The first book examines the impact of Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) in Mainland China since market-oriented reforms were instigated in the late 1970s. It is the outgrowth of the author's Ph.D thesis and some of the chapters have been published elsewhere in similar form. However, this does not detract from the value of the book as a reference. In fact one of its great strengths is that it is well structured and flows well. The first two chapters offer a general introduction to the issues Chapter 1 examines theories of DFI and Chapter 2 provides an overview of DFI in China. The remaining chapters explore specific aspects of China's experience with DFI. Chapter 3 has an interesting study of entry modes into the Chinese market. The impact of DFI on ~ zonomic growth and the comparative efficiency of foreign-invested firms and domestic firms are examined in Chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 6 considers industrial linkag,'s between foreign-invested firms and domestic firms and chapter 7 investigates the effect of DFI on regional income disparities. The relationship between DFI, foreign trade and transfer pricing is discussed in the last substantive chapter. Most of these chapters have an empirical basis and use sophisticated econometric techniques to test specific propositions. Sun's approach should appeal to a broad audience. The book probably has the most to offer people interested in a general introduction to the role of DFI in China. The breadth of material covered and accessible writing style make it ideal for this sort of audience. The extensive empirical findings, however, should also be of interest to China specialists who have a more in-depth knowledge of the existing literature. Some of the chapters, and in particular the chapters on linkage effects and transfer pricing, make important contributions to the existing literature which advance our understanding of the nature of DFI in China. The data used in the empirical studies is also well documented in several appendices at the back of the book. This is useful for readers interested in exploring the methodological basis of the econometric testing in more detail. A final group who should benefit from the book are students of international business who will find some parts of value, particularly Chapters l, 3 and 8. While Sun uses


The powerful tsunami events caused by Feb. 27th, 2010 Chilean earthquake and Mar. 11th, 2011 Tohoku earthquake lead to the revelation of influence of tide level change in harbour oscillation. During a long time span of harbour excitement, the ocean surface will shift up and down, which, through dispersion relationship, makes the primary resonant mode to appear in various resonant spikes in the spectral density distribution. For the time domain analysis, the present paper uses the numerical model of the improved formula of Peregrine's Boussinesq-type equations to study the oscillation properties of three harbours in California with five representative tide levels. By white-noise analysis, the result of present paper in time domain is cross checked with earlier studies in frequency domain, and the effect of fluctuating tide level and the corresponding change of harbour layout is ascertained.


Suggests some measures to deal with some problems and obstacles in China's urbanization.The solution to these problems and obstacles includes determining the object of urbanization, choosing an appropriate way of urbanization, reforming census registration system, regulating and upgrading industrial structures, developing regional economy rural economy and urban economy coordinately, reforming the urban administration system and so on.


Under wear will be the one of consumption fields which have best developing foreground in 21th century. This paper has analyzed the development of knitting under wear, and it is concluded that famous brand, specific market, functional materials and abundant variety will be the development trends of knitting under wear in the future.


Haemangioma.-Single or multiple aggregations of vasoformative tissue are frequently encountered in diverse situations in the body in the first few years of life. They are common in children, and less common in adults. They may be present a t birth or appear soon afterwards. They are sometimes loosely termed ' naevi ', although this term includes a number of other abnormalities not specially associated with blood-vessel formations. They are also called ' haemangiomata ', and may be subdivided by their clinical appearance into capillary or cavernous types, depending upon the calibre of the blood-vessel spaces of which they largely consist. These lesions are treated in a variety of ways designed to destroy them with as little resultant scar as possible. For example, they may be injected with one of a variety of sclerosing fluids ; thrombosis may be promoted by injection of boiling water; radiation or excision may be employed; and there is certainly a place for each one of these lines of therapy. There is no doubt, however, that the majority of the simple vascular ' tumours ' will undergo spontaneous shrinkage by thrombosis, organization, and fibrosis, if they are left without any treatment. T h e process may take months or years, but the final result is frequently very satisfactory. Often the most difficult part in advising treatment is to persuade the parents to postpone or avoid active intervention. This clinical fact was demonstrated with convincing force at a recent meeting of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons by Mr. H. J. Wallace ( I ~ s z ) , who showed several cases which had received n o treatment over years for lesions of this type, and finally showed little or no permanent evidence of the original tumour. Haemangio-endothe1ioma.-In spite of the frequency of occurrence of the simple haemangioma referred to in the last paragraph, and in spite of the widespread distribution of blood-vessels throughout the body, a truly malignant tumour arising from the blood-vessel elements, and exhibiting invasive and metastasizing characteristics, is a rarity at any age. It is even more unusual in childhood. T h e diagnosis may be suspected clinically, but should only be made if it can be supported by adequate histological criteria. T h e present case is reported firstly because it is of some clinical interest to meet a malignant haemangioma causing death by metastasis at the age of 5 years ; and secondly because the histological sections fully confirmed the diagnosis.


Background: Regarding the presence of immunosuppressed patients in hospitals, hospital food must have a boost safety. Escherichia coli O157 is one of the prevalent causes of food-related poisoning. Objectives: The current examination was done to assess the distribution of virulence factors and phenotypic analysis of antibiotic resistance of E. coli O157 bacteria recovered from hospital food. Methods: FromApriltoAugust2016,200hospitalfoodsampleswereobtainedanddirectlytransportedtothelaboratory. Escherichia coli O157-positive bacteria were analyzed by disk diffusion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Nine out of 200 (4.50%) samples harbored E. coli O157. Distribution of E. coli O157 in soup and gavage samples were 3% and 6%, respectively. Stx1 (100%), eaeA (100%), and ehlyA (100%) were the most frequently detected virulence genes. Escherichia coli O157 bacteria exhibited maximum prevalence of antibiotic resistance against tetracycline (100%), gentamycin (100%), ampicillin (100%), mezlocillin (50%), enrofloxacin (50%), and trimethoprim (50%). Distribution of resistance of E. coli O157 bacteria against more than six antibiotic agents was 11.11%. Conclusions: Gavage and soup samples may be sources of virulent and resistant E. coli O157. High presence of E. coli O157, simulta-neouspresenceof multiplevirulencegenes,andresistanceagainstanimal-basedantibioticspresentedinadequacyof cookingtime and temperature in processing of hospital foods.


The following three part debate is in response to the article "Functionalism and the Mass Media," which appeared in 19:11–22. Dr. Pryluck is associate professor in the Department of Radio, Television and Motion Pictures at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Anderson directs the Broadcast Research Center at Ohio University, and Dr. Meyer is a member of the communications faculty at the University of Massachusetts.


Abstract Purpose To report our early experiences with failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) in a community practice setting. Methods The FMEA facilitator received extensive training at the AAPM Summer School. Early efforts focused on department education and emphasized the need for process evaluation in the context of high profile radiation therapy accidents. A multidisciplinary team was assembled with representation from each of the major department disciplines. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) was identified as the most appropriate treatment technique for the first FMEA evaluation, as it is largely self‐contained and has the potential to produce high impact failure modes. Process mapping was completed using breakout sessions, and then compiled into a simple electronic format. Weekly sessions were used to complete the FMEA evaluation. Risk priority number (RPN) values > 100 or severity scores of 9 or 10 were considered high risk. The overall time commitment was also tracked. Results The final SRS process map contained 15 major process steps and 183 subprocess steps. Splitting the process map into individual assignments was a successful strategy for our group. The process map was designed to contain enough detail such that another radiation oncology team would be able to perform our procedures. Continuous facilitator involvement helped maintain consistent scoring during FMEA. Practice changes were made responding to the highest RPN scores, and new resulting RPN scores were below our high‐risk threshold. The estimated person‐hour equivalent for project completion was 258 hr. Conclusions This report provides important details on the initial steps we took to complete our first FMEA, providing guidance for community practices seeking to incorporate this process into their quality assurance (QA) program. Determining the feasibility of implementing complex QA processes into different practice settings will take on increasing significance as the field of radiation oncology transitions into the new TG‐100 QA paradigm.


This paper presents a scheme that classifies reflectivity measurements from ground‐based volume scanning radar into convective and stratiform precipitation types. The algorithm developed in this paper uses the neural network approach as a tool for classification. The algorithm is trained and validated on radar data obtained from 18 Weather Surveillance (WSR‐88D) Doppler Radar sites in the southern United States, sampled over the period December 1997 to October 1999. For the training and validation of the neural network, classification information from a hybrid approach based on Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) classification products and low‐level ground radar reflectivity fields is taken as reference. The approach utilises PR's ability to observe the vertical structure of storms with high resolution (250 metres) and WSR‐88D's ability to observe the low‐level horizontal reflectivity magnitude and spatial variability. The method was applied to an extended dataset consisting of storm cases associated with squall line convection, mesoscale convective system, and widespread stratiform precipitation with embedded convection. The scheme is shown to have an overall 75% probability of detection, 18% false alarm rate, 67% critical success ratio, and 0.554 in prediction correlation (Cramer's V coefficient). It has an overall 4% overestimation and 27% underestimation of stratiform and convective rain areas, respectively. The classification results are compared to two current methods and improvements are shown in terms of the above statistical measures and through visual comparison with PR classification fields. The improved classification scheme derived herein will help establish more accurate radar reflectivity‐rainfall relationships and improve the retrieval of diabatic heating in different cloud systems. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.


The new heat utilizations have high academic values for universal problems in the world. The waste heat of the middle temperature range generated from industrial apparatus has not been used effectively in the Southeast Asia countries, such as Thailand. In this research, we planed the joint research of thermoelectric generation module for exhaust heat recovery of the middle temperature range and negotiated international cooperation in Thailand. KMUTT (King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Thonburi) is most suitable for cooperation, because KMUTT is in the top 400 universities in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014-2015.
As results, Tokushima University and KMUTT will conclude cooperation agreement in 2016. The equipment of electrical conductivity was introduced and established methods of standard deviation improvement for thermoelectric semiconductors.


The Amazon is the result of different moments in the formation of the Brazilian nation, from contact among peoples of different lifestyles, going through subjugation of locals, abolition of slavery and various tensions in the 20th century. Guamo district is located in the outskirts of the of city of Belm, capital city of Par state. It is the locusof difference among local, national and international tensions. This study focused on urban youngsters from the outskirts of Belm, a city reflecting its roots and history from the forest in the everyday urban life. Keywords: Urban youngsters. The Amazon forest.


E-learning has become one of the major components in education processes, and it is one of the most important elements in which universities can attain a competitive advantage. Virtual learning environment (VLE), which is considered as a subpart of the LMS, allows educators and educational systems to go beyond place and ti.me in communication with every student. For this reason universities focus on having LMS, for it helps users access educational sources that is not only reliable, but also has the possibility to be integrated with other systems available at the university. The paper highlights and explores the different theories and methodologies related to implementing and switching virtual learning environment successfully. Many previous studies, framework, theories and models have been reviewed; those models and frameworks identify how successful the implementation of virtual learning environments is in higher educational institutes.


Combine their work experience and study of the relevant literature study, described in this article in the coal mining enterprises mechatronics actual production process in the specific application,and analyzes the development trend of the future of the technology.


We examined gender disparity in union leadership by studying the effects of gender similarity between union members and their stewards. We theorized and found that gender similarity augmented the effect of verbal persuasion on self-efficacy to serve as a steward.


This article analyzes the manipulation of the sacrel in the most fully embodied the principles of Socialist Realism "production" prose of 1920-1930's. The spіritual situation in post-revolutionary Russia is characterized as "dual faith". The author's assessments of Bolshevik doctrine's fetishist foundations, its anti-Christian nature are considered.


Using excimer lasers in DuPont's laboratories in Wilmington, we showed that a wide variety of nylon and polyester fabrics can be successfully irradiated to produce fabrics which combine the attractive visual and tactile aesthetics of cotton or wool fabrics with the durability, wrinkle resistance, and wash-and-wear performance of fabrics of 100 percent nylon or polyester. Extensive wear tests in such demanding end uses as bicycle pants proved that the desired aesthetic improvements were retained in use.


Obstract In this research, a novel organic photocatalyst of 10-(Perylene-3-yl-10H-Phenoxazine (PHP) has been synthesized successfully from perylene and phenoxazine via Buchwald-Hartwig C-N coupling. The chemical structure of catalyst was determined via proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H-NMR) spectrum and optical properties were investigated through UV-Vis spectroscopy. The PHP has been used as the reducing photoredox catalyst for organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) under UV irradiation. The well controlled molecular weight of polymers based on methyl methacrylate monomers have been obtained with monomer conversion up to 77.61% and low polydispersity index under


To know about the cognition to gourd against hepatitis B in the crowd infected hepatitis B virus newly,200 hepatitis patients who were diagnosed and received treatment in our hospital from July to December 2000 were investigutedThe result shous that among the unimmunated crowd,945 percent patients are due to not understanding how to prevent hepatitis BThe difference in the district,vocation and educational level are the important factors of influencing recognitionTherefor strengthening precaution and propagation are the radical way to control hepatitis B virus infection in our province,especially in devious mountain area


A device designed to float in or on a liquid, having at least two 浮部 material. This device is intended for generating power by utilizing the relative movement between each other 浮部 material, 浮部 material, relative movement between each other 浮部 member by movement of the surface of the liquid that floats device It is coupled to the device in the form of, is caused. Device, internal to be a housing that contains an electronic device, in which case, the electronic device, power floating device generates is directly or indirectly supplied. The device can also be a sonobuoy, further may be to have a sensor array in the form of hanging from floating housing that stores at least two 浮部 material.


Genital co-infections increase the risk to acquire HIV-1 by sexual contact. Several mechanisms have been proposed, such as ulceration and bleeding. Here we demonstrate that Langerhans cells (LCs) are involved in the increased susceptibility to HIV-1 in the presence of co-infections. Although LCs are a target for HIV-1 infection in genital tissues, we demonstrate that immature LCs do not efficiently mediate HIV-1 transmission in an ex vivo skin explant model. Strikingly, the inflammatory stimuli TNFα and the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-1/2 ligand Pam3CSK4 strongly increase HIV-1 transmission by LCs through distinct mechanisms. TNFα enhances transmission by increasing HIV-1 replication in LCs, whereas Pam3CSK4 acts by increasing HIV-1 capture by LCs and subsequent trans-infection of target cells. Genital infections such as Candida albicans and Neisseria gonorrhea not only trigger TLRs but also induce TNFα in vaginal and skin explants. Thus, during co-infection, LCs can be directly activated by pathogenic structures and indirectly by inflammatory factors and thereby increase the risk of acquiring HIV-1. Our data demonstrate a decisive role for LCs in HIV-1 transmission during genital co-infections and suggest anti-inflammatory therapies as potential strategies to prevent HIV-1 transmission.


In teaching young adult literature in a teacher education programme at the undergraduate level, I pose the question of how I can best introduce my personal theoretical stances into the formal curriculum and syllabi, without unintentionally conveying such theories to my students as necessary postures. I first outline the theoretical underpinnings that inform my own work: which include psychoanalytic theory, ideas of fantasy and loss in reading experience, the concept of adolescence as a psychic and cultural relation, and the dynamics of forgetting in teacher education. In theorizing part of the process of learning to teach as the productive activation of a person's internal archive, I then describe the methodological choices I made while constructing my course in young adult literature, where, in reference to Lynda Barry's One Hundred Demons, my students consider the ways to best approach their own adolescent 'demons'.


Direction finding (DF) in the high-frequency (HF) band is challenging since the signal and noise environment can at best be modeled only nominally, yet the high resolution of model-based methods is typically needed. In our analytical and experimental investigation of HF/DF, we have developed a new bearing estimation method, MICL, that incorporates an identifiability constraint into the standard ML method. We have also developed a companion source enumeration method, EIL, based on estimated incremental likelihoods. We describe MICL/EIL and apply it to real HF field data, demonstrating its utility for significant, HF/DF improvements.


Raising money from water users in the form of direct fees or other ways in which communities can generate revenue is considered essential by policy-makers to ensure the sustainable operation and maintenance of community handpumps. This paper summarises a case study of three villages supported by WaterAid and its local partner AMEPPE in rural Mali. The research explores the ways in which communities finance the ongoing costs of handpump maintenance and how these are linked to traditional social practices and more recent structures for water management promoted by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Although regular tariffs are considered the most preferable form of cost recovery by NGOs and donors, this research suggests that communities use a wide variety of ways of raising money. These may include fundraising activities such as collective farming by the water management committee or other village groups; setting varying prices for different uses of 'drinking' water (for example for animals or for construction purposes); imposing charges on particular occasions (for example on market days); and informal collections.


Particle image velocimetry (PIV) has matured as a flow measurement technique. It enables the description of the instantaneous velocity field of the flow by analyzing the particle motion obtained from digitally recorded images. Correlation based PIV evaluation technique is widely used because of its good accuracy and robustness. Although very successful, correlation PIV technique has some weakness which can be avoided by optical flow based PIV algorithms. At present, most of the optical flow methods applied to PIV are based on brightness constancy assumption. However, some factors of flow imaging technology and the nature property of the fluids make the brightness constancy assumption less appropriate in real PIV cases. In this paper, an implementation of a 2D optical flow algorithm (GCOF) based on gradient constancy assumption is introduced. The proposed GCOF assumes the edges of the illuminated PIV particles are constant during motion. It comprises two terms: a combined local-global gradient data term and a first-order divergence and vorticity smooth term. The approach can provide accurate dense motion fields. The approach are tested on synthetic images and on two experimental flows. The comparison of GCOF with other optical flow algorithms indicates the proposed method is more accurate especially in conditions of illumination variation. The comparison of GCOF with correlation PIV technique shows that the proposed GCOF has advantages on preserving small divergence and vorticity structures of the motion field and getting less outliers. As a consequence, the GCOF acquire a more accurate and better topological description of the turbulent flow.


It is important to approach this subject with care, for two reasons. First, although many important industries are hightech, many are not. So when we think about antitrust policy, we have to think about whether and how much we want to change it in response, not to all of what is going on in American industry, but to some of what is going on in American industry. The geographic reach of suppliers has increased in recent decades. But this does not suggest that any change in traditional antitrust policy, which includes economically sensible definitions of markets, is necessary. This is also true with oil, cement, steel and other important components of America's present-lay economy. In short, we may be in the age of technology, but it is an age that requires review of competition policies applied to some, but not all, industries. Second, it is important to remember that almost every change in the circumstances in which our industries operate has led critics of antitrust to call for a major revision in antitrust policy. "Revision" should be read as "relaxation." During the Great Depression, some argued that we had to relax antitrust policy so that prices could go up.' When some markets became more global, we were told that the antitrust laws were obsolete, even though we could define markets to include these global effects.2 When we were faced with a cartel of oil-producing nations, we were told that the new geopolitics of energy required us to relax the antitrust laws so that oil companies could cooperate, collaborate, or collude in response.3 No matter what the development, there are people who claim that it requires us to relax antitrust policy. Today, we are faced with the emergence of a host of new industries with assets known as "intellectual property," created by entrepreneurs whose youth and ability to convert the future potential of their enterprises into instant fortunes through the magic of IPOs have propelled them to the covers of the leading business magazines. We see the faces of young, jeans-clad, mother-and-apple-pie businessmen smiling out at us. These images are nothing like those of the scowling J.P. Morgan or John D. Rockefeller, with watch chains gleaming on buttoned-up jackets, suggesting greed and a whiff of evil. To that benign image that surrounds the creators of the new technology, add the new emphasis on international competitiveness. This ignores the fact that economists have pretty much debunked the notion that the concept of rivalry among firms can be translated into rivalry among nations. Free trade is not a zero-sum game. The popular perception is that America is in a struggle for survival and that the troops on which it must rely in this commercial battle are the creators of intellectual property.4 After all, the Japanese proved that we cannot rely on our auto industry to win. The Koreans and Russians are proving that we cannot rely on our steel industry to wins The Chinese and others are apparently going to consign our apparel industry to the same graveyard in which our shoe industry rests.' So, the argument goes, we must rely on our high-tech industries to preserve our international economic position, and anything that interferes with their freedom of operation is against the public interest. I would like to persuade you that the developments I have just discussed make vigorous enforcement of the antitrust laws more, rather than less, crucial to the continued success of the American economy and to the preservation of the social values that underpin our entrepreneurial system. To go soft on antitrust, even in a small way, would be bad public policy. In a world in which intellectual capital is rapidly replacing physical capital as the cornerstone of the wealth of nations, nothing is more important than getting right the application of the antitrust laws to intellectual property. It is not easy. Intellectual property is developed both by corporate research laboratories and by individual inventors working in their garages. …


Under physiological conditions, astrocytes not only passively support and nourish adjacent neurons, but also actively modulate neuronal transmission by releasing "glial transmitters," such as glutamate, ATP, and d-serine. Unlike the case for neurons, the mechanisms by which glia release transmitters are essentially unknown. Here, by using electrochemical amperometry and frequency-modulated single-vesicle imaging, we discovered that hippocampal astrocytes exhibit two modes of exocytosis of glutamate in response to various stimuli. After physiological stimulation, a glial vesicle releases a quantal content that is only 10% of that induced by nonphysiological, mechanical stimulation. The small release event arises from a brief (∼2 ms) opening of the fusion pore. We conclude that, after physiological stimulation, astrocytes release glutamate via a vesicular "kiss-and-run" mechanism.


Large pre-trained vision and language models have demonstrated remarkable capacities for various tasks. However, solving the knowledge-based visual reasoning tasks remains challenging, which requires a model to comprehensively understand image content, connect the external world knowledge, and perform step-by-step reasoning to answer the questions correctly. To this end, we propose a novel framework named Interactive Prompting Visual Reasoner (IPVR) for few-shot knowledge-based visual reasoning. IPVR contains three stages, see, think and confirm. The see stage scans the image and grounds the visual concept candidates with a visual perception model. The think stage adopts a pre-trained large language model (LLM) to attend to the key concepts from candidates adaptively. It then transforms them into text context for prompting with a visual captioning model and adopts the LLM to generate the answer. The confirm stage further uses the LLM to generate the supporting rationale to the answer, verify the generated rationale with a cross-modality classifier and ensure that the rationale can infer the predicted output consistently. We conduct experiments on a range of knowledge-based visual reasoning datasets. We found our IPVR enjoys several benefits, 1). it achieves better performance than the previous few-shot learning baselines; 2). it enjoys the total transparency and trustworthiness of the whole reasoning process by providing rationales for each reasoning step; 3). it is computation-efficient compared with other fine-tuning baselines.


The current research aims to scrutinize the generality and idiosyncrasy of verb formation mirrorred in Madurese language. The language has been easily understood and intuitively acknowledged for native speakers. Since the (ir)regularity, changing a word in shapes and functions, also demonstrates its linguistic facet, the approach from morphological explanation becomes crucial. This is to provide background information for those especially interesting in learning the language and or simply making even the native speakers aware of. Furthermore, it would be beneficial in a way that the proper uses both syntactically and semantically are appropriate. This employed the explanatory research, collecting the data from WA (WhatsApp) group. All members are indigenous of Madura and thus the group facilitates the extensive use of the given language. By identifying, capturing and classifying the required data, they were subsequently analyzed from the proposing morphological underpinnings. The findings of this research demonstrate that prefix a- and –e are considered to be bound morphemes as they cannot stand alone. They function to form a verb in active voice and a verb in passive voice. The generality takes place. The idiosyncrasy is, however, also phenomenal.


The present comparative observation of lawyer presence right does not involve concrete and detailed analyses in a normal and standard condition,neglecting the actual condition of such right.In comparative perspective,the right of lawyer presence during interrogation diversifies on the issues such as the relationship to the right of silence and electronic recording system, waiver ability and effectiveness.Main factors that impact the right include judicial tradition,confession dependence and procedural context.Profound observation in comparison can provide new theory and technical support for the construction of legal system in our country.Two issues must be considered for the adoption of this system in China: whether it can be used to eradicate torture and what model shall be selected.


This paper addresses a new approach for the design of multiband filters with step like magnitude responses and extremely flat, weighted passbands down to /spl mu/dBs. Our new technique can also be used for the multiband stepwise approximation of arbitrary filter magnitude responses with precise transition band control. One marked advantage of the technique is that our basic building blocks are the modified polyphase (W) filters. The points of transition from one flat-top to another, namely the multiple transition bands of our filter are completely free of cross-over oscillations. One other advantage of this technique is that we are not confined to employing IIRs only. To this end perfect reconstruction FIR filters can also be used. In both the FIR and IIR cases our technique is general purpose and works for both real and complex valued filter coefficient cases.


Microencapsulation technology is being more and more applied in the textile industry because microcapsules can confer additional properties to conventional fabrics. In this context, polysulfone microcapsules containing vanillin were prepared, and their morphology, thermal stability, and antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus were assessed. The microcapsules were fabricated onto 100% cotton fabrics by a coating technique. The resistance of the coating to several washing cycles was studied, and the durability of the aromatic finishing was determined. Capsules were stable in the range between 20 and 100 °C, and they inhibited the growth of the bacteria at 37 °C for, at least, one week. Most of the capsules added to the fabric were flushed away between the first and second washing cycle; however, some capsules were still observed after the fifth washing. Finally, a survey was conducted in order to know how consumers perceived the aroma, before and after several washings. Survey data was statis...


event common to a sample of 304 people (Chile, earthquake February, 27 2010) was determined through the application of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and the Davidson Scale of Trauma. The results show 4 significant Regression Multiple Linear models explaining the total and the 3 types of PTSD symptoms through WOC such as avoidance and problem solution. However, a first integrated model through structural equations did not attain good fit indexes. The study has been concluded with an alternative integrated model presenting very good adjustment indexes (CMIN/DF=.058, RMSEA=.000, NFI=.999, CFI=.999 and PNFI=.100). Finally, explanations based on neuroimages and covert conditioning are provided along with reflections on the prevention and prevalence of the PTSD.


Sales and purchases of residential real estate are the most significant financial transactions that the majority of the population are involved with. As such they are concerned that these transactions are carried out efficiently and to their best advantage. One of the most significant changes affecting modern society over the last ten years has been the growth in consumer use of the Internet. This research examines the intersection of these two important issues – i.e. the use of the Internet for marketing residential real estate. Over the last twelve years Lincoln University has biennially surveyed residential real estate buyers and sellers in Christchurch, New Zealand. Findings from this research include the rapid growth of Internet use in recent years at the expense of newspaper advertising. However, the radical change in real estate brokerage services predicted by earlier researchers has not occurred – at least not yet. But major changes in Internet access and use are still underway and their effects on real estate brokerage may not be fully played out for some time to come. Introduction. The growth of the use of the Internet, and in particular the World Wide Web, over the last 10 years has been phenomenal and impacted on nearly every area of life in developed societies. One of the most important aspects of peoples' lives is their physical living conditions, and in New Zealand, as in many other western countries, this is typically a residential property owned by the occupier. Owner-occupiers therefore have a particular interest in the operation of residential property markets and this paper examines how the Internet is impacting on marketing processes in this real estate sector in New Zealand. Traditionally New Zealanders have adopted new technology rapidly, with the relatively small scale of the country and well developed infrastructure facilitating this process. Internet use has followed this pattern with World Wide Web access now available to the vast majority of New Zealand homes (80.7% in the most recent version of this survey). Lincoln University has been teaching and researching real estate valuation and management since 1938, and over the last twelve years has been surveying house buying and selling practices in Christchurch, New Zealand on a biennial basis. This research project covers a wide range of real estate issues including listing, marketing, and selling practices, advertising and commission costs, pricing trends, market share of real estate agencies, spatial movements and other demographic characteristics of buyers and sellers. The research has been funded by the Real Estate Network – a multiple listing bureau type organisation. Although not the primary focus of this research, the questionnaires used have since 1999 included questions on the use of the Internet for real estate marketing purposes. This time series of similar survey questions answered by relatively large and homogenous samples of home owners has facilitated the identification of trends in Internet use. It has also helped in identifying if the predictions that were made back in the mid 90's in relation to marketing real estate have indeed come to fruition. Literature review. Baen and Guttery in their 1997 paper "The Coming Downsizing of Real EstateApplications of Technology" hypothesised that the growth of the Internet would significantly impact on the market for real estate brokerage services as well as other property related services. In relation to brokerage they predicted a reduction in the number of people involved in the industry and downward pressure on real estate commissions. Also predicted were an increase in fixed marketing fees per transaction and an increase in the support services provided by real estate brokers. The rationale for these outcomes was in part because the brokerage industry exists because of inefficiencies of the traditional real estate market. In the absence of cheap reliable market information real estate brokers act as information intermediaries as well as negotiators. It was believed that the rapid growth of cheap and available information over the Internet would reduce the role of real estate brokers and other property professionals as sources of information. As the value of providing that information had become part of the transaction cost (around 6% of sale price in the United States at that time) reduction of information costs and alternative sources were predicted to drive sales commissions down to around 3% of sale price. Baen and Guttery (1997) also provide figures regarding Internet use in 1996, with 17% of the USA population 16 or older having Internet access at that time. Even in those early days of the World Wide Web the rapid growth of real estate content on web sites was highlighted. In January 1995 there were approximately 100 websites offering real estate for sale but by the end of 1995 this had grown to over 4,000 real estate related websites in the United States. The paper also discussed how comprehensive marketing and purchasing information was then lacking on the majority of web sites but it was anticipated that, with the development of new technologies, provision of a much greater range of information was on the horizon. Of particular note was digital photography. Other comments in the paper related to how real estate professional bodies were trying to retain ownership of property market information in the face of the threat to their position from more widely available real estate information. Benjamin & Chinloy (1995) conclude that sellers adopting technology will achieve higher sale prices in shorter time periods but Baen and Guttery (1997) debate this assumption saying that if innovations are adopted across the market place it is more likely that the brokerage industry would be more affected. They also observe that market information is power and real estate market information has previously been largely controlled by real estate brokers via the National Association of Realtors. The rapid emergence of virtually free information via the Internet would transfer some of that power to consumers. Rosen (1996) supports this view and is also quoted in the Baen and Guttery paper as follows "Underlying the squabbling [among agents] is the very real spectre that the information-laden Internet and World Wide Web could replace much of the public's needs for agents' traditional house hunting services." This threat was recognised by some in the industry at that stage and the National Association of Realtors tried to pre-empt the threat by establishing its own listing access vehicle. However, Baen and Guttery did not believe that this would be effective and predicted the availability of complete property marketing information to all market participants in the future – supplanting brokers developed information monopolies. The overall conclusion of Baen and Guttery was that in the new technological state of the world any inefficient real estate services ware likely to be eliminated altogether. It was considered that the focus of the real estate brokers role would shift from being a provider of market information to a negotiator or facilitator of agreement between the buyer and seller. Gilon and Cardenas (1995) also quoted in the Baen and Guttery paper concluded with an extract as follows "Bill Gates, Chairman and founder of Microsoft Corporation, recently identified real estate as one of the industries that will be revolutionised by technological change". The focus of this paper will be to determine which of Baen and Guttrey's predictions regarding the future of the real estate brokerage profession have proved correct to date in the New Zealand context since their paper was written 10 years ago. Bond, Seiler, Seiler and Blake (2000) examined the efforts of residential real estate brokers to keep up with Internet development by gathering listing information from existing real estate brokerage websites. Their study aimed to assess the degree to which the real estate brokerage industry had responded to the opportunities to promote properties and brokers via the Internet. The literature review in the Bond et al paper repeats some of the early Internet usage figures used by Baen & Guttery. They additionally report that by the end of 1996 there were approximately 8000 real estate web sites but the National Association of Realtors estimated in the same year only a few thousand properties were actually listed for sale on the World Wide Web. By October 1999, www.realtor.com listed 1.3 million homes for sale and 9% of all web pages on the Internet were associated with real estate. Bond et al also note that non real estate organisations such as Genie, Prodigy and Compuserve devoted a great deal of space to real estate forums or bulletin boards on the web. Also America On Line had an active real estate desk. Local newspapers were attempting to protect the $2.5 billion classified advertising revenues they earn from realtors by offering their own real estate websites. Customers were reported as becoming much more sophisticated in regards to selling their home and are using the Internet not only to find properties, but to obtain ratings and evaluations of realtors and other real estate related services. 3.4 million American adults had web access as at 2000 and Bond et al considered it was inevitable that businesses such as real estate brokerage would need to sell their products and services in the low cost environment the Internet provides. They also note that small firms now have lower barriers to entry as a single employee can be represented on the web in a similar fashion to far larger organisations. Similarly, the Internet was perceived to have reduced the barriers to owners selling their properties privately as they can now access much the same market as traditional real estate brokers have been able to. This reduction in entry barriers can result in increased competition and potentially lower pric


The report surveys in two parts the development of the law on project-related planning and thus relates in particular to the planning and approval of space-consuming infrastructure projects such as traffic routes and power lines. For this purpose, German administrative law has long provided for the specific instrument of plan approval (Planfeststellung). In this context, the Federal Administrative Court has extensive first-instance jurisdiction and uses this to shape large parts of German approval law, including beyond the actual area of plan approval law, be it in terms of legal protection and procedure, be it with regard to the requirements of substantive environmental law. On the other hand, the revision of the law on environmental protection induced by the decisions of the Aarhus Compliance Committee and the European Court of Justice has been used by the German legislator to extend procedural specifics of the plan approval to other approval decisions of environmental relevance. This firstly indicates the contours of a general law on project approval and, secondly, the nature of the plan approval as an instrument for the implementation of projects in the public interest is more strongly emphasized.


We report on the results of optical-pumping experiments in GaP doped with the isoelectronic impurity nitrogen. In the first experiment we have measured the saturation of absorption at the $A$ bound exciton as a function of pump intensity, using as the pump a pulsed dye laser tuned to the $A$ line. The observed saturation behavior is in quantitative accord with a simple three-level system involving the $A$ and $B$ bound-exciton level and the N ground state. The second experiment involves measuring the absorption at the $A$ line with a weak probe (a tunable dye laser) while the crystal is being pumped with an intense pump dye laser tuned above the indirect gap. In this case also the absorption saturates with increasing pump power and we can infer approximately 10% efficiency for the capture of excitons at N impurities. In this second experiment, a simple model predicts an amplification by a factor of 8.5 but none is observed. We conclude from these measurements that, when pumped above the indirect gap, the dominant excited state of N impurities in our crystal is a single electron trapped at N. We believe that this is caused by the presence of other impurities in the crystal and is not an intrinsic limitation of the system.


................................................................................................................................. Acknowledgements....................................................................................... List of Figures............................................................................................ List of Abbreviations.................................................................................. Chapter I: Introduction................................................................................. Prospective isolation and characterization of committed and multi potent progenitors from immortalized mouse mammary epithelial cells with morphogenic potential ................... Mammary gland development ..................................................................... Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in mammary gland de velopment and cancer ........................................................................................... MicroRNAs biogenesis and function .............................................................. MicroRNA-146a/b in biology and cancer ......................................................... Chapter II: Results and Discussion.................................................................... MiR146b is highly expressed in the alveolar progenitor cells ................................... Hormonal stimulation results in the up-regulation of miR146b in the mammary epithelial cells in vivo................................................................................................ MiR146b promotes survival of the alveolar progenitor cells ........................................ MiR146b may promote alveolar progenitor cell maintenance by prefe rential regulation of STAT3β......................................................................................................................... MiR146b binds to the 3'UTR of STAT3 α.............................................................. Discussion...................................................................................................................... ChapterIII: Material and Methods.................................................................... ChapterIV: Conclusion................................................................................. ChapterV: References....................................................................................


Thin-walled workpieces with feeble rigidity are deformable during the machining process. The influence of the number and the position of the clamping points on the workpiece deformation under machining force is simulated with ANSYS software, using analytical method of structural statics and crthogonal optimization. The result indicates, the clamping scheme with six points is more effective and their position is also given.


Satellites and space systems are integral to processes such as communication and navigation but are under constant threat from the space environment. As a result, agencies such as NOAA have monitored satellites and recorded hundreds of anomalous behaviors [1] [2]. Here we attempt to use this data with survival analysis and machine learning approaches to predict the time to a satellite anomaly. In the end, we found that the approaches considered did not work well with the limited and noisy data set Introduction


Objective: To investigate clinical significance of total bile acid(TBA) in determing cirrhosis.Methods:We collected the data of liver function of 92 cirrohosis patients and compared sensitive difference between TBA and other indexes.Results:TBA was higher in cirrohosis group than in healthy control groups ( P 0.01).There was a significant difference between Grade A,B and C ( P 0.01),whereas no significant difference between Grade B and C was found ( P 0.05),and TBA showed a higher positive rate than other indexes ( P 0.01).Conclusion:TBA is not only a valuable index reflecting collateral circulation in cirrhosis patients but also one of sensitive indexes reflecting the damage of liver cell.


Approximately 50% of patients with diabetes (DM) will eventually develop neuropathy. Large-scale studies have demonstrated that the regulation of blood glucose levels aids in the prevention and progression of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), but glycemic control does not impact established neuropathy or its severity (1). Causative factors also include microvascular insufficiency, defective neurotrophism, abnormal lipid metabolism, and oxidative and nitrosative stress (2). A key component of nitrosative stress, nitrotyrosine (NT), has multiple cytotoxic effects. Accumulation of NT has been identified in several neural structures in both rodents and humans (3), reflected by raised NT concentrations in the plasma of subjects with DM (4).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between NT concentrations with the presence and severity of possible/probable (PP-DM-DPN) and established (DM-DPN) neuropathy in subjects with DM compared with healthy control subjects …


Turbulent flow of an incompressible, electrically conducting fluid between two parallel plates in the presence of an external, uniform magnetic field parallel to the plates is discussed. Starting with the Reynolds equations for hydromagnetics which are eventually reduced to three equations in seven unknowns, some conclusions about the mean pressure distribution and turbulent fluctuations are drawn. Unlike the case of laminar flow, the mean velocity distribution is found to be affected by the magnetic field through turbulent fluctuations and the mean magnetic field distribution does not remain uniform.


We have investigated the electron spin diffusion length at room temperature in bulk n-doped germanium as a function of the doping concentration. To this purpose, we exploit a nonlocal spin injection/detection scheme where spins are optically injected at the direct gap of Ge and electrically detected by means of the inverse spin-Hall effect (ISHE). By optically generating a spin population in the conduction band of the semiconductor at different distances from the spin detector, we are able to directly determine the electron spin diffusion length Ls in the Ge substrate. We experimentally observe that Ls > 20 μm for lightly doped samples and, by taking into account the electron diffusion coefficient, we estimate electron spin lifetime values τs larger than 50 ns. In contrast, for heavily doped Ge substrates, the spin diffusion length decreases to a few micrometers, corresponding to τs ≈ 20 ns. These results can be exploited to refine spin transport models in germanium and reduce the experimental uncertainties associated with the evaluation of Ls from other spin injection/detection techniques.We have investigated the electron spin diffusion length at room temperature in bulk n-doped germanium as a function of the doping concentration. To this purpose, we exploit a nonlocal spin injection/detection scheme where spins are optically injected at the direct gap of Ge and electrically detected by means of the inverse spin-Hall effect (ISHE). By optically generating a spin population in the conduction band of the semiconductor at different distances from the spin detector, we are able to directly determine the electron spin diffusion length Ls in the Ge substrate. We experimentally observe that Ls > 20 μm for lightly doped samples and, by taking into account the electron diffusion coefficient, we estimate electron spin lifetime values τs larger than 50 ns. In contrast, for heavily doped Ge substrates, the spin diffusion length decreases to a few micrometers, corresponding to τs ≈ 20 ns. These results can be exploited to refine spin transport models in germanium and reduce the experimental uncertainti...


This article analyzed that a good many disharmonious facts had hindered or would constrait tourism in Chaohu Lake Belt from sustainable development in Anhui Province.The aim of this article,based on the theory concerning the layers of sustainable development system,was that the government together with society concerned should put these disharmonious facts to the end and at last create a harmonious tourist region at the centre of Anhui province in the near future.


In order to investigate the effect of continuous treatment with immunosuppressive doses of azathioprine and prednisone on rat liver regeneration, an experiment was carried out, in which the regenerati


Stark differences exist in death rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) across Europe, as rates in western Europe are far lower than those in the former Eastern bloc states, data published in the European Heart Journal show.1

Deaths from CVD have been declining, but over four million deaths a year still occur in Europe (45% of all deaths). Among women, eight countries—France, Israel, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom—have cardiovascular death rates lower than 250 per 100 000 women …


Abstract Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can have varied presentations but these manifestations usually are non-specific. Probability of HIV infection in a given clinical manifestation has been examined in a very few studies including a study conducted at Bloemfontein, South Africa. This study evaluated the usefulness of world health organization (WHO) case definition to screen HIV positive children and proposed a new case definition, which was said to be more sensitive than WHO case definition (63.2 vs 14.5%). This study aims to assess the usefulness of South African (SA) Criteria for screening of HIV in hospitalized children in Indian setup and to compare its sensitivity with that of the WHO case definition. Design: Prospective investigational study. Setting: A tertiary care teaching institution of central India. Total 110 hospitalized patients aged 18 months to 14 years were included who fulfilled either SA or WHO criteria. HIV Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) test was performed on recruited patients. Intervention: None. Out of total 110 cases, 52 (47.27%) cases fulfilled WHO criteria while 58 (52.73%) cases fulfilled SA criteria. Total 9 cases were HIV positive, 3 cases were of WHO group while 6 cases were in SA group. Sensitivity of WHO and South African criteria was 33.33% and 66.67% respectively. Although South African criteria seemed to be more accurate as it was less subjective and its seropositivity rate was higher than that of WHO criteria (10.34% vs 5.77%), it was not found to be statistically significant (p > 0.05) in our setup.


Previous studies have suggested the benefit of routine screening for biopsychosocial symptoms among patients with cancer. In recognition of the lack of data from low‐ and middle‐income countries, this study sought to test and determine the effect of a mHealth program to screen biopsychological symptoms among patients with advanced breast or gynecological cancer.


Most previous studies on HIV/AIDS using Rogers' protection motivation theory (PMT) have focused on primary prevention. This study examined the utility of PMT for predicting HIV testing, a form of secondary prevention. Cross-sectional survey data from 243 young adults was assessed. It was hypothesized that motivational factors, notably fear and maladaptive coping, reliably predict testing over and beyond variation attributable to cognitive appraisals. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that testing was not influenced by cognitive appraisals. As expected maladaptive coping produced a significant improvement in model fit after accounting for threat- and coping appraisals. Interestingly, fear was not significant. Controlling for past risk behavior and demographic variables at an earlier step failed to negate the salience of maladaptive coping, which again significantly improved model fit. Use of rationalizations (to discount personal risk) was the key maladaptive response that reliably distinguished between testers and nontesters. Testing was associated with less use of rationalizations and higher levels of prior risk behavior. However, overall less than 20% of testers were correctly classified, suggesting that PMT components overall have limited explanatory value in this context. Implications for promoting HIV testing are considered.


The special characteristics of polarization rotation and accompanying electric-field-induced ferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transitions in 〈001〉-poled Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)1−xTixO3 (x = 27.4, 28.8, and 30.7 mol. %) single crystals close to the morphotropic phase boundary region were studied by means of dielectric and thermal measurements as a function of a unipolar electric field at various temperatures. Discontinuous first-order-type phase transition behavior was evidenced by distinct and sharp changes in polarization and thermal responses with accompanying hysteresis as a function of the electric field. All compositions of crystals showed either one or two reversible discontinuities along the polarization rotation paths, which can be understood by electric-field-induced phase transition sequences to the tetragonal phase through different monoclinic phases previously observed along the polarization rotation path. Together with increasing polarization, a field-induced reversible decrease in temperature was ob...


In this paper, an extension to current algorithms dealing with inverse problem is considered. In stead of that invariant sparse profile of the solution vectors is concerned, we mainly focus on the problem with linearly varying sparse structures. Two methods are proposed to solve the linear inverse problem with the unknown linearly varying sparse structure by using MMV. In order to adapt to the linearly varying sparse profile of the solutions, one method, named LMMV (Linearly-MMV), introduces a new parameter and makes use of circular shift matrix to convert the new problem to the one with invariant sparse profile and new iterative algorithm is derived in principle of existing methods. Another method, named WMMV (Wide-MMV), attributes the change of the sparse structure of the solution vectors to the inaccuracy caused by the chosen dictionary and combines several rows of the dictionary together, which is equivalent to find a lower dimensional sparse solution and in turn gives a more robust algorithm. Numerical experiments with random dictionaries and applications to direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation verify the validation of the proposed two methods and their superiority to some existing methods is illustrated.


Physical activity may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for asthma and driver of lung function development. This systematic review aimed to summarize the available evidence concerning the longitudinal effect of physical activity on the development of asthma, the persistence of asthma symptoms and lung function outcomes in children and adolescents.


In the galaxy, extremely large mass-ratio inspirals (X-MRIs) composed of brown dwarfs and the massive black hole at the galactic center are expected to be promising gravitational wave sources for space-borne detectors. In this work, we simulate the gravitational wave signals from twenty X-MRI systems by an axisymmetric Konoplya–Rezzolla–Zhidenko metric with varied parameters. We find that the mass, spin, and deviation parameters of the Kerr black hole can be determined accurately (∼10−5−10−6) with only one X-MRI event with a high signal-to-noise ratio. The measurement of the above parameters could be improved with more X-MRI observations.


The ideal of relations in the quantum cohomology of the flag manifold G/B has been determined by B. Kim in [K]. We are going to point out a limited number of properties that, if they are satisfied by an Let us consider the complex flag manifold G/B, where G is a connected, simply connected , simple, complex Lie group and B ⊂ G a Borel subgroup. Let t be the Lie algebra of a maximal torus of a compact real form of G and Φ ⊂ t * the corresponding set of roots. The Weyl group W is generated by the reflections about the hyperplanes ker α, α ∈ Φ +. Consider an arbitrary W-invariant inner product , on t. To any root α corresponds the coroot α ∨ := 2α α, α which is an element of t, by using the identification of t and t ∨ l } is a system of simple coroots. Consider {λ 1 ,. .. , λ l } ⊂ t * the corresponding system of fundamental weights, which are defined by λ i (α ∨ j) = δ ij. By a standard procedure, to any weight λ corresponds a complex line bundle L λ on G/B. A theorem of Borel says that the ring homomorphism S(t


ABSTRACT The high competitiveness of the corporate sector requires a strategic communication approach to bring brands closer to consumers. In this context, brand communities (BCs) can be an interesting asset for brands. This article uses the example of motorcycle brands to analyze how BCs on social media can enhance the strategic dimension of brand communication. For this purpose, nine company representatives were interviewed, who represented 16 motorcycle brands. The data were examined using qualitative content analysis. Overall, the results suggest that motorcycle brand communication is increasingly digital and does not explicitly recognize BCs as a strategic target. However, several advantages are ascribed to approaching BCs as part of a communication strategy (e.g., stimulating brand loyalty or brand satisfaction) and to interacting with BCs as social groups (e.g., encouraging feelings of belongingness or sharing of information). Concerning online BCs, the results show that managers perceived using social applications as beneficial, increasing brand promotion, saving time, and improving communication. These findings could inspire companies to make the best of BCs and develop new and relevant communication strategies through online apps that will increase brand satisfaction and, consequently, brand profits.


To even the most casual Western viewer, transition in space and time and transformation in states of consciousness are prominent characteristics of the experience of traditional Chinese landscape painting. Visual references to paths, rivers, mountain ranges; to measured distances and temporal intervals; to gradual or sudden in sights into philosophical understandings: such constitute a dominant pattern of theme and device in the landscape painting of the T'ang (618–906) through Ch'ing (1644–1912) dynasties. Specifically, the viewer's experience of transition may be defined as movement—imaginarily physical and/or purely visual and/or psychological (by reference to a historical or mythical past)–through space and time, carried by identifiable objects, groups of objects, formal stylistic elements (tones, strokes, and so forth), and, occasionally, by titles and inscriptions appended to the paintings by the artist.1 As a result of his experience of transition, the viewer undergoes a modification of his dimensi...


Embodiments relate to a flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and a method for manufacturing the flexible OLED display device. The display device includes a multi-layered encapsulation film coving pixel regions of the display device, and a metal layer on or within at least a portion of the encapsulation film, the portion in a bending region of the flexible substrate. The multi-layered encapsulation film includes at least a first inorganic layer, an organic layer, and a second inorganic layer. The metal layer is formed in the bending region such that the stress generated in the encapsulation film by folding, bending, or rolling operations in the bending region is reduced by the metal layer. The metal layer prevents generation of cracks in the encapsulation film and thus, prevents moisture penetration into the display area of the display device.


Background: American Foulbrood (AFB) is a devastating disease of honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae caused by the spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. In most countries, the law requires mandatory reporting of AFB to the veterinary authority. Aim and Methods: To speed up detection and genotyping of P. larvae spores, we compared different culturing protocols on Columbia sheep blood agar and developed a new multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction to distinguish between the two relevant P. larvae genotypes enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) I and ERIC II. Results and Conclusion: As confirmed by P. larvae reference strains and field isolates, the new identification and genotyping protocol halves the time of current workflows, lessens labor-intension, allows a higher throughput of samples for monitoring, and permits a faster intervention to prevent the spread of AFB.


Introduction: Patients presenting Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) are common in our daily clinical  practice. One of the possible conditions that lead to TMD is the habitual chewing side syndrome. Methods: In this case report a clinical approach is presented to manage the TMD related to unilateral vicious mastication. A 42 years old woman presented reporting headaches, di f ficulty to open mouth, presence of sensitivity in the le f t ear and TMJ region, soreness on the le f t side temporal region and sensitivity in the anterior inferior teeth. It was noted that the patient habitually clenched and ground teeth. Patient mentioned  chew more on the left side. Results: A f ter confirming the unilateral mastication, a modified therapy based on the Neuro occlusal Rehabilitation was applied through the use of a splint. A f ter 60 days the patient described absence of the  previous symptoms and pain relief. Conclusion: The evaluation of the masticatory pattern is o f ten neglected; however, it is of great importance since it can lead to several conditions such as condyle wear, pain, alteration of the occlusal plane, deviation of the medial line, deviation of the mandible at mouth opening, bone alterations, Temporomandibular joint(TMJ)  hypofunction, headache, among others.


A.M. Lefcourt*, P. Narayanan, U. Tasch, M.S. Kim, D. Reese, R. Rostamian, Y.M. Lo Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA-ARS, Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Building 303, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 1111, USA Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 1111, USA


: White-rot basidiomycetes are the only microorganisms able to produce both hydrolytic (cellulases and hemicellulases) and oxidative (ligninolytic) enzymes for attacking (hemi)cellulose and lignin, while they also produce secondary metabolites with important applications as cosmeceuticals. In the present work, three wild strains of Basidiomycete fungi ( Pleurotus citrinopileatus , Abortiporus biennis and Ganoderma lucidum ) were grown in agroindustrial residues, such as olive oil mill wastewater and corn cob. The cultures were examined in regard to the production of biotechnologically relevant enzymes and bioactive compounds. All strains were found to be preferential lignin degraders. Bioinformatic analyses were performed on the putative proteome of the strains P. citrinopileatus and A. biennis , focusing on CAZymes with biotechnological relevance, and the results were compared to the data from the enzyme activities in the culture supernatants. The antiaging proprieties of fungal biomasses have been evaluated in relation to the different culture media. P. citrinopileatus showed the highest skin whitening activity, while A. biennis the highest DPPH scavenging potential. For all strains, corn cobs was the most appropriate carbon source for the production of bioactive small molecules with anti-aging activity. Overall, all strains showed promising antiaging properties and strong production of promising oxidative enzymes for biomass conversion applications.


The tremendous diversity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 strains circulating worldwide has an important impact on almost all aspects of the management of this infection, from the identification of infected persons, through treatment efficacy and monitoring, and prevention strategies such as vaccine design. The areas where HIV-1 genetic diversity is highest are those where the majority of patients in need of treatment and biological monitoring live. With increased access to treatment in these areas, it is expected that the demand for monitoring tools such as viral load assays and resistance tests will also increase, and their reliability will be critical. Regular updates of these assays during the last two decades have aimed at improving their performances in different ways that include their reliability with different HIV-1 strains. We here review to what extent HIV-1 genetic diversity still limits or not the use of currently available viral load and resistance tests.


in order to improve the automation and intelligence of the cooking machine and enhance the user experience, this paper designs a fully automatic cooking machine system integrating the functions of fresh-keeping of food materials, putting food materials into the pot, adding intelligent seasoning, adding seasoning, automatic cooking, automatic out of the pot of cooked vegetables, thermal insulation of cooked vegetables and washing the pot. The system hardware consists of the main control part, detection part and driving part with stm32f407zgt6 as the core. The system software includes embedded cooking control program based on three human-computer interaction modes: voice recognition, key press and touch screen. The human-computer interface is based on EMWIN and connected with SQLite database. Finally, the real object is designed, and the application results show that the above design has better completed the expected goal and has a good application prospect.


Background Four polymorphisms have been described associated with either increased risk for alcoholic liver disease (ALD) or more serious histological lesions: tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-&agr;) G(−238)A, interleukin-10 (IL-10) C(−627)A, promoter of CD14 endotoxin receptor gene C(−159)T and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) C(−1183)T/valine → alanine. Methods We sought confirmatory evidence, through individual and simultaneous analysis of the four aforementioned polymorphisms, in 176 heavy drinkers: ALD (n=100) if histology-compatible or clinical evidence of hepatic decompensation; and no evidence of liver disease (NLD) (n=76) if normal liver tests on two occasions or normal liver histology (steatosis alone). Results Patients with ALD were older (53±10 vs. 48±10 years, P<0.05), with a similar sex distribution. TNF-&agr; G(−238)A showed no difference in heterozygous GA-genotype prevalence (ALD, 9.0%/NLD, 7.9%). IL-10 C(−627)A showed no difference between groups, either homozygote AA (8.0% vs. 10.5%) or heterozygote CA (34.0% vs. 39.5%). CD14 promoter C(−159)T showed no difference between groups in T-allele frequency, either homozygote TT (27% vs. 21%) or heterozygote CT (49% vs. 50%). Alanine MnSOD allele carriers showed no difference between groups in either the heterozygote (55.0% vs. 49.3%) or homozygote (22% vs. 25%). No difference was observed in the probability of having simultaneously two, three or four of the implicated polymorphisms: respectively, 43%, 33% and 0% in ALD, and 43%, 24% and 5% in NLD (not significant). Conclusions No association was found between the previously implicated polymorphisms of TNF-&agr;, IL-10, CD14 and MnSOD, either individually or simultaneously, and the presence of established ALD.


We thank Sealey et al1 for their interest in our article and their comments. They point out that plasma renin activity (PRA) in our study likely overestimated the true activity of circulating PRA and, by calculating the effective PRA, our results would be predictable. Suppressed PRA is a marker of volume overload and can occur with high dietary salt ingestion. Theoretically, patients with suppressed PRA might achieve greater blood pressure (BP) reductions with a low-salt diet than patients with high PRA because of greater salt sensitivity.

Some …


This paper describes about spacecraft autonomy, and presents a kind of system architecture based on multi-Agent, in which the system is divided into several Agents according to its software function and hardware structure. The design and implement of system framework under Vxworks is discussed, which is generally applied in space science. In the system, the Agent not only recognizes science events, retargets the spacecraft to respond to the science events, but also cooperates with the other Agents to accomplish the complex space task. In a word, the design promotes the intelligence of system, and satisfies the strict aerospace application.


• The IoT has already met the connected aircraft • SATCOM introduced a whole new world (Inmarsat, Iridium) — Cockpit only — Passenger only (Entertainment vs Internet) — Multi Domain • Ground Based Cellular Networks • Gatelink Solutions — Airplane phones home (Cellular or WiFi) — Download log data — Upload databases.


Background/Purpose:In this study, we compared and examined the characteristics and anesthetic effect of ① Lidocaine/Propitocaine(EMLA®, abbreviated as L/P cream) and ② 2L cream(7% lidocaine), ③ PL cream(3.5% lidocaine+2.5% procaine), ④ 2PL cream(7% lidocaine+5% procaine), ⑤ 2 P+L cream(3.5% lidocaine+5% procaine) which were the in‒hospital formulations. Methods:Various creams were stored in an ointment container, and the residual rate of the component amount after 21879 days was measured by HPLC method. For the quantitative evaluation of the anesthetic effect, after applying various creams to the inside of the forearm, the degree of pain was measured with time using Pain Vision. Results:L/P cream was significantly higher in moisture evaporation rate than other creams and had low spreadability. Regarding viscosity and hardness, 2P+L cream was the lowest value and 2PL cream was the highest value. In the stability test at 4℃ after 21 days, residual rate of L/P cream was amounted to 80% or more and all four creams were amounted to 70% or more. As for the anesthetic effect after wiping 90 minutes after application, 2L cream and 2PL cream had no significant difference compared with 30 minutes after the lapse, suggesting sustained anesthetic effect. Discussion:In this study, it was shown that there was a relationship between the lidocaine concentration and the longevity of the anesthetic effect. More improvement of the in‒hospital formulations will be required, as it will be important to select the optimal formulation according to the clinical need.


Hybrid graphene-perovskite photodetectors embrace the excellent photoabsorption properties of perovskites and high carrier mobility of graphene in a single device. Here, we demonstrate the integration of halide ion exchanged CsPbBrxI3-x nanocrystals as photoabsorber and graphene as transport layer. The nanocrystals conform to a cubic lattice structure and exhibit an optical band gap of 1.93 eV. The hybrid device attained a maximum responsivity of 1.13 x 104 A/W and specific detectivity of 1.17x1011 Jones in low light intensity (~80 μW/cm2). Specifically, an ultrahigh photoconductive gain of 9.32x1010 is attained due to fast hole transit time in the graphene transistor and long recombination lifetime in the perovskite NCs simultaneously. The phototransistor also shows good stability and can maintain ~95% of the photocurrent under continuous illumination over 5 hrs and ~82% under periodic illumination over 37 hrs. Our results also revealed that the common issue of ion separation and segregated halide domains in mixed halide perovskite NCs do not occur under low light intensities. The intensive degradation of CsPbBrxI3-x nanocrystals is only observed under stronger light excitation (≥55 mW/cm2), reflecting as emission shifts. Our work establishes the use of fully inorganic perovskite NCs as highly stable photodetectors with high responsivity and low power light detection.


One first observation highlighted in the text refers to the recurrence of urban and territorial social conflicts in the region. Often traversed by high levels of violence, these conflicts defy habitual modes of treatment and


/cCLURE and Ruzicka6 observed the destructive action of citrate ions on rat tooth surfaces. Their experimental animals ingested large amounts of citrate in drinking water adjusted to a pH of 5.5 to 7.2 and areas on the lingual of the molars were decalcified. The possibility that this process might be related to erosion was suggested to the authors by the resemblance between the lesions illustrated by McClure and Ruzicka6 and the usual clinical appearance of erosion. It appeared that studies of the citrate content of the saliva of individuals with and without erosion should be of value. Earlier studies of the citrate content of saliva showed variations from zero to 1.3 mg. per 100 cubic centimeters. Kuyper and Mattill5 stated, "Apparently, saliva is the only body tissue tested in which citrate has not been detected. " Pucher, Sherman, and Vickery,9 however, found doubtful quantities of citrate in saliva from three individuals and 0.4 to 0.33 mg. per 100 c.c. in four others. From one individual 1.3 mg. per 100 c.c. of saliva was obtained three hours after grapefruit had been eaten, although the saliva of this subject had shown only traces previously. Dickens,2 in a report on citric acid content of tumor and bone tissue, cited Ostberg,7 Schersten,"1 and Gr6nvall4 as reporting that cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic and follicular fluids, blood serum, aqueous humor, saliva, and sweat contain diminishing quantities of citrate from 5 to 0.1 mg. per 100 cubic centimeters.* The first problem was to select a suitable analytic method for salivary citrate, then to establish "normals, " and finally, to compare the salivary citrate quantity of individuals with erosion and without erosion.


Distribution of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens in freshwater fish and their diet, in marine fish, and in marine shellfish in the southern part of Hokkaido was investigated. In addition, Hobbs' serotyping of isolates from these samples was performed.Enterotoxigenic strains from the samples heated at 75°C for 20min were detected in 31.1% (19/61) of isolates from the intestinal tracts of freshwater fish, in 14.8% (8/54) of isolates from the intestinal tracts of marine fish. In addition, 6.3% (4/63) of the isolates from marine shellfish were also enterotoxigenic.Of the isolates from the intestinal tracts of freshwater fish heated at 100°C for 60min, 40.0% (2/5) were enterotoxigenic.Hobbs' serotype strains were detected in 22.1% (15/68) of isolates from the intestinal tracts of freshwater fish, in 12.5% (7/56) of isolates from the body surfaces and in 18.1% (23/127) of isolates from the intestinal tracts of marine fish, and in 9.9% (7/71) of isolates from marine shellfish.A total of 52 Hobbs' serotype strains were divided into 6 serotypes and a large number of them belonged to type 16.


Primary psychiatric disorders are frequently associated with electrolyte disorders, which could be caused by medication. We performed a systematic review of the literature in order to discover published cases of electrolyte disorders associated with risperidone use. The databases Medline and Scopus were searched and 317 publications were retrieved containing the following keywords: risperidone, hyponatremia, hypernat remia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia. We included in our review the following publication types: the original scientific research, case reports, review of literature and letters to the editor. Case reports and observational studies associating risperidone with hyponatremia or hypokalemia, as well as with hypocalcemia were found. In spite of sporadic case reports of risperidone induced electrolyte disorders, conflicting opinions and results of other studies quest ion the certainty of this association. Further research is necessary to confirm and enlighten the association between risperidone and electrolyte disorders.


Biological systems are in dynamic equilibrium. They maintain stability by self-adjusting to a variable environment through feedback. Furthermore, the systems maintain stability even as the animal itself changes during growth and aging. We have found that some neural circuits them selves can exhibit a resilience that is independent of sensory feedback. Understanding the mathe matical basis for such resilience has general applications for any network of interacting units. It is hardly a surprise that better understanding of various mechanisms of rhythmogenesis have stemmed from experimental and computational studies of CPGs in invertebrate animals, as their circuit wiring can be utterly mapped and easily manipulated. Nevertheless, the use of feasible simplifications in neuronal structures and biophysics may cause minor and major discrepancies between behaviors of a model and the biological neural circuit. In most modeling studies, it remains the methodology for determining which details of a model can be omitted for simplicity and which are important variables. Therefore, it is imperative to devise and showcase experimental systems that are can be reliably replicated and engineered in computational models, analyzed in detail and verified. Using dynamical system and stability theory we develop a new computational apparatus to elucidate stability, resilience and adaptability of neural circuits to evaluate and quantify the existence range of emergent network-bursting in mathematical circuits against various short-term and graduate perturbations. Models will be based on electrophysiological recordings made from neurons in the swim central pattern generators of sea slugs: Melibe and Dendronotus. The goal here is to transform the assimilated detailed knowledge about complex nonlinear interactions of coupled neurons and synapses into causal, predictive relationships between the properties of mathematical and biological circuits.


A scale invariant model of statistical mechanics was recently applied to describe a modified statistical theory of turbulence and its quantum mechanical foundation. In the present study the implications of the results to a unified statistical theory of fields with applications to diverse physical systems in the fields of galacto-dynamics (cosmology), hydrodynamics, molecular-dynamics, electrodynamics, and quantum optics (dry-hydrodynamics) will be discussed. The comparisons between the predictions of the model and some of the available experimental observations over the entire range of spatial scales from cosmic to Planck will be examined. The connection between the cosmological constant and the vacuum energy and the concept of negative pressure will be discussed. In the field of optics, the implications of the important and central question: "Must the photon mass be zero?" asked by Bass and Schrodinger [Proc. Royal Soc. A 232, pp: 1-6 (1955)] will be further examined. Also, the implications of the invariant model of statistical mechanics to the classical theory of electrodynamics of Maxwell and Lorentz will be explored when the compressible nature of physical space, in accordance with Planck's compressible ether, is taken into account. In particular, the existence of longitudinal electromagnetic waves, L-waves, and their impact on the gravitational mass of photon will be discussed. Finally, the physical and quantum nature of time will be described and a scale-invariant definition of time will be presented and its physical significance to various systems as well as its relativistic behavior will be addressed.


BACKGROUND
We studied the relationship between behaviors promoted through the US Environmental Protection Agency Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and other programs and agricultural pesticide exposures in 73 strawberry fieldworkers employed in Monterey County, California.

METHODS
Farmworkers' behaviors were assessed via self-report and organophosphorus (OP) pesticide exposure was measured using dimethyl alkylphosphate (DMAP) and malathion dicarboxylic acid (MDA) urinary metabolite levels.

RESULTS
Wearing WPS-recommended clothing, wearing clean work clothes, and the combination of handwashing with soap and wearing gloves were associated with decreases in DMAP and MDA metabolite levels. Despite these protective behaviors, however, participants had significantly higher levels of exposure as compared with a national reference sample.

CONCLUSIONS
Interventions that facilitate compliance with these behaviors may be effective in decreasing fieldworkers' pesticide exposures. However, further efforts are needed to reduce the exposure disparities experienced by farmworkers and decrease the potential for "take home" exposures to farmworkers' families.


The Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) transition in eastern Bulgaria (Bjala) was analyzed in terms of lithology, mineralogy, stable isotopes, trace elements, and planktic foraminifera. The sequence represents a boreal-Tethyan transitional setting, spans from the last 300 k.y. of the Maastrichtian (zone CF1) through the early Danian (zones P0-Plc), and contains several short hiatuses. It differs from low-latitude Tethyan sequences primarily by lower diversity assemblages, pre-K-T faunal changes, a reduced K-T dC shift, and the presence of two clay layers with platinum group element anomalies. The first clay layer marks the K-T boundary impact event, as indicated by an iridium anomaly (6.1 ppb), the mass extinction of tropical and subtropical planktic foraminifera, and cooling. The second clay layer is stratigraphically within the upper Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina (Pla) zone and contains a small Ir enrichment (0.22 ppb), a major Pd enrichment (1.34 ppb), and anomalies in Ru (0.30 ppb) and Rh (0.13 ppb) that suggest a volcanic source. Adatte, T., Keller, G., Burns, S., Stoykova, K.H., Ivanov, M.I., Vangelov, D., Kramar, U., and Stüben, D., 2002, Paleoenvironment across the Cretaceous-Tertiary transition in eastern Bulgaria, in Adatte, T., Koeberl, C., and MacLeod, K.G., eds., Catastrophic Events and Mass Extinctions: Impacts and Beyond: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America Special Paper 356, p. 231–251. *E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com *Present address: Department of Geosciences, 233 Morril Science Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Ma 01003. INTRODUCTION Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary studies have often concentrated on documenting the geochemical anomalies and the pattern of planktic foraminiferal species extinctions immediately below and above this boundary event in low latitudes (Fig. 1). Most of these studies reveal a major mass extinction of all tropical and subtropical species at or near the K-T boundary and iridium anomalies that have been variously attributed to the sole effects of an impact (e.g., Smit, 1990; D'Hondt et T. Adatte et al. 232 Figure 1. Paleolocations of Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary sections that have good biostratigraphic control and relatively continuous sediment records. Note that current knowledge of K-T boundary event is primarily from sections in low-latitude northern Tethys, including Mexico, Spain, and Tunisia. Few K-T sections are currently known from middle and high latitudes. Bjala sections of Bulgaria provide critical information of this event in transitional environment between northern Tethys and boreal sea. Inset shows satellite photograph of Black Sea coast with Bjala locality, and simplified tectonic map of South Carpathian arc (modified from Preisinger et al., 1993a; Rögl et al., 1996). Ocean basins are white, continental platform is gray, continents are black (modified from MacLeod and Keller, 1991a). ODP is Ocean Drilling Program, DSDP is Deep Sea Drilling Project. al., 1996; Apellaniz et al., 1997; Olsson, 1997), or long-term environmental changes followed by an impact (e.g., Keller, 1988, 1996; Luciani, 1997; Abramovich et al., 1998). Few studies have attempted to evaluate some aspects of the K-T event on a regional or global scale, including studies of hiatus distributions (MacLeod and Keller, 1991a, 1991b), species survivorship, and records of pre-K-T extinctions (MacLeod and Keller, 1994; Abramovich et al., 1998; Pardo et al., 1999). The absence of more comprehensive integrated summary studies is largely because most K-T sections are separated by large distances (Fig. 1), and direct comparisons across latitudes are difficult due to little known regional effects, particularly in middle to high latitudes. The mass-extinction pattern of planktic foraminifera in high latitudes is quantitatively documented from a few localities in the southern ocean (e.g., Deep Sea Drilling Project [DSDP] Sites 690 and 738, Keller, 1993) and Northern Hemisphere (e.g., Denmark and Kazakhstan, Schmitz et al., 1992; Keller et al., 1993; Pardo et al., 1999; Fig. 1). These data suggest a diminished mass-extinction effect compared with low latitudes primarily because tropical and subtropical species are absent and assemblages are dominated by small species that tolerate environmental fluctuations, including Guembelitria cretacea, G. danica, G. trifolia, G. dammula, Heterohelix globulosa, H. navarroensis, H. planate, Hedbergella holmdelensis, H. monmouthensis, and Globigerinelloides aspera (MacLeod and Keller, 1994). Most of these species are also observed in Danian sediments of low latitudes, and between 4 and 12 species have been considered as survivors (e.g., Canudo, 1997; Keller, 1997; Masters, 1997; Olsson, 1997; Orue-etxebarria, 1997; Smit and Nederbragt, 1997; Luciani, 1997). Stable isotopes measured on some of these species in Danian sediments have been found to record Danian values, also suggesting that they are survivors (Barrera and Keller, 1994; Keller et al., 1993; MacLeod and Keller, 1994). Huber (1996) attributed the presence of these species in Danian sediments to reworking, citing relatively unPaleoenvironment across the Cretaceous-Tertiary transition in eastern Bulgaria 233 changed stable isotope values of Globigerinelloides multispinus across the K-T boundary at Site 738 as evidence (see also Huber et al., 1994; Keller and MacLeod, 1994). We do not argue that Danian sediments may contain reworked Maastrichtian species, as indeed any sedimentary interval may, but we disagree that the consistent presence of these small species in sections across latitudes can be attributed to reworking, and that the Danian isotopic signal of species can be explained as artifact of reworking. We suggest that these species are K-T survivors for two major reasons. (1) They are ecological generalists able to survive the K-T environmental changes, whereas the larger complex tropical and subtropical species are not. (2) Environmental effects of the K-T impact diminished into higher latitudes, as suggested by dC values that indicate a relatively minor decrease in primary productivity in high latitudes as compared with low latitudes (e.g., Keller and Lindinger, 1989; Zachos et al., 1989; Keller et al., 1993; Barrera and Keller, 1994). Environmental changes and the nature of the mass extinction between the extremes of the northern boreal sea (Denmark and Kazakhstan) and the low-latitude Tethys are still relatively unknown. This shortcoming is because K-T sequences with nearly continuous sedimentation and good microfossil preservation are very rare and currently only reported from Bjala in eastern Bulgaria (Preisinger et al., 1993a, 1993b; Rögl et al., 1996). We chose to study the Bjala sections in order to obtain a quantitative record that would allow evaluation of the mass extinction and environmental changes in this transitional environment and permit comparison with both lowand highlatitude records. To this end we analyzed the biostratigraphy, stable isotopes, bulk rock compositions, clay minerals, trace element abundances, and quantitative changes among planktic foraminiferal assemblages. PREVIOUS STUDIES IN BULGARIA The K-T boundary in eastern Bulgaria was first recognized on the basis of planktic foraminifera from boreholes (Juranov and Dzhuranov, 1983), and a subsequent search for outcrops in the vicinity of Bjala revealed a relatively complete K-T transition based on calcareous nannoplankton (Stoykova and Ivanov, 1992; Ivanov and Stoykova, 1994; Sinnyovsky and Stoykova, 1995). Geochemical and planktic foraminiferal data were given in Preisinger et al. (1993a, 1993b) and Rögl et al. (1996). In those publications the K-T biostratigraphy is based primarily on calcareous nannoplankton, the most complete sequences containing the Micula prinsii zone in the topmost 14– 17 m of the Maastrichtian, and zone NP1, spanning the basal 4 m of the Danian. The K-T boundary was recognized on the basis of a 2–3-cm-thick dark clay layer containing an Ir anomaly of 6.1 ppb (Preisinger et al., 1993a). A second, smaller Ir and Co enrichment was recognized 7–8 cm above this interval in a marly limestone layer, and was considered reworked. The first Danian nannofossil species Biantholithus sparsus and Cyclagellosphaera alta are reported from this marly limestone layer that also contains blooms of Thoracosphaera operculata and Braarudosphaera bigelowii (Preisinger et al., 1993a, 1993b; Ivanov and Stoykova, 1994). Rögl et al. (1996) reported the range of four Maastrichtian planktic foraminifer species (Hedbergella monmouthensis, Guembelitria cretacea, Racemiguembelina intermedia, Abathomphalus mayaroensis) and six undifferentiated genera in the 90 cm below the K-T boundary. They observed the first Danian species (Woodringina hornerstownensis, W. claytonensis, Globoconusa predaubjergensis) 2 cm above the base of the K-T clay layer. GEOLOGICAL SETTING AND LOCATION The studied outcrops are exposed along the Black Sea coast, close to the town of Bjala (Fig. 1). Tectonically, this area belongs to the Luda Kamchia unit of the Stara Planica zone, which is part of the High Balkan mountain range (Ivanov, 1983, 1988). The Bjala area was a well-differentiated basin characterized by rhythmic sedimentation of hemipelagic marls and marly limestones during the Late Cretaceous. Deposition of more detrital and turbiditic sediment began in the early Paleocene and appears to reflect the first pulse of alpine tectonic activity. Subsequent tectonic activity resulted in the numerous nappes, thrust folds, and faults that can now be observed in the area (Ivanov, 1988). Bjala-1 is located 800 m north of a trench leading down from the town of Bjala to the beach (Figs. 1 and 2). This section corresponds to the Bjala 2b section of Ivanov and Stoykova (1994) and Preisinger (1994), and can be observed laterally over 15–20 m. This locality represents the best exposure and structurally least disturbed outcrop of the K-T tr


Commercial businesses represent a large portion of all waste generation; furthermore, their waste streams are large and consistent enough to provide a steady resource to other organizations that can use the waste as inputs for their own processes. However, businesses find it difficult to connect with other organizations, especially those in different industries. We conducted a user-centered design process in which we interviewed 17 local organizations, built an affinity diagram, and devised personas and scenarios. Using this information, we designed a social network, WantKnot, which allows businesses to find other local organizations interested in absorbing some of their waste streams. Based on a preliminary round of usability testing, we found that WantKnot connects businesses in valuable ways, and in doing so, reduces waste and transportation resources.