In the trade-off between food and safety, the role of aggressive intraspecific interactions has not been extensively examined. Here I present information on this system using a kleptoparasitic spider, Argyrodts antipodiana, and its host spider and potential predator, Eriophora pustulosa. A. antipodiana can feed either at a potentially dangerous site (the hub of its host's web with the host), or at a relatively safe site (on food bundles around the edge of the host's web). I found that A. antipodiana can gain food very quickly when feeding with the host, apparently by exploiting the host's ability to digest the prey. Thus A, antipodiana follows predictions based on foraging models in that it accepts a higher predation risk at the hub because of the higher food payoff. A. antipodiana also aggressively competes for access to more food. However, aggressive competition increases the pre- dation risk from the host, especially at the hub where the host is very close. Consequently, A. antipodiana modifies its level of intraspecific aggressiveness in accordance with its position on the web: at the hub,where the cost of aggression is high (due to predation risk), A. antipodiana reduces its aggressiveness, but it is aggressive away from the hub when competing for food bundles. The ability of A, antipodiana to change interaction intensity as a function of its position on the web enables it to exploit a rich, but risky, food source and provides a new angle for examining food and safety trade offs in light of intraspecific competition for food. Kty words: Argyrodes antipodiana, foraging, intraspecific aggression, kleptoparasite, predation spider, trade-offs. [Behav Ecol 8:663-667 (1997)] ecent work has highlighted the importance of predation . in the


This study aims to determine the effect of using the SAS method assisted by picture word cards on the beginning reading ability of grade 1 students in elementary schools. In this study using a quantitative approach with a research design using a quasi-experimental or quasi-experimental design. The samples in this study were class I-A, which consisted of 25 students as class and class I-B, which consisted of 25 students as the control class. The data collection technique used in this study is through tests and observations. The tests used are pre-test and ¬post-test. Based on the research results, the experimental class obtained an average pretest score of 45.53 with an average posttest score of 86.12. Meanwhile, the average value of the control class pretest was 44.86 and the average posttest value of the control class was 66.96. The results of the tests carried out by researchers in the experimental class and control class, it can be concluded that the posttest score was found to be greater than the pretest, which means that students' initial reading ability increases. The researcher used an independent test sample t test to find the effect of the SAS method assisted by picture word cards on the beginning reading ability of first grade elementary school students. It is known that the calculated t value is 16.139 with a sig value of 0.000 <0.05, which means that there is a significant influence on the initial reading ability of first grade elementary school students in the experimental class and the control class. Then in accordance with the decision making that has been determined then that Ho is rejected and Ha is accepted. Thus the researchers concluded that there was an effect of using the SAS method assisted by picture word cards on the initial reading ability of grade 1 students in elementary schools.


We present an extensive analysis of large and medium scale radio sources observed with the Nancay Radiohe- liograph at 169 MHz, over more than four solar rotations in 1984 (during the declining phase of the solar cycle). The large scale emission is dominated by the coronal plateau, the radio coun- terpart of the coronal plasma sheet, which had an oscillatory structure around the equator. Medium scale local sources in- clude both faint noise storm continua and thermal sources. Noise storm continua have greater brightness (8 10 5 to 3.8 10 6 K) and smaller diameter than thermal sources. We present distributions of brightness temperatures, sizes as well as longitude and lat- itude of the thermal sources and we study their location with respect to faculae and neutral lines. Based on their rotation rate, we estimate their altitude at 70 000 km. We find that most ther- mal sources at 169 MHz are located between faculae and neu- tral lines and we present a geometrical model to account for this observation, according to which these sources are located in the upper leg of large scale loops. A small number of thermal sources is closer to neutral lines; these might be loops at the base of isolated coronal streamers.


r, Pochodzalla et al. Reply: Treating a first order phas transition of a one-component system in the framew of standard equilibrium thermodynamics, Moretto et al. explain in their Comment [()] nicely that the path of a sy tem in the coexistence region and hence its caloric cu depends on the external fields and boundary conditio They illustrate this relationship by a qualitative picture the entropy-temperature diagram for H 2O. We, of course, do not dispute the well-known fact [ that for a macroscopic system in phase equilibrium unequivocal interpretation of a caloric curve requires knowledge of the external conditions. And while we su pect that for nuclear systems the assumed phase equ rium might be realized very well in neutron stars, we d however, think that a treatment of the liquid-gas pha transition of nuclei in terms of equilibrium thermodynam ics will not do justice to the complex nature of such finit self-bound objects. It is, nonetheless, obvious from Fig of our Letter [3] that within the experimental uncertainti the observed excitation energy-temperature curve of clei is for excitation energies between 3 and 10 MeV p nucleon, consistent with a constant temperature of ab 5 MeV. Therefore, this curveis reminiscent of the wellknown caloric curve of H2O at constant pressure. Th reminiscence does not, of course, imply that a phase t sition in a finite nucleus may be treated quantitative within equilibrium thermodynamics. We already me tioned in the introduction of our Letter [3] and we repe here,"nuclei are transient systems without external fie (e.g., pressure)." Considerations based on equilibriu thermodynamics assuming constant external fields (p sure) or boundary conditions (volume) may, therefo only be used as a guideline and—in the absence of a c plete dynamical theory for this nonequilibrium process as well-defined points of reference. In turn, conclusio drawn on the basis of equilibrium thermodynamics macroscopic systems may not be the whole truth for clei. Thus the Comment of Moretto et al. warrants three remarks. First, we concur that for a confined, one-compon system in equilibrium, evaporation is unambiguously lated to the coexistence phase and may, therefore viewed as the phase transition. However, an excited cleus generated in nuclear collisions will not be in eq librium with its "surroundings." While evaporation ma accompany the path of the system towards equilibriu the state of the total system is generally not equival to an equilibrium situation in the coexistence regim Nonetheless, surface evaporation will reflect the inter properties of the emitting system and represents a rele tool to study the caloric curve of a liquidlike nucleus low excitation energies.


In this paper, we analyze the convergence of the general nonstationary iterative methods for solving consistent singular linear equations (in particular, singular Hermitian positive semidefinite linear systems), and we discuss relations of general stationary results and ours. We utilize the quotient convergence to prove the convergence of the two-stage iterative algorithms for solving the consistent singular Hermitian positive semidefinite linear equations.


Ionic liquids (ILs) acting as new functional solvents have significant impact in both synthetic and materials chemistry. However, the usage of volatile organic solvents in both synthesis and recycling of ILs usually imposes environmental issues. In this study, according to intrinsic wetting threshold theory, a membrane‐based approach assisted by superwettability is developed for efficient, convenient, and economical purification of water‐immiscible ILs. By precisely tailoring surface energy, the porous membrane is capable of hydrophobicity and superILphilicity (defined as IL contact angle close to zero), selectively allowing ILs to pass through. This kind of functional membrane can not only separate IL/water mixtures, but also IL/water systems containing inorganic salts, organic compounds, amino acids, and proteins.


Using data from a panel study of low- and moderate-income homeowners, we assess the determinants of the use of several types of down payment assistance and the effect of using assistance on mortgage performance. Although we find differences in reliance on types of assistance, we find no difference in mortgage performance between those who used assistance and those who did not. Based on these findings, we urge caution in imposing down payment requirements that disproportionately restrict access to mortgage credit.


A design of a two-level adaptive flight controller for a STOL aircraft with unknown dynamics is described. The approach appears to overcome some of the limitations that are inherent in the design of linear optimal and conventional adaptive controllers. In particular, it is assumed that the state variables are not accessible. For estimating the state variables an adaptive observer is developed which has an exponential rate of convergence, and which simultaneously models the dynamics of the unknown plant. Control at the first level is provided by an updated optimal controller, while that at the second level is provided by an error servo. Some examples of simulation studies that were carried out for the pitch attitude control system for two different conditions are given.


Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the unprecedented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Critical cases of COVID-19 are characterized by the production of excessive amounts of cytokines and extensive lung damage, which is partially caused by the fusion of SARS-CoV-2–infected pneumocytes. Here, we found that cell fusion caused by the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein induced a type I interferon (IFN) response. This function of the S protein required its cleavage by proteases at the S1/S2 and the S2′ sites. We further showed that cell fusion damaged nuclei and resulted in the formation of micronuclei that were sensed by the cytosolic DNA sensor cGAS and led to the activation of its downstream effector STING. Phosphorylation of the transcriptional regulator IRF3 and the expression of IFNB, which encodes a type I IFN, were abrogated in cGAS-deficient fused cells. Moreover, infection with VSV-SARS-CoV-2 also induced cell fusion, DNA damage, and cGAS-STING–dependent expression of IFNB. Together, these results uncover a pathway underlying the IFN response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our data suggest a mechanism by which fused pneumocytes in the lungs of patients with COVID-19 may enhance the production of IFNs and other cytokines, thus exacerbating disease severity. Description Fusion of SARS-CoV-2–infected cells stimulates a type I interferon response through the cGAS-STING pathway. Spiking the STING pathway Patients with severe COVID-19 disease due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 exhibit excessive inflammation in the lung, tissue damage, and the presence of syncytial (fused) pneumocytes. Liu et al. found that cultured epithelial cells expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein formed multinucleated syncytial cells with cells expressing ACE2, the receptor for the S protein. The fused cells exhibited DNA damage and micronuclei, which colocalized with the cytosolic DNA sensor cGAS, and that led to the activation of the adaptor protein STING and stimulated the expression of genes encoding type I IFNs and of IFN-stimulated genes. Similar effects were seen in cells infected with VSV expressing the S protein. Together, these data reveal that the cell fusion–dependent activation of the cGAS-STING-IFN pathway may contribute to the excessive inflammatory response seen in the lungs of patients with severe COVID-19.


Received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is widely used as an indicator that could be used for distance estimation between two nodes. However, many factors influence on the accuracy of RSSI ranging (e.g. antenna radiation pattern, reflections, obstacles etc.). Hence, RSSI alone is rarely used as a tool for precise distance measurement. In this paper, an improvement of RSSI ranging based on finding the best node orientation is presented. The experimental results are obtained using IRIS wireless sensor network nodes for outdoor and indoor scenarios. It is shown that lower bounds for the relative distance estimation accuracy, using curve fitting for the best orientation outdoor and indoor scenario, are 91% and 57%, respectively.


We initiate the study of synthetic curvature-dimension bounds in sub-Finsler geometry. More specifically, we investigate the measure contraction property $\mathsf{MCP}(K, N)$, and the geodesic dimension on the Heisenberg group equipped with an $\ell^p$-sub-Finsler norm. We show that for $p\in(2,\infty]$, the $\ell^p$-Heisenberg group fails to satisfy any of the measure contraction properties. On the other hand, if $p\in(1,2)$, then it satisfies the measure contraction property $\mathsf{MCP}(K, N)$ if and only if $K \leq 0$ and $N \geq N_p$, where the curvature exponent $N_p$ is strictly greater than $2q+1$ ($q$ being the H\"older conjugate of $p$). We also prove that the geodesic dimension of the $\ell^p$-Heisenberg group is $\min(2q+2,5)$ for $p\in[1,\infty)$. As a consequence, we provide the first example of a metric measure space where there is a gap between the curvature exponent and the geodesic dimension.


The frequency content and noise levels of turbine‐type aircraft engine core noise are re‐examined as a result of recent static and flight test data. In addition, diagnostic techniques developed within the past year have provided a better understanding of core source noise. On the basis of these new inputs, core noise prediction procedures are re‐evaluated and a preliminary update of the procedures is presented.


The project optimization of measures will be helpful to raise the oilfield development economic benefits.In this paper,the measure programming influencing factors were analyzed and the measure economic benefits were appraised.With consideration on the factors such as measure effect,potential,water cut and expense,a profit biggest nonlinear measure programming model was presented.Compared with the existing models,this model considers the influential factors more comprehensively.The time value of capital has been considered,at the same time the restraint condition has been led into to satisfy the nonlinear relation among measure oil increment,implement well frequency and expense.This model was solved by adaptive real-coding genetic algorithm.Application example shows that software based on this model has advantages of rapid computational speed and strong operability.The result can efficiently guide the programming of oilfield measure,and make the oilfield development adjustment get more economic benefits.


Water snakes (Natrix sipedon) were tested for their ability to capture cryptic vs. conspicuous prey as a function of their previous experience with such prey. The results indicate that under certain circumstances, N. sipedon that have had experience in capturing cryptic prey may adopt a specific searching image whereby prey which are colored similarly to their background are more readily captured than are more conspicuous prey (i.e., prey whose coloration contrasts with the test background). Specific searching image is a term introduced by L. Tinbergen (1960) to refer to a perceptual change leading to an improvement in an avian predator's ability to see cryptic prey (Dawkins, 1971; see also DeRuiter, 1952; Tinbergen, 1949). According to Dawkins (1971:566), even though a predator may overlook a camouflaged prey item on its first encounter, with experience some predators may be capable of learning to detect prey animals "which bear a strong resemblance to the background on which they occur." In other words, through experience, a predatory species "learns to see" a cryptic or well camouflaged food item and will subsequently show a greater degree of predation upon that species. As pointed out by both Dawkins (1971) and Krebs (1973), not all increases in the rate of eating a particular type of prey need be a function of such "learning to see." Rather, "changes in behavior shown only when the predator is faced with cryptic food and not otherwise provide evidence for the occurrence of changes in the ability of the predator to perceive its prey. This assumes that changes in behavior due to other causes such as increasing or decreasing hunger, (or) a change in the animal's ability to handle its food, would occur whether or not the prey resembled its background" (Dawkins, 1971:567). Dawkins (1971) therefore suggests that one way to test for the adoption of a specific searching image is to present the predator with the same food on differing backgrounds. If the food is initially taken more readily when it contrasts with the background than when it blends with the background, one can conclude that the predator has difficulty seeing it on the latter substrate. Any improvement in taking the cryptic prey with repeated exposure will be assumed to be a function of perceptual changes. In his recent review of the literature, Krebs (1973:92) concluded that there did not appear to be any "convincing instances of searching-image formation in vertebrate predators other than birds." The study reported below was designed in an attempt to ascertain whether a reptilian species might likewise adopt a specific searching image in the appropriate setting. Given previous data which indicate that Natrix sipedon and N. rhombifera will select a fish which contrasts with its background rather than a cryptically colored fish (Czaplicki and Porter, 1974), it was hypothesized that experience of feeding upon such camouflaged fish might facilitate subsequent predation upon these inconspicuous fish on the same background. MATERIALS AND METHODS Subjects.-Ten wild caught adult water snakes (Natrix sipedon) served as subjects in the present experiment. Except during training and testing, all snakes were housed in individual 10-gallon aquaria. 213 This content downloaded from 184.108.40.206 on Mon, 10 Oct 2016 04:24:44 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms RICHARD H. PORTER AND JAMES A. CZAPLICKI Apparatus.-Training and testing were conducted in a chamber consisting of two water-filled 20 gallon aquaria set side by side (12 inches apart) enclosed by plexiglas walls situated adjacent to the outside vertical surfaces of the aquaria and extending 17 inches above their top edges. The plexiglas floor of this enclosure (starting platform) extended across the gap between the 2 aquaria level with their top edges. A false bottom (with sides flush with the inside walls of the aquarium) was inserted into each aquarium so as to reduce in effect the water depth to 21/4 inches. In one aquarium, the false bottom was constructed of orange plexiglas, while the false bottom of the second aquarium was made of black plexiglas. A vertical partition could be inserted into the chamber so as to isolate either of the aquaria from the second aquarium and plexiglas starting platform. Training Procedure.-Six water snakes were assigned at random to the Experimental group while the remaining 4 snakes made up the Control group. The snakes in the Experimental group (E) were fed only cryptically colored fish for a 5 week period and subsequently tested for their responses to cryptic vs. conspicuous prey. Each snake was given two feeding sessions per week in the testing enclosure, with 2 live fish being captured and eaten during each session. Two varieties of goldfish (Carassius auratus); solid orange fantails and black telescopes, were used as prey. During each of the training sessions, a snake was offered (and consumed) a single black fish in the black aquarium (with the orange aquarium being blocked off from the remainder of the enclosure) and an orange colored fish in the orange aquarium. Both the orange and the black fish closely resembled their respective background coloration. In this manner, each E snake ate a total of 10 cryptic black and 10 cryptic orange fish during the 5 week training period. No other food was consumed until the final test series. The 4 Control snakes (C) were trained in the test enclosure in a similar manner as above, but with fish which contrasted with their respective backgrounds (i.e., orange fish in the black aquarium, and black fish in the orange aquarium). Neither group of snakes had any prior experience with the test prey prior to the training sessions. Testing.-Following the 5th week of training, each snake was given a series of 4 tests over a 2 week period (i.e., a single test on Mon. and Fri. of each week). The snake was placed onto the plexiglas starting platform orienting at a 90? angle from the test aquarium (with the second aquarium being partitioned off from the testing area) and the latency until the snake captured the fish (within a maximum of 15-min.) was recorded. During each of the 4 tests, a snake was presented with a single live fish (black or orange) in either the black or orange aquarium; with the total test series consisting of all four possible combinations of fish color X aquarium color. Thus, in two of these tests, the fish was cryptic; while in the remaining two tests the fish was conspicuous in relation to its background. The order of testing was randomly determined for each subject. A previous pilot study revealed that the activity levels of both the orange and black varieties of prey fishes did not differ on the 2 colors of substrate used in the present experiment. Furthermore, in a similar testing situation, the activity level of these same varieties of prey fishes was not found to be a significant variable in regards to recognition and capture by Natrix sipedon or N. rhombifera (Czaplicki and Porter, 1974). Therefore, the possible confounding effects of differential activity by the 2 types of prey fishes do not appear involved.


According to the characteristics of particulate matter in air environment, aiming at the defects of traditional sampling method, such as complex measurement process, heavy instrument and difficult on-line monitoring, this paper selects the light scattering method in non sampling method as the method of particulate matter concentration detection. According to the light scattering phenomenon and Mie scattering theory, in an ideal case, the light intensity of the scattered light is directly proportional to the mass concentration of particles, and the particle concentration can be calculated by algorithm. The particle concentration detection system is constructed by the data acquisition circuit, low-power sampling and holding circuit, control center circuit and power module.


Molecular orbital calculations were carried out for the dimerization step in the polymerization process of vinyl acetate and styrene through free radicals and ionic mechanisms. The calculations were performed for monomers, dimers, their positive and negative ions, and free radicals. The minimum-energy geometry is achieved in all cases, the geometrical and electronic parameters are analyzed, a dimerization reaction pathway is proposed, and the heats of polymerization obtained are in excellent agreement with experimental data. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 65: 767–785, 1997


Abstract. The theoretical basis and the main results of a design procedure, which attempts to provide the optimal layout of ordinary reinforcement in prestressed concrete beams, subjected to bending moment and shear force are presented. The difficulties encountered in simulating the actual behaviour of prestressed concrete beam in presence of coupled forces bending moment - shear force are discussed; particular emphasis is put on plastic models and stress fields approaches. A unified model for reinforced and prestressed concrete beams under axial force - bending moment - shear force interaction is provided. This analytical model is validated against both experimental results collected in literature and nonlinear numerical analyses. Finally, for illustrating the applicability of the proposed procedure, an example of design for a full-scale prestressed concrete beam is shown. Keywords: shear, flexure, prestressed concrete, design, plasticity 1. Introduction


CANVASSING FOR NON-VACANT APPOINTMENTS. 20a.-If our correspondent will refer to the Code of Medical Ethics, clhapter ii, section 1, rule 3, lie will find it clearly laid down that " to tender for a club or other paid appointment, or to apply or canvass for such ere a vacanicy has been declared," is regarded as derogatory to the profession; irrespective of which rule we may note that in seeking, after a few weeks' residence in the locality, to wrest a club from a brother practitioner who had, so far as he knew hiitlherto given satisfactioni to the members, he was not oily ill-advised in offering his services, but transgressed the moral law of doing unto others as he himself would wish to be done by.


Kaffir community is a unique socio-cultural group in Sri Lankan society. Though the term ―kaffir‖ is a derogatory term for African people, Sri Lankan Kaffirs use it to introduce themselves. They have accustomed to Sri Lankan culture while preserving their racial identity. A majority of Kaffirs can be seen in Puttalam currently. The objective of this study was to identify their cultural changes and contemporary problems in their daily life. A qualitative descriptive study has been conducted at the Siranbiadiya village in Puttalam area from August to December 2014. 42 villagers from the total of 22 family units including men and women considering their age were selected randomly with their consent. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire and focus group discussions were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS and thematic analysis.


This report focuses on the methodological development of the testing and implementation framework (TIF) for increasing the socio-technical readiness of climate adaptation innovations and assessing their impact on different socio-economic and environmental sectors. It is designed to be read by innovators and used as a supporting document for the application of different toolboxes made available through BRIGAID. In this report, Chapter 2 provides an overview of the different components of the TIF, including an overview of the planned testing phases. Definitions for the Performance Indicators (PI) are provided in Chapter 3, which also includes a description of how the test results which are to be integrated into the Climate Innovation Window (CIW) (in WP7). Elaborated guidelines for testing are provided in Chapters 4-6. Specifically, guidelines for assessing the technical effectiveness of innovations are provided in Chapter 4; guidelines for assessing the impact of an innovation on the environment and socio-economic sectors that will feel direct consequences of climate change are provided in Chapter 5; guidelines for assessing the societal acceptance of innovations in Chapter 6.


Semiconductor wafer with an asymmetric edge profile (EP) extending with a first circular arc portion of a wafer top side with a selectable radius (R) and predeterminable angular extent (φ


Let M be a CR manifold embedded in ℭs of arbitrary codimension. M is called generic if the complex hull of the tangent space in all points of M is the whole ℭs. M is minimal (in sense of Tumanov) in p ϵ M if there does not exist any CR submanifold of M passing through p with the same CR dimension as M but of smaller dimension. Let M be generic and minimal in some point p ϵ M and N be a generic submanifold of M passing through p. We prove that a continuous CR function on M vanishes identically in some neigbourhood of p if its restriction to N either vanishes in p faster then some function with non-integrable logarithm or it vanishes on a subset of N of positive measure.


The author discusses how applying the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage has helped his healthcare facility provide excellent care to its patients.


This paper brings forward a new three -level and parallel -updated query arithmetic in a distributed environment.Based on this arithmetic,we not only get a right way to share police data but also ensure the data consistency and veracity between center database and professional database.In addition,this paper also makes a deep analysis and discussion in police mobile data assistant.


PURPOSE: A bumper structure of a robot cleaner is provided to figure out position and contact of obstacles using a resist film and a metal film and to reduce production costs by reducing a number of components. CONSTITUTION: A bumper structure of a robot cleaner comprises a body(10), a bumper(20), a resist film(30), and a metal film(40). The resist film is formed between the body and the bumper and is fixed in the body. The metal film is formed between the body and the bumper. As the metal film is fixed to the bumper if obstacles are contacted to the bumper, the metal film is deformed with the bumper and is contacted to the resist film to measure resistance value. The bumper is made by a flexible material.


The structure and principle of CVT are introduced.The causes,types and phenomenon of faults of CVT are analyzed.The preventive measures and suggestion are presented.


A rare, combined T- and B-cell immunodeficiency characterized by failure to thrive, severe diarrhea, opportunistic infections, and abnormal T-cell differentiation and function due to LCK deficiency, leading to an important risk factor for inflammation and autoimmunity.


Experimental research on damage to fracture conductivity caused by fracturing fluid residues has been done for the first time in China using FCES-100 (Fracture Conductivity Evaluation System). In the experiments, the degree of damage to conductivity caused by different types and concentrations of fracturing fluids were studied in the condition of different concentrations and types of proppants. The mechanism of damage to conductivity was studied and some methods on how to decrease the damage were brought forward, which is significant for the research on development of fracturing fluids and also for field treatments.


The development and morphology of immature phases of Spalangia gemina Boucek and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Rondani are described from a laboratory reared culture maintained on the house fly Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Body width and length of pupal parasitoid were recorded. These 2 characteristics were determined for each larval instar and classified using cluster analysis in the SAS program. Developmental time from egg to adult of S. gemina and P. vindimiae was approximately 18 - 24 days and 15 - 18 days respectively at 25±3 °C and 45 - 65 % relative humidity. Eggs of S. gemina and P. vindemiae are hymenopteriform. Their incubation times are 24 - 48 h. The results show that the different numbers of larval instars in these parasitoids are well classified. The larvae of S. gemina has 3 instars with protuberances present on the last instar, whereas, P. vindemiae has 4 larval instars and the final instar lacks proturberances. The instars of P. vindemiae are morphologically similar except size and color of internal organs. Prepupae of both species are exarate and noticeably excrete meconium from the body. This information on preimaginal stages can be useful in the production and identification of parasitoids of the house fly.


The purpose of this paper is to establish a method for working out the priorities between the various expedients for modernising railway lines, with a view to increasing commercial speeds. After an analysis aimed at selecting the most suitable action to be taken, the conclusion seems to indicate that the best expedient consists of improving the horizontal path of the lines. The methodology established has been orientated in fact towards systemizing the improvements it is possible to make to the alignement by establishing a selection criterion based on the unit cost of the time saved. In this way it has been possible to formulate a logical series of options or variants for modernising the alignement, each one at a minimum cost involving an increasing level of commercial speed.


Michael W. Brennan, MD, is the American Academy of Ophthalmology's international envoy. He is a member of the Committee of Secretaries and is part of the AAO's effort to remodel its international activities. All divisions of the AAO have a great stake in its international programs.


This community service activity was carried out in the society-based library blok E, Pasir Angin village, Cileungsi, Jawa Barat. This activity aimed to increase the knowledge and skills of society-based library administrators in managing their society-based library.  Furthermore, a coloring competition for kids and counseling on healthy and safe snacks was also held which aimed to increase public knowledge and at the same time encourage public interest in visiting this society-based library. The training activities were carried out using the discussion method and practice on how to classify books, make catalog cards, book call numbers, and the membership lists of society-based libraries. Counseling activity was carried out using lecture and discussion methods. Evaluation of the training activity was carried out using the interview method, while the counseling activity was evaluated using a questionnaire instrument. The result be achieved from this activity is that the administrators can manage the society-based library well so that they are able to foster public interest in visiting and at the same time stimulate public interest in reading.


Objective To explore the effect and prognosis of standard large trauma craniectomy combined with intracranial pressure(ICP) monitoring for severe traumatic brain injury(STBI).Methods According to whether received ICP monitoring,80 patients with STBI were randomly and equally divided into two groups.Routine group(n=40) was treated with standard large trauma craniectomy,and monitoring group(n=40) was treated with standard large trauma craniectomy combined with ICP monitoring.The change of intracranial pressure before and after operation,Glasgow coma score(GCS)changes,prognosis and post operative complications were compared.Results The intracranial pressure at 3rd day,7th day after operation in monitoring group was significantly decreased compared to those in routine group(t=2.17,t=7.34,P0.05),and the GCS score were improved in both groups after operation,at 28 th day after operation,monitoring group was improved more obviously than the routine group(t=3.67,P 0.05).The GCS score at 3rd month after operation showed that the prognosis in monitoring group was significantly better than that in routine group(t=2.00,P 0.05).The incidence of electrolyte disturbance in monitoring group and routine group at 6 months after surgery was 33.3%and 60.0% respectively with statistical significant differences(χ~2=4.09,P 0.05).Conclusion Standard large trauma craniectomy combined with ICP can reduced pressure for the treatment of STBI and improve the prognosis.


Published version of an article in the journal: Language Documentation & Conservation. Also available from the publisher at: http://hdl.handle.net/10125/4521 Open access.


[Objective] To understand the female's health condition,in order to make up health promotion strategy.[Methods]Physical Examination was conducted for 2 065 females from municipal government organizations,institutions in service and some retired females in Zaozhuan,Linyi and Ji'ning from Oct 2006 to Dec 2007.[Results]Of the 2 065 persons tested,905 were detected to had some diseases.The morbidity rate was 43.83%.The morbidity rate in middle-level cadres was 44.90%(873) and others were 43.04%(1 192)(P0.05).The morbidity rate of the target people of hyperplasia of lobule of breast,erosion of cervix,bacterial kysthitis,chronic cervicitis,hyperlipemia,hypertension and uterine myoma was 31.86%,21.55%,16.95%,16.76%,9.88% 9.59% and 5.18% respectively.The morbidity rate of different gynaecopathia in middle level cadres was 34.82% while it was 36.49% among general cadres(P0.05).The morbidity rate of hyperlipemia and hypertension was higher among middle level cadres than that among general cadres(P0.01).The rate of sub-health condition was 68.14% among the target people,while it was 75.95% among middle level cadres and 2.43% among general cadres.[Conclusion]The health condition of female cadres and businesswomen were poorer than that of the other female workers.


Business activities in the current era are not only profit-oriented but highlight the value of sustainability. Due to global problems such as poverty and limited availability of resources, a sustainable company means that the company can maintain and improve the environmental life around the company. One of the company's efforts to create business sustainability is through a corporate sustainability strategy or the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and a form of business ethics and social investment. To determine the effectiveness of a program, carried out an evaluation. This study aims to analyze the CSR program of PT SMM by using the Social Return On Investment (SROI) method. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach to describe the implementation of PT SMM's CSR program and analyze the success of the program through the results of the SROI value. The results of the SROI calculation in this program show a ratio of 7.84, meaning that every investment made by PT SMM is Rp. 1,- getting a benefit of Rp. 7.8,-. This program can be categorized as successful because it can exceed the ratio of 1 in the SROI. If viewed from the economic, social, and environmental aspects, this program has good sustainability potential and deserves to be continued.


Short-term forecasting applied to wind energy is becoming increasingly important due to the constant growth of this renewable source, whose uncertainty requires a constant effort to meet the needs of the national electrical systems and their operators. Regarding to this, the probabilistic approach applied to wind power forecasting (WPF) is showing an increasingly interest in terms of the possibility to reduce forecast errors, giving also a useful information on the accuracy of a forecast and a reliable estimation of its uncertainty; in fact, the prediction accuracy is not constant and often depends on the location of a certain wind farm, as well as on the atmospheric conditions of the site and the forecast horizon used. According to previous studies of the same authors, the ECMWF Ensemble Prediction System (EPS) can be used as an indicator of a three-days ahead deterministic WPF accuracy. A statistical calibration performed on the wind speed EPS members allows an improvement from an over-confident situation observable from the rank histograms (in which the measurements fell quite always outside the bounds of the probability distribution) to a consistent ensemble spread. After that it is possible to convert the data to wind energy: the spread calculated on wind power can then be used as an accuracy predictor due to its level of correlation with the deterministic WPF error. In this presentation we investigate the performances for both wind power and accuracy prediction of the new EPS used at the ECMWF, whose horizontal resolution was increased on January 2010 from 60 km to 32 km, on a complex terrain area already used in previous studies and located in Southern Italy. The work consists in the use of the ECMWF deterministic model in a WPF approach followed by a recursive feed-forward Neural Networks (NN) and finally by the application and verification of the EPS in order to estimate the forecast accuracy. We also preliminary compare these performances with the results obtainable


Artist, teacher, and poet M. C. Richards once said, "Let no one think that the birth of humanity is to be felt without terror. The transformation that awaits us costs everything in the way of courage. Let no one be deluded that a knowledge of the path can be a substitute for putting one foot in front of the other" (Richards, 1989). I first encountered this quote when reviewing applications from individuals seeking to serve on an Advisory Panel to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The year was 1995, and the panel was being organized to conduct a comprehensive review of California's teacher credentialing system. In using this quote, the applicant espoused a view of the project that resonated with me then, and inspires me now. As I consider the work launched in response to Senator Marion Bergeson's omnibus reform legislation of 1992 (SB 1422, Chapter 1245, Statutes of 1992), which led to the reforms of Senate Bill 2042 (Alpert and Mazzoni, Chapter 548, Statutes of 1998), there is no question that a substantial transformation in California's teacher education and credentialing system is underway. An examination of credentialing reform over the last fifty years in California reveals a tumultuous history, filled with political intrigue, vision, idealism, and compromise. At the core, however, is a persistent


Background: Violence in the workplace is one of the most critical risk factors worldwide. Nurses are continuously exposed to violence in their workplace, primarily because of having contact with patients and their families. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the violence against nurses in Razi educational and remedial center in Rasht. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we recruited 112 nurses working in Rasht's educational and remedial center by convenience sampling. The instrument included a questionnaire to assess workplace violence in medical settings, which had been used in several Iranian studies and was psychometrically assessed by Najafi in Iran. After collecting and entering the data into SPSS version 22 software, they were analyzed by independent t test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. The significance level was set at a P value < 0.05. Results: The findings showed that 11.1% of nurses experienced physical violence, and 55.7% experienced verbal violence. We found a significant relationship between education level and verbal violence (P = 0.02) and between job (P = 0.02) and marital (P = 0.02) status and physical violence. Linear regression analysis showed that nurses with low experience were 1.01 times more likely to undergo violence (OR = 1.01; CI: 0.66 - 1.44). Conclusions: Verbal and physical violence frequently occurred against nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the authorities are required to take adequate measures to reduce the incidence of violence in hospitals.


In the growing concern of awareness regarding Sustainable building materials and environmental issues related to them, Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks (CSEB) is the environmental friendly building and sustainable material we can rely on. Earth as a building material is already known for centuries .It turns out that Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks properties can be easily compared with the properties of concrete blocks and normal fired bricks. Selection of materials during the design plan leads towards more sustainable construction. This paper reviews some advantages of eco friendly materials such as Compressed Stabilized Earth Brick over other economic and technological benefits.


Purpose: The aim of the paper is to determine the influence of hot-working conditions on microstructure evolution and phase composition of new-developed high-manganese austenitic steels. Design/methodology/approach: Determination of processes controlling strain hardening was carried out in continuous compression test using Gleeble 3800 thermo-mechanical simulator. Evaluation of processes controlling work hardening and occurring after deformation at 900°C were identified by microstructure observations of the specimens solution heat-treated after plastic deformation to a true strain equal 0.23, 0.50 and 0.91. Phase composition of steels was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Findings: The steels have a fine-grained austenite microstructure with many annealing twins to a temperature of about 1000°C. The initiation of dynamic recrystallization occurs already after true deformation equal 0.29. Participation of fine grains arranged in a matrix of dynamically recovered grains essentially increases after increasing true strain to 0.5. Fully dynamically recrystallized microstructure of steel can be obtained after the true strain equal 0.9. The conditions of hot-working influence phase state of investigated steels. Steel no. 1 keeps stable austenite microstructure independently from conditions of plastic deformation. Steel with initial bi-phase microstructure keeps a certain portion of eyet dependant on conditions of hot-working. Research limitations/implications: To determine in detail the hot-working behaviour of developed steels, a progress of microstructure evolution in subsequent stages of multi-stage compression test should be investigated. Practical implications: The obtained microstructure – hot-working conditions relationships and stress-strain curves can be useful in determination of power-force parameters of hot-rolling for sheets with fine-grained austenitic structures. Originality/value: The hot-working behaviour and microstructure evolution in various conditions of plastic deformation for new-developed high-manganese austenitic steels with Nb and Ti microadditions were investigated.


Abstract An extended period of childhood and juvenility is a distinctive aspect of human life history. This stage appears to be important for learning cultural, social, and ecological skills that help prepare the child for the adult socio-competitive environment. The unusual pattern of adrenarche in humans (and chimpanzees) may facilitate adaptive modification of the neurobiological mechanisms that underpin reproductive strategies. Longitudinal monitoring of DHEA/S in naturalistic context could provide important new insights into these aspects of child development.


We study the problem of constructing centralized coded caching schemes with low subpacketization level based on the placement delivery array (PDA) design framework. PDA design is an efficient way to construct centralized coded caching schemes and most existing schemes, including the famous Maddah-Ali-Niesen scheme, can be described using PDA. In this paper, we first prove that constructing a PDA is equivalent to constructing three binary matrices that satisfy certain conditions. From this perspective, we then propose some new constructions of coded caching schemes using PDA design based on projective geometries over finite fields, combinatorial configurations, and t-designs, respectively. Our constructions achieve low subpacketization level (e.g., linear subpacketization) with reasonable rate loss and include several known results as special cases. Finally, we give an approach to construct new coded caching scheme from existing schemes based on direct product of PDAs. Our results enrich the coded caching schemes of low subpacketization level.


The invention discloses a preparation method of a filter medium for removing nitrite in drinking water. The preparation method comprises the following steps: (a) mixing raw materials such as activated carbon powder, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), vermiculite powder, diatomite powder and a pore-forming agent at a weight ratio of (80-250):(150-400):(80-200):(60-150):(50-150); and (b) pressing, sintering and cooling the mixture obtained in the step (a) in a die to finally obtain the filter medium. The obtained filter medium has high removal rate for the nitrite in the water, thus being applicable to the drinking water polluted by the nitrite and preventing damage of the nitrite on a human body; the filter medium is simple in use and low in cost; and in addition, a filter element is used instead of powder without subsequent treatment, thus the filter medium provided by the invention is suitable for home terminal drinking water treatment. Detection shows that the filter medium has high removal rate for the nitrite in the drinking water and the removal rate is over 95%.


Abstract In this study different aspects of the Hungarian monumental heritage are treated. In the first part: 'Country's representation around 1900' is studied, how multiplicity of styles and nations in historical Hungary was shown on exhibitions. In the second part: 'The Concept of the Whole and of the Fragment' the reaction of Hungarian art historiography on the loss of territories and of important cultural heritage as well in consequence of the Peace Treaty after World War I is studied. In the third part the words 'Central Europe' and 'East Europe' have to characterize two different concepts of a cultural affinity in the divided world of the Cold War, and finally, recent concepts of the Heritage Community are examined.


ABSTRACT The identification and characterisation of faults in urban environments is important to inform seismic and landslide hazard, yet urban development often obscures geological and geomorphological evidence of fault traces. On the other hand, urban development also generates a wealth of borehole data, which, when combined with geophysical surveys, can enable a view into the subsurface. Here we combine geomorphological and geological mapping, gravity surveying, and 3D geological modelling to identify, map and characterise several faults in Beachlands, Auckland, some of which have large offsets. Our work has identified one new fault, the Motukaraka Fault, and confirmed the presence of two proposed faults, the Waikopua North and Te Puru faults. The Motukaraka and Waikopua North faults are both steeply dipping normal faults, which strike NNW and downthrow Mesozoic basement to the west. The Motukaraka Fault has an offset of 250 m (±100 m) and the Waikopua North Fault a combined offset of 240 m (±50 m) across two parallel fault segments. The Te Puru fault strikes northeast near the northern extent of the Waikopua Fault, and downthrows Mesozoic basement to the northwest by 60–100 m. Further investigations are required to determine whether these buried faults are active.


Trends in high-performance computer architecture have led to the development of increased clock-rate and dynamic multiple-instruction issue processor designs. There have been problems combining both these techniques due to the pressure that the complex scheduling and issue logic puts on the cycle time. This problem has limited the performance of multiple-instruction issue architectures. The alternative approach of static multiple-operation issue avoids the clock-rate problem by allowing the hardware to concurrently issue only those operations that the compiler scheduled to be issued concurrently. Since there is no hardware support required to achieve multiple-operation issue (there are multiple operations in a single instruction and the hardware issues a single instruction at a time), these designs can be effectively scaled to high clock rates. However, these designs have the problem that the scheduling of operations into instructions is rigid and to increase the performance of the system the entire system must be scaled uniformly so that the static schedule is not compromised. This report describes an architectural model that allows a range of hybrid architectures to be studied.


The paper presents recent results corresponding to a new strategy for source traffic generating, named priority forcing scheme (PFS), allowing Internet users for getting better than best effort service in IP network. The concept of PFS assumes that an application, called PFS application, sends to the network a volume of additional traffic for the purpose of making the reservations for the data traffic in the overloaded router queues along the packet path in the IP network. The emitted redundant packets, named R-packets, should be rather of small size comparing to the data packets, named D-packets. The PFS scheme assumes that the R-packets waiting in a queue can be replaced by the arriving D-packets and belonging to the same flow. In this way, the D-packets can experience a prioritised service comparing to the packets produced by a non-PFS application. Notice that the proposed solution does not require any quality of service (QoS) mechanisms implemented in the network, like scheduler, dropping, marking etc., except Rand D-packets identification and replacing. We discuss the PFS efficiency for forcing priority in the overloaded conditions. Moreover simple system analysis is also presented. Finally, the profits of using PFS scheme are illustrated by examples corresponding to FTP (TCP controlled traffic) and VoIP (UDP streaming traffic) applications. Keywords—IP-based network, better than best effort service, priority forcing scheme.


We propose FBSChain, a faster blockchain sharding protocol based on quorum-based BFT algorithm (running as sharding consensus) and use a vertical committee structure to assist in the decoupling of transaction confirmation and block generation. We utilize a set of clients to drive all these related processes. In addition, we deploy an improved common-coin scheme without any private setup to generate the randomness for reconfiguration. The protocol can perform better with less computational and communication costs and improve system scalability without compromising security performance.


Twenty five Chinese cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) accessions were analysed at 15% moisture level for bark oil, bark oleoresin and leaf oil percentages. Bark oil ranged from 1.2 to 4.9%, leaf oil 0.4 to 1.6% and bark oleoresin 6.0 to 10.5%. Cinnamaldehyde was the major constituent in both leaf and bark oils. Accessions A, and C, had high bark oleoresin and D" D3 and D, high bark oil and cinnamaldehyde contents.


The microstructure, mechanical properties, and fracture type of aluminum with and without aluminum nanoparticles processed by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) have been studied using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, microhardness measurements, and tensile tests. It is shown that the injection of aluminum nanoparticles increases the structure refinement rate during ARB due to the increasing tendency for dynamic recrystallization. It has a different effect on different mechanical characteristics. The different effect of nanoparticles on different structural features is the reason for the different effect on different mechanical properties related with these features. The fracture mechanism is shown to change from ductile in aluminum to mixed ductile-brittle in the composite with a 1.5-fold decrease in ductility as a result of nanoparticle injection.


Using five layer nanjing institute of meteorology land surface process model (NIMLSP) for data on meteorological scientific experiment over the Qinghai Tibet Plateau from May to August in 1979, characteristics of land surface process and energy transport were both simulated for different regions over the plateau for summer season. Simulations of either sensible heat flux or latent heat flux were compared with its calculations from observed data and with measurements of net radiation, soil temperature and soil heat flux respectively. Results show that this model can be applicable to simulation of energy exchange for summer over various underlying surfaces in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau.


ABSTRACT The expansion characteristics of thermally expandable microcapsules (TEMs) under hydrostatic pressure or in resin were experimentally investigated. For the experiments, the expansion of the microcapsules was observed in high-pressure nitrogen at high temperature utilizing optical microscopy with a digital camera installed. The TEMs used for the experiments were expanded by heating under hydrostatic pressure up to 3 MPa, but the expansion degree decreased with increasing pressure. A cured bulk specimen of epoxy resin containing the microcapsules was made, and the expansion of the microcapsules was again observed with the microscope. It was found that the expansion of the microcapsules in the resin was saturated at a certain temperature. The stress distribution in the resin produced by the expansion of the microcapsules was calculated by the finite-element method. It was found that normal stress occurred, but it was mainly compressive. Tensile stress was also generated, although the maximum value was smaller than that of shear stress. It was observed that the expansion of the microcapsules was limited when there were many microcapsules in the vicinity of the interface. In other words, a complicated stress state occurred, inducing interfacial failure along the interface.


With the help of equivalent enthalpy drop and suction efficiency,theory of equivalent enthalpy drop is used which is simple and flexible in thermal system anylisis for quantitative calucilation and analysis of global and local 300 MW units.It is aiment to evaluate energy saving efficiency of the thermal power units,to discuss and demonstrate various energy saving plan,to mine energy saving potential in consideration of thermal system operation condition.This analysis methdology can provide reference for optimal operation of power plants and for seeking energy saving planning.


The adsorption of the attapulgite for mercury in aqueous was studied. Various factors afecting adsorption such as pH values, adsorption time, and adsorption temperature were investigated and the adsorption kinetics were also explored. The results show that attapulgite has absorbability for Hg(Ⅱ) aqueous,absorption rate was increased when decreasing the attapulgite particle size. And absorption rate exceeded90% at the conditions of temperature about 40 C, time 40min, pH 7. Capacity of the absorption reached454mg/g. The kinetics of adsorption followed pseudo-second-order model and the equilibrium data were well fitted to the Freundlich. The absorption was chemical absorption.


Chinese medicine (CM) has been widely used in Hong Kong for centuries. In fact, CM practitioners currently provide over 20% of the medical consultations in Hong Kong and about 60% of the population has previously used CM. In 1999, the Legislative Council passed the Chinese Medicine Ordinance with aims to govern practice, use, trading, and manufacturing of CM in Hong Kong. While it is usually safe to use CM under proper application and guidance, there have been frequent reports on intoxication and fatalities. The misuse of potent/toxic CM, because of misidentification or overdose, can cause severe aconite, aristolochic acid, anticholinergic, podophyllin, grayanotoxin, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, matrine, gelsemine, teucvin, and strychnine poisoning. In this review, we summarized CM intoxication cases in Hong Kong, concentrating on the discussion of toxic and adverse effects as well as the quality control of CM. By increasing the awareness of CM toxicity, we hope to enhance the regulatory process and stimulate further research on their toxic dose, toxic ingredients, intoxication mechanisms, and quality control.


Abstract This paper presents a four-factor model of ethical behaviour and explores rationalities underlying automation systems development. These four factors – Existentialist, Humanist, Technocentrist and Industriofatalist – were identified using Q methodology as part of a study into privacy and its role, meaning and value for information systems engineering. The four-factor model is presented as a holistic model of ethical behaviour and rationality for automation systems development and contemporary society more generally. This paper considers the applicability of the four-factor model for advancing international stability, and argues that the Humanist/Existentialist axis should be promoted to encourage personally empowered and responsible praxis (Existentialist) that is directed towards the protection and advancement of core human values and rights (Humanist). However, the dominance of the diametric Technocentrist/Industriofatalist axis in promoting amoral, instrumentally rational and industrial/economic values to the detriment of substantive human values remains a challenge in this regard.


The resolution of allegations of gender discrimination falls under the antidiscrimination laws of the United States, but also often under collective bargaining agreements negotiated by employers and unions. This article examines labor arbitrators' decisions concerning gender discrimination issues in the United States. The authors examined published arbitration awards since 1964 and found that arbitrators have been routinely dealing with pregnancy, seniority, ability, sexual harassment, and hostile working environment issues. Arbitrators are developing a common law concerning these issues, which draws its essence from the collective bargaining agreements, but in the context of the applicable external law. The article presents current arbitral thought on each of these important issues. Gender discrimination in the United States has taken several different forms. Wage and employment discrimination on the basis of gender [1, 2], sexual harassment [3], hostile work environment issues [4], and reverse discrimination [5] are issues that have found their way into arbitration through grievances filed under collective bargaining agreements. There have been numerous studies concerning various aspects of gender discrimination issues published in recent years [6-10]. These studies have focused on issues ranging from how the courts have interpreted and applied antidiscrimination statutes [9] to the economic


Barbui (1) described recently a slight decrease in the protein C antigen level during L-asparaginase (L-asp) therapy. We would like to report protein C antigen and activity levels in 3 patients with acute lymphocytic leucaemia, of which one, with a severe protein C deficiency, developed thrombotic complications. This patient (I) obtained after 5 treatment days with L-asp a superficial thrombophlebitis of both arms for which anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed. Five days after cessation of therapy he developed a pulmonary embolism for which full-dose heparin was instituted. The coagulation studies (Table 1) during the treatment with Lasp demonstrate a strong decline in the protein C, factor V, and antithrombin III level in patient I as well as in the other two patients. Instituting oral anticoagulant before that time may result in a more pronounced imbalance between protein C and the other vitamin K dependent factors. Our findings indicate that a severe protein C deficiency can occur during L-asp therapy, which may be responsible beside an antithrombin III deficiency for the increased risk of thrombosis.


Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a leading global health and economic threat of the 21st century, with Africa bearing the greatest burden of mortality from drug-resistant infections. Optimization of the use of antimicrobials is a core strategic element of the response to AMR, addressing misuse and overuse as primary drivers. Effectively, this requires the whole society comprising not only healthcare professionals but also the public, as well as the government, to engage in a bottom-up and a top-down approach. We determined the progress of African national governments in optimizing antimicrobial drug use. Methods From September 2021 to June 2022, all 47 member states of the World Health Organization African region (WHO AFRO) were invited to participate in a survey determining the implementation of strategies to optimize antimicrobial use (AMU). We used the WHO antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) assessment tool, National core elements—A checklist to guide the country in identifying existing national core elements for the implementation of AMS Programs, to obtain information from national AMR focal persons. The tool consists of four sections—national plans and strategies; regulations and guidelines; awareness, training, and education; and supporting technologies and data—with a total of 33 checklist items, each graded from 0 to 4. The responses were aggregated and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2020®. Results Thirty-one (66%) of the 47 countries returned completed forms. Only eight (25.8%) countries have developed a national AMS implementation policy incorporating defined goals, targets, and operational plans. There are no budget lines for AMS activities in 23 (74.2%) countries. The WHO Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) classification of optimizing AMU has been integrated into the national essential medicines list or formulary in 19 (61.3%) countries, while the incorporation of the AMS principles and WHO AWaRe classification into national clinical guidelines for the management of infections is present in only 12 (38.7%) and 11 (34.5%) countries, respectively. Although regulations on the prescription-only sale/dispensing of antibiotics are present in 68% of countries, their enforcement is poor. Systems identifying pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility for optimal use of antibiotics are lacking in 38% of countries. Conclusion In Africa, wide gaps exist in the governments' implementation of the core elements of optimizing antimicrobial drug use. Responding to AMR constitutes a long journey, and technical and financial support needs to be deployed to optimize the use of antimicrobials.


We read with interest the article by Krul-Poel et al. (1) that reported the results of a randomized controlled trial on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The authors did not find any significant improvement of HbA1c in the group receiving vitamin D supplementation (129 patients) as compared with the group receiving placebo (132 patients) …


The basic requirements of urban users of gas must be safe and stable,but the supply is Imbalance.SO the coal-to SNG plant has the ability to regulate the supply.The paper introduces the peak shaving measures of natural gas.And on that basis,the paper analyses the peak shaving measures which are used in designing the modern coal-to SNG plant for the urban users.


Technological progress in tunneling has led to modern and efficient tunneling methods in vast underground spaces even under inappropriate geological conditions. Identification and access to appropriate and sufficient geological hazard data are key elements to successful construction of underground structures. Choice of the method, excavation machine, and prediction of suitable solutions to overcome undesirable conditions depend on geological studies and hazard analysis. Identifying and investigating the ground hazards in excavating urban tunnels by an EPB machine could augment the strategy for improving soil conditions during excavation operations. In this paper, challenges such as geological hazards, abrasion of the machine cutting tools, clogging around these tools and inside the chamber, diverse work front, severe water level fluctuations, existence of water, and fine-grained particles in the route were recognized in a study of Tehran subway line 7, for which solutions such as low speed boring, regular cutter head checks, application of soil improving agents, and appropriate grouting were presented and discussed. Due to the presence of fine particles in the route, foam employment was suggested as the optimum strategy where no filler is needed.


An intelligent pressure analysis system was designed based on the improved bedsore prevention mattress. The system can recognize the area of the human body that need to be massaged according to the maximum pressure and its duration in each area. The pressure signals are measured from the sensors in different mattress areas, after they are sampled and then sent to the computer by serial port, the main functions of the system, such as data storage and real time analysis, will be implemented in the designed LabVIEW virtual instrument. The changes of pressure signals and the state in each area of the human body can be visually displayed by the virtual instrument, and that is useful for clinic observation.


AbstractThis study was designed to identify the preferences of elementary reading teachers for certain instructional patterns and procedures and to compare these preferences with those of a similar group of teachers in another geographic location. Teachers responded to questions concerning (1) preservice preparation, (2) current educational needs, and (3) desired approaches to in-service training. Analyses of responses were made according to grade level and years of experience. It was concluded that teaching level and years of experience do influence training preferences, but that variances within grade and experience levels may be greater than variances between levels. Teachers in the two separate communities were more similar than dissimilar in their preferences.


Pruritus is a frequent symptom in the general population and in many skin and systemic diseases. Its frequency demonstrates a high burden and an impaired quality of life.


A bstrAct Aim and objective: To assess the knowledge and its correlation with their attitude and practices regarding oral hygiene and to evaluate the effect of oral health education on their knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene practices. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted on 80 primary school teachers in Barara, District Ambala, Haryana. A self-administered, pretested close-ended questionnaire comprising 20 questions regarding oral health knowledge, attitude, and practice was assessed before and after the dental awareness lecture. Results: The knowledge of primary school teachers was found to be inappropriate but a statistically highly significant increase in this knowledge with p value < 0.001** after the lecture was observed. With an increase in knowledge, the attitude toward dental health changed with a p value 0.022* thus changing their regular dental practices which were when assessed after 15 days, the scores were highly significant with p value < 0.001**. Conclusion: Oral health knowledge was lacking among the primary school teachers though there was a considerable increase in knowledge and change in attitude and practices after the awareness lecture. Clinical significance: A significant increase in knowledge and change in attitude and oral hygiene practices was observed after the conveyance of the lecture. Thus, arranging for such awareness lectures could be beneficial for controlling oral diseases.


This contribution is intended to present the results of some comparative tests between different techniques for tridimensional digital documentation, applied to archaeological finds. Both open source and proprietary solutions have been analyzed, investigating pros and cons of their approach and considering the characteristics of hardware and software components from an archaeological point of view. Our attentions was especially focused on Computer Vision applications (mainly based on software) with a comparison of Microsoft's product Photosynth with the GPL licensed Bundler. Another point of interest (hardware side) has been the investigation on optic sensors, which took us to concentrate on the triangolation laserscan Next Engine (proprietary) and on the structured light Three Phase Scan (open source). (Less)


Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusive (LVO) stroke provides an opportunity to deliver targeted intra-arterial (IA) adjunctive therapies (ATs) to the ischemic brain. We developed a model of selective IA catheterization after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in rats to investigate targeted adjunctive therapies. Here we report the brain protective effects of targeted IA flushing with normal saline as an adjunctive therapy to LVO revascularization. Methods: We incorporated a continuous internal carotid artery (ICA) catheter infusion system after tMCAO in Sprague Dawley rats (300-350g). Two groups were studied (N=6/group): Control (tMCAO with IA catheter only) and Flushing (tMCAO with IA catheter and brief intermittent flushing). The Flushing group received 1 min infusions of normal saline at 2cc/min immediately, 1hr, and 2hrs after reperfusion. Laser Speckle Imaging was used to measure microvascular perfusion at baseline, post-occlusion, post-reperfusion, and ...


Morphological markers play a pivotal role in selection of desirable traits in all plant breeding programs. The genetic linkage maps provide the basic information about the nature and place of genes on genetic maps. Two plant introduction (PI) germplasm of Brassica napus i.e. PI409024 and PI 535850 were interspecifically hybridized to 366 and 1203 lines of B. campestris. The hybrids i.e. 409024 x 1203 and crusher x 1203 were grown to produce F1 generation. The F1 populations were evaluated for genetic nature of four morphological qualitative traits like plant color, flower color, leaf shape and leaf pubescence at the KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar. In F1 generation dark green plant color (C), dark yellow flower color (Y), entire leaf shape (E1) and non-hairiness of leaf (h) were expressed as dominant traits. In F2 generation the hybrids segregated and were classified into their respective phenotypic classes. Linkages were detected between Y and H, and E1 and H, pairs of loci. The recombination frequency between Y and H loci was 17.7±10.3 cM, and between E1 and H was 32.3±9.9 cM.


The radio frequency identification technology (RFID) and its applications in automobile manufacture,after- sales service,real-time tracking,and intelligent transportation system are introduced.The distributed velocity moni- toring and intelligent precaution system for vehicles is designed.The electronic highway management system can monitor and control vehicles after identifying the running speed signal receiving from the electronic tags placed in moving vehicles.The technology integrated with highway non-stopping eclectic toll collection system is expected to achieve positioning and navigation of the motor vehicles.The fulfillment of the system can reduce and prevent the oc- currence of traffic accidents effectively,offering a new way for highway management.


The behavior of the vertices A1(t), ..., An(t) of a polygonal line A(t) situated in k-dimensional Euclidean space is considered as t→∞ (each point Ai(t±1), 1 < i < n, is a linear combination of the points Ai-1(t), Ai(t) and Ai+1(t); the points A1(t + 1) and An(t + 1) are linear combinations of A1(t) and A2(t), and An-1(t) and An(t), respectively). It is proved that for any initial position A(0) the polygonal lines A(t) converge to one of two possible limits, namely a stationary or quasistationary polygonal line. Bibliography: 2 titles.


Summary form only given. The wave propagation in a multilayered medium has been an important topic since the last century and can find many practical and useful applications in realistic engineering applications. In this talk, multilayered media of planar stratified and spherically multilayered structures are re-visited and the general solutions are obtained for general applications to microstrip antennas and arrays radiation in the multilayered structures. Associated with the spherical and planar structures, the Gibbs phenomena are again looked into, and analytic removal of such phenomena has been proposed and its implementation is conducted. Associated with the new solution, the fields and waves in multilayered spherical structures are formulated and their solutions are obtained in close form. Using the transformation electromagnetics approach, the waves and fields in planar stratified multilayers are obtained in series form, where the Sommerfeld integrals occurring in the planar multilayers can be avoided and accurate and rigorous solutions are obtained in explicit form. In the analysis, some numerical examples are obtained and comparison results are obtained to check the validity and accuracy. The new solution procedure serves as an alternative approach for evaluating the Sommerfeld integrals, for validating these approximate solutions from some well-known numerical approaches such as steepest saddle-point method, branch cut method and curve fitting approximations, and for setting a unified solution to the same problem of where various different solutions exist in literature.


A simulation model generator was developed to help a company of the Bosch Group to reduce costs in time and space with its warehouse. The simulation models are automatically created in Simio and can simulate pickers riding milk runs to collect containers from the warehouse, to satisfy the needs of production lines, assisting warehouse management by testing different storage strategies. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present the developed generator and to use it in a case study, to test different storage policies for the company. The generator was validated, as was the simulation model automatically created. With this tool, some suggestions could be made to the company in question. Namely, it was shown that it would not be possible to maintain the FIFO rule and, at the same time, eliminate the upper floor of all racks for ergonomic reasons. To allow this, the rate of replacing containers should be synchronised with the needs of production lines. Alternatively, it was also shown that the performance of the warehouse would improve by dividing it into zones allocated to each milk run.


The invention discloses a method for preparing an interior wall coating material for absorbing and decomposing formaldehyde. The method comprises the following steps: (1) mixing and stirring Na2SO3 and bentonite according to a ratio at a speed of about 1500-1800 revolutions per minute of a stirrer, adding a proper amount of water, regulating into paste, stirring about 15-20 minutes, and putting the paste into a container for later use; (2) adding nanometer titania and nano titanium phosphate into the proper amount of water at the speed of about 500-1000 revolutions per minute of the stirrer, mixing and stirring for about 10-15 minutes, forming uniform slurry, and putting the slurry into the container for later use; (3) adding a film-forming base material, filler, pigments and auxiliaries into the residual water, uniformly mixing at the speed of about 1000 revolutions per minute of the stirrer, and preparing the slurry; and (4) adding the slurry prepared in the steps (1) and (2) into the slurry prepared in the step (3) at the speed of about 500 revolutions per minute, mixing and stirring for about 10-15 minutes, adding activated carbon powder, and stirring for about 20-30 minutes.


Development of high performance p-type transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) remains as the greatest challenge to the achievement of advanced future optoelectronics including transparent electronics. In this work, we proposed and succeeded in designing a novel chemical solution method to prepare highly conducting p-type oxychalcogenides LnCuOS (Ln=La and Nd). Not only our proposed chemical solution process is much more economically efficient, versatile and safer than all the currently available methods, but the synthesized NdCuOS demonstrates the record high intrinsic p-type conductivity of 11.4 S.cm-1 for oxychalcogenides. The large improvement in the electrical conductivity is attributed to our synthesis process, leading to high Cu vacancies. The good phase stability of our highly Cu deficient film was also proven by our computational calculation. At the same time, thin films of LnCuOS were also prepared via spin coating methods for the first time. As the nanoparticles were used for spin coating, the fab...


An approach using Google Groups as method for distributing student-acquired NMR data has been implemented. We describe how to configure NMR spectrometer software so that data is uploaded to a laboratory section specific Google Group, thereby removing bottlenecks associated with printing and processing at the spectrometer workstation. Outside of the laboratory, students access and download their data by going to the appropriate URL, then manipulate their data using a freely available NMR Processing software package. This approach allows us to spend more time with students on the analysis of their data and has led to an increase in the number of NMR spectroscopy-centered experiments in our curriculum, including experiments that require the collective analysis of data. The implementation and challenges of this approach are described, including feedback from students in this course.


ABSTRACT Forecasting wmd m the Red River Valley of the North has always been a problem. surface wmd speed .is generally underforecast, while SJrface directiDn .is sometimes greatly different from adjacent areas. Frontal wmd !iJffts often fail. to occur, or occur later than expected. The valley .is also sub,fict to severe ground blizzards that cb not affect surroundiIJg areas. The objective of th.is study .is to describe the meteorological conditiDns when anomalies occur and to speculate on their causes.


We studied differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for distingushing bear's galland its falsities. The temperature was increased at the rate of 10K/min scanning.DSC curves andthe first derivatives of DSC curves(FDDSC ) were obtained in the range from 323K to 773K。These curves showed definite rules and characteristics,from which,we can distinguish the bear'sgall and its falsities.


In recent years, a process of individualization has been occurring in Western countries, including Spain, and its effects can be seen in many aspects, as well as in the heart of the family. Progressively, the number of children in a household is being reduced, giving way to new familial typologies, which not long ago were marginal and rarely taken into account. The emergence of an only-child majority is changing social dynamics and possibly its structure. For the completion of the investigation, official quantitative data is presented and experts on the topic are interviewed. The choice of many parents to have an only child is far from being considered selfish and narcissistic behavior. On the contrary, it answers the needs imposed on by the postmodern era. They can offer their children a wider range and a better selection of formation possibilities to be able to adapt better to a future society which is complex and changing.


This paper presents the results of the research project "Modelling of traffic flows along the street-road network of urban and regional significance of the city of Moscow with the identification of areas operating in overload mode". The project was realized using the method of static macro-modelling of traffic flows, the EMME software package based on the initial data for the period from 2015 to 2019, as well as field surveys of traffic flows. On the basis of the obtained results, the congestion threshold for various sections of the road network was calculated along with the proportion of congested sections. The reasons for congestion and the impact of induced demand are also analysed. It is concluded that methods for calculating the induced demand for movement using individual transport are required in order to improve the accuracy of forecasting traffic flows using static macro-modelling methods and improve the quality of management decisions aimed at developing an efficient transport infrastructure


Research relating brain stem stimulation and cortical selectivity by Lindsley (1957) led Venables (1963) to utilize a score from a perceptual discrimination task (two-flash fusion threshold, T.F.T.) to examine hypotheses relating arousal level to perceptual dysfunction and schizophrenic symptoms. Other work failed to confirm the results (Hume and Claridge, 1965), possibly due to the unsuitable method of determining T.F.T., a method of constant stimuli. The following experiments were based on the proposition that perceptual functioning is related to arousal level, and also attempted to resolve confusions arising from earlier studies by control of possible sources of error in the experimental situation.


Liu Jinwen is Professor of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine of Traditional Chinese medicine bone-setting professional doctoral tutor and postdoctoral supervisor, one of the veteran TCM experts of Guangdong Province. Former director of the department of orthopedics of Guangdong Provencal Hospital of TCM. Over the past 50 years, Professor Liu Jensen has been engaged in research on prevention and treatment of bone and joint degenerative diseases of TCM and expert in theory of TCM research. He always emphasized on the prevention and treatment of diseases in clinical practice to follow the overall concept, principle of correspondence between man and universe and treatment based on syndrome differentiation. Knowledge about osteoarthritis of the knee, in his view, is not just a local issue, but overall to reflect local, and stresses therefore that on the treatment measures must be taken to proceed from the overall, good results can be achieved, overall is strengthening healthy Qi, conditioning of yin and Yang to restore homeostasis.


In Taguchi's quadratic expected loss function used as robustness metric of performance characteristics, the mean and variance contributions are confounded. The consolidation of the mean and variance in the expected loss function may not always be the ideal approach. This paper presents a procedure for multi-attributes design optimization, where the mean and variance of performance characteristics are considered as separate attributes having designer's relative preferences for them and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution(TOPSIS) is introduced to attain robust optimal design. The effectiveness of proposed approach is shown with an example of a weld line minimization problem in the injection molding process.


The need for diplomatic autonomy of weaker states in asymmetric alliances rises as their power increases, leading to a struggle for autonomy. In the U.S. Asia-Pacific alliance system, both the Philippines and South Korea are advancing the struggle for autonomy, but the effects of the struggle are showing differences. So why is the Philippines struggle for autonomy relatively more effective while South Koreas struggle is less effective when it is the same U.S. Asia-Pacific ally? This study mainly applies the case comparison method to analyze the main factors that cause the different effects of the autonomy struggle between the two countries by comparing the autonomy struggle in the Philippines after Duterte came to power and in South Korea after Moon Jae-in came to power. This paper argues that the factors that contribute to the different effects of autonomous struggle are mainly strategic dependence and the degree of interest bundling and acquisition at the external level, the degree of sovereign security and domestic political preference at the internal level, and the effective conditions for the autonomous struggle of weak states are also related to this. This study will provide insights into the struggle for autonomy of weak states in asymmetric relations and offer new perspectives for predicting the direction of the U.S. alliance system and the positioning of Korean-Philippine policy.


There are strong data suppor ting the clinical efficacy of ionizing radiation therapy in the treatment of extracranial cavernous angiomas; no unusual complications occur. There is no a priori reason to anticipate a high rate of complications following radiosurgery for brain cavernous angiomas and yet equivalent dose prescriptions (site, size and target volume) to those used for AVM are associated with a considerably higher complication rate. The observed sub-acute reactions sometimes recover with steroid therapy. Previous authors have not sought to define the aetiological basis of this observation. Haemosiderin staining of the fringe of normal brain tissue surrounding the cavernoma is a unique feature of these brain lesions and the potential radiosensitizing proper ties of this iron based substance, for which there is a considerable experimental and clinical observational basis for radiosensitization, are reviewed. These provide good support for the concept that this characteristic feature of brain cavernomas accounts for the higher post radiation reaction/complication rate. Treatment considerations, stemming from these observations, are suggested.


The scope of the Advanced School is to provide exposure to young researchers in the area of Biomedical Nanotechnology. The course will provide knowledge in advanced research topics such as Biomaterials, Smart Delivery Systems, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, Characterization Techniques, Nanotoxicology, etc. Ph. D. students, post‐doctoral RAs and young faculties (age up to 40 years) who are working in this area can apply. The School will be restricted to around 40 participants. The participants must stay for the full period of the School. Selected participants will be provided to and fro train fare in AC‐2 tier and local hospitality. The application must contain a CV, address for contact (with e‐mail), record of past academic achievements, area of research and research experience and publications (must for RAs). The application must also accompany a letter of recommendation from the research supervisor that the School is of direct relevance to the research work done by the applicant. Application


Using Type 308 austenitic stainless steel weld metal made by the SMAW and FCAW processes, creep tests and creep crack growth tests were carried out at a temperature of 650°C. Creep crack growth rate tests were conducted using CT-type specimens and the data de- rived were arranged according to para- meter C*. With regard to the flux cored arc weld metal, Bi20~ (melting point 820°C) was intentionally added to the flux for easy slag peeling and enhanced welding operability. The bismuth segre- gated (segregation depth approximately 15 &) at the grain boundaries and, due to the presence of this bismuth, fracturing occurred intergranularly, with marked re- duction in creep ductility. Further, the creep crack growth rate of the flux cored arc weld metal, which contained large amounts of bismuth, was exceedingly rapid compared with that of SMA and FCA weld metal not containing bismuth. Bismuth that has segregated at the grain boundaries is extremely harmful with re- spect to creep ductility and creep crack growth properties.


Polymerization of ethyl and benzyl diazoacetates (EDA and BDA) initiated with π-allylPdCl-based systems [π-allylPdCl/NaBPh4, π-allylPdCl/NaBArF4 (ArF = 3,5-{CF3}2C6H3), and π-allylPdCl] is described. Initiation efficiencies of the π-allylPdCl-based systems are much higher than those of the previously reported (NHC)Pd/borate (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) systems, and the new systems are capable of polymerizing the alkyl diazoacetates at low temperatures(0 ∼ −20 °C), where the (NHC)Pd/borate systems cannot initiate the polymerization. MALDI–TOF–MS analyses of the polymers obtained from EDA provide information for the chain-end structures of the polymers, based on which initiation and termination mechanisms are proposed. Interestingly, EDA polymerization by the π-allylPdCl-based systems in the presence of alcohols (EtOH, nPrOH, and nBuOH) or water was found to afford RO- or HO-initiated polymers as major products, as confirmed by MALDI–TOF–MS analyses.


This study was carried out in order to investigate the occurrence of E. coli O157 in different types of samples collected randomly from all over the Gaza Strip. Data on prevalence of this emerging cause of food-borne illness in Gaza Strip are not available. The samples tested in this study included: 190 minced meat samples, 300 vegetable samples, 152 drinking water samples, 809 diarrheal stool specimens and 120 sewage samples. The overall occurrence of E. coli O157 was as follows: 11.2% in minced meat, 11.7% in vegetable samples, 9.9% in drinking water and 20.8% in sewage samples. E. coli O157 was more prevalent in diarrheal stools collected from the 0-4 years age group and its overall occurrence in stool specimens was 10.6%. These results implicate that this pathogen can not be ignored as a possible cause of diarrhea in Gaza Strip. The heavy use of untreated organic fertilizers, lack of proper sewage disposal and poor hygiene practices are believed to be the main factors contributing to the occurrence of E. coli O157 in Gaza Strip.


[fre] Productivity gaps and « cost illness ». Contributions and limits of William J. Baumol's unbalanced growth model. . This paper exposes and analyses Baumol's unbalanced growth model, developed in 1967. This model, which was revisited and empirically tested in 1985 by Baumol, Blackman and Wolff, tackles a subject that is still of great interest : productivity in the service sector. It emphasises the consequences on employment and growth of a productivity gap between the 'progressive' and 'non-progressive' sectors of the economy. Since the model is mainly concerned by the supply side, it faces some theoretical limits. The discussion of the propositions and the assumptions allows us to value the model's significance and to conclude that an analysis must incorporate both supply and demand aspects in order to really explain the mechanisms that determine production and employment in the different economic sectors.. [eng] Productivity gaps and « cost illness ». Contributions and limits of William J. Baumol's unbalanced growth model. . This paper exposes and analyses Baumol's unbalanced growth model, developed in 1967. This model, which was revisited and empirically tested in 1985 by Baumol, Blackman and Wolff, tackles a subject that is still of great interest : productivity in the service sector. It emphasises the consequences on employment and growth of a productivity gap between the 'progressive' and 'non-progressive' sectors of the economy. Since the model is mainly concerned by the supply side, it faces some theoretical limits. The discussion of the propositions and the assumptions allows us to value the model's significance and to conclude that an analysis must incorporate both supply and demand aspects in order to really explain the mechanisms that determine production and employment in the different economic sectors.


A case of Variotin® sensitization is described which seems to be the first in the literature. Fourteen controls with various skin disorders were all negative in epicutan tests against Variotin®.


An investigation was made of the parameters of an integrated-optical spectrum analyzer consisting of a Ti:LiNbO3 crystal and a semiconductor laser with a built-in microobjective, spherical geodesic lenses, and an optimized system of interdigital (opposed-comb) transducers. The characteristics of this spectrum analyzer were as follows: the band of operating frequencies was 181 MHz (at the 3 dB level); the resolution was 2.8 MHz; the signal/noise ratio (under a control voltage of 4 V) was 20 dB.


We propose an interferometric set-up that utilizes the concept of quantum coherence to provide quantum signatures of gravity. The gravitational force comes into nontrivial play due to the existence of an extra mass in the set-up that transforms an incoherent state to a coherent state. The implication uses the fact that quantum coherence at a certain site cannot be altered by local actions at a separate site. The ability to transform an incoherent state to a coherent one in the presence of gravitational field provides a signature of quantumness of gravity. We also observe that the results remain unaltered in presence of a nontrivial quantity of depolarising noise.


Tertiary magmatic activities in Iran are the main magmatic events responsible for porphyry copper deposit occurrences. The Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic belt (UDMB), the Ahar-Arasbaran, the Taleghan-Tarom, the Kavir-Sabzevar zones, and the Lut Block contain the greatest volume of the Tertiary magmatic rocks in Iran. Many porphyry copper deposit indications have been found, especially in the south-east and north-west of the UDMB in the Kerman and the Ahar-Arasbaran zones, respectively. New porphyry copper mineralisation found in central parts of the UDMB and the East Iran magmatic belt (the Lut Block), in Tertiary rocks, have made these areas more interesting for porphyry copper prospecting, where before that they were not noteworthy. In this paper, we used the combination of upward continuation and edge enhancement filters to find and predict the pattern of distribution of porphyry copper deposits in the Tertiary magmatic belts. The results show the high correlation between magnetic lithologies/structures and porphyry copper deposits at a regional scale and new attractive areas have been proposed for prospecting based on deep geophysical features. The Tertiary magmatic belts host the porphyry copper deposits in Iran. The combination of upward continuation and edge enhancement filters were used to find and predict the pattern of distribution of these deposits. The results prove that the deposits locate on regional magnetic lithologies and structures.


Using the properties of the matching roots,This paper discussed the matching characterization of graphs and proved that H-shape graphs H(3,m,3) and its complement are matching characterization if and only if m≠4,12.Some graphs with matching equivalent are found.


A dipole-EBG array that utilizes the beam-tilting single element is presented. This enables down-tilted beam with a high directivity toward a mobile device. The proposed antenna design is fabricated and measured. The directivity of 11.2 dB is achieved at the angle of 25° at 3.5 GHz. This is higher than 9.8 dB of the directivity for the reference case that utilizes the broadside EBG-dipole single element. The array antennas exhibit a reasonable impedance matching across the operational frequency.