Geographical isolation is the main speciation-inducing factor. The current biogeographical and phylogenetic patterns of various organisms, among them gastropods, reflect past speciation events promoted by isolation resulting from geological processes. This is especially the case in the east of the Mediterranean Basin, where large-scale geological events, coupled with climatic changes, created a high environmental and topographic heterogeneity. This article reviews and summarises the studies on relationships between the phylogeography of the Truncatelloidea (Caenogastropoda) and the major geological events which have shaped the geomorphology of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans. The evidence suggests that the geological events having the greatest impact on the biogeography of the truncatelloideans were: the initiation (~12 Mya) and end (~10 Mya) of the Mid-Aegean Trench; the beginning (5.96 Mya) and end (i.e. Zanclean Flood, 5.33 Mya) of the Messinian Salinity Crisis, and climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene (2.58–0.0117 Mya), especially the glaciations. Isolation shapes the pattern of inter-population diversity especially in the cave and spring fauna. The results of studies on the evolution of truncatelloideans in isolated cave habitats are also presented. key wOrds: phylogeography, snails, Balkans, stygobionts, mtDNA


Over the last two decades, Mexico City, like many large industrial and populous urban areas, has developed a serious air pollution problem, especially during the winter months when there are frequent temperature inversions and weak winds. The deterioration in air quality is the result of several factors. The basin within which Mexico City lies is Mexico`s center of political, administrative and economic activity, generating 34% of the cross domestic product and 42% of the industrial revenue, and supporting a population which is rapidly approaching the 20 minion mark. The basin is surrounded by mountains on three sides which inhibit rapid dispersal of pollutants. Emissions from the transportation fleet (more than 3 million vehicles) are one of the primary pollution sources, and are mostly uncontrolled. Catalytic converters are just now being introduced into the fleet. The Mexico City Air Quality Research Initiative is an international collaborative project between the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Mexican Petroleum Institute dedicated to the investigation of the air quality problem in Mexico City. The main objective of the project is to identify and assess the cost and benefits of major options being proposed to improve the air quality.


In this paper, a comprehensive description of the kinetics of argon plasmas has been formulated for atmospheric pressures. It has been used to attribute to molecular species the ultraviolet-vacuum ultraviolet (UV-VUV) continua, observed between 150 and 300 nm in pure argon. The participation of both ionic dimers and trimers has been found to be necessary to explain the whole fluorescence emitted by the rare gases (Rg). A simple kinetic model of high-pressure (1-30 bar) argon plasmas created by flash X-ray excitation is reported. The photoexcitation of Rg at high pressure by X-ray photons with energy of about 10 keV is shown to produce plasmas with significant density gradients of ionic and excited species. Spatial analysis of the energy position along the X-ray penetration path is performed in order to account for these concentration gradients. The calculation of electron density in different Rg (Ar, Kr, Xe) excited by X-ray photons of various energies (0.2-10 keV) is also reported. From these results, it appears that hash X-ray excitation of Rg can be a very interesting means to produce high-electron-density plasmas designed to selectively emit intense fluorescence in the UV-VUV spectral domain.


Tools and user interfaces are usually designed for users with normal physical condition. Even though more products are built with accessibility considerations, there is still severe lack of opportunity for people with disabilities to use products to their full potential. In this paper, we present the idea of using human muscles as output interface, using functional electrical stimulation (FES). We envision that this would allow for filling the gap between products and a user's capability, thereby promising every product's universal accessibility. To match our behavioral and perceptual capability with the product on use, we can reprogram the way we control our body or give direct muscle motion-feedback. We believe that this idea would create new area and provoke discussion in the field of user interactions and their applications.


Objective:To detect the effect of embryo quality on pregnancy outcome in vitro fertilization (IVF) Methods: Between June 1998 and June 1999,a review of 195 consecutive IVF-embryo transfer (ET)cycles performed in 162 couples was carried out. The mean age, insemination rate, cleavage rate, proportion of the number of blastomeres, embryo morphology, the number of embryo transferred, endometrial thickness, implantation rate and the rate of multiple pregnancy were analyzed. Results: Pregnancy rate of embryo transfer cycles was 27.2% (53/195). The implantation rate was 14.7% (91/621). The miscarriage rate was 30.2%(16/53). However, significant difference were found in insemination rate (74.7%∶63.5%; P 0.05), embryo cleavage rate (74.8%∶68.1%; P0.05), proportion of the number of blastomere (P0.05), percentage of total number of grade I embryo transferred (60.4%∶43.7%; P0.05), percentage of at least one grade I embryo transferred (39.6%∶ 31.7%; P0.05), the number of embryo transferred(P0.01) and endometrial thickness (P 0.05) between conception and non-conception cycles. Therewas no significant dif-ference in all of these parametric rate, between the miscarriage group and the ongoingpregnancy/live birth group. The significant differences in the rate of multiple pregnancy were noted. Conclusion: embryo morphology can be taken as a parameter to evaluate embyo quality, but embryo quality has no effect on the pregnancy outcome once clinical pregnancy is established.


Longitudinal and transverse mixing in horizontal rotary kilns has been studied, using a three-dimensional Discrete Element Method approach. The focus is on the effect of the main operating conditions, i.e., the filling degree and the rotational speed of the rotary kiln, on quantitative measures of longitudinal and transverse mixing. Discrete Element Method simulations have been performed for various values of the main operating conditions. Flow regimes have been determined from visualisations of the simulations. It is shown that the mixing in the longitudinal direction can be described by a diffusion equation. The dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the operating conditions has been determined from the results of the simulations. It is found that the diffusion coefficient increases linearly with rotational speed, while the influence of the filling degree is relatively small. The mixing in the transverse plane is quantified by an entropy-like mixing index. The results of the simulations show that this mixing index varies exponentially with the number of revolutions of the rotary kiln. The dependence on the operating conditions of the transverse mixing speed, as determined from the exponential behaviour of the mixing index, has been determined. This mixing speed decreases with increasing rotational speed and with increasing filling degree. The transverse mixing speed that has been determined from the results of additional two-dimensional simulations is generally larger than that observed in the corresponding three-dimensional simulations. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Tanreqing on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of acute exacerbation(AECOPD).Methods 84 cases diagnosed with AECOPD were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group,with 42 cases in each group.Based on conventional treatment(low flow oxygen therapy,antibiotics and bronchodilators),Tanreqing injection was added to the observation group,while the control group were only given the conventional treatment.Both groups were treated for 10 days.Improvement of the clinical symptoms and signs of both groups was observed and their clinical effect was evaluated.In addition,analysis of their blood gas was tested and compared before and after treatment.Results The total effective rate of the observation group was 88.10%,while that of the control group was 69.05%.Their difference was statistically significant(P0.05).Comparison of indicators on blood gas of the two groups had no statistical significance before the treatment(P0.05).However,after treatment,indicators of the blood gas of both groups improved obviously(P0.05 or 0.01),but that of the observation group improved more greatly.The indicator difference between two groups after treatment had statistical significance(P0.05).Conclusion Tanreqing injection combined with conventional treatment is more effective in improving the clinical symptoms and blood gas of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of acute aggravation.


Contemporary metro transport systems present unrivaled efficiency for the commuting population. The development of the urban environment is interwoven with the metro transit systems. The transit-oriented development (TOD) is an upcoming topic in the design of the contemporary and of the future city and metro system alike. It entails the development of a microcell of the city centered around the metro station. Typically, bulky TOD buildings rise over and around the station and tunnel. The structural engineering aspect of these mega projects is highly complex. Major part of the complexity is due to complicated interactions between the oversite building and the underlying tunnel or station with its track-rail system. A significant number of issues arise, like methods to bridge over the tunnel or station, structural isolation, induced displacements to the track-rail system, tunnel movements and impact to tracks, vibration induction to the TOD building, and a plenitude of similar problems. It is highly important to design a structural monitoring system that will provide a validation tool of the structural-dynamic performance of the closed system TOD-tunnel/station. The distilled experience from international projects is presented.


Objective To study the underling mechanism of the effect of ginsenosides(GS) on spontaneous sleep.Methods Adult SD rats were randomly divided into the control,GS 10 mg/kg(low dose) and 100 mg/kg(high dose) groups.Rats were instrumented with sleep-wake recording electrodes.After recovery from surgical operation,rats were orally administered GS 10 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg or water once per day for 6 days.On GS administration day 1 and day 6,Polygraphic signs of undisturbed sleep-wake activities were recorded for 12 h(07∶ 30 ~19∶ 30) after GS administration.Results On GS administration day 1(acute),10 mg/kg GS slightly(P0.05) but 100 mg/kg GS significantly(P0.05) increased the non-rapid eye movement(NREM) and total sleep and decreased wakefulness;compared with control,both low and high dose GS failed to change the level of glutamic acid decarboxylase(GAD)(P0.05) but enhanced the expressions of GABAA receptor α,β not γ subunits in rat hypothalamus(P0.05).Following 6 days administration(chronic),both 10 and 100 mg/kg GS increased markedly NREM and total sleep and decreased wakefulness.Accordingly,low dose GS slightly(P0.05) but high dose GS significantly(P0.05) increased the level of GAD in rat hypothalamus,whereas the expressions of GABAA receptor α,β and γ subunits were not affected(P0.05).Conclusions These primary results suggest that GS can regulate spontaneous sleep architecture in time and dose-dependent manner in which acute GS treatment is related to its up-regulating GABAA receptor α,β subtypes whereas chronic GS administration involved in the raised GABA product produced by its over-expressing GAD in rat hypothalamus.


H 2 , the smallest and most abundant molecule in the universe, has a perfectly symmetric ground state. What does it take to break this symmetry? Here we show that the inversion symmetry can be broken by absorption of a linearly polarized photon, which itself has inversion symmetry. In particular, the emission of a photoelectron with subsequent dissociation of the remaining H +2 fragment shows no symmetry with respect to the ionic H + and neutral H atomic fragments. This result is the consequence of the entanglement between symmetric and antisymmetric H +2 states resulting from autoionization. The mechanisms behind this symmetry breaking are general for all molecules.


The polarized scholarly discourse of the Cold War in Central America overstated the extent to which Protestant Moravianism shaped Miskitu ethnic and cultural identity in the 20th century by defining Miskitu agency in terms of Anglo affinity and incompatibility with Hispanic culture. This exaggerated position is revealed through the hidden history of liberation theology among the Miskitu and has implications for the manner in which scholars continue to view the Miskitu-Sandinista conflict of the 1980s, Miskitu ethnic identity and history in general, and the continuing debate over the definition and implementation of Atlantic Coast autonomy in Nicaragua in a postmulticultural era.


Abstract Wine tourism (WT) is an important area of special-interest tourism in Portugal, and represents an increasingly significant component of regional development. In a more conservative approach, WT has been described as visiting vineyards, wineries, and engaging in wine-related activities. However, this perspective has been broadened, taking advantage of all the potential of the specific destination's terroir (nature/landscape, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, etc.). Wine routes make the connection between wine and tourism in a specific region and intend to boost wine tourism by promoting collaboration between different stakeholders. Different routes present distinct approaches to WT, within diverse regional contexts, and different ways of collaboration within the wine route. This study compares three wine routes at different stages of development, located in a rural periphery – in the central region of Portugal – Bairrada, Dão, and Beira Interior, considering both context data and information collected in 113 interviews conducted with diverse wine tourism agents from these routes. Besides a brief characterization of the three routes, the main results indicate supplier's preference for terroir routes instead of wine routes and show the importance of gender, age, and education level for the collaborative work between stakeholders. These aspects and their contribution to the development of WT routes are discussed. Some questions that additional studies may help answering are also reflected.


proposes a symbolic rejection of the historical treatment of women as vessels for male identity. The final section of the book deals primarily with feminine imagery for God and the nature of the relationship between God and humankind. The goddess symbol is seen as potentially powerful in breaking the feminine stereotypes of weakness, etc. Various authors, male and female, emphasize the need to develop a theology of God within us, i.e., a womb theology, as well as the urgent need to explore the positive value of a spirituality that is both feminine and Jewish.


Fiber Bragg grating has advantages such as distributed temperature system,its high precision and a large number of data.Taking the practice in construction of Nan runduan flow in(out) floodgate at the Huaihe River as an example,real-time and monitoring the temperature change of Sluice Pier during the construction period by FBGs on-line,the genetic algorithms are adopted to carry out the relevant thermal parameters of concrete of Sluice Pier based on the monitoring data,then a simulation analysis is made of the thermal field and stress field of concrete of forword Sluice Pier during the construction period with the parameters,timely feedback temperature-control and crack prevention measures.A good effect is achieved.


Many times, you often hear terms related to the educational field and its meaning is not always known. Examples of these are many such as: quality education, high education, quality standards and academic excellence, just to mention some examples. The truth is that today the demands are increasingly promoted by their own competitiveness in the workplace, professional, educational and social to which are immersed individuals who cohabit in a world increasingly globalized and filled with consumerism. Not all countries have an education that can reach the highest standards and reach academic excellence, or to have the laws, regulations, decrees and provisions that favor the process to reach it. The main objective of this work is to illustrate the elements that comprise academic excellence, in addition to being able to establish the different challenges that the university must face.


Self-evaluation is an opinion which is shaped and transformed along with human age. The younger a child is, the more superficial and situational character the self-assessment has. Its level depends on the acquired experience – the cases of success and failure. Moreover, notional thinking develops gradually with the age, changing self-evaluation into an in-depth opinion.In the text, the research results are presented of self-evaluation of borderland children and youth in the aspect of their self-assessed life achievements in regard to their potentialities (individually specified measure of quality) and the evaluation of school results (socially specified measure of quality). This constitutes a record of the current state and the one nearly 25 years ago, which also takes into account the respondents' age and residence place. What is comprised here as well are the different dimensions of the young's self-evaluation and its significance for their spiritual development, which is the essence of education.


Arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata has been proven to be of high potential in phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soil. Pteris vittata is widely distributed in South China.A field survey was conducted to explore arsenic content and form and physico-chemical properties of the soils the plants grow in.Pteris vittata plants were collected from 6 sampling sites in Guizhou,Guangxi,Guangdong and Yunnan provinces in South China.The soils from three sampling sites,namely,Baise(BS),Guangzhou(GZ)and Zhenfeng(ZF)were quite low in arsenic content,being 33.7,51.3 and 73.8 mg/kg,respectively;whereas the soils in the other 3 sampling sites,namely Zimudang(ZMD),Lanmuchang(LMC)and Gejiu (G J)were quite high,up to 1396,533 and 735 mg/kg,respectively.Arsenic contents in the shoots of the plants ranged from 48.5 to 124 mg/kgand from 735 to 1104 mg/kg in the sites low and high in soil As content,respectively. Physico-chemical properties(pH,TOM and soil texture)of the soils,except for CEC,varied from site to site,suggesting broad adaptation of Pteris vittata to growth soil conditions.A prediction model for arsenic phytoremediation rate was suggested based on the linear regression formula of arsenic content in the shoots of Pteris vittata with soil arsenic content,TOM and CEC.The results showed that Pteris vittata was suitable for sites with moderate arsenic contamination.


Objectives: To find out the relationship between assisted reproductive technology,Some demographics characteristic and ectopic pregnancy among women with ectopic pregnancyMethodology: A descriptive study was applied to assess the relationship between ectopic pregnancy andAssisted Reproductive Technology among purposive sample of (60) women aged between (20-43) yearsold attended the hospitals in Baghdad city. Results: The study show that the most woman in the age group(32-37) years old, was primary school graduate, most of them have no gravidity, were treated with assistedreproductive technology previously for (5-12) month, Clomiphene citrate (clomid) is used in the rate (50%),suffering from lower abdominal pain and Darker or brown vaginal spotting. Conclusions: The studyconcluded that there is significant relationship between the use of Clomiphene citrate (clomid) and ectopicpregnancy and the most benefit treatment for ectopic pregnancy is methotrexate. Recommendations: Thestudy recommended a furthers study on ovulation induction, training program about the effect of ovulationinduction especially (clomid) on women health


New line lists for isotopically substituted water are presented. Most line positions were calculated from experimentally determined energy levels, while all line intensities were computed using an ab initio dipole moment surface. Transitions for which experimental energy levels are unavailable use calculated line positions. These line lists cover the range 0.05–20 000 cm 1 and are significantly more complete and potentially more accurate than the line lists available via standard databases. All lines with intensities (scaled by isotopologue abundance) greater than 10 29 cm/molecule at 296 K are included, augmented by weaker lines originating from pure rotational transitions. The final line lists contain 39 918 lines for H2 O and 27 546 for H2 O and are presented in standard HITRAN format. The number of experimentally determined H2 O and H2 O line positions is, respectively, 32 970 (83% of the total) and 17 073 (62%) and in both cases the average estimated uncertainty is 2 10 4 cm . The number of ab initio line intensities with an estimated uncertainty of 1% is 16 621 (42%) for H2 O and 13 159 (48%) for H2 O. & 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


A vertebral traction bed. A thrust bracket (4) is arranged at the lower side of a bed plate (3), and an electric push rod (6A) drives a thrust cross rod (4.1) of the thrust bracket (4) to move to the outside. After a human body lies on his back on the bed plate (3) and shanks suspend at the tail of the bed, thrust is functioned inside knee joints by the thrust cross rod (4.1) so as to generate the traction function on a centrum; or the weight of parts below the hip of the human body is supported by a spacer (10) arranged on the bed plate (3), so the thrust cross rod (4.1) of the thrust bracket (4) drives the spacer (10) to move to the outside to generate traction function on the centrum. The bed plate (3) does not move during the whole push-and-pull process, and therefore, the problem that a user is inconvenient to take a rest by continuously lying on the bed because cavities are formed in the bed plate (3) when the centrum treatment is carried out by pushing and pulling the bed can be effectively solved. The thrust cross bed (4.1) is fixedly sucked by the magnetic force of magnets (4.2A71, 4.2B71), so it can ensure that the pulling force received by the centrum of the human body does not exceed the magnetic attraction force, and the safety in use can be effectively ensured.


We realize high efficiency 0–90∘ arbitrary polarization rotation by using a single layer of L-shaped silver hole array inside a silica cube. The simulation results show that the 0–90∘ arbitrary polarization rotation can be manipulated easily by adjusting the arm length of L-shaped holes, and the degree of linear polarization (DoLP) of the transmission spectra can achieve high over all range of 0–90∘. Our design has been optimized for 1550 nm wavelength. This arbitrary polarization rotation plasmonic metamaterial may provide more possibilities for applications in photonics.


The experiment was planned to minimize the losses in mungbean against Cercospora leaf spot disease caused by Cercospora canescens Ellis & Martin. For this purpose a mungbean susceptible line was sown in three sets with three replications and four treatments i.e. Propineb (Antracol), Metalaxl+Mancozeb (Ridomil Gold), Mancozeb and Water as control. After fungicides spray artificial inoculation of C. canescens was given to three sets with 5 days interval to create disease epidemic. Results showed that all the protective fungicides reduced the incidence and severity percentages of Cercospora leaf spot. In particular Ridomil Gold and Antracol shown better results but Ridomil Gold was the best among all which substantially reduces the number of infected leaves and lesions on foliage and pods. It was also found that Ridomil Gold gave best results where it was sprayed within 10 days of infection (on Set I). It managed disease at 18.51% disease index which was much less than the untreated block where disease index was 40.74%.


The article is devoted to the means expressing the concept of space in the Russian and English languages; the concept of space is viewed with concern to its national and cultural peculiarities of perception. The focus of the issue is the semantic structure of the lexical units with the meaning of extension on the horizontal axis in the Russian and English languages (далеко, близко, far, close and others). The semantic structure of the analyzed lexical units is considered in terms of a hierarchy of categorical, integral and differential semes. The categorical seme 'spatial extension' is realized through integral semes 'nature of extension' and 'nature of orientation' which are represented by set of differential semes. The article analyzes the results of existing researches in this area. The analysis of factual material allows to draw conclusions about analyzed problem and to compare these results with the work of predecessors. The analysis of semantics shows that concept of extension on the horizontal axis has much in common both in the Russian and English languages but for the Russian and English native speakers there is certain ethnic differentiation typical of national linguocultures as far as perception of space is concerned within the aforementioned lexical systems. National peculiarities of space perception make themselves evident in the fact that representatives of the Russian linguoculture have «unrestricted» space perception, but for the British one it is important to provide clear borders and the structure of space.


Properties of the products derived from the reaction of 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) with varying number of H + have been researched by B3LYP method of the Density Function Theory (DFT) on the basis of 6-31G* sets. It is found that the products are all unstable, and easily open their beta lactam rings. The ring-opening pathway is closely related to the H + number with which 6-APA reacted. Three ring-opening pathways of 6-APA were found by calculation, and the energy barrier of the three ring-opening pathways are respectively 37.54kJ/mol, 32.61kJ/mol and 2.63kJ/mol. Meanwhile we got the transition state structures and their unique negative imaginary frequency values. The correctness of the result was proved by intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) method.


Paleocene ostracod Sinocypris fauna from the Longui Basin is characterized by Cypris,Sinocypris,Cyprois and Limnocythere.A thousand samples are collected from the 42 whole coring wells.Totally 40 ostracod species in 16 genera have been recognized,and out of which 39 species in 15 genera have been described in this paper.Three biozones are also recognized:1)the Early Paleocene Cypris concina Zone from the Xinzhuangcun Formation;2)the Middle Paleocene Sinocypris curtovata Zone from the Buxin Formation;and 3)the Late Paleocene Cyprois reniformis Zone from the Baoyue Formation.


The effect of the plum rain weather event on cycling trips reflects the climate resilience of the public bicycle system. However, quantitative studies regarding the impact of plum rain on public bicycle users and corresponding spatial heterogeneity have not been paid much attention. This paper explores the spatial pattern of affected levels from the perspective of cyclist number, place semantics and riding distance. Corresponding public bicycle trips in normal weather are predicted by spatial-temporal random forest prediction. GIS neighborhood statistics and clustering algorithms are adapted to analyze and visualize the affected levels using origin-destination data of public bicycle trips and point of interest data of city public facilities. It is proved that there is an obvious spatial difference in affected levels by plum rain from three dimensions. In the dimension of the number of cyclists, the docking stations with different affected levels are distributed across the whole urban area. In the place semantic dimension, the docking stations with high affected levels show a clustered zonal distribution in the city center. In the dimension of cycling distance, the docking stations with high affected levels are mainly distributed in the periphery of the central urban area. The study theoretically expands the impact mechanism of environment and active transport. It is beneficial for the early monitoring, warning and assessment of climate change risks for public bicycle planning and management.


OBJECTIVE
Vietnam, Indonesia, and Ukraine have major burdens of injection drug use (IDU) and HIV. We estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms at baseline among people living with HIV (PLWH) who inject drugs, evaluated associations between depression at baseline and 12-month HIV care outcomes and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and evaluated the study intervention effect by baseline depression subgroups.

DESIGN
HPTN 074 was a randomized study. The study intervention included psychosocial counseling, systems navigation, and antiretroviral treatment (ART) at any CD4 count.

METHODS
Moderate-to-severe depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score of 10 or above. ART and MAT were self-reported. Eligibility criteria were: 18-60 years of age, active IDU, and viral load ≥1000 cp/mL. Adjusted probability differences (aPD) were estimated using inverse-probability weighting.

RESULTS
502 participants enrolled from April 2015-June 2016. Median age was 35 years; 85% identified as men. Prevalence of baseline moderate-to-severe depression was 14% in Vietnam, 14% in Indonesia, and 56% in Ukraine. No evident associations were detected between baseline depression and ART, viral suppression, or MAT at 12-month follow-up. The study intervention improved the proportions of PWID achieving 12-month viral suppression in both the depressed (intervention 44%; standard of care (SOC) 24%; estimated aPD = 25% [95%CI: 4.0%, 45%]) and non-depressed subgroups (intervention 38%; SOC 24%; aPD = 13% [95%CI: 2.0%, 25%]).

CONCLUSIONS
High levels of depressive symptoms were common among PLWH who inject drugs in Ukraine but were less common in Vietnam and Indonesia. The study intervention was effective among participants with or without baseline depression symptoms.


The paper reviews the history of information delivery at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology from 1993 to the present. Information delivery (which includes document and electronic resource delivery) from CD-ROM and online databases has given Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology's users access to about 15,000 online journals. Sponsorship of information delivery has largely come from donors such as the Danish International Development Agency, the Norwegian Ministry of Aid to Developing Countries, and the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publication. The bane of information delivery over the years has been the financial implications of sustainability, especially after the pullout of sponsors. This paper analyses the situation and proposes a solution in open access journals, cost-sharing by beneficiaries, ingenuity on the part of librarians, and eventual support by university administrators.


Communication is one of the fundamental abilities needed by humans and which we have to develop in early childhood. The ability to communicate is dependent on sociopragmatic skills, which are very important for children, because they are the foundation to an effective communication. These are verbal and nonverbal activities. Children can communicate with gestures or vocalization. In this master's thesis I am analysing the development of children's sociopragmatic skills from 12th to 36th month of age from the Celje area. The analysis is based on the sample of 153 children. Parents of those children used a rating scale from Luigi Girolametta (translation and adaptation: Martina Ozbic, Damjana Kogovsek in Barbara Penko) to asses children's sociopragmatic skills.
The results of the analysis show that sociopragmatic abilities, assertiveness and responsiveness, are intensely developing from 12th to 36th month of age. It shows that there are none important statistical differences between boys and girls in learning of sociopragmatic abilities. Also the children whose parents are worried about their development of communication, have less developed abilities of assertiveness and responsiveness. The development of assertiveness and responsiveness between 24th and 36th month is better than in between 12th and 24th month.
The acquired data will contribute to understanding of sociopragmatic development of Slovenian preschool kids and this master's thesis is included in the research about sociopragmatic skills, which took place at the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of education, as part of an international research collaboration with the author of the rating scale – Luigi Girolametto.
The use of rating scale to assert sociopragmatic skills is a reliable and valid measurement instrument that allows us early detection of communication problems.


This study investigates the collution behaviour among commercial banks which have relatively large share in market. By dividing into two periods of time (1981-1987 and 1988-1991), it turns out that the Herfindahl Index for both periods were positive and significant statistically. In other words, the collution among dominant commercial banks collution behaviour happened in both periods. In the context of policy issues the findings may implicitly tell us that the deregulation efforts to enhance the market foreces have not worked effectively


In this paper, the finite element method is used to simulate the welding process of titanium/stainless steel dissimilar material with copper as the transition layer by ring oscillation laser welding, and the reliability of the finite element model is verified by experiment. The influence of laser power and welding position on the weld temperature field under different welding paths was studied. It is found that the optimum weld pool width can be obtained by using 2200W laser power and ring oscillation laser welding along the center of the Cu transition layer. When the stainless steel side is offset by 0.2mm for welding, the heat-affected zone area can be reduced to the greatest extent, the melting amount of the titanium matrix can be reduced, the formation of titanium-copper intermetallic compounds can be inhibited, and the mechanical properties of the welding joint can be improved.


The invention relates to a combination of compounds and compositions for the treatment of migraine headaches and in particular for the treatment of cluster headaches.


The transient response for the solar cell when switched off from steady-state can provide useful information about the quality of the material used for fabrication of the device. In this paper we shall discuss the photovoltaic transients of amorphous silicon solar cells when switched off from open circuit configuration and illuminated by electrical pulse. The open-circuit voltage (Voc) decay can be performed by two methods, by optical excitation and by electrical pulse. When one of carriers has a concentration much higher than the other the photoconductivity is dominated by majority carriers; in that case the Voc decay which depends on the np product can be used as complementary method for obtaining information about the minority carriers. Also the series resistance drop in an electrical Voc decay method can be used to obtain a IJ't product as an additional information regarding the material of the device.


Abstract : The 5th Engineer Battalion received its deployment order for Operation Iraqi Freedom late in 2007 and deployed the following year. The battalion had recently transformed to the new modular structure, and its three mechanized companies became one sapper company and two mobility augmentation companies (MACs). Its projected mission in Iraq was route clearance, rapid crater repair, route sanitation, and culvert denial, so the battalion trained hard for those tasks. That training included a mission readiness exercise at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. However, soon after deploying to Iraq, the battalion was involved in multiple construction projects across the areas of operation of two brigade combat teams (BCTs). Regardless of the type of engineer battalion or the missions its leaders expected to have, those BCTs needed immediate construction and technical support.


Abstract This article examines the motivations of first-time women protestors participating in the Shaheen Bagh resistance against India's Citizenship Amendment Act. It highlights women's experiences of protesting for their and their children's citizenship rights, and the impact that women's presence in this struggle has made to it. We argue the role these first-time women protestors played in protests made them express and grow their political subjectivities as activists. The article reflects on how they brought their caring roles, hitherto carried out in the personal space of their 'ghar' (home), into the public space of protests, or the 'bahir' (outside the home) — thereby impacting the very form of the struggle. The case of Shaheen Bagh shows how public space of protest can, and must, co-exist within and in conjunction with the private realm of women's everyday lives for their sustained participation in struggles. Thereby, the article proposes that women protestors personified and lived out a composite identity as 'mother-activists' and erasing and deconstructing the binaries between the 'ghar', and the 'bahir'.


A technique has been developed for the high-throughput (HT) parallel screening of liquid crystal (LC) phase transitions, using optical anisotropic effects observed only in the LC state to allow the determination of melting and clearing points. A camera was used to monitor optical changes observed in arrays of LC samples upon heating, when illuminated with plane polarized light and viewed through a second polarizer aligned perpendicular to the plane of polarized light. Data was processed using Image Pro Plus, extracting values for the melting point and clearing point of each sample in the array. When compared with literature and conventional differential scanning calorimetry the new technique was found to be in excellent agreement, establishing the technique as a viable HT alternative. The method was used to analyze a 75 formulation library prepared using liquid handling for HT clearing point determination, showing the scope and power of the technique in the analysis of larger libraries.


Based on the analysis of casting technique, the casting process was determined, and the gating system, risers and chills sizes were calculated. In order to ensure the rationality of the casting process and the quality of castings, the position and size of casting defects were analyzed, and then the sizes of chills and risers were adjusted by the HUAZHU CAE modeling software.


We analyze the TE-TM polarization degeneracy of the guided modes of a dielectric metasurface in the microwave frequency range. We find the optimum metasurface design and investigate the dependence of the degeneracy degree on the propagation direction. Finally, we simulate the possible microwave experiment demonstrating the extraction of isofrequency contours for this metasurface. The results obtained could be useful for flat photonic devices with the function of polarization control.


A flight test program was conducted with a sophisticated, integrated avionics system to study pilot workload and the pilot interface with high levels of avionics capability. The study indicates that advanced systems can provide improved information to the pilot and additional functional capability. The study also indicates that additional research is needed to develop the knowledge base required to design pilot interfaces with such systems. The combination of the pilot interface and the high level of system capability used in this study led to pilot blunders associated with navigation data management, autopilot management, and maintaining awareness of system status. A functional relationship is suggested between level of avionics system sophistication and the required state-of-the-art in pilot/avionics interface design. Suggested guidelines for the design of the pilot/avionics interface for advanced avionics systems are given.


The title compound, [Au-III(C9H10NO2)(2)][(AuCl4)-Cl-III], contains [Au-III(C9H10NO2)(2)](+) cations and [(AuCl4)-Cl-III](-) anions with each of the gold(III) ions in a typical four-coordinate square-planar geometry. Both gold(III) metal centers are located on inversion centers.


The objective of this study was to determine whether reactive oxygen intermediates (e.g., singlet oxygen and the superoxide radical) can rapidly induce eiectrophysiological disturbances leading to the genesis of arrhythmias, even in the absence of ischemia and reperfusion. Rat hearts (n = 6 per group) were perfused aerobically at 37° C for 10 minutes without rose bengal and for 5 minutes with rose bengal (250 nmol/l), during which time no changes in coronary flow or heart rate were observed. Hearts were then uniformly illuminated for 20 minutes with green light (530–590 nm) from 200 fiber optic cables. With light and without rose bengal, or vice versa, all hearts remained stable. However, in the illuminated rose bengal group, eiectrophysiological changes (inversion of the terminal portion of the T wave and an increase in Q-T interval) were observed within 11.8 ± 2.1 seconds (i.e., less than 60 beats). All hearts exhibited ventricular premature beats (within 2.2 ± 0.7 minutes) and ventricular tachycardia (within 2.8 ± 0.7 minutes) before the occurrence of complete atrioventricular block (within 5.5 ± 0.9 minutes). During the illumination period, coronary flow progressively fell in the rose bengat-perfused hearts from 11.6 ± 0.5 ml/min to 2.0 ± 0.4 ml/min (< 0.05 when compared with any control group). When a similar progressive reduction in coronary flow was mimicked (with or without rose bengal), no arrhythmias occurred. Photosensitization of the rose bengal solution in the cannula at a point close to the heart did not induce any eiectrophysiological disturbances or arrhythmias, indicating that it was the short-lived reactive oxygen intermediates rather than the rose bengal product that were responsible for the observed effects. The addition of histidine (100 nmol/l) as a quenching agent to the rose bengal solution significantly delayed the occurrence of the eiectrophysiological changes and arrhythmias. Our results provide evidence that reactive oxygen intermediates can rapidly induce eiectrophysiological changes and arrhythmias even in the absence of ischemia or reperfusion. {Circulation Research 1989;65:146–153)


Rotary magneto-rheological (MR) brake applied in robotic ankle systems often works at higher temperature which will degrade the torque due to the harsh environment and self-heating. To ensure the brake satisfy the requirements about the torque and compensation ability, an optimal methodology is proposed. In the design process, an evaluation coefficient is proposed to assess whether the brake has the compensation ability. The maximum torque, dynamic range and mass are set as the optimal objectives. The multi-objective functions are solved by the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II. To describe the nonlinear relationships between the torque and design variables, a mathematical prediction model is constructed based on the finite element method. The simulation results show that this design optimal methodology is efficient to improve the performance and the compensation ability of rotary MR brake.


The authors make an attempt to analyse on the basis of Hayden White's theory of historical narrative historiosophical prerequisites for the formation of the cult of personality in the soviet biographies of V.I. Lenin published in 1924–1956. The basis of texts is a plot structure, implying, on the one hand, the existence of immutable laws of historical development, which humanity is forced to obey, and, on the other, a person who is able to learn them through the bitterness of defeats and put them at his service. The explanation of the facts of the historical narrative takes place by using two types of formal argument: Mechanism, which emphasizes the laws of historical development and the role of the masses in the historical process, and organicism, which gives high priority to V.I. Lenin himself and the party he created. The authors conclude that the articulation of the plot structure and types of formal argument embodied in the biographies becomes a prerequisite for the formation of the cult of personality. The latter implies the construction of an image of a person capable of transforming the reality, according to the concept of historical development that dominates in the party political historiography.


Background: The most important task in education is reshaping the neural circuits in the brain. Through the process of deep emotional internalization, profound experience, repeated research to reshape our brains would break through existed frameworks and establish an education model that fits our own culture. Purpose: To find out practical ways to develop teaching and learning methods with regard to international recommendations and to local cultural context. Methods: By applying the CIPP model (Context, Input, Process and Product approach), a series of reforms in Taiwan medical education were reviewed in different aspects. Results: In Context session, Taiwan medical education history was reviewed to present the background of the evolution. The Input session described that how Taiwanese medical educators learned from recent reforms and evolutions in Western medical teaching and learning methods to extract their "essence" into the traditional system. The Process session introduced that how to blend western essence with the unique characteristics of East Asian educational culture and what obstacles were conquered. And the Product session addresses the outcome of Taiwanese medical education system evolution and reform in terms of different stages. Conclusion: From our experience, we demonstrated the practical ways to integrate cultural values and needs of medical students and teachers in developing our own teaching and learning methods.


This study aims to examine the antecedents of consequences of healthiness in the café business context. Additionally, this study attests to the moderating effect of one's concern for health (health concern) between healthiness and attitude. To attain a more vivid response, this research selected Starbucks coffeehouse as a case study. Hygiene, healthiness, and nutritional disclosure are the determinants of healthiness in the café business area. The consequences of healthiness are attitude and purchase intention for café products. Health concern is the moderating variable between healthiness and attitude in the context of café businesses. In order to test the association between attributes, a survey was used. Amazon Mechanical Turk was chosen to recruit survey participants. The valid observation for data analysis was 455 participants. For hypothesis testing, a structural equation model was implemented. Regarding the results, health concern is positively influenced by hygiene and organicness, but healthiness is negatively affected by nutritional disclosure. Moreover, it was found that health concern significantly moderates the relationship between healthiness and attitude, and attitude exerts a positive effect on purchase intention.


Background: Shivering has many negative effects on the postanesthesia patient. Shivering is regulated by serotonin. The serotonin antagonists such as ondansetron and granisetron are widely used to prevent nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron is used in regional and general anesthesia, while granisetron is widely used in chemotherapy. This study aimed to determine the effect of low-dose granisetron on the incidence of shivering in postspinal anesthesia. Patients and Methods: The study conducted at Dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Malang, Indonesia. Twenty-three patients divided into two groups: Group C (control) received no premedication and Group G (granisetron) received low-dose granisetron 10 μg/kg. The shivering grade and shivering intensity were recorded every 5 min in the first 1-h postanesthesia. The data were analyzed using t-test, regression test, and effective contribution test. Results: The shivering incidence in Group K was 71.9% and Group G was 9.4% (P = 0.018). The control group experienced shivering Grade I, II, III, and IV. Granisetron group only experienced shivering Grade I and II. Conclusion: The administration of low-dose granisetron before the spinal anesthesia significantly reduced the incidence of shivering in adult patients with no side effects.


torical appeal of Chto delat' lay in its grafting of European socialism's radical solutions onto familiar and emotionally charged narrative formulas borrowed from the New Testament. Michael Katz's close reading of Vera Pavlova's dream acquires additional resonance when read in light of Paperno's study. Patrick Waddington's essay on Ivan Turgenev at Courtavenel, the Viardot estate, is rich in anecdotal interest but suggests no new critical perspective on Turgenev's work. Harriet Murav's article on the discourses of iurodstvo and psychology in Prestoplenie i nakazanie is also condensed from her important book-in-progress. She eruditely and ingeniously uncovers the ambivalent interplay among Orthodox, sectarian, and popular religious texts, nineteenth century legal and medical discourses that shaped both late nineteenth century Russian culture and the world of Fedor Dostoevskii's novels. David Bethea's typological study of apocalypse in modern fiction effectively serves as the collection's conceptual roof. As M. H. Abrams's Natural Supematuralism did for many local manifestations of European romantic art and thought, Bethea's article (and book) provides a clear paradigm of apocalyptic "invariants" that allows us to understand texts as divergent as Idiot, Peterburg, Chevengur, Master i Margarita, and Doktor Zhivago in a developmental cultural relation and within a single critical discourse. An elegant writing style allows the author to convey his massive research and complex ideas with deceptive ease. If the eschatological motifs of the Pushkin period became serious models for the interpretation of secular Russian reality by the 1860s, in the crisis of symbolism of 1910 we see Russian literature sagging under the weight of its "theurgistic" claims. Three articles reconstitute the polylogue among its principle participants, Valerii Briusiov, Aleksandr Blok, and Viacheslav Ivanov. Joan Delaney Grossman finds that Briusov's surprising manifesto of art's independence from religious function in 1910 had in fact been consistently stated in his earlier essays. In Irene Masing-Delic's article, Blok's position that "only a Symbolist stance could save the world" is modified by his admission that symbolism itself was undergoing a dialectical development: from childlike unity with a paradisal poetic world through a phase of alienation from and seduction by the feminine, yet ultimately hollow, surfaces of the world (art as balagan) finally to a purging, violent, masculine reunification with the life-force of the people. "Dvenadtsat'," she convincingly demonstrates, is a precise dramatization of this dialectic. The final article by Richard Taylor returns us to the theme of technology, with an interesting reconstruction of the earliest "bourgeois" origins of the Russian cinema, apparently neglected by Soviet scholars. By 1912 the lowly entertainment industry had attracted the interest of theoreticians like Vsevolod Meierkhol'd and Kuleshov, beginning the process of its canonization as "high art." Taylor finds that Russia's cinematic sophistication in 1917 was nevertheless fueled by revolutionary enthusiasm for this art form without a past, which was all millennial-utopian future. If the papers interact with each other "dialogically," many of them also point beyond the boundaries of the collection to the books or works-in-progress from which they derive, evoking a horizon of considerable promise for Slavic scholarship.


The current study investigated cultural and psychological factors associated with intentions to reduce the spread of COVID‐19. Participants (n = 704) completed measures of individualism–collectivism, belief in conspiracy theories about COVID‐19, feelings of powerlessness, and intentions to engage in behaviours that reduce the spread of COVID‐19. Results revealed that vertical individualism negatively predicted intentions to engage in social distancing, directly and indirectly through both belief in COVID‐19 conspiracy theories and feelings of powerlessness. Vertical collectivism positively predicted social distancing intentions directly. Horizontal collectivism positively predicted social distancing intentions indirectly through feelings of powerlessness. Finally, horizontal collectivism positively predicted hygiene‐related intentions both directly and indirectly through lower feelings of powerlessness. These findings suggest that promoting collectivism may be a way to increase engagement with efforts to reduce the spread of COVID‐19. They also highlight the importance of examining the interplay between culture and both personal feelings (powerlessness) and information consumption (conspiracy theories) during times of crisis.


The purpose of this paper is to find coherent quantum observers for open n-level quantum systems. Recently, a class of linear coherent observers has been developed for quantum harmonic oscillators. However, open n-level quantum systems, which are characterized by bilinear quantum stochastic differential equations, escape the realm of the known theory. Therefore, in this paper we show how a coherent quantum observer is designed to track the corresponding n-level quantum plant asymptotically in the sense of mean values. We also discuss suboptimal quantum observers in the sense of least mean squares estimation.


Idiopathic acquired urticarial hypersensitivity to cold is a problem occasionally encountered in dermatologic practice. Its incidence is difficult to determine, but it probably is infrequent, although Urbach 1 and Witherspoon 2 believe it to be a common occurrence. A review of the literature reveals that reports of patients with cold urticaria have been from areas where the weather is intemperately cold at least for a few months of the year. The purpose of this report is to document the occurrence of idiopathic acquired urticarial hypersensitivity to cold in an inner tropical zone and to review briefly a few of the clinical features. In the past 6 months I have observed 2 patients with this form of cold sensitivity in Panama City, Panama. Both patients were seen in my private practice. Report of Cases The first patient was a 24-year-old white Panamanian woman whose chief complaint was the occurrence of swelling,


Without accurate analysis, it is difficult to identify training needs and develop the content of training programs required for preventing aviation accidents. The human factors analysis and classification system (HFACS) is based on Reason's system-wide model of human error. In this study, 523 accidents from the Republic of China Air Force were analyzed in which 1762 human errors were categorized. The results of the analysis showed that errors of judgment and poor decision-making were commonly reported amongst pilots.


In this paper the effects of the radiated electromagnetic interferences produced by some wireless communication devices on medical equipments that monitor or support a patient's life are presented. First, it was measured the electric field level produced by four cellular phones and one walkie-talkie at different distances from the devices. Afterwards, it was evaluated the behavior of 16 medical equipments when they were exposed to the electric fields measured previously. The results showed that a significant number of the medical equipments tested presented some functional alteration with different levels of severity. Likewise, it was found that some medical equipments were interfered at electric field values below immunity test levels established by the international standard IEC 60601-1-2. --------


SILVA, E.V., Gorayeb, A., Meireles, A.J.A. and RODRIGUEZ, J.M.M., 2011. Landscape Geo-Ecology: Guidelines for the Environmental Management of the Estuarine Zones of the Northern Coast os Brazil. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 64 (Proceedings of the 11th International Coastal Symposium), 1420 - 1412. Szczecin, Poland, ISSN 0749-0208 The coastline of Brazil is approximately 7400 km long, and can be divided into two main sectors, the eastern and the n orthern seaboards. The present geo-ecological study focused on the northern coast, which stretches some 2100 km from the Cape Orange on the frontier with French Guiana to Cape Calcanhar at the northeastern extreme of the country. The aim of this study was a geo-ecological analysis and diagnosis of the estuarine zones of this coast, and the establishment of guidelines for regional planning and municipal management of the coastal fluvial plains and adjoining areas. The principal geo-ecosystemic inter-relationships between the coastal fluvial plains and the surrounding landscape units were also mapped. A diagnostic cartogram was produced in order to establish the problems, limitations, and potential of each geo-ecological unit, as well as to develop management proposals at local and municipal levels, based on geo-ecological criteria, levels of environmental stability, and the intensity of geomorphogenic processes. The results of this study provide potentially important guidelines for the expansion of regional planning strategies in the Amazonian states of Amapa, Para, and Maranhao, and in Piaui, Ceara, and Rio Grande do Norte in the Brazilian Northeast. The detailed, integrated diagnosis of estuarine zones will also provide a crucial database for the development of long-term master plans for local municipalities.


In Finland, part of Sweden for more than 600 years and at that time Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire, ideas of popular education emerged with the national awakening in the mid nineteenth century. Elementary education for all and the Anglo-American concept of "public libraries free of charge" began to gain ground in social thinking. The founders of the first elementary schools and the first parish libraries were students, teachers, clergymen and philanthropic persons of standing, wanting to bridge the educational and cultural divide of their time. The first building intended for public library purposes in the Nordic countries was opened in Helsinki in 1882, and although the premises for common people were strictly separated from those of the educated, the bourgeoisie and the persons of standing, the library was still open for all. An open shelving system giving patrons direct access to the collection was not introduced until 1914 and the whole idea of such a radical procedure was accompanied by fear of chaos, anarchy and theft. No matter what, the connection between libraries and democracy was a central argument of the early Public Library Movement. The independent Republic of Finland was born in 1917, civic freedom had been given to the Finnish people, citizens had their rights, one of them the right to information. A Library Act was issued in 1928, launching determined and purposeful development of public libraries, based on the principle of equal opportunities for all regardless of domicile or economical circumstances. Seventy years


With the wide application of aramid fiber composite material, the secondary cutting process, besides the forming process, is also necessary to ensure the accurate coordination, connection and assembly, which calls for corresponding require鄄 ments of processing accuracy, efficiency and cost. There are some defects such as flanging, stratification, napping, spinning and burning processing defect in machining work during the secondary cutting, which limits the further application of the material. Therefore, it is urgent to carry out comprehensive researches on the secondary processing technology for aramid fiber composite to extent its application. This article introduced the composition, structure, properties and application fields of aramid fiber compo鄄 sites, verified the cutting performance of the composites accordingly and analyzed the causes for the defects. This paper summarized · 8 2 · 第 45 卷摇 第 1 期摇 摇 石文天等:芳纶纤维复合材料切削加工研究进展 the current status on the secondary processing of aramid fiber composites at home and abroad. The processing mechanism and the experimental research progresses were expounded, including machining, milling, laser, ultrasonic and water jet, as well as the re鄄 searches on cutting force, surface quality, cutting tool wear, machining deformation, machining defects and so on. Cutting is a ma鄄 ture and effective way for secondary machining of the aramid fiber composite materials with high precision. A series of researches on cutting mechanism and related experiments are still needed to carry out.


Packet classification is a crucial time-critical operation for many different networking tasks ranging from switching or routing to monitoring and security devices like firewalls or IDS. Accelerated architectures implementing packet classification must satisfy the ever-growing demand for current high-speed networks. However, packet classification is generally used together with other packet processing algorithms, which decreases the available hardware resources on the FPGA chip. The introduction of the P4 language requires the packet classification to be even more flexible while maintaining a high throughput with limited resources. Thus, we need flexible and high-performance architectures to balance processing speed and hardware resources for specific types of rules. DCFL algorithm provides high performance and flexibility. Therefore, we propose optimizations to the DCFL algorithm and overall packet processing hardware architecture. The goal is to maximize the throughput and minimize the resource strain. The main idea of the approach is to analyze the ruleset, identify some conflicting rules and offload these rules to other hardware modules. This approach allows us to process packets faster, even in the worst-case scenarios. Moreover, we can fit more packet processing into the FPGA and fine-tune the packet processing architecture to meet a specific network application's throughput and resource demands. With the proposed optimizations we can achieve up to a 76 % increase in the throughput of the packet classification. Alternatively, we can achieve up to a 37 % decrease in resources needed.


To the Editor: As a 50-year survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma that was diagnosed and treated before computed tomography, positron-emission tomography (PET), splenectomies, and chemotherapy, I read with interest the article by Radford et al. (April 23 issue)1 and with skepticism the editorial2 on controversies in the treatment of early-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma. The conclusion of the editorialists that patients will need to choose "more certain absence of relapse" versus late-stage effects strikes me as unimaginable. I do not know what it would have meant to me in 1965 (at the age of 18 years) to be told I would later have thyroid cancer (at 60 years), breast cancer (at 63 years), and an aortic-valve replacement (at 66 years). No 18-year-old, healthy or unhealthy, imagines her life at the age of 68 years. I am grateful that as a member of the first cohort of cures, I was blissfully unaware for many years of my risks and extremely aware of my good fortune.3 I think most people will choose a greater certainty of cure over the uncertainty of future effects. If they live long enough to have sequelae, it may still seem like the right choice.


Background and objective:The factors that led to the simultaneous emergence, decades ago, of HIV-1 in central Africa and HIV-2 in West Africa remain unclear. The low HIV-2-associated mortality enables epidemiological assessment of risk factors potentially relevant in the early stages of the epidemic. In Guinea-Bissau, its epicentre, HIV-2 became highly prevalent (≈ 15%) in cohorts of individuals born before 1962, but is now disappearing whereas HIV-1 prevalence is increasing. We sought to verify the hypothesis that parenteral transmission was the key factor in the building-up of the HIV-2 epidemic. Design:Cross-sectional community survey of 1608 individuals aged ≥ 50 years in Bissau. Methods:Capillary blood was obtained for HIV serology. Associations between HIV-2 (alone or in dual HIV-1/HIV-2 infections) and exposures were measured with crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results:Prevalence of HIV-2 was higher in women (160/1063; 15.1%) than men (45/545; 8.3%, P < 0.001). Among women, excision (AOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.08–2.18) was independently associated with HIV-2, as were age and being widowed (AOR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.29–2.74). Among men, HIV-2 was not associated with sexually transmitted infections or transactional sex. In an analysis comprising men and women that was adjusted for age, sex, ethnic group and marital status, HIV-2 was associated with having received injections for the treatment of tuberculosis (AOR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.11–4.05) or trypanosomiasis (AOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.03–2.97). Conclusions:Parenteral transmission through ritual excision and multiple injections during treatment of tuberculosis and trypanosomiasis contributed to the emergence of HIV-2 in Guinea-Bissau.


Gianni Nebbiosi's paper, "The Smell of Paper: On the Usefulness of Musical Thought in Psychoanalytic Practice," explores many levels of the analyst's clinical sensibility. These include the finding of a patient in the mind of the psychoanalyst, the discovery of new points of creative inflexion in developing metaphors with a patient who is frightened of symbolic meaning, the use of countertransference analysis to explore the analyst's points of resistance to helping his or her patient, and the development of a creative shared frame of reference between patient and analyst that emerges from the patient's unconscious life.


For many years empirical studies have repeatedly pointed to the need to improve the economic competence of adolescent and young adults. This demand is already reflected – at least in part – in the inclusion of economic content in the curriculum of general educational schools. However, the curricular implementation seems to be only partially comprehensive enough to sufficiently support the acquisition of economic competence, so that non-formal and informal learning opportunities do not lose their importance as a supplement to the general curriculum-based framework. The research situation, however, is hardly given with regard to empirical findings on the effectiveness of such learning opportunities for the acquisition of economic competence. Therefore, our intervention study examines the role of non-formal learning opportunities in the economic field as a supplement to normal economic teaching lessons and how these learning opportunities affect the competence development of students in general educational schools. The results show that the intervention group was able to improve its economic competence significantly more than the control group. Furthermore, it becomes clear that over the intervention period the influence of personal factors loses relevance for the prediction of economic competence, but only for the intervention group.


This thesis advances the modelling and verification of access control policies by using automated knowledge-based symbolic model checking techniques. The key contributions of this thesis are threefold: firstly, a modelling language that expresses dynamic access control policies with compound actions that update multiple variables; secondly, a knowledge-based verification algorithm that verifies properties over an access control policy that has compound actions; and finally, an automated tool, called X-Policy, which implements the algorithm.
This research enables us to model and verify access control policies for web-based collaborative systems. We model and analyse a number of conference management systems and their security properties. We propose the appropriate modifications to rectify the policies when possible. Ultimately, this research will allow us to model and verify more systems and help avoid the current situation.


This study was designed to provide basic information for an effective wetland design by analyzing the correlation between wetland size and water quality improvement effect in regard to an artificial wetland inside the Biopark Basin by means of applying the modelling technique. It is expected that this study will contribute to a rational design, operation and management of the artificial wetland in the basin. The following conclusions are obtained through the results and discussion of this study. The results of respective design scenarios that expanded the size of the artificial wetlands in the range of 0-100 % showed that when the wetland is 'expanded 75 % compared with the existing size', water quality improved best compared with the design criteria of 'the current operation of the existing size'. The improved data are: 66.7 % in BOD5 , 69.9 % in TSS, 64.7 % in T-N, 85.5 % in T-P and 51.8 % in Chl-a. In particular, with the exception of Chl-a, water quality improvement stood out in the quality items in summer among the four seasons. And that there in no direct relationship between facility scale and water quality improvement.


Current research wasconducted to analyze the coefficient and distribution of direct and indirect influence of yield components and earliness characteristics in wheat genotypes. Both experiments were carried out at the Pot House of the (NIA Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tandojam)(Latitude: 25.433. Longitude: 68.533), the experiment was established as a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Therewere six varieties of wheat, namely IBWSN1010, IBWSN 1025, TD1, ESW9525 Chakwal86 and Khirman, which were used to study the correlation coefficient between morphological and physiological traits. The study was based on fifteen (15) morphologically and physiologicallytraits that were observed. The analysis of variance showed significant differences between the characteristics of the varieties. The ESW9525 showed better performanceforall morphological and physiological traits. The correlation and the coefficientanalysisshowed that the days to maturity and the days to growth predicted significant positive predictions related to the height of the plant (cm) and the length of the ear. Days to75% heading and days to 75% maturity showed negative and positive effects forosmotic potential, relative water content in% and total chlorophyll content in%. Plant height (cm) had negative and positive and significant withtiller plant-1. Therefore,in our research trial,variety ESW9525 may be favorable for hybridization in orderto produce a promising and drought tolerant wheat cultivar


ABSTRACT Language planning and policy with regard to bilingual education are greatly influenced by the ideologies outlined by Richard Ruiz. In this article, we demonstrate that Ruiz's language-as-resource orientation requires that we use two-language assessments to study how program models are both developing and conserving the languages that students bring to school. We demonstrate through a study of students' writing how scholars might use such assessments to privilege bilingualism and present a more complete understanding of students' biliteracy development that counters the use of bilingualism in service to the hegemony of English, even when the same study includes a comparison of English outcomes of students in paired literacy as compared to students in English-only models. Findings reveal that students in paired literacy are becoming comparably literate in the domain of writing in Spanish and English as measured by a Biliteracy Writing Rubric. Furthermore, when their English language outcomes are compared to those of their peers in English-only contexts, the differences are found to be statistically insignificant.


In this article, we propose an ultrathin and ultrawideband metamaterial (MTM) absorber based on periodically arranged metallic square spirals. The design, characterization, and measurement of the proposal are presented as its equivalent circuit. The lumped elements of the equivalent circuit are extracted using a proposed algorithm based on the least-square method, which presents a straightforward and promising approach and shows a good matching with the electromagnetic simulation. The unit cell of the proposed structure has the square spiral mounted on an FR-4 substrate in front of a conductive plate. The simulated results show an absorptivity of more than 90% from 11.4 to 20.0 GHz, covering the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Ku$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-band for transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) polarizations, and this broadband feature is confirmed by the experimental measurement. Furthermore, the proposed MTM absorber is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda /16.4$ </tex-math></inline-formula> in thickness at the lowest frequency of absorption. The proposed MTM has proper response under oblique incidence from 0° to 50° and shows great performance with regard to the absorbers previously presented in the literature.


The quintessential novel of sentiment, A Sentimental Journey masquerades as the fragmentary travel journal of Parson Yorick, a whimsical and amorous Englishman abroad. Accompanied through Paris and the provinces by his loyal French valet, Yorick enjoys a variety of sentimental and often comic encounters with a lively range of French characters. The novel is also punctuated by passages of self-conscious reflection on questions of personal and national identity, slavery and freedom, poverty and inequality. Appendices include material on sensibility in philosophy and literature and on eighteenth-century travel writing, as well as excerpts from Sterne's other writings and examples of the novel's critical reception, imitation, and illustration.


Singapore's Port, which handled over 580 million tonnes of cargo and close to 33.9 million Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2014, has always played a key role in Singapore's growth. Singapore's annual throughput had exceeded 5 million TEUs since 1992, making it one of the world's busiest container ports. As business continued to grow, the fourth container terminal, Pasir Panjang Terminal (PPT) Phases 1 and 2 was opened in 2000. However, as ships grew larger with deeper draft in the 2000s, there is a need for ports to be more efficient and productive to handle the Ultra Large Container Ships. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, thus, embarked on a major reclamation project in 2007 to create approximately 200 hectares of land for the development of a mega container port with nearly 6 km quay length to meet future demands and serve the next generation of containerships. The project will add 15 deepwater container berths and, when fully developed, will increase the overall container handling capacity to 50 million TEUs, enabling Singapore to maintain its status as a leading global container transshipment hub. This paper will describe a different construction technique to use soft materials as reclamation fill. The paper will also present and discuss the techniques selected to safeguard the nearby marine ecology and biodiversity, which followed international best-practice feedback monitoring used to successfully manage the environmental challenges that coincided with the development of the mega container port, Pasir Panjang Terminal Phases 3 and 4.


Abstract Dissociation mechanisms are studied by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations based on density functional theory for the highly charged bromophenol (C6H4OHBr)n+ (n ≤ 10) in the ground electronic state and in an electronic state which has a high electronic temperature Te characterized by Fermi–Dirac distribution. In the case of the ground state, the dissociation occurs through a sequential multi-stage process. At times shorter than 20 fs after the molecule is charged, hydrogens are dissociated from the molecule and, subsequently, the carbon ring breaks at about 150 fs In the case of an electronic state with high Te, the mechanism changes from a sequential dissociation process to a simultaneous process occurring at Te > 5 eV. To estimate the charge transfer time in a molecular bromide parent ion with +6 charge, which is generated through Auger cascades, we also performed nonadiabatic quantum-mechanical molecular dynamics (NAQMD) simulations that include the effects of nonadiabatic electronic transition with a surface-hopping approach.


Abstract In the context of current discussions on natural hazards, natural risks and (human) disasters around the world, the aspect of disaster risk reduction (DRR) is gaining more and more importance. The present contribution elucidates the didactical consequences this development has on competence-oriented Geography teacher training at universities/colleges as well as in Geography Education research.


Laser processing system to impart a first relative movement of the spot where the laser beam according to the treatment locus with respect to a laser source and, typical surface operations for generating laser pulses for processing convenience features work portion for a workpiece machining micromechanical It includes an optical deflector (AOD) sub-system for the galvanometer-driven (gaelbo) subsystem and a sound. AOD AOD subsystem and electronics may include a combination of the optical deflector. AOD subsystem may change the intensity profile of the laser pulses as a function of the deflection position corresponding to the dither direction. AOD subsystem may be used to align the treatment laser beam on the workpiece the features.


The factors that affect the appearance of anomalies in wildlife species are very diverse, that is why it is really important to study them in order to preserve and manage the populations. In this final degree project are typified the malformation data found in the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) compiled by the Ecology Department during the different years of census. An analysis of the anomalies of tortoises has been done considering the type of malformation, the characteristics of the individuals, genetic diversity and precipitation. From the obtained results we have identified that the frequency of malformations is bigger in the marginal scutes than in the vertebral ones; there are no significant differences regarding sex or age; and lastly, the appearance of anomalies rises according to the distance from the origin of the expansion in the basin of Vera (Almeria). Factores que influyen en la presencia de anomalías morfológicas en Testudo graeca.


Ultraviolet (UV) B irradiation may provide a safe and effective method to treat vitamin D deficiency. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a novel Sperti D/UV‐Fluorescent lamp in converting 7‐dehydrocholesterol (7‐DHC) to previtamin D3 in vitro and in raising serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] in healthy adults.


Ethyl carbamate (EC); urethane is a chemical carcinogen (IARC group 2A). It has been commonly found in the fermented food and beverages. EC induced cancerous lesion in different sites due to the formation of active metabolite; vinyl carbamate (VC). The current study aims to investigate the potential risk of cancerous lesions in small and repeated exposure of ethyl carbamate in BALB/C mice. Three groups of BALBL/C mice were treated for 120 days included untreated control; group treated with a single dose of urethane (1.5 g/kg B.w/i.p) at a day one; group treated with repeated doses, the first at a day one and a second at day sixty (1.5g/ kg B.w/i.p). Ethyl carbamate (EC) exposure showed sever changes of serum biochemical markers, apoptosis markers, inflammatory cytokines as well as lipid peroxide formation in lung homogenate, these changes were pronounced in repeated exposure to ethyl carbamate. In addition, histological examinations revealed that epithelial changes in pulmonary tissues were advanced in animals treated with repeated doses of ethyl carbamate. These findings indicate that repeated exposure to ethyl carbamate of fermented foods and beverages is an additional risk for lung cancer due to permanent mitochondrial dysfunction and increase the cellular mitotic activity.


Drugs that change the shape of AKT, a protein kinase that promotes tumor growth, may be more effective than drugs that only target its enzymatic activity.


: The municipal management is influenced by the phenomena causation (cause and effect), by the model of rational expectations and the market roles. This requires a targeted planning, where the assessment of the benefits, of the usefulness and effectiveness allocative, translates the existing dichotomy in decision-making between qualitative and priorities the economic rationality of municipal government. The municipal strategic planning can be a public policy instrument for local and regional development, if we look at the difficulties of financial resources in the municipalities, by the demands and pressure from citizens and other stakeholders. These pressures, can find an answer with a participatory planning and management in the municipalities, making room for the collective involvement of citizens, with their yearnings, allowing decentralized and share decisions of municipal managers. While there is a tendency towards the weakening of popular movements, associations, cooperatives and civil society organizations, increased social uncertainties, the collapse of social security systems, social fragmentation, at Community level, Governments lack democratic legitimacy and resources, open society, creating new forms of socio-political articulation, such as: social inclusion , the participatory budget, boards of managers or community participation, in order to reconcile the objective of democratic legitimacy with increased efficiency. The dilemma that the city manager faces and, between having to create favorable conditions for a gradual insertion of more modern and dynamic sectors of the city in the world of a globalized economy, and seek measures and policies able to mitigate the growing social, economic and environmental problems that affect the most impoverished social groups reveals the precarious and delicate state of public administration in developing societies. To the extent their own Governments a role in the expansion of propellant public participation, the theoretical analysis of participation renewed approaches capable of integrating governmental dimension a central in the configuration of paradigm of socio-political stakeholder relations. to analyze the relevance of the introduction of a municipal administration in a systemic perspective, who plays the larger and inclusive participation, as the political and administrative strategy of integrated municipal management to understand the new political dynamics in urban management.


The large increase of distributed generation (DG) of photovoltaic (PV) systems in low voltage (LV) grids results in increasing voltage magnitudes and line loadings. Due to a lack of network observability in present LV grids, distribution system operators (DSOs) cannot detect and respond to any limit violations. Even with data collected by the expected rollout of smart meters, full network observability will not be achieved. Thus, the network state will not be completely known. LV-State Estimation (SE) in combination with pseudo-value generation can provide a way to determine the required network states with respect to voltage magnitudes and line loadings. This paper presents a linear three-phase LV-SE approach computed in phase sequences. The performance of the presented SE approach was investigated on a realistic grid model for different cases with and without pseudo-values. The performance is promising and the approach can be used to provide DSOs with input data for control actions to avoid limit violations and thus will contribute to the further integration of DG.


The sonochemical synthesis of Co–Pt nanoparticles anchored on cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) was demonstrated. An enhancement in the catalytic activity of the synthesized Co–Pt/CNF nanocomposite catalyst was observed for the reduction of p-NP due to synergy effects.


The abundance of galaxy clusters is a sensitive probe to the amplitude of matter density fluctuations, the total amount of matter in the Universe as well as its expansion history. Inferring correct values and accurate uncertainties of cosmological parameters requires accurate knowledge of cluster abundance statistics, encoded in the likelihood function. In this paper, we test the accuracy of cluster abundance likelihoods used in the literature, namely the Poisson and Gaussian likelihoods as well as the more complete description of the Gauss–Poisson Compound likelihood. This is repeated for a variety of binning choices and analysis setups. In order to evaluate the accuracy of a given likelihood, this work compares individual posterior covariances to the covariance of estimators over the 1000 simulated dark matter halo catalogues obtained from PINOCCHIO algorithm. We find that for Rubin/LSST and Euclid-like surveys the Gaussian likelihood gives robust constraints over a large range of binning choices. The Poisson likelihood, that does not account for sample covariance, always underestimates the errors on the parameters, even when the sample volume is reduced or only high-mass clusters are considered. We find no benefit in using the more complex Gauss–Poisson Compound likelihood as it gives essentially the same results as the Gaussian likelihood, but at a greater computational cost. Finally, in this ideal setup, we note only a small gain on the parameter error bars when using a large number of bins in the mass–redshift plane.


The article describes the relevant aspects of the adolescents' cultural practices in children's summer camp, taking into account their specific characteristics. The summer camp is considered as an educational formation and holistic socio-pedagogical body, designed to create conditions for the development of the person. The criteria for inclusion of adolescents in cultural practices in the children's camp to establish their socialization levels (social-passive, social-active, social- initiative) are described. The study reveals the education system in the framework of the model of adolescents' socialization in the children's summer camp Nasz Dom, including four blocks: the target, set-diagnostic, operational-activity, control and evaluation. The results of the experimental work show the effectiveness of the developed model of the adolescents' involvement in cultural practices and their socialization in children's summer camp.


The author considers the methodological interconnection of characteristic features of the "new" thinking corresponding to the economy of knowledge, the essence of transformational changes in a construction company and the theory of company's life cycles. The author makes a conclusion that each company in its development undergoes the certain stages, and each stage can be characterized by its own mission, strategy, organizational structure, technology of work, means of information exchange, level of personnel competence and other quality and quantity features. The transfer to the next, higher level of development makes a company more competitive, more dynamically responding to the market requirements and efficiently using the internal resources thereof. By means of models of life circle it is possible to explain the reasons for organizational changes and sources of growth of companies.


In the last decade, the positive psychology and specifically the 'Positive Youth Development' (PYD) give efforts to positive aspect and strength that performance as protective factors of adjustment problems and psycho-social well-being, such as courage. To better understand the definition of courage in Italian context, 1199 participants were involved in the present study and we asked them to answer to the following question "Courage is…". The participant's definitions of courage wereanalyzed with the Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA), in order to study the "fundamental concepts" arising from the population. An analogous comparison with Twitter posts has been also carried out.


Poster: "ECR 2014 / C-1516 / Image quality in chest MDCT performed for follow up of oncology patients: comparison of low (LD) and standard radiation dose (SD) protocols" by: "M. Millor Muruzabal, L. R. Zalazar, M. Paramo, J. Etxano Cantera, P. Slon, G. Viteri-Ramirez, P. Garcia Barquin, A. Villanueva; Pamplona/ES"


1 Introduction.- 2 Kinematic Generalization.- 3 Equations of Motion Surface Gravity Waves.- 4 Fields of Motion in Gravity Waves and Energy.- 5 The Initial Value Problem.- 6 Discussion of Initial Value Problem [Continued).- 7 Internal Gravity Waves.- 8 Internal Waves, Group Velocity and Reflection.- 9 WKB Theory for Internal Gravity Waves.- 10 Vertical Propagation of Waves: Steady Flow and the Radiation Condition.- 11 Rotation and Potential Vorticity.- 12 Large-Scale Hydrostatic Motions.- 13 Shallow Water Waves in a Rotating Fluid Poincare and Kelvin Waves.- 14 Rossby Waves.- 15 Rossby Waves (Continued), Quasi-Geostrophy.- 16 Energy and Energy Flux in Rossby Waves.- 17 Laplace Tidal Equations and the Vertical Structure Equation.- 18 Equatorial Beta-Plane and Equatorial Waves.- 19 Stratified Quasi-Geostrophic Motion and Instability Waves.- 20 Energy Equation and Necessary Conditions for Instability.- 21 Wave-Mean Flow Interaction.- Problems.- References.


. This paper examines the relationship between the type of humor and effectiveness of advertisements for dairy products on Indonesian children. A quantitative approach was used to analyze the type of humor found in dairy product advertising. A total of 840 students at both public and private schools, aged 7–12 years, completed a questionnaire. The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the type of humor had no significant influence on the effectiveness of dairy product advertisements.


In order to research the fatigue reliability of the load carrying structures on a heavy duty vehicle, a new reliability test technique correlated customer usage is proposed based on automotive proving ground, and the technique can combine the real customer field usage to the vehicle with the enhancement test on proving ground, and avoid the test blindness. Aiming at the data that are tested on the typical road surfaces of the customer and enhancement roads of proving ground, the rain-flow counting method is used to obtain the load distribution matrixes, according to the correlation equation, the cumulative fatigue damage and loading spectrum covering the 90% customer and proving ground are optimized and calculated. Through the correlation analysis of the test data, the road surface enhancement coefficient and the customer data reliability test specifications of proving ground are obtained. The test results indicate that the new specifications can predict the potential failures of the load carrying structures quickly, shorten the test cycles, and reduce the test cost and new product development expense, compared with the existing test method.


Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are attractive materials for early detection, treatment, and imaging of cancer malignancies; however, they are limited by their inability to be monitored in vitro and in vivo [1]. Unlabeled CNTs are difficult to distinguish using elemental analysis because they are composed entirely of carbon, which is also characteristic of cellular membranes. Although some single walled nanotubes (SWNT) have been found to exhibit fluorescent properties, not all particles in a single batch fluoresce [2]. Additionally, these emissions may be too weak to be detected using conventional imaging modalities [3]. Incorporating fluorescent markers, such as fluorescent proteins or quantum dots, allows the non-fluorescent particles to be visualized. Previously, fluorophores, such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) or red fluorescent protein (RFP), have been used to visualize and track cells or other particles in biological environments, but their low quantum yield and tendency to photobleach generate limitations for their use in such applications.© 2010 ASME


Residues 109-122 of the human prion protein (PrP) are highly conserved across species, and are predicted to be alpha-helical in PrPc, the cellular form. A computational search of the potential for alpha-helical dimerisation has been made for residues 109-122. The conformation which consistently scores highest in terms of burying non-polar surface area is a tight association involving alanine, glycine and valine residues. A model of heterodimerisation for PrPc and PrPSc (the misfolded form) is presented in which species barrier mutations would arise from interaction specificities that would follow, at least in part, the same framework as formation of a putative homodimer.


it seem, into the domain of the bacteriologist. Bacteria may be possible sources of vitamins; they may be used in vitamin assays. From the study of man and other animals there has been a rapid slide down the scale of living things to the least differentiated of all, the unicellular organisms. It would seem logical for studies in nutrition to have begun with the morphologically simple and to have proceeded to the study of more complex organisms. round. who reject Cleveland's and maltose were used. After incubation 89.6 per cent. of the maltose could be accounted for as follows : bacterial polysaccharide 14.7 per cent., volatile fatty acids 34.7 per cent., lactic acid 8.5 per cent., carbon dioxide 13.7 per cent., methane 4.2 per cent. and protein 13.8 per cent. A more difficult question is where the rumen bacteria get their methionine.


The role of environment in modification and etching of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films by the fifth harmonic of Nd laser is investigated experimentally. The theoretical model is developed, which describes the main features of modification and etching kinetics for sufficiently small laser fluences.


In the recent years, with the development of network and multimedia technology, multimedia data, especially image, audio and video data, is used more and more widely in human society. Some multimedia data, including entertainment, politics, economics, militaries, industries, education etc, are necessary to be protected by providing confidentiality, integrity, and ownership or identity. In this regard, to protect multimedia contents, cryptology, which appears to be an effective way for information security, has been employed in many practical applications. However, number theory or algebraic concepts based traditional ciphers, such as Data Encryption Standard (DES) (Tuchman, 1997), Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) (Zeghid et al., 1996), International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA) (Dang & Chau, 2000), and the algorithm developed by Rivest, Shamir and Adleman (RSA) (Cormen et al., 2001), most of which are used for text or binary data, appear not to be ideal for multimedia applications.


Dr. Keale is senior research scholar, Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC. T he market! The market is the elephant. For some, the marketplace is the solution to what ails the health system. For others, the market is the source of many, if not most, of health care's ills. Everyone should therefore come to the tableto discuss the elephant—to get a better sense of "the virtues and limits of markets. Critical reflection on the role of the market in the health care sector has important ramifications for health care professionals, health care organizations, health policy, and patients and communities. Thus, we should begin by identifying:


New modes of stable oscillation observed in a low density (about 10/sup 8/ ions/cm/sup 3/) plasma formed by neutral atom injection into the magnetic mirror machine ALICE are reported. The oscillation frequencies range from 5 to 50 kc/sec; and two branches (one close to the calculated precession frequency of 20-kev ions and independent of plasma density, the other varying roughly linearly with plasma density) are noted. The observed modes agree tentatively with predictions of an extension of the theory of finite-orbit stabilization for low- density plasmas. (D.C.W.)


The reasonable measure of maintenance and overhauling is brought into effect by contrasting and analyzing the mechanical properties, chemical composition and microstructure of non_crack furnace tube and crack furnace tube and analyzing the crack in transform furnace tube.


In order to research on the stress change and influencing factor of whole construction process of simply supported to Continuous system T-beam bridge, combined with Guizhou Bai-long bridge, the stress change is carried out the real time inspection in each construction stage, and the finite element model is established to analyse Stress changes in whole construction process. The monitoring value is more consistent with the theoretical value in each stage , monitoring dates and theoretical calculations showed that pre-stressed is the main factor of stress changes in construction process.Pre-stressed tension in negative moment region has obvious influence on the stress of middle span, the stress of top and bottom plates in wet joints will be equivalent after tendons tension in negative moment Region.


Using the one-boson-exchange model, we studied the possible existence of very loosely bound hidden-charm molecular baryons composed of an anti-charmed meson and a charmed baryon. Our numerical results indicate that the ΣcD̄* and ΣcD̄ states exist, but that the ΛcD̄ and ΛcD̄* molecular states do not.