Wireless local area networks (LANs) based on the IEEE802.11 standard usually use carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) for media access control. However, in CSMA/CA, if the number of wireless terminals increases, the back-off time derived by the initial contention window (CW) tends to conflict among wireless terminals. Consequently, a data frame collision often occurs, which sometimes causes the degradation of the total throughput in the transport layer protocols. In this study, to improve the total throughput, we propose a new media access control method, SP-MAC, which is based on the synchronization phenomena of coupled oscillators. Moreover, this study shows that SP-MAC drastically decreases the data frame collision probability and improves the total throughput when compared with the original CSMA/CA method. key words: wireless LAN, SP-MAC, synchronization phenomena of coupled oscillators, Kuramoto model, media access control


In this paper we have investigated the steady plane Couette flow of viscous incompressible fluid between two porous parallel plates in magnetic field. We have studied the velocity, average velocity, shearing stress, skin frictions, the volumetric flow, drag coefficients and stream lines. Keywords: Steady Couette flow, viscous parallel plates, incompressible fluid and magnetic field. NOMENCLATURE u = velocity component along x - axis v = velocity component along y - axis t = the time = the density of fluid P = the fluid pressure K= the thermal conductivity of the fluid


African governments and donor agencies have realized in recent years that development programs can only succeed if built upon sound policy and institutional foundations. Since the mid-1980's, several educational policy adjustment programs have been initiated in Sub-Saharan Africa. This report explores these early policy efforts, drawing on reports from government leaders and donor representatives in Ghana, Malawi, and Senegal. Three specific questions are addressed: (i) what types of policy and budget changes have been attempted? (ii) what lessons haven been learned regarding local school and community effects, stemming from central policy adjustments? and finally, (iii) how can policy programs better complement long term efforts to strengthen institutions? Papers in this volume were presented at a conference attended by government officials and donor agencies, co-sponsored by the World Bank and USAID. Highlights of the conference debate also are reported.


Certain lanthanide chelate complexes are known to emit strong fluorescence with very distinct physical properties that are different from those of organic fluorescent compounds: the fluorescence of lanthanide complexes is long-lived with the half decay-time of several hundreds microseconds to 2 ms. The complexes are excited by UV light and emit fluorescence in the visible region. The emission profile is very sharp and the wavelength is specific to each metal, for instance, Eu 3+ complexes emit at 615 nm and Tb 3+ at 545 nm regardless of the ligand. These properties show that the complexes can be excellent fluorescence labels for proteins and DNAs and, when time-resolved fluorometry is employed, provide highly sensitive detection methods in biotechnology. Among many labels we have developed, BHHCT-Eu 3+ and BPTA-Tb 3+ are suitable for immunoassay, DNA hybridization assay, and DNA chip technology. Homogeneous DNA hybridization assay systems using fluorescence resonance energy transfer and fluorescence intercalators will be introduced.


The kinetics of polymeric network formation via free radical mechanisms is an attractive research area because there are many phenomena which are not well understood and in addition, the commercial potential for crosslinked systems is great. Recently, a large research/development program was initiated at the McMaster Institute for Polymer Production Technology (MIPPT) to investigate the fundamentals and applications of polymeric network, in particular, the kinetics of synthesis via free-radical mechanisms and network characterization. The research on crosslinking involved both theoretical developments and experimentation. Herein is provided a comprehensive summary of this work.

In the experimental polymerization, two comonomers, methyl methacrylate (MMA) / ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and acrylamide (AAm) / N,N-methylene bisacrylamide (Bis), as model systems were studied in considerable detail. Measurements included: monomer conversions, radical concentrations, sol/gel fractions, crosslink densities (equilibrium swelling and swollen-state 13C-NMR) over the entire range of divinyl monomer levels as a function of polymerization time. In the polymer modification, high density polyethylenes were crosslinked using peroxides and γ-radiation. For this system, crosslinking and chain scission occur simultaneously.

In the theoretical studies, it was shown that in general, network formation by free-radical mechanisms is highly irreversible requiring that the classical equilibrium gelation theories after Flory/Stockmayer be generalized. The general model which was developed using the pseudo-kinetic rate constant method predicts the existence of a crosslink density distribution (crosslink density of a primary polymer chain depends on its birth time) with a variance which can vary widely depending on network synthesis conditions.


Fears that mortality in children who needed heart surgery in Oxford was excessively high—suggesting a possible repeat of the incidents at the Bristol Royal Infirmary—are unfounded, an investigation has shown.

Two UK studies on survival rates after heart surgery across the United Kingdom in children less than 1 year old, which were published in the BMJ last year, prompted the Department of Health to request an investigation by Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority.

The first study was an analysis of survival rates for …


Abstract-Because of the high computation demand for multimedia applications like video decoding, there is a need to develop flexible and high performance reconfigurable computing architectures. Taking video decoding algorithm as an example, we propose a reconfigurable computing realization solution of multimedia application. Based on the analysis of parallelism in video decoding algorithm, a hardware platform was chosen. Then the video decoding algorithm was adjusted according to the character of platform, and mapped onto the it. Electronic system level simulation of the mapping was made, and the result was compared to the result on arm. The result shows there is about 35% improvement by speed in DCT and about 145% in sample interpolation algorithm. In the last part of the paper, some improvement of the hardware platform was proposed according to the character of video decoding.


The invention discloses an orange-peel-like powder paint which is prepared from the following raw materials in parts by weight: 50-60 parts of polyester resin, 10-20 parts of E-44 epoxy resin, 2-3 parts of titanium white, 10-15 parts of calcium carbonate, 3-5 parts of methyl cellulose, 0.8-1.5 parts of antioxidant 264, 0.4-0.6 part of antioxidant 168, 2-3 parts of aluminum oxide, 1-2 parts of nano titanium dioxide, 1-3 parts of methyl methacrylate, 1-2 parts of itaconic acid, 2-3 parts of pentaerythritol, 0.06-1 part of embossing agent and 10-20 parts of composite filler. After the paint is electrostatically sprayed and cured, the surface is like orange peel, has stereo perception, and has a shielding action on the sprayed material with poor smoothness and rough surface.


The one who uses parrhesia, the parrhesiastes, is someone who says everything he has in mind: he does not hide anything, but opens his heart and mind completely to other people through his discourse. In parrhesia, the speaker is supposed to give a complete and exact account of what he has in mind so that the audience is able to comprehend exactly what the speaker thinks. The word "parrhesia" then, refers to a type of relationship between the speaker and what he says. For in parrhesia, the speaker makes it manifestly clear and obvious that what he says is his own opinion. And he does this by avoiding any kind of rhetorical form which would veil what he thinks. Instead, the parrhesiastes uses the most direct words and forms of expression he can find. Whereas rhetoric provides the speaker with technical devices to help him prevail upon the minds of his audience (regardless of the rhetorician's own opinion concerning what he says), in parrhesia, the parrhesiastes acts on other people's mind by showing them as directly as possible what he actually believes. If we distinguish between the speaking subject (the subject of the enunciation) and the grammatical subject of the enounced, we could say that there is also the subject of the enunciandum--which refers to the held belief or opinion of the speaker. In parrhesia the speaker emphasizes the fact that he is both the subject of the enunciation and the subject of the enunciandum--that he himself is the subject of the opinion to which he refers. The specific > of the parrhesiastic enunciation thus takes the form: > --from Discourse and Truth: The Meaning of the Word "Parrhesia" Michel Foucault Perhaps because I was born in 1944 and many of my earliest memories of public events relate to VE Day and VJ Day parades (the abbreviations refer to Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan respectively), I have always been an avid student of the Second World War and of Nazi Germany in particular, as if anyone of my generation could have avoided as much, so well and extensively had that incredibly, catastrophically, horrifically bloody era been documented on film. An aficionado of Discovery's Military Channel, then, I viewed several episodes of a documentary series, Hitler's Bodyguard (2000), not very long ago. The passage of time since that era brings forth more and more details that were of the utmost secret then and remain, even now, well more than half a century later, startling revelations replete with such cascadingly bitter ironies that the mind literally does boggle at the prospect of what was not so much the mighthave-been as the simple fact of the matter, even if only a very few so-called higher ups were in possession of the information--"intelligence"--at the time. In the late summer of 1939, for example, while T.S. Eliot was in the process of composing his Idea of a Christian Society, what with war with Nazi Germany seemingly imminent, he lamented the obvious fiasco that the Munich Agreement, then-British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's efforts at appeasement of only the September before, had by now proved to be. The coming year would prove to be even more forbidding for all concerned, at least if they were English. The evacuation of nearly 340,000 British and French troops from the Dutch port of Dunkirk was a mere nine months away, the Battle of Britain eleven. I am old enough now to realize how shattering those realities must have been for those living through them, Eliot among them. So, then, turning hindsight on such a darkness, one must wonder what Eliot would have been thinking instead during the summer of 1939 had he known that, in that earlier summer of 1938, the Abwehr, Germany's military security apparatus, was itself prepared to oust German Fiihrer Adolf Hitler, all the way up to assassinating him if necessary, to prevent him from following through with the planned annexation of the Sudetenland . …


This study investigated the mechanical and microstructural properties of ZrO2 reinforced titanium metal matrix composites (TMMCs) fabricated using powder metallurgy. The base matrix of the Ti6Al4V alloy was reinforced with ZrO2 at mixing proportions of different wt percentage points at 0, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Microstructure evaluation was carried out to study the bonding characteristics of the matrix and reinforcement, and it was confirmed that the reinforcement was homogenously mixed with the base matrix. The objective is to study the effect of zirconia on mechanical properties such as hardness, compression strength and thermal expansion coefficiency of Ti6Al4V alloy. The hardness, compression strength, and shrinkage rate are increased with the increase of ZrO2. Finally, it was observed that, 6 wt percentage of ZrO2 reinforced composite showed better characteristics in that the hardness and compression strength were the highest among all the proportions used and the coefficient of thermal expansion was low. Due to these promising results, the fabricated ZrO2 reinforced Ti6Al4V composite can be a potential material for structural, aerospace and automotive applications.


MEDEA Program (Microlensing Experiment Data-Analysis Software for Event with Amplification) is here presented. It is developed to the pixel lensing analysis used by SLOTT-AGAPE (Systematic Lensing Observation at Toppo Telescope-Andromeda Gravitational Amplification Pixel Experiment) Collaboration. All software components are fully automated and they can be used on-line and off-line. 1 Gravitational lensing and pixel lensing technique In the recent surveys [1] monitoring millions of stars much attention has been focused on the possibility that a relevant fraction of galactic dark matter could consist of MACHOs (Massive Astrophysical Compact Halo Object). In order to detect them, it was proposed by Paczynski (1986) to search for dark objects by gravitational lensing [2]. In fact, when a compact object passes near the line of sight of a background star, the luminosity of this star increases giving rise to a characteristic luminosity curve. In a dense field, many stars contribute to any pixel of the CCD camera at the focal point of the telescope. When an unresolved star is sufficiently magnified, the increase of the light flux can be measured on the pixel. Therefore, instead of monitoring individual stars, we follow the luminous intensity of the pixels. Then all stars in the field, and not the only few resolved ones, are candidates for a mi-crolensing event. Of course, only the brightest stars will be amplified enough to become detectable above the fluctuations of the background, unless the amplification is very high and this occurs very seldom. In a galaxy like M31, however, this is compensated by the very high density of stars. If φ is the amplified flux detected by the pixel and φ B the one of the background, the flux variation is given by φ star (A − 1) = φ − φ B (1) and φ B = φ star + φ others (2) where φ star is the star flux at rest (i.e., when it is not lensed) and φ others is the flux of the stars in the same pixel. A is the amplification A = x 2 + 2 x √ x 2 + 4 with x 2 = ω 2 (t − t 0) 2 + x 2 min , (3) where ω = t −1 E is the inverse Einstein time; x min is the impact parameter in units of the Einstein radius R E , and t 0 is the time of maximum amplification.


Object-oriented software evolves over time, and it would be ideal if we could capture the persistent parts of the software early on and then derive the transient versions of the software from the persistent parts. Capturing the persistent parts of the software allows us to better maintain the integrity of the program during its evolution. This is the goal of software architecture. In this paper, we emphasize an approach called O/sup 3/ML (Operational Object-Oriented Modeling Language) to model complex software systems using a sound software architecture which is centered on the creation of a system prototype with integrated design requirements and a simulation framework. This methodology supports the prototyping of complex computer-based systems by providing: (a) a multi-domain approach to capture the architectural complexity of real-world systems; and (b) a mechanism for the simulation of the conceptual, functional and implementation features of the design and the user requirements.


The rates of hydrolysis of [(NH 3 ) 5 CoOC(NH 2 )CH 2 F] 3+ and especially [(NH 3 ) 5 CoO 3 SCF 3 ] 2+ in SCN - /SO 4 2- media are accelerated appreciably by SO 4 2- . This observation, which has precedent, is attributed to the formation of more reactive SO 4 2- ion pairs. Anion competition by both SO 4 2- and SCN - is observed. Thiocyanate ion capture leads to both S- and N-bonded [(NH 3 ) 5 Co(SCN)] 2+ products


A new allele (A1B*5) of human plasma α1B-glycoprotein (α1B) was reported. α1B phenotyping was done by two-dimensional agarose gel (pH 5.4)-horizonta


Quaternary AlInGaN/AlInGaN multiquantum-well (MQW) structures were grown by metal-organic vapour-phase epitaxy (MOVPE). The influence of QW pairs and QW barrier width on the optical properties of the samples is investigated by means of temperature and incident-power dependent photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The PL emission peaks redshift and the PL peak intensities increase as the number of QW pairs increases. On the other side, a blueshift of the PL peak energy and reduction of the PL peak intensity are observed for the sample with thinner barrier width. These results are explained by carrier localization effect. The S-shaped temperature-dependence of the PL peak energies indicates the existence of localized states induced by the potential fluctuations. The estimated degree of localization effect is found to be enhanced for the sample with more QW pairs and thicker barrier layers. Observing the incident-power dependent PL spectra, the estimated amounts of localization effect of the samples are consistent with the incident-power induced blueshifts of PL peak energies and the slope exponents of power-law form of integrated PL intensity.


The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is working to improve sustainability through a balance of environmental, economic, and social values, in order to provide the best benefits to natural and human environments. FHWA supports research, development, and implementation of sustainability efforts and promotes the responsible use of natural resources. FHWA supports a variety of programs and activities to help organizations with sustainable development. FHWA's efforts have helped improve public health, increase transportation options and accessibility, and reduce congestion and emissions. The administration will continue to work to advance sustainable development.


Context
Once a week, each of the different teams at Clearleft have an hour long meeting to discuss. The core teams are:

UX Design
UI Design
Front-End Development

Ellen de


1. A compound of formula (I): wherein m is 1 or 2; n is 1 or 2; p is 1 or 2; R is hydrogen, (CC) alkyl, CF, (CC) alkoxy- (CC) alkyl; R is hydrogen, halogen, (CC) alkyl, or CF; iRpredstavlyaet hydrogen, (CC) alkyl, (CC) alkyloxycarbonyl, (CC) cycloalkyl (CC) alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycle, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl (CC) alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring heteroaryl (CC ) alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzyl, (CC) alkoksimetilkarbonil, substituted or unsubstituted (CC) cycloalkanecarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzylcarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted (CC) arylcarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered ring heteroarylcarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclocarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted benzenesulfonyl, wherein the substituents are selected from halo, trifluoromethoxy, (CC) alkoxy, (CC) alkyl or CF; or an enantiomer or diastereomer.2. A compound according to claim 1, wherein n, p, and m are 1; R is methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, propyl or methoxymethyl; R is hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, methyl, ethyl or CF; iRpredstavlyaet hydrogen, metoksietilkarbonil, butyloxycarbonyl, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, furanylmethyl, cyclopentanecarbonyl, cyclohexanecarbonyl, trifluoromethoxybenzoyl, fluorobenzoyl, benzylcarbonyl, naphthylcarbonyl, benzenesulphonyl, or fluorobenzene sulfonyl metoksibenzolsulfonil.3. The compound of claim 1, kotoromn is 2 and m is 1; or n is 1 and m is 2; p is 1 or 2; R is methyl or ethyl; R is hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, methyl, ethyl or CF; iRpr


The OECD has emphasized that regions need to boost their growth by placing local resources and means in circulation in order to benefit from their competitive advantages. It encourages the search and analysis of those regional key factors that are driving development in the regions. Local authorities can boost their region with the use of territorial capital and the promotion of entrepreneurship. One of the ways how to do this is to buy food from local producers. Giving preference to local suppliers, even if it means spending a little more, can actually benefit a region's finances. When local governments spend their money on locally owned firms, those firms in turn rely on and generate local supply chains, creating an "economic multiplier" effect. Each additional dollar that circulates locally boosts local economic activity, employment and, ultimately, tax revenue. In Latvia, since 2014, attention has been focused on increasing the consumption of local food. Improvements in regulatory enactments have been made, which stipulate that green public procurement criteria should be used in food procurement, where one of the criteria, the supply distance, directly contributes to this aim by giving preference to the local producers. The research aim is to analyze the data of local government food procurements carried out in Latvia from 2010 to 2018 and to evaluate the share of local suppliers in these procurements. The food procurement winners were divided into four groups: agricultural producers, food processing companies, wholesale companies and retail companies. The study evaluates how each group's share in total food purchases varies over the years, and how procurement volumes vary depending on the winner's belonging to the one of the groups previously defined. Such an analysis shows the proportion of local producers in procurement, but does not fully reflect on the volume of local production, as it is not possible to obtain data on the share of production which producer purchased from others to provide the necessary volumes of food, and there is no data on the origin of products supplied by wholesalers. The following research methods were employed to carry out the present research: analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, the monographic method, statistical analysis and the graphic method.


Based on a brief introduction of project teaching method,this article studies the strategies to construct quality assurance system related to project teaching in vocational colleges from the angles of teaching system,curriculum system,teaching environment,management system,examining system,quality supervision as well as appraisal system,which will be of reference significance for vocational colleges to carry out project teaching and improve quality of teaching as well.


Good leadership is one of the virtues that need to exist in an organization. In carrying out the roles, duties, and responsibilities, every leader has their leadership style. This study aims to investigate the effect of visionary leadership style on organizational commitment. The study used quantitative methods with ex post facto research. The investigation begins after the facts have already occurred, and the researchers do not control nor manipulate the variables studied. The population in this study consisted of 294 lecturers, with a sample size of 169 people. The instrument used in this research was a questionnaire. The data analysis utilized was simple linear regression analysis processed by the SPSS. Findings show that the variable visionary leadership style (X) positively influences the variable organizational commitment of private university lecturers in Banda Aceh City. The results obtained are tcount ttable or 8.741 1.974. In addition, there is a strong relationship or correlation between variables X and Y of 56% and the coefficient of determination (RSquare) of .314, indicating that there is an influence of the independent variable (visionary leadership style) on the dependent variable (organizational commitment) of 31.4%.


Act (No. 12 of 2012) was yet to be fully implemented as per its objects set out in its Preamble, as the language policies developed by these national departments were yet to be implemented.


The electrical conductivity and polarizability of uranium and uranium carbide were measured at optical frequencies, by means of a technique based on the polarization of reflected light. Dispersion curves for both parameters were determined in this way for the region of the spectrum going from approximates 0.35 mu to approximates 2.8 mu . The results are systematic enough to justify a certain comparison between the electronic structures of the two materials. However, the present data refer to polycrystalline specimens; they need to be implemented by further research on single crystals of UC and U, before definite conclusions can be reached. Such work is now in progress, using the same experimental methods. (auth)


Distinguishing Tilletia controversa Kuhn (TCK) from T.fusca Ell.and EV,which are morphologically similar (TFE) rapidly and correctly,is the most important problem in the imported grass seeds quarantine in China.Based on the great amount of measuring data on the teliospore diameater,the mesh numbers,the ridge height and the gelatinoid sheaths thickness,a model to distinguish TCK from TFE has been established by applying the mathematics judgement theory.The model is tested with other 100 sets of data which are not used in the construction of the model,and checked by the germination experiment.The result shows that the correct rate is 100% and the model is workable.Therefore this mothod can be used in distinguishing other fungi from their close related species.


Reflecting on the loss of my privilege as a transnational scholar during the London lockdown, in this essay I explore whether the COVID-19 pandemic may provide an important moment to return to questions of solidarity, resistance and progressive politics Comparing my own experiences with those of people in my research fieldsite of Sri Lanka, I ask: do we have the necessary skills, tools and imagination to respond to this time of crisis? I suggest that the COVID-19 crisis has opened up possibilities of self-reflexivity that allow for the emergence of new epistemic and political practices that are not only more ethical but also more productive, radical and disruptive of the existing order © 2021 by the author(s)


Objective To observe the preventive effect of two strains of Lactobacillus,Streptococcus faecalis and Lactobacillus plantarum,on chicken E.coli.Method Two strains of Lactobacillus were added into feeds of broilers.14-day-old chicken was induced chicken E.coli by enteropathogenic E.coli from chichen.The attack rate,death rate and effective rate were calculated after 10 days.Result Chicken E.coli was induced successfully,and effective rate of prevention of the two strains of Lactobacillus against chicken E.coli was high significantly.Conclusion The two strains of Lactobacillus,Streptococcus faecalis and Lactobacillus plantarum,could prevent chicken E.coli.


We fully agree with Jacquet, Baumard, and Chevallier (JBC) (1) that one must be cautious in interpreting cross-cultural data. However, none of the specific methodological points they make are warranted and their characterization of our theoretical perspective on cultural neuroscience is misinformed.

JBC suggest some specific confounds that might compromise our work (2). Their caution is not new; cross-cultural psychologists have long argued that one must take precautions in conducting research in different geographical locations so as to be able to infer cultural differences (3). Heeding this advice, we had the same experimenter run the study, selected and piloted the materials extensively, and …

[↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: yanmu{at}umd.edu or mjgelfand{at}gmail.com.

 [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1


OBJECTIVE
To study the impact of patency of the infarct-related artery on the coronary angiogram, both before and after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction, on 30-day mortality.

METHOD
Data of 1702 consecutive patients treated with primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction were collected prospectively from 1994 to 2000.

RESULTS
Patients with a (partially) patent infarct artery before primary angioplasty had less damage to the myocardium and a lower 30-day mortality (1.6% versus 3.4%, p=0.04) compared with patients with an occluded artery. Patients with pre-hospital treatment with aspirin and heparin more often presented with a patent artery before angioplasty (31% versus 20%, p<0.001). After primary angioplasty, 95% of patients had a patent artery with a 30-day mortality of 2.2%. The 5% of patients with failed angioplasty had extensive myocardial damage and a 30-day mortality rate of 17%.

CONCLUSION
Patency of the infarct-related artery on the coronary angiogram, both before and after primary angioplasty, has a major impact on 30-day mortality.


SUMMARY: Achieving accurate excavation profiles is a challenging task for excavator operators who typically use the directions of a grade-person to achieve design grades and levels. Allocation of an extra person is costly and requires constant communication between an operator and the grade-person, which reduces productivity. As a result, several machine control technology providers have developed angle sensor packages to monitor the pose of the excavator components in real-time. These systems, however, are expensive and their installation and calibration are costly and time consuming. This paper presents a generic and scalable computer-vision based framework for real-time pose estimation of an excavator's boom and dipper (stick) using low-cost markers installed on the side of the arms. The hardware components of this system are inexpensive and the setup process is quick and straightforward. The system demonstrated promising performance and has been shown to measure boom and dipper angles with an average uncertainty of less than 0.75° in real-time.


One side effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is gastric mucosal irritation, possibly causing gastric ulcers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of cincau leaves (Cyclea barbata Miers) on aspirin-induced gastric ulcer in Balb/c mice. Twenty five Balb/c mice (20-30 g, 2-3 months old) were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group I-III were given cincau leave infusion at dosages of 2.5 mg/kg BW, 5 mg/kg BW, and 10 mg/kg BW, respectively, while group IV (positive control) received antacid at a dosage of 20 mg/kg BW, and group V (negative control) one milliliter of distilled water. All interventions were given by the oral route, once daily for seven days. On day 7, the mice were given aspirin (600 mg/kg BW) to induce gastric ulcer. After 30 minutes, all mice were sacrified, and their stomachs examined macroscopically for gastric ulcer, characterized by the presence of ulcer(s) and bleeding. Total ulcer scores were analyzed by one-way Anova to compare between-group protective effect of interventions against aspirin-induced gastric ulcer. Results showed that groups treated with cincau leaf infusion at all dosages experienced a gastric ulcer protective effect. There were significant differences (p=0.002) between treatments, compared to the negative control, but no significant differences (p>0.05) when compared to the positive control. Thus cincau leaves (Cyclea barbata Miers) at dosages of 2.5 mg/kg BW, 5 mg/kg BW, and 10 mg/kg BW, had a protective effect against aspirin-induced gastric ulcer in mice. Higher dosages of cincau leaf infusion have a correspondingly higher gastric ulcer protective power.


Because you can send Web page URLs to single or multiple users with your comments attached, ICQ is ideal for building Webliographies with distant colleagues...


We construct the type IIA nonsupersymmetric meta-stable brane configuration consisting of (2k+1) NS5-branes and D4-branes where the electric gauge theory superpotential has an order (2k+2) polynomial for the bifundamentals. We find a rich pattern of nonsupersymmetric meta-stable states as well as the supersymmetric stable ones. By adding the orientifold 4-plane to this brane configuration, we also describe the intersecting brane configuration of type IIA string theory corresponding to the meta-stable nonsupersymmetric vacua of corresponding gauge theory.


Background: Platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB (PDGF‐BB) is a profibrotic factor in liver fibrosis through its ability to stimulate hepatic stellate cells (HSC). The liver‐derived serine protease factor VII activating protease (FSAP) regulates the activities of PDGF‐BB in a cell‐specific manner.


Purpose – This paper aims to present a number of qualitative characteristics that contribute to effective and successful instructor involvement in a custom executive education (EE) program classroom with seasoned managers as classroom learners. As such, the characteristics should be a part of any EE instructor due diligence evaluation and selection endeavor.Design/methodology/approach – This paper codifies the attributes observed in successful, sought‐after EE instructors over nearly two decades of leading custom EE programs for a variety of clients.Findings – In this paper, 13 characteristics of well‐regarded, impactful EE instructors are identified and discussed. Each characteristic is posited as important but it is the combination of all of them that is the hallmark of the most successful, memorable, effective custom EE program instructors.Practical implications – Readers are provided with a due diligence list of 13 items for identifying highly effective custom EE program instructors. Those items shoul...


Summary Evidence presented shows that the influence of salt concentration of the environment on RNA infectivity for mammalian cells is due at least in part to alteration of the state of susceptibility of the host cell. The 3 different cell lines tested simultaneously responded differently when exposed to the same RNA preparation diluted in varying salt concentrations. Other factors which alter host cell susceptibility, sucrose concentration, age of host cell, nutritional environment of host cell and temperature during the adsorption interval, emphasize the importance of the physiological state of the cell at time of exposure to RNA to the degree of infectivity expressed.


This chapter reviews the eclectic missions of religious institutions and sets forth an agenda for conducting research with this diverse segment of American higher education.


A two-stage heating mechanism for plasma fusion at 10 MK with extremely heated 3He ions is developed. To realize thermonuclear fusion in laboratory, plasmas must be heated to 100 MK and above. The ohmic heating process is the simplest, in which an electric current that is driven through a plasma can heat the plasma up to 10 MK. Beyond this limit the resistivity in the plasma is too low for the current to be significantly dissipated. Our previous studies on the theory of solar 3He-rich events have shown that current-driven electrostatic H-cyclotron waves can be very efficient at heating 3He through the second harmonic resonance. The 3He temperature can be increased by a factor of 10-100 within only hundreds of the H gyro-period. This preferential heating of 3He can be applied as the second stage heating of an ohmically preheated laboratory plasma for fusion with 3He. As an electric current is driven through, the plasma is gradually heated up to 10 MK due to the ohmic dissipation and saturates at this level of temperature. When the current continuously increases up to a critical point, the electrostatic H-cyclotron waves are excited, which can further heat 3He to 100 MK and above, at which the nuclear fusion between the extremely hot 3He and the other relative cold D ions can occur. In a tokamak (e.g., ITER), if the plasma is composed of e, H, D, and 3He with abundances nH > nD >> n3He, then, when 3He is preferentially heated to 100 MK and above by the current-driven electrostatic H-cyclotron waves, the plasma dominant species of ions (H and D) are still around 10 MK. This new mechanism for plasma fusion can also greatly reduce the difficulty in controlling the plasma as well as avoiding any explosion of the machine when the extremely hot 3He ions fuse with the relative cold D ions.


Most accidents and serious incidents of commercial air transport helicopters occur during standard flight phases, whereby a main cause are pilots' situational awareness. Enabling pilots to better assess their situational awareness can make an important contribution in reducing the risk of fatal accidents. One approach is to examine pilot's gaze behavior with the help of eye tracking. This paper reports the results of eye tracking measurement during real flight and simulator studies of a standard mission profile. The general gaze behavior is characterized by a dominant, external view and the airspeed and altitude indicator as the most important flight instruments. A real-world applicability of gaze data obtained in the simulator could be shown.


4-Unsubstituted as well as 4,6-aryl/alkyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones were oxidized under neutral conditions using pyridinium chlorochromate to obtain the corresponding pyrimidin-2(1H)-ones in a synthetically useful manner.


Image quality assessment delivers an objective (algorithmic) score. This score must be correlated as much as possible to the human visual perception when seeing images distorted by some compression and/or transmission tools, e.g. JPEG compression, white noise, fast fading. The process can be a full-reference or a null-reference image quality assessment depending on if it has the knowledge of the original undistorted image. This paper presents a prospective for building a null-reference image quality assessment, for a given distorted image, its aim is to deliver both the global objective score and the distortion map where each pixel has a distortion measurement.


The sale of state-owned industrial assets by the Thatcher Government promises to be the most radical restructuring of British industry at least since 1951. About ?13 billion had been raised by the end of 1987 with an average of ?5 billion a year until 1990 planned from the future sale of the water and electricity industries. The great public utilities of gas and telecommunications have been returned to the private sector and even industries which have made losses for decades coal and railways look as if they may become candidates for privatization. How fundamental the Thatcher Government's privatization policy is may be appreciated by noting that state ownership of industrial assets has been advancing from mid-Victorian times. It is true that the nationalizations of the 1945-51 Labour Governments marked a quantum jump in the process, but the subsequent Conservative Governments accepted the changes, with the exceptions of road haulage and iron and steel. Having been elected with a doctrine of rolling back the frontiers of the state, the Heath Government of 1970-4 left office with a larger portfolio of state industrial assets than that with which it had begun. In this perspective the Thatcher Government's reversal of the process by privatization appears a thoroughly reformist policy. The purpose of this essay is to offer an explanation for and an evaluation of the previous trend and for the reversal after 1979. Three broad possibilities offer themselves. First, the long-term tendency was based on errors that were only fully appreciated after 1979; secondly, privatization is a mistaken policy that neglects the lessons of history; and thirdly, the underlying conditions that had warranted state ownership had changed by the beginning of the 1980s and new policies were therefore justified. In a nutshell, the first option most closely accords with the evidence. The explanation for the long-term trend in the nineteenth century is that there were genuine problems with the performance of certain industries, especially with gas, water, telegraphs, and railways. Competition did not seem to work and, in the absence of controls, private monopoly appeared to provide unsatisfactory levels of service at excessive prices. When controls were imposed, other forms of inefficiency emerged. Municipalization was an effective short-term solution


Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of C reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) for purulent meningitis and viral meningitis. Methods: A total of 147 children with meningitis admitted to The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University were retrospectively evaluated, including 76 cases of viral meningitis and 71 cases of purulent meningitis. Another 50 children without meningitis within the same period were selected as the control group. The CSF and serum levels of CRP, PCT and TNF-α were measured upon admission and during the recovery period, and compared between two groups. Results: On admission, the serum and CSF levels of CRP, PCT and TNF-α in the viral meningitis and purulent meningitis groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), while the serum and CSF levels of CRP, PCT and TNF-α of patients in the purulent meningitis group were significantly higher than those in the viral meningitis group (P<0.05). The area under the Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.958 and 0.921 respectively for combined detection of serum levels of CRP, PCT and TNF-α in the diagnosis of purulent meningitis. After treatment, the serum and CSF levels of CRP, PCT and TNF-α in viral meningitis and purulent meningitis groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), while no significant difference was noted in serum and CSF levels of CRP, PCT and TNF-α between the two meningitis groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The serum and CSF levels of CRP, PCT and TNF-α in children with purulent meningitis are higher than those in children with viral meningitis, and the combined detection of CRP, PCT and TNF-α in serum and CSF has certain significance in the differential diagnosis of purulent meningitis and viral meningitis.


A novel multi-packet reception scheme in wireless sensor networks(WSN) based on network-assisted diversity multiple access(NDMA) is proposed,which exploits cooperative diversity to overcome multi-path fading and selects relay nodes according to the characteristics of WSN and full-rank requirements of channel matrix using cross-layer methods.During the slots following the collision,a set of nodes designated as relays will cooperate with source nodes and destination node to form virtual antenna array and retransmit the signals that they received during the collision slot.The proposed scheme can effectively limit retransmission times and achieve higher throughput than slotted ALOHA and other NDMA methods.Simulation results validate the proposed scheme.


This project was undertaken to determine the current magnitude of lightning surges discharged through distribution arresters, and to determine the frequency of lightning strokes through distribution arresters. In the fulfillment of these objectives, the currents were determined from arrester gap etchings caused by lightning surges. Inspection of the gaps led to the conclusion that two distinct types of etchings had been produced. These were compared to 8 x 20 ..mu..s surges and to surges of longer duration produced by tests at the General Electric Laboratory. All arrester data were statistically analyzed and published in the from of tables and graphs.


The anion exchange behavior of macro amounts of Be, Ce, Th, and uranyl carbonate ions formed in ammonium carbonate solution and tracer amounts of cerium and thorium carbonate complex ions formed in potassium carbonate were studied. Distribution coefficients were measured with the ""Dowex 1, X-8'' anion exchanger of carbonate form. (C.J.G.)


Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are valuable therapeutic tools in the management of patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). There is growing evidence that TPO-RAs can trigger sustained response in some patients after tapering and discontinuation but data are still scarce. Aiming to bring more elements to this issue, we study a cohort of patients subjected to TPO-RAs discontinuation in our hospital


Abstract Is there a choice in sexual orientation? [Wilkerson, William S. (2009): "Is It a Choice? Sexual Orientation as Interpretation". In: Journal of Social Philosophy 40. No. 1, p. 97–116] argues that sexual desires require interpretation in order to be fully constituted, and therefore sexual orientation is at least partially constituted by choice. [Díaz-León, Esa (2017): "Sexual Orientation as Interpretation? Sexual Desires, Concepts, and Choice"; In: Journal of Social Ontology] critically assesses Wilkerson's argument, concluding that we still lack a good argument for the claim that choice plays a role in sexual orientation. Here I examine Díaz-León's response to Wilkerson. I introduce what I call the conceptual act theory of sexual orientation, and argue that even if interpretation were not necessary to constitute sexual desires, it is a necessary element to constitute what we call sexual orientation. However, I conclude that even if we agree that interpretation is involved in sexual orientation, it does not follow that there is a choice involved.


Employee Engagement has become one of the burning issues for the Human Resources function of any organization, small or large, public or private, new or long established. Attrition rates have shot up largely and engagement levels have gone down. There are a number of factors which are not even directly related to work that determine the levels of satisfaction and engagement like health, flexibility, alignment of interests and goals. The areas that will bring maximum change in engagement scores and levels need to be identified. Through this paper, I intend to explain one such framework for identification and prioritization of these actionable areas and items – The AI Matrix or Awareness – Implementation Matrix based on a research done by me on a large multinational bank. At the end, there are some of the initiatives that can help increase the awareness levels.


This project attempts to address the active and ongoing need for both faculty and student access to graduate student resources; moreover, it addresses the need for an integrated system which possess the capability for additions and utilitarian changes without excessively extensive revisions or modifications. There exists a need for vastly improved database views and report generating capacity. Therefore, the current project has required extensive computer design technique applications aimed toward actual delivery and implementation of the needed improvements. In addition to the need for enhanced and expanded student and faculty access to relevant data, the improvements must include capability for prompt and accurate information updates; rapid access for advisor; increased scalability, or the ability to adequately serve multiple system users simultaneously; reduced need for I manual input, thereby, reducing occurrence of errors; improved security protection; and capability for online advising as provided by the Graduate Coordinator. Overall, the scope and approach must be comprehensive, accurate, adaptable to intended program users, and practical in ( nature. Thus, extensive analysis and design planning were


Two opposed pin modules of a press for forming curved surface on a metal sheet is provided to reduce the number of devices for adjusting height and to prevent deformation of pin structure such as buckling of pin structure. Two opposed pin modules comprising an upper pin module(100) with pin structures(110) and a lower pin module(200) with pin structures(210) are arranged by placing a metal sheet to be formed in between the modules. The upper pin module defines a profile of the upper surface with a desired configuration by positioning an edge of each pin structure at the desired height while the lower pin module defines a profile of lower surface corresponding to the profile of the upper surface by positioning an edge of each pin structure in the lower pin module. Pin structures in the upper pin module and the lower pin module are arrayed being apart from adjacent pin structures on sides. The array of pin structures spaced apart from each other helps to reduce the number of height control unit. Between the pin structures, a spacer(120 or 220) is disposed to reinforce the side of pin structure not to be deformed by buckling during a pressing process of the metal sheet.


This work studied possibilities of using waste silicon carbide (SiC) particles from abrasive industry as alternative filler in natural rubber (NR) compounds. The rubber was prepared by using natural rubber grade STR 5L and waste silicon carbide loading of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 phr. Firstly, the rubber were compounded by using two roll mill and then using Oscillating Disc Rheometer for studying cure time at one hundred and fifty degree Celsius. Then, shear viscosity and extrudate swell of the compounded natural rubber were characterized by using capillary rheometer at 100°C. The result showed that the apparent shear viscosity increased slightly with increasing waste silicon carbide loading and the percentage of extrudate swell was found to be a decreasing function of the filler loading. Then, test tensile by using the prepared samples for studying tensile modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break. The result showed that tensile modulus and tensile strength increased with increasing waste silicon carbide. On the other hand, the elongation at break of the filled natural rubber decreased with increasing waste silicon carbide. Finally, bring the sample to test hardness by using shore A. Results indicated that waste silicon carbide direct variation with the indicator of hardness.


The Sport Management program prepares students for ever-widening professional careers in the sport management industries. Our program provides students with fundamental and advanced-level courses taught by expert, experienced faculty in this dynamic and academically-rigorous subject area. In conjunction with advisors, students may tailor their degree program to best suit their career goals and professional development. Optional internships are available to sport management students during their third and fourth years of study.


A method for ML(Maximum Likelihood) detection using a lattice reduction algorithm in a MIMO(Multi Input Multi Output) system is provided to detect a Tx signal with minimum computation for an ML detection value by using a lattice reduction algorithm prior to a sequential lattice search scheme for ML detection and to gain the amount of calculation in case of reducing modulation size. A MIMO system, if an Rx signal(y) is received, calculates a conversion matrix(T) to convert a channel matrix(H) into a conversion channel matrix(S10). Then the MIMO system calculates the conversion channel matrix using a lattice reduction algorithm(S11). The MIMO system detects a conversion Tx signal(s) through a sequential lattice search scheme using the Rx signal(y) and the conversion channel matrix(S12). The MIMO system judges whether the detected conversion Tx signal(s) is an ML detection value(S13). If so, the MIMO system calculates the ML detection value of the original Tx signal(x), based on the conversion Tx signal(s) and the conversion matrix(T)(S14).


We present a new formalism for the theory of relativistic dissipative hydrodynamics, where covariance and causality are satisfied by introducing the memory effect in irreversible currents. Our theory has a much simpler structure and thus has several advantages for practical purposes compared to the Israel-Stewart theory (IS). We apply our formalism to the Bjorken model and the results are shown to be analogous to the IS.


Our knowledge on the nucleon spin structure has greatly improved over the last twenty years or so, but still many fundamental questions remain unsolved. I will try to review some of the puzzling aspects of the origin of the nucleon spin. I will emphasize the connection with several sum rules and, when using this tool, the relevance of some kinematic regions for testing them in the QCD dynamics framework.


We use a large sample of radio sources to investigate the effects of evolution, luminosity selection and radio source orientation in explaining the apparent deviation of observed angular size redshift (θ−z) relation of extragalactic radio sources (EGRSs) from the standard model. We have fitted the observed θ − z data with standard cosmological models based on a flat universe (Ω0 = 1). The size evolution of EGRSs has been described as luminosity, temporal and orientation-dependent in the form DP,z,φ ≈ P(1 + z) sinφ, with q = 0.3, φ = 59, m = −0.26 for radio galaxies and q = −0.5, φ = 33, m = 3.1 for radio quasars respectively. Critical points of luminosity, logPcrit = 26.33 WHz −1 and logDc = 2.51 kpc (316.23 kpc) of the present sample of radio sources were also observed. All the results were found to be consistent with the popular quasar/galaxy unification scheme.


When mixed mail enters a postal facility, it must firstbe faced and oriented so that the address is readable bymail processors.Existing USPS systems face and orientdomestic mail by searching for flourescing indicia oneach mail piece.However, stamps on foreign-originatedmail do not flouresce, so the processing systems cannotsort foreign mail.Furthermore, even the facing ofdomestic mail is subject to processing problems such asmechanical malfunction and misplaced or partiallyflourescing indicia, which cause a significant fraction ofmail to be rejected.Previously, rejected domestic mailand all foreign mail had to be faced and oriented byhand, thus increasing mail processing costs for the USPS.This work aims to eliminate these costs by developing animage-based facing system that processes scannedimages of both sides of each envelope and automaticallyfaces and orients it in real time.TheUSPS began todeploy this technology nationwide in November 2002.


Abstract It has been shown that mature oocytes injected with nuclei from round spermatids collected from mouse testis can generate normal offspring and that round spermatids can develop in vitro. An undetermined issue is whether spermatids developed in vitro are capable of generating fertile offspring by nuclear injection into oocytes. Herein, we report the production of normal and fertile offspring by nuclear injection using haploid spermatid donors derived from mouse primary spermatocyte precursors cocultured with Sertoli cells. Cocultured spermatogonia and spermatocytes were characterized by their nuclear immunoreactive patterns determined by an antibody to phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), a marker for DNA double-strand breaks. Cocultured round spermatid progenies display more than one motile flagellum, whose axonemes were recognized by antitubulin immunostaining. Flagellar wavelike movement and flagellar-driven propulsion of round spermatids developed in vitro were documented by videomicroscopy (http://www.sci.ccny.cuny.edu/∼kier). We also show that breeding of male and female mouse offspring generated by spermatid nuclear injection produced fertile offspring. In addition to their capacity to produce fertile offspring, cocultured, flagellated round spermatids can facilitate the analysis of the mechanisms of centriolar polarity, duplication, assembly, and flagellar growth, including the intraflagellar transport of cargo proteins.


Abstract Project Chameleon is a school-based educational programme relating to crime, UK law and social moral positioning. Qualitative data were collated from three focus groups with child participants and two focus groups with university psychology student volunteers. The data related directly to the individual experiences of child participants and student volunteers supporting the facilitation of the programme. Three overarching themes emerged from the data: Personal Experiences, relating to individual learning, attitude and behavioural changes and how individuals used the information provided by the programme; Programme Delivery, which examined all aspects of how the programme was taught to child participants; and Session Content and Issues, discussing the topics and any relevant problems occurring whilst participating. Recommendations for future school-based interventions are discussed, including delivery style, interactivity, dosage and tailored content.


Contributing to significant business opportunities and the enhancement of employee's productivity, the Internet has changed how work is done. These benefits, including cost reductions, decreased product cycle time, and easier access to information are not without a downside. The use of the Internet in the workplace has also raised concerns regarding privacy, organizational liability and a new workplace threat to productivity— CYBERLOAFING, as a result of employees' non-work related Internet activities. From a more general perspective, Cyberloafing can be classified as a form of procrastination. This is because when employees cyberloaf, they are delaying work till a later time period (Lay & Silverman, 1996). Researchers argued that personality, specifically, the Big Five Personality factors (i.e. Extraversion, Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Openness to new experiences and Conscientiousness) plays an important role in determining why some people procrastinate more than others. Research has shown that individuals who are high on conscientiousness tend to engage in less loafing behavior's (Colbert, Mount, Harte, Witt & Barrick 2004). In this paper, we explore the role of various factors over and above the Big-Five personality traits that influence the degree to which individuals engage in Cyberloafing. The paper attempts to achieve a holistic perspective on cyberloafing.


Multimedia classrooms are an important means of teaching technology and an important part of campus informatization. At present, multimedia classrooms mainly have problems such as old equipment, cumbersome management, primitive methods, and a lot of waste of resources. Therefore, using educational information technology integration methods to explore how to build old multimedia classrooms into smart multimedia classrooms, Taking Guangdong Engineering Polytechnic as an example, starting from the background, plan, and purpose of project construction, design the functional structure of smart multimedia classrooms. It focuses on the effect of the integrated construction of multimedia classroom functions, which provides ideas for the construction of a smart campus.


Abstract The European Union has adopted several strategies to cope with a set of inter-related problems. The best known is the Europe 2020 strategy with its focus on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Another is fostering balanced macro growth via a strengthening of the EMU. Finally the cohesion policy has to cope with spatial unbalances. The objective of this paper is to highlight the main issues in three policy fields: competitiveness, EMU and cohesion.1 Two scenarios for post 2020 development are described, which show the need for further strengthening of EU policies and of the quality of government at all levels.


DESPITE ROBUST ECONOMIC growth in the second half of last year and a more upbeat assessment for economic activity during the first part of 2010, the outlook for commercial real estate has not materially improved. Credit quality is still deteriorating as delinquencies and defaults increase. Operating fundamentals continue to decline. Vacancy rates across all property types have either already risen to record highs or appear set to. Lending standards remain exceptionally tight, and there has been very little progress made at clearing up the logjam of properties with maturing loans in the next few years, many of which are underwater or have seen loan-to-value ratios skyrocket to levels that are difficult to refinance. There has been a persistent chatter about the impending dislocations that will unfold when large numbers of borrowers are unable to refinance commercial real estate loans coming due over the next two to three years. Occupancy rates and rents never reached the levels needed to adequately service debt payments. As a result, values have tumbled and many properties are now worth less than the balance due on their loans. [GRAPHIC 1 OMITTED] [GRAPHIC 2 OMITTED] The Moody's/REAL Commercial Property Price Index (Exhibit 1) is currently down 42% from its 2007 peak. Values have fallen in every region, but appear to be most problematic in the South and West where there was a great deal of construction activity during the past decade. Declines are expected to continue, and we expect the Moody's/REAL CPPI to ultimately fall by 50%. Vacancies driven by job losses Private nonresidential construction spending did not turn down until late 2008 and is currently down 22% from its peak (Exhibit 2). Overall construction spending was supported by the energy boom. Construction of office, retail and warehouse projects topped out earlier and fell harder with outlays declining on average about 50%. The pullback in private nonresidential construction is one of the necessary steps to bring the commercial real estate market back to balance, but in many ways this is the easiest part. Commercial real estate is less overbuilt in this cycle than in previous cycles. Only a handful of markets saw excessive commercial development during the past decade. The high vacancy rates confronting commercial properties today are more a product of job losses than overbuilding. Office employment tumbled 8.5% from December 2007 until October 2009, producing a net loss of 2.5 million jobs. Commercial real estate may not have been as overbuilt, but it has been overbought. Low interest rates and an abundance of capital allowed property values to be bid up to unsustainable levels. …


Objective: To examine the association of birthweight with indices of glycemia in a population based survey. Methods: 10,788 AusDiab participants were asked to complete a birthweight questionnaire. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post load glucose (PLG) and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were modelled against birthweight. World Health Organization criteria were used for defining impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus. reported their birthweights, with a mean (SD) of 3.4 (0.7) kg. FPG, PLG and HbA1c were strongly and inversely correlated with birthweight. The ORs (95% CI) for high (> 90 th gender-specific percentile) FPG, PLG and HbA1c were 0.83 (0.71, 0.96), 0.74 (0.65, 0.84) and 0.81 (0.70, 0.94) respectively, for one kg increase in birthweight after adjustment for age and sex. In those with LBW, the risks for having IFG, IGT, diabetes and all abnormalities combined were increased by 1.75, 2.22, 2.76 and 2.28 for females and by 1.40, 1.32, 1.98 and 1.49 for males compared to those with NBW, respectively. These trends applied across categories of age and body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: In an affluent western country with a good adult health profile, birthweight has an inverse relationship with indices of glycemia, and LBW people were predisposed to higher rates of glycemic dysregulation in adult life. These associations were independent of BMI, and other factors significantly correlated with glycemic dysregulation. ype 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide, and it is becoming more common at younger ages. The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) during 1999-2000 reported that the prevalence of diabetes in the Australian population aged 25 years and older was 7.4% (8.0% for males and 6.8% for females) (1). Rates rose from 2.4% in people aged 35 to 44 years to 23.0% in those aged > 75 years (1). The prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism (impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycemia) in the population was 16.4% (17.3% for males and 15.3% for females) (1). In recent decades, researchers have reported an association between low birthweight (LBW) and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and the earlier onset of type 1 diabetes during adulthood. It is proposed that inadequate nutrition programmes the foetus to develop resistance to an insulin-stimulated uptake of glucose in late life (2-5). These studies, however, were performed in selected populations, based on geographical location, ethnicity, and/or professional status. None have looked at the phenomenon in a general adult population. Some …


Burkholderia cepacia sp. GL3 population naturally occurring in the rhizosphere of Glyricidia sepium was evaluated by metabolic and molecular profiling and for some traits associated with plant growth promoting (PGP) and phosphate solubilizing activity. This research were performed to investigate the effect of inoculation of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (B. cepacia sp. GL3), VAMycorrhizal, Rhizobium bacteria associated with soybean, consortium of potential microbes, combination of PSB and VA-Mycorrhizal, combination of VA-Mycorrhizal and Rhizobium, combination of PSB and Rhizobium, and combination of PSB, VA-Mycorrhizal and Rhizobium with the same concentration toward the growth of soybean plant (Glycine max). The research using polybags with 10 kgs capacity of soil, at the research field of Research center of BiotechnologyLIPI, Cibinong. Parameters used are plant height, number of pods, weight of pods, and weight of seed. This research is experimental research using RAL factorial (10x4). Analysis data using SAS statistic analysis, and then using Duncan test 5%. Results demonstrated that, all treatments displayed significant effect toward plant height, weight of pods, and weight of seed. But it had no significant effect on number of pods. Inoculation of PSB showed significant effect toward plant height, number of pods, weight of pods, and weight of seed as compared to inoculation of VAMycorrhizal and negative control (with chemical fertilizer and uninoculated plant). Percentage increase in soybean seed weight of PSB inoculation plant compare to inoculated plant 47,9%, three months after inoculation. Moreover, the combination of five potential microbes were able to positively affect that showed significantly values of weight of seed, as compared with single microbe inoculation and uninoculated plants. The weight of soybean seed could show productivity of soybean.


In this study the relationship between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Status, self-concept, behavioral attitudes and progress in academic performance of pupils in selected primary schools in Narobi west, Kenya was evaluated. The main aim was to investigate how the self-concept, behavioral attitudes and academic performance may interact with each other in the face of HIV/AIDS scourge and the likely outcomes. The study consisted of 308 pupils, selected from class 4, 5, 6, 7 and class 8 in nine primary schools in Nairobi West District, Kenya. The nine schools were sampled from about 132 schools. The study included HIV infected children from various children's homes and normal family set-ups who were enrolled as pupils in these schools. The results provided evidence that; there was significant relationship between HIV status and the pupils' self-concept, behavioral attitudes and academic performance. Moreover there was strong and significant correlation between self-concept behavioral attitudes and academic performance. Based on the findings it was recommended that there is need to strengthen both the psychological and behavioral interventions in the formal learning of the HIV infected pupils in both public and private primary schools.


This thesis consists of five essays on evolutionary
dynamics. In Chapters 1 and 2, we study the evolution of trust from
the perspective of game theory. In the trust game, two players have
a chance to win a sum of money. The "investor" begins with one
monetary unit. She gives a fraction of that unit to the "trustee."
The amount she gives is multiplied by a factor greater than one.
The trustee then returns a fraction of what he receives to the
investor. In a non-repeated game, a rational trustee will return
nothing. Hence, a rational investor will give nothing. In
behavioral experiments, however, humans exhibit significant levels
of trust and trustworthiness. Here we show that these
predispositions may be the result of evolutionary adaptations. We
find that when investors have information about trustees, investors
become completely trusting and trustees assume the minimum level of
trustworthiness that justifies that trust. "Reputation" leads to
efficient outcomes as the two players split all the possible payoff
from the game, but the trustee captures most of the gains: "seller"
reputation helps "sellers" more than it helps "buyers." Investors
can capture more of the surplus if they are collectively
irrational: they can demand more from trustees than is rational, or
their sensitivity to information about trustees can be dulled.
Collective investor irrationality surprisingly leads to higher
payoffs for investors, but each investor has an incentive to
deviate from this behavior and act more rationally. Eventually
investors evolve to be highly rational and lose the gains their
collective behavior had earned them: irrationality is a public good
in the trust game. Next, we describe two evolutionarily robust
mechanisms for achieving efficient outcomes that favor the investor
while still compensating trustees for the value of their agency. In
the first mechanism, "comparison shopping," investors compare
limited information about various trustees before committing to a
transaction. Comparing just two trustees at the beginning of each
interaction is enough to achieve a split desirable to the investor,
even when information about trustees is only partially available.
In the other mechanism, a second layer of information is added so
that trustees sometimes know what rates of return investors desire.
The trust game then becomes similar to an ultimatum game, and
positive investor outcomes can be reached once this second type of
information is sufficiently pervasive. In Chapter 3, we study the
origin of evolution and replication. We propose "prelife" and
"prevolution" as the logical precursors of life and evolution.
Prelife generates sequences of variable length. Prelife is a
generative chemistry that proliferates information and produces
diversity without replication. The resulting "prevolutionary
dynamics" have mutation and selection. We propose an equation that
allows us to investigate the origin of evolution. In one limit,
this "originator equation" gives the classical selection equation.
In the other limit, we obtain "prelife."…


Provincial Patriots: The Hunanese and Modern China, by Stephen R. Platt. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2007. 278 pp. US$49.95 (hardcover). China is the largest nation on earth-and is also a collection of provinces, some of which have populations larger than most nations (Sichuan, Henan and Shandong all have populations of over 80 million). Most of the provinces have strong identities and a powerful sense of history, underlined to this very day by the use of the ancient province names on license plates. Along with the sense of identity go provincial cultures, cuisines, accents and dialects, regional associations. The relationship between the province and the central state is complex. On the surface they seem to be at loggerheads, and the nationalist ideology was aimed as much against regionalism as it was against imperialism and foreign domination. In reality, though, much of the functioning of economic and political systems has depended on provincial ties and connections. Migration and emigration run along strongly regional lines, as does the military. However, since the central government (imperial, Kuomintang or Communist) has always insisted on the primacy of the state, and since outside interests tend to be on China as a whole, regional dynamics are often ignored or down-played. The obvious (but usually overlooked) way out of the tension between the nation and the province is to recognise that most people belong to both at the same time, and that their identification with one or the other depends on the context. This book achieves this objective brilliantly, by using the quintessential example of Hunan. No province has a stronger provincial identity. Hunan has a very long history, a fierce cuisine, a great literary tradition, a strong dialect. The province also has a particularly potent sense of its role within China, the belief that Hunan is destined to play a leading role in the nation. This fateful sense of destiny is underlined in the province's identification with Chu, the state that lost out to the Han in the bitter fighting at the end of the Qin dynasty for the domination of the early empire. Chu and its leader Xiang Yu stood for everything fine and cultured; Han and its leader Liu Bang were cruel, coarse-and the winners. This beautifully written book deals with a number of famous Hunanese scholar-activists, Wang Fuzhi, Zeng Guofan and Tan Sitong, each of whom loosened or broke the bonds of Confucian conformism, and, in different ways, used their strong provincial attachments to champion new political systems that would serve Hunan at the same time that they served China. …


The late Neoproterozoic strata in Finnmark (Arctic Norway) provide a good sedimentary record of Neoproterozoic glaciations on the Baltica paleocontinent. The lower Vestertana Group exposed on the D ...


Abstract Plagiogmus from the Kalmarsund area in Sweden is an Early Cambrian trace fossil, not Middle Cambrian as originally dated. It is an endichnial burrow, however showing clear affinity to the surfaces of some laminae within the preserving sandstone beds. The previously described ladder-like structure, giving the false impression of an epichnial trail, is the floor of the burrow. The roof of the burrow is preserved as a smooth, almost flat or slightly concave structure, formed by collapse of the roof during compaction, and giving the false impression of a hypichnial trail cast. The animal moved forward by extension and contraction in a strongly mucus-lined burrow, and the transversal ridges across its floor often indicate the direction of movement. Only traces of a very thin infilling of the burrow have been found, in contrast to the thick, laminated backfill found in specimens from Australia, the other area of known common occurrence. In a number of other respects the present material confirms observ...


The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance of five experimental plantations in three different forest types, where in 1971 simulated WTH event occurred, was compared with pure, planted and conventionally managed (CH) Norway spruce stands of similar age and growing conditions. Potential incomes of CH and WTH stands were based on timber prices for period 2014–2020. However, regarding the economics of root and stump biomass utilization, they were not included in the estimates. In any given price level, the difference of internal rate of return between the forest types and selected managements were from 2.5% to 6.2%. Therefore, Norway spruce stands demonstrate good potential of independence regardless of stump removal at the previous rotation.


Taking the demonstrable countries in Zhangjiagang which establish "Culturation Information Resources Sharing Project" as an example,this paper discusses the issues and strategies in the implementation of "Cultural Information Resources Sharing Project" in district libraries.


A review of the properties of photodiodes available through the use of standard silicon technologies is presented and some examples of how to improve monolithically integrated photodiodes are shown. The application of these photodiodes in optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs) is described. An innovative double photodiode requiring no process modifications in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS) technologies achieves a bandwidth in excess of 360 MHz and data rates exceeding 622 Mb/s. Furthermore, a new PIN photodiode requiring only one additional mask for the integration in a CMOS process is capable of handling a data rate of 1.1 Gb/s. Antireflection coating improves the quantum efficiency of integrated photodiodes to values of more than 90%. Integrated optical receivers for data communication achieve a high bandwidth and a high sensitivity. Furthermore, an OEIC for application in optical storage systems is introduced.


Network security is a paramount concern for the organization. To secure the network, we have traditional network intrusion detection systems and firewalls but they have limitations like size of training data sets .With the inception of Hadoop technology, in industry, recently researchers have started using this new technology with traditional machine learning algorithms which generally uses pattern matching, to design and develop network intrusion detection system based on streaming of big-data using Hadoop that checks for intrusions in massive amount of data that flows in and out. In this paper, we are proposing a study and analysis of various Hadoop based network intrusion systems. Here the parameters used for comparison are detection rate and false-positive alarm rate.


Respiratory tract infections account for a huge medical and economic burden. Although the overall frequency of respiratory infections diminishes with age, from eight to 10 in the first year of life to one or two in older adults, it is generally at the extremes of life that the greatest impact occurs. Viruses are the most frequent cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in infants and children, accounting for 70% of all illnesses. When carefully sought, viruses are also identified in at least 20 to 30% of LRTIs in adults and are frequently the sole pathogen identified. In this issue of Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine many old and several newly identified pathogens, including two viruses with serious pandemic potential [''bird flu'' and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)], are reviewed by an esteemed group of investigators. Several common themes are noted in each of the articles. They are the importance of newer molecular diagnostic tests, the nonspecific clinical illness caused by each, and the paucity of vaccines. Our current understanding of the epidemiology of these viruses has been greatly advanced, and in some cases altered substantially, by the application of highly sensitive molecular diagnostic assays. The use of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for diagnosis has provided evidence that respiratory syncytial virus is second only to influenza as a cause of serious respiratory illness among elderly and high-risk patients, groups in which standard viral diagnostic methods are inadequate. As discussed by Dr. Falsey the burden of RSV disease is sufficiently large to consider development of a vaccine for this population. Because the signs and symptoms associated with each of the viruses overlap considerably, diagnosis made solely on clinical grounds is always suspect. For instance, even though influenza tends to cause higher temperature and RSV more wheezing, clinical diagnosis in elderly persons is error prone. An exception might be hantavirus infection, in which hemoconcentration and thrombocytopenia should raise suspicion as discussed by Dr. Chang and colleagues from the University of New Mexico and the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute. Similarly, RT-PCR is the diagnostic method of choice for human metapneumovirus infection, a virus that mimics RSV but requires tedious culture techniques for diagnosis, as described by Deffrasnes et al. Dr. Greenberg's review of the ''common cold'' viruses illustrates how molecular diagnostic assays can be used to identify new non-SARS coronaviruses, and have emphasized the key role that rhinovirus infection plays in


In this paper, a direct mode-matching technique is proposed for the calculation of the modal scattering matrix of nonconfocal, twisted, and/or displaced step discontinuities in elliptical waveguides of different cross sections, For the convenient treatment of the Mathieu functions, an efficient trigonometric series expansion technique is used, As examples, the scattering parameters are calculated for typical step discontinuities demonstrating the flexibility of the method.


Fruit juice is a healthy beverage. However, we must be careful in handling or consuming such juice, especially in relation to its storage time. The Prophet of Muhammed PBUH in his hadith prohibits to drink fruit juices that have been stored for more than 3 days, as its legal status changes from Halal into Haram.In accordance with the development of science and technology, many methods could be used to measure alcohol content in a sample; such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy method (GC-MS). Therefore the objective of this research was to analyze the alcohol content of various fruit juices made with or without the addition of yeast and  being stored within 1, 2, and 3 days using GC-MS, as well as its relation to the hadith Matn of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH regarding its law. Results showed that alcohol (ethanol) content of various fruit juices : red grapes, green grapes, dates, pomegranate and durian, made without the addition of yeast which stored for 3 days, in consecutive order were 0.524; 0.144; 0.214; 0.143 and 0.314% v/v. While alcohol (ethanol) content of various fruit juices : red grapes, green grapes, dates, pomegranate and durian, made with the addition of 10 g/L yeast were  and stored for 3 days were 0.618; 0.921; 0.901; 0.575 and 1.202% v/v constitutively. Alcohol content of red grapes fruit juices of 0.524% v/v was the highest alcohol content (in juices) which is still Halal to be consumed.


Uterine cervical adenocarcinoma is rare, but its prevalence has increased. To improve outcomes and ensure the suitability of recent immunotherapies, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological impact of the tumor immune microenvironment of uterine cervical adenocarcinoma. We investigated 148 adenocarcinoma cases, including 21 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and 127 cases of invasive adenocarcinoma, using immunohistochemistry to detect tumor‐infiltrating immune cells and the expression of programmed cell death 1 ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) and p16 on tumor cells. We then carried out correlation and survival analyses. The density of immune cells and expression levels were compared between the tumor cell nest and stroma and between AIS and invasive adenocarcinoma using digital image analysis. A higher density of tumor‐infiltrating CD204+ M2 macrophages was significantly associated with shorter disease‐free survival, although no other tumor‐infiltrating immune cells were prognostic, including CD4+, CD8+, FOXP3+, and PD‐1+ lymphocytes and CD68+ macrophages. The density of stroma‐infiltrating lymphocytes and macrophages was significantly higher in invasive adenocarcinoma than in AIS. The density of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes in p16‐expressing human papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive tumors was significantly higher than that in HPV‐negative tumors. The HPV status was not associated with patient outcome. Expression of PD‐L1 on tumor cells was found only in invasive adenocarcinoma cases (17.3%). A higher density of stroma‐infiltrating lymphocytes and macrophages was found in PD‐L1‐positive tumors than in negative tumors. Patients with PD‐L1‐positive tumors tended to experience longer survival. It is suggested that tumor‐infiltrating CD204+ M2 macrophages may predict poor prognoses in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma.


A method was developed for the determination of hydrogen in uranium metal by mass spectrometry. The samples are introduced into a tube containing helium at atmospheric pressure. Hydrogen gas evolved from the heated sample is mixed with a helium gas stream flowing through the tube and over the sample at a constant rate. The effluent gas mixture is monitored at m/e2. The resulting rate-ofevolution curve is integrated with respect to time with an electronic integrator. The empirical number so obtained is directly proportional to the hydrogen content of the metal. The method was adapted to time-of-flight and magnetic mass spectrometers. The determination requires from 3 to 10 min on the mass spectrometer, depending on size of the sample and hydrogen content of the metal. Precision comparable to that of the classical vacuum technique is obtained. The technique described is also adaptable to the study of diffusion of hydrogen in uranium metal. (auth)


In this paper,the development of the chaotic encryption is briefly reviewed. Th e problems in digital chaotic ciphers are discussed. Based on the crypto grap hical properties, such as the sensitivity to the initial condition and periodici ty, a new way of chaotic encryption is proposed.


Twenty-two materials, including 19 dental impression elastomers, were compared in their ability to replicate microscopic detail. Some polysulfide, silicone, and polyether materials performed well. Curiously, microscopic replication ability generally correlated inversely with that expected from the nominal consistency. The test method developed appears to be a suitable microreplication evaluation standard.


The Baltic Sea is inland, Shelf Sea in northern part of Europe. It is shallow with average depth of 52 meters and deepest point 459 meters located at Landsort Deep. Baltic Sea is connected with North Sea via the Danish Straits (comprising of Great Belt, Little Belt and Øresund). These systems ensure only limited exchange between oceanic waters and seawaters, which affect the low salinity in Baltic reservoir. Runoff from surrounding lands (approximately 200 rivers) and positive difference of precipitation minus evaporation additionally refreshes water and makes Baltic a brackish sea. The only charge of salt comes from the North Sea with so-called inflows or less frequent occurring Major Baltic Inflows (MBI). This exchange between Danish Straits is the key for properly working simulation. In this work the tool, well known as NEMO, was used to perform the numerical simulation for the Baltic Sea area. This presentation is focused on the first stage of validation of the model results for the Baltic Sea region where influence of open boundary conditions is noticeable as soon as possible. The main change in the model is the assimilation of sea surface height in Kattegat area. Also water outflow mass controlling from the Baltic Sea has been introduced. The properly working open boundary conditions affect the water exchange between Baltic Sea and North Sea, thus the MBI and minor salty inflows are well represented. This is very important part in modeling the Baltic
Sea, where narrow Danish Straits limits the water exchange which controls the salt budget, adding the salt with inflows and receiving brackish outflow out to the Ocean. This work presents comparison between model output with results measured in situ and from other validated model, the period which is compared is the Major Baltic Inflow in the beginning of 1993.


1. INTRODUCTION These last years has seen an important spreading of the agent-based simulations. If the early models proposed a very basic representation of the spatial environment-usually a grid-the newest models tend to propose a very precise one that integrates geographic vector data. Unfortunately, if all of the existing agent-based simulation platforms allow to use a grid as environment, rare of the ones that allow to integrate geographic vector data. Moreover, these platforms are often complex to use and their understanding can require a time investment from the modeler that can be similar to the one needed to develop a model from scratch. Thus, today, most of the models that integrate complex vector data are developed from scratch. The GAMA agent-based simulation platform [1][2] was developed to address these issues. This platform, which is under GPL license, provides a complete modeling and simulation development environment for building spatially explicit multi-agent simulations. Its main advantages come from its versatility (domain independent) and the simplicity to define a model with it. Indeed, GAMA provides a rich, yet accessible, modeling language, the GAML, that allows to define complex models integrating grids and geographic vector data. In this paper, we present the spatial capabilities of the new version of GAMA (v1.3) and we illustrate its utilization by case study concerning the classic Shelling model [3]. In this case study, we show how to build different kinds of models, from the simplest (grid environment) to the more complex (geographic vector agents) with the GAMA platform. The paper is organized as follows. In Section 2, we present the GAMA platform, in particular its capabilities concerning the environment representation. Section 3 is dedicated to the presentation of the case study. At last, Section 4 concludes. 2. THE GAMA PLATFORM In this section, we briefly introduce some of the major agent-based simulation platforms. Then, we present the GAMA simulation platform, in particular its capacities concerning the environment representation. 2.1. Existing simulation platforms As mention in Section 1, there are numerous agent-based simulation platforms, however very few allow to directly manipulate a complex environment integrating geographic vector data. Swarm [4] is a well-established simulation platform and inspiration for many others. Its original version does not allow to integrate geographic vector data. However, a library called Kenge [5] allows to load layers of geographic vector data. Practically, this extension allows to create a cellular automata from a shape file. In …


If there is a "79% reduction in the proportion of families with an affected contact," how many families will you have to treat in order to prevent one case of flu? On first glance, it looks like 4 families out of 5 will benefit, but a closer look reveals that only one family in 7 will have a case of flu prevented. Why is this? This occurs because only 20% of families were going to be affected anyway, so even if the drug were 100% …


1998 Workshop on the Algorithmic Foundations of Robotics This paper outlines geometric and algorithmic issues common to various types of nonprehensile manipulation and gives some results for planar dynamic manipulation .


Nanocarriers responsive to glutathione (GSH), a molecule overexpressed in cancer cells, are extensively investigated for the delivery of Pt-based chemotherapeutics for cancer treatment. However, a non-precise control over the conjugation...


A new patch antenna using the Minkowski fractal curve and Electromagnetic Bandgap structure on plane ground is proposed. The design was based on HFSS and a prototype was built and measured in order to validate the numerical results. A better impedance matching for the device was obtained using the inset-fed technique. The measured return loss for the proposed antenna at the resonant frequency is lower than �15 dB. The M1 EBG-GP antenna resonant frequency is lower than that of a corresponding rectangular inset-fed patch antenna. This results in a reduction of 35.6% for this antenna resonating at 2.45 GHz (ISM band).


As science and technology develop and bring about changes day after day, originality now is the primary motive force in the era of intellectual economy. With the deepening of the educational transformation, changing the conventional educational ideas, establishing modern university system, devoting much attention to the individual character building of the students and training original talents are becoming problems which demanding prompt solution. The paper explores current situation of our national higher education, and ends with the solution in order to push forward educational originality and to carry out "the Three Representatives".


We consider the problem of optimally controlling a semi-Markov chain with countable state space and unbounded costs. We assume that a particular control is suspected of being optimal and derive conditions for checking whether this is so. The result is applied to the following queueing system. A single server serves two types of customers who arrive at random and join separate queues. The two types of customer differ in respect of their arrival rates, waiting costs and service time distributions. The server has control over which queue to serve at any time and may interrupt the service of a customer in order to serve a customer of the other queue. In the latter case, however, an interruption cost is incurred which reflects the disruption or loss of goodwill entailed. The server requires a policy for determining when he should switch queues which minimises the long run expected cost per unit time. We find that such a policy specifies that one of the queues has higher priority. When the service time distribution of the other queue is exponential, this priority is pre-emptive if the length of the higher priority queue exceeds a critical value and is otherwise postponable. When the distribution is Erlang-2, the priority depends both on the length of the priority queue and the phase of service.


In the present invention, the clarification and homogenization of molten glass are performed effectively in the case of having performed high-temperature melting. In the present invention, the inside of a glass melting furnace (11), which is provided with a side wall (13) and a bottom wall (12) to which an electric heating member that performs resistive heating by means of electrification is formed, a molten glass outlet (15) being formed to the bottom wall (12), is provided with: an upper partition plate (16) that allows the passage of molten glass only from the furnace inner bottom of the glass melting furnace (11); and a thin-film-forming member (25) that is disposed between the upper partition plate (16) and the outlet (15), holds back the molten glass, forms a passage with the upper partition plate (16) through which molten glass flows from below to above, and to which a thin-film-forming surface (25b) is formed that allows the overflowing molten glass to drop downwards and thus be formed into a thin film.


Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc derangement is a malpositioning of the articular disc related to the condyle and eminence. Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive technique for the patients who complain about TMJ internal derangement. The aim of this case report is to know efficiency of TMJ arthrocentesis in patients with internal derangement and control the situation of TMJ using Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after arthrocentesis. This case report presents MRI images of internal derangement of 24 year old woman with acute open mouth limitation after TMJ arthrocentesis.


Good information enviorenment is the fundamental condition to ensure information for scientific research, and good information service is the main means to ensure information for scientific research. Confronted with the increasing information index, the urgent task of us in developing science is to raise the level of ensuring information for scientic research.


ABSTRACT Self-efficacy, or the beliefs people hold about their ability to succeed in certain pursuits, is a long-established construct. Self-efficacy for science communication distinguishes scientists who engage with the public and relates to scientists' attitudes about the public. As such, self-efficacy for public engagement has the potential to serve as a key indicator in the evaluation of scientist training and public outreach programs. To date, most evaluation scales have been designed for public audiences, rather than scientists. This study used think-aloud methods and Item Response Theory to develop a scale to measure scientists' Self-Efficacy for Public Engagement with Science. The results from this study support the use of a 13-item self-efficacy scale, and provide initial validation evidence to support its use with scientists who engage with the public. The findings are presented in relation to the continued study of public engagement through both research and evaluation.


Significance Although still in its infancy, electronics based on all-oxide materials is a rapidly developing field, and strontium titanate is its key player. For this area to thrive, an atomic-scale control and understanding of the materials' surfaces and interfaces needs to be achieved. A SrTiO3 crystal with (110) orientation automatically forms an overlayer that is more insulating than the bulk and chemically less reactive, akin to the native SiO2 on conventional wafer. With appropriate doping a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) forms underneath the SrTiO3(110) surface. This (110) 2DEG is very different from (001): The effective mass here depends on the quantum number, and a completely flat band can be realized. Such a flat band bears good prospects for, among others, magnetism and thermoelectricity. Two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) at oxide heterostructures are attracting considerable attention, as these might one day substitute conventional semiconductors at least for some functionalities. Here we present a minimal setup for such a 2DEG––the SrTiO3(110)-(4 × 1) surface, natively terminated with one monolayer of tetrahedrally coordinated titania. Oxygen vacancies induced by synchrotron radiation migrate underneath this overlayer; this leads to a confining potential and electron doping such that a 2DEG develops. Our angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and theoretical results show that confinement along (110) is strikingly different from the (001) crystal orientation. In particular, the quantized subbands show a surprising "semiheavy" band, in contrast with the analog in the bulk, and a high electronic anisotropy. This anisotropy and even the effective mass of the (110) 2DEG is tunable by doping, offering a high flexibility to engineer the properties of this system.