Using a retrospective questionnaire method, the authors evaluated the neuropsychologic status of 20 IVF children and the family relationships. The status of the children is favourable and in certain activities (composition of sentences) the children were better than their peers. According to the authors this is due to the increased care of mature parents after the arrival of the long expected child. The authors confirmed on their own material that the birth of an IVF child has a far reaching positive biological, psychological and social impact on both parents and training of their children. If the family environment was influenced by long lasting treatment of sterility, the arrival of an IVF child normalizes the situation.


A subset D of the vertex set V (G) of a graph G is said to be a dominating set if every vertex not in D is adjacent to at least one vertex in D. A dominating set D is said to be an eccentric dominating set if for every v ∈ V − D, there exists at least one eccentric point of v in D. An eccentric dominating set D of G is a nonsplit eccentric dominating set if the induced subgraph < V −D > is connected. The minimum of the cardinalities of the nonsplit eccentric dominating sets of G is called the nonsplit eccentric domination number γnsed(G) of G. An eccentric dominating set D of G is a split eccentric dominating set if the induced subgraph < V − D > is disconnected. The minimum of the cardinalities of the split eccentric dominating sets of G is called the split eccentric domination number γsed(G) of G.


Effects of oxygen plasma modification on the surface properties of bamboo-based activated carbon(BAC) were investigated.The adsorption behaviors of aniline on raw and modified BACs were also examined under various experimental conditions.It was observed that the surface textural properties of modified BACs were almost unaffected,whereas their surface chemical properties changed greatly.Batch experimental results showed that the aniline adsorption efficiency of all BACs reached their peak values at solution pH beyond 5.0,the adsorption equilibrium of aniline on all BACs could be reached within 480min.The modified BACs significantly outperformed raw BAC for the adsorption of aniline.The kinetic and equilibrium data of all BACs could be best described by the pseudo-second-order model,intra-particle diffusion model and Langmuir isothermal model.Further analysis indicated that the improvements of π-π dispersive interaction and hydrogen bond effect were the possible reasons for the better aniline adsorption performance of modified BACs.


ABSTRACT This study examined the influence of norm-based messages on U.S. college students' binge drinking intentions, focusing on norm type, locomotion and assessment regulatory modes, and level of alcohol consumption as possible moderators. Results of an online experiment (N = 519) revealed significant three-way interactions among regulatory mode (assessment/locomotion), level of alcohol consumption, and norm type (i.e., descriptive vs. injunctive norms) on binge drinking intentions. The relative persuasiveness of descriptive vs. injunctive norm-based messages was contingent upon an individual's locomotion/assessment regulatory mode and overall alcohol consumption level. Findings from this study extend research on social norms and regulatory mode and provide useful suggestions for the norm-based college drinking intervention.


The detachment was ready in all respects for mapping operations on 15th December. The photographic laboratory was completed and cameras tested and installed in planes. The best available maps of the island were secured from the Department of the Interior and flight lines laid out on these charts. These lines ran approximately North and South and covered areas about twenty miles long and about ten miles wide. After the first day of flying, it was found that it would be impossible to fly lines North and South due to the drift of the plane and that the winds aloft in Porto Rico were gene rally from the East at a force of frorqi 18 to 25 miles per hour. It was also found that an OL-8A plane, with three men and a full load of gas plus cameras and equipment, required forty to fifty minutes to climb to an altitude of ten thousand feet. To maintain 12,000 feet would result in a great loss of time and over work the motors. Mr. E s t e v e s , of the Department of the Interior, agreed that an altitude of ten thousand feet was satisfactory to the Porto Rican Government. The increase in film required and flying time was considered negligible. It was decided to take the photographs at an altitude of 10,000 feet instead of 12,000 feet. The best map of the island was taken and 33 areas laid out which covered the entire island. These areas were approximately twelve miles long and ten miles wide. Lines were drawn in the areas three quarters of a mile apart and running East and West.


Mangrove forests are unique ecosystems that have ecological, biological and socio-economic functions. The function of mangrove forests on the environment is very important especially in the coastal and oceanic regions. Mangrove forests providers of wood, leaves as raw material for medicines, and natural dye. This study aims to inventory the diversity of species of mangrove vegetation in Mendalok Village, Sungai Kunyit Subdistrict, Mempawah Regency. The benefits of this study are to provide the data on mangrove forest vegetation as basic data for local government and related agencies in efforts to protect and preserve mangrove forests in Mendalok Village, Sungai Kunyit Subdistrict, Mempawah Regency. Inventory the tree in mangrove forest used a line with measured 200 meters. There are 6 lines and the distance between the lines as far as 100 meters. The lines of observation are placed by purposive sampling. The results of research found 11 types of species and consisted of 6 genera. The genera are Avicennia, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Rhizophora, Soneratia and Xylocarpus. The species found were Avicennia alba, Avicennia marina, Bruguiera cylindrica, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Bruguiera parviflora, Ceriops decandra, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora stylosa, Sonneratia caseolaris, Xylocarpus mollucensis. Diversity of mangrove species in Mendalok Village, Sungai Kunyit Subdistrict, Mempawah Regency was high and should be maintained for conservation and ecotourism area. Keywords : conservation, ecotourism, mangrove, Mendalok Village


Nowadays, companies are facing more and more challenges during Product Development (PD) project. On one hand, the PD project should design and develop the product to satisfy the requirements as far as possible under time, cost and quality constraints. On the other hand, the PD project is expected to deal with any possible modification in an agile and flexible way. Therefore, how to manage changes under various restrictions becomes an essential issue during a PD project. The aim of this paper is to provide some exploratory results concerning modeling change propagations during PD projects to support companies to improve their change management performance. We first propose a Co-evolution Oriented Change Analysis (COCA) framework. The framework enables us to simultaneously model product management, project management, and partnership management knowledge areas as well as the interrelations between them. In the framework, we propose a product evolution model manifesting itself with a serial of states reflecting how the information/data is aggregated along the project process. Relying on the product evolution model as well as the aggregation of information/data from the multiple knowledge areas, we suggest a method of building up a change propagation network. Within the network, we identify and summarize a set of change propagation patterns. Through analyzing the characteristics of the patterns, we suggest some guidelines as a theoretical contribution to change management.


ABSTRACT Despite being common pathological entities found in the oral cavity, oral mucoceles can present distinct features, raising several diagnostic possibilities and treatments. In this study, we report the case of a 34-year-old man with an asymptomatic increased volume in the left periorbital region of more than a year, without remission or associated trauma. An aspiration biopsy was performed, followed by an excisional biopsy, and the specimen was sent for histopathological examination. Results led to the diagnosis of an oral mucocele. Surgical removal was performed in an excisional biopsy. Subsequently, the patient recovered promptly without further complications. Although oral mucoceles recur relatively often, its prognosis is good. This case emphasizes the importance of obtaining a detailed disease history, knowledge of its clinical features, and etiopathogenesis combined with complementary examinations to establish diagnostic hypotheses and converge on an adequate and individualized treatment plan


The present invention discloses an electrode composite and a preparation method ultracapacitor, supercapacitor electrode composite comprising a three-dimensional graphene intermediate layer between the nickel mesh or copper mesh base layer, the outer layer films and nanospheres Co3S4 located base layer and the outer layer. The composite electrode of nickel mesh or copper mesh as a base layer, grown by chemical vapor deposition on the base layer in a three-dimensional graphene layer, and then grown Co3S4 calorimetry nanosphere three-dimensional thin film layer on the graphene layer with water. In the present invention, i.e. a sandwich structure composite electrode substrate layer / three-dimensional graphene / cobalt sulfide is a very stable fine structure, the electrode is generally much higher than the capacitance value of the capacitor.


In this work we present an approach to solving time-critical decision-making problems by taking advantage of domain structure to expand the amount of time available for processing difficult combinatorial tasks. Our approach uses predictable variability in computational demands to allocate on-line deliberation time and exploits problem regularity and stochastic models of environmental dynamics to restrict attention to small subsets of the state space. This approach demonstrates how slow, high-level systems (e.g., for planning and scheduling) might interact with faster, more reactive systems (e.g., for real-time execution and monitoring) and enables us to generate timely solutions to difficult combinatorial planning and scheduling problems such as air traffic control.


In this article, the authors highlight Indigenous helper Vicky Boldo/kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew's (Gentle Wind Woman) approach to healing knowledges. kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew's background of Cree, Coast Salish and Métis ancestry, in addition to living a scarring experience as a trans-racial adoptee, created a ground of insight and self-care that sparked her awareness and reliance on Mother Earth as part of her survival. This chapter documents kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew's insights into the sacred and inseparable relationship to Earth and all beings as crucial to overall wellbeing. The authors discuss kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew's teachings about connection, embodiment and utilizing inner resources to move through the pain and trauma of separation from the self and sacred. Ultimately, kisêwâtisiwinyôtin:iskwew exemplifies the need to centre the ways in which people respond to hurt assisted by positive social environments that challenge and stop structures of abuse. This understanding gained as a "wounded healer" in turn creates spaces for individual learnings extending into intergenerational teachings on healing and dignity.


ion of history or background. 6 They are not remarkable for any indigenous arts and crafts. Such work as they turned out was obviously derivative and not elaborated along any lines that could be designated as this particular Tribe.' Collections of their folk tales, myths and legends are meager but revealing (Kroeber, 1901; Lowie, 1924). They are obviously influenced by other Indian tribes and by non-Indians. The identifiable extraneous elements are over-determined in their selection, thus revealing the attitudes of this Tribe to certain other Indian tribes and above all to their White conquerors. This material is exceedingly rich in the varieties and examples of aggression and in the expectations of pain and pleasure, that is, the value placed on these instinctual aims and objects. The reconstruction of the past, therefore, is a complex based on (a) admittedly selected and often biased historical material, (b) an analysis of their reported folk tales and myths according to methods comparable to those of Kluckholn, Roheim, Devereux, MacGregor, Posinsky, and others,9 and (c) an analysis of the data of the current manifest behavior of the Tribe and it's children, adolescents, and adults. The information on the Tribe and individual members was obtained in the following ways. 1. Interviews with Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) personnel, Public Health Service officials, and with an unselected group of older White people who had lived closely with the Tribe all their lives; and with school and law personnel. 2. Review of Agency and Public Health Service files, and Superintendent reports, etc.9 3. Interviews of the oldest members of the Tribe on the Reservation using bilingual Indian interpreters. 10 These talks sought to cover early recollections and experiences. 4. Interviews with tribal leaders concerning the problems of the tribe as seen by them, family trees of tribal members, individual Indians or families who needed medical care or who were in difficulty with the law, schools and other social agencies. 5. Study of reservation life in a free-floating manner by living on the Reservation during the summers and at various times during the year. 6. B y serving as a physician in the tribal clinics where I examined many Indians, took medical and developmental histories, learned much of their Indian language; learned about the theories and practices of the medicine man and the Indian pharmacopeia; learned about their fantasies of the body anatomy and function (e.g., pregnancy and birth; heard their dreams, descriptions of affects, tribal and personal secrets, their attitudes towards property, money, and White man's values, their interpersonal relationships and family life)." 7. By serving as a screening and referring physician for the Indians. I arranged for their admission to the Colorado General and Psychiatric Hospitals where they American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research Copyright: Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health Colorado School of Public Health/University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (www.ucdenver.edu/caianh) 45 CONSTITUTIONAL FACTORS IN AGGRESSIVITY would stay for several weeks to several months. This made it possible to conduct a variety of physiological studies as well as psychological tests. These hospitalized Indians would be seen by residents and by me. The hospitalized Indians provided a unique opportunity for information. I was the only person known to them and I was a link to the Reservation, the means to their well-being and to the gratification


I wish here to discuss some criticisms made by Don Locke in a recent issue of Mind' of a paper, also in this journal,2 by Stewart Candlish and myself. In our paper, Candlish and I expressed puzzlement at the fact that in the debate over the compatibility or otherwise of determinism with our being able on some occasions to act otherwise than as we in fact do on those occasions, it seems generally to be taken that the onus of proof is on those asserting this compatibility rather than on those denying it. Although it is clear enough why determinism should be thought to entail that on any particular occasion I will not act otherwise than I in fact do, it is much less clear, we suggested, why it should be thought to entail that on any particular occasion I will be unable to act otherwise than I in fact do. We suggested that the explanation of incompatibilism's seeming initially more plausible to many than its denial can be traced to the seductiveness of a familiar modal fallacy, and concluded that the onus of proof in the debate lies with incompatibilists rather than with their opponents. I would like to comment first on Locke's remarks concerning an alleged mis-statement by Candlish and myself of what we wish to say at one point (p. 4I7) in our paper, where we speak of an incompatibility between determinism and 'one's doing otherwise than one in fact does'. Locke's reason for thinking this must be a mis-statement is th'at 'it is of course a tautology that no-one will ever do other than they in fact do' (p. 88). Now we had anticipated this possible misunderstanding of our remarks (to which, incidentally, certain of Locke's formulations are equally open-for example, his claim (p. 88) that 'determinism means that no one can ever do anything other than what they do'); and as Locke in fact notes, we had tried to forestall it by distinguishing between doing otherwise than one does as well as doing as one does, and doing otherwise than one does instead of doing as one does. The former is indeed logically impossible, whether or not determinism is true, but we pointed out that it was, of course, the latter which we suggested to be ruled out by determinism (p. 4I7, n.). However, Locke asserts (p. 88) that 'it is equally impossible to do something else instead of what you do', and suggests that there is therefore 'some irony' in our suggestion that the distinction we drew can dispel the appearance of contradiction or tautology in much that is said about doing otherwise than one does. Now Locke gives no reason at all for his assertion that it is impossible to do something else instead of what you do, perhaps because this seems obvious to him. However, it should be


The present peace of research tries to show the relation between the informal caregiver of dependent older persons. The relations have been analyzed among some conditions socialdemographic of the caregiver and the stress that they perceive when they have to realize the care. The results obtained in a sample of 203 subjects, it reveals that the indexes of perceived stress relate to such variables as: that the person who takes care is a woman, to be experienced of mistreatment, to realize activities of leisure, to live family tensions for the care, etc.


Implementation of Improved Finite Elements Over Circular Cross-Section Subjected to Effect of Non-Uniform Wind In this study, a finite element program based on p-version finite element method (pFEM) and augmented by blending function method is coded. The program has a solid 3 dimensional finite element defined in cartesian coordinates, by which application of continuous or discontinuous nonlinear loads are taken into account and exact representation of curved edge and/or surface boundary is performed. With the aid of the coded program, a series of static analyses under defined wind loads for uniform and non-uniform loadings according to TS 498 and non-uniform loading according to pr EN 1991-1-4 are carried out on an industrial chimney with a circular cross-section. It is concluded that the coded program gives reliable results. Due to the capability of modeling of non-uniform loadings it is observed that the standards may lead to vastly different results


BACKGROUND: Chronic hypercholesterolemia is an important predisposing factor of cardiovascular diseases. The underlying process is commonly associated with oxidative stress.
AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Ipomoea batatas (IB) L tablet and Pandanus conoideus (PC) Lam extract against oxidative stress and lipid profile in rats.
METHODS: This study used a pre- and post-test control group design. Wistar male rats were randomized into four groups consisting of seven rats each. The groups were control group, PC Lam extract 0.4 cc/rat/day (PC group), IB L tablet 200 mg/rat/day (IB group), and PC 0.2 cc+IB 200 mg/rat/day (PC+IB group). All groups were received high cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. The blood samples at baseline and the end of this study were used for the lipid profile, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) examination. The result was then analyzed with an Analysis of Variance test.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in changes of total cholesterol, Low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, MDA, and SOD in the treatment group (PC, IB, PC+IB) compared to the control (p < 0.001). The decrease of MDA and increase of SOD were mainly found in the PC+IB group compared to the PC group and IB group (p < 0.05). The changes in lipid profiles were mainly found in the PC+IB group and PC group compared to the IB group (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Administration of PC and IB combination is an effective hypolipidemic agent. This combination has superior antioxidant activity compared to the single-agent (PC or IB) and control.


Hostels and compounds have held a compelling fascination for South African photographers over many decades, from the colonial to the post-apartheid era. The photographic representations of these spartan barracks have permeated the narrative of South Africa as the photographers showed the lives, recreations and living conditions, the institutionalised, alienating nature of the environment, its dehumanising conditions, and the cultural and geographical schizophrenia experienced by the migrant labourer navigating the urban/rural divide. In the last two decades, the monolithic structure of the hostel compound has become fractured, as aspects of this environment have altered due to changes in the political, social and economic landscape of South Africa. But it is not just the hostel that has changed, post-apartheid: the photographic representations have transformed too. These adjustments include: a shift from black and white to colour; an increased reluctance to present the hostel dweller as victim; decreased prominence of exposé; a more optimistic and less violent image of the hostels; essays which highlight the permanence of the hostel dweller; a trend which puts less emphasis on the hostel dweller and more on his or her environment; and new narratives around gender, sexuality and individuality have emerged. As a result of the use of colour, the display of these works in commercial art galleries and the decline of the human figure in the picture, the works are arguably less political. It is the complex nature of these shifts in post-apartheid hostel imagery that will be investigated in this paper, with specific reference to the work of Peter Magubane, T.J. Lemon, Sabelo Mlangeni, Angela Buckland, Jodi Bieber, David Goldblatt, Zwelethu Mthethwa and Sam Nhlengethwa.


Mucin glycoprotein consist of tandem repeating glycosylated regions flanked by non-repetitive protein domains with little glycosylation. These non-repetitive domains are involved in polymerization of mucin via disulfide bonds and play an important role in the pH dependent gelation of gastric mucin, which is essential to protecting the stomach from autodigestion. We have examined the folding of the non-repetitive sequence of von Willebrand factor vWF-C1 domain (67 amino acids) and PGM 2X (242 amino acids) at neutral and low pH using Discrete Molecular Dynamics. A four-bead protein model with two implicit solvent parameters that account for the hydrophobic/hydrophilic effect and effective electrostatic interactions was used. The DMD approach was calibrated by adjusting the strength of effective electrostatic interactions to best match the average β-strand content measured in vitro by CD, then all simulations were conducted at fixed values of the two implicit solvent parameters. At neutral pH the conformation of PGM 2X was characterized by many β-strands separated by several turns and loops, while at low pH the number of turns was reduced and the β-strand propensity of the central part of the domain was significantly increased relative to the propensity at neutral pH. The simulations reveal that the distant Nand C-terminal regions form salt-bridges at neutral pH resulting in a relatively compact folded structure. At low pH, the distant Nand C-terminal regions cannot form salt bridges and as a result the structure is more open and extended. We found that the calculated average value of the β-strand propensity increases from 0.27 ± 0.01 at neutral pH to 0.37 ± 0.01 at low pH in very good agreement with CD data, which show an increase in β-strand from 27% at neutral to 36% at low pH. Simulations of vWF C1 also show several β-strands separated by turns/loops. However, in contrast to PGM-2X lowering pH did not significantly affect the folded structure. The average β-strand propensity of 0.35 ± 0.01 at neutral pH and 0.34 ± 0.01 at low pH were again in agreement with the CD result yielding 37% for the average amount of the β-strand structure. The implications of these simulations for describing the aggregation/gelation of PGM will be discussed. Fig. 1. Sketch of porcine gastric mucin PGM showing different domains in the apoprotein (top), a S-S linked dimer (middle) and a multimer (bottom) illustrating the multi block structure. Adapted from [Dekker et al 2002]. INTRODUCTION Mucin is the major glycoprotein component of the mucus layer that coats the exposed epithelial surfaces of organs and is responsible for the protective and lubricative functions of mucus [Bansil and Turner 2006, Strous et al 1992]. This complex molecule resembles a multiblock copolymer with the hydrophilic polysaccharide coated protein brushes alternating with somewhat hydrophobic protein domains with little or no glycosylation. Recombinant DNA techniques have shown a striking similarity in the basic structure of the underlying mucin genes [Perez-Vilar and Hill 1999]. All of the mucin gene products contain domains comprised of tandem repeating sequences that are rich in the amino acids Serine, Threonine, and Proline (O-glycosylation sites) located in the heavily Oglycosylated portion of the molecule. In all mucin apoprotein genes, this domain occupies the central region of the polypeptide backbone and is flanked by cysteine rich, non-repeating sequences at the Nand C-termini (see Fig. 1). These non-glycosylated regions resemble typical secreted globular proteins in their amino acid composition, and are involved in polymerization of the primary subunit via disulfide linkages of the Cys SH groups to produce a dimer. Further polymerization leads to polymers with molecular weight ranging from 2-20 million Da of which 70-80% is sugar. These polymers further aggregate, and in the case of the gastric mucin, gel under acidic pH [Bhaskar et al 1991, Cao et al 1999, Celli et al 2007] protecting the stomach from autodigestion [Hollander 1954]. In this paper we present results on the folding of a discrete molecular dynamics simulation of two of the non-glycosylated domains, PGM 2X and a portion of vWF C domain using a four-bead protein model with two implicit solvent parameters. The simulated secondary structure is compared with CD measurements of the recombinant PGM-2X and the vWF-C1 domain. The recombinant proteins were expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris because it can correctly fold the expressed proteins, perform post-translational modifications, such as disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, and secretion of expressed proteins.


Many studies are conducted to evaluate the risk of maneuvering ships in the congested harbours and narrow channels. These studies are very important for the prevention of sea traffic accidents in those sea areas. In this paper, the author carried out a series of observations on sea traffic condition of the vessels entering and leaving the harbour of CHUNG MU, in order to evaluate the risk of grounding, the margin and burden of route keeping maneuver of vessels proceeding along the fairway of this harbour. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The grounding risk indices for the east bound and west bound vessels at the middle part and western part of the fairway were higher than those of them at the eastern part. 2. The margin of route keeping maneuver in the fairway appeared to be the highest at the western part of the fairway for the east bound vessels, and the highest at the middle part for the west bound vessels, but the lowest at the western entrance for both of them. 3. The burden of route keeping maneuver in the fairway appeared to be the highest at the western part of the fairway for both of the east bound and west bound vessels, but the lowest at the eastern part for both of them. 4. The influence of maneuvering indices T' on the grounding risk indices appeared to be larger than that of maneuvering indices K' on them.


BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE
Nanoparticles are used in cosmetic and dermatologic products, due to better skin penetration properties. Incorporation of natural products exhibiting medicinal properties in nano-preparations could significantly improve efficacy of these products and improve the quality of life without the side effects of synthetic formulations.

METHODS
We here report green synthesis of Copper Oxide nanoparticles, using Cucumber extract, and their detailed biophysical and bio-chemical characterization.

RESULTS
These Copper Oxide-Cucumber nanoparticles exhibit significant anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, Ultra Violet-radiation protection ability and reactive-oxygen species inhibition properties. Importantly, these nanoparticles do not exhibit significant cellular toxicity and, when incorporated in skin cream, exhibit skin rejuvenating properties.

CONCLUSION
Our findings have implications for nanoparticle-based cosmetics and dermatologic applications.


The subject of the present investigation was suggested to me by my friend, Orthopaedic surgeon Jaakko Puranen, who also took care of the patients examined. My sincere thanks are due to him. Professor Pekka Vuorinen has given me most active support and effective advice throughout the course of my work. I am greatly indebted to him. To Professor Teuvo Larmi I am greatful for his favourable attitude and encouraging criticism. Assistant Professors Erkki Koivisto and Ralf Lindholm have given me most valuable help during this investigation, for which I am greatful. To my colleagues and the personnel of the Department of Roentgenology I wish to express my gratitude for their kind support. Assistant Professor Hana Padovcova from Prague and Mr. Unto Paananen, M. A., have translated the Italian reports occuring in this investigation. Assistant Professor John Dove, Ph. D., has kindly read and revised the manuscript. Mrs. Pirkko Orell and Mr. Walter Metsävainio, M. A., of Oulu University Medical Library have assisted me in finding the references. Mr. and Mrs. Heikki Nieminen have prepared the photographs and figures for this work. To my wife, pediatrician Ulla Kaski, I should like to express my gratitude for her patient assistance in different stages of my investigation. My gratitude is also due to the Medical Research Foundation of Oulu and the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation which have financially contributed to carrying out this work.


Objective To determine a reference interval for maternal arterial blood values during vaginal delivery and to elucidate the effect of common maternal characteristics and obstetric interventions on maternal acid base values during vaginal and planned cesarean section (CS). Design Prospective, observational study of randomly selected women undergoing vaginal deliveries and planned CS at Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. Results Two hundred and fifty women undergoing vaginal delivery (VD) and fifty-eight women undergoing planned CS were recruited. We found significant differences for gestational age, parity, artery pH, pCO2, pO2, sO2 and cord venous pH, pCO2 and lactate between the two study groups (P < 0.005). For women undergoing vaginal delivery, we found significant changes in base deficit, hemoglobin, bilirubin, potassium, glucose and lactate values as compared to women with planned CS (P < 0.02). Maternal characteristics did not significantly affect acid base parameters however, multiple regression showed significant associations for the use of epidural anesthesia on maternal pH (P < 0.05) and pO2 (P < 0.01); and synthetic oxytocin on pCO2 (P = 0.08), glucose (P < 0.00) and lactate (P < 0.02) in maternal blood. Maternal arterial pH, pCO2 and lactate correlated significantly to values in venous umbilical cord blood (P < 0.000). Conclusions Reference values for maternal arterial blood gases in vaginal deliveries for term pregnancies were outlined and we found that most arterial blood gas parameters varied significantly according to mode of delivery. The use of different obstetrical interventions like epidural anesthesia or synthetic oxytocin, resulted in significant changes in blood gas values.


The fault equivalent circuit model of the pumped storage unit is established, the key electrical parameters of the generator motor of the pumped storage power station are analyzed, and the short-circuit fault characteristics of the generator motor of the pumped storage power station are studied. Based on the typical connection mode of pumped storage power station, a dynamic model test platform including dynamic model pumped storage unit, excitation system, frequency conversion starting device and its control system is established. The dynamic model tests of metal or transition resistance short circuit fault, stator ground fault and stator turn to turn short circuit are carried out.


Taking Shenzhen Hui orchid elegant house project as example this paper introduces the application of GRC in outside wall decoration. The GRC structural design,construction,technical measures are mainly discussed as well as the GRC line and the acceptance program for arch crown.


Abstract: This chapter provides a brief overview of the types of bakery products and the processes used to manufacture them. The key 'fresh' characteristics of bakery products are described. Factors affecting the shelf life stability of bread and other bakery products are discussed. Techniques suitable for evaluating changes in the properties of bread and other bakery products during storage are identified and means for ensuring the stability and extending the shelf life of bread and other bakery products are described.


By definition, immunoassays are biochemical assays that detect the presence of an analyte, either antibody or antigen, using labeled antibodies as the analytical reagent. Immunoassays can be adapted for detection of analytes across laboratory disciplines and are often more cost-effective than other diagnostic methods. In the clinical microbiology laboratory, immunoassays often serve as confirmatory tests, and therefore the results are typically not intended to be used as the sole basis on which a diagnosis is made. However, for certain infectious diseases, including Lyme disease, cryptococcal meningitis, and syphilis, antibody and antigen detection by immunoassays is the primary means by which the infection is established. Due to their ease of use, rapid turnaround time, and generally high specificity, immunoassays are increasingly becoming available for point-of-care testing. This chapter summarizes the common immunologic testing methods currently used in clinical microbiology laboratories and their application for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. The discussion emphasizes general assay design, with important caveats relevant to test development and interpretation. While some examples relating to clinical testing are included, for an in-depth, pathogen-focused discussion, the reader is directed to the designated chapters in this Manual.


Objective To analyze the protein in hemolymph from adult female Anopheles stephensi (An. Stepheni) infected by Plasmodium yoelii after feeding with sucrose solution containing nitroquine or simple sucrose solution with two dimensional gel electrophoresis technique. Methods Hemolymphs from nitroquine fed, infected blood fed, and sucrose solution fed adult female An. stephensi were collected using the expulsion method on the third day after the feeding. Hemolymph protein concentration was examined with Bradford method. Then the hemolymph protein was analyzed by two dimensional electrophoresis. The protein spots were visualized by Coomassie brilliant blue staining. The spots were scanned and automatically analyzed by the ImageMaster VDS CL (Amersham Pharmacia) and ImageMaster 2D Elite software (Amersham Pharmacia). Results The protein concentration in the nitroquine fed group was always lower than that in the infected blood fed and sucrose solution fed groups. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed 101 protein spots in nitroquine fed and 115 protein spots in the control with 51 matched, but unmatched 50 and 64 protein spots were detected in the treatment group and the control group, respectively. Different protein spots were mainly located at the molecular weight of (40-60)×10 3 and at the isoelectric points of basic end. Conclusion Two dimensional gel electrophoresis may directly reflect the difference of the protein. Both the difference of protein concentration and the protein spots may be involved in nitroquine induced melanotic encapsulation of Plasmodium yoelii oocysts.


The inner boring of hydraulic cylinder is the most key process, the quality of which directly affects security and reliability of hydraulic cylinders. The inner hole machined by skiving technology, easily leading to present deformation of inner hole. On the basis of skiving theory, studying the reason of deformation by building the physical force model of cylinder and finite element. The results show skiving chamfer is the main reason for size deformation. The experiment improve correct of conclusion, which offering the processing of hydraulic cylinder with theory reference and tutor.


Researchers have long been aware of the existence of large HI structures and over the past decades, a large observational record of their properties has been assembled. Despite all the work that has been done, however, there is no consensus about their origin. In this paper, we will show that these structures can readily be understood within the framework of a new model of cosmology based on time-varying curvature and an unconventional model of nucleosynthesis. According to this model, all galaxies came into existence at the same time during nucleosynthesis as large proton gas clouds whose detailed structure was fixed by an imprint established in the vacuum during an initial Plank inflation. One of the predictions of the model is that all these proto-galaxy gas clouds reached the zero-velocity point of their expansion with sizes many times larger than their present-day size. The large outer HI rings are simply regions of this gas that remained at the maximum size as the core compacted to its present-day size. Similarly, the inner rings are regions that did compact with the galaxy core.


Optical emission spectroscopy(OES) is used to diagnose the CH4/H2 plasma online during the synthesis of diamond film by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition(MP-CVD).The effect of CH4 concentration on the concentration and distribution of radicals in CH4/H2 plasma is studied.The diamond films deposited in different CH4 concentrations are investigated using Raman spectroscopy.The results show that the spectrum intensities of radicals of Hα,Hβ,Hγ,CH,C2 increase with the increase of CH4 concentration,especially,that of radical C2 has notable improvement.The electron temperature of CH4/H2 plasma increases with the increase of CH4 concentration.The spectrum space diagnosis results show that the distribution of the radicals in the plasma ball is uneven,and the uniformity of C2,CH radicals tends to poor with the increase of CH4 concentration.The measurement of deposition rate shows that only increasing the CH4 concentration is not useful for the growth rate of diamond films.The Raman spectra indicate that the diamond film deposited by lower CH4 concentration(0.8%) has better quality.


The computer industry is undergoing a momentous transformation. General-purpose computing is moving off of desktops and onto diverse device such as smart phones, digital entertainment centers, and data center servers. At the same time, high-performance semiconductor manufacturers are continuing the long-term trend of increasing integration and are now manufacturing multicore chips. It is our position that current resource management mechanisms and policies, developed in an earlier era, are inadequate for future multicore systems. Policies, mechanisms, and the interfaces between them will have to change to fit the multicore era. In this article, we present our vision of future multicore system architecture. We propose to use the Virtual Private Machine (VPM) abstraction to enrich the interface between hardware and software. The VPM abstraction allows software policies to explicitly manage microarchitecture resources in an intuitive manner. By enriching the interface between hardware and software, the envisioned system architecture facilitates the design of multicore systems that can efficiently satisfy the increasingly diverse requirements of future platforms. PRELIMINARY DRAFT – To Appear in IEEE Micro special issue on Interaction of Computer Architecture and Operating System in the Multicore Era, May-June 2008


Abstract : A test program was conducted by Textron's Bell Aerospace Company, using their air cushion landing system (ACLS) equipped Lake LA-4 aircraft to investigate the potential of a suction braking ACLS subsystem. The new braking subsystem was tried on dry and wet runway and rough grass. Deceleration up to 0.5g was recorded with the suction flow available. The potential of a developed system applied to a cushion planform designed to utilize suction braking exceeds this range, and the report predicts effective potential application to the C-130, Jindivik, and XC-8A.


The present invention relates to a large-size solid optical fiber preform with a novel structure, a preparation method and an apparatus thereof. The preform comprises a solid preform body, wherein the upper end of the solid preform body is connected with a clamping pipe. The preform is characterized in that the lower end of the solid preform body forms a tapered end head, the lower end of the tapered end head extends to form a traction rod, an outer diameter of the solid preform body is 120-230 mm, a length of the solid preform body is 1500-3500 mm, an outer diameter of the clamping pipe is 110-210 mm, a length of the clamping pipe is 650-1300 mm, and the outer diameter of the clamping pipe is smaller than the outer diameter of solid preform body. According to the present invention, the large-size solid optical fiber preform of the present invention is prepared by carrying out melt contraction, stretching and processing on a pure quartz glass bushing and an optical fiber mandrel, a shape size is large, processing efficiency is high, and structure arrangement is reasonable; the preform contains the clamping part and the tapered end head, such that the preform can be directly added to the tower to carry out drawing, the subsequent processing is simple, and the follow-up drawing production efficiency is greatly improved; the vertical vertical-stretching way is adopted, such that the stretched optical fiber preform has characteristics of uniform geometry shape and good precision; and the processing technology is simple, control and adjustment are convenient, operation is convenient, and the processing efficiency is high.


In a mouse model of pneumococcal meningitis, skull channels provide extravascular signaling to the skull marrow capable of initiating local marrow hematopoiesis. In a mouse model of pneumococcal meningitis, skull channels provide extravascular signaling to the skull marrow capable of initiating local marrow hematopoiesis.


This study is to use Internet site as a platform to establish a basic model of the national hospital information navigation system.The whole design of the system is built by total analysis,settlement of the target customers and the requirement of them,and the installation of titles.We provide comprehensive insights into how to develop and realize the system.This paper also aims to providing medical treatment seekers,practitioners and medical management departments with medical information timely,comprehensively and accurately,and then raising the management level of the national hospitals.


The use of hydrogen transfer agents and catalysts to improve the base-catalyzed decomposition of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was investigated. The reaction proceeded only in the presence of base, but the rate of PCB disappearance increased with increasing amount of hydrogen transfer agents and catalysts. Up to 99+% disappearance of 20 000 mg/kg Aroclor 1242 in paraffinic oil was achieved within 1−4 h at 340−350 °C. A three-step mechanism is proposed for the formation of biphenyl, the main product:  (1) hydrogen species generated from the paraffin oil; (2) hydrogenation of aromatic catalysts (phenanthrene, anthracene, and alkyl naphthalenes) to form dihydroaromatics, or absorption of hydrogen by hexagonal forms of carbon (graphite or carbon black as present in scrap latex) or transition metals (zero-valent iron and stainless steel); (3) transfer of the hydrogen species to the activated PCBs. The product, biphenyl, may be degraded further or possibly form adducts or polymerize.


Socioeconomic Status and Health Behavior in Nepal Chelsie Monet Porter Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Annette Fitzpatrick, PhD Assistant Dean, School of Public Health Research Professor, Family Medicine Research Professor, Epidemiology Research Professor, Global Health Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of health outcomes, but more research is needed to improve our understanding of the relationship between SES, behavior and health, particularly in lowand middle-income countries (LMICs). Efforts to improve our understanding are limited by the difficulty of measuring economic status in low-resource settings where income may be seasonal and informal employment is common. The debate over how to accurately measure economic wellbeing is pertinent in Nepal, where more than 25% of the population lives in poverty and subsistence farming is an important source of livelihood. Additionally, studies suggest a growing burden of noncommunicable disease (NCDs) in Nepal, many of which are impacted by behavioral risk factors. Objectives: This study aimed to construct an asset-based wealth index to estimate household wealth; and to develop and test prediction models for tobacco use and physical activity in a community-based sample of adults in Dhulikhel, central Nepal. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from 863 adult participants of the Dhulikhel Heart Study in Dhulikhel, Nepal. Household characteristics, individual sociodemographic characteristics and individual health behaviors were assessed using


Objective To study the dietary habits and nutritional knowledge of school students in Fujian Province,and to provide evidence for improving healthy levels of school students.Methods A survey was conducted by using a questionnaire to 1 539 middle school students in Fujian.The questionnaire involved basic information,nutritional knowledge,dietary attitude and dietary habits.Results Most students' nutrition knowledge was very poor,they lacked a better understanding of nutrition knowledge and had some unhealthy dietary behaviors.Girls had the better nutrition knowledge than boys.Conclusion There are many problems existing in school students' nutritional knowledge and dietary habits.Nutrition education should be implemented to correct the school students' unhealthy dietary habits.


Ensuring the efficient and reliable safe operation of ground special equipment of various types, aircrafts is an important and urgent problem. Preservation of the strength, protective properties and transparency of the glazing of machinery cabins in a wide range of temperatures under various strength influences is one of the key components of this problem. Multilayer packages made of different types of glass are used for special equipment glazing. These packages are connected to each other with adhesive polymer materials. Electrically heated glazing, which allows to avoid the special equipment icing, as well as to protect the viewing area from fogging, is used for reliable and failure-free operation of special equipment at low temperatures. Based on this, an important problem that affects the efficiency of the use of special equipment is to ensure the reliable operation of electric glass heating. With the help of a software package developed on the basis of the finite element method for the analysis of the structures thermal stress in 3D formulation, which allows to consider a wide class of practical problems of varying complexity, the problems of non-stationary and stationary thermal conductivity and thermal elasticity for a trapezoidal frontal electrically heated multilayer glazing are solved. A study of the thermal stress state of glazing with an electric heating system, which allows to avoid freezing of glass operating at low temperatures, was carried out. The reasons for which the delamination of the multi-layer glazing may occur (impermissible temperature modes, mechanical strength effects, violation of operating conditions) are determined. Multilayer glazing with an electric heating system is used for aircrafts, military equipment, land transport, which can be operated at different temperatures. In view of this, the study of their thermal stress state and determination of possible causes of delamination allows to ensure the operation reliability and increase the efficiency of the use of special equipment in different climatic conditions. It is planned to carry out further studies of the glass block thermal stress state taking into ac-count the thermostat operation and determining the temperature sensors location points, as well as changes in the physical properties of materials and the power of the heating element with temperature changes.


Objective It is to study the ultrasonography feature of thyroid papillary carcinoma by operate and pathology diagnosis. Methods Ultrasonography feature of thyroid papillary carcinoma in 27 patients were retrospectively analyzed, which were substantiated by pathologic operation. Results With ultrasound, 13 cases of cancerous goiter in which seven cases had concomitant metastasis of lymph node on ipsilateral cervical, 11 cases of adenoma and three case of adenoma with cystic degeneration were diagnosed. Ultrasonography detective rate of hide papillary carcinoma was 40%. Malignant tumor and benign tumor might coexist in thyroid. Conclusion Ultrasound detective rate of mass is 100%, in which 48 percent is correspondence with pathology. The small mass that could not be palpated in clinic can be detected with ultrasound. It is very hard that ultrasonography correspond with pathology.


The article analyzes the problem of stalinist political repressions in the USSR (1946-1953) in a historiographical context. The basic problems are the following: 1) criminal prosecution of soviet citizens accused of committing "counter-revolutionary crimes"; 2) the formation of a new direction in the framework of the soviet policy of combating manifestations of cosmopolitanism – the so-called "quasi-repressions"; 3) features of the implementation of post-war ethnic deportations; 4) the development of the GULAG system in the years of late stalinism. It is concluded that, despite some progress in the study of this issue in the central (generalizing) publications, there are certain difficulties at the regional level, since the post-war repressive policy in the USSR is studied only fragmentally.


There is a fundamental change in library's living state and operating mode with the development of SOLOMO. Digital resources, the foundation of library information service, need to adapt to the new environment accordingly. This article analyzes the new demands for library information service and digital resource construction in SOLOMO environment; indicates the three key features of future library information service which are ubiquity, socialization and contextualization; then gives an in-depth discussion on the reconstruction strategies of library digital resources in SOLOMO environment; and finally proposes that future digital resource should be miniaturized, dynamically linked, evolvable and integrated context.


Imaging adult neurogenesis reveals surprising behavior of progenitor cells The term "stem cells" is one of the most disputed terms in science. The general definition that stem cells are at the origin of a lineage, self-renewing and multipotent—generating all cell types of a given tissue or even organism (if totipotent)—is agreed upon. But how many cell divisions are required to be called a stem cell? Among the adult stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells are the champions because they can repopulate the immune systems of five generations of mice, living beyond the life of the organism from which they originated. But what about neural stem cells (NSCs), the founder cells of all cells in the central nervous system? Are a few cell cycles of self-renewal, such as nine in embryonic neurogenesis of the neocortex (1), sufficient to call them stem cells? And how many different cell types need to be generated by a stem cell? Do cells making only neurons, as occurs in embryonic neurogenesis, qualify as stem cells (2)? However, when cultured in vitro, they generate neurons and several other glial cell types, which qualifies them as multipotent (2). This is also the case for adult NSCs, but their behavior in vivo is even less well understood. On page 658 of this issue, Pilz et al. (3) track, for the first time, adult NSCs live in the mammalian brain, gaining exciting new insights that prompt revision of how we define stem cells.


This study provides insights on capacity building by determining the Bank's experience with institutional strengthening. It also offers guidance on incorporating lessons in the design and implementation of future forest and natural resources management projects. Topics focused on include institutional mandates, use of bank funds, technical assistance, recurrent expenditure financing, and borrower commitment. Key issues in forest and natural resources management, and in capacity building of public sector agencies in Sub-Saharan Africa are discussed. The report also includes findings and recommendations, attempting to develop and apply key indicators to monitor and evaluate forestry and environmental projects.


Background: Alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of stroke. While both stroke and alcohol consumption patterns differ by race and sex, it is not known to what extent alcohol consumption contributes to the elevated risk of stroke in some groups, particularly in men and blacks in general. Methods: Risk of stroke was studied in 25,162 black and white adults aged 45+, in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Information on alcohol consumption was obtained by telephone interview at baseline. Participants are contacted every 6 months by telephone for self- or proxy-reported stroke; medical records are retrieved and adjudicated by physicians Proportional hazard models, adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and stroke risk factors , were used. Results: Participants' mean age was 64.7 years; 40% were black and 56% were women with 867 stroke events and a median follow-up time of 7.6 years. Compared to current drinkers, non-drinkers had 36% higher hazards of incident stroke which was significantly higher consistent across all race-sex groups except black men. Risks were particularly high among past drinkers (50% higher than among current drinkers), as would be expected since many may have stopped drinking due to health problems. However, risks were also elevated among lifetime abstainers. Differences in stroke risks were explained by demographic and socioeconomic differences between drinkers and non-drinkers. Among those who are current drinkers, those who consumed Conclusions: Results suggest that individuals who do not currently consume alcohol may experience higher risks of stroke, which may be due in part due to socio-demographic and other characteristics associated with consuming alcohol.


The relationship between agricultural knowledge and water management is very important. Indigenous knowledge in agriculture can improve the water crisis situation and alleviate water stress from dry and semi-arid areas. Therefore, the combination of these two impacts can improve the agricultural sector and reduce the effects of drought. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting indigenous knowledge and the sustainable management of water resources for optimal water use in agriculture in the Sistan region of Iran. Alongside field research and interviews with 40 indigenous experts and experts from the Jihad-e-Agriculture sector of the Sistan region, the required information was collected by means of a questionnaire. Using the fuzzy hierarchy process (FAHP), the factors affecting indigenous knowledge and the sustainable management of water resources for optimal water use in the Sistan region were ranked. The final rankings of the factors influencing indigenous knowledge for optimal agricultural use of water resources indicate that the educational-extensional factor, with a final weight of 0.37, is the first priority, while social factors, government support, economics, farmers' knowledge, and information, with weights of 0.24, 0.21, 0.13, and 0.03, respectively, are the next priorities. It is recommended that the indigenous knowledge of local authorities be augmented, and that farmers be encouraged to use modern irrigation techniques to optimize the agricultural irrigation of water.


Objectives: The present research investigated the effect of life skills training on attitude towards substance abuse in sirjan city high school students. Methods:The sample of this research includes ٤٠ boy students (٢٠ experimental, ٢٠ control) from one high school by using random selection sampling method. They pre tested and then choose experimental group by the scores of pretest. Experimental group have been thought life skills along one month in ٨ sessions, but the control group received no variable. Finding:At the end, both of them were post tested by using addiction attitude measuring scale (form B). Discussion: The data were analyzed by applying covariance test and t test. The result indicated that life skills training are effective in changing student's attitudes towards substance abuse.


Various researchers have highlighted the integration of small-dimension, optical communicationand micro-systems into mainstream silicon fabrication technology (Bourouina et al 1996; Clayes, 2009; Fitzgerald & Kimerling, 1998; Gianchanadni, 2010; Robbins , 2000; Soref , 1998). The realization of sufficiently efficient light-emitters have, been a major technological challenge. A research area, known as "Silicon Photonics", has emerged in recent years (Kubby and Reed , 2005-2010; Savage 2002; Wada, 2004). This technology offers the advanced processing of data at ultra high speeds and provides advanced optical signal processing. It can analyse diverse optical data directly on chip, and may even contribute towards solving the interconnect density problem, associated with current microprocessor systems. Until now, this technology has been primarily established at 1550 nm. The reason is to conform with the main long haul and low loss telecommunication bands. The realization of waveguides, modulators, resonators, filters etc. on silicon platforms has been achieved until now with relative ease by using mainly Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology. Two main application fields have been developed, namely (1) high speed optical communication with modulation speeds and bandwidths reaching up to THz , utilizing SiGe technology , and (2) the so-called "Lab on chip" approach, where the main goal is the realization of an optical micro-system, which can perform certain analysis of the environment or attached media. In the absence of an efficient light source at 1550 nm on a chip, these systems operate currently with external light sources. They also incorporate Si-Ge detectors, which are not compatible with mainstream silicon technology (Beals at al, 2008; Lui et al, 2010; Wada, 2004). The integration of germanium into silicon structures requires the addition of complex and very expensive processing procedures. Recently, a Ge-onSi laser source was announced by Lui et al. in 2010. This technology provides coherent optical emission on a chip, but utilizes quite complex strained Si-Ge layer technology. Making use of adequately emitting Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) optical sources, together with good silicon detectors, shows good potential to manufacture diverse new optical communication and integrated systems directly onto CMOS silicon


The properties of cylindrical and spherical ion-acoustic breathers Akhmediev breather and freak waves in strongly coupled ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs), whose constituents are inertial strongly coupled ions and weakly coupled Maxwellian electrons, are investigated numerically. Using the derivative expansion method, the basic set of fluid equations is reduced to a nonplanar (cylindrical and spherical)/modified nonlinear Schrodinger equation (mNLSE). The analytical solutions of the mNLSE were not possible until now, so their numerical solutions are obtained using the finite difference scheme with the help of the Dirichlet boundary conditions. Moreover, the criteria for the existence and propagation of breathers are discussed in detail. The geometrical effects due to the cylindrical and spherical geometries on the breather profile are studied numerically. It is found that the propagation of the ion-acoustic breathers in one-dimensional planar and nonplanar geometries is very different. Finally, our result...


Immunoglobulin IgY, which is produced by chicken, reptiles and amphibians, has attracted the interest ominously in scientific community due to its unique properties and wider applicability. Moreover, IgY production in chicken favours reduced use of lab animals and is in complete concordance to animal welfare. Consequently, in this review, we aim to provide a brief overview about structural and biochemical properties of IgY, as well as advantages of its usage as diagnostic and therapeutic or prophylactic reagents.


Overview. It is important that future health care providers be made aware of the health disparities affecting their communities and the populations they will serve. Photovoice is an example of an interactive teaching and research tool used to depict health disparities through the use of images within a community. Purpose. The purpose of the study was to assess the views of undergraduate interprofessional health sciences students after their use of photovoice to understand health disparities. Method. The photovoice project was implemented as part of a learning unit on health disparities within an undergraduate Health Literacy and Culture Care course with 12 class sections over 2 years. Purposive sampling was used to survey the students who completed the course during this 2-year period in order to assess how the assignment increased their understanding of and ability to address health disparities within the communities that they live and serve. Results. A majority of the participants (N = 48) strongly agreed/agreed that the photovoice assignment increased their understanding of health disparities, health disparities within their community, factors contributing to these health disparities, and ways to address health disparities. In addition, most participants strongly agreed/agreed that the photovoice assignment was a valuable learning activity related to health disparities and should continue to be used as an assignment. Although beyond the scope of the assignment, 26% of the respondents indicated that they took action within their community to address the health disparity identified. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that photovoice can be used as a pedagogical tool to extend student learning about health disparities beyond the classroom into the community.


The Government's Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal- Building Ireland's Smart Economy, launched by the Taoiseach in late 2008, establishes Ireland's ambition to become internationally renowned as an Innovation Island. At the core of achieving this ambition will be our capacity for producing highly skilled graduates and fostering a climate of creative thinking and advanced research and development. This relies on the quality of undergraduate provision right across the sciences, arts and humanities in our third level institutions.
The development of a new national strategy for higher education is now underway. The strategy will aim to identify a vision and objectives for the development of the sector over the next twenty years. Leading higher education systems internationally are characterised by wide revenue sources that, in many cases, include a form of direct student contribution through a tuition fee or student loans system. If Ireland's higher education system is to develop and meet future demands in an environment of increasingly tight public resources, then it is appropriate that the sector's level of dependence on Exchequer funding should come under review.


This paper proposes a QoS prediction approach used to recommend web service to solve the problem of choosing high quality web service. This approach bases on other users' experience. According to the different feeling of different user to the same service, and the different similarity among the QoS of different services, the approach first divides the users and services into several modes, and then computes the means of one mode to predict the QoS of a service that the user never used before. Experiment simulation show that the approach is operable to some extent.


For students, academics and researchers within the Optometry and Visual Sciences Division. View the latest issues of selected journals through RSS feeds.


The time course of wave V latency shifts (adaptation paradigm) to a train of eight noise bursts with variable duration, rise‐fall time, and intensity was investigated. Wave V latency increased as a function of increasing position in the train for all conditions. Approximately 70% of the total latency shift occurred within the first four stimuli of the train. Unlike click stimuli the asymptotic latency was not attained by the eighth stimulus in the train. Rise‐fall time (0, 1, 2, ms) increased the latency of wave V to the first stimulus in the train but the magnitude and rate of adaptation were not affected. Increasing stimulus duration (2, 5, 7 ms) did not affect the latency of the first response in the train but did affect the magnitude and rate of adaptation. Increasing intensity increased the latency to the first stimulus and the magnitude of adaptation. These stimulus dependencies suggest that forward masking contributes to the latency shifts observed in the adaptation paradigm. [This work is supporte...


Fourier transform carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra have been obtained and interpreted for some 2-substituted tetrahydropyrans. The effects of the substituents on α, β, γ and δ-carbon atoms are discussed. Using suitable reference compounds the γ-parameter can be used for quantitative conformational analysis.


Objective To analyze the status of career decision making self-efficacy in vocational nursing students so as to provide targeted guidance for career counseling.Methods A total of 252 vocational nursing students were recruited.A general information questionnaire and Career Decision Making Self Efficacy Scale were adopted.Results The total score of career decision making self-efficacy of vocational nursing students was(121.64±27.00).The scores of vocational nursing students who had part-time experience were higher than the one who did not have part-time experience(P0.01 or P0.05),and the problem-solving score of the students from non-one child families was higher than the students from one-child families(P0.05).The total score and scores in some dimensions were different in different grades(P0.01 or P0.05).Conclusion Vocational nursing students have some difficulties in career decision making.The targeted counseling should be provided to improve their career decision making self-efficacy.


In the article the end of the XIX century, in the beginning of the XX century progressive changes in education held in Nakhchivan in the development of Enlightenment thought and the rise of indigenous intelligentsia had oyrenil. The end of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century was a landmark in the development of education, culture Nakhchivan, Nakhchivan region enlightenment intellectuals contributed to the history of the Enlightenment. The cultural and educational institutions established during this period and secular sciences were taught in schools. This time is specified, the same period of education and culture were obtained in Nakhichevan naliyy?tl? had put the foundation for future success. In this study, in the same period of Semminari Pedagogy, Pedagogical tehnikum, teachers and pedagogical Ýnistitut had a big role in the crop.


The rational use of energy is a major challenge that today's societies have to win. A major step in this direction is to reduce the energy consumption of existing buildings. Among present certifications, the Passive House standards set the lowest energy consumption (regarding heating demand). However, the vast majority of Passive House buildings are new residential constructions with some refurbishment projects. This paper uses dynamic building simulations and meteorological data for Brussels (northern part of Europe) to assess the technical and economical feasibilities of implementing adapted Passive House standards in public buildings, retrofitted as well as new constructions. Results show that this could be done. This is however only made possible by using a combination of different heating and, most important, cooling reduction strategies. The use of active heating/cooling systems seems unavoidable as well.


The construction technology for epoxy asphalt concrete surfacing is usually demanding and the construction quality thereof is vulnerable to the influences of construction control.In this paper,the methods for construction implementation and quality management of the steel deck surfacing of Runyang Changjiang River Highway Bridge are presented.The quality control system adopted in the deck surfacing of the Bridge has assured the construction quality and may serve as the important reference to the construction of similar works in the future.


epochal contributions of Hench, Kendall, Slocumb and olley on the administration of cortisone and ACTH in ieumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever have inspired e most intensive and far-reaching clinical and fundaental studies in medicine.1' 2,3 At this relatively early stage of clinical trial and investigation of these substances few extensive series of cases have appeared, although many undoubtedly will be forthcoming steadily. We, therefore, present here a report of our experience with ACTH and cortisone in I 28 cases of musculoskeletal disorders. These consisted of 72 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 23 with rheumatoid-like diseases and 33 with non-rheumatoid musculoskeletal conditions. Hench and his group have repeatedly emphasized the accomplishments of these compounds in demonstrating the reversibility of the rheumatic diseases.' In their studies they steadily have refrained from advocating a therapeutic role for the preparations. The great importance of ACTH and cortisone as versatile investigative tools is being reported with rapidly accumulating data in almost every other branch of medicine as well as in the rheumatic diseases.2' 3,4 The practical question that poses itself, at least in the field of rheumatic disorders, especially since the preparations have been released for general use, is: How effectively and safely can these compounds be applied as therapeutic agents? Our chief aim here is to present those of our own observations so far which may contribute toward an answer. Their great potency for beneficial response and for undesirable reactions has been observed by us for only a little over one year, at this time. We, therefore, regard this report as a tentative, interim presenta-


1167 All Rights Reserved © 2015 IJARECE Abstract— ECG is considered to be the primary tool for detection of cardiac problems. An ECG signal has all the necessary information pertaining to the electrical activities of heart and about normal and abnormal activities to detect diseases and changes that occurs due to several abnormalities. For which detection of R-peaks in QRS complex correctly and efficiently is very important, here we are proposing a new technique for R-peak detection which uses the variable threshold for detection of R-peaks this method increases accuracy of R-peak detection and reduces false peak detection.


The MFTF-B magnet system requires two 12.5T, 36 cm bore, insert coils. These coils are being constructed with a cryostable Nb 3 Sn conductor manufactured by Furukawa Electric Co. The conductor consists of a core soldered into a cold-worked copper housing, which provides strength. The Nb 3 Sn core is made by a triple extrusion bronze process. A total of 57 lengths, each 295 m long, have been made and tested. We have made extensive tests on this conductor; these tests include critical current, ambient and 4.2 K mechanical property measurements, critical current as a function of tensile strain, and bending tolerance tests. The critical current density was found to be quite anisotropic in this conductor, with J c (12T) = 650A/mm2for field perpendicular to the conductor wide face, and J c (12T) = 500A/mm2for field parallel to the conductor wide face. These values are among the highest reported for a production lot of Nb 3 Sn conductor.


The mechanism by which animal markings are formed is an intriguing problem that has remained unsolved for a long time. One of the most important questions is whether the positional information for the pattern formation is derived from a covert prepattern or an autonomous mechanism. In this study, using the zebrafish as the model system, we attempted to answer this classic question. We ablated the pigment cells in limited areas of zebrafish skin by using laser irradiation, and we observed the regeneration of the pigmentation pattern. Depending on the area ablated, different patterns regenerated in a specific time course. The regenerated patterns and the transition of the stripes during the regeneration process suggest that pattern formation is independent of the prepattern; furthermore, pattern formation occurs by an autonomous mechanism that satisfies the condition of "local self-enhancement and long-range inhibition." Because the zebrafish is the only striped animal for which detailed molecular genetic studies have been conducted, our finding will facilitate the identification of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie skin pattern formation.


Globalization and internationalization are salient features of our times in significant modern and post-modern social theories. This study contributes to the literature, and delineates a comprehensive picture of China's higher education internationalization, with an analysis of its costs and benefits, set in an international comparative perspective.


Publication devoted to information literacy development updates. Information literacy competencies as the basis for the success of a human life takes on a special significance in higher education teaching. Success of this process is driven by university cooperation partners: teachers, librarians and administrations work. Teachers implement information literacy development methods courses, librarians responsible for information resources in institution make up their own training system, but the administration - facilitates the implementation of information literacy and financial support. Competencies based on governmental, professional or institutional defined standards, which can provide an overall level of information literacy development.


Since the early 1980s, patterns of emerging market finance have changed significantly. Greater integration of capital markets and a trend toward a greater use of direct lending through bonds has led to relatively decreased use of indirect finance through syndicated bank loans. These changes have produced benefits to investors through opportunities for risk diversification and to emerging market sovereign borrowers by increasing the investor base. The broadened investor base in bond financing, however, raises problems of coordination and collective action in the event of a sovereign borrower's default and restructuring. Now, three parties are involved in determining the "debt markdown" required to produce solvency—the debtor, creditors, and the global taxpayer through international financial institutions (IFIs). The complex relationships among the borrowers, creditors, and the global taxpayer have made restructuring obligations a costly and timeconsuming exercise, especially with the possibility of "holdouts." Both the sovereign and its creditors have an incentive to avoid a restructuring in the hope of financial assistance from the global taxpayer. Sovereigns may not undertake the politically painful steps involved in beginning a restructuring when there is always the hope that official assistance will be forthcoming. Creditors may not accept a reduction in the value of their claims, also in the hope that official assistance will be forthcoming. Costs of postponed and disorderly restructurings are real and substantial. Delays in restructuring can drain a country's


Through an approximate treatment for Sine function based on the "the local constant law", a simple pendulum cycle model was constructed. By using evolution algorithm to solve the parameter of the model, it obtained a new high-precision pendulum cycle formula that has explicit physical significance and has concise form, its absolute error achieves 10−5 order of magnitude.


A common caterpillar we include in our ISU field guides is hop vine borer (Figure 1), but I can't even remember the last time I saw one. I'm wondering if it's an early-season pest of the past? Archived ICM News articles tell me it was most commonly observed in northeastern Iowa and states to the east. It was considered an occasional pest that caused stand loss in corn, particularly in fields with grassy weeds. Have you seen it lately? Disciplines Agricultural Science | Agriculture This article is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cropnews/2426 2/14/2019 A Pest of the Past: Have You Seen Hop Vine Borer? | Integrated Crop Management https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2017/05/pest-past-have-you-seen-hop-vine-borer 1/4 Integrated Crop Management A Pest of the Past: Have You Seen Hop Vine Borer? May 15, 2017 A common caterpillar we include in our ISU field guides is hop vine borer (Figure 1), but I can't even remember the last time I saw one. I'm wondering if it's an early-season pest of the past? Archived ICM News articles tell me it was most commonly observed in northeastern Iowa and states to the east. It was considered an occasional pest that caused stand loss in corn, particularly in fields with grassy weeds. Have you seen it lately? Figure 1. Hop vine borer. Photo by Marlin E. Rice. Description: The adult is a dull brown Noctuid moth (Figure 2), with buff-colored forewings and a wingspan of 1.5 inches. Larvae (or caterpillars) are solid orange or a dark red head. The body is dirty white with dark purple square spots. 2/14/2019 A Pest of the Past: Have You Seen Hop Vine Borer? | Integrated Crop Management https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2017/05/pest-past-have-you-seen-hop-vine-borer 2/4 Figure 2. Hop vine borer adult. Photo by Jim Vargo. Biology: The life cycle is similar to common stalk borer, in that there is just once generation per year and they can overwinter in Iowa. Egg hatch is in late April or early May. Young larvae move to grass stems, like smooth brome, quackgrass, orchard grass, and woolly cupgrass. Eventually, larvae get too big for those grass stems, so they move to larger plants, like corn. Feeding injury: Hop vine borers attack corn plants from underground, tunnel up and hollow out plants at the base (Figure 3). Their injury to corn plants is unlike other earlyseason caterpillars, such as: common stalk borer (tunnel aboveground), black cutworm (cut plants aboveground), or armyworm (defoliate corn leaves). Infested plants look stunted, discolored, wilted or the central whorl could die in younger plants. Like common stalk borer, hop vine borer injury is most commonly seen at field margins, or along fence rows and waterways. Repeated injury over several growing season is most likely to be infested in fields with abundant grass. 2/14/2019 A Pest of the Past: Have You Seen Hop Vine Borer? | Integrated Crop Management https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2017/05/pest-past-have-you-seen-hop-vine-borer 3/4 Figure 3. Hop vine borers enter the plant from underground and tunnel up. Photo by Marlin E. Rice. Management: Scouting hop vine borers should start when corn emerges. Use an insecticide that includes cutworms on the label. Consider targeting applications to the field perimeter to reduce costs. A foliar application is only effective when caterpillars are moving from grass to corn. Insecticidal seed treatments and transgenic Bt traits in corn are not labeled for hop vine borer. Sustainable practices include mowing grasses around cornfields to minimize overwintering success. Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on May 15, 2017. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed. Category: Crop Production Insects and Mites Crop: Corn Tags: Insects pest scouting IPM caterpillars Author: 2/14/2019 A Pest of the Past: Have You Seen Hop Vine Borer? | Integrated Crop Management https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/cropnews/2017/05/pest-past-have-you-seen-hop-vine-borer 4/4 Erin Hodgson Associate Professor Dr. Erin Hodgson started working in the Department of Entomology at Iowa State University in 2009. She is an associate professor with extension and research responsibilities in corn and soybeans. She has a general background in integrated pest management (IPM) for field crops. Dr. Hodgson's curre...


Due to an ageing society and unhealthy living conditions, liver diseases like non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or liver cancer will account for an increasing proportion of deaths in the coming years. Using a mathematical model, the underlying function‐perfusion processes of both diseases are investigated. We developed a multiscale and multiphase model for the simulation of hepatic processes on the lobular and cell scale. The lobular scale is described with partial differential equations (PDEs) based on the Theory of Porous Media (TPM), whereas on the cellular scale the metabolic processes are calculated using ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Since NAFLD and the development of a liver tumor lead to tissue growth as well as changes in the blood perfusion, growth and remodelling processes in the human liver are evaluated.


The concept of generalized $k$-connectivity $\kappa_{k}(G)$ of a graph $G$ was introduced by Chartrand et al. in recent years. In our early paper, extremal theory for this graph parameter was started. We determined the minimal number of edges of a graph of order $n$ with $\kappa_{3}= 2$, i.e., for a graph $G$ of order $n$ and size $e(G)$ with $\kappa_{3}(G)= 2$, we proved that $e(G)\geq (6/5)n$, and the lower bound is sharp by constructing a class of graphs, only for $n\equiv 0 \ (mod \ 5)$ and $n\neq 10$. In this paper, we improve the lower bound to $\lceil(6/5)n\rceil$. Moreover, we show that for all $n\geq 4$ but $n= 9, 10$, there always exists a graph of order $n$ with $\kappa_{3}= 2$ whose size attains the lower bound $\lceil(6/5)n\rceil$. Whereas for $n= 9, 10$ we give examples to show that $\lceil(6/5)n\rceil+1$ is the best possible lower bound. This gives a clear picture on the minimal size of a graph of order $n$ with generalized connectivity $\kappa_{3}= 2$.


To study the diversity and classification of phytoplasma associated with Praxelis clematidea witch's broom is of significance for the bio-control of the pathogen. In this paper, the P. clematidea plants with the presence of the phytoplasma were collected from eight counties in Hainan Province of South China. The samples were tested by PCR amplification using phytoplasma-specific 16S rDNA primers. Furthermore, the diversity of the phytoplasma associated with P. clematidea witch's broom was investigated with restricted fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) by using the restriction enzymes Afa I, Alu I, EcoR I, Hae Ⅲ, HpaⅡ, Hha I, Hinf I, Kpn I, Sau3A I, Taq I, and Xsp I. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced, and the sequences were compared with the members of 16SrII group of phytoplasma. The results showed that the causal agent of P. clematidea witch's broom was the phytoplasma. The patterns of RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA sequence primed from the phytoplasma collected from the eight counties were basically the same, and the similarity between the 16S rDNA and that of other known phytoplasmas ranged from 0.26 to 0.97. There was a high similarity (99.4%) within the sequences from the eight counties, and the highest similarity (99.1%) with the phytoplasma from peanut witch's broom. It was suggested that the phytoplasma of P. clematidea witch's broom could be categorized as a branch of 16S rRNAⅡ-A group.


A method and system adapted to modify an audio signal or speech comprising a step where the frequency spectrum S (k) of the signal is transformed by applying a non-lineaire.Le function method comprises at least the following steps: . determining the level A (k), B (k) signal associated with a frequency k taking into account the different levels a (k), b (k) of the signal for frequency k concerned and / or neighboring frequencies (step 2a, step 8a). applying the non-linear function on said level (A (k), B (k)).


Abstract : Necessary definitions and theorems from real variable dealing with some properties of Lebesgue-Stieljes measures, monotone non-decreasing functions, Borel sets, functions of bounded variation and Borel measureable functions are set forth in the introduction. Chapter 2 is concerned with establishing a one to one correspondence between LebesgueStieljes measures and certain equivalence classes of functions which are monotone non decreasing and continuous on the right. In Chapter 3 the Lebesgue-Stieljes Integral is defined and some of its properties are demonstrated. In Chapter 4 probability distribution function is defined and the notions in Chapters 2 and 3 are used to show that the Lebesgue-Stieljes integral of any probability distribution function can be expressed as a countable sum of positive numbers added to the Lebesgue-Stieljes integral of a continuous probability distribution function. The conclusion indicates how the Lebesgue-Stieljes integral may be used to define the probability associated with a Borel set of real numbers.


Some technical problems existed in alkali-electrical fine purification straight-run diesel oil in Jinan Petroleum Refinery are pointed out,some experimental investigations for recombination solvation method for fine purification straight-run diesel oil were carried out,technological procedure and feature of recombination solvation method are introduced,operation costs for both alkali-electrical and recombination solvation are analyzed,and finally apˉplication prospects of recombination solvation method for fine puˉrification straight-run diesel oil and reclaim technology of naphˉthenic acid are comparatively stated.


The title salt, [(CH3)2NH2][Sn(C6H5)3Cl2], was obtained as a by-product of the reaction between bis(dimethylammonium) oxalate and triphenyltin chloride. In the stannate anion, the trigonal–bipyramidal coordination environment of the SnIV atom is defined by the phenyl groups in equatorial and the Cl atoms in axial positions. The cations are connected to adjacent anions through N—H⋯Cl and C—H⋯Cl hydrogen-bonding interactions, leading to a chain motif parallel to [100].


some the early of the to the the to make steady improvements and the detections as well as ideas to improve the detectors by we the broader aspects of the new field of gravitational wave astronomy. of the critical role numerical relativity and understanding the quantum mechanics of preci-sion played. a vision of the that could come from an investigation of the gravitational wave sky periods of fractions of milliseconds of bil-lions


An image forming apparatus having a safety sensor. At least one safety sensor is mounted on an inner wall of the main body to detect an object entering a space in the main body, other than a space corresponding to a normal moving path of the printing medium. A control unit controls an image formation unit in response to a signal from the safety sensor, to establish a safe condition within the main body.


Natural language processing technology is an important direction in the field of computer science and artificial intelligence,and the Chinese text information extraction is a new rising researching field in recent years. Due to the character of the loose structure of Chinese text,the flexibility of grammar and semanteme,the research of Chinese natural language processing has a difficult challenge nowadays. In the paper,a method of the combine of syntactic and HMM( Hidden Markov Model) was proposed. The main idea is to use syntax to analyze the Chinese text,then submit the syntactic structure to HMM and get a HMM model through learning it,finally the event properties can be extracted by the HMM model. The experiment shows that the method has higher precision and recall than normal algorithm.


The results of researches after heat treatment (hardening and tempering) of alloyed structural steel of grade 4Kh4N5М4F2 in cast and forged state are given. It is recommended to carry out partial recrystallization (incomplete annealing) of the experimental steel (4Kh4N5М4F2) at a temperature of 750±20 °С. It is recommended to carry out thermo-deformation treatment (forging at a temperature of 1170±20 °C), which doubled the grain yield of hardened steel and increased the toughness five times after tempering. The optimal temperature mode of hardening (1095±5 °С) of cast and forged steel, the hardness of which coincides at the level of 56 HRC, is established. The grain score in cast and forged state (No 3–No 6 and No 6–No 8, respectively) of the investigated steel depending on the quenching temperature (1050–1110 °С) is shown. The dependence between hardness and specific electrical conductivity of steel after hardening in comparison with cast and forged state is established. It is established that at optimized modes of heat treatment of the investigated steel it was determined by the minimum value of the parameter – specific electrical conductivity. Thus, for the optimal value of the tempering temperature of steel (1095 oC), the specific electrical conductivity was 0,075 Ohm•mm2/ m, and at tempering (595 oC) – 0,0415 Ohm•mm2/m. The methodical approach after hardening of steel is offered that allows carrying out control of a temperature mode at heating of the stamp tool. It is established that after hardening of steel, forged has the highest conductivity than cast. Physico-mechanical properties (strength threshold, impact strength, hardness, microhardness in the metal structure and specific electrical conductivity) of the investigated hardened steel (cast and forged) after tempering are presented. An increase in the hardness and strength of cast steel during tempering at temperatures from 450 to 500 °C, which is provided by the release of the carbide component, where there is an intensive increase in microhardness. It was found that the tempering brittleness of the investigated steel at a temperature of 475±15 °C. An anomalous decrease in impact strength (up to 15 J/cm2) and an intensive increase in the specific electrical conductivity of cast and forged steel at tempering brittleness are shown. The increase of microhardness of the investigated steel is established, which promotes increase of wear resistance and increase of service life of the stamping tool. It is established that during reheating (tempering), the conductivity in steel increases, and the structurally sensitive mechanical characteristic (impact strength) changes intensively, which increases twice in the range of tempering brittleness temperatures of 475±15 oС. This makes it possible to increase the service life of the press tool (die) made of steel 4Kh4N5M4F2 for hot deformation of aluminum alloy in the temperature range 450-500 °C.


The title compound, C60H50Cl2Si5, was obtained by a ring-opening reaction of decaphenylcyclopentasilane. The chain of silicon atoms adopts an all trans conformation [Si—Si—Si—Si torsion angles = −156.31 (5) and −161.02 (5)°]. One of the Cl atoms is in an antiperiplanar conformation with respect to the Si chain [Cl—Si—Si—Si = −156.40 (5)°] while the other Cl substituent adopts a synclinal conformation [Si—Si—Si—Cl = 78.82 (6)°].


value 0.250±0.007µg/ml) used respectively. The extracts were also investigated for the total phenolic content, total flavonoids, and total tannin content. The present studies suggest that the developed formulation has potent antioxidant activity and those phenolic compounds such as tannins and flavonoids present possibly suggest for the antioxidant action.


We turned to multiple information sources to guide our decision making in the revisions: statistical analyses of IDEA SRI 2011 to 2015 research datasets, professional literature on teaching and learning, the AAC&U VALUE rubrics and the NSSE indicators. We also consulted with experts in measurement, faculty development and evaluation, statisticians, and IDEA staff. Instrumentation. IDEA is a two-form system. Students rate their progress on learning objectives and their perceptions of teaching methods and student/course characteristics. The pilot questions for students were displayed at the end of the existing IDEA 47-item SRI survey as "additional questions." Faculty rate the relevance of learning objectives. The new learning objectives were added to the Objectives Selection Form (OSF) in a separate section following the original 12 learning objectives. Sample. We restricted the sample to classes with at least 10 responses (n = 3,484). Of the 27 participating institutions 70% were public; 11% were Associate, 41% Baccalaureate, 41% Masters, and 7% doctoral degree granting institutions. IDEA2016 Student Ratings of Instruction (SRI) is uniquely suited to measure student perceptions of the progress they have made on course-relevant learning outcomes that are recognized as essential for successful learning by influential highereducation organizations. IDEA focuses on (a) learning outcomes identified by the instructor as relevant to the course and (b) teaching methods associated with student learning. The study described below documents how we revised IDEA2016 SRI to align with global learning outcomes emphasized by AAC&U, HLC, and DQP as well as teaching methods consistent with NSSE engagement indicators.


The utility model discloses an open active noiseless microphone. A noise pick-up device and a microphone are fixed in a cylindrical body, an insulating layer is arranged between the noise pick-up device and the microphone, the cylindrical body is divided into a microphone module and a noise collection module by the insulating layer, one end of the cylindrical body is assembled with a layer of net cover, the other end is assembled with a front cover, and the inner surface of the front cover is additionally provided with circuit elements. Because of the unique structure and the corresponding circuit elements, the utility model has a strong environmental noise attenuation capacity and a good noise elimination effect.


This work presents an approach for control, state-estimation and learning model (hyper)parameters for robotic manipulators. It is based on the active inference framework, prominent in computational neuroscience as a theory of the brain, where behaviour arises from minimizing variational free-energy. First, we show there is a direct relationship between active inference controllers, and classic methods such as PID control. We demonstrate its application for adaptive and robust behaviour of a robotic manipulator that rivals state-of-the-art. Additionally, we show that by learning specific hyperparameters, our approach can deal with unmodeled dynamics, damps oscillations, and is robust against poor initial parameters. The approach is validated on the 'Franka Emika Panda' 7 DoF manipulator. Finally, we highlight limitations of active inference controllers for robotic systems.


The folding patterns and deployment dynamic characteristics of conical inflatable capsule structures were investigated. A six-fold-line method of packing a conical shell surface was designed. The fold-line layouts and relation formulas of the fold angles were determined. The folded state of the inflatable capsule structure was parametrically modeled; then, the deployment dynamic analysis model was established using ANSYS/LS-DYNA software. The dynamic characteristics of the inflatable capsule structure in orbit were numerically simulated. Thus, the deployment configurations and the time history curves of the dynamic characteristics were obtained. The results verified the feasibility of the fold pattern and the deployment dynamic analysis model. The influences of the residual gases from the packing process on the subsequent deployment process were investigated. The results indicated that a small amount of residual gas can lead to structures that cannot deploy smoothly, and two methods were presented to avoid this challenge. These works provide technical support for the structural designs of this type of inflatable capsule structure.