducted by nonlinear layered finite element method, considering the characteristics of concrete within the theory of hypo-elasticity. In considering the enclosing role of stirrups, a stress-strain curve is used to express the concrete's behavior. In the curve, the role of enclosing in increasing the compressive stress and strain of the summit is taken into account. Furthermore, the descending branch of the compressive mode of its stress-strain curve relative to other curves has been modified. In addition, the effect of the section size on increasing/decreasing the stress and strain of the summit has been considered. In the end, the results of numerical analysis and experimental studies are compared.


Hypertension is a non-communicable disease which increases every year, with the increasing incidence of Hypertension will have an impact on society, namely a decrease in health status which results in a decrease in the quality of life. Management of hypertension can be done with non-pharmacological therapy, one of the non-pharmacological therapies chosen by the community, namely complementary therapy, neck massage therapy using VCO and cupping is a complementary therapy that aims to reduce hypertension. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling. The sample in this study 16 respondents were given neck massage therapy with VCO and 16 respondents were given dry cupping therapy. The data analysis used was the Spearman rank because the data were not normally distributed. Before being given neck massage therapy with a mean VCO, systolic blood pressure was 156.25, diastolic blood pressure was 87.50 after being given a mean value of 124.38 and diastolic 81.25 with a systolic p value of 0.000 while for diastolic blood pressure of 0.008. Whereas in the group given dry cupping therapy systolic blood pressure with a mean of 158.82 and diastole a mean of 90.59, after being given dry cupping therapy, systolic blood pressure was 124.71 while diastole was 78.82 with a systolic p value of 0.000 and diastole of 0.009. The difference in blood pressure in the two interventions for the system p value was 0.968 while for diastole the p value was 0.625, which means there was no difference between the two interventions. So it can be concluded that both neck massage therapy with VCO and dry cupping therapy can reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension.


The present disclosure relates to seed security alerts processing method and apparatus, wherein the method comprises: when receiving the abnormality prompt message smart device sent through the current behavior state of the wearable device detects user; acquires the behavioral state corresponding to the operation type; according to the type of operation again, alert the operator to trigger the wearable device executes a corresponding process. Thereby promptly anomalies intelligent devices, user portable wearable device alert to inform the user, while the alert to inform the operator of the form is also bound to a detectable wearable device to the user's current behavior state, thereby emitting current behavior most suitable for users state of alert the operator, thus ensuring real-time performance and effectiveness of the exception message to convey.


Anne Sexton is classified as one of the Confessionary Poets – such as Robert Lowell, W. D. Snodgrass, and Sylvia Plath. Unlike conventional poetry that emphasizes universality of literature, Confessionary Poetry vibrantly exudes the poet's personal voice, usually hidden behind the character. The appearance of Confessionary Poets shows a new direction of American Poetry, although somewhat radical an experiment after the war. In the 1950's of the post-war era, the American society stresses social stability and public order based on the economic prosperity. Perhaps the pleasantness from prosperity outweighed the unpleasantness derived from tolerance. The majority of the public accepted idealized views of women and family instigated upon by the mass media and commercials, and seemed to have given up their ideological and perceptual freedom controlled by right-wing politics, as best represented through McCarthyism. Within such societal ambience, the appearance of Confessionary Poets was inevitable. They tried to recover their subjectivity and literary achievements by exploring personal emotions that were repressed under affluent society. In this paper, I will examine Anne Sexton - who ended her life by committing a suicide – along with her works. It will highlight her relationship with the society in an ontological dimension. In addition, the therapeutic power poetry has will also be illustrated.


We prove that: (1) There exist infinitely many nontrivial codimension one "thick" knots in ℝ5; (2) For each closed four-dimensional smooth manifold M and for each sufficiently small positive ϵ the set of isometry classes of Riemannian metrics with volume equal to 1 and injectivity radius greater than ϵ is disconnected; and (3) For each closed four-dimensional PL-manifold M and any m there exist arbitrarily large values of N such that some two triangulations of M with < N simplices cannot be connected by any sequence of < Mm(N) bistellar transformations, where Mm(N) = exp(exp(⋯exp(N))) (m times).


In this work, segmentation of hyperspectral images by local covariance matrices in eigenspace has been proposed for getting high accuracy rates using unsupervised methods. Combination of both spectral and spatial features can increase the segmentation accuracy for hyperspectral images without groundtruth. Furthermore, changing from original data space to eigenspace via principal component analysis and its kernelized version and the calculation of covariance matrices in this new space can produce better results for different clustering methods. In the simulations, effects of local neighbors in the computation of covariance matrices in eigenspace were represented using four different clustering algorithms comparatively.


Abstract The verification and precise formulation of volume changes of structural concretes (creep, shrinkage) are very difficult (see models like: B3 - Bazant [8] or EC2 - European Standard [5], etc.). However, many structural analyses cannot be performed without considering the effects of those properties. Similar situation is in the analysis of concrete structures with steel, synthetic and others fibres and the accurate formulation of volume changes of fibre concrete is much more challenging because of diversity of FRC types. Structural fibre concretes FRC are used since many years and the fresh mix is blended and mixed particularly for a specific application, according to required properties. In the paper steel and synthetic fibres used for FRC, their volume changes measured and calculated are discussed. The results of measurements carried on during last twenty years are summarized. Basic differences in results of synthetic and steel fibre concretes are obtained from laboratory testing and from analytical model, which should replace experimental tests. The volume changes from tests are confirmed by measurements of Young's modulus and compressive strength for FRC with different types of fibres (synthetic and steel).


The bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus) is abundant and widespread with a broad ecological niche. This species is also sexually dimorphic with strong competition between males during the mating season. We developed two genomic libraries enriched for microsatellite repeats — one dinucleotide and one tetranucleotide — and isolated 48 putative, novel microsatellite loci. Of those, we present 35 polymorphic and statistically independent microsatellite markers with two to 18 alleles per locus and heterozygosities ranging from 0.04 to 1. These markers will be useful for future behavioural, ecological, evolutionary and mating system studies using P. notatus.


ThePomeranianBay(southernBalticSea)isacomponentoftheriverOder(Odra) estuarine system. It receives the Oder's discharge once it h as passed through the Szczecin Lagoon, a eutrophic and polluted water body. The discharge has been documented as aecting the hydrography of the pelagic domain as well as the sedimentaryenvironmentsandthemacrozoobenthosoftheBay.Thisstudyfocused onthedistributionofmeiobenthiccommunitiesintheBayasinvestigatedwiththe use of a suite of uni- and multivariate analyses applied to data collected at 14 stations in September 1993. Meiobenthic community characteristics (composition and abundance) are presented in relation to sediment properties (grain size, silt/clay and organic matter content), changing with distance from the major riverinedischargesite.Thecommunitiesstudiedshowedacleardistinctionbetween thoseassociatedwithorganicmatter-enrichedsedimentsclosetothedischargesite and the assemblages living in clean sands, away from the discharge. We conclude thatthemeiobenthoscanberegardedasanothercompartmentofthePomeranian BaysystemrespondingtotheRiver Oderdischarge.


We model and solve the Rainbow Cycle Cover Problem (RCCP). Given a connected and undirected graph G = ( V , E , L ) and a coloring function ℓ that assigns a color to each edge of G from the finite color set L , a cycle whose edges have all different colors is called a rainbow cycle. The RCCP consists of finding the minimum number of disjoint rainbow cycles covering G . The RCCP on general graphs is known to be NP‐complete. We model the RCCP as an integer linear program, we derive valid inequalities and we solve it by branch‐and‐cut. Computational results are reported on randomly generated instances. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 68(4), 260–270 2016


Galactic cosmic rays (GCR) consisting of nuclei of all the known elements with kinetic energies extending from tens to millions of MeV pose a significant health hazard to future deep space operations. Even half of the radiation exposures expected in ISS will result from GCR components.The biological actions of these radiations are known to depend on the details of the energy deposition (not just linear energy transfer, LET, but the lateral dispersion of energy deposition about the particle track).


Abstract: The Idea is to make an Automated Vehicle Escape Mechanism or a Vehicle Escape device which would help the Passengers of the Car to get out in case of Certain Accidental Situations such as Drowning of Car and Car flipped Upside Down. Mechanism or a device used for breaking of window. Due to which person or people can be able to get out of car through window or windshield. In the case of drowning of car, window or glass which is not under water can be detected and breaks for getting out of car at the right time. The device is automatic as well as manual switch. Different types of sensors are involved for different situation scenarios.


A series of chiral non-racemic triorganotin halides and triorganotin hydrides containing one or two (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl (Men) substituents as well as 2-(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolinyl)-5-(methyl)phenyl (L) or chiral 2-(4-isopropyl-2-oxazolinyl)-5-(methyl)phenyl ligand (L*) have been synthesized and characterised. Each of SnCl(Men)PhL and SnH(Men)PhL has a stereogenic tin centre and were isolated in diastereomeric ratios of 70∶30 and 50∶50, respectively; SnCl(Men)PhL* and SnH(Men)PhL* were synthesized in diastereomeric ratios of 50∶50 and 66∶34, respectively. Single crystal X-ray analysis of SnCl(Men)2L and SnCl(Men)PhL reveals a tendency towards five co-ordination at the tin centre as a result of N→Sn interactions. AM1 calculations provide good qualitative predictability of the molecular geometries observed in the solid state as well as the diastereomeric ratios in solution.


Carrington, known for innovative teaching methods, is a nationally recognized expert in nursing informatics and health care technology. She was inducted as a fellow into the Western Academy of Nurses [7] in 2016. Carrington is conducting a three-year study to increase patient safety through improving nurse-to-nurse communication and developed a method [8] to analyze data in patients' electronic health records and trigger alerts to warn of events that could cause unexpected deaths.


Objective:To investigate the clinical features and diagnosis of MALT lymphoma and its differential diagnosis.Methods:The clinical data,imaging feature,Lab and the character of treatment and follow-up,and 5 literatures were reviewed.Result:Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma was caused by antigenic stimulus,leading immune response and region inflammation.And it could lead to develop the lymphatic tissue and increasing the lymphocyte immunity,and changed the benign tumor to cancer,and appearanced abnormal clone and lead to mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.It belonged to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.The Immunohistochemistry showed that if the light chain,k and λ,were simultaneous stained,that meaned multiclonicity.Iit meaned pathological changes issue wss innocence reactive hyperplasia.And if one of the light chain were stained,that was monoclonicity.It meaned it was pulmonary primary small B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated with lymphoid tissues.It was CD20(+).Conclusion:Most of pulmonary primary small B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated with lymphoid tissues are low potential malignancy.It develop slowly.And in earlier period it is very difficult to infiltrate distant place.Thoroughly exairesis and then chems can lead a good result.And it must be identified with pneumonic cancer,lymphocyticinterstitial pneumonia,lymphomatoid granulomatosis and pulmonary cryptococcosis.


Objective: To investigate the application of failure mode and effect analysis( FMEA) with TCM treatment after the anal fistula surgery. Methods: 68 cases were divided into controlled group and observation group. The observation group were additionally given high-quality nursing care with FMEA and TCM treatment on the basis of conventional treatment and care. Results: Transportation,postural,methods of getting in and out bed,adherence and diet were the most important factors for caring patients after the anal fistula surgery. The RPN,wound healing time,exudation time,pus disappearance time and dressing time between the two groups were statistical different( P 0. 05). Conclusion: High-quality nursing care with FMEA and TCM treatment are effective for treating patients after anal fistula surgery.


Porous polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) microspheres of narrow size distribution in the size range of 3.9–4.4 μm were prepared by two-step swelling polymerization methods. Effects of swelling conditions such as swelling activator, temperature, the way of dispersion and dibutyl phthalate (DBP)/seed particle ratio on particle size distribution of the PS-DVB microspheres were investigated in detail. Optimal swelling conditions for the preparation of uniformly sized polystyrene particles have been found as follows: swelling activation agent was dibutyl phthalate (DBP), swelling temperature was 35 °C, dispersion manner was ultrasonic assistant magnetic dispersion, DBP/seed particle ratio was 1–1.5 ml·g-1. It was found that particle size distribution became narrower and swelling time was shortened from more than 24 h to 10 h with the introduction of ultrasonic dispersion, which was attribute to the cavitation effect of ultrasonic and the huge magnetic field action arising therefrom, speeding up the equilibrium of swelling process. Swelling temperature also has significant effect on the monodispersity and particles with the best uniformity could be achieved with the temperature at 35 °C. The possible reason is that process of seed particles absorbing swelling agent through water phase is an equilibrium course of thermodynamics and kinetics.


Different treatments were used to promote the healing of the band-girdling wound in litchi trees. The results show that different promoting methods have evident effects to the wound healing. The callus formation treated by yellow mud can heal up in a shorter time. There are not significant difference among the other treatments.


To speed-up transfer rate, reduce communication bandwidth and storage space, image compression is needed. Owing to the feature of fractal compression, its retrieval for similar images is difficulty. A method is proposed to evaluate the similarity of images compressed. The method allows for comparing loss-compressed images and based upon the fractal framework of the iterated function systems (IFS) widely used for image compression. The image index is represented through a vector of numeric features, corresponding to contractive functions (CF) of the IFS framework. Because a compression code contains mapping information between similar regions in the same image, this mapping information can be treated as vectors. Also, it is important to generate the representative vectors using the mapping vectors. This representative vector can describes the features of the images, so the similarity between images is directly calculable from representative vectors. This similarity is applicable to image retrieval, and the scheme will be explained and demonstrated experimentally on its efficiency in this paper.


In China's modern histrory,ZHOU Enlai is revereds by common people with his own ethical personality.His being ready to help others public servant's dedicating unselfish feelings;The whole consciousness of swallowing humiliation and bearing a heavy load,taking the interests of the whole into account;Fulfilling his duty to one's parents utterly loyally,the intentional traditional virtue in love;Modest and clean,honest and upright noble sentiment;sparing no effort in the performance of the duty,self-sacrifice spirits until his death are studying model of Communist forever,which is also the valuable spiritual wealth of constructing the socialist harmonious society.


Coleus tuberosus is one of local commodities in Indonesia which contains high carbohydrate. However, its utilization isn't done maximally. Therefore, C. tuberosus made into flour by grater method, and then be used for noodle making with arenga strach as substituting material. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of C. tuberosus flour substitution in the noodle preparation from arenga starch on its cooking properties. In this study, noodle was made in some variations which were 100% arenga starch; 75% arenga starch:25% C. tuberosus flour; 50% arenga starch:50% C. tuberosus flour; 25% arenga starch:75% C. tuberosus flour and 100% C. tuberosus flour. Characterization of noodle were investigated including water content, cooking time, cooking loss, swelling index, and expansion ratio Noodle was compared with two commercial products. The result showed that arenga starch substitution in C. tuberosus noodle affect cooking properties of noodle. The higher concentration of C. tuberosus flour caused swe...


13overwintering rape cultivars were introduced for farmland coverage and landscape construction during winter and spring in Beijing Area,Overwintering survival,ornamental characteristics and yield were investigated in the field experiment.The results showed that overwintering survival of 07 Gao SQW-1-3was 96.08%,the average of length of the main inflorescence and yield were 69.33 cm and 1 755kg/hm2,it is a suitable for both farmland coverage and landscape construction.Pingyou 1was the highest yield cultivar(1 760kg/hm2),and the overwintering survival was 92.59%,this cultivar is also suitable for farmland coverage in Beijing Area.


Abstract Background An early event in the pathogenesis of vitiligo may be the chronic oxidative stress via elevated hydrogen peroxide due to decreased blood catalase. There are controversial reports on association of vitiligo and +22348C→T polymorphism. Methods We examined this polymorphism and blood catalase in Hungarian vitiligo patients (n: 78) and controls (n: 201). Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes and a PCR/SSCP method was used for genetic examination. Results Blood catalase activity, genotype and allele frequencies did not change in Hungarian vitiligo patients. The mutant CT and TT genotypes yielded decreased (p 0.0813), contrary to the significant (p < 0.05) increase of mutant CT genotype and T allele frequencies in US/Canada and in UK. Conclusions Our results based on blood catalase determinations and genetic examination of +22348C→T polymorphism sugg...


Article on bilinear regression analysis as a means to reduce matrix effects in simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of Cr(III) and Co(II) and a quantitative analysis laboratory experiment.


We investigated on a way to demonstrate the selective extraction of hot photocarriers for ultra-high efficiency solar cells. We proposed a theoretical model studying the feedback of the extraction on the remaining population. The removal of high energy particles from the system was found to decrease its temperature, which can be used as a proof of the energy selective extraction of carriers. A set of samples based on double resonant tunneling barrier was designed and analyzed, showing promising results both in terms of hot carrier generation and selective extraction in normal operating conditions.


This article studies and analyses the application of resonance in pop music singing arts.It summarizes the resonance generally used in pop music singing arts into oral resonance,nasal resonance,laryngeal resonance and anocelia resonance.The training method of these resonances are also represented respectively.


This study aims to analyze the strategies used by a successful vocational high school student in entrepreneurship. This research is a qualitative type of research with phenomenological research methods. This method approach uses the development of the Post-modern Phenomenology specification paradigm. Phenomenology is presented descriptively. Phenomenological research data collection was carried out using in-depth interview techniques. The results of this study reveal the strategies used by Ayu in the form of expanding the reach of promotions, forming networks, and paying attention to sales prices.


Efficient software implementations of the Viterbi algorithm on two new generation processors, /spl mu/PD7701x and V830 are discussed. /spl mu/PD7701x is a 16-bit fixed point general purpose DSP which includes eight 40-bit general purpose registers, highly parallel operation capability, and conditional execution capability. V830 is a 32-bit RISC processor which has a multiply-accumulator and other special instructions for multimedia signal processing. These features enable effective implementations on both processors. The Viterbi decoders for rate 1/2 convolutional code are implemented on these processors and are two times faster than on conventional type DSPs.


The problem of function approximation is considered in mathematical statistics as follows. One knows a finite system of functions, {di(x)], such that an unknown function to be approximated can be expressed as a linear combination of the functions {di(x)] plus a random error, the coefficients of the linear combination being determined by a sample set with the help of a well-known procedure, such as the method of least squares. But, under real conditions, the investigator rarely knows the system of functions { d i ( x ) ) precisely. Even if he is certain about some of them, the others may well be considered only candidates that should be tried beforehand. In any case, he almost never knows the whole system { d i ( x ) ] . That is why such a model, the incompletely determined model, was considered in Reference 1, highlighting the problem of the selection of the functions, di(x), to be used. If the coefficients of the model are determined with the help of the method of least squares, the main result of the study of the orthonormalized system of functions, { d i ( x ) } , may be formulated as follows.* If the modulus of the coefficient of the proposed function is less than a threshold value, the function must be discarded; otherwise, it must be included in the model. The threshold value has the form


Complex network has penetrated into numerous fields including mathematics and sciences, life science and engineering discipline, with strong interdisciplinary features. This paper applies the complex network theory into Manufacturing Grid field by abstracting multi-node network in Manufacturing Grid into complex network. Firstly, the characteristics of the direction and weight of the resource node in Manufacturing Grid are analyzed. Then, complex network modeling of resource nodes in Manufacturing Grid is launched. Some possible application such as node degree, shortest path between two nodes and role of node are discussed. Finally, typical examples of complex network, for example, the distribution of resource node degree and the shortest path between manufacturing subtasks are provided. The work of the paper supplies a new sight and approach to the research and study on Manufacturing Grid.


Emergency medical services (EMS) are dedicated to provide urgent medical care to any person requiring it and to ensure their transport to a hospital or care facility, if required. Moreover, in many contexts, EMS also have to provide transportation services for patients need to go from one hospital to another or between their home and the hospital. For such organisations, efficient strategies for managing the ambulance fleet at their disposal have to be selected, but the highly random and dynamic nature of the system under study makes this a challenging task. Most of the published studies which have considered these issues have done it focusing on a specific EMS context, one city or one territory for instance. However, it is possible to identify several common characteristics and processes from one EMS context to another. This is the purpose of the generic discrete event simulation-based analysis tool proposed here, which can be adapted to a wide range of EMS contexts. In particular, it explicitly considers the two types of tasks that can compose the mission of an EMS: serving emergency requests and providing transports between care units/hospitals/patients' homes.


In a tunnel-shaped area (14) of a sterilizing tunnel (10) containers (11) are transported by means of a conveyor device (12). Sterilization is accomplished by a vertical, heated air stream generated by means of a ventilator (21) and a heating device (20) in the area of the containers (11). To prevent particles from being torn from a sterile filter (23) during the heating phase, the invention provides for the number of revolutions per minute of the ventilator (21) to be adjusted during said heating phase. According to the invention, the rpm adjustment is carried out by predetermining the ventilator (21) rpm required at room temperature and at sterilization temperature. The control unit for the sterilizing tunnel (10) then increases the ventilator (21) rpm in accordance with a preset functional relationship as the temperature rises.


This paper presents a simple and efficient methodology that uses both acceleration and angular velocity signals to detect a fall of Powered Two Wheelers (PTW). Detecting the rider's fall (before the impact of the rider on the ground) can indeed be used to provide a signal in order to trigger inflation of an airbag jacket worn by the rider, reducing thus the injury severity. The fall detection is therefore formulated as a sequential anomaly detection problem. The paper investigates the popular method namely Multivariate CUmulative SUM (MCUSUM) control charts to detect such anomalies. The MCUSUM algorithm was applied on the data collected from three-accelerometer and three-gyroscope sensors mounted on the motorcycle. Experiments were performed on different scenarios from naturalistic to extreme (near fall and fall scenarios) riding situations. In the latter case, the riding scenarios were replayed by a stuntman. The results show the ability of the proposed methodology to analyze and understand the motorcycle fall behavior as well as to detect the fall with enough time to inflate an airbag jacket.


We investigated the properties of some kinds of artificial organic soils and its influence on eggplant growth and yield.The artificial organic soil was made of living waste,sheep dung,corn straw,vegetable seed cake,and fly ash to soil volumes of 0.20∶0.20∶0.10∶0.03∶0.07∶0.40.An eggplant fertilizer was also added.Compared with control,soil bulk density was reduced by 0.31 g cm~(-3),while soil porosity increased by 11.71%,4.80% and 6.91% respectively.Besides,water content and storage increased by 104.67 g kg~(-1) and 94.93 m~3 hm~(-2) respectively.Organic matter,N,P,K and CEC increased by 14.00 g kg~(-1),24.73 mg kg~(-1),11.83 mg kg~(-1),42.91 mg kg~(-1) and 5.68 cmol kg~(-1) respectively.


Summary: This study aims to determine the Acceptance and Usability of a web-based medication management system among nurses working in a Pilot Telehealth Hospital in Bulacan. References: • Aldosari, B., Al-Mansour, S., Aldosari, H., & Alanazi, A. (2017). Assessment of factors influencing nurses acceptance of electronic medical record in a Saudi Arabia hospital. Elsevier. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2017.12.007 • Atmowardoyo, H. (2018). Research Methods in TEFL Studies: Descriptive Research, Case Study, Error Analysis, and R & D. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 9, 197–204. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0901.25 • Balestra, M. (2017). Electronic Health Records: Patient Care an Ethical and Legal Implications for Nurse Practitioners. Elsevier, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2016.09.010 • Binaymin, S., Smith, S., & Rutter, M. J. (2016). The utilization of system usability scale in learning management systems: a case study of jeddah communitycollege. https://doi.org/10.21125/iceri.2016.2290 • Boonen, M., Vosman, F., & Niemeijer, A. (2015). Is Technology The Best Medicine? Three practice Theoretical perspectives on Medication Administration Technologies in Nursing. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. DOI:10.1111/nin.12119 • Boyd Rabkin, A., & Weberg, D. (2015, June 5). Nursing 2.0: Improving Care Through Technology. California Health Care Foundation. Retrieved from www.chcf.org • Groube, J. (2017). Postgraduate Study: The Journey for Registered Nurses. Retrieved from https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz • Guetterman, t., fetters, m., & creswell, j. (2015). Integrating quantitative and qualitative results in health science mixed methods research through joint displays. Annals of Family Medicine, 13. https://doi.org/0.1370/afm.1865. First Primary Presenting Author Primary Presenting Author Hanna Monique Arinduque Floresca, PhD, MAN, RN Our Lady of Fatima University School of Nursing Associate Professor 1 Quezon City Philippines Author Summary: The researcher is a graduate of BS Nursing at our Lady of Fatima University and a graduate of Masters of Arts in Nursing major in Nursing Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Administration in the same University. She is a college Lecturer and teaches professional nursing subjects and clinical instructor and at the same time a graduate school lecturer in the Philippines. Second Author Michael Joseph Diño, PhD, MAN, RN, LPT Our Lady of Fatima University Research Development and Innovation Center Director Valenzuela City Philippines Author Summary: Prof. Dr. Michael Joseph Diño, Vice President and Program Chair of the Phi Gamma Chapter, is the Director for Research Development and Innovation Center of the Our Lady of Fatima University, Philippines. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE), an ENFLA scholar of Sigma for Cohort III 2018-2019, and the first Asian recipient of the Nurse in the Limelight Award conferred by the Connecting Nurses Program in partnership with the International Council of Nurses. Third Author Christian Jay S. Orte, PhD, MAN, RN, RM Our Lady of Fatima University Graduate School Professor Pampanga Philippines Author Summary: He is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Arts in Nursing and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing. He is also a Speaker in Different schools and hospitals in the Philippines Fourth Author Michael Ignacio Aggari, PhD, MSN, RN Our Lady of Fatima University School of Nursing Associate Professor 1 Quezon City Philippines Author Summary: The researcher is a graduate of the following: Associate Health Science Education Bachelor of Science in Nursing Master of Science in Nursing Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing He is currently employed as Nursing Director, Graduate School Coordinator and a Clinical instructor in the Philippines. He engaged also in the Department of Health, Philippines as HIV Counselor. He also invited as a resource Speaker of Infection prevention and Control Program.


This paper analyses the cross-examination of witnesses in criminal proceedings, mentioned first in the Constitution of 2006 and finally introduced into our legal system by the Code of Criminal Procedure of 2011. This concept of examination implies the right of a party party to criminal proceedings to examine a witness proposed by the other party. As this phase of examination of witnesses is typical for adversarial model of criminal proceedings, the paper explains the basics of witness testimony in adversarial, but also in the mixed type of criminal proceedings, followed by explanation of the characteristics of the criminal proceedings in our country, with reference to the present Code of Criminal Procedure. In order to grasp this problem in full, the paper deals with the concept of witnesses in criminal proceedings as well as the cross-examination of the witnesses, through the most important domestic and international legal sources. Lastly, the goals and types of cross-examination of witnesses are explained and practical advice for examiners is given.


This paper focuses on investigating and analyzing the effects of geometric parameters on the performance of interrupted flying-wing fins (IFWF). The incorporation of interruptions in the flying-wing fins (FWF) effectively enhances heat transfer efficiency, and increases flow resistance. Moreover, when the number of interruptions exceeds 3, the comprehensive performance of the heat exchanger is diminished. Numerical simulations are employed to thoroughly investigate the effects of geometric parameters individually, within the Reynolds number range of 600-1600, and correlations for the j and f-factor of the interrupted flying-wing fins (IFWF) are proposed using the responses surface method.
 The parametric study of the contribution ratio on the j-factor, f-factor, and JF-factor is obtained by the Taguchi method, including 18 cases with different combinations of key parameters. At a Reynolds number of 1000, it becomes evident that parameter A exerts the most substantial influence on the j-factor, f-factor, and JF-factor. Consequently, in the design of IFWF, prioritizing amplitude A is imperative.


During the 1930s a number of interesting critiques of science and society emerged in the social sciences in general, and in psychology in particular. One example of this trend is The Psychology of Radio (1935), authored by Harvard psychologist Gordon Allport and his former student Hadley Cantril. The book, which was intended for both professional and lay audiences, sought to open discussion on the effects of the pervasive presence of radio, and to throw into relief the political, cultural, and economic contexts in which this new form of mass communication was embedded.


Bamboo fiber (BBF) reinforced self compatibilizing polypropylene (CFPP) composite (35/65 BBF/CFPP) has been developed by Palsule process. Composite has been processed by co-rotating twin screw extruder and injection molding machine. Tensile and flexural mechanical properties of the composite are higher than those of the CFPP matrix. Formation of the composite is due to in-situ fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion as established by Field Emission Scanning Electron Micrograph (FE-SEM). Esterification and hydrogen bonding between BBF and CFPP imparting fiber/matrix adhesion has been established by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy.


A column chromatographer's goal is to produce separation methods that provide baseline resolution of each analyte peak in a reasonably short analysis time. One way chromatographers have defined the effectiveness of their chromatographic separations is by monitoring the separation of a critical pair of components. A critical pair represents the two components of the chromatogram with the lowest calculated resolution between them. Although the concept of a critical pair of solutes in a chromatographic separation is seemingly straightforward, it is reinterpreted or used several ways. Often, analysts mistakenly note several critical pairs in their separation, when in fact only one appears. This article reviews several common applications of the critical-pair approach to column chromatography as it is applied under pharmaceutical guidelines and validation strategies.


This collection of essays from leading academics examines the connection between the World Trade Organization (WTO) and human rights issues, a topic which has provoked significant debate, particularly in the decade since the collapsed WTO talks in Seattle in 1999. The editors argue that a true appreciation of the salient issues requires consideration of disciplines beyond the law, such as economics, political science and philosophy. This book builds on previous trade/human rights projects by adding that interdisciplinary dimension.


Background  Intraluminal acid evokes sustained oesophageal longitudinal smooth muscle (LSM) contraction and oesophageal shortening, which may play a role in oesophageal pain and the aetiology of hiatus hernia. In the opossum model, this reflex has been shown to involve mast cell activation and release of neurokinins from capsaicin‐sensitive neurons. The aim of this study was to determine whether proteinase‐activated receptor‐2 (PAR‐2) activation evokes reflex LSM contraction via similar mechanisms.


A visual interface has been developed to provide a means for users to visualize the steel structure represented by a CIMsteel Integration Standards Release 2 (CIS/2) file. A CIS/2 file provides for the electronic exchange of data directly between various steel CAD software applications. Using a web-accessible translator, objects in a user's CIS/2 file are mapped to application-specific VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) nodes in an VRML file that can be interactively navigated in 3D using freely available VRML browsers. Salient features of the web-base user interface and application-specific VRML nodes related to CIS/2 are described with several examples. The interface has proved useful to both software application developers and end-users.


Wireless body area networks have great potential to change the future of remote and personalised healthcare technology by embedding smart devices to provide real-time feedback. In this article, proposed a threshold-based routing concept to route only the critical data of bio-sensors during an emergency condition of a patient. Sensor nodes attached to the body, sense and forwards patient's vital sign's data based on the standard thresholds applied during the routing process. Depending on variations in the sensed data, the energy parameters are calculated and data are routed to the coordinator node for further communication. An efficient node is selected based on the least cost value that depends on high residual energy and less distance to sink. From the results obtained, the proposed technique provides improvements in terms of energy, stability period, network lifetime, throughput, path loss and packet delivery ratio compared to existing multi-hop routing techniques.


The purpose of this thesis is to examine Lyotard`s Postmodern theory of knowledge and its meanings in education. Specifically, the examination focused on The Critic of Performative Knowledge base on Lyotard`s Postmodern theory of knowledge Conclusions are as follows. The result of the decline of meta narratives that have functioned as bases for the legitimation of knowledge, Lyotard argues, will step into the dominance of the performativity criterion. The power of technology dominating contemporary society has degraded reason into instrumental one and produced performativity standard as a meta narrative. Knowledge under performativity principle circulates not in its educational values and political importance, but in the same way as currency does, so the criteria judging the value of knowledge can be found in `outgo knowledge` and `investment knowledge, not in `knowing` or `not knowing`. For example, in the field of education the induction of training and technology according with the system`s performance becomes more valuable. But the ascendancy of performativity underestimates a person`s freedom and value independent of system. Lyotard criticizes every metanarratives, like system theory operating under this performativity principle in that it entails a kind of terror to make the incommensurable commensurable. To fight successfully against the terror of metanarratives Lyotard introduces a form of legitimation grounded on paralogy. Paralogy is a sphere that philosopher embodies the logic of dissent, not one that expert pursues consensus. In other words, it encourages new moves and possibilities of other purposes within one system. Also, not excluding other voices, it accepts the possibility of various utterances and strengthens patience to tolerate difference. The delegitimation by the logic of paralogy is necessarily tied to the possibility of knowledge based on difference. Lyotard`s theory of knowledge is grounded upon a tolerance to difference. Here difference is justified by different modes of utterences existing among rules inherent modes of discourses. Thus, Lyotard`s postmodern theory of knowledge presents knowledge of difference and aims at showing the differences, and suggests a man accepting them as they are with tolerance.


Effect of different wrapping postharvest treatments viz. T 0 (control treatment), T 1 (White paper), T 2 (Brown paper), T 3 (Tissue paper) and T 4 (News paper) on physical changes of mango var. Langra were analyzed. Among, the treatments, the maximum 5.25 days was required for ripening in Langra which was kept in white paper and minimum 3.573 days for ripening was recorded in control fruits of mango. The highest total soluble solid (18.60% Brix) was found at over-ripe in brown paper treated fruits and weight loss (16.07%) was occurred in controlled fruits of Langra whereas and the lowest (7.235 and 2.735%, respectively) was in recorded in tissue paper treated fruit at pre-ripe and 3 days after storage, respectively. The maximum shelf life 11.50 days was observed from the mango variety cv. Langra which was treated in brown paper and minimum 7.833 days was found in controlled fruits of Langra. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10152 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 99-103, 2011


Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to severe with pulmonary manifestations being predominate, however, liver injury is not rare. There might be a reciprocal influence between COVID-19 and hepatic disease. While high levels of liver enzyme is associated with an increased prevalence of severe complications, search for other etiologies of hepatic disease should be not be ignored. We report a case of COVID-19 presented with acute fulminant hepatitis A (HAV) without previous history.


Studies show that the different cultures and the modes of thinking can bring lots of problems on translation and communication between different nations and countries. The paper is an attempt to explore the relationships between culture and translation.


AFTER the war, German industries' entered upon an exceedingly difficult and responsible period of operation. Until the beginning of the war their activity had extended primarily to equal cooperation in regulating wages and labor conditions by drawing up labor agreements and by establishing the legislative foundations of labor. This activity expressed itself in a series of wage and labor agreements as well as in the general social policy. Employment wage schedules were established jointly by employers and employes. They formally regulated the hours and wages of labor, questions of overtime and pay for overtime, time off, employment credentials, apprenticeships, and settlement of labor disputes, embracing not only individual occupations, but also whole branches of industries extending over large areas and at times over the entire Empire. Before the war, these regulations, consisting of 12,500 schedules, affected about 2,000,000 workmen in more than 200,000 different occupations and mitigated against free choice of employment. From the standpoint of social policy before the war the industrial managements influenced the enactment of workmen's protective and insurance laws, as well as other legislation affecting labor conditions, primarily by


We present two cases in which displaced proximal humeral fractures are accompanied by vascular injury. These Injuries are very rare but severe and the accompanying vascular impairment can have great clinical consequences. Therefore, we try to emphasize on the importance of thorough and accurate diagnostics, because it is obligatory for early diagnosis and improving the eventual outcome of these injuries. The specific order in treatment (internal fixation first or vascular repair first) depends on the severity of the accompanying vascular injury. The increasing use of endovascular procedures to treat vascular lesions is a very interesting development with several advantages, especially in elderly and multimorbid patients.


Environmental justice is a concept that is progressively gaining attention in the public policy arena. In its simplest form environmental justice is the notion that all populations should benefit equitably from investments financially supported by the public sector. Traditionally, public transit systems serve a diverse set of populations, and therefore equity is an important issue that transit agencies encounter. A methodology developed to evaluate equitable distribution of a transit capital improvement program is presented. Environmental justice neighborhoods are identified by demographic and economic data aggregated at the census-tract level. The neighborhoods are defined on the basis of previous equity studies and guidance materials produced by the federal government. With geographic information systems, perceived benefits of each capital project are mapped onto a layer of census tracts. Finally, the capital budget is allocated to various census tracts on the basis of spatial locations of perceived benefits each project will produce. Numerous tabular and spatial results can be generated from the methodology, such as funding ratios between environmental justice neighborhoods and non–environmental justice neighborhoods. Because of the long-term nature of capital investments, time series data should be collected and analyzed. This will allow for measuring the significance of funding ratio fluctuations in current-year programs. Ultimately, the methodology can become a decision-making aid to help transit agencies prioritize capital projects. Application of the methodology to the Chicago Transit Authority, in Chicago, Illinois, provides a context for the reader to understand the potential applications (planning- and service-related) in a better manner.


Simple Summary Human breast tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) is a microenvironment essential for the survival and biological activities of mammary epithelial cells. The ECM structural features of human breast tissues remain poorly defined. In this study, we identified the structural and mechanical properties of human normal breast and invasive ductal carcinoma tissue ECM using histological methods and atomic force microscopy. Additionally, a protein hydrogel was generated using human breast tissue ECM and defined for its microstructural features using immunofluorescence imaging and machine learning. Furthermore, we examined the three-dimensional growth of normal mammary epithelial cells or breast cancer cells cultured on the ECM protein hydrogel, where the cells exhibited biological phenotypes like those seen in native breast tissues. Our data provide novel insights into cancer cell biology, tissue microenvironment mimicry and engineering, and native tissue ECM-based biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Abstract Tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) is a structurally and compositionally unique microenvironment within which native cells can perform their natural biological activities. Cells grown on artificial substrata differ biologically and phenotypically from those grown within their native tissue microenvironment. Studies examining human tissue ECM structures and the biology of human tissue cells in their corresponding tissue ECM are lacking. Such investigations will improve our understanding about human pathophysiological conditions for better clinical care. We report here human normal breast tissue and invasive ductal carcinoma tissue ECM structural features. For the first time, a hydrogel was successfully fabricated using whole protein extracts of human normal breast ECM. Using immunofluorescence staining of type I collagen (Col I) and machine learning of its fibrous patterns in the polymerized human breast ECM hydrogel, we have defined the microstructural characteristics of the hydrogel and compared the microstructures with those of other native ECM hydrogels. Importantly, the ECM hydrogel supported 3D growth and cell-ECM interaction of both normal and cancerous mammary epithelial cells. This work represents further advancement toward full reconstitution of the human breast tissue microenvironment, an accomplishment that will accelerate the use of human pathophysiological tissue-derived matrices for individualized biomedical research and therapeutic development.


In 1991 the Ministry of Health and Social Action conducted a rapid comprehensive assessment of the family planning program in Burkina Faso specifically the functional capacity of its subsystems (e.g. logistics equipment record-keeping and service delivery as well as information education and communication [IEC] activities) and the quality of its services at 53 of its 90 clinics. The clinics included those in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso and a random sample from 10 provinces. The research team used interviewing and observation techniques. The simple clear data collection instruments and immediate data entry and analysis allowed the results to be placed in the hands of policymakers within a few weeks after completion of the fieldwork. The senior program staff were involved throughout the study. In fact the research team sought their involvement in reviewing data collection instruments and adjusted them accordingly. This first ever assessment of the program resulted in a considerable range and quality of data which were so good that the Ministry the USAID mission UNFPA and the World Bank have all used the studys results to carry on a variety of projects. For example the Ministry prepared a reference document which included standards to implement Burkina Fasos population and family planning policies. It also used the data to rectify operational problems such as reordering the flow of good. Program managers quickly took actions to correct any weaknesses. Even though the methodology used was intended as a diagnostic tool it can also be used to evaluate progress over time as well as for other primary health care programs.


We consider the "thermodynamic limit" of a d-dimensional lattice of hyperbolic dynamical systems on the 2-torus, interacting via weak and nearest neighbor coupling. We prove that the SRB measure is analytic in the strength of the coupling. The proof is based on symbolic dynamics techniques that allow us to map the SRB measure into a Gibbs measure for a spin system on a (d+1)-dimensional lattice. This Gibbs measure can be studied by an extension (decimation) of the usual "cluster expansion" techniques.


Various corrections to the above titled paper (ibid., vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 207-236) are presented. The corrections do not propagate to any other part of the paper and do not affect the correctness of the experimental results reported in the paper.


Indian power distribution system is highly scattered by spreading throughout the control. The present research work focuses on integration of solar PV system with the traditional power distribution system by PI and ANFIS PI system due to increasing the demand of the electrical energy, it is required to interconnect a no. of renewable PV system with the grid which not only provides the extra amount of power which is required for load point of view but also economical from its generation point of view. The current control technique must be saved and highly reliable/efficient. Again, the controller must obey the standard grid code that is applicable to Indian electricity. In this paper a comparative study of PI and ANFIS PI current control technique is presented. In order to show the robustness of the controller MATLAB Simulink environment has been adopted for designing of the proposed controllers.


The decision making method based on cost-effectiveness analysis was presented to solve the problem of the selection of information security risk control scheme.The threat scenario and attack chains of risk event was studied,the defend effect of solutions was analyzed,and quantitative computed the costeffectiveness of the scheme.Then an order of the scheme was obtained to showthe priority by the cost-effectiveness rule.The case study demonstrated the method was compact and effective,and the method can enhance the scientific of decision making.


Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in aquatic environments, causing harm to aquatic organisms and posing a threat to human health. MP risk assessment has therefore attracted increasing attention; yet few studies have been conducted on the water quality criteria (WQC) of MPs in the surface waters of China. Herein, data on the toxicity of MPs in aquatic species were reviewed, and the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method was employed to determine the WQC for the protection of aquatic organisms against MP pollution. Criteria included the maximum concentration (CMC) and the continuous concentration (CCC). In addition, the ecological risk posed by MPs in China's main aquatic systems was assessed using a probabilistic method. The CMC and CCC were estimated at 59.42 μg/L (1.67 × 107 particles/M3) and 93.94 μg/L (2.90 × 105 particles/M3), respectively. The ecological risk levels of MP pollution across the seven aquatic systems in China were as follows: Yangtze, Pearl, Yellow, SongHua, LiaoHe, HaiHe, and HuaiHe Rivers. Although the average concentrations of seven rivers are all far lower than the CCC and CMC values obtained in this study, MP pollution might have harmful effects on aquatic organisms in some regions, necessitating tighter water quality management with regard to MPs in the future. HIGHLIGHTS Species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves were established using microplastic (MP) toxicity data. The criteria maximum concentration (CMC) and criteria continuous concentration (CCC) of MPs for protection of aquatic organisms were derived. A probabilistic method was used to assess the ecological risk of MPs in major Chinese river systems. MP pollution might harm aquatic organisms in certain regions.


Regional culture is the folk art in the development of the soil,the artistic style of distinctive folk art popular local culture.Weifang content of folk art from the daily cultural life,artistic style popular in the area's unique aesthetic effect.


Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), some of which had multidrug-resistant profiles, were isolated from a tertiary care hospital setting. Although most NTM are nonpathogenic, contamination of hospital surfaces by these opportunistic pathogens poses a health risk to vulnerable inpatients. ABSTRACT Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), some of which had multidrug-resistant profiles, were isolated from a tertiary care hospital setting. Although most NTM are nonpathogenic, contamination of hospital surfaces by these opportunistic pathogens poses a health risk to vulnerable inpatients. These high-quality NTM draft genomes are fundamental for future genetic and epidemiological studies.


An attempt was made in the study to understand the nature of the market integration. The study was based mainly on monthly wholesale price of sorghum in four market locations; namely Khartoum, Elobied, Gdarif and Damazin. Sorghum wholesale price series was used for the period from January 2012 to December 2016. Unit root test, Johnson co-integration test and Error Correction model were used to disclose stationary series, the long run relationship and short run relationship between these markets, respectively. The result showed that, long run relationship was indicated between all pairs of markets, except between Khartoum and Elobied market (consumption or deficit market). Long run equilibrium indicated adjustment to surplus markets (Gadarief and Damazin). This result may be interpreted by the fact that these markets are connected by good communication and transportation. From ECM model, Wholesale sorghum prices in all markets (higher price) quickly fall back towards Gadarif market whereas Gadarif adjusts back to Khartoum. Also, higher wholesale prices in Damazin quickly fall back towards all markets. There is short run causality running from: Gadarif and Damazin to Khartoum, Gadarif to Elobied and Khartoum to Damazin market. Long run equilibrium indicated adjustment to surplus markets (Gadarief and Damazin).This result may be reflected to good communication and transportation between the markets.


In a recent commentary, Steve Morgan and colleagues[1][1] assess the long-term financial consequences of predictive genetic testing with respect to subsequent diagnostic and preventive services. As they note, prophylactic surgical removal of apparently healthy tissue is one option for prevention of


On 10 August 2001, a beaked whale was found dead on a rocky shore at Sa o Vicente (23 58 S; 46 24 W), Sa o Paulo state, Brazil. The damaged specimen was approximately 390 cm in length and in an advanced state of decomposition. It was identie ed as a Mesoplodon europaeus based on the following characteristics: (1) the presence of a e attened pair of teeth placed near the posterior half of the short mandible symphysis; (2) when viewed laterally in an upright position with the long axis of the rostrum horizontal, the premaxillary foramina straddle a horizontal plane, transecting the centres of the maxillary formamina; and (3) both the protuberance of the maxillary, which interrupts the antorbital notch, and the ridge that extends back from this protuberance are conspicuous. Cranial measurements are presented. This is the southernmost record of this species in the southern hemisphere, the e rst one to the southwest Atlantic and the e rst one along the Brazilian coast. Recent beaked whale records along the Brazilian coast, due to the increasing of cetological research, raises the possibility of ordinary distribution, rather than extra limital observations. Further investigations are needed to draw reliable conclusions on Gervais' beaked whales in the southern hemisphere.


(57) Abstract: The present invention relates to fragments of the antibodies and antibody that specifically binds to the active conformation of human von Willebrand factor. Most preferred is a single chain variable immunoglobulin fragments produced recombinantly. Fragments of the antibody and antibody acts only on thrombus formation site and does not interfere with the normal activity of circulating platelets, particularly suitable for use as an antithrombotic agent in a wide range of applications.


The management of project manager and the construction of project m an ager ranks is a core problem relative to the development of building industry. I n the light of some problems existing among our country's project managers, this paper puts forward several measures of further strengthening project manager re sponsibility system, perfecting project manager management system, tightening th e supervision and control of the market behavior of project managers, etc.


The Iowa Assessment Project was funded by the National Science Foundation to explore the feasibility of combining the expertise of science teachers, science educators, and test developers to build innovative performance assessments that complement traditional, norm-referenced, multiple-choice science tests. The science teachers, graduate students, and science educators designed and tested performance assessment tasks to enhance the picture of science understanding in students through multiple points of evidence. This paper describes the design of four science performance tasks for Grade 9 students and the relationship between their performance on these tasks and multiple-choice items in the Iowa Tests of Educational Development. Students and schools used to develop the tasks were not included in the verification sample.


Tag population estimation has recently attracted significant research attention due to its paramount importance on a variety of radio-frequency identification (RFID) applications. However, most, if not all, of the existing estimation mechanisms are proposed for the static case where tag population remains constant during the estimation process, thus leaving the more challenging dynamic case unaddressed, despite the fundamental importance of the latter case on both the theoretical analysis and the practical application. In order to bridge this gap, we devote this paper to designing a generic framework of stable and accurate tag population estimation schemes based on the Kalman filter for both the static and dynamic RFID systems. Technically, we first model the dynamics of RFID systems as discrete stochastic processes and leverage the techniques in the extended Kalman filter and cumulative sum control chart to estimate tag population for both the static and dynamic systems. By employing the Lyapunov drift analysis, we mathematically characterize the performance of the proposed framework in terms of estimation accuracy and convergence speed by deriving the closed-form conditions on the design parameters under which our scheme can stabilize around the real population size with bounded relative estimation error that tends to zero with exponential convergence rate.


Endodontic treatment aims at eliminating microorganisms from root canal systems. The resistance of these microorganisms contributes for the permanence of the apical lesion, leading to the failure of treatment. The microbiological factor is pointed out as the major cause of failures after intervention. In these cases, root canal retreatment can be performed aims the re-instrumentation, cleaning, and new filling in the root canal. Also, retreatment treatment can be associated with a parendodontic surgery in the attempt to reverse failure without a tooth extraction. The objective of this clinical case is to report a root canal retreatment associated with apical surgery with one year follow-up in the lower central incisor's region. It was concluded that paraendodontic surgery is an effective and conservative treatment option compared to tooth extractions, and when properly performed, with the aid of good materials such a MTA, brings satisfactory results by returning normal conditions to the periodontal tissue, as well as health and function to the teeth affected by the inflammatory process.


Public water systems are required by Safe Drinking Water Act regulations to collect and analyze samples of water for contaminants from each entry point within a system, generally on a quarterly basis. The averages of the quarterly sample results are used for compliance determinations and potential treatment decisions that may require costly actions by system operators. Analysis of data reported by the US Environmental Protection Agency in 2009 identifies a high degree of uncertainty in the average (mean) of four quarterly samples. Statistical analysis of 970 datasets for 10 analytes indicated wide variation in the sample data for more than one third of the cases. Moreover, when the means were at or near the maximum contaminant level for the contaminant measured, the variability was significantly more pronounced. Limited analysis indicated that the variability is not geographically dependent and increased sampling beyond quarterly is only practical for selected contaminants.