This research analyzes postcolonial discourse about body and gender relation in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter that tells about obsession toward morality, gender oppression, punishment for sinner, guilty feeling dan individual sin confession. The objective of this research is to reveal the resistance sides toward colonial construction that still exist in society's social order and norm reflected in that novel . By applying postcolonialism approach and deconstruction method, it is proven that The Scarlet Letter depicts colonized (women) resistance behind its attitude and practice that seems submissive to the power of colonizer (society dan men's domination). Key Words: Postcolonial Discourse, Body, Gender Relation, Deconstruction, Colonial Construction


The purpose of this study was to create quantitative models to value ether, ether futures, and ether options based upon the ability of cryptocurrencies to transform existing intermediary-verified payments to non-intermediary-based currency transfers, the ability of ether as a late mover to displace bitcoin as the first mover, and the valuation of ether in the context of investor irrationality models. The risk-averse investor's utility function is a combination of expectations of the performance of ether, expectations of cryptocurrencies' transformative power, and expectations of ether superseding bitcoin. The moderate risk-taker's utility function is an alt-Weibull distribution, along with a gamma distribution. Risk-takers have a utility function in the form of a Bessel function. Ether price functions consist of a Levy jump process. Ether futures are valued as the combination of current spot prices along with term prices. The value of spot prices is the product of a spot premium and a lognormal distribution of spot prices. The value of term prices is equal to the product of a term premium, and the Levy jump process of price fluctuations during the delivery period. For ether options, a less risky ether option portfolio offsets ether's risk by a fixed-income trading strategy.


The phase-field equations have many attractive characteristics. First, phase separation can be induced by the phase-field equations. It transforms from a single homogeneous mixture to two distinct phases in a nascent state. Second, the solution of the phase-field equations is bounded by a finite value. It is beneficial to ensure numerical stability. Third, the motion of the interface can be described by geometric features. It is helpful for expressing natural phenomena in mathematical terms. Fourth, the phase-field equations possess the energy dissipation law. This law is about degeneration and decay. It tells us in thermodynamics that all occurrences are irreversible processes. In this paper, we would like to investigate the numerical implementation of the Allen–Cahn (AC) equation, which is the classical one of the phase-field equations. In phase field modeling, the binary phase system is described using a continuous variable called the order parameter. The order parameter can be categorized into two forms: conserved, which represents the physical property such as concentration or mass, and non-conserved, which does not have the conserved physical property. We consider both the non-conservative and conservative AC equations. Our interest is more precisely to scrutinize the utilization of the discrete Laplacian operator in the AC equation by considering the conservative and non-conservative order parameter ϕ. Constructing linearly implicit methods for solving the AC equation, we formulate a gradient-descent-like scheme. Therefore, reinterpreting the implicit scheme for the AC equation, we propose a novel numerical scheme in which solutions are bounded by 1 for all t > 0. Together with the conservative Allen–Cahn equation, our proposed scheme is consistent when mass is conserved as well. From a numerical point of view, a linear, unconditionally energy stable splitting scheme is transformed into a gradient-descent-like scheme. Various numerical simulations are illustrated to demonstrate the validity of the proposed scheme. We also make distinctions between the proposed one and existing numerical schemes.


Retirement is a significant step for anybody. Depending on when and how it comes, the event can range from being traumatic, depressing, and financially crippling to being a smooth transition to a well-earned, wellplanned, and enjoyable new phase of life. Retirement can also provide an opportunity to pursue a new job or career path. How well are chemists as a group faring in the later stages of their careers and in their transition to retirement? That basic question is one that the American Chemical Society has probed with a survey of just over 5,000 of its more than 37,000 members age 50 to 69 who live in the U.S. Dubbed the Mature Career Chemist Survey, it involved mailing a 16-page, 49-question booklet to members throughout 1999. The response rate was about 55%. The major statistical findings mostly confirm and quantify what would be expected: • A large majority of chemists with pensions, 69%, initiated their ...


For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara explains key findings from a study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders. The study looked at whether there was a correlation between ADHD and frustration tolerance in children.


Objective To investigate the exposure technique of flat-panel detector.Methods Functional projection posture of spine and extremities were performed.After the reprocessing analysis on the workstation using different parameters,we compared the image quality of flat panel detector system(SonialvisionSafireⅡ,Shimadzu) and traditional imaging systems.Results The exposure of neck,lumbar spine and knee-joint took up 90% of the 20 projection areas.The ratio of excellent image were improved significantly,as the digital laminograph and the function of splicing of images expanded the examination conditions.Conclusion Flat panel detector system makes it easier to complete all kinds of projection,while provides reliable references for clinicians.


Because of the vast information on health benefits and the urbanization impact changes in eating habits, the demand for ready-to-use shelled walnuts as a convenient, healthy, and nutritious snack food is increasing all over the world. However, shelled nuts sold as halves or pieces in 'ready-to-use' small packages are more susceptible to pellicle darkening and rancidity than their in-shell equivalents. Currently, about two-thirds of the USA crop is exported, and ~66% of these exports are sold as shelled 'ready to use', and its demand is increasing. Yet, this package style is generating quality challenges due to the darkening and rancidification of the kernel pellicle. Protection against kernel color quality loss and rancidity during postharvest handling, even at warm temperatures, can be accomplished at 6 kPa (%) oxygen or less for 'Chandler' and 3 kPa or less for 'Howard' and 'Tulare'. The application of the 'cold chain' principle and/or low oxygen technology is unpractical for large cropping systems. Thus, a useful quality control system to rank the lots based on their potential visual and sensory quality is important. Then, the lots can be selected based on their potential quality, match market destinations, and are subjected to proper postharvest technologies.


Introductory Cosmic Rays.- The Galaxy and the Interstellar Medium.- Extragalactic Cosmic Rays.- Sidereal Daily Variations in Cosmic Ray Intensity and their Relationships to Solar Modulation and Galactic Anisotropies.- Energy Spectrum and Mass Composition of Cosmic Ray Nuclei from 1012 to 1020eV.- Nuclear Mass Composition at 'Low' Energies (i.e.


Lasse M. Gerrits is associate professor in the Department of Public Administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he studied public administration and urban planning. His research interests concern the complexity of public decision making and the development of the urban. He also teaches courses in complexity and systems. He recently published a textbook on complexity, Punching Clouds: An Introduction to the Complexity of Public Decision-Making (2012). E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


Some recent evidence for the existence of dynamic, metallic stripes in the 214-family of cuprates is reviewed. The mechanism of stripe pinning is considered, and changes in the charge density within stripes between the pinned and dynamic phases is discussed. From a purely experimental perspective, dynamic charge stripes are fully compatible with nodal "quasiparticles" and other electronic properties common to all superconducting cuprates.


e21000Background: MCC is a rare skin cancer with a propensity for distant mets, yet the ability of palliative CT to impact survival is unknown. Methods: Pts with MCC were identified from an institu...


Six elementary school children served as subjects in an experiment comparing the relative effectiveness of (1) token reinforcement, in which children received tokens for attending and for correct arithmetic performance; (2) response cost, in which children received "free" tokens at the start of a period but lost them for inattention and for arithmetic performance below a specified level; and (3) a combination of both token reinforcement and response cost. During training, the six subjects received all three procedures in counterbalanced sequence. The effects of the three procedures were assessed by a within-subject comparison divided into three phases: (i) baseline, (ii) training, (iii) withdrawal of tokens. Introduction of the three token procedures markedly increased the two dependent measures. However, there were no differences across the procedures in the amount of change produced in either attending behavior or arithmetic performance. During baseline, the subjects averaged 29% attending behavior and 6.4 correct problems. These levels increased to 85% for attending behavior and 11.4 correct problems for arithmetic performance during training. Removal of all token procedures significantly decreased attending behavior (to an average of 65%), but produced a nonsignificant reduction in arithmetic performance (to an average of 7.6 correct problems). There was evidence that this lack of differential effects of the three token procedures was not due to an inability to discriminate among them. Furthermore, the subjects were evenly divided in their preference for the three procedures.


The feasibility of studying the transport mobility of the population based on the monitoring of mobile subscribers was proved. T echnical, legal, statistical, organizational and economic aspects of the implementation of this area in terms of the Russian Federation, as well as experience in implementation of this trend abroad were considered.  Development of methods, technologies and software system for the study of mobility of the population in the city will optimize the development of the road and route network of passenger transport in the city of Krasnoyarsk and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.


Cross sections were measured for the [sup 75]As(n,p)[sup 75]Ge, [sup 75]As(n,[alpha])[sup 72]Ga, [sup 75]As(n,2n)[sup 74]As, [sup 74,76,78]Se(n,p)[sup 74],[sup 76],[sup 78]As, [sup 78],[sup 80]Se(n,[alpha])[sup 75],[sup 77]Ge, [sup 72,73,74]Ge(n,p)[sup 72,73,74]Ga, and [sup 70,76]Ge(n,2n)[sup 69,75]Ge reactions over the 6.3- to 14.7-MeV neutron energy range. Samples of As[sub 2]O[sub 3], selenium, and germanium or GeO[sub 2] of natural isotopic abundance were used. The neutrons were produced via the D(d,n)[sup 3] He reaction using a deuterium gas target at a variable energy cyclotron (E[sub n] = 6.3 to 11.9 MeV) and via the T(d,n)[sup 4] He reaction using a solid titanium-tritium target at a neutron generator (E[sub n] = 14.7 MeV). The activation technique was used in combination with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. The experimental excitation functions are well reproduced by the nuclear model calculations, based on statistical multistep reaction theory.


This paper deals with the mitigation of voltage related PQ issues by using three phase neutral clamped VSI topology is used to realize the DVR and the design of DVR for the selection of suitable interface inductor, DC capacitor storage series resistance and the capacitance. Here three-phase four wire DVR with modified switching band controller topology is proposed, which overcome the frequent band violation, poor controllability and heavy filter currents, and compared to three-phase four wire DVR with conventional filter topology. The compensation capability of the proposed topology is analyzed based on simulation studies and corresponding results are compared with different switching control strategies. The consequent merits and demerits switching loss in VSI, ripple in compensated load voltages and error between reference injected voltages and actual injected voltages in different switching control strategies are discussed.


The article presents the theoretical foundations of the four-point measurements of spherical surfaces of parts method, allowing to increase the efficiency of spherical structural elements of ball tips of various sizes control. Compared to the measurement method on the coordinate measuring machine, the developed technique can be used at workplaces of forming spherical elements. The technique ensures the efficiency of measurements and increases the efficiency of carrying out the cutting tool settings.


New J = 1-0 CO and far-infrared maps of the Orion star-forming region are presented and discussed. The total infrared luminosity of the Orion star-forming ridge is 250,000 solar luminosities. The material that is emitting strongly at 60 microns is traced and found to be highly centrally concentrated. However, the majority of the extended emission from this region comes from dust that is ultimately heated by the visible Trapezium cluster stars. The luminosity of IRc 2, the most luminous member of the infrared cluster, is estimated to be 40,000-50,000 solar luminosities. A schematic drawing of the Ori MC 1 region is presented. 30 references.


Publisher Summary Parasitism is a highly successful way of life as it has evolved independently in almost every phylum of protists, animals and plants. However, the degree to which parasites might affect their hosts is highly variable, ranging from an apparently uncomplicated co-existence with low virulence to situations where they might strongly affect entire host populations, under both natural or aquaculture conditions. In many parasite groups, but especially among aquatic ones, there are intricate and complex life cycles. These generally involve one or more intermediate hosts where larval development or asexual multiplication occurs and a definitive host in which to breed and from which to shed their offspring in order to ensure dispersal. Besides the species of concern to seafood safety, other frequently occurring parasites affect the food quality as they might severely reduce the aesthetic appearance of the product. Thus, a number of different fish parasites might have severe economic impact, either related to their pathogenicity, often resulting in substantial losses under aquaculture conditions, or due to their importance regarding the quality and safety of fish and fishery products. The continuously growing awareness by consumers and public food authorities as to the possible presence of parasites or parasite-related quality defects in seafood emphasizes the importance of providing the fish processing industry with up-to-date knowledge on the occurrence, detection, and control regarding the most important parasite species of fish.


As a fundamental rheological property, shear yield stress is used to assess the flowability of suspensions. Slump test is a cheap and quick experiment which is commonly used to estimate shear yield stress on-site. It has been generally believed that, cylinder height to diameter ratio and lifting velocity has no effect on the slump test results. In this work, the sensitivity of the slump test to the height to diameter ratio and lifting velocity of cylinder was investigated. Projections on the top surface of suspension column after the slump test were also analyzed. Results indicated that, the effect of cylinder height to diameter ratio is negligible in the low range of shear yield stress, while it is remarkable in the high range. It was deduced that, using a cylinder with dimension ratio in the range of 0.83 to 1.15 is more reliable. Furthermore, it is shown that the lifting velocity of cylinder has a significant effect on the results. A high lifting velocity could introduce a great error in estimation particularly in a large height to diameter ratio.


Circuit breathing apparatus with a breathing circuit with a source of oxygen and a CO an oxygen bottle (15) as a heat sink and a regeneration cartridge for CO a chemical oxygen cartridge (16) as a heat source, which serves as an oxygen source and CO a mouthpiece (11) in the breathing circuit for supplying the respiratory gas to an equipment rack, a communication device (40) having a microphone (2) on the mouthpiece and a signal transmission means (3) for the transmission of the microphone signals and a respiratory gas cooler (14) as a heat sink which is arranged in the circumferential direction in the breathing circuit behind the heat source and in front of the mouthpiece to the heated therein breathing gas to cool, wherein the power supply of the communication device (40) comprises a heat generator (7) is present which with its low temperature side with at least one heat sink and connected to its high-temperature side with the heat source of the circuit respirator in heat conduction contact, characterized in that means are provided for storing electrical energy in the communication device (40) which store electrical energy which is not required by the communication device, and that the devices for storing electrical energy include capacitors.


The subject of this study consists of two compound connectives, "ale vsak" and "vsak ale", ("but however" and "however but") which were present in older forms of the Czech language and which persisted into the National Revival era, but which were eventually rejected by modern Czech. The study focuses on the order of the two components of the connectives. The author analyzed data from secondary literature, old grammars of Czech, diachronic corpora and a private corpus of Baroque Czech texts. On the basis of this analysis, it was found that the change in the order from "ale vsak" to "vsak ale" took place in the 18th century (after 1710). This change is connected to the fact that 1) "ale" began to fill non-initial positions in the clause from the 18th century onwards, and 2) "vsak" was not an enclitic. The rapid spread of "vsak ale" dates from the 18th century and it continued during the National Revival period. This can be viewed as evidence of the uninterrupted continuity of Standard Czech between the Baroque period and the National Revival. If Standard Czech had experienced a hiatus between these two periods – as is traditionally assumed – only the form "ale vsak" would have occurred in the language of the first half of the 19th century.


The treatment efficiency of municipal wastewater by A2O-MBR process was studied.The results indicated that the A2O-MBR process had excellent treatment efficiency with good resistance to variations in temperature and organic loading rate.The effluent COD,BOD5,NH3-N,TN,TP,and SS could meet the first level A criteria specified in the Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant(GB 18918-2002).Critical design parameters as well as operation and maintenance factors of the A2O-MBR process were summarized to provide reference for the practical application of the A2O-MBR.


In this paper, a novel direction finding method using the power spectrum characteristics in parallel with the amplitude comparison is proposed in time-modulated circular array (TMCA). The direction of arrival (DoA) of the incident signal in azimuthal angular range of 360° is estimated by the TMCA with high accuracy. In addition, angular ambiguity is reduced through the amplitude comparison without additional hardware. As a result of the direction finding performance by proposed method is provided with a four-element TMCA.


This work is concerned with finite-state irreducible Markov decision chains satisfying continuity-compactness requirements. It is supposed that the system is driven by a decision maker with utility function U , which, aside mild conditions, is arbitrary, and the performance of a control policy is measured by the long-run average cost criterion induced by U . The main conclusions about this performance index are as follows: (i) the optimal U -average value function coincides with the optimal V -average index for a certain exponential utility V , and (ii) the average criteria associated with U and V have the same class of optimal stationary policies.


As part of neural network systems, an artificial neural network can perform various functions like diagnostics of technological equipment, control of moving objects and technological processes, forecasting situations, as well as assessing the state and monitoring of technological processes.


According to the condition that people only know about the lunar soil between the depths 0 and 3 meters and the existing drillers can't collect the deeper lunar soil, a new lunar soil driller that can collect the lunar soil between the depths 0 and 5 meters is to be presented in this paper. The driller needs the accommodation of great power and the help of astronauts. And it realizes the goals of deep lunar soil sampling by the interconnection and the coinstantaneous contra-rotation of the inside drill pipes and the outside drill pipes. The driller is consist of a lunar soil drilling mechanism, a mechanism recovering samples , a mechanism fixing drill pipes, a mechanism interchanging drill pipes and some drill tools. After the interconnection of 5 groups of drill pipes, the target of deep soil sampling can be realized. What's more, the samples collected by the driller can keep the sequence information. The driller has the advantages of small structure and it can collect much more lunar soil. So this kind of driller can give some technical supports to the study of deep lunar soil sampling.


Offering share "match" incentives and flexible payment choices enabled Enterprise Inns to gain employee buy‐in for its Share Incentive Plan, explains Julia Memery, relationship manager at Halifax Employee Share Services.


Here, we report a case of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19‐9‐producing mediastinal neuroendocrine tumor (NET) (atypical carcinoid). A 54‐year‐old woman with no specific relevant medical history was referred to our hospital because of increased CA19‐9 (95.3 U/ml) detected on health screening. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an anterior mediastinal mass without localized lymphadenopathy. Thoracic surgery was performed and the histopathological diagnosis was thymic CA19‐9‐positive NET. The patient developed mediastinal lymph node metastasis at 1 year (CA19‐9: 413 U/ml) and multiple bone metastases 4 years (CA19‐9: 2303 U/ml) after surgery. Increased CA19‐9 levels paralleled the clinical courses of relapse. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CA19‐9‐producing thymic NET.


Objective:To study the effect reginal injection of persistent glucocorticoid on Graves ophthalmopathy.Methods:In year 2003~2005,41 cases 55 eyes of Graves ophthalmopathy patients were retrobulbar in ject with Triamcinolone Acetomide.Symptoms and signs of the patients were observed before and at one month to half year after treatment.Results:The mean degree of exophthalmos was 17.90±2.10mm and 14.40±2.30mm before and after treatment(P0.05).Mean height of palpebral fissure was 12.90±1.40mm and 9.40±2.60mm(P0.05):The score of CAS were descent 2~4,The general efficient rate was 98.2%.Results:Reginal application of persistent glucocorticoid has significant effect with Graves ophthalmopathy and is a kind of management with less side effect and high safety.


The x-ray structure of the γ-subunit of the heterotrimeric translation initiation factor eIF2 has been determined to 2.4-Å resolution. eIF2 is a GTPase that delivers the initiator Met-tRNA to the P site on the small ribosomal subunit during a rate-limiting initiation step in translation. The structure of eIF2γ closely resembles that of EF1A·GTP, consisting of an N-terminal G domain followed by two β-barrels arranged in a closed configuration with domain II packed against the G domain in the vicinity of the Switch regions. The G domain of eIF2γ has an unusual zinc ribbon motif, not previously found in other GTPases. Structure-based site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify two adjacent features on the surface of eIF2γ that bind the α-subunit and \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{Met-tRNA}_{\mathrm{i}}^{\mathrm{Met}}\) \end{document}, respectively. These structural, biochemical, and genetic results provide new insights into eIF2 ternary complex assembly.


For the Ising ferromagnet with S=3/2 and S=1, the effects of the three-site four-spin interaction J'(Si.Sj)(Sj.Sk) on the magnetisation (Sz) and the Curie temperature TC have been calculated by the use of the three-spin model approximation. The temperature dependences of (Sz) and (Sz3) turn out to show an abnormal behaviour for the three-site four-spin interaction in the range J'<or approximately=-J/(2(z-1)S2), where J is the usual bi-linear exchange parameter and z is the coordination number. It is also pointed out that this abnormal behaviour of (Sz) is very pronounced in the low-temperature region. This abnormal low-temperature behaviour may signal a crossover to a complex antiferromagnetic ground state such as found in the systems with negative multi-spin interactions. Furthermore, the three-site four-spin interaction J' is shown to affect the Curie temperature TC mainly, and for the Ising ferromagnet with S=3/2 on the body-centred cubic lattice the change Delta TC/TC0 in the Curie temperature is shown to be about 50% at J'=-0.025J. It is also clear that three-site four-spin interaction has a larger effect on the magnetism of the Ising ferromagnet with a large spin and large coordination number.


We examine the stellar mass assembly in galaxy cluster cores using data from the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH). We measure the growth of brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) stellar mass, the fraction of the total cluster light which is in the intracluster light (ICL) and the numbers of mergers that occur in the BCG over the redshift range of the sample, 0.18 < z < 0.90. We find that BCGs grow in stellar mass by a factor of 1.4 on average from accretion of their companions, and this growth is reduced to a factor of 1.2 assuming 50 per cent of the accreted stellar mass becomes ICL, in line with the predictions of simulations. We find that the ICL shows significant growth over this same redshift range, growing by a factor of 4–5 in its contribution to the total cluster light. This result is in line with our previous findings for ICL at higher redshifts, however, our measured growth is somewhat steeper than is predicted by simulations of ICL assembly. We find high-mass companions and hence major merging (mergers with objects of masses ≥1/2 of the BCG) to be very rare for our sample. We conclude that minor mergers (mergers with objects with masses <1/2 of the BCG) are the dominant process for stellar mass assembly at low redshifts, with the majority of the stellar mass from interactions ending up contributing to the ICL rather than building up the BCG. From a rough estimate of the stellar mass growth of the ICL we also conclude that the majority of the ICL stars must come from galaxies which fall from outside of the core of the cluster, as predicted by simulations. It appears that the growth of the ICL is the major evolution event in galaxy cluster cores during the second half of the lifetime of the Universe.


The present invention in that, the speech analysis specified by calculating the gravity rating determines the magnitude depending on the results, the severity rating extract specific period image before and after as the determined time or more severity control terminal about the status tip end devices and systems transmission by one to the tip to enable efficient conditions.


Introduction: Infertility is defined as a failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse(1)(2). Overall, 30% of infertility prevalence is attributed exclusively to male factors, 35% to female factors, 20% to both female and male factors while 15% remains unexplained(5)(3). Therefore, male factor infertility is at least partly responsible for 50% of the cases of infertility(3). This study aimed to identify and describe the causes and pattern of presentation of male factor infertility at the Kenyatta National Hospital.Materials and Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital, a National teaching and referral (Level 6) hospital in Kenya.The study population was all the patients with male factor infertility that attended the urological, gynaecological and doctors' plaza clinics at the Kenyatta National Hospital over a period of 7 months. A pre-tested, structured and close- ended questionnaire was administered. Additional information was obtained from patient case notes.Results: 60.5% of male factor infertility to be due to unexplained factors, 31.6% due to varicoceles, 2.6% due to congenital factors (zinner syndrome) and 5.2% due to ejaculatory duct obstruction.Conclusion: Male factor infertility is a common and distressing condition. Difficulties in the accurate diagnosis of male reproductive dysfunction complicates our understanding of the epidemiology and aetiology of the condition. Further research with a larger sample size will allow for computation of associations and allow for generalization of data.


A laboratory experiment compared germination of the invasive exotic grass Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Rudge) Nees and the native H. acutigluma (Steud.) Gilliland. Seeds of both species were exposed to combinations of light (constant dark, alternating dark/light or constant light), temperature (constant or alternating) and nitrate regimes (with or without the addition of KNO3). Three seed lots of H. amplexicaulis (fresh, two adn four months old) and one of H. acutigluma (fresh seed) were tested.

A significant temperature x light x nitrate x seed lot interaction occured. At a constant temperature very few seeds of either H. amplexicaulis or H. acutigluma germinated, regardless of the light regime or addition of KNO3. Generally, maximum germination occurred under a combination of alternating temperature, the presence of light (either constant or alternating) and the addition of KNO3. The exception was four month stored H. amplexicaulis seed, which reached maximum germinaction without the need for KNO3. Fresh seed of both H. amplexicaulis and H. acutigluma exhibited similar germination requirements.

These findings suggest that conditions that buffer seeds from light and/or temperature fluctuations could reduce germination and possibly extend the life of seed banks of both H. amplexicaulis and H. acutigluma. Conversely, for land managers trying to control the exotic H. amplexicaulis, activities that create more favourable conditions for germination may help deplete seed banks faster.


Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a common and potentially lethal condition. Most patients die within the first few hours from the event. Despite diagnostic advances, delays and underdiagnosis in PE are common.To increase the diagnostic performance in PE, current diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism usually starts with the assessment of clinical pretest probability using plasma d-Dimer measurement and clinical prediction rules. The most validated and widely used clinical decision rules are the Wells and Geneva Revised scores. We aimed to develop a new clinical prediction rule (CPR) for PE based on topological data analysis and artificial neural network. Filter or wrapper methods for features reduction cannot be applied to our dataset: the application of these algorithms can only be performed on datasets without missing data. Instead, we applied Topological data analysis (TDA) to overcome the hurdle of processing datasets with null values missing data. A topological network was developed using the Iris software (Ayasdi, Inc., Palo Alto). The PE patient topology identified two ares in the pathological group and hence two distinct clusters of PE patient populations. Additionally, the topological netowrk detected several sub-groups among healthy patients that likely are affected with non-PE diseases. TDA was further utilized to identify key features which are best associated as diagnostic factors for PE and used this information to define the input space for a back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN). It is shown that the area under curve (AUC) of BP-ANN is greater than the AUCs of the scores (Wells and revised Geneva) used among physicians. The results demonstrate topological data analysis and the BP-ANN, when used in combination, can produce better predictive models than Wells or revised Geneva scores system for the analyzed cohort


The generation of digital elevation models, maps and orthoimages requires the geometric reconstruction of the imaging conditions. This can be done with the exterior orientation of the satellites based on satellite positioning by GPS or a similar system and attitude determination with gyros, supported by star sensors. The accuracy of the exterior orientation is still good, but not accurate and reliable enough for all purposes, so it should be improved by means of ground control points. It is also possible to determine the orientation without any a priori information. The orientation can be based on a strict mathematical model, but also on approximations. There are general differences of the orientation of original images and images projected to a surface with constant height like IKONOS Geo and QuickBird OR Standard. Projected images are pre-corrected by rotations of the satellite during imaging, so they can be handled also with the approximate solutions, 3Daffine transformation and direct linear transformation (DLT) even if they require a higher number of threedimensional well distributed control points. But there are still some limitations for large QuickBird scenes caused by the slow down mode with the factor 1.66 for QuickBird. QuickBird is permanently rotating during imaging to reach a ground sampling distance (GSD) in the orbit direction like across and this is not respected by the simplified solutions 3D affine transformation and the DLT, reducing the orientation accuracy. Original images like OrbView-3 Basic and QuickBird Basic can be handled without problems by the strict solution of sensor oriented RPCs and geometric reconstruction. An extension of the 3D affine transformation to 14 unknowns comes close to the accuracy of the strict solutions but requires quite more and well distributed control points. The results reached with DLT and the 3D affine transformation with 8 unknowns cannot be accepted for original images. In general with OrbView-3 images the usual accuracy below 1 ground sampling distance (GSD) has not been reached. This partially can be explained by the 2m size of the projected pixel on the ground, 50% over-sampled to get 1m GSD. This is still reducing the image quality. The terrain depending RPCs, computing the coefficients based on control points, should not be used. It cannot be controlled for areas with poor control point distribution and the commercial solutions are not giving any warnings for strong correlations of the unknowns. This method is not serious.


Abstract The initial development of a scheme for 'enterprise education' within the Department of Geography at the University of Lancaster is described. The constraints and opportunities provided by the United Kingdom Training Agency's Enterprise in Higher Education Programme are set out. It is concluded that evaluation of the scheme will be lengthy and conceptually difficult. The influence of the Programme in the short term will derive less from its structure than from how it is interpreted and implemented by specific institutions of higher education, departments of geography, academic staff and students.


We report the direct molecular dynamics simulation results of the ultracold two-component plasma expansion. Interaction between charges is described by Coulomb's law. The number of particles varies from 103 to 105. It is shown in this article that the expansion of the plasma begins with the evaporation of some of the electrons and with the transfer of their kinetic energy to the energy of the electric field. After that, the field increases the kinetic energy of the ions. An important result is the detection of the supersonic ion wave formation. On the basis of the calculation results, equations and self-similar solutions are obtained. General dependences on plasma parameters are determined, which are compared with experimental data.


The study examines the genre-specific features and the discourse rhetorical patterns that occur in the narrative parables of the Qur'an. To investigate this genre, an analysis is presented of 14 typical exemplar narrative parable texts selected from the Qur'an. This analysis draws on two different, yet complementary, analytic frameworks from discourse, using the theoretical perspective of genre analysis and the discourse rhetorical pattern analysis. These two methods were undertaken in two stages. Genre analysis, which is established as a means of identifying the component features of written genres, revealed that the following skeletal components tend to construct narrative parables: aperture, orientation, remarkable event, reaction, morale, and coda. Then, an in depth analysis of the discourse rhetorical patterns demonstrated a frequent occurrence of 'Problem-Solution' relationships, closely reflected in the key genre components (i.e., Orientation-Remarkable event- Reaction) of these parable texts. This kind of framework, hopefully, enables the reader to conceptualize the structure of the narrative parable texts into identifiable genre components and to predict the prevalent rhetorical relationships by means of possible linguistic elements that tend to signal the occurrence of these patterns in the texts.


Acute otitis media (AOM) is the leading reason for antibiotic prescription to children. Studies based in office practices have shown that a "wait-and-see prescription" (WASP) for antibiotics, in which parents fill the prescription only if symptoms have not improved in 48 hours, has no deleterious effects in children with nonsevere AOM. Now, investigators have studied this strategy in a pediatric …


Sheila Broderick, Ruth Cochrane. Milton Keynes, UK: Radcliffe Publishing, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-1-846-19980-6. Price: £24.99. Pages: 168 (paperback)

Those of you who regularly read my Consumer Correspondent column in this Journal will know that I am a vociferous advocate for medical treatments being paired with, and so underpinned by, emotional support. Rarely, perhaps, is this underpinning more necessary than when the medical procedures of labour and aftercare are set in the context of the baby having died.

It was therefore with some trepidation that I approached the task of reviewing the above-named book. Would it only deal with …


Dielectric antennas do not have metal component which makes them useful at high frequencies where metallization loss is a factor. Dielectric Rectangular slab antenna is widely used in mobile, satellite, communication systems due to its high performance. Dielectric antennas are highly functional at high frequencies (specifically < 1GHz) due to easy manufacturing, low loss, less corrosive and can be sealed with ease. Two dielectric slab antennas have been studied here in the same frequency band (8–12 GHz) specifically for onboard aerospace applications. The antennas can be widely used for aeronautical radio navigation service (ARNS) and also for airborne ground mapping and weather forecasting.


Along with the development of the hijab model in Indonesia which is a market need and can develop the creativity of fashionable hijab. From year to year Zoya continues to provide new creations and innovations to her hijab designs. Ranging from exclusive designs to promotional materials that continue to give priority to the comfort of its users. Various awards ranging from Top Brand to Best Band achieved in three years were agreed. Based on this phenomenon, this study discusses the consumptive lifestyle and product quality on Zoya hijab purchasing decisions in Central Surabaya. This research method uses quantitative methods by studying causal with multiple linear regression techniques using the IBM SPSS 23 for windows program. Consumptive lifestyle and product quality as independent variables and purchasing decisions as the dependent variable. The object of this research is the Zoya brand quadrilateral consumers with a sample of 220 respondents. The results showed that the consumptive lifestyle influenced purchasing decisions by 0.225, but the results differed on the product quality variable by 0.080 that did not affect the purchasing decision.


Focuses on stress and stress reduction with reference to the Health Service. Details the results of a questionnaire survey into stress management carried out in a London teaching hospital.


Unconventional distractions such as electronic devices are stimuli that divert attention during study tasks, especially those related to scientific research exercises in undergraduate education. In the absence of precise instruments to measure this phenomenon, the objective was to adapt and validate the Scale of Distractions in Research Tasks among Peruvian university students. The study is classified as an instrumental cross-sectional design, involving 1,003 university students aged between 18 and 47 years (M = 20.93, SD = 4.30) from three regions of Peru (Coast, Highlands, and Jungle), selected through convenience sampling. Content validity was assessed using Aiken's V coefficient, internal structure was examined through confirmatory factor analysis, and reliability was measured using the Omega coefficient. The results indicated that the judges positively evaluated the 5 items (V > 0.70), the internal structure confirmed the original model with satisfactory fit indices (χ2 (2) = 5.47, p = 0.187, CFI = 0.998, RMSEA = 0.023, and SRMR = 0.010), and the reliability was acceptable (ω = 0.86). In conclusion, the Peruvian version of the Scale of Distractions in Research Tasks has demonstrated to be a valid and reliable instrument, characterized by its brevity and a unifactorial structure.


This study sought to find the effect of mind maps in learning the concepts of ecology in public secondary schools in Kenya. The study had a sample population of 492 respondents drawn from form three students and their respective teachers in public secondary schools in Hamisi sub-county. The study adopted a pre-test, post-test non-equivalent quasi experimental design. Achievement tests were used to collect data which was analyzed inferentially using the t-test. The study revealed that students exposed to the use of mind maps in learning had an improvement of 34% in their scores. A p value of 0.001 was obtained on an independent sample t-test which indicated that a statistically significant difference in the means existed between students who used mind maps than those who did not. This led to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concluded that mind maps were an effective way of teaching concepts in ecology. Mind maps were therefore highly recommended for effective teaching of ecology.


Strategies aimed at reducing land use conflict often stress the need to make planning decisions more democratic. However, this goal is obstructed by overly-narrow conceptual perspectives that neglect the symbolic significance of place. We illustrate this by examining place names, which function as repositories of socio-political meaning. Drawing on elements of discursive and rhetorical psychology and subject positioning theory, we investigated the variety of meanings associated with place names in the context of a proposed housing development in Swindon, in the South of England. Thirty interviews with different stakeholders were conducted to gauge their opinions towards the proposal. Noting differences in the way the proposed site was named, we analysed the range of meanings associated with each name in relation to participants' stances towards development. Our results show how, in naming place, spatial meanings are negotiated and contested in ways that support contrasting political objectives. We conclude that planning professionals should exercise greater sensitivity towards existing spatial meanings, especially place names. In addition, socio-political understandings of subjective spatial relationships can serve as a basis for achieving more productive dialogue and improving development designs.


The paper proposed an analytical threshold voltage model of fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (SOI)MOSFET with asymmetric HALO structure taking into consideration the two-dimensional effects in both SOI and buried-oxide layer. Based on the model, the threshold voltages are calculated as a function of SOI layer, doping density and HALO proportion, respectively. The predictions of the model are in good agreement with those of the two-dimension numerical simulator MEDICI. The results verify that the model offers guidance as to how the device designed.


This paper summarizes the first pilot research results from the study of school climate in Slovak primary and secondary schools. The research was conducted as part of the Cross-Cultural School Climate Study project using the Georgia school climate surveys, adapted to Slovak conditions. Participants were 832 primary and secondary students, 125 school personnel and 614 parents. Results indicate overall positive ratings of school climate across all participant groups. Students provided the highest ratings in the domains of character, peer social support and school safety. The lowest ratings were reported in the domain of cultural acceptance. School personnel provided the most positive ratings of school climate among the participant groups, followed by parents. Both participant groups reported the highest ratings for school safety and the lowest ratings for parent involvement.


With the increasing demand for spoken language interfaces in human-computer interactions, automatic recognition of emotional states from human speeches has become of increasing importance. In this paper, we propose a novel hybrid scheme that combines the probabilistic neural network (PNN) and the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) for identifying emotions from speech signals. In order to handle mismatches more effectively, the universal background model (UBM) is incorporated into the GMM, and the resultant model is denoted as UBM-GMM. In the hybrid scheme, the strengths of the PNN and the UBM-GMM are combined through a novel conditional-probability based fusion algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme is able to achieve higher recognition accuracy than that obtained by using PNN or UBM-GMM alone.


An interconnection board (52) of a stator (10) of an electrical machine (12) and manufacturing method of such a stator (10) by means of an electrical winding (16) of the stator (10) with customer-specific, connection plugs (56) for the power supply is connectable , wherein said wiring plate (52), conductor elements (58), on the one hand axial connection plug (54) for the connection plug (56) and the other fastening sections (60) whose ends (67) has a flattened - in particular approximately rectangular - have cross-section, and the ends (67) a round connecting wire (31) enclosing the coil (16) contacting.


Abstract The spectre of wrong-level surgery has many a spinal surgeon double-checking the spinal level at which an operation is being carried out especially in the thoracic spine, in the absence of abnormal-looking vertebrae which could help to identify the intended level. Getting the level wrong is easily done if there is an unusual number of vertebrae or if the direction of the count digresses from the imaging available.


Aluminum (Al) has been implicated in several neurological diseases including dialysis dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). One possible mechanism of Al neurotoxicity could involve alteration of mitochondrial gene expression. We exposed PC12 cells to 0.1–100 μM AlCl3 for 6 h at pH 7.4. Internalized Al, measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, was linearly proportional to the extracellular Al concentration. Northern blot analyses showed that cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (COX III) mRNA was significantly reduced by 70% after addition of 1 μM AlCl3. Higher concentrations of AlCl3 did not show a significant further effect. These results suggest that Al neurotoxicity involves a specific impairment of cytochrome c oxidase.


Photoluminescence (PL) from InAs self-assembled quantum dots (QD) embedded in the AlAs matrix was strong and clean around 700 nm. PL efficiency remained quite high at room temperature compared to other QD systems embedded in GaAs cladding layers. Transmission electron microscope pictures from the structure showed a clear formation of relatively small and coherently strained InAs QD. The observed blueshift with accompanying broadening of PL spectra with the increase of excitation power is interpreted in terms of local carrier tunneling in a dense QD system. The PL peak redshift with the increase of temperature was very large, as much as 228 meV. The anomalous shift is interpreted as due to activation-energy differences between dots of different sizes.


Summer academic bridge programs often play a dual role of supporting students' academic and social integration in the transition from high school to college. Assessment of the impact of such programs tends to rely on self-reported student surveys and institutional records and often does not control for self-selection effects. Using multivariate-matching methods, this study examines the effect of a summer bridge engineering program on subsequent academic performance such as cumulative GPA. Controlling for selection effects, the analysis accounts for pre-college academic and demographic covariates and creates a matched control and treatment group. Within this well-controlled framework, we find no impact on an academic outcome, which resonates with other research findings. Viewed through the lens of Nora's student engagement model, we discuss social integration outcomes which can potentially assess indirect programmatic effects such as participation in a Learning Assistant Program and enrollment in reformed STEM classes. PACS: 01.40.Fk, 01.40.Di


The index samples of three Penaeid shrimp, P. chinensis, P. japonicus and P. vannamei, were collected from the coastal waters of Korean Peninsula, Taiwan Strait and a hatchery located in Hainan Province respectively. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was employed in analyzing the specific genetic markers of 8 individuals from each species. The reactions were performed through 94℃ pre denaturing for 5 min, then 45 cycles of 94℃ denaturing for 1 min, 36℃ annealing for 1 min and 72℃ polymerizing for 2 min; The complete extention was conducted at 72℃ for 10 min. 40 primers of OPK and OPE were screened, 37 primers produced reproducible fingerprints with the molecular weight varying from 250 bp to 2 200 bp. The number of RAPD markers amplified by each primer varied from 1 to 7. Those interpretable patterns generated by 34 primers were used as the genetic markers to discriminate the differentiation of the three species. 95 out of 264 amplified fragments were distinctive for the three species, 28 were from P. vannamei, 32 and 35 were from P. japonicus and P. chinensis respectively. Based on the RAPD data, the genetic distances among these three species of Penaeid shrimps were computed by using popgene 1.32 software package. As a result, the biggest genetic distance occured between P. japonicus and P. chinensis with a value of 0.909 6, while smallest genetic distance (0.621 9) came about between P. vannamei and P. chinensis. But the genetic distance between P. japonicus and P. vannamei was 0.860 8. The cluster analysis of the above three species was performed with UPGMA algorithm over their genetic distances. The dendrogram of these three species was constructed.


Research findings from several academic domains have demonstrated that students' judgments of their own academic capabilities or self-efficacy beliefs influence their academic behaviors and performances. But there has been very few studies exploring the self-efficacy of Medical students and its effect on their language success. So, the present research aims to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between medical students' self-efficacy and their language proficiency. Moreover, this study tried to examine the variation of students' self-efficacy based on their different majors in medical sciences. To this end, 120 students studying in different majors in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences were selected as the participants of this study. In order to measure students' language proficiency, Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MTELP) was administered. Another instrument was the self-efficacy questionnaire which was an adaptation of Bandura's questionnaire included 40 items with subsequent choices on a 5-point Likert-scale. The results of the study indicated that there was a positive relationship between students' self-efficacy and language proficiency. Besides, it was revealed that students' major had an effect on both language proficiency and self-efficacy. Finally, pedagogical implications and suggestions for further research were provided.


Spiderweb is a naturally available mechanically robust and optimized structure, which can withstand multidirectional forces even one or more spiral or even radial lines are cut. Recently, the spiderweb (fractal web) design has received significant interest in flex circuits, displays, smart textiles, wearable healthcare etc. In this work, a three order spiderweb hexagonal interconnect architecture is studied for uniaxial stretchability using finite element analysis (FEA). Both FEA and model are in close agreement. The interconnect geometry constitutes of copper film embedded on polyimide substrate. The structure is designed with a radial symmetry consisting of rigid silicon island cells with straight lines. Analytical model is also developed to predict the changes in resistance and self-capacitance of the wires with uni/multiaxial stress and same has been compared with FEA results.


Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ( A. pleuropneumoniae ) and Haemophilus parasuis ( H. parasuis ) are important pathogens of swine, which cause great economic losses in the swine industry and bring great safety hazards to food safety. In this study, we established a duplex Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) assay for sensitive detection of A. pleuropneumoniae and H. parasuis simultaneously in pork. The limit of detection of plasmid DNA could reach 2 copies/μL for both A. pleuropneumoniae and H. parasuis ; which were approximately 50- and 20-fold greater sensitivity than Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Both qPCR and ddPCR showed high linearity and positive correlation with standards. The detection results of clinical suspected samples for A. pleuropneumoniae and H. parasuis indicated the positive detection rate of ddPCR (10.7% and 12.5%) was higher than that of qPCR (7.1% and 8.9%). Therefore, the duplex ddPCR assay could be used as an effective quantitative detection to diagnose A. pleuropneumoniae and H. parasuis simultaneously, which may lay a foundation for the development of substitute rapid diagnostic technique.


The current status of the helicopter engineering in Russia is considered, the development prospects of the industry are evaluated. In the given period, the capital assets consolidation, and big business creation are being completed. Their manufacturing programs are aimed at the priority directions of the Russian aircraft industry. The significance of the chosen theme is caused by the role which the helicopter industry plays in forming scientific and economic potential of the country. At the present stage of the Russian economy development, problems on the organizational arrangement, divercification, entry into new markets become more urgent for helicopter equipment producers. In this regard, the focal points of the efficient manufacturing process control are considered by the example of the "Russian Helicopters" company. The following figures are analyzed: the Russian and world market shares of the "Russian Helicopters" company, operations efficiency improvement, development of new trends which will become additional sources of revenue.


The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting a whiteboard page. Said method comprising the steps of: receiving a trigger to perform white page cut command; in response to the trigger command is detected on the sliding track whiteboard page; generating the respective sub-pages according to the detected sliding track, on the sliding track and page through the whiteboard the cutting element is cut according to a preset rule; copy elements to the cut position corresponding to the subpage. A plurality of simultaneously present invention does not require hardware terminal i.e. the whiteboard page may be implemented in various modes of operation, the simple program, and take full advantage of the large flat screen, to meet the needs of the development of cooperative multitasking process.


Origin and forming conditions of corundums in gneiss in Truc Lau mine, Luc Yen District, Yen Bai Province Truc Lau gem mining area, belonged to Truc Lau, Phuc Loi commune of Luc Yen district, Yen Bai province, is located in the Red River zone. Here, corundums (ruby, sapphire) have been exploited in placer since the late 80s of the last century. In recent years, they have been found in gneiss host rock. Based on the results of chemical composition, crystal structure, inclusion, color, absorption spectrum of corundum as well as mineral assemblage analysis and thermobarometer confirmed that corundums from Truc Lau gneiss are the production of metapelite and formed by breaking down of muscovite at 650-769oC, 7.6-5.2kbar.


For target tracking in nonlinear systems, Extended Kalman Filter is often used, but this algorithm often diverges. Recently, Bar-Shalom proposed the Converted Measurement Kalman Filtering Algorithm (CMKFA) in two-dimensional plane, and proved that CMKFA is better than EKFA for target tracking by simulation. CMKFA is deeply studied in this paper and it is proved that CMKFA is a linear, unbiased, least mean square error algorithm based on the debiased converted measurements, provided some conditions are met.


Currently, the most popular views about how to update de se or selflocating beliefs entail the one-third solution to the Sleeping Beauty problem.1 Another widely held view is that an agent's credences should be countably additive.2 In what follows, I will argue that there is a deep tension between these two positions. For the assumptions that underlie the one-third solution to the Sleeping Beauty problem entail a more general principle, which I call the Generalized Thirder Principle, and there are situations in which the latter principle and the principle of Countable Additivity cannot be jointly satisfied. The most plausible response to this tension, I argue, is to accept both of these principles and tomaintain that when an agent cannot satisfy them both, he or she is faced with a rational dilemma.


: Experimental studies have been performed on the flow of wood plastic composite in the starve fed single screw extrusion. The extrusion process of polypropylene (PP) composite with various wood flour content at different operating conditions and level of starvation has been investigated. Melting and flow of the material were evaluated using "Screw Pulling-out Technique". It was stated that the flow of wood plastic composite ( i.e ., conveying of the solid plastic material, melting and melt flow) in the starve fed extrusion is different from the flow of wood plastic composite in the flood fed extrusion. Also, it differs from the flow of thermoplastics in the starve fed extrusion. Melting in the partialy filled region is similar to the melting of thermoplastics in this region, i.e. , it consists mainly in the conduction, while melting in the fully filled region is dependent on the wood flour content. At high content of wood flour, melting does not proceed according to the well-known Tadmor model, and one-dimensional melting is observed. At low wood flour content, the applicability of Tadmor model is clearly seen.


Objectives Patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (eosCRSwNP) usually have more extensive sinus disease, severe symptoms, and poorer disease control compared with patients with non-eosCRSwNP. Separating these entities will be crucial for patient management. The purpose of this study is to investigate T1, T2, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the nasal polyps in patients with CRSwNP and evaluate the usefulness of these parameters for differentiating these diseases. Methods Sinonasal magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 36 patients with eosCRSwNP and 20 patients with non-eosCRSwNP (including T1 mapping, T2 mapping, and diffusion-weighted imaging) before surgery. The T1, T2, and ADC values were calculated and correlated with pathologically assessed inflammatory cells of nasal polyps. Results Significant higher T2 value, higher eosinophil count, and lower lymphocyte count of the nasal polyps were observed in eosCRSwNP than those in non-eosCRSwNP. There was no significant difference in T1 or ADC values between the 2 groups. T2 value was correlated with eosinophil count and lymphocyte count in CRSwNP. The area under the curve of T2 value for predicting eosCRSwNP was 0.78 with 89.9% sensitivity and 60.0% specificity. Conclusion T2 value is a promising imaging biomarker for predicting eosCRSwNP. It can help to distinguish eosCRSwNP from non-eosCRSwNP.


PURPOSE
Applying statistical process control (SPC) to IMRT/VMAT patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) program was recommended by the AAPM TG-218 report, but a comprehensive analysis of PSQA processes with non-normal distributions is lacking. This study investigates SPC and process capability analysis (PCA) methods for non-normal IMRT/VMAT PSQA processes.

METHODS
1119 VMAT PSQAs were performed on three beam-matched linear accelerators (linacs), using gamma analysis. The Anderson-Darling statistic was used to test normality. The control charts for each PSQA process were obtained using three non-normal-based methods and compared with the conventional Shewhart method. The ability of each PSQA process to produce an output within the specification limit was measured using the Cpk index; in this study, the Cpk index was calculated using two transformation methods and compared with that calculated using the conventional method. The performances of the three linacs were assessed using SPC and PCA methods.

RESULTS
All three PSQA processes were non-normal (p-values < 0.005). Compared to the non-normal-based SPC and PCA methods, the false alarm rates of the conventional method for linac1, linac2, and linac3 were 0.83%, 3.77%, and 4.95% respectively; the minimum overestimated Cpk values were 0.59, 0.87, and 1.49, respectively. The process capabilities of the three beam-matched linacs were at different levels.

CONCLUSION
For non-normal VMAT PSQA processes, the conventional SPC and PCA methods increase the false alarm rates and overestimate process capabilities. Instead, non-normal-based SPC and PCA methods are more reliable and accurate in non-normal PSQA processes. SPC and PCA are useful tools for assessing the performance of beam-matched linacs.


To discuss the effect of atrazine on the antioxidant function and alterations of hepatic tissue in rats and to provide the basis for clarifying the damage mechanism to animals affected by atrazine and other environmental hormone,60 male rats((200±10) g) were randomly divided into four groups,namely control group and three atrazine dose groups(high,medium and low-dose group),15 male rats for each group.Among them,the rats in the control group were fed normally.Rats in high,medium and low-dose groups were given atrazine according to the 1/8,1/16,1/32 times of LD50 of atrazine(1,780 mg·kg-1),which were intraperitoneally injected twice(0d,30d),respectively.Samples were tested at the 30th day and 60th day.By the spectrophotometry,semi-quantitative RT-PCR,the antioxidant enzyme levels in serum,the alterations of hepatic tissue and the Metallothionein-I(MT-I) mRNA expressing of livers in rats were detected,respectively.The results showed that with the action of atrazine,livers appeared fatty pathological change,serum superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity,with the extension of time,each group shows ascendant trend,three dose groups were increased significantly,high,medium and low doses groups were rising 11.47% and 8.81%;19.83%,respectively.Serum glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX) activity,compared with the first injection,high,medium and low doses groups were increased significantly 185.04%,26.40% and elevated 1.95%,respectively(p0.05) after the second injection.the effect of atrazine on the expressing quantity of MT-Ⅰ mRNA in livers,with administration dosage increased,and one for atrazine,high,medium and low doses groups were increased 113.26%,163.98% and 219.74% compared with the control group;Second after the treatment,each group increased 146.03%,260.99% and 247.81%,respectively.After the second treatment,all dose groups were significantly higher than theirs after the first treatment,low,medium and high doses groups were increased 55.61%,23.78% and 31.27%,respectively.In conclusion,one of environmental hormone-atrazine excessively exposed to the body,cumulative effect appeared,which made the body occur oxidative stress,indirectly increased antioxidant levels to make the antioxidant capacity increase,but the changes made livers injury.


The article considers scientific and theoretical approaches to the study of the relationship between ecology and economics in the context of sustainable development. The multifaceted nature of sustainable development is presented. The historical analysis of problems of interaction of economic systems with environment is carried out. Theoretical problems of the region's transition to a "green" economy as such, which can be a key tool for sustainable development of the region, have been identified.


sleep is associated with a retraction of the small protoplasmic prolongations and consequent interruption of contacts, are erroneous. He believes that the inter-neuronic suspension of contact is of quite secondary importance, and that tie characteristic condition in natural sleep, as in that induced by chloroform, ether, or chloral, is a general expansiot of the gemmulm, with exhaustion of their contractility at the beginning and renewed capacity to contract at the end of sleep. It is not necessary that the suspension of psychical activity and of functional relations between neuron and neuron should depend exclusively upon the suspension of anatomical connections. It is possible that fatigue and the concomitant auto-intoxication are combined physiologically with a state of greater torpor of those movements that are characteristic of activity. If these premisses are admitted, then it is easy to comprehend the mechanism of sleep in its various phases. If the brain is fatigued, if in it there abound those regressive products which are an obstacle to function, that retraction of gemmulae which isolates the systems of neurons that are in a state of functional activity and which secures the momentary autonomy of the functional association and of the corresponding psychical process will be carried on in a much more torpid manner and less completely. It follows that the logical association of ideas and the activity of the attention are rendered more difficult. Asssociation will become more and more delayed and incoherent. What is done by the autotoxic action of regrfssive products can be done also by the inactivity of the neurons through want of stimuli. If the representative psychical activity is weak and there is a scanty inflow of external stimuli, the central elements assume their attitude of repose-that is, of greatest expansion; the contacts are multiplied, the process nervosi become more and more dispersed and incoherent, the associations are enormously diffused, the stimuli subside without provoking reaction, and there results the unconsciousness of sleep. It is the new conception of cerebral activity as involving a cutting off of the great majority of interneuronic connections and the strengthening of the current traversing the few that are essential for the autonomy of the functional association for which we are chiefly indebted to Lugaro. As we realise something of what such a mechanism implies, the mystery of how the brain works begins at last to be in some degree intelligible. No doubt many objections might be raised against Lugaro's theory; but, based as it is upon strong experimental evidence, it deserves at least the most careful consideration of all who are interested in such questions. If it is true, it throws a flood of light upon many problems which have hitherto been almost entirely obscure, and most of all perhaps upon some parts of the dark domain of mental disease.


In 1973-1985 at the ENT Clinic of the Faculty Hospital with policlinic in Martin 559 patients with carcinoma of the larynx were treated: 23 women and 529 men. Thirteen women and 286 men were operated. Partial resection was performed in 137 patients. The best results were recorded after chordectomy, the poorest results after horizontal partial resection of the larynx. The author discusses the effectiveness of laryngectomy after previous partial surgical operation of the larynx, early diagnosis and corrected indication for surgical operation.


Uridinediphospho-[U-14C]-D-galacturonic acid (UDP-[U-14C]-galacturonic acid) can be produced using UDP-D-glucuronic acid-4′-epimerase in radish root or mung bean hypocotyl enzyme particulate fractions. Epimerase activity was stable for several months at –70°C. Mung bean extracts had the highest activity per ng of protein. Enzymatic modification of UDP-[U-14C]-galacturonic acid and formation of 14C-breakdown products was reduced by short incubation times (<5 min). Using high performance liquid chromatography on an aminopropyl column, UDP-[U-14C]-galacturonic acid can be separated and collected without contamination by other products for use as a radiolabelled substrate for assay of galacturonan synthase with a yield of 14%.


The research aims to understand the influence of good corporate governance and leverage on the performance of the company. The company's performance was measured based on return on equity ( ROE ). The good corporate governance measured based on Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI) from 2010 to 2012 which is published by the Indonesian Institute for Corporate Governance (IICG). Th leverage was measured based on Debt to Assets Ratio (DAR). The data was gathered using purposive sampling method sample with 57 samples in total. The result of this research proved that the increasing of good corporate governance affect the improving of company's performance. Meanwhile, the increase in the leverage affect the declining of company's performance. The   keywords:   good   corporate   governance,  leverage,   performance   of  the company.


Thiobases are DNA or RNA nucleobases where an exocyclic carbonyl oxygen is replaced by a sulfur atom [1]. Thiation induces a red-shift in the absorption spectrum and causes also a dramatic change in the photophysics with respect to the canonical nucleobases: while in DNA/RNA monomers internal conversion from the photoexcited singlet 1ππ∗ state to the ground state mediated by a conical intersection (CI) is the main deactivation channel, the major relaxation pathway in thiobases is via the population of triplet states through an ultrafast intersystem crossing (ISC). Thiobases have attracted much interest in recent years due to their photo-therapeutic applications [1]. In spite of that, their ultrafast deactivation mechanisms are still debated.


Although the incidence of supernumerary teeth, fusion of two normal teeth or fusion of a normal tooth with a supernumerary tooth are not very rare, we report a case of fusion of two supernumerary teeth in the maxillary incisor area in permanent dentition which is very rare. Patient also has Polydactyly of contra lateral arm and leg and other dental anomalies. Such combination is rarest. Clinical observation along with periapical radiograph and computed tomography were used to arrive at the diagnosis of fusion and its endodontic treatment. This case report describes the diagnostic aspects and endodontic management of fused supernumerary permanent teeth.


University education has always sought to be in tune with generational and employability characteristics. Indeed, in recent years, the learner, overwhelmed by technological change, has continued to show quite different concerns and relationships to education. They find it difficult to stay focused and receptive for hours on end, especially when knowledge is conveyed in a frontal and purely theoretical manner.To address these issues, we have opted for an active pedagogy approach through "gamification" specifically in the teaching of management to engineering students.This paper seeks to describe the adoption of "Memoboost Game" and "World Cafe Stategy", serious games for engineering courses in Computer Science, Electromechanics and Civil Engineering at ESPRIT (High school of Engineering and Technology).The aim of these games is to help engineering students to understand the analysis of the business environment and its strategic orientations in order to better understand their professional careers. Based on a peer-learning approach, these games have led to the analytical aspect of the learners towards a better collective construction of knowledge.They were successfully used in the framework of a business environment course aimed, as already mentioned, at a population of engineering students with no prerequisites in the field of management. This experimentation showed that the learning process was accelerated.This article presents the process of these games, the experimentation that was carried out and the results achieved.


Background: Dating apps are an increasingly popular way that people use to meet each other for sex and relationships.Objective: This study aimed to explore the key features of popular dating apps in terms of the ways they construct relationships. To achieve this, we describe key dating app features, we then compare these features across different user populations that are targeted by the dating apps, and finally we conduct an exploratory cluster analysis to determine specific types of dating apps, irrespective of the target populations who use the dating apps. Methods: We applied a systematic review approach to the top downloaded dating apps in 2016, and examined how the final study sample (n=259 dating apps) constructed and organised sexual relationships. We extracted data on a range of dating app features that allowed the user to present themselves and specify what they are seeking in a relationship or in a partner. To ensure the enduring applicability of our findings, we updated our search in 2021 and found that the majority of 2021-popular dating apps were included in our 2016 study sample. Results: Most dating apps were designed for a broad target population, while 42% of dating apps were aimed at niche targets, which we categorised into i) sexualised, ii) social identity, and iii) individual features. Key dating app features and associated relationship types differed significantly across all target populations. Irrespective of target population, we identified two dating app types in our exploratory cluster analysis. These dating app types were either a) ambiguous and vague, with relationship terminology being unclear and open to interpretation (e.g. 'love') or b) clear and direct, using key terminology that ensured that matched users shared an understanding of relationship types (e.g. 'marriage' or 'sex only'). Conclusions: The top downloaded dating apps are designed for broad user populations, and therefore organise relationships in a way that is purposefully applicable to all users. This is likely to impact on matched users in terms of incongruent expectations of relationship nature, longevity and values, and may therefore affect mental health, psychological wellbeing and sexual risk taking.


The present invention relates to a seat reclining device, a plate member is curved by the elastic deformable section is located inside the seat back and the support plate; Guide members for guiding in that the support plate movable along a predetermined path; It is fixed to the support plate, and the first moving member that moves along the guide member; The first is fixed to the support plate from the first moving member and a spaced apart position, and the second moving member to move along the guide member; Wherein said second is 1 is engaged into the moving member and the second mobile is rotatably fixed in any of the member, the first arm provided in the other of the first moving member and the second moving member spiral rotationally driven, the first moving member and the bent spiral drive shaft to regulate the linear distance between the second moving member; Along the guide member the first moving member and the first movement of moving at least one of two parts of the moving member; Users, according to the control of the linear distance between the first moving member and the second moving member, and the said support plate curved deformation, is configured such that the variation where the curved deformation by the mobile unit, sitting on a sheet comprising free from side to side while moving along the movement of the Fig., and can adjust the forward projecting amount of the seat back, can be controlled so as to project at a desired position in accordance with the key taste sitting of the user, reducing the number of parts as a compact structure, which accounts for low volume production costs and it provides a protrusion amount adjustment device of the seat back to reduce assembly time.


This study has been performed to determine whether the merits of slag and silica fume addition can be combined to develop a 'low heat high strength concrete, in which the heat generation could be controlled by blending the cementitious constituents keeping the compressive strength about 80 MPa at 91 days. It was found that from an overall view, a blend of cement:slag:silica fume in a proportion of 2:7:1, using a slag with 600 sq cm/g yields the best results. In Phase II, it was verified that the temperature rise could be brought down by as much as 30 deg C, without adversely affecting the strength at 91 days (about 80MPa) though the early age strength was slightly lower.


3-Methoxy[2, 1]benzisoxazole-4, 7-quinones 1 and naphth[2,3-c]isoxazole-4,9-quinone 4 react with dimethyl sulfoxides to give sulfoximidoquinones 2 and 5, sulfimidoquinones 8 and 11 respectively as major products.


Vehicle navigation systems aim to reduce the mental workload for drivers by automating elements of the driving task. Concern has been raised, however, that their long-term use may cause unforeseen problems, including suppressing cognitive map development.
 A driving simulator study was conducted to discover if this effect could be ameliorated by the use of a novel, learning-oriented, navigation system. The user-interface of this system provided a range of additional features including landmarks, compass bearings and previously driven routes within the visual and auditory guidance instructions.
 It was found that the users of the learning-oriented system displayed better memory for driven routes, when compared with those using a basic guidance system. It is also suggested that they had developed a better cognitive map of the area. Glance analysis demonstrated that the learning-oriented system was no more visually demanding than the basic system.


Conductive wires were fabricated by electron-beam-induced deposition (EBID) using WF6 gas. It was difficult to fabricate highly conductive wires with good reproducibility unless samples were cleaned before EBID. Contamination appears to reduce the conductivity of the wires. O2 plasma cleaning of samples before EBID seems to reduce contamination growth; however, it is not effective for regions in the vicinity of Au patterns. We found that by combining annealing at 300°C and O2 plasma cleaning, highly conductive wires could be fabricated with relatively good reproducibility in such regions. A linear relation was found between wire conductance and linedose at lindoses of more than 70 µC/cm. The change in deposition yield estimated from the conductance was about 12% when the gas flux was halved. Wires with a length of less than 40 nm were less conductive than longer wires because of a shortage in gas supply.


Good governance continues to be a thematic focus of scholarly and policy discourses, largely with little analysis of its originative historical foundation. This eschews the profundity of the concept in theorising the state. In this article good governance is considered with these questions in mind: What is good governance and how did it evolve to arrive at its current form and usage? What is the character of its conceptual problematique in the broader contemporary development discourse? In considering these questions the article starts with a reflection on the philosophical and theoretical antecedents of good governance. Plato's concept of the good and Aristotle's common good are analysed to determine the conceptual lineage of good governance. Based on this analysis the article argues that the concept of good governance does have a long ideational lineage that dates back to the ancient Greek history on the normative imperatives of politics. This contention is followed by the analytical consideration of good governance in the contemporary development discourse as a term that was used for the first time in the eighties by the World Bank to describe an idea that has a long history. Throughout the discourse its conceptual problematique is delineated. The article ends with a contention that good governance is a trans-contextual, value-laden and multidimensional concept with multi-vocal meanings and, because of its epistemic relativism, can mean different things to different people depending on the context in which it is used.


The minimum solute concentration necessary to produce an observable change in image contrast in atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy was investigated by multislice image-simulation techniques. The results show that local changes in specimen composition produce regular changes in image contrast, and that the minimum detectable solute concentration for any system of matrix and solute can be predicted from a simple formula based on a rule of mixtures, using only the atomic numbers of the matrix and solute elements. Optimum specimen and microscope conditions for observing local changes in specimen composition and the possibility of using atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy for absolute determination of specimen composition are also discussed.


1 CPU86017 is an effective anti‐arrhythmic agent of the Class III complex that has two chiral centres, 7N and 13aC. As a promising anti‐arrhythmic agent, the blockade on IKr, IKs and calcium influx may be modulated to be mild, moderate and potent, with less a‐adrenoceptor blockade. In order to improve activity at ion channels, four stereoisomers, namely SS ((+)‐7S,13aS‐CPU86017), SR ((–)‐7S,13aR‐CPU86017), RR ((–)‐7R,13aR‐CPU86017) and RS ((+)‐7R,13aS‐CPU86017), have been separated. In the present study, the effects of these four isomers on IKr and IKs, calcium channels and a‐adrenoceptors were compared with the effects of the racemate CPU86017. 2 In the present study, IKr and IKs were measured as tail currents (IKr.tail and IKs.tail, respectively) using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. Antagonism of receptor‐operated calcium channels and voltage‐dependent calcium channels (VDC) in vascular smooth muscle by CPU86017 and the four isomers were tested as suppression of phenylephrine‐ or KCl‐induced contractions of aortic rings, respectively. 3 For IKr.tail inhibition, the IC50 of SS, SR, RR, RS and CPU86017 was 2.86 ± 1.20, 39.4 ± 8.5, 3.48 ± 0.80, 7.65 ± 1.50 and 12.5 ± 7.8 ¥10−9 mol/L, respectively; for IKs.tail inhibition IC50 values were 16.9 ± 4.0, 20.0 ± 2.1, 99.1 ± 5.9, 160 ± 81 and 65.0 ± 4.7 ¥10−9 mol/L, respectively. The SR isomer showed balanced blockade of IKr and IKs that was associated with a loss of a‐adrenoceptor antagonism but enhanced VDC blockade. 4 Configuration of 13aC critically determines IKr blockade and the Ca2+ antagonism of the isomers of CPU86017. The SR isomer exhibits mild blockade of IKr, moderately enhanced blockade of IKs and Ca2+ influx and less a‐adrenoceptor antagonism compared with the racemate and may be promising as an anti‐arrhythmic.


Photosynthesis and transpiration rates of transgenic (expressing yeast-derived invertase targeted to the vacuole) tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves were, respectively, 50 and 70% of those of a wild type at 20 °C, 350 cm 3 m -3 CO 2 concentration, 450 μmol (photons) m -2 s -1 of light intensity, and 70% relative air humidity. These differences could be attributed: (a) to changes in leaf anatomy and, consequently, to changes in gases diffusion between the cells' surfaces and the atmosphere; (b) to different stomatal apertures, and, for the photosynthesis rate, (c) to the altered CO 2 assimilation rate. Our objective was to estimate the relative contributions of these three sources of difference. Measurements on the wild-type and the transgenic leaf cross-sections gave values for the cell area index (CAI, cell area surface per unit of leaf area surface) of 15.91 and 13.97, respectively. The two-dimensional model 2DLEAF for leaf gas exchange was used to estimate quantitatively anatomical, stomatal and biochemical components of these differences. Transpiration rate was equal to 0.9 for the wild-type and to 0.63 mmol m -2 s -1 for the transgenic leaf: 24.0% of the difference (0.066 mmol m -2 s -1 ) was caused by the greater cell area surface in the wild-type leaf, and 66.0% was caused by a smaller stomatal aperture in the transgenic leaf. Photosynthetic rate was 3.10 and 1.55 μmol m -2 s -1 for the wild-type and transgenic leaves, respectively. Only 10.3% of this difference (0.16 μmol m -2 s -1 ) was caused by the difference in CAI, and the remaining 89.7% was caused by altered CO 2 assimilation rate.


Abstract.  Handberg A, Højlund K, Gastaldelli A, Flyvbjerg A, Dekker JM, Petrie J, Piatti P, Beck‐Nielsen H (Aarhus Hospital and Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Glasgow, UK; and San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy). Plasma sCD36 is associated with markers of atherosclerosis, insulin resistance and fatty liver in a nondiabetic healthy population. J Intern Med 2012; 271: 294–304.


This paper introduces a new approach to tackle the boundary value problem representing magnetohydrodynamics flow developed by a rotating disk. The problem comprises of a coupled and non-linear differential system which appears difficult to be computed exactly. A contemporary MATLAB's package bvp4c is used to solve the problem numerically and then, with the help of the numerical solution, a closed-form solution is constructed via a systematic method. All computations are made for a specific value of the magnetic interaction parameter. Residuals of governing equations are plotted which ascertain that the obtained closed-form solution matches closely with the exact solution.


C NIT IE S the country over are deeply concerned with the increasing number of families and individuals who need not only the material help essential to the maintenance of life itself but that intangible help which gives to life deprived of work, of directed activity, some essential purpose. These communities are seeking help as to effective ways of organizing existing resources so as to maintain at least a minimum level of health, decency, and justice in meeting the needs of the unemployed as well as of those who, because of illness or incapacity of some kind, would be dependent upon the community even in a normal economic period. Those responsible for organizing community programs are turning to other communities for suggestions based on similar needs and experiences. The more bewildered they are, the more overwhelmed they are, the greater is their insistence on getting a pattern, a formula, which may be applied immediately and serve as a panacea for the local situation. Under such conditions, state and national agencies have a unique opportunity for field service. Field workers who have available the basic experience of the whole country in the organization of local community programs for family welfare may bring to a distracted local group not only the experience of one or two other communities but an interpretation of a variety of similar experiences which may be adapted to a given local situation. At the present time field workers from both state and national agencies are most likely to be drawn in where a community wishes to organize some special project to meet the needs of the unemployed or where there is a need for advice on making existing organizations more effective. In situations of the second sort, the main need may be to work out division of functions or relationships between agencies in the same field. It may be the state, county, city, or some smaller political unit which is asking for field service. Procedures and definite steps will be determined not only by the population and area of the unit but by a variety of other factors and by peculiar combinations of factors. It is impossible, therefore, to outline a definite pattern which will guide the field worker in every situation. The most we can do is to suggest the principles and the philosophy from which field work procedures derive and we are convinced that these principles and philosophy are essentially the same whether field work service is thought of in terms of developing local agencies for administration of relief or a family welfare program to render more intangible services to families and individuals. Types of organization or agency set-up in different communities will vary and we are not concerned in this discussion with suggesting specific ways of organizing either public or private services;' Where the field worker is an official representative of a state board or agency he may of course have definite requirements prescribed by statute. Naturally such a worker has his official obligations to the state. If his state agency has responsibility for the granting of state or Reconstruction Finance Corporation funds to local agencies, of course he must see that the


A protein of 64-66kDa initially identified in the ES products of H. contortus was purified from the adult parasites. This protein appears to be a natural antigen as antibodies against the protein were present in the sera of infected animals. There was a positive correlation of the antibody titer of the protein and the worm burden. Absence of this protein in the infective larvae suggest a role for this protein in the parasitic stage of the organism. Biochemical analyses show that the protein differ from albumin and thus may be of parasite origin.


The changes of flow pattern defects (FPDs), one kind of grown-in defects in CZ-Si, in RTA annealed wafers were investigated in this paper. The wafers were rapid thermal annealed in N/sub 2/, N/sub 2//O/sub 2/ and Ar atmosphere respectively under RTA processes. A void was found on the apex of the parabola outline of FPDs by AFM and optical microscopy. It's shown that the hole on the tip of FPDs became shallower in depth and larger in width obviously when annealed above 1100/spl deg/C, esp. annealed in Ar atmosphere 1200/spl deg/C. Furthermore, it's also shown that the density of FPDs to reduce when annealed above 1100/spl deg/C, and most of FPDs in CZ-Si would disappear during RTA process in Ar atmosphere above 1200/spl deg/C.


Abstract. A compact silicon-based polarization demultiplexer (P-DEMUX) is proposed by using a microring resonator, where the metal-loaded strip waveguides are used as the bus channels. The modal characteristics of transverse electric (TE) modes for the hybrid plasmonic waveguides are analogous to those for the strip dielectric ones, while those of transverse magnetic (TM) modes show significant differences, leading to strong polarization-dependence. Consequently, the input TE mode can efficiently output from the drop port at the resonant wavelength, while the input TM mode directly outputs from the through port with nearly negligible coupling. The present P-DEMUX can be easily employed to construct an on-chip wavelength/polarization division multiplexing optical transmission system, further increasing the optical interconnect capacity. Results show that a P-DEMUX with a radius of 2.003  μm for the microring is achieved at the wavelength of 1550 nm, where the extinction ratio and insertion loss are, respectively, ∼22.36 (20.09) dB and ∼0.39 (0.84) dB for the TE (TM) mode. In addition, fabrication tolerances to the key structural parameters are investigated and field evolution through the P-DEMUX is also presented.


Aim To study the effect of resveratrol on the expression of FAK and the level of phosphorylated FAK, and to investigate its possible mechanism of resveratrol on the metastasis-associated ability of human highly metastatic ovarian carcinoma HO-8910PM cells line. Methods MTT assay was used to examine cytotoxicity of resveratrol on HO-8910PM cells after 24 h treatment; The expression of FAK protein and the level of phosphorylated FAK were assessed by Western blotting analysis. Results MTT assay showed that resveratrol had weak cytotoxicity on HO-8910PM cells after 24 h treatment, its IC50 value was 163.40±2.48 μmol·L-1. The expression of FAK and the level of phosphorylated FAK decreased obviously in HO-8910PM cells treated with 25~100 μmol·L-1 resveratrol for 24 h. Conclusion The mechanism of resveratrol inhibiting the metastasis-associated ability of human highly metastatic ovarian carcinoma HO-8910PM cells line involves the expression of FAK and the level of phosphorylated FAK.


Objective To analyze the effect of measles elimination in Yichang City,and find out the existing problems and research solutions,so as to further consolidate the achievements of measles elimination.Methods To compare and evaluate the measures taken in the implementation of measles elimination in Yichang City.Results By maintaining a high level of 2-shot vaccination rate,the incidence rate of measles was reduced to a lower level,measles antibody positive conversion rate was rising,only adult and lower age group had a higher measles incidence.The children of the migrant workers and immune-blank population remained to be the key population for measles elimination.Conclusions To maintain a high level of 2-shot vaccination rate,the enhancement of measles vaccine coverage rate and the improvement of vaccination coverage for medical staff and other key groups were the most important measures to consolidate the elimination of measles.


The paper explored the hourly and daily characteristics of O3 concentration monitoring data in aircraft cabin by micro air monitor, and proposed the additive model for O3 considering the influence of internal and external factors. Linear interpolation filling the missing values could effectively solve the problem of data missing and improved the effect of the addictive model of ARIMA and multiple regressions. The addictive calibration model by ARIMA and Multiple regressions for O3 was reconstructed based on linear interpolation filling. The error analysis showed that the accuracy of O3 was improved. The prediction effect was also improved by considering the interaction effect.


An employee performance appraisal is undertaken to recommend candidates for achievers to get an award. The focus of this research is to propose problem-solving methods in determining outstanding employees for award. The goal is to get the most potential employees according to the criteria expected by the decision maker. Evaluation of employee performance to obtain high achieving employees depends on the discipline of work and administration, reliability, maturity and personal integrity, morale, communication and working principle, quantity and quality of work and concern for organizations that are interconnected with each other. With so many alternative choices and the number of factors to consider makes it difficult for decision makers to make choices. The problem is almost impossible to be analyzed by the human brain through the relationship between all the criteria along with the alternative to determine a truly objective. Decision support system with profile matching method is the solution to determine the most potential employees. This method determines the weight value for each attribute and then proceeds with a ranking process that will select the best alternatife of the most potential employee. The result of employee performance evaluation using 200 employee appraisal data obtained accuracy level of 93% where 193 data in accordance with the value obtained from employee performance evaluation process.