We present a multi-stream Dynamic Bayesian Network model with Articulatory Features (AF_AV_DBN) for audio visual speech recognition. Conditional probability distributions of the nodes are defined considering the asynchronies between the articulatory features (AFs). Speech recognition experiments are carried out on an audio visual connected digit database. Results show that comparing with the state synchronous DBN model (SS_DBN) and state asynchronous DBN model (SA_DBN), when the asynchrony constraint between the AFs is appropriately set, the AF_AV_DBN model gets the highest recognition rates, with average recognition rate improved to 89.38% from 87.02% of SS_DBN and 88.32% of SA_DBN. Moreover, the audio visual multi-stream AF_AV_DBN model greatly improves the robustness of the audio only AF_A_DBN model, for example, under the noise of −10dB, the recognition rate is improved from 20.75% to 76.24%.


A straightforward way to assess the number of clusters as well as their mean values for clustering-based gray scale image segmentation initialization purpose, is presented in this paper. It is based on an association of statistical and spatial information of the image so that, the final classes in the segmented image correspond to "meaningful" modes in an histogram built from the image characteristics. The experiments testify the efficiency of this method in case of synthetic and real images.


Like the war neutral Switzerland, if for a different variety of reasons, dollar-rich Belgium is a fabulous island of plenty in today's Europe. At the Binche Carnival which traditionally involves much throwing of oranges, last year the streets were literally sticky with the fruit, at a time when many middle-class Frenchmen had not so much as seen an orange in six months. Steak and huge servings of fried potatoes, butter and coffee, bananas, cakes, chocolates, even such exotics as pineapples, seem as plentiful as they are here in the U.S., and cigarettes made in Belgium of good American tobacco cost about as much as a pack in New York, with actual American brands only a little more. Since many of these commodities have been paid for in dollars, a natural result is that a visit to Belgium costs at least as much as a visit to New York City. It is decidedly expensive compared with France or Italy, where if the visitor will refrain from patronizing the black market which is the only source for tobacco, coffee, ...


........................................................................................................................................................xvi CHAPTER 1 ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction...............................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Problem statement and study justification....................................................................................... 3 1.2 Aim of study:......................................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Purpose of study:..................................................................................................................................5 1.4 Objectives..............................................................................................................................................5 1.4.1 Overall objective........................................................................................................................... 5 1.4.2 Specific objectives........................................................................................................................ 5 1.5 Research questions:..............................................................................................................................5 1.6 Limitations:............................................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 2 ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.0 Literature review...................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Nutrition among school children........................................................................................................ 7 2.2 School feeding programs.....................................................................................................................7 2.2.1 Nutritional content of school meals............................................................................................9 2.2.2 Shared experiences on school feeding....................................................................................... 9 2.3 Assessment of nutritional status..................................................................................................... v 2.4 Micronutrient deficiencies 14 2.4.1 Iodine deficiency and iodine deficiency disorders.................................................................. 14 2.4.2 Vitamin A deficiency (VAD)........................................................................................................ 15 2.4.3 Iro n ...............................................................................................................................................15 2.4.4 Z in c ...............................................................................................................................................16 2.5 Critique of methodology...................................................................................................................16 2.5.1 The Dietary diversity tool.......................................................................................................... 16 2.5.2 Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).........................................................................................17 2.5.3 The 24 hour recall questionnaire..............................................................................................17 2.6 Gaps in knowledge.............................................................................................................................18 CHAPTER 3 ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 20 Research methods........................................................................................................................................ 21 Study area..................................................................................................................................................21 Study population.......................................................................................................................................21 Study design:.............................................................................................................................................22 Sample size and sampling procedures...................................................................................................22 Data collection procedures and instruments........................................................................................ 22 Data analysis................................................................................. 23 Results........................................................................................................................................................... 23 Demographic and socio-economic characteristics................................................................................23 Age and sex............................................................................................................................................23 Household size.......................................................................................................................................24 Distribution of household occupants by age and sex....................................................................... 24 Socio-demographic characteristics of th i children's households........................................................25 Characteristics of the Household head..............................................................................................26 Absence from school........................................................................................................................... 26


A method for determining the dielectric permittivity of metal surfaces at terahertz (THz) frequencies has been suggested and tested. The method implies excitation of surface plasmons (SPs) on the sample surface and measurements of the SPs propagation length and field penetration depth in air. The technique was tested on evaporated gold with Novosibirsk free-electron laser at the wavelength of 130 μm. The method suggested paves the way for refractometry of metallized surfaces at THz frequencies.


In this study, to achieve the optimal conditions for mechanical hyper-fine pattern fabrication process, deformation behavior of the materials during indentation scratch test was studied with numerical method by ABAQUS S/W. Brittle materials (Si, Pyrex glass 7740) were used as specimens, and forming conditions to reduce the elastic recovery and pile-up were proposed. The indenter was modeled as a rigid surface. Minimum mesh sizes of specimens are 1-10㎚. Variables of the nanoindentation scratch test analysis are scratching speed, scratching load, tip radius and tip geometry. The nano-indentation scratch tests were performed by using the Berkovich pyramidal diamond indenter. Comparison between the experimental data and numerical result demonstrated that the FEM approach can be a good model of the nanoindentation scratch test. The result of the investigation will be applied to the fabrication of the hyper-fine pattern.


The necessary and sufficient conditions are given so that a non-anticipative transformation in Hilbert space is isometric. In terms of second order Wiener process, these conditions assure that a non-anticipative transformation of Wiener process is a Wiener process, too.


Introduction: Considering the range of functions proteins perform, it is surprising they fold into a relatively small set of structures or "folds" that facilitate such function. One explanation is that only a minority were fit enough to emerge from Darwinian selection during the early evolution of life. Alternatively, perhaps only a fraction of all possible folds were trialed [1]. Understanding proto-catalyst selection will aid understanding of the origins and early evolution of life.


The c‐myc proto‐oncogene was analyzed in 311 cases of primary breast cancer, in 8% of which it was found to be amplified, usually at moderately increased copy number (2‐5 copies). The adjacent pvt gene was co‐amplified with c‐myc in all tumors analyzed. C‐myc amplification was significantly correlated to a high S‐phase fraction and to amplification of the c‐erbB‐2 proto‐oncogene. Weak relationships were found between c‐myc amplification and the presence of lymph‐node metastasis, advanced stage, DNA non‐diploidy and premenopausal status, but not tumor size, estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor status, or int‐2 amplification. C‐myc amplification, and especially a high gene copy number (>5 copies), was significantly related to early recurrence and death in breast cancer, a relationship seen in both the lymph‐node‐negative and node‐positive subcategories. A particularly strong correlation with poor clinical outcome was seen in postmenopausal patients (p > 0.0005), an association which persisted in multivariate survival analysis. We conclude that the activation of c‐myc is indeed associated with rapidly growing and progressive breast cancer. Gene amplification, on the other hand, is relatively infrequent and occurs mostly at low copy number, implying that tumors are heterogeneous with respect to cell clones harboring c‐myc amplification. An immunohistochemical assessment would more accurately illustrate the importance of c‐myc activation in human breast cancer. However, the obvious instability of the c‐myc transcript and translate suggests that c‐myc is not a suitable prognostic marker for routine purposes. © 1992 Wifey‐Liss, Inc.


Measurements of the sprectral dependence of the photoconductivity are shown to be an alternative possibility to study optical transitions in semiconductors at photon energies in the range above the fundamental absorption edge independent of the direct or indirect nature of these transitions, provided that certain relations are fulfilled between the intervally relaxation times of the electrons or holes and the phenomenological lifetimes of the photoexcited electron-hole pairs. The usefulness of the method is illustrated by experimental photoconductivity measurements on both n-type and p-type CuInSe 2 single crystals. If measured at liquid nitrogen temperature the photoresponse spectra of this compound revealed three distinct structures with characteristic energies of 1.61, 1.94 and 2.25 eV that can be ascribed to indirect optical transitions with energy states at the boundary of the Brillouin zone involved. An analysis of existing literature data on photoconductivity measurements of some other chalcopyrite semiconductors confirms the model proposed to interpret the features observed in the photoresponse spectra at photon energies above the fundamental absorption edge.


Roundoff errors in calculations are often neglected by scientists. The success of the IEEE double precision standard makes most of us think that the precision of a simple personal computer is virtually infinite. Common sense cannot really grasp the meaning of 16 precise decimal digits. However, roundoff errors can easily destroy the result of a calculation, even if it looks reasonable. Therefore, it is worth investigating them even for IEEE doubleprecision representation.


Dispute settlement system of the WTO DSB can be categorized as a judicial dispute settlement system. Decision (rulings and recommendations) in a dispute settlement made by the WTO DSB is binding and should be performed. In some cases, decisions made by the WTO DSB were not performed, and there is no sanction against the non-compliance with the decisions. The objective of this study is to analyze the legally binding character of the WTO DSB's decision as a decision of a judicial organ. From the data analysis, it can be concluded that the WTO does not provide adequate sanctions against the non-compliance with the DSB's decision. It leads to the interpretation of the DSB's decision is international soft law norm which is not legally binding. Moreover, it can hamper the enforcement of the WTO Agreement and the achievement of the WTO's goals. The WTO judicial system should be strengthened and improved by creating WTO independent court or tribunal, which has authority to make legally binding decision as international hard law.


Objective
To evaluate the ability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in identifying the rmpA2-carrying hypervirulentKlebsiella pneumoniae.

Methods
A total of 57nonduplicateKlebsiella pneumoniae isolates were collected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University and Henan Provincial People′s Hospital. Virulence gene rmpA2 and capsule K serotype-specific genes were detected by PCR, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed for molecular typing, and string test was conducted to identify the hypermucoviscous phenotype. The ClinProTools software was used for peak analysis. Four standard algorithms, including support vector machine (SVM), genetic algorithm (GA), supervised neural network (SNN), and quick classifier (QC), were tested for their power to differentiate between rmpA2-positive and rmpA2-negative strains.

Results
Among the 57 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, 28 isolates belonged to sequence type (ST) 11 and carried the virulence gene rmpA2, of which 5 isolates were positive for string test; while the other 29 isolates were not detected rmpA2, and MLST divided them into five STs including ST11 (n=23), ST15 (n=3), ST1 (n=1), ST76 (n=1), and ST473 (n=1). The results of four standard algorithms were similar, while the sensitivity and specificity of SVM was the highest at 93.23% and 100% respectively. Analysis results of ClinProTools software suggested that the specific peaks for differentiating the rmpA2-positive and rmpA2-negative strains were 7 168.9 and 7 280.76, however, the peak intensity of themwere variant.

Conclusion
The sensitivity and specificity ofMALDI-TOF MS for rapid identification of rmpA2-carrying hypervirulentKlebsiella pneumoniae werehigher than 90% and there was a difference on the peak intensity of two specific peaks, which needs further study.(Chin J Lab Med, 2018, 41: 571-675)

Key words:
Klebsiella pneumoniae; Bacterial proteins; Transcription factors; Spectrometry, mass, matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization


Adaptive plasticity allows populations to cope with environmental variation but is expected to fail as conditions become unfamiliar. In novel conditions, populations may instead rely on rapid adaptation to increase fitness and avoid extinction. Adaptation should be fastest when both plasticity and selection occur in directions of the multivariate phenotype that contain abundant genetic variation. However, tests of this prediction from field experiments are rare. Here, we quantify how additive genetic variance in a multivariate phenotype changes across an elevational gradient, and test whether plasticity and selection align with genetic variation. We do so using two closely related, but ecologically distinct, sister species of Sicilian daisy (Senecio, Asteraceae) adapted to high and low elevations on Mount Etna. Using a paternal half-sibling breeding design, we generated and then reciprocally planted c.19,000 seeds of both species, across an elevational gradient spanning each species' native elevation, and then quantified mortality and five leaf traits of emergent seedlings. We found that genetic variance in leaf traits changed more across elevations than between species. The high-elevation species at novel lower elevations showed changes in the distribution of genetic variance among the leaf traits, which reduced the amount of genetic variance in the directions of selection and the native phenotype. By contrast, the low-elevation species mainly showed changes in the amount of genetic variance at the novel high elevation, and genetic variance was concentrated in the direction of the native phenotype. For both species, leaf trait plasticity across elevations was in a direction of the multivariate phenotype that contained a moderate amount of genetic variance. Together, these data suggest that where plasticity is adaptive, selection on genetic variance for an initially plastic response could promote adaptation. However, large environmental effects on genetic variance are likely to reduce adaptive potential in novel environments.


Many power electronic converters can be modeled using the theoretical framework of switched affine systems, which considers the instantaneous dynamics of the converter instead of its averaged model. In this class of systems, a certain number of subsystems is present and a control law is designed to orchestrate the switching among them. When the switching law is state-dependent, the closed-loop system is stabilized at the desired equilibrium through sliding mode dynamics, leading to infinite-rate switching. In this paper, a control strategy is proposed using constant-width hysteresis as a way of bounding the switching frequency at a finite value when two subsystems are present. In addition, an upper bound on the hysteresis width is provided so that the system is not stabilized at the equilibrium of a subsystem. Finally, simulation results illustrating the application of the proposed method to power electronic converters are presented. The relation between the switching law parameters and the current ripple is discussed for a dc-dc Boost converter and a Buck converter.


Importance In this research we study the interaction of three main structural components (University – Industry – Government) by analyzing the substance of the innovative process in principal foreign and Russian models of the innovative process and concepts of innovative systems. Objectives We formulate scientific and methodological recommendations for adapting the innovative process models to the Russian environment by analyzing them and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Methods The methodological framework comprises fundamental and applied researches of foreign and Russian scientists into models of the innovative processes, the Triple Helix concept by H. Etzkowitz, L. Leydesdorff, institutional principles of innovation management. Results Having synthesized the analyzable approaches, we presented the national adaptation of generally accepted models of innovative development kept by six generations, suggested how the innovation process model should be modified. Conclusions and Relevance We demonstrate that national researches into modeling of the innovative process are still fragmented, requiring further studies and a set of approaches to identifying all institutional processes and substantiating certain structural elements to be introduced into the Russian innovative system. The existing models are not yet compliant with the economic substance of sectoral interaction, while institutional gaps among institutions and practices aggravate


Clinical forensic medicine is the application of forensic medical knowledge and techniques to live patients in a clinical setting. European, Australian, and British physicians—known as police surgeons, forensic physicians, forensic medical examiners, or forensic medical officers—have a long history of performing clinical forensic examinations, including evaluations of prisoners and victims of physical and sexual assault. All patients who are victims of physical or sexual assault, abuse, or trauma have forensic needs. When treating injuries without consideration of their forensic significance, physicians may misinterpret wounds, fail to recognize victims of abuse or domestic violence, and inadequately describe the physical appearance of the wounds. During the provision of patient care, evidence that can be of critical significance to criminal or civil proceedings can be lost, discarded, or inadvertently washed away, despite requirements by The Joint Commission (TJC) to "preserve evidentiary materials and support future legal actions." Emergency medicine programs have identified and described the need for forensic training in their residency curricula. In 1991 the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine collaborated with the Kentucky Medical Examiner's Office and established the first clinical forensic medicine training and consultative program in the United States. In 2006, the American College of Emergency Physicians established the Forensic Medicine Section to provide emergency physicians with additional forensic resources and training. In 2010 the Louisville Police Department created a full-time clinical forensic medicine consultation service to provide forensic evaluations for living victims of crimes, staffed by a forensic emergency physician and three part-time forensic nurse examiners. Forensic examinations are conducted with the consent of the patient, legal guardian, or court, or by implied consent. The evaluation includes a history and physical examination, photographs, and anatomic diagrams. Evidentiary material, including clothing, hair, blood, saliva, bullets, bomb fragments, and the like, are collected when indicated or when ordered by the court. If a patient has been admitted from the emergency department (ED) to surgery, an evaluation is done in the operating suite in conjunction with the trauma surgeons. In 2006 the British Royal College of Physicians established the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM) as the authoritative body on clinical forensic medicine in the United Kingdom. The FFLM has created training and certification programs and board-type certification examinations after 2 years of forensic practice for British physicians. Evaluations of gunshot and stab wounds, physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence, and motor vehicle–related trauma should be adequately documented for possible use in future legal proceedings. Documentation should include digital photographs as well as a narrative and diagrams. However, in one trauma center, 70% of cases had improper or inadequate documentation, and 38% of cases had potential evidence improperly secured, incorrectly documented, or inadvertently discarded. When physical injuries are misinterpreted and these misinterpretations become the medical record or when valuable evidence is lost or destroyed in the process of providing patient care, there are consequences for the legal proceedings that may follow. These acts of omission or commission may deny patients their deserved redress in the justice system. To protect the interests of patients, EDs should implement protocols for wound documentation and evidence collection.


Sustainability of beef cattle production is, in part, dependent on a supply of females selected andadapted to meet the production environment of a given operation. [...]


CE Send comments/questions via email email@example.com, fax 800-556-3288, or web CompendiumVet.com Lymphoma is one of the most common tumors diagnosed in cats. Feline lymphoma can be difficult to diagnose definitively by cytology alone because of the increased prevalence of internal organ involvement and small cell morphology compared with canine lymphoma. This article discusses the common differences between feline and canine lymphoma, the basics of lymph node cytology, and the key cytologic features of each anatomic form of feline lymphoma. sentation and cytologic appearance of feline lymphoma compared with canine lymphoma that make the feline condition diagnostically more challenging. Most canine lymphomas are composed of large lymphocytes, with only a low incidence of well-differentiated small cell lymphomas. Feline lymphoma is most often an intermediate or large cell type, but small cell lymphomas are much more common in cats than in dogs. Small cell lymphomas are often seen in older cats, most commonly in the alimentary tract or liver, whereas large cell lymphomas are seen more frequently in younger cats (<6 years of age). Feline lymphoma is often more challenging to diagnose than canine lymphoma because small cell lymphomas are difficult to differentiate cytologically from a lymphoid inflammatory infiltrate or reactive hyperplasia. Definitive diagnosis of small cell lymphoma often requires histopathology, and the practicing cytologist must be aware of the cytologic appearance of feline lymphoma to accurately interpret cytologic findings and determine the necessity of surgical biopsy. Classification of Lymphoma Classification of lymphoma is based on the anatomic site, the morphology of the cells, and January 2005 17 COMPENDIUM Cytodiagnosis of Feline Lymphoma Leanne N. Twomey, BSc, BVMS, PhD A. Rick Alleman, DVM, PhD, DABVP, DACVP University of Florida


This thesis uses experimental archaeology as a method to discover the functional differences between Clovis and Folsom projectile points filtered through a behavioral ecology paradigm. Porcelain is used as a substitute for tool stone for its consistency and control value. The experiment was devised to find out which technology, Clovis or Folsom, was more functional, had a higher curation rate and contribute to increased group subsistence. Paleoindian tool technology transitions can be seen as indicators for adaptation triggered by environmental conditions and changes in subsistence. Folsom technology, when compared to Clovis technology, was functionally superior in performance, refurbishment and curation. Technological design choices made by Folsom people were engineered toward producing a more functional tool system as a sustainable form of risk management. The Clovis Folsom Breakage Experiment indicates that Folsom tool technology was specifically adapted to bison subsistence based on increased functionality and curation.


Abstract Research to improve the performance of automated storage and retrieval systems has concentrated on developing more effective system designs or scheduling control programs to reduce the time a shuttle spends travelling in a rack. Sarker et al. (1991) showed that a dual-shuttle AS/RS operating under a nearest-neighbour scheduling model would significantly improve system throughput performance over a single-load shuttle system. The study was limited in that it only considered dual-shuttle improvements under the nearest-neighbour model. This research exploits the benefits of a dual-shuttle system by integrating the technology with a more effective scheduling technique, the class-based storage model, for reducing the shuttle travel time. The dual-shuttle, class-based storage model produced a significant reduction in shuttle travel time and thus higher throughput results over the dual-shuttle, nearest-neighbour model. This study further supports the premise that a dual-capacity shuttle is an effective ...


This report describes the design and implementation of a secure IP layer under Unix for the Berkeley 4.4 TCP/IP protocol suite. We show how such security features can easily be incorporated into this networking model. Our approach is based on pseudo-network device drivers and encapsulation of IP datagrams. We discuss some related performance issues and how the protocol performance can be improved by kernel optimizations. We summarise the current status of the prototype implementation and give an outline of future extensions.


Abstract This article reports on a mixed-method research into the representation of source culture in an English language textbook series used at a major university in the Arabian Gulf. The current study utilized Ideology Critique Methodology and was framed within the Critical Research Paradigm. The research used a structured questionnaire, followed by open-ended questions administered to 30 purposefully chosen language teachers. The study attempted to ascertain, in the light of Muslim teachers' perceptions, the representation of Islamic (and Saudi) culture, the extent of a multicultural outlook, and presence of any culturally inappropriate or offensive material in the contents of a most popular English language textbook series. The study endorsed the idea of appropriation of English according to variable contexts and opposed predominance of western culture in TESOL course books at the expense of local cultures.


Recently, Recurrent Neural Network becomes a very popular research topic in machine learning field. Many new ideas and RNN structures have been generated by different authors, including long short term memory (LSTM) RNN and Gated Recurrent United (GRU) RNN ([1],[2]), a number of applications have also been developed among various research labs or industrial companies ([3]-[5]). Most of these schemes, however, are only applicable to machine learning problems, or static systems in control field. In this paper, a new concept of applying one of the most popular RNN approach - LSTM to identify and control dynamic system is to be investigated. Both identification (or learning) dynamic system and design of controller based on identification are going to be discussed. Also, a new concept of using a convex-based LSTM networks for fast learning purpose will be explained in detail. Simulation studies will be presented to demonstrated the new LSTM structure performs much better than conventional RNN and even single LSTM network.


AbstractAdvanced performances in nanospacecraft are typically associated with high onboard power availability, requiring deployed solar arrays. Nanospacecraft geometrical and weight constraints do not allow the use of reversible dynamics and lock systems used in conventional spacecraft. Most nanospacecraft deployed solar panel systems are therefore based on compact and reliable miniaturized mechanisms, such as simple passively deployed preloaded springs. The use of these kinds of deployed solar arrays may interfere with the performance of the attitude control system. Agile nanospacecraft, designed to perform rapid attitude maneuvers, may potentially be affected by the solar array dynamical interaction with the main satellite body motion. In addition, the presence of inherently nonlinear elements, such as bounds on allowed rotations and preloaded springs, deserve a dedicated analysis. The analysis developed in this paper is based on the performance of state-of-the art agile nanosatellite attitude control s...


The aim of the study is to provide a thorough description of the installations covered by the The European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). By combining and analyzing data on verified emissions, technical and economical characteristics on sector and installation level, this study assesses the current trends in CO2 emissions from the heavy industry and energy sector within the EU ETS domain.


Lymph node (LN) metastasis is a negative prognostic factor in dogs with cutaneous mast cell tumors (cMCTs). While elective lymphadenectomy of metastatic LNs improves outcome, the benefit of adjuvant medical therapy in dogs with early metastatic (HN2) LNs is debated. The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of adjuvant medical therapy following surgical removal of the primary low-grade cMCT (Patnaik grade 1-2 and Kiupel low-grade) and lymphadenectomy of HN2 LNs by analyzing survival rates and patterns of recurrence. Seventy-three dogs were included: 42 received adjuvant medical treatment (chemotherapy and/or kinase inhibitors), and 31 did not. The median follow-up time for medically-treated dogs was 619 days: 2 experienced local recurrence, 3 nodal relapse and 4 distant relapse. For dogs undergoing surgery only, the median follow-up time was 545 days. None of them experienced local recurrence, nodal or distant relapse. Time to progression was significantly shorter in dogs receiving adjuvant medical treatment (P = 0.021). A similar tendency was observed for overall survival (P = 0.056). The current study shows that dogs with low-grade cMCTs, that undergo surgical excision of the primary tumor and elective lymphadenectomy of the HN2 regional LN harbor a good prognosis. The use of adjuvant medical treatment in these dogs does not seem to provide any benefit in terms of progression and survival. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


The incidence of leaf diseases is one of the main factors limiting the tomato crop production, increasing the production cost due to excessive pesticide application. The basal leaf removal could reduce inoculum sources, disease severity and contribute to reducing the use of pesticide. Aiming to evaluate the efficiency of this practice on the reduction of tomato leaf diseases and the effect in the quality and in the productivity of the tomato plants for in natura consumption, two experiments were carried out to test four levels of basal leaf removal. Basal leaves removal, at fruit harvesting, is efficient in reducing the infected plant area by disease, what can mean smaller disease severity and least inoculum source in the field. Also, the all basal leaf removal does not affect yield and quality of the tomato fruits. Other studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of adopting this practice in different planting dates, spacing, varieties, successive plantings and the financial viability of adopting this practice.


The research report "Characterization and reflection of a teacher's pedagogical style of ethics and values education", says the process performed by a teacher of ethics and values education, in the 7-1 group Educational Institution Carlos Castro Saver, with the aim of characterizing the pedagogical style and reorient their educational practice. First, there is the problem of the research, from the definition of the concepts or general categories that speak to the nature of the research, in this case: ethical, moral, pedagogical styles and values education and establishes the objectives that guide the process in phases or stages. Then we present the theoretical reference where there is the practical interpretation of the style and characterization in both phases of the investigation, first, we show the picture of moral education from the different trends that have developed in recent years later advances in the analysis of moral teaching from a sociocultural approach, scanning collective imaginations that have been defined in different periods of history, and closes in response to the problem of teaching styles to point, particularly , the possibilities of placing the teaching style of teaching of ethics and values, from the studios of the current paradigms that define educational practice in this field. Then passed to the methodological reference showing qualitative paradigm. We choose the action research methodology, stating its characteristics that match the nature of the investigation. Responding to research design describes the unit of work from the general context of research teaching, the teacher outside observer, and the team of teachers linked to the research of teaching styles. The procedure is described from the structuring of the cycles or phases of the investigation and its components and the analysis plan from the defining moment's reflection comprising practice. The last part is a presentation of the results, including the description and interpretation of practice in the two phases, through the analysis categories that emerge in the process of reflection: disciplinary knowledge, procedural knowledge, communication knowledge and reflexive knowledge, conclusions and guidelines for the renewal of the practice, the justification of the teaching unit to implement the second phase, the description of the observation and reflection in the process of planning and implementation and compare the characteristics revealed in style both phases. Finally we present the conclusions of the investigation by answering the research question, the scope and impact and suggestions for those who want to delve into this path of reflective practice in the field of ethics and values education.


Insertion of Hardware Trojan (HT) by adversaries is a major security concern and detection of HT continues to stay as a topic of research. In a typical VLSI design flow, design and fabrication phases are the highly prone stages for HT insertion. The proposed work makes use of testability measures for HT detection since most of the trojan nets are governed by their testability measures. This approach experiments Knearest neighbor and SVM-based machine learning algorithms with SANDIA Controllability Observability Analysis Program (SCOAP) parameters, COP (Controllability/Observability Program) parameters and circuit size as the key features for training and classification. The proposed method is able to achieve 100% TPR (True positive rate) and TNR (True negative rate) values in various Trust-HUB combinational benchmark circuits and outperforms the existing methods in literature.


Several studies have suggested that approaching texts of science communication and literary texts in Sciences teaching can pose a major contribution, since besides of allowing reflections on values and attitudes, it can also help to construct concepts, thus contributing to achieve scientific literacy. Having such perspective in mind, it was elaborated and applied a didactic sequence (DS) denominated Chemical Elements in nature and in the society: the socioenvironmental disaster of the Doce River, which was applied in the first grade of High School in a public school in the city of São Paulo. After analyzing and selecting some literary texts of science communication (LTSC), excerpts of some works have been addressed in different teaching activities. In this article, we analyzed discursive interactions observed in the classroom after approaching some chapters of the LTSC The Periodic Table by Primo Levi. Among the results of the application, it can be pointed out the way that both students and the teacher retextualized portions of the work, and moments of initiation and assessment of interaction by the students were observed, a not common discursive interaction pattern in the classroom. Furthermore, while addressing LTSC chapters in the classroom, it was verified the pedagogic aim of the metacognition, since it was noted discursive sequences, where it happened reflections on what is related to the properties of chemical elements. Those results suggest the didactic potentialities of the LTSC in a Chemistry classroom.


Yokoyama NH. Sensitization to Blomia tropicalis extract without alum requires Myd88 adaptor molecule. [Master thesis (Immunology)]. São Paulo: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de Sâo Paulo; 2013. Exposure to allergens in house dust is an important risk factor for the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, traditionally studied using ovalbumin (OVA) as allergen, and generally in the presence of adjuvant. The OVA model is characterized by airway hyperreactivity, eosinophilic inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and increased IgE levels due to secretion of Th2 lymphocyte derived cytokines. The Th2 derived cytokine production type-2 (IL4, IL5, IL9 and IL13) by CD4+ activated T lymphocytes. The mite Blomia tropicalis (Bt) is a recognized inducer of respiratory allergy in tropical regions. Previous work published by our group characterized the inflammatory response to Bt model with alum. This work aims to study the pulmonary inflammatory response induced by extract of Bt in the absence of adjuvant induced by different routes of sensitization and to assess the involvement of Toll-like receptors and adapter molecules related to them. Using the model established by previous work, C57BL / 6 mice were sensitized on days 0 and 7 with Bt extract adsorbed in solution of PBS alum (s.c.) or with Bt extract in saline (i.n. or s.c.). The group sensitized with alum showed higher IgE levels and increased total cells in BAL (infiltration of eosinophils) as compared to naïve group. However, sensitized animals without adjuvant did not show increased levels of IgE in serum. So, based on literature, we changed sensitization and developed a model in which C57BL/ 6 or MyD88KO mice were sensitized with a higher dose of Bt extract by nasally or subcutaneously route for three consecutive days (days 0 , 1 and 2) . For challenge, on days 7, 14 and 21, 10 μg of Bt extract were administered via the nasal route. Both sensitization routes promoted increase in the total number of cells in BAL, and serum IgE levels. Nasal sensitization generated influx of equivalent mixed population (neutrophils and eosinophils) and subcutaneous sensitization, predominant eosinophil influx. Cell parameters were inhibited in MyD88KO animals; however, IgE levels remained similar to WT mice. In conclusion, results indicate that alum sensitization is not essential to the development of allergic airway disease. Sensitization by nasally or subcutaneously routes, induces the recruitment of cells dependent on signaling via Toll/IL-1 receptor domain adaptor protein MyD88. Finally, Bt extract induced IgE production independent of MyD88.


It is well known that, with advancing age, diseases and clinical procedures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This increasing vulnerability in the elderly with acute myeloid leukemia has been documented in a previous report of a study of a group of patients enrolled in five Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) studies (Appelbaum, et al., Blood, 2006 May 1;107(9):3481-6). The authors of that study observed that the frequency of unfavorable risk cytogenetics was significantly elevated in patients over the age of 75. In this study we have examined the nature of cytogenetic changes over the entire adult life span in greater detail. We included the same patient population noted above plus additional AML patients with eligible cytogenetics data registered on a cytogenetics ancillary study SWOG 8750/9007, including a recent treatment study with subjects over the age of 70 years (S0432). A total of 1069 patients from 10 SWOG therapeutic clinical trials of previously untreated AML were included in this analysis. The abnormalities detected in this study are consistent with the emergence of increased genomic instability in the malignant clone. We observed an increasing frequency of complex karyotypes in the older subjects. For each 10 years increase in age there was a 16% increase (95% confidence interval 14%–19%) in the average number or abnormalities per individual, which was statistically significant (Poisson regression model, P


This course will consist of two parts with the common theme of analyzing a geometric object via geometric sub-objects which are 'small' in an appropriate sense. This is an expanded course outline which includes some background references as well as some exercises relevant to this background. For an explanation of terminology used in the next three paragraphs, see the following sections. In the first half of the course, we will begin by describing the work of H. W. Lenstra, Jr., on finding generators for the unit groups of subrings of number fields. Lenstra discovered that from the point of view of computational complexity, it is advantageous to first consider the units of the ring of S-integers of L for some moderately large finite set of places S. This amounts to allowing denominators which only involve a prescribed finite set of primes. We will develop a generalization of Lenstra's method which applies to find generators of small height for the S-integral points of certain algebraic groups G defined over number fields. We will focus on G which are compact forms of GLd for d ≥ 1. In the second half of the course, we will turn to smooth projective surfaces defined by arithmetic lattices. These are Shimura varieties of complex dimension 2. We will try to generate subgroups of finite index in the fundamental groups of these surfaces by the fundamental groups of finite unions of totally geodesic projective curves on them, that is, via immersed Shimura curves. In both settings, the groups we will study are S-arithmetic lattices in a product of Lie groups over local fields. We will use the structure of our generating sets to consider several open problems about the geometry, group theory, and arithmetic of these lattices. In particular, we will consider the structure of the cohomology of S-arithmetic groups and characteristic p analogues. We will also discuss connections with the congruence subgroup problem, which is open in many of the cases under consideration in this project.


95 accessions of wild adzuki bean germplasm resources from China,Japan,Korea and Burma,were analyzed for their morphological genetic diversity.The results showed that wild and weedy adzuki bean were obviously different in some characters,such as plant height,maturity period,seed color and 100 seed-weight and so on.Based on the morphological data,95 accessions were clustered into 5 groups.Wild adzuki bean from Burma and China,were clustered into two groups,respectively.The last three groups were from Japan and Korea.The accessions from Burma,had longest growth period,widest diameter of stem,more plant branch and smallest 100-seed weight.The wild germplasm resources from Guizhou of China had longer plant height,thinner stem,more seeds per pod,longer growth period.The Japanese wild germplasm had highest grain yield per plant.The germplasm with shortest growth period,highest 100-seed weight,highest value in L*,a*,b* were all weedy type from Japan and Korea.


GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well infrared photodetectors with the peak wavelength of 8.5 μm were grown by Metal Chemical Vapor Deposition(MOVCD).Two sample devices were obtained with a large area of 300 μm×300 μm and the pressure welding area of 80 μm×80 μm and 20 μm×20 μm for the outside electrode and the inside electrode respectively.Refrigerating machine of liquid helium was adopted to make variable-temperature tests from 50 K to 300 K,and the dark current characteristics were analysed under different bias voltages.Tests results indicate the background limited temperature of the samples is 50 K.It is the interfacial asymmetry of GaAs and AlGaAs in different growing order and the doping element diffusion that leads to the asymmetry of the I/V curve under positive and negative bias.The different pressure welding area and position of the electrodes may influence the dark current.


A solar-driven CO2 reduction (CO2R) cell was constructed, consisting of a tandem GaAs/InGaP/TiO2/Ni photoanode in 1.0 M KOH(aq) (pH = 13.7) to facilitate the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER), a Pd/C nanoparticle-coated Ti mesh cathode in 2.8 M KHCO3(aq) (pH = 8.0) to perform the CO2R reaction, and a bipolar membrane to allow for steady-state operation of the catholyte and anolyte at different bulk pH values. At the operational current density of 8.5 mA cm–2, in 2.8 M KHCO3(aq), the cathode exhibited 94% Faradaic efficiency for the reduction of 1 atm of CO2(g) to formate. The anode exhibited a 320 ± 7 mV overpotential for the OER in 1.0 M KOH(aq), and the bipolar membrane exhibited ∼480 mV voltage loss with minimal product crossovers and >90 and >95% selectivity for protons and hydroxide ions, respectively. The bipolar membrane facilitated coupling between two electrodes and electrolytes, one for the CO2R reaction and one for the OER, that typically operate at mutually different p...


Priestly images of Jesus are found in five passages in Mark: 1.39-45, 2.1-13, 2.23-28, 3.1-7a, 7.14-23. These images combine to create a minor christological theme. The priesthood of Jesus is developed early within the narrative and linked precisely to the controversy with religious authorities. This priestly christology may have played an important role in the commmunity which employed the Gospel of Mark. Priestly images of Jesus provided a strong polemic over against the Jewish institutions abandoned by the Christian community. At the same time priestly christology may have served apologetic needs. In a world turned upside down the community found a new model of faith and practice in the priestly deeds of Jesus


Stochastic computing is a paradigm in which logical operations are performed on randomly generated bit streams. Complex arithmetic operations can be performed by simple logic circuits, with a much smaller area footprint than conventional binary counterparts. However, the random or pseudorandom sources required to generate the bit streams are costly in terms of area and offset the gains. Also, due to randomness, the computation is not precise, which limits the applicability of the paradigm. Most importantly, to achieve reasonable accuracy, high latency is necessitated. Recently, deterministic approaches to stochastic computing have been proposed. They demonstrated that randomness is not a requirement. By structuring the computation deterministically, the result is exact and the latency is greatly reduced. However, despite being an improvement over conventional stochastic techniques, the latency increases quadratically with each level of logic. Beyond a few levels of logic, it becomes unmanageable. In this paper, we present a method for approximating the results of their deterministic method, with latency that only increases linearly with each level. The improvement comes at the cost of additional logic, but we demonstrate that the increase in area scales with √n, where n is the equivalent number of binary bits of precision. The new approach is general, efficient, composable, and applicable to all arithmetic operations performed with stochastic logic.


The preparation and compilation of an engineering geological map of Patras city wider area, at a scale of 1:5,000 is presented, prepared as a part of a thorough geotechnical study of the broader area of the city for urban planning purposes. In this map, eleven (11) engineering geological units were grouped, based on their lithostratigraphy, physical conditions and geomechanical properties. More specifically, two (2) lithological types of man-made deposits (recent and historical fills) of small thickness, which cover at some places the Quaternary formations and Plio-Pleistocene sediments, were distinguished. The recent Quaternary formations were grouped in five (5) lithological types, namely marshy deposits, coastal sands, river bed deposits, Holocene deposits, and the weathering mantle of older formations. The old Quaternary formations were classified as alluvial, diluvial and Pleistocene deposits, while the basement of the area consists of Pliocene sediments. Of the above lithological types, the fill materials and the Holocene deposits constitute the most difficult ground of the city area. The former are loose materials of mixed phases up to 8m thick, while the latter, with a thickness up to 35m, consist of soft, clay to silty clay materials (ML, CL), with SPT 'N' values ranging from 2 to 28 and generally less than 10. In places they include thin lenses of silty sands and gravels (SM, GW-GM and GC). So, these materials need special treatment in the case of various foundations. Also, the rest of the Quaternary formations (alluvial, diluvial and Pleistocene types), with a thickness of up to 90m and SPT 'N' values from 4 to 50, are of a high heterogeneity and non-uniform geomechanical behaviour and so they should be studied in detail for every case of human activity. Finally, the Pliocene sediments consist of the marly bedrock of the city area, with SPT 'N' values from 20 to more than 50 and a thickness more than 300m. They outcrop mostly in the area surrounding the town, and cause, in some places, instability phenomena.


PURPOSES: to assess the presence and evolution of swallowing complaints in post-stroke aphasic patients and, based on reports by family members on symptom improvements, to determine the influence of aphasia on the prognosis of dysphagia. METHOD: 30 post-stroke aphasic patients at the chronic phase were interviewed and, together with family members, answered a questionnaire on the presence and persistence of post-stroke swallowing complaints and related aspects, including improvements in dysphagia and aphasia. Kaplan-Meier curves of dysphagia complainers and non-complainers were compared to verify the influence of swallowing complaints on the prognosis of aphasia. RESULTS: 48% of patients reported swallowing problems after the stroke. Out of them, 93% showed positive changes (partial or total resolution of dysphagia symptoms). The average time for patient improvement (spontaneous or otherwise) was 76 days. 60% of the subjects reported total resolution of dysphagia symptoms, 47% of underwent speech therapy. Regarding aphasia, 87% of patients reported some improvement, although no patient reported full resolution of the symptoms. A total of 57% had undergone speech therapy to treat aphasia. The average time reported for positive change in patients was 183 days. No significant difference in aphasia improvement was observed between dysphagia complainers and non-complainers. CONCLUSIONS: out of the aphasic patients assessed in this study, 48% reported swallowing complaints. Based on reports by family members, aphasia had no impact on the prognosis of dysphagia.


Diagnostic errors appear to be the most common, costly, and dangerous of all medical mistakes. There has been a notable increase on the focus of error prevention as part of a growing patient safety movement. However, diagnostic errors have received less attention than other types of error. Our goal is to present a short mnemonic that can act as a checklist or posted reminder to help practitioners in dermatology or any field of medicine to avoid diagnostic errors.


The socio-cognitive approach to pragmatics [SCA] is based on two fundamental hypotheses: (1) speaker and hearer are equal participants in the communicative process, (2) communication is the result of the interplay of intention and attention, as this interplay is motivated by the individuals' private socio-cultural backgrounds. In this paper, I aim at showing that relational network theory (which has been mainly developed by the American neurolinguist Sydney M. Lamb) allow us to account not only for aspects corresponding to intention or attention, but also for "smooth communication" and "bumpy communication" (being the latter the dimension which includes unintended meanings). Four actual slips of the tongue will be relevant examples thanks to which it can be recognized how cooperation and intention are in a highly complex interaction together with the substantial elements of the individual traits: attention, private experience, egocentrism, and salience. Within this context, the relational account is epistemologically crucial. Firstly, it allows us to represent the neurocognitive structures that enable a person to produce or understand utterances. Secondly, it helps us to suggest that canonical pragmatics (like Speech Acts Theory, Gricean Pragmatics, Relevance Theory) cannot even consider actual and relevant phenomena like *Corresponding author: José María Gil, National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET) and University of Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina, E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Intercultural Pragmatics 2019; 16(2): 153–183


Toad and frogs have a similar appearance in Taiwan. There have been several reports describing severe biological intoxication and often fatal outcomes after ingestion of toad soup or killed toads. Bufotoxin is a steroid derivative which has similar chemical structure and cross immunoassay reaction to digoxin. The presentation of intoxication could show similar clinical features like those of digoxin overdose including gastrointestinal discomfort, bradyarrhythmia, life-threaten malignant ventricular arrhythmia and hyperkalema. We reported a case of a 45-year-old man progressively presented the similar clinical picture of severe digoxin-like intoxication 30 minutes after ingestion of toad soup. It was followed by malignant ventricular arrhythmia and death four hours later.


This article concerns the challenges of bilingual education for deaf students in the public school. It presents considerations based on the results of a research developed in two public schools in Belo Horizonte – MG, Brazil: two cases of teaching-learning processes in Portuguese Language area, by two deaf students in the 5th grade. The study made use of direct observation of the context and short semi-structured interviews. We can affirm that both schools offered the set of support provided for attending the students, however, the work still seems to be organized in a context of adaptation of deaf students to pedagogical projects, from the paradigm of deafness only as a disability. The use of Libras was perceived only as a mediator in the learning of the Portuguese Language; in addition without considering the linguistic particularities of deaf students; as well. the inattention to the construction and/or affirmation of their identities. It confirms how far we are from a bilingual and bicultural teaching for the deaf from the perspective of Inclusive Education.


Adopted in Bulgaria methodology for "categorization of agricultural land" is created for the merged conditions, centrally managed agriculture and hides a lot of so-called "errors of scale". However, it is so entered in the administrative sphere that cannot suddenly be automatically rejected or entirely replaced. On the other hand, socio-economic conditions require a new balance between agricultural policy, science and production. This is a complex, difficult to implement and time consuming process. Often require significant investments for new studies. Not to be completely comprehensive, the team of authors set out the results of some of his studies in the direction of gradual adaptation of existing "categorization of agricultural land" to internationally recognized standards (mostly recommended by FAO). The more timely start such a process, the less disappointments await us in the future.


Waveguide grating couplers have important applications to optical data storage. Focusing grating couplers eliminate the need for focusing optics and can be used in both read and write modes. It is convenient to fabricate the gratings at short visible wavelengths although they are used at laser diode radiation wavelengths in the near infrared to visible range. This paper discusses a design technique for introducing compensating aberrations during fabrication which account for the wavelength change. A sample design is presented and the tolerance limits on the alignment parameters are derived. 2. 0


It provides a non-volatile memory device and a method. The device includes a floating gate disposed in a hole passing through a first control gate electrode, and a control gate electrode and the first insulating layer disposed through an insulating film on the substrate to expose the substrate. The second insulating film is interposed between the floating gate and the substrate, and a floating gate and a control gate electrode.


This paper introduces noise situation and its harm to the workers of oil transfer pump station in oil recovery plant.It analyzes that main noise resources are electromagnetic noise, mechanical noise, aerodynamic noise, valve noise, frictional noise and pipe noise.Its sound pressure level is 90~104 dB;its frequency range focus on 200~3 000 Hz.At last, it offers the noise control measures.


The article deals with the problem of formation of diagnostic competence of future physicians in the process of learning physics. Provides a composition of diagnostic competence expressed by the authors. Noted the need for extensive use of devices for the diagnosis. It is proved that when teaching physics it is possible to obtain knowledge necessary for competent understanding of the readings, develop the ability to encode and provide information. For the formation of diagnostic competence there was developed an elective course where one can master diagnostic knowledge, based on the physical material the skills in the use of diagnostic tools are developed, the experience of their use is formed. The training uses active methods, developing an interest in the diagnosis.


Market selection in business‐to‐business (B2B) market transactions is more complex than the one‐step market segmentation decision in consumer markets. This article models market selection and procurement decision‐making in B2B markets as a five‐step procedure involving choice of vertical and horizontal markets. Vertical market choice decisions are shown to encompass choice of output markets, value adding that the organization will perform internally (the "make" decision), and input markets (the "buy" decision). Horizontal market choice decisions are shown to encompass choice of macro segments in the output market and micro segments within each of the macro segments selected. Explores how we can draw on theoretical developments in industrial organization economics to help make these strategic decisions. The article suggests how to set the boundaries of the organization and determine what markets to serve, what to make, and what to buy with the help of transaction cost and market structure analysis.


Psoriasis is a chronic dermatologic inflammatory disease cha racterized by scaly patches. Guttate psoriasis is characterized by numerous erythematous lesions measuring from 1 to 5 mm in diameter and most commonly found along the extremities and trunk. This type of psoriasis has been closely linked with preceding or concurrent streptococcal infections. There have been few studies demonstrating the role of tonsillectomy as a treatment option for guttate psoriasis. Adding to the literature of previously reported cases, we describe a case of a 28year old male with recurrent episodes of guttate psoriasis treated with tonsillectomy.


This article presents research on students' experiences of learning through a blend of face-to-face and online discussion. The participants in our study were students enrolled in a foreign policy c...


Aim: Comprehensive (clinical, laboratory, instrumental) assessment of the clinical efficacy of metabolic disorders correction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using a type 2 sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitor. Design: Randomized comparative study. Materials and methods. A 26-week study included 130 patients with the presence of visceral obesity (56.3 ± 2.1 years) who did not reach the target parameters of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on metformin monotherapy 2 g/day. The main group (68 people) received canagliflozin 300 mg/day, in combination with metformin 2 g/day; the control group (62 people) continued to receive monotherapy with metformin 2 g/day. At baseline and in 6 months, all patients underwent laboratory and instrumental examination methods, which included an assessment of carbohydrate metabolism (fasting glycemia (FG), postprandial glycemia (PPG), HbA1c); lipid profile (cholesterol levels, high and low density lipoproteins, triglycerides); content of adipocytokines- adiponectin (ADN), leptin (L). Visceral fat area (AVF) was assessed using a bioimpedance analyzer and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the L4 level. Results. In 6 months, both groups showed significant positive dynamics of FG, PPG and HbA1c. In main group, HbA1c decreased by 2.7 ± 0.3% (p < 0.01), in control group by 0.2 ± 0.1% (p < 0.01). The FG and PPG levels in main group decreased by 4.5 ± 0.4 mmol/L (p < 0.01 ) and 5.8 ± 0.5 mmol/L (p < 0.01), respectively, in control group by 1.3 ± 0.2 mmol/L (p < 0.01) and 1.7 ± 0.4 mmol/L (p < 0.01). The level ADN in main group increased by 102.8 ± 4.8 mcg/ml (p < 0.01), in control group by 8.2 ± 2.1 mcg/ml (p < 0.01). L in main group decreased by 10.3 ± 0.9 ng/ml (p < 0.01), in control group by 4.1 ± 0.7 ng/ml (p < 0.01). In main group, there was a decrease in the VFA of by 18.6 ± 2.3 cm2 (p < 0.01) according to MRI, in control group by 4.7 ± 2.4 cm2 (p < 0.01). According to bioimpedance analysis, there was a decrease in the area of AVF by 26.7 ± 3.2 cm2 (p < 0.01) in the main group, and by 4.7 ± 2.5 cm2 (p < 0.01) in the control group. Conclusion. Combination therapy with canagliflozin and metformin makes it possible to achieve high clinical efficacy of carbohydrate metabolism correction in combination with a decrease in visceral fat depot and normalization levels of the main markers of metabolic health. Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, leptin, adiponectin, canagliflozin.


We study the link between the kinematic-morphology of galaxies, as inferred from integral-field stellar kinematics, and their relation between mass and star formation rate. Our sample consists of ∼3200 galaxies with integral-field spectroscopic data from the MaNGA survey (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory) with available determinations of their effective stellar angular momentum within the half-light radius $\lambda _{R_e}$. We find that for star-forming galaxies, namely along the star formation main sequence (SFMS), the $\lambda _{R_e}$ values remain large and almost unchanged over about two orders of magnitude in stellar mass, with the exception of the lowest masses $\mathcal {M}_{\star }\lesssim 2\times 10^{9} \, \mathcal {M}_{\odot }$, where $\lambda _{R_e}$ slightly decreases. The SFMS is dominated by spiral galaxies with small bulges. Below the SFMS, but above the characteristic stellar mass $\mathcal {M}_{\rm crit}\approx 2\times 10^{11} \, \mathcal {M}_{\odot }$, there is a sharp decrease in $\lambda _{R_e}$ with decreasing star formation rate (SFR): massive galaxies well below the SFMS are mainly slow-rotator early-type galaxies, namely genuinely spheroidal galaxies without discs. Below the SFMS and below $\mathcal {M}_{\rm crit}$ the decrease of $\lambda _{R_e}$ with decreasing SFR becomes modest or nearly absent: low-mass galaxies well below the SFMS, are fast-rotator early-type galaxies, and contain fast-rotating stellar discs like their star-forming counterparts. We also find a small but clear environmental dependence for the massive galaxies: in the mass range $10^{10.9}\!-\!10^{11.5} \, \mathcal {M}_{\odot }$, galaxies in rich groups or denser regions or classified as central galaxies have lower values of $\lambda _{R_e}$. While no environmental dependence is found for galaxies of lower mass. We discuss how the above results can be understood as due to the different star formation and mass assembly histories of galaxies with varying mass.


Optical ribbons are light waveguides whose most important advantages are: identification of the fibers, mass splicing, and fibers organized in a parallel arrangement. Consequently, they can be used in cables in which connection and installation lead to a decrease of cost, compared to current techniques. This paper covers two fields: the ribbon as a waveguide, and the ribbon cable inspected in various uses (duct, direct buried, distribution and building).


The performance of an unsymmetrical rolling cam as an ocean-wave energy extractor was studied experimentally by Salter (1974) and then analyzed from the hydrodynamics standpoint by a number of workers in the 70's (e.g. Evans, 1976). The analysis was carried out on the basis of inviscid-fluid theory and the energy-absorbing efficiency was found to approach 100%. This well-known result did not account for the presence of viscosity, which alters not only fluid damping but also, to some extent, the added-inertia characteristics. How fluid viscosity may alter these conclusions and reduce the energy-extraction effectiveness is examined in this paper, for two rolling-cam shapes: a smooth "Eyeball Cam" with a simple mathematical form and a "Keeled Cam" with a single sharp-edged bilge keel. The solution methodology involved the Free-Surface Random-Vortex Method (FSRVM), reviewed by Yeung (2002). Frequency-domain solutions in inviscid fluid were first sought for these two shapes as baseline performance metrics. As expected, without viscosity, both shapes perform exceedingly well in terms of extraction efficiency. The hydrodynamic properties of these two shapes were then examined in a real, viscous fluid, under a high Reynolds-number assumption. The added moment of inertia and damping are noted to be changed, especially for the Keeled Cam. With the power-take-off (PTO) damping chosen based on the viscous-fluid results, time-domain solutions are developed to understand the behavior of the rolling motion, the effects of PTO damping, and the effects of the cam shapes. These assessments can be effectively made with FSRVM as the computational engine, even at motion of fairly large amplitude, for which an actual system may need to be designed.Copyright © 2012 by ASME


Nucleophilic attack on carbon; nucleophilic attack on hydrogen; aryl formation by halide ion loss from o-halophenyl anions; nucleophilic attack on halogen; acceptance of an electron, and its consequences.


Moderate to severe pain in the first week after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for breast cancer is experienced by approximately 50% of the patients. Damage to the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) has been proposed as a risk factor for the development of persistent pain following breast cancer surgery but with limited information on acute post‐operative pain. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of ICBN handling on pain during the first week after ALND.


The shoulder is a complex area which makes it vulnerable to painful pathologic processes. Chronic shoulder pain has become more common recently due to increased use of computers and a ,generally more sedentary life style among most people . Trigger point injection and neural blockade are useful for the management of chronic shoulder pain which has not improved with conservative treatment. Published articles concerning trigger point injection or neural blockade for chronic shoulder pain were reviewed to evaluate promising methods. If we are careful to remain aware of the details and complications in addition to adhering to effective treatments, these should be good armamentarium for doctors enthusiastic about the management of chronic shoulder pain.


LFG-2, a 39.5 cm tall stalagmite from northwestern Romania, has been dated by U-series α-spectrometric dating, and analyzed for stable isotope variations (δ18O, δ13C) along its growth axis. The sample grew all the way through oxygen isotope stage 5(a-e), and perhaps for some time into stage 4. In spite of a rather low uranium content and therefore imprecise chronology, the sample provides an interesting stable isotope record with high temporal resolution that correlates favorably with other speleothems and with the deep-sea record. Termination II is well defined in the record as a rapid shift from light (cold) to heavier (warm) δ18O values, when C3 vegetation seemed to dominate. The δ13C in a slow growth zone, corresponding to oxygen isotope stage 5d, as well after the stage 5/4 transition, suggests that C4 plants possibly dominated the surface environment. The δ18O record also correlate quite well with the α-dated FM-2 record from northern Norway.


Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of classroom climate held by 3,900 undergraduate non-Christian and Christian students at 1 large Midwestern university and to determine whether those perceptions influenced their academic success and intent to persist. The results suggested that Christian students held more positive perceptions of classroom climate than non-Christian students. Moreover, regardless of their perception of classroom climate, Christian students were more academically successful and had higher intentions to persist than non-Christian students. For all of the students in the study, positive perceptions of classroom climate advantageously impacted academic success and intent to persist.


The architecture of James Smith (c.1645–1731) has been misunderstood in the obsessive search for Palladianism and his direct knowledge of Roman architecture and culture has been largely overlooked. His importance was well recognised by his contemporaries: Colen Campbell called him 'The most experienced architect of that kingdom' (Vitruvius Britannicus, Vol. II, 1717). After four years at the Scots College and the Collegio Romano in Rome, he rose very quickly to become the King's Surveyor and the leading architect in Scotland. This paper considers Smith's education and discusses the significance of his Roman experience not only for his own architecture but also, through his influence, for his contemporaries, for the next generation of Scottish architects and beyond.


We propose a multicarrier chirp waveform, which can be generated by a circular convolution between data modulation symbols and a transmit filter, and show that it can equivalently be represented as discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) with frequency domain chirp filter. The chirp is defined by a complex exponential function where the phase follows a second-degree polynomial and its coefficients can be chosen to maximize the performance on a fading channel and to generate sets of orthogonal signals. The results show that the waveform outperforms OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM in terms of bit error rate (BER) and block error rate (BLER) on a time-frequency selective channel.


nucleic acid structure. In addition, the same cancerproducing property is to be found in many kinds of radiation-infra-red, ultra-violet, x and gamma rays, alpha and beta radiation, and protons and neutrons. Early in the history of cancer research two main conclusions were quickly reached: first, that the cancer cell and the normal embryonic cell are in many ways remarkably similar; and, secondly, that malignant change involves a reversion to a more primitive state and less specialized function. Modern research not only supports these conclusions but has added to them. Far from the cancer cell having acquired any new property, it appears to have lost something present in normal cells which isrequired for controlling their growth, so liberating permanently the suppressed growth potential that they had all along possessed. In the past ten years interest has extended from carcinogenic agents in their own right towards the means by which so many agents, chemically and physically diverse, can bring about malignant change. As to the production of cancer by chemical carcinogens, it appears that these may combine with substances responsible for cellular heredity and growth control, thus leading to elimination of the forces which ordinarily restrain the change to malignancy. Although the evidence is not yet conclusive this supports the view already suggested that the cancer cell is biochemically deficient, either in its growthregulatory systems or in the hereditary material responsible for their synthesis. Apart from this as it were chemical interpretation, research workers, particularly in the U.S.A., have made notable advances in the past few years in the field of tumour virusesadvances in many cases proceeding directly from the discoveries of Ludwik Gross, whose paper on the viral aetiology of mouse leukaemia is printed in the opening pages of this issue. Discussion of these viruses will certainly have a prominent place in the proceedings of the Congress. Complete knowledge of the attributes of the cancer cell, when this is obtained, will perhaps suggest, on a rational basis, the means of control. Meantime the chemotherapy of cancer has been making good progress, and it has been gratifying to see how the results of experimentation in animal species-in many instances, although not, of course, in all-have proved capable of clinical application in man. But cancer chemotherapy is still in its merest infancy, and the few advances that have been made do not as yet affect the treatment of cancer as a whole. Almost certainly the present chemical remedies will be superseded by far more specific molecules, which will possibly restore the control of cell division and growth which the cancer cell appears to lack. When the suppresS sion of the disease is achieved, the success will have been made possible by one thing alone-that international co-operation in science and medicine which will be the underlying theme of the Seventh International Congress.


This research discussed about the news of printed mass media toward
Budi Gunawan as a candidate the head of the National Police. Background of the
problem was existence of researcher's suspicion toward the tendency of daily
newspaper Kompas to be performed in publishing news. The tendency is shown at
some of the news item. In this case, the news about Budi Gunawan relate
existence relations Megawati Soekarnoputri with him. Megawati as the leader of
PDI-P and she is the people to carry on Joko Widodo to be President of Indonesia.
The research is aimed to find critical discourse about Budi Gunawan as
candidate the head of National Police in daily newspaper Kompas. Researcher
started to analyze toward the news of Budi shich published in daily newspaper
Kompas at 7-16 Januari 2015 based on some theory of mass media and critical
discourse. The research used method kualitatif research and analyze with model
critical discourse analysis Teun A. Van Dijk based on some element of discourse
structure: Makro Structure, Super Stucture and Mikro Structure. Critical discourse
analysis Teun A. Van Dijk is analyze to find text, social cognition and social
konteks.
After studying element of discourse structure, the researcher found indeed
daily newspaper Kompas is neutral in the publishing news toward Budi Gunawan
as candidate the head of National Police. The fact is shown at publish of daily
newspaper Kompas was support and refused Budi Gunawan. The daily newspaper
Kompas not to form a corner someone, but daily newspaper Kompas to make
arrive critical with performed statement figure. In this case, daily newspaper
Kompas not support one of the group.


Despite the importance of Met for protein synthesis and a wide range of metabolic functions, little is known about its requirement in adult cats. Current recommendations for adult cats are based solely on studies using kittens and growth or nitrogen balance as the outcomes. Thus, this study aimed to determine the minimum Met requirement in mature cats using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique. Four adult neutered male cats (4.90 + 0.77 kg BW) were used in a Latin rectangle design. Cats were fed a semi-synthetic diet sufficient in Met for 2 weeks prior to being randomly allocated to one of the eight dietary Met treatments (0.12%, 0.17%, 0.21%, 0.28%, 0.35%, 0.42%, 0.50% and 0.57% dry-matter). Cys was provided in excess to spare the Met requirement and meet the Cys requirement. After 2d of adaptation, individual IAAO studies were performed. During each IAAO study day, cats were placed in indirect calorimetry chambers and fed 75% of their daily ration (12.38g/kg BW) split in 13 ½-hourly small meals. A priming dose of NaH13CO3 (0.44mg/kg) and L-[1-13C]-Phe (4.8mg/kg) were provided in the 4th and 5th meal, respectively, following by a constant dose (1.04mg/kg) of L-[1-13C]-Phe in the next meals. Breath samples were collected ½-hourly to measure 13CO2 enrichment to quantify 13CO2 and calculate F13CO2 during isotopic steady state (Phe oxidation). Competing models, broken-line linear (BLL) ascending model, and a broken-line quadratic (BLQ) ascending model, were fitted on F13CO2 to determine the minimum requirement of Met (breakpoint). The BLL yielded the best model with mean minimum Met requirement estimated at 0.305% (dry-matter), and the 95% confidence interval estimated at 0.521% (dry-matter) for adult cats. In conclusion, the estimated min Met requirement in this study is greater than those currently recommended by the NRC (2006; 0.17% dry-matter) and AAFCO (0.2% dry-matter).


Development of a novel train torsional vibration monitoring approach utilizing system modal analysis has been reported in this paper. Common use of high power electric helper machines especially in large turbocompressor strings together with LCI speed control system characteristics dramatically increase the risk of machinery torsional vibration problems. Contemporary, industry-wide accepted measurement technologies (strain gage with telemetry, optical probes, laser) fit well the test needs but their lack of ruggedness and durability as well as problematic installation impacting machine operation don't allow to consider them for the long-term monitoring applications. The authors present a methodology which allows to evaluate alternating torque amplitudes in different string sections based on standard instrumentation installed on a train. The approach adopted in this paper relies heavily on modal representation of dynamic system, being analyzed. Described calculation method utilizes results of such analysis along with gas turbine speed pick-up signal spectrum. Robustness and accuracy of the proposed technique was benchmarked against test data coming from several LNG production train measurement campaigns, where the alternating torque was measured by means of standard measurement systems. Authors present the results of such verification together with prospective system applications.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


Article Type: Full Length Research Article Cultivation of soybean in Nigeria has expanded as a result of its diverse nutritive value and economic importance. It is also a prime source of vegetable oil in the international market and has an average protein content of 40%. The major constraint to the production of this crop is attack by insect pests and diseases. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the diversity of insect pests associated with soybean production in University Research Farm, Abuja, Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria in June to August, 2013. Four soybean varieties (TGX144-7t, TGX1835-10f, TGX1485-1d and a local variety) were planted in a randomized complete block design in triplicate. Insect pest traps were set at random on the ground between rows of plants. Each tray was filled up to onequarter capacity with solution containing 70% Ethanol, 15% Teepol detergent and made up to 100% with water. Trapped insects were collected weekly and identified at the Insects Museum Laboratory of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The temperature, rainfall and relative humidity were also recorded. Observed physical damage to leaf surfaces and infection were recorded. The results revealed that 37 species of insects in the order Hymenoptera, 27 in the order Orthoptera, 14 in the order Coleoptera and 1 in the order Hemiptera were trapped. Mean environmental temperature was 30°C, relative humidity 83%, 6 hours of sunshine and 774.3 mm rainfall (average 129.1 mm/month) for the period June to November. Viral symptoms of Soybean mosaic virus (SMV), Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) and Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV) infection were observed. ©2016 BluePen Journals Ltd. All rights reserved


Currently, there are a few reliable biomarkers for identifying the main underlying causes of dementia and it is very difficult to use them in daily clinical work. Therefore, it is very important to identify disease-specific symptoms from a detailed history taking and medical examination of the patient after correctly understanding the pathology of each disease in order to make a comprehensive diagnosis with the help of imaging tests and other modalities. In this paper, the differential diagnoses of dementia and similar conditions, in particular senile depression and delirium, are described first, followed by the diagnostic steps on the basis of symptomatology and outlined the underlying causes of dementia. Subsequently, the symptomatology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is discussed in detail, as correct diagnosis of AD is the basis of dementia diagnosis and AD accounts for approximately half of all dementia cases. As for causes of dementia other than AD, important points for differential diagnosis, particularly with regard to AD, are also mentioned.


AbstractThis study investigates the efficiency of parking permits in managing morning commuting considering carpooling with parking restraint. First, the morning commuting problem was revisited wit...


We consider a market for indivisible items with m buyers and m sellers. Traders privately know their values/costs, which are statistically dependent. Two mechanisms are considered. The buyer's bid double auction collects bids and asks from traders and determines the allocation by selecting a market-clearing price. It fails to achieve all possible gains from trade because of strategic bidding. The designed mechanism is a revelation mechanism in which honest reporting of values/costs is incentive compatible and all gains from trade are achieved. This optimality, however, comes at the expense of plausibility: (i) the monetary transfers among the traders are defined in terms of the traders' beliefs about each other's value/cost; (ii) a trader may suffer a loss ex post; (iii) the mechanism may run a surplus/deficit ex post. We compare the virtues of the simple yet mildly inefficient buyer's bid double auction to the flawed yet perfectly efficient designed mechanism.


Research objective is comparing the objective methods often used in literature for determination of differential item functioning (DIF) and the subjective method based on the opinions of the experts which are not used so often in literature. Mantel-Haenszel (MH), Logistic Regression (LR) and SIBTEST are chosen as objective methods. While the data of an extensive examination in Turkey applied for objective methods, the data that are obtained from Expert Opinions Form used to evaluate the items of the same examination. The data obtained from 5077 female and 5271 male students are used for the objective methods, and 23 experts' opinions are used for subjective method. The concordance between the objective and subjective methods is calculated by using the compatibility rate and Cohen's kappa coefficient in the research. While the highest concordance related to the existence of DIF is obtained between MH and SIBTEST methods (.90; κ=0,79) and the lowest concordance is between LR and SIBTEST methods (.75; κ=0,50) in objective methods, When the concordance of the objective method with the subjective methods is examined, at least moderate concordance (.75; κ=0,47) is obtained in the decision. When items which have DIF is examined according to DIF level, three items indicate low level of DIF and one item indicates moderate or high level of DIF for both methods. In addition, in subjective method, a decision study is made on the number of the experts presenting opinion within the generalizability theory and the acceptable reliability value is reached with 13 experts' opinions.


Polysaccharide-based nanoparticles such as pectin had always been of greatest interest because of its excellent solubility and mucoadhesive nature and are highly suitable for oral drug delivery for drug administration. In this study, we used commercially available pectin samples based on their degree of esterification, and nanoparticles were fabricated by the ionotropic gelation method using magnesium (Mg^2+) as the divalent cross-linker. We conducted a comparative analysis on the three pectin NPs—high methoxylated pectin (HMP), low methoxylated pectin (LMP), and amidated LMP (AMP)—to examine the difference in characteristics such as shape, size, and biocompatibility. HMP and AMP were found to be similar in size (~850 nm), whereas LMP was found to be of ~700 nm. The three NPs were also tested for their biocompatibility toward THP-1 cells. All three NPs were found to have the potential as a nanocarrier of therapeutic and preventive drugs, especially through oral routes.


TV signals broadcasting room is the core of radio and television operator.In order to strength the security management,the intelligent access system is designed with finger print identify,and it is composed of management center and access control terminals.The access control terminal adopts embedded processor LPC2148 as control core,using DSP module TF-EM-M12 integrated with fingerprint recognition algorithm to get and match fingerprints of visitors,and establishes TCP/IP connection with management center through network module ENC28J60.The management center takes charge of data exchange,storing visitor information,finger print information and visiting log.When the visitor's finger print matches the finger print registered in system,the door will automatically open and display visitor's identity information on LCD screen.This system can be fit to research laboratory,important organs and luxury apartments that improves the safety and convenience of access control system.


Aims: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of positive psychological capital on ethical behavior in some selected private organizations in Ghana. Managers in five Regions in Northern Ghana were selected to examine the causality of the variables under study.
Study Design: The study used questionnaires in which only managers were made to answer within a period of 4 months.
Place and Duration of Study: Managers in five Regions in Northern Ghana (Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East and Upper West Regions) were selected to examine the causality of the variables under studybetweenMarch 2020 and July 2021.
Methodology: The sample method used was stratified and systematic random sampling technique which aims at collecting data in a regular or ordered manner.  The study also used factor analysis and structural equation model to conduct the analysis. The study analyzed 385 questionnaires comprising 158 for Northern region, Upper East 78, Upper West 65, Savannah 52 and North East 32.
Results: The results shows that the fit of the structural model for the relationship is good with = 411.368 (df = 245),  = 1.679, CFI = 0.983, GFI = 0.916, TLI = 0.981 and RMSEA = 0.042.  The results of the structural path estimates revealed that the standardised estimate of -0.369 between PPC and EB was statistically significant (P-Value=0.002) and a negative relationship was predicted. Furthermore, the C.R. value was -3.138 greater than 1.69 indicating that the probability of obtaining a critical ratio as large as 3.138 in absolute value is less than 0.05. This implies that the regression weight for PPC in the prediction of ethical behavior is significantly different from zero at 0.001 level. Overall, the result confirmed that the relationship between Positive Psychological and Ethical Behavior is supported by previous studies.


Bid-rent curves are incorporated in a stochastic dynamic programming model of land development around a city when farmland generates both positive and negative externalities. The model delineates how the quantities of land in various uses over time should depend on the relative social weights assigned to the competing agricultural externalities.


The author investigated the relationship between self-image and parental behavior of adolescent fathers. The study included a convenience sample of 43 African American unwed adolescent fathers. Data were collected from a questionnaire. Findings indicated that attitudes regarding family of origin and sexuality as well as coping skills influenced parental responsibility.


Laboratory simulations were used to study the potential influence of bases (K+, Mg++, Ca++) reaching soil via the burning of natural vegation—a common practice of shifting agriculture—on the genesis of argillic horizons and the evolution of Oxisols to Ultisols on the plateaus of Cabo Delgado (NE Mozambique). The effect of such a practice on the gradual enrichment with sand of the soils on slopes and in the bottom of valleys and dambos imbedded in the plateaus was also examined. The results suggested that the burning of natural vegetation before the establishment of shifting agriculture on plateaus in the province of Cabo Delgado causes the pH of the topmost soil layer to rise and facilitates its disaggregation. This, in turn, results in clay illuviation to subsurface horizons, as well as the erosion of fine sand by runoff water and its accumulation on slopes and in valley bottoms, all of which will have major implications on soil morphology and evolution.


Abstract Timber utility poles are widely used in power distribution and telecommunication networks. Wood is subjected to deterioration with time, and routine condition assessment works are carried out for in-service timber poles to identify potential defects and their extent for renewal planning. These condition assessment methods need to be reliable and accurate to represent the actual status of poles. Incorrect interpretations regarding the structural integrity of poles may lead to premature pole replacements due to misdiagnosed defects or pole failures due to overlooked defects. The aim of this paper is to provide a state-of-the-art review of various condition assessment techniques for in-service timber poles. The paper reviews the conventional pole inspection methods, semi-destructive techniques and recent developments in non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques. The performance of these techniques is compared and their relative advantages and shortcomings are discussed. Further, the timber deterioration modelling techniques are outlined along with the probabilistic approaches for the condition assessment of timber poles. Finally, potential research gaps that need to be addressed in the future to overcome the issues related to the condition assessment of timber poles are discussed.


[1] Sign and magnitude of solar aerosol direct radiative forcing are largely determined by the aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA) and the albedo of the underlying scene (e.g., surface albedo). On a global scale, mineral dust aerosol has the largest mass emission rate, average column mass burden, and average optical depth of all aerosol types. Therefore, better understanding of its optical properties with a focus on SSAis of great importance. Here, we entrain ten bulk soil samples from deserts and semi-arid regions in the Arabian Peninsula, from locations representative of the Sahara and Sahel in North Africa, and from Northeast Africa and South-Central Asia. We segregate the fine particle fraction (aerodynamic diameter < 2.5μm) and measure its iron content with an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer and its aerosolSSA and absorption, scattering, and extinction Angstrom coefficients for two wavelengths (405 nm and 870 nm) with a photoacoustic instrument with integrating reciprocal nephelometer. Results show that SSA is much lower at 405 nm than at 870 nm and that SSA at both wavelengths is dominated by and linearly correlated with the iron content of the entrained mineral dust. The second result points toward potential use of SSA remote sensing to measure aerosol iron content and vice versa, measurements of iron content with simple filter sampling followed by XRF analysis, providing an assessment of SSA for aerosol radiative forcing calculations and modeling. Average Angstrom coefficients were ≈3.2 for absorption, ≈−0.4 for scattering, and ≈−0.3 for extinction and showed little correlation with iron content.


This study aims to bring out the focus group as a qualitative research with all its dimensions. It tries to explain the theoretical and experimental principals of this method which is especially used by marketing and marketing communication field. The information, views and attitudes toward focus group which is more used by practitioners than academicians, are the main subjects of this article. In this study, the attitudes of the practitioners in advertising agencies and research companies toward focus group are found out and the disparity of attitudes of these two sector which are almost connected organically is established. As mentioned above, the differences between attitudes were established by a survey research and its results are evaluated. The sample size of this research is 156. The 95 of this sample is from advertising agencies and 61 is from research companies. The basic result of this study is that the attitudes of practitioners in advertising agencies and research companies toward results and efficiency of the focus group method are different. The attitudes of advertising agencies toward focus group are neutral or more negative than research companies.