Livestock sector plays a multi-faceted role in socio-economic development of rural households. Empirical evidences indicate that livestock is an important component of the agriculture system, providing an additional source of income, nutritional cover and act a liquid asset to poor families. With the advancement of agriculture and livestock sector information and knowledge had increasingly become an important factor of production for effective decision-making. Information communication Technology (ICT) services have wide potential to uplift the economy of livestock holders and among various communication media available, the emerging cos effective educational DVD appears to hold great promise. Keeping these in view the present study was planned to identify perceived need of IDFPs and to assess the effectiveness of developed DVD module in IDFPs. The present study was conducted in six randomly selected villages of Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. Ninety dairy farmers were investigated for identifying perceived need and to assess the effectiveness of DVD based information module. The result indicated that majority of respondent had medium level of perceived needs on breeding, feeding, health care and management. The perceived need index of each practices state that respondents were having highest need in health care i.e.61.78 per cent followed by animal breeding (57.65%) practices. The overall Knowledge gain through educational DVD on IDFPs was 14.21 per cent and maximum gain was observed in health care (16.62%). Thus the developed educational DVD was effective in terms of knowledge gain. Majority of the respondents were 'satisfied ' regarding usefulness in enhancing knowledge (65.00%), suitability of the information to the field situation (72.22%), improves self-confidence (77.78%), arousal of curiosity and interest (62.22%), relevancy and appropriateness of the content (78.89%). Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */
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The anodic behaviour of iridium in the oxide layer region has been investigated using conventional electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry. Applying a triangular voltage sweep at 10 Hz, 0.01 to 1.50 V increases the amount of electric charge which the surface can store in the oxide region. This activation effect and the mechanism of charge storage is discussed in terms of both an expanded lattice theory for oxide growth on noble metals and a more recent theory of irreversible oxide formation with subsequent stoichiometry changes. The lack of hysteresis between the anodic and cathodic peaks at ca. 0.9 V suggests that the process involved here is proton migration in a relatively thick surface layer, i.e. that the reaction involved is some type of oxide-hydroxide transition. Lack of chloride ion inhibition in the anodic region also supports the irreversible oxide formation theory; however, to account for the hydrogen region of the potential sweep a compromise theory involving partial reduction of the outer regions of iridium oxide film is proposed. The loss of charge storage capacity when the activated iridium surface is anodized for a short time above ca. 1.60 V is attributed to loss by corrosion of the outer active layer from the metal surface.


The determination of boron by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry has been carried in water-soluble and acid soluble (total content) fractions of 36 samples of traditional black tea and fruit brew. The estimation of the impact of the type of tea on the concentration of boron in water-soluble and acid extracts and potential human health risk from the daily intake of boron was carried out in this study. The levels of boron differed significantly in black and fruit tea types. The mean total content of boron ranged from 8.31 to 18.40 mg/kg in black teas, from 12.85 to 15.13 mg/kg in black tea with fruit flavor, and from 12.09 to 22.77 mg/kg in fruit brews. The degree of extraction of boron in black tea ranged from 8% to 27% and for fruit tea from 17% to 69%. In addition, the values below 25% were of black teas with fruit flavors. The daily intake of B from tea infusions (three cups/day) is still within the average daily intake except for some of the fruit brews which exceed acceptable regulations of the daily intake of total boron by humans. Hence, it may not produce any health risks for human consumption, if other sources of metal contaminated food are not taken at the same time.


In their book, Fires in the Middle School Bathroom: Advice for Teachers from Middle Schoolers, Cushman and Rogers (2008) described the results of interviewing middle school students from five different urban areas about their thoughts and suggestions for middle grades educators. The authors issue a direct plea to the middle grades teachers, whom they hope will form the primary authence for the book: We hope you will recognize the enormous importance you have to your students. ... As you listen to them speak of their hopes and their vulnerabilities, we have confidence that you will find ways to better support them during their journey on the middle school bridge, (p. xiii) Young adolescents, those ages 10 to 15, must be the starting point for any discussion of what ought to be happening in middle grades education. Turning Points 2000: Educating Adolescents for the 21st Century (Jackson & Davis, 2000), and This We Believe: Successful Schools for Young Adolescents (National Middle School Association, 2003) place young adolescents front and center in describing what should be happening in the middle grades schools that serve them. This article will first situate the notion of being centered on students within the landscape of the Turning Points 2000 vision and overarching goal. Then, the article spotlights the first of the seven recommendations in the book, examining how the middle grades curriculum can and should be centered on students. Students and the Turning Points 2000 vision In Turning Points 2000 (Jackson & Davis, 2000), the authors articulated the same vision described in the original TurningPoints report (Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development [CCAD], 1989), an image that hopefully captures what all of us want for young adolescents. The vision describes a 15-year-old who has emerged from the middle grades intellectually reflective, en route to a lifetime of meaningful work, a good citizen, caring and ethical, and healthy-physically, mentally, and emotionally. Students, then, dominate the landscape in the Turning Points vision, and TurningPoints 2000 draws connections, direct or implied, to young adolescents in each of the seven recommendations the book offers for improving middle grades schools. Jackson and Davis (2000) argued that the overarching goal for schools containing the middle grades should be ensuring success for every student. Success would mean that every student, by the end of the middle grades, has achieved the vision outlined above, a vision that encompasses both equity and excellence. The original Turning Points report used the phrase "ensuring success for all students" (CCAD, 1989, p. 36). The use of the word "every" signals a change in terminology from the original report. The authors changed from "all" to "every" because for too many people "all" meant "most," or "the majority," or "all but those kids," with the criteria for "those kids" ranging from race and ethnicity to language background, perceived ability level, status in special education, or socioeconomic status. The context for the book's vision and recommendations has changed considerably since it was published in 2000. In a world increasingly focused on accountability, extensive federal and state legislation, policies, and mandates seem to clutter the educational landscape and obscure and perhaps overshadow the students who should dominate it. A certain irony, then, lurks behind a critical question guiding this article: Can our curriculum be student centered and leave no child behind? Taking a look at that changing context for curriculum will be the next step in addressing that question. Standards, Disciplines, Comparisons, and Globalization In the first recommendation for middle grades schools, Turning Points 2000 called for schools and educators who draw upon three foundations in designing curriculum. Educators should 1. Ground curriculum in rigorous and public academic standards for what students should know and be able to do. …


ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to find out the influence of profitability, firm size, and assets structure to the structure of banking companies which are listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange during the period of 2010-2013. The samples are 17 banking companies which are listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and these banking companies have been selected by using purposive sampling technique. The analysis technique has been done by performing multiple regressions and classic assumption which consist of normality test, multicolinearity test, heteroscedasticity test, and autocorelation test. Meanwhile the hypothesis test has been done by using goodness of fit and t test which is done by using SPSS program version 16. Based on the result of multiple regressions analysis with the significance level of 5%, therefore it shows that: (1). H1 is profitability which has influence to the capital structure and which shows a negative direction, (2). H2 is firm size which has influence to the capital structure and which shows positive direction, and (3) H3 is assets structure which has influence to the capital structure and which show positive direction. Therefore, the firm size and assets structure have positive influence to the capital structure. Keywords: Profitability, Firm Size, Assets Structure and Capital Structure.


Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an annual herbaceous plant, cultivated mainly for the seed which is used for edible oil extraction and bird feeding. This study was designed to evaluate the safety of a new pigmented variety of safflower (A82) seeds. The results showed that oral administration of A82 seeds significantly increased the body weight of male rats in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05). Biochemical tests showed that A82 seeds significantly increased the serum levels of AST (Aspartate aminotransferase) (p<0.05), slightly reduced the serum levels of ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) and significantly reduced ALP (p<0.05) levels in a dose dependent manner. BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and Cr (Creatinine) were not significantly changed in A82 seed treated groups. Also, testosterone levels were not significantly changed by administration of different doses of A82. However, Johnson scoring showed slightly decrease in experimental groups. No organ weight or histological changes were observed in liver, kidney, spleen, heart and brain of A82 seed treated animals. These results indicate that A82 seeds have not any toxic effects in Wistar rats. Future studies are required to clarify the exact mechanism by which A82 seeds alter AST levels and body weight in rat.


Organo-metallic complexes of substituted thiocarban ilide-using manganese (II) chloride were prepared, those were:-(1) 3:3'Dichlorothiocarbani lide.Manganese (II) chloride. (2) 3:3'dimethyl thiocarbanilide.Manganese(II)chloridee. (3 ) 2:2'dimethyl thiocarbanilide.Manganese (II) chloride. Those compounds were colored, solubl e in most organic solvents, insoluble in water, decomposed by hot solvents. The compounds ( 2) and (3) were spectrally characterized using UV and IR spectra, while the compound (1) was characterized by UV, IR, NMR and mass spectra. The molecular weight of the compound (1) w as determined by three different methods; Rast's camphor method, mass spectra and the nitroge n contents. The stoichiometry of the reaction was found to be 2:1, and the coordination is from sulphur atom more than nitrogen.


It is known that the boundary layer along the roof of a waterjet intake is likely to separate when the boat is moving at relatively high speed and this impairs the overall performance of the waterjet unit. As the speed of the boat increases the size of the separated region increases as well. This paper shows the results of using experimental methods to reduce the extent of the separated region. Experimental work has been undertaken using windtunnel simulation. Impeller plane flow improvement was computed by comparing the stagnation pressure distribution of the intake with design modifications against that of the bare intake. Vortex generators and boundary layer blowing have been successfully used to improve the uniformity of the flow entering the impeller. Experimental results using vortex generators at low and high boat speeds show 15% and 10% fractional improvement with corresponding values for boundary layer blowing of 61% and 18%.


We propose valley-coupled spintronic devices based on monolayer WSe2 that utilize Valley-Spin Hall (VSH) effect to switch nano-magnets. The unique features of the proposed device are (a) the ability to switch magnets with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and (b) an integrated gate that can modulate the charge/spin current $(I_{C}/I_{S})$ flow. The former attribute results in high energy efficiency (compared to the Giant-Spin Hall (GSH) effect based devices with in-plane MA (IMA) magnets). The latter feature averts the need for additional access transistor in a memory array leading to high integration density. We experimentally measure the gate controllability of the current as well as the non-local resistance associated with VSH effect. Based on the measured data, we develop a simulation framework (using physical equations) to propose and analyze single-ended and differential VSH effect based magnetic memories (VSH-MRAMs). Compared to GSH-MRAMs, VSH-MRAMs achieve 45% lower write power (at iso-write time), 10% lower read power (at iso-sense margin) and 48% lower area.


ABSTRACT : Dramatic price increases of fossil fuels and the economic development of emerging nations accelerates the trans-formation of forest lands into monocultures, e.g. for biofuel production. On this account, cost efficient methods to enable the moni-toring of land resources has become a vital ambition. The application of remote sensing techniques has become an integral part of forest attribute estimation and mapping. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potentials of the kNN method by combining terrestrial with remotely sensed data for the development of a pixel-based monitoring system for the small scaled mosaic of different land use types of the off-reserve forests of the Goaso forest district in Ghana, West Africa. For this reason, occurrence and distribution of land use types like cocoa and non-timber forest resources, such as bamboo and raphia palms, were estimated, applying the kNN method to ASTER satellite data. Averaged overall accuracies, ranging from 79% for plantain, to 83% for oil palms, were found for single-attribute classifications, whereas a multi-attribute approach showed overall accuracies of up to 70%. Values of k between 3 and 6 seem appropriate for mapping bamboo. Optimisation of spectral bands improves results considerably. Keywords : K nearest neighbour, Combination, Terrestrial, Remote sensing, Estimation, Distribution, Non-timber forest productJournal of Forest ScienceVol. 24, No. 3, pp. 151~154, December 2008


Tang (618-907 AD) and Song (960-1279) dynasties are two very important periods in the development of Chinese literary. The most influential forms of the poetry in Tang and Song were Shi and Ci, respectively. Tang Shi and Song Ci established crucial foundations of the Chinese literature, and their influences in both literary works and daily lives of the Chinese communities last until today.
We can analyze and compare the Complete Tang Shi and the Complete Song Ci from various viewpoints. In this presentation, we report our findings about the differences in their vocabularies. Interesting new words that started to appear in Song Ci and continue to be used in modern Chinese were identified. Colors are an important ingredient of the imagery in poetry, and we discuss the most frequent color words that appeared in Tang Shi and Song Ci.


Aim: To determine the phytochemical constituents present in the different parts of Aerva lanata using Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Study Design: GC-MS analysis of bioactive compounds in different Methodology: 15 g of powdered plant material of leaf, flower and root were soaked with 60 mL of 95% ethanol for 24 hrs. After 24 hrs, the extract was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated to 1 mL by bubbling nitrogen gas into the solution. 2 µL of ethanolic extracts of leaf, flower and root of A. lanata was used for GC-MS analysis. Results: The GC-MS analyses showed that the presence of four different phytocompounds in Original Research Article ethanolic extract of leaf of A. lanata . The highest peak area of 74.73% for isophytol was identified in leaf of A. lanata . The ethanolic flower extract of A. lanata showed that the presence of twelve different phytocompounds. Flower extract contains the highest amount of phytocompound was 6, 9,12 –octadecatrienoic acid, phenyl methyl ester (z,z,z)- with the peak area of 25%. The root extract of A. lanata showed that the presence of eight different bioactive compounds. The root of A. lanata showed more quantity of lanost-9 (11)-en-12-one with the highest peak area of 45.11%. Conculsion: The present study confirmed that the presence of active compounds in different parts of A. lanata. In future, the isolation of above mentioned bioactive compounds from the different part of A. lanata would be useful to find out the novel drugs.


Recently, I was presented with the very complex case of a 56-year-old male patient admitted to hospital because of gross peripheral edema, ascites, and breathlessness. In the distant past, this patient had been treated for Hodgkin's disease with mantle radiation. Two years ago he was human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and presented with Kaposi's sarcoma. More recently, he underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery for multivessel coronary artery disease. He did well for a short time but then gradually developed signs of heart failure and recurrent angina. Both coronary bypass grafts were occluded, but he had stents placed in the coronary arteries proximal to the occluded grafts. The prosthetic aortic valve functioned normally. Several months later, angina recurred, secondary to restenosis. A second CABG to three vessels was performed. Dense adhesions were noted in the anterior mediastinum, particularly between the right ventricle and sternum. Over the next six weeks, he developed signs of ascites, peripheral edema, pulmonary congestion, and gained a significant amount of weight despite aggressive therapy. Cardiac medications included high-dose intravenous loop diuretics and neseritide. Anti-HIV medications were acyclovir, Tenovir, Bactrim, and ciprofloxacin. Physical examination confirmed findings of elevated right atrial pressure, low blood pressure, tachycardia, ascites, marked peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly. Serum albumin was, surprisingly, 3.9 g/dl. An immediate concern was that this patient's illness could be explained by postoperative constriction secondary to pericardial restriction. Of course, his radiation therapy for lymphoma could have contributed, and, as I was soon to learn, HIV could also play a pathogenetic role. The patient underwent right and left heart catheterization and was found to have marked elevation diastolic pressures in all chambers of the heart consistent with restrictive physiology. In researching the literature on HIV and the heart, I came across an article in Heart by B.D. Prendergast.1 This is a wonderful piece that summarizes everything a cardiologist would want to know about HIV and the heart. I thought I might share some of the information with you, focusing mainly on things that relate to the patient described. First, the number of persons world-wide who are affected with HIV is approximately 36 million. Second, current therapy of HIV is now prolonging life significantly, thus opening the door for other diseases, such as coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, or even iatrogenic diseases related to medications, to emerge. The first case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) involving the heart was reported in 1983.2 That patient had Kaposi's sarcoma involving the anterior cardiac wall and no pericardial effusions were noted. Iatrogenic effects of treatment related to antiretroviral therapies, especially protease inhibitors, include hyperlipidemia, high blood sugar, high insulin secretion, and inflammatory lesions—for example, vasculitis and perivasculitis—, all of which contribute to the development of coronary artery disease and possibly even aortic valve disease. Both diseases were present in this patient. The following points focus on HIV-related pericardial disease, which is the diagnosis I thought most likely in this patient. The differential diagnosis related to HIV includes infectious etiologies with bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis, both human and nonhuman; viruses, such as cytomegalovirus and HIV itself; and fungi, including histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis. Renal failure resulting in uremia can also result in pericardial inflammation. Cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphoma are relatively common in this patient population.


This paper deals with the surface analysis of spherical
polymeric optical micro-resonators in order to correlate surface defects with
optical characteristics. Atomic force microscopy was used on structures to
determine surface quality, which is the main origin of optical scattering
losses. Surface morphologies were numerically treated to enable a relevant investigation
on surface parameters such as root mean square (RMS) roughness (30.1 +/- 3.0 nm) or
correlation length (few microns) necessary to express optical quality factors.
A statistical analysis was conducted for calibration of these parameters as a
function of cavities' diameter. Results are in perfect agreement with spectral
analyses performed in parallel on others structures. This comparison highlights
the main role of scattering losses on quality factor origin.


[1] We report on the transient strong flow shear (large northward/southward electric field) events accompanied by energetic ion beams and localized field-aligned currents observed at the boundary of the premidnight plasma sheet by Cluster in the Northern Hemisphere and Geotail in the Southern Hemisphere. The events took place associated with plasma sheet expansion during a substorm interval, with the main positive bay onset at 1155 UT on 10 October 2001. Typical timescales of these events were 1-5 minutes. Cluster multipoint analysis showed that the field-aligned currents consist of upward and downward current layers, the latter located at the outermost edge of the plasma sheet and concentrated in a region with a thickness of 1600 km. Low-energy proton flow suggested that the electric field was southward at the outer part and northward at the inner part, with a magnitude exceeding 10 mV/m. The electric field reversal region also corresponds to the boundary between beam-like electrons and more isotropic electron distributions. Geotail observed corresponding plasma and field disturbances simultaneously inside the plasma sheet. We suggest that the strong bipolar electric fields could be related to the Hall effect of the transient reconnection process tailward of Cluster and Geotail and to the leading edge of the plasma flow jetting Earthward from the reconnection region.


fig1.py, fig2.py, fig3.py, fig4.py, fig5.py, fig6.py, fig7.py: reproduce the figures of the paper using the data and additional figure files in this repository. binary_network_asymm.py, binary_network_symm.py, g_gamma_K_scaling.py, ginzburg_network_dist_Kin_scale.py, inhibitory_LIF_network.py: NEST simulation scripts for random recurrent networks. parameters_binary_asymm.py, parameters_binary_symm.py, parameters_ginzburg.py, parameters_inhibitory_LIF_network.py: corresponding parameter files. hambach_run_g_gamma_K_scaling.py, hambach_run_inhibitory_LIF_network.py, hambach_run_sim_dist_Kin_scale.py: scripts for running the corresponding simulations on a cluster. h5py_wrapper.py: for storing and loading h5 files. plotfuncs.py, plot_utils.py, ps_manip.py: general plotting scripts. ginzburg_theory.py, ginzburg_theory_distKin.py, hawkesnet.py, siegert.py: contain functions for computing covariances and related quantities. microcircuit_analysis.py: functions for loading and analyzing data from simulations of the Potjans and Diesmann (Cereb Cortex, 2014) microcircuit model. microcircuit: folder containing NEST simulation scripts for the Potjans and Diesmann microcircuit model.


7 Introduction · 7 Uses of Selenium 8 Availability and Production 8 Essential Nutrient Requirement and Toxicity 9 Abundance 9 Analytical Chemistry of Selenium 9 Fundamental Chemical Properties 10 Inorganic and Organic Species of Selenium 13 Selenide 13 · Elemental Selenium 13 Selenite 14 Selenate 14 Organoselenium 14 Occurrence 14 Crustal Rocks 14 Fossil Fuel 15 Marine Environment 15 Crustal Geochemical Cycle 16 Volcanoes 16 Atmosphere 17 Rivers 19 Oceans 19 Biogeochemistry 20 Selenium Weathering-Content and Behavior in Soil 21 U.S. Soils 21 Assimilation and Availability 22 Human Activities Leading to Selenium Release and their Amelioration 22 Unresolved Issues 23 Acknowledgments 24


OR many years, typhoid has been a disease of economic importance in the poultry industry, and thus far, no completely satisfactory treatment has been offered. Some sulfonamides, although helpful in reducing mortality from the disease, have on the other hand given conflicting results or practically no response in virulent outbreaks. In 1953, the synthetic nitrofuran drug furazolidone (Furoxone*) was reported effective in vitro against common species of Salmonella at concentrations of 0.2 to 5.5 mcg/ml.l In contrast with sulfonamides, and antibiotics, this nitrofuran was found bactericidal at these low levels.8 Results of studies with 0.02 to 0.04 percent of the drug in the feed of chickens infected with S. pullorum,210 S. galllinarum,1, 7 and S. typhimurium'0 indicate that this drug can reduce the severity of infection, mortality rate, and the appearance of the carrier state. Similar favorable results were reported in turkeys infected with S. gallinarum1,3 and S. typhimurium,69 as recently reviewed by Sieburth.6 Although S. pullorum and S. gallinarum are the most important salmonellas that cause disease in chickens, S. typhimurium constitutes the most common and economically important Salmonella that infects turkeys.


The methodology of the network correction generation approach is improved.The systemic error mitigating method for both the atmospheric delay and orbital error are proposed here to enhance the accuracy and the reliability of the precise centimeter level GPS/VRS positioning based on reference station network.Test data acquired from SGRSN(Sichuan GPS Reference Station Network) are used in the VENUS(VRS Enhanced Utility Software) system to evaluate the performance of the modeling techniques.The results demonstrate that distance-dependent errors can been effectively modeled suitable for long range GPS CORS network with station distance of 80 km or longer,the accuracy of the atmospheric correction is about 2 to 4 centimeter and the orbital correction error can be of sub-millimeter level.


This paper introduces the mechatronics technology used in garment machinery, such as the use of controlled motors, microcomputer controlling, electrical and pneumatics technology and etc. And it also puts forward some advice about the tend of development of garment machinery.


Photovoltaic spectra for lead selenide diffused p‐n junctions have been studied versus temperature and substrate impurity concentration. The shape of the spectra and its variation with these two parameters can be explained by taking into account the contribution to photovoltage of several mechanisms. At low photon energies, absorption near the junction is dominant. On the high‐energy side, the flat response can be assigned to absorption in the substrate material, followed by spontaneous reemission (radiative energy transfer). In the intermediate region, the dip in photoresponse is due to variations in the spatial distribution of photoexcited carriers which are generated in a wide region of chemical impurity gradient. Careful evaluation of those parameters which we measured in our p‐n structures fits with the characteristics of PbSe studied by other methods.


The main scope of the paper is to adopt a fuzzy sets approach for the measurement of multidimensional poverty over a period of eight years, from 2007 to 2015, which takes into account the effect of the 2008 economic and financial crisis. In particular, the focus is on the financial dimension of poverty, and its effects on citizens in the EU Mediterranean Area. The empirical analysis, based on the European Union—Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey (EU-SILC), covers eight Mediterranean Countries.


Recently, BIPV(Building integrated photovoltaic) systems have been attracted in the modern building as a technology of energy-saving. The PV systems which is attathed on the window have the merit of energy production but might be the barrier of day lighting. However, there are few research for the effect of BIPV system on heating and cooling in the building. In this study, in order to quantitatively estimate the feasibility of BIPV system, annual simulation was conducted by a dynamic analysis tool(TRNSYS 17). In the simulation, the standard housing model of rural area was used as the calculation object. As the result, generated electricity and building load according to the type size of BIPV were calculated.


Based on joint consideration of S receiver functions and surface‐wave anisotropy we present evidence for the existence of a thick and layered lithosphere beneath the Kalahari Craton. Our results show that frozen‐in anisotropy and compositional changes can generate sharp Mid‐Lithospheric Discontinuities (MLD) at depths of 85 and 150–200 km, respectively. We found that a 50 km thick anisotropic layer, containing 3% S wave anisotropy and with a fast‐velocity axis different from that in the layer beneath, can account for the first MLD at about 85 km depth. Significant correlation between the depths of an apparent boundary separating the depleted and metasomatised lithosphere, as inferred from chemical tomography, and those of our second MLD led us to characterize it as a compositional boundary, most likely due to the modification of the cratonic mantle lithosphere by magma infiltration. The deepening of this boundary from 150 to 200 km is spatially correlated with the surficial expression of the Thabazimbi‐Murchison Lineament (TML), implying that the TML isolates the lithosphere of the Limpopo terrane from that of the ancient Kaapvaal terrane. The largest velocity contrast (3.6–4.7%) is observed at a boundary located at depths of 260–280 km beneath the Archean domains and the older Proterozoic belt. This boundary most likely represents the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary, which shallows to about 200 km beneath the younger Proterozoic belt. Thus, the Kalahari lithosphere may have survived multiple episodes of intense magmatism and collisional rifting during the billions of years of its history, which left their imprint in its internal layering.


Existing conversational question answering (CQA) datasets have been usually constructed from unstructured texts in English. In this paper, we propose Tab-CQA, a tabular CQA dataset created from Chinese financial reports that are extracted from listed companies in a wide range of different sectors in the past 30 years. From these reports, we select 2,463 tables, and manually generate 2,463 conversations with 35,494 QA pairs. Additionally, we select 4,578 tables, from which 4,578 conversations with 73,595 QA pairs are automatically created via a template-based method. With the manually- and automatically-generated conversations, Tab-CQA contains answerable and unanswerable questions. For the answerable questions, we further diversify them to cover a wide range of skills, e.g., table retrieval, fact checking, numerical reasoning, so as to accommodate real-world scenarios. We further propose two different tabular CQA models, a text-based model and an operation-based model, and evaluate them on Tab-CQA. Experiment results show that Tab-CQA is a very challenging dataset, where a huge performance gap exists between human and neural models. We will publicly release Tab-CQA as a benchmark testbed to promote further research on Chinese tabular CQA.


The Dynamic Voltage Scaling is a technique to reduce the energy consumption as adjusting the frequency clock and supply voltage dynamically. Tasks could be divided to periodic-tasks and aperiodic-tasks. Periodic-tasks apply DVS technique easily because we can know period, execution time and deadline of each task. However, it is hard to use DVS technique in aperiodic tasks because tasks arrive sporadic. In this paper, we propose a new efficient DVS algorithm using the deferrable server for aperiodic-tasks and existing DVS algorithm based on workload. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm obtains energy consumption reduction about 8% more than the existing algorithm in mixed-tasks systems.


Although trees are key to ecosystem functioning, many forests and tree species across the globe face strong threats. Preserving areas of high biodiversity is a core priority for conservation; however, different dimensions of biodiversity and varied conservation targets make it difficult to respond effectively to this challenge. Here, we (i) identify priority areas for global tree conservation using comprehensive coverage of tree diversity based on taxonomy, phylogeny, and functional traits; and (ii) compare these findings to existing protected areas and global biodiversity conservation frameworks. We find that ca. 51% of the top-priority areas for tree biodiversity are located in current protected areas. The remaining half top-priority areas are subject to moderate to high human pressures, indicating conservation actions are needed to mitigate these human impacts. Our findings emphasize the effectiveness of using tree conservation priority areas for future global conservation planning.


THE island of Santa Cruz, from the Mission Church of Santa Barbara, looks not unlike Capri, from the City of Naples. The same blue sky arches over it, the same Mediterranean haze envelops it, its outlines are softened by its distance, and its cliffs rise equally precipitantly from the sea. In my tarry at Santa Barbara, in the spring of i887, I had repeatedly turned my eyes'seaward, across the channel, longing for the opportunity, which at last came, to cross the intervening waters, and set foot on this island. My trip across the channel was productive of both pleasure and profit, and may not be without interest to my readers. Although a comparatively narrow channel separates the Santa Barbara islands from the mainland, the means of communication are not always at hand. The enterprising fisherman, Larco, often crosses it in his Italian sailboat, the " Genova," but his accommodations for passengers are more or less limited. The vessel owned by the proprietors of the island was not at my disposal, and the only thing left was to charter a craft for my own use. Fortunately, it was possible to find such a vessel, and I was able to visit the nearest of the Santa Barbara islands, long ago discovered by Cabrillo, upon which, according to some authorities, he was buried.'


Abstract : This report analyses the Defense Commissary Agency's (DeCA's) functional and technical requirements for credit card terminals and printers. It follows the format outlined in the Federal Information Resources Management Regulation. As a result of this analyses, DeCA purchased equipment from NationsBank under its contract with the Department of Treasury.


Abstract: Crashing  project duration is conducted when the project experience schedule delay. The consequence of this crashing is needed the additional cost to anticipate the delay. Choosing the right activity for the reduction will provide additional cost efficiency. The purpose of this research is to develop time-cost trade-off (TCTO) model for tie beam activity. The model was developed based on the respondent's perception through the questionnaire, and collecting the Budget Plan Report. Respondents in this study are director, estimator, and project manager at contractor who is domiciled in West Aceh District. The results showed that the tie beam can be broken down into sub activities such formwork, rebar and concrete that have different characteristics in tie beam activities based on TCTO model. Based on these conditions, the sub activities activities can be accelerated from the normal duration of the project are 60%, 50% and 60% respectively and the required additional cost is 2.88% per day, 2.93% per day, and 3.88% per day.Keywords : Project Crashing, Crash Duration, Additional cost, Model TCTO, Tie beam, West of Aceh, Formwork, Rebar work, Concrete workAbstrak: Percepatan schedule sering dilakukan ketika kemajuan proyek dinilai mengalami keterlambatan terhadap rencana awal. Konsekuensi dari percepatan schedule tersebut dapat memberikan peningkatan biaya proyek. Pemilihan aktifitas yang tepat akan memberikan efisiensi biaya tambahan. Penelitian mengkaji hanya pada aktifitas sloof sebagai aktifitas yang dipilih untuk di percepat sebagai obyek tinjauan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengembangkan model Time-cost trade-off (TCTO) aktifitas pekerjaan sloof dalam sebuah proyek. Model tersebut dikembangkan berdasarkan persepsi responden melalui pengisian kuesioner dan data RAB. Responden dalam penelitian ini yaitu direktur, estimator, dan manajer proyek pada badan usaha kontraktor yang berdomisili di Kabupaten Aceh Barat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pekerjaan sloof dapat dipecah kedalam sub aktifitas seperti sub aktifitas bekisting sloof, pembesian sloof dan beton sloof memiliki karakteristik yang berbeda dalam pekerjaan sloof berdasarkan TCTO model. Berdasarkan kondisi ini, sub-aktifitas pekerjaan sloof tersebut dapat dipecepat dari durasi normal proyek secara berturut-turut adalah 60%, 50% dan 60% dan biaya tambahan yang diperlukan adalah 2.88% per hari, 2.93% per hari, dan 3.88% per hari.Kata kunci : Percepatan schedule, Durasi crash, Biaya tambahan , Model TCTO, Pekerjaan sloof, Aceh Barat, Pekerjaan bekisting, Pekerjaan pembesian, Pekerjaan pengecoran


Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) was found frequently rearranged and activated in human salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas. It encodes a developmentally regulated transcription factor. Ectopic overexpression of PLAG1 has been proposed to play a crucial role in tumorigenesis of salivary gland pleomorphic adenomas. It was reported that PLAG1 can activate the transcription of insulin‐like growth factor 2 (IGF2), functioning as a protooncogene. In this report, we show that the salivary gland tumors developed in PLAG1 transgenic mice share major histopathologic features with human pleomorphic adenomas. It was found that β‐catenin, the key component of Wnt signaling pathway, was upregulated at transcriptional level in tumors developed in 3 independent transgenic mouse lines. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that expression of β‐catenin as well as c‐myc, downstream of β‐catenin in Wnt signaling pathway, was highly upregulated with overexpression of PLAG1 transgene in tumor and normal transgenic salivary gland tissues. Moreover, we found that PLAG1 can activate the transcription of mouse but not human β‐catenin in the 3T3 cells cotransfected with reporter constructs. Sequence analysis shows there are 4 PLAG1 consensus binding sites in mouse β‐catenin promoter region but not in human. Our findings provide the first in vivo evidence for the oncogenic activity of PLAG1 in pleomorphic adenoma tumorigenesis, reveal a valued animal model for human salivary gland tumors and suggest that Wnt signaling pathway may also contribute to the development of pleomorphic adenomas in transgenic mice. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


In Japan, it is generally held that the number of crossbite patients is much larger compared with those in Europe and U.S.A., and, therefore, there is a fair body of published literature on the subject of this type of malocclusion in the Japanese. Of the previous investigators, USAMI along with other scholars advocates an early commencement of orthodontic treatment for these patients. Yet studies as to the actual effect of an early orthodontic treatment for this class of malocclusion that have been published to date are relatively few in number. In the present study, therefore, the author selectively used a total of 175 male and female subjects in an effort to compare the difference in treatment effects between the stage of mixed dentition and that of permanent dentition in terms of different periods at which their respective orthodontic treatments were commenced. By way of the study method, their preand postoperative cephalograms in conjunction with the oblique cephalograms at the time of their recall visits were used for the purpose of measuring various landmarks in angles, distances and those items in terms of a system of coordinates. As a result, the following conclusions were arrived at. 1. As for the general change in facial pattern, it was quite apparent in the male and female groups who started their orthodontic care in the stage of mixed dentition. This type of change, however, was observed with the group of male patients who were in the initial period of permanent dentition when orthodontic treatment was initiated. 2. Change behaviors of the facial pattern in common with the male and female patients were observed to result in more or less difference according to different periods at which their respective treatments were commenced. 3. A noteworthy improvement took place in the facial pattern of both the male and female patients who commenced their treatments while in the mixed dentition stage. This improvement was apparent in the maxilla as well as in the mandible, manifesting itself in an overall manner. 4. With the male and female patients, on the other hand, in whom orthodontic treatments were initiated in the early stage of permanent dentition, an improvement was localized and limited to the anterior teeth. 5. All the subjects in the stage of mixed dentition managed to maintain the


Abstract Any drug administered shortly before surgery is premedication. It may be one of the patient's normal drugs, or prescribed to achieve one of the following objectives:
 • to decrease anxiety • to cause amnesia • as pre-emptive analgesia • as pre-emptive treatment for postoperative nausea and vomiting • to enhance gastric emptying • to increase the pH of the gastric contents • to attenuate autonomic reflexes • to reduce secretions • as prophylaxis against potential disease Examples of premedication are given in Figure 1. Many anaesthetists do not routinely prescribe premedication.


Study of the characteristics of space- and ground-based electromagnetic observational data, as well as the correlation between them, has important scientific significance for the combined application of both data to earthquake monitoring and research. In this paper, the near DC electromagnetic data recorded by the DEMETER satellite, vertical and horizontal geoelectric field data recorded at the Hongshawan station, and horizontal geoelectric field data recorded at the Chengdu station were comprehensively studied. The results show that observational data of the ULF electric field recorded directly by the DEMETER satellite do not indicate any significant annual change trends; the observational data from along the velocity vector direction on both the day and night sides present longer-term cyclical characteristics, but no correlation or synchronization with the geoelectric field observational data. The magnitude of the electric field data in the ionosphere after removing the additional electric field values caused by the satellite cutting the magnetic line are consistent with the geoelectric field data, and concentrated at about 10−1∼ 10−2 mV/m. The concave annual seasonal change trends are displayed from the observation data along the normal to the orbit direction, and along the velocity vector direction on the night side, showing a relatively stable annual variation period, which is consistent with the trend of the annual variation of the horizontal geoelectric field. Therefore, it may be concluded that both the magnitude and annual trends have exhibited correlation and synchronization every year.


Na-ampicillin was administered by the intravenous or intramuscular route to pigs. Blood concentrations during 4–6 h after administration and tissue distribution were measured. Pharmacokinetic parameters indicated a two-compartment open model. The biological half-life was found to be 60 min and four intramuscular injections per day of 10mg/kg B.W. of Na-ampicillin were required to maintain a minimum plasma concentration of 0.4 μg/ml. Higher levels were found in both the urinary and digestive tract.


This paper draws together four related strands of theory to address the processes of corporate value creation. Specifically, contributions from resourcebased theory, dynamic capabilities, corporate strategy and Mintzberg's structure theory have been combined to derive four congruent resource-creating strategies: financial control, scale, leverage, and creativity. Mintzberg's configurations approach is used to explore the organisational structures and processes associated with each strategy. It argues that choices with respect to corporate resource creation must be made as these four strategies require distinct, congruent organisational arrangements. When congruent strategies deliver diminishing returns, divergent strategies may be pursued. However, there is a risk of incoherence where a divergent strategy is poorly implemented.  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.


The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how language is used as a semiotic resource to construct meanings about a particular topic in accounting. Analyses of texts extracted from five minutes in an accounting lecture contribute to the notion that distinct patterns of meaning relations are constructed which correspond to a common thematic formation unique to accounting. In this sense, the use of a specific discourse analysis technique referred to as 'thematic analysis' is demonstrated. The main premise underlying the analyses is that language is an often ignored but fundamental aspect of the culture of education and in this instance, accounting education. It is the primary resource used to construct meanings in accounting. As such, the study reported on in this paper considers the relationship between language and learning in accounting education from a social semiotic perspective.


In 1990, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, conducted an inventory of rare plants within False Cape State Park. The goal was to provide data for the development of a management strategy to protect the Park's rare plants. There are 37 plants monitored by the Division of Natural Heritage that have been recorded within the Park and 30 were observed during the 1990 inventory, including 18 previously not recorded. Extensive populations of some of these species were observed. This number of rare plants species is higher than in any other area of equal size in Virginia. This high number is attributed to the location of False Cape, the density and quality of natural communities, and the existence of some rare community types. Once the inventory of rare plants was completed, management priorities were determined by identifying the habitats in False Cape with rare species. Seven habitats were noted, ranging from the marshes of Back Bay with 13 rare plant species to the maritime forest and wet, sandy roadsides with 2 rare species each. Management recommendations were prescribed to ameliorate threats to the rare plants in these habitats. The two major recommendations were monitoring and control of populations of Phragmiles communis (Cav.) Steudel in the marshes of Back Bay and the waterfowl impoundments and the monitoring of pig, horse, and deer damage to the interdunal swale flora . Despite some threats to False Cape State Park, the Park represents the most significant refuge for natural vegetation and rare plants within the Back Bay watershed and one of the most significant concentrations of rare plants within the Commonwealth. Introduction False Cape State Park is a 17 49 hectare State Park managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's Division of State Parks. The Park includes a stretch of Atlantic Ocean barrier spit bordered on the south by the North Carolina boundary, on the north by Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west by Back Bay. Numerous islands and marshes within Back Bay lie inside the Park's boundary including Cedar Island, Little Cedar Island, Simon Island, Horse Island, Big Ball Island, and Little Ball Island. Most of the Park and its vegetation are relatively undisturbed, except for the northern 10% which is impounded and managed for waterfowl through a cooperative agreement between the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The undisturbed vegetation in False Cape State Park can be described as parallel vegetation zones occurring north to south from the Atlantic Ocean west to Back Bay. The first zone encountered is primary dune dominated by Uniola paniculata L. which is found immediately west of the ocean beach. Ammophila breviligulata Fernald, Panicum amarum Elliott, Oenothera humifusa Nuttall, and Euphorbia polygonifolia L. are also common in this zone. A dune and swale topography creates alternating upland and wetland vegetation behind the primary dune. The higher, more xeric dunes, some still active with blow-outs, are sparsely vegetated with Hudsonia fomenfosa Nuttall, Panicum amarum Elliott, and other species tolerant of the xeric conditions. The low areas between dunes form seasonally-inundated pools, known as "interdunal swales" which are dominated by a diverse and varied assemblage of wetland herbs and shrubs. Some of the more common dominant species include Solidago fenuifolia Pursh, Andropogon virginicus L., Sparfina patens (Aiton) Muhl., and Salix caroliniana Michaux. Tyndall (1978) described the vegetation of a number of interdunal swales in the northeastern corner of the Park. Shrub thickets with Quercus virginiana Miller, Myrica cerifera L., and Myrica pensylvanica Loisel. are common between the high dunes and low swales in this zone. Proceeding westward, a maritime forest of Pinus faeda L. and Quercus virginiana Miller occurs interspersed with Myrica cerifera L. thickets and


This chapter characterizes production in a dynamic decision-making environment. The classic characterization of static firm decision making is contrasted with the dynamic decision environment where not all inputs are freely adjusted. The latter characterization is motivated by the conjecture that transaction costs are associated with adjusting the capital stock at a rapid rate per unit of time and these costs increase rapidly with the absolute rate of investment. In fact, these costs increase so rapidly that the firm may never attempt to achieve a jump in its capital stock at any given moment. Such transaction (or adjustment) costs have implications for the nature of the technology. This interplay is introduced in this chapter and serves as a foundation for the dynamic structure that follows throughout the book.


We propose an attention-attracting method for wall advertisements by using a virtual agent whose walk precedes passersby from the viewpoint of conforming behaviors. Conforming behaviors such as adapting opinions and actions to surrounding people are often seen in human communications. We focused on these psychological responses and designed a system that projects a virtual agent's walking animation on the wall surface around an advertisement in order to cause users to become interested in the advertisement. In this study, we verified whether a virtual agent provokes the user's conformity in walking behavior, and discussed whether the agent's walking behaviors indirectly attract the user's attention to a wall advertisement, changing his or her impression of the advertisement. The results suggest that the agent's walking speed and various behaviors toward the advertisement affects the passerby's walking behavior, his or her attention and interest on the advertisement, and the impressions of the advertisement itself.


English is being promoted as the most significant and widely used language in the world as a result of globalization in many countries, institutions and individuals. Studying functional models in the cultural system of a language is a good way to learn about culture. People of one culture exchange their views with representatives of another culture through intercultural dialogue. Cross-cultural communication is facilitated by the use of English. The study reveals the importance of intercultural communication, as well as its barriers and other problems. The main objectives of the study are to create vectors for the development of intercultural relations in the field of education, business and entrepreneurship, which will contribute to intercultural communication and improve business education. English is used as a tool to promote intercultural interaction between people from different countries. An empirical research method was used to obtain the proposed results.


Abstract The apolipoprotein E (APOE) involved in lipid metabolism participates in the clearance and deposition of the amyloid-beta peptide of the Alzheimer's disease (AD). The isoform APOE4 with the ARG112 mutation is the main genetic risk for the late-onset AD. Herein, using both molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics, the binding mechanisms of APOE4 leading to the AD are unraveled and now available for drug design. The binding affinities of APOE4 compared to the normal APOE3 are computed for the four cases: the bare APOE, APOE bound to the amyloid-beta peptide, APOE bound to a lipid nanoparticle mimicking the lipid effects and APOE bound to both amyloid-beta peptide and lipid nanoparticle. When APOE4 is bound to the amyloid-beta peptide, its structure becomes misfolded. Its binding free energy is higher than that of APOE3 in complex with the amyloid-beta peptide. Salt bridges for the APOE correct folding are missing in APOE4, resulting in an increased deposition of the amyloid-beta peptide, compared to APOE3, which can lead to the AD. When both amyloid-beta peptide and lipid nanoparticle are bound to APOE4, there is a detrimental cooperativity between the two misfolding effects, and amyloid-beta peptide deposition is even more significant. Immunotherapies with anti-APOE4 antibodies are promising for drug design against APOE4, but only non-lipidated APOE4 can be targeted. Gene editing is an interesting research alternative, because the genes APOε 4 and APOε 3 differ by only one nucleotide. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Synopsis: APOE docked to Aβ peptide and lipid nanoparticle. (a) APOE3 with CYS 112; (b) APOE4 with ARG112, main genetic risk of the late-onset Alzheimer disease. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma


We find three new exact solutions of the vacuum Einstein equations without cosmological constant in more than three dimensions. We consider globally hyperbolic spacetimes in which almost abelian Lie groups act on the spaces isometrically and simply transitively. We give left-invariant metrics on the spaces and solve Ricci-flat conditions of the spacetimes. In the four-dimensional case, our solutions correspond to the Bianchi type II vacuum solution. By our results and previous studies, all spatially homogeneous solutions whose spaces have zero-dimensional moduli spaces of left-invariant metrics are found. For the simplest solution, we show that each of the spatial dimensions cannot expand or contract simultaneously in the late-time limit.


Economics has some limitations, such as insecure multiple parties economical investment decision and leakage of business quotation. Secret image sharing (SIS) for (k, n)-threshold is such a technique that protects an image through splitting it into n shadows, a.k.a. shadow images or shares, assigned to n corresponding participants. The secret image can be disclosed by obtaining k or more shadows. Polynomial-based SIS and visual secret sharing (VSS) are the chief research branches. This paper first analyzes the insecure issues in economics and then introduces two methods to apply typical SIS schemes to improve economical security. Finally, experiments are realized to illustrate the efficiency of the methods.


Atomic number and laser intensity dependences of laser plasma soft-x-ray (SXR) emissions are presented, and the nonuniformities of line-shaped plasma SXR emission are studied with time- and spectrum- resolving. The SXR emissions of the half-cylindrical-shell target are investigated aiming at producing a more available plasma condition for x-ray lasering.


The paper aims to examine whether or not the balance of payments constrained growth model holds in Saudi Arabia. Also, the paper seeks to examine whether the balance of payments constrained growth model can predict Saudi Arabia's real GDP growth rate. In the long-run, the estimation results show that Saudi Arabia has an elastic income elasticity of demand for imports and an inelastic price elasticity of demand for imports. The McCombie test shows that the hypothetical income elasticity of demand for imports, which assumes balance of payments is in equilibrium, is not significantly different from the estimated income elasticity of demand for imports. The test was conducted by assuming that the terms of trade remains constants in the long-run and by including terms of trade effect. As a result, the paper provides evidence proving the validity of the Thirlwall's model in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the paper shows that Saudi Arabia's real GDP growth rate behaves in a similar fashion to the growth rate predicted by the balance of payments constrained growth model. In addition, the paper has provided an overview of Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision and how the balance of payments constrained growth model's recommendation can fit into Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision.


On Saturday December 17, 2016, Tunisia celebrated the six year anniversary of the Jasmine Revolution which was sparked off by the self-immolation of Bouazizi that started in Sidi Bouzid, a small town in the center of the country. The revolution in Tunisia led to a regional wave of uprisings spreading rapidly to Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Jordan and Syria. For over half a century, Tunisia lived under a dictatorial regime with a single powerful political party. The other parties, allowed in-between, had no power, being restricted in their movements and actions and only served to make the world believe that Tunisia was indeed democratic, as daily reported by Ben Ali's media. Since the independence of their country from colonial rule in 1956 Tunisia sustained major progress in relation to women's access to health and education services and the labor market; maternal mortality and fertility rates were halved, girls' enrolment in secondary school more than doubled and women were increasingly in paid employment. Moreover, despite the limited democratic space, the number of women in government grew significantly and women's organizations began to play a role in shaping social and political transformation. This paper argues that women's empowerment in Tunisia is largely rooted in the particular features of the elite post-independence bargain, early political choices regarding state–society relations and the associated policies in the areas  of education, health and labor, which increased women's access to resources. It also highlights the interaction between changes in law, policies promoting gender equality and women's capacity to mobilize. Women's increasing individual and collective agency in both the public and private spheres explains the existence of opportunities to consolidate women's empowerment in contemporary Tunisia. Cumulative change in different spheres has been mutually reinforcing, and may also have created resilience regarding potential reversals associated with the political changes brought about by the 'Arab Spring'. Tunisia's progress in women's empowerment provides valuable lessons on how women can obtain access to new resources and the way in which politics and power, and the struggles, dynamics and contestation that these generate can be used to challenge gender and social power relations. It demonstrates the importance of locating political paths of change – such as processes of women's empowerment – in the context of wider political settlements. Article visualizations:


Patients with bladder dysfunction are unable to perceive bladder volume and urinate spontaneously, and hence usually require catheterization. Personalized catheterization can effectively reduce the risk of urinary tract infections caused by catheterization. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can provide an effective tool for personalized catheterization by monitoring bladder volume. This study exploits the fringe effect of a 2D EIT sensor to derive the 3D volumetric information about bladder and improve the measurement consistency and accuracy of bladder volume under varied urine conductivities. The EIT sensor is optimized regarding the specified application of fringe effect. The parameters to be optimized include the electrode arrangement, the distance of electrode plane from bladder bottom, and the number of electrodes. Three evaluation criteria are proposed for the optimization. Simulation and experiment confirm the feasibility of the fringe effect-based method for bladder volume measurement, and the performances of the optimized sensor are illustrated. It is concluded that the fringe effect-based method has a better measurement consistency and accuracy against urine conductivity than the widelyused global impedance-based method, and hence provides a new promising alternative for bladder volume measurement.


Free amino acids detection and quantification in samples still calls for elaborated, powerful and usually high cost and sometimes time-consuming technologies such as gas chromatography, HPLC or highly selective and sensitive column-switching techniques. Here, we undertook to develop a simple, one-step, microtiter plate method to detect and/or quantify most D-amino acids in solutions based on the enzyme D-amino acid oxidase and the generation of stoechiometric amounts of hydrogen peroxide. Inclusion of horseradish peroxidase and OPD allows the determination of D- amino acid concentration through the absorbance of the reaction products as compared to serial dilutions of equimolar amounts of L/D amino acid standards. The methodology is easily adapted for a medium/high throughput analysis of amino acid racemase activities.


Correct identification of the true gauge symmetry of General Relativity being 3d spatial diffeomorphism invariant(3dDI) (not the conventional infinite tensor product group with principle fibre bundle structure), together with intrinsic time extracted from clean decomposition of the canonical structure yields a self-consistent theory of quantum gravity. A new set of fundamental commutation relations is also presented. The basic variables are the eight components of the unimodular part of the spatial dreibein and eight SU(3) generators which correspond to Klauder's momentric variables that characterize a free theory of quantum gravity. The commutation relations are not canonical, but have well defined group theoretical meanings. All fundamental entities are dimensionless; and the quantum wave functionals are preferentially in the dreibein representation. The successful quantum theory of gravity involves only broad spectrum of knowledge and deep insights but no exotic idea.


During initial evolution of human residences, the balance between human and nature was determined by nature and the relationship between human and nature was one-way. In the first stages of urbanization, humans did not have the required equipment for intervening in nature and upset the balance in it. Even after that, they would refrain from widely modification and destroying of nature when they became narrowly artisan. This balance was unhurt for a long time in history until the 19th century, where this relationship was broken by the rapid advancement of technology and as a result the increase in urbanization. Accordingly, presenting a model in order to preserve the relationship between human and nature in the city seems to be of a great significance. This research is carried out by a qualitative method in a descriptive-analytic form has reached a model through combining naturism, moralism, humanism and phenomenology as a novel approach in the relationship between human and nature in the city with an emphasis on the philosophical concept of nature and study of the types of the relationship between human, nature and city, nature during history and the current condition of nature in the cities.


The article discusses promising areas of research of professional activity of workers of metallurgical industries. The practice of taking into account occupational risks and occupational morbidity of employees of metallurgical industry enterprises shows that inefficient performance of labor functions in the course of professional activity may be associated with a distorted idea of the requirements that are imposed on the subject of labor and its professionally important qualities, and this, in turn, requires a certain professional readiness and adaptation to working conditions based on selection of coping strategies appropriate to the professional situation. One of the contradictions may be the current requirements for the professionally important qualities of employees of metallurgical industries, for their performance of certain labor functions within a particular position in accordance with professional standards and the inconsistency of the existing professional and personal characteristics of employees with existing qualification requirements. The assessment of the degree of digital support of metallurgical devices and production in general makes it possible to optimize not only the policy of economic development in general, but also the professional activity of an employee of metallurgical industries, in particular – on machines with software and in the management of complex production complex systems. Considering professional training as a dynamic process of forming an employee of metallurgical industries, such trends and priority areas of educational activity as the use of a collective form of educational interaction, the implementation of a differentiated approach to students, the use of electronic and mixed learning, the use of virtual and augmented reality technologies in educational practice, individualization of training and mentoring are highlighted. The implementation of the institute of mentoring in the metallurgical sphere is significant for increasing the success of the enterprise and, importantly, for the development of a person, an employee as a person and as a subject of activity, the disclosure of his professional and personal qualities in work, as a professional at various stages of professionalization. The identified promising areas of research of the professional activity of workers of metallurgical industries can lay the foundation for the creation and implementation of a systematic approach, a model of psychological support of professional activity aimed at the development of professional and personal constructive mechanisms of professional adaptation within the framework of professional activity in the metallurgical sphere.


nothing to offer. The distance between the material they offer and the reality of the typical supervisor's concerns is enormous. Even the case studies at the end of each chapter, which are perhaps the best parts of the book, sometimes seem tenuously attached to the preceding text. Management trainers and educators who are seriously concerned with the problem of helping either newly appointed or established supervisors to be more effective in their jobs, will long ago have rejected the approach this book offers. What is good in strong doses for the highflying MBA is almost certainly harmful even in such a diluted form for the average British supervisor with his limited education and distrust of things academic. Trainers or educators who are committed to bringing about real change, have to throw away such crutches as popular interpretations of Maslow, Herzberg and whoever else (even Mintzberg comes in for the same bowdlerisation), and get down on to the factor floor, laboratory, general office, timber yard, building site or wherever else real supervisors work. They have to study what supervisors actually do and analyse the role they play in particular organisations. They have to discover what are their real concerns, and those of their bosses, colleagues and people who work for them. Only in this


Loan agreement (minya agricultural development project) between the arab republic of egypt and the international fund for agricultural development. Rome, 13 december 1982


Space is becoming more commercialized. Despite of its delayed start-up, space activities in Korea are attracting more nation-wide supports from both investors and government. May 25, 2023, KSLV II, also called Nuri, successfully transported, and inserted seven satellites to a sun-synchronous orbit of 550 km altitude. However, Starlink has over 4,000 satellites around this altitude for its commercial activities. Hence, it is necessary for us to constantly monitor the collision risks of these satellites against resident space objects including Starlink. Here we report a quantitative research output regarding the conjunctions, particularly between the Nuri satellites and Starlink. Our calculation shows that, on average, three times everyday, the Nuri satellites encounter Starlink within 1 km distance with the probability of collision higher than 1.0E-5. A comparative study with KOMPSAT-5, also called Arirang-5, shows that its distance of closest approach distribution significantly differs from those of Nuri satellites. We also report a quantitative analysis of collision-avoiding maneuver cost of Starlink satellites and a strategy for Korea, being a delayed starter, to speed up to position itself in the space leading countries. We used the AstroOne program for analyses and compared its output with that of Socrates Plus of Celestrak. The two line element data was used for computation. 핵심어 : 충돌위험평가, 충돌회피, 저궤도 위성, 소형 위성


The microscopic diffusion and the low frequency density of states (VDOS) of PIM-EA-TB(CH3) are investigated by inelastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering where also the demethylated counterpart of PIM-EA-TB(H2) is considered. These intrinsic microporous polymers are characterized by large BET surface area values of several hundred m2/g and pore sizes between 0.5 and 2 nm. Detailed comparison is made to the archetype of polymers of intrinsic microporosity, PIM-1, and polynorbornenes also bearing a microporosity. Due to the wavelength of neutrons, the diffusion and vibrations can be addressed on microscopic length and time scales. From the inelastic neutron scattering experiments the low frequency density of states (VDOS) is estimated which shows excess contributions to the Debye-type VDOS known as Boson peak. It was found that the maximum frequency of the Boson peak decreases with increasing microporosity characterized by the BET surface area. However, besides the BET surface area, additional factors such as the backbone stiffness govern the maximum frequency of the Boson peak. Further the mean squared displacement related to microscopic motions was estimated from elastic fixed window scans. At temperatures above 175 K, the mean squared displacement PIM-EA-TB(CH3) is higher than that for the demethylated counterpart PIM-EA-TB(H2). The additional contribution found for PIM-EA-TB(CH3) is ascribed to the rotation of the methyl group in this polymer because the only difference between the two structures is that PIM-EA-TB(CH3) has methyl groups where PIM-EA-TB(H2) has none. A detailed comparison of the molecular dynamics is also made to that of PIM-1 and the microporous polynorbornene PTCNSi1. The manuscript focuses on the importance of vibrations and the localized molecular mobility characterized by the microscopic diffusion on the gas transport in polymeric separation membranes. In the frame of the random gate model localized fluctuations can open or close bottlenecks between pores to enable the diffusion of gas molecules.


Rehabilitation of RC members with stainless steel wire mesh and permeability polymer mortar is a new method of structural strengthening with the advantages of resistance to fire, corrosion and ageing. Experiments were conducted to investigate the flexural behavior of 6 strengthened RC beams and 1 comparative RC beam under different types of loadings. The experimental results showed that the flexural load-carrying capacity and stiffness were increased effectively and the propagation of cracks was reduced obviously by the rehabilitation. Based on the test results, the design formulae of flexural load-carrying capacity, stiffness and maximum crack width are proposed, and a computer analysis program is developed. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental ones. The calculation method proposed in this paper can be applied to the retrofit designs of RC structures.


OBJECTIVE: To describe growth in moderately preterm-born children, determine the prevalence of growth restraint at the age of 4, and identify predictors of growth restraint. We hypothesized that growth in moderately preterm-born children differs from growth in term-born children and that growth restraint is more prevalent in those born prematurely. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a community-based cohort study of 1123 children born moderately prematurely (gestational age [GA]: 32–3567 weeks) between January 2002 and June 2003. RESULTS: On average, we found that moderately preterm-born children were shorter and weighed less at each assessment during the first 4 years of life than their term-born counterparts. Thirty-two boys (5.6%) and 18 girls (3.8%) were growth-restricted in height, and 21 boys (3.4%) and 27 girls (5.8%) were growth-restricted in weight. Their growth in head circumference was normal compared with term-born children. In addition, growth restraint was associated with being small for GA at birth (odds ratio [OR] for height: 7.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.9–20.4]; OR for weight: 9.5 [95% CI: 3.9–23.1]) and maternal height below −1 SD (OR for height: 4.9 [95% CI: 2.6–10.2]; OR for weight: 2.6 [95% CI: 1.3–5.2]). Poor head-circumference growth was associated with a low level of maternal education (OR: 5.3 [95% CI: 1.4–20.8]). CONCLUSIONS: Growth in moderately preterm-born children significantly differs from that of term-born children. Predictors at birth are being small for GA, maternal height below −1 SD, and a low level of maternal education. The fact that growth in moderately preterm-born children may lag warrants close monitoring during routine practice. Additional research on prevention of growth restraint is needed.


One of the most used engineering polymer is the Poly (ethylene terephthalate), or PET. However, when PET is recycled it shows, a fragile behavior and low impact resistance. This paper studies the toughening mechanism of PET and an elastomeric copolymer EPDM, to analyze the influence of EPDM on the blend crystallinity. PET/EPDM-g-MA blends were made with weight proportion: 95/5, 90/10 and 85/15. Also, the same blend proportion (PET/EPDM) was mixed using 3% of PE-g-MA as coupling agent. The blends were processed in twin screw mixer, and after specimens for mechanical test were injected molded. The samples were characterized by hardness, density, color and % of crystallinity. Hardness results showed that the blend compatibilized with PE-gMA had its value decreased more than the blend with EPDM-g-MA. This behavior might be granted to different % of crystallinity of each blend. The PET/EPDM-g-MA blend showed to be more crystalline than the PET/EPDM/PEg-AM. Such crystallinity may explain the higher fragile behavior due to have less amorphous phase than the other blend. Both, EPDM elastomers proved to be a successful toughening agent, and the PE-g-MA proved to be a successful coupling agent by creating a stable interface between PET and EPDM and amorphous phase to increase impact resistance.


Part 1 Data collection and audit of school behaviour, policy and practice: questionnaires for teachers a questionnaire for pupils questions for pupils with EBD observation sheets data analysis. Part 2 Skills for promoting positive behaviour using peer support systems: communication skills and a language of discipline models for managing behaviour and discipline classroom discipline plans in the context of school behaviour policies a "behaviour curriculum" and individual needs. Part 3 Presenting cases to the peer support group: a worked example a timetable checklist for setting up peer support.


The work is concerned with three kinds of fourth-order impulsive differential equations with nonlinear boundary conditions. We at first focused on studying the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions for these kinds of problems. By converting the problem to an equivalent integral equation, then applying the new class of fixed point theorems for the sum operator on cone, we obtain the sufficient conditions which not only guarantee the existence of a unique positive solution, but also be applied to construct two iterative sequences for approximating it. Further, we present the numerical methods for solving the fourth-order differential equations. At last, some examples are given with numerical verifications to illustrate the main results.


For the field or Eulerian description of heat conduction, a method is discussed associated with description of thermal fields by a variational principle involving suitably constructed potentials rather than original physical variables. The considered processes are: simple hyperbolic heat transfer and coupled parabolic transfer of heat, mass and electric charge. By using various gradient or nongradient representations of original physical fields in terms of potentials, which are quantities of similar sort as those which Clebsch used in his representation of hydrodynamic velocity, suitable action-type criteria can be found, and corresponding Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms can be developed. Symmetry principles can also be considered and components of energy-momentum tensor can be evaluated for a gauged lagrangian. The limiting reversible case appears as a suitable reference frame. The results suggest that thermodynamic irreversibility does not change neither kinetic potential nor action functional; it only complicates potential representations of physical fields in comparison with those describing the reversible evolution.


For me, this month brings the familial duty of caring for a relative's beloved pet while they go on an extended vacation. Despite the inevitable worry that comes with caring for someone else's pet, it has been wonderful to observe the pure joy my daughter feels when playing, patting and 'training' the dog to literally jump through hoops. I think I can safely say that the dog has also gained much pleasure from being doted on by an enthusiastic seven-year-old. This observation started a stream of thought about what, if anything, we know about animals' contributions to the well-being of children who live in out-of-home care (OHC). This, in turn, led to a brief examination of the literature on this topic, which I will share with you here.


Severe obesity (SO) can be associated with lung function abnormalities, systemic inflammation and arterial deoxygenation. To determine the functional characteristics and the possible association with systemic and airway inflammation in SO subjects before and 1 year after bariatric surgery (BS). Prevalence of arterial deoxygenation and its correlation with co-morbidities, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic syndrome (MS) were also assessed. We included 129 subjects (46±12 yrs; BMI, 46±6 kg/m 2 ); 87 subjects had OSA and 100 subjects had MS. Twenty healthy subjects with normal weight served as controls. Before BS, except for low ERV and low PaO 2 (83±12 mmHg according to reference values [predicted mean, 91 mmHg]), obese subjects had normal lung function. Ninety-four (73% of total) patients had low PaO 2 (77±8 mmHg). All serum and exhaled biomarkers in obese were higher than in healthy subjects (p 2 and waist than those without OSA (p 2 (77±9 mmHg). MS subjects had lower FVC, FEV 1 , TLC and 6MWD (p 0.05) than those without MS. Multiple regression analysis showed that biomarkers and co-morbidities were not associated with lower PaO 2 , but FVC and waist were significant factors (r 2 , 0.32, p 0.01). After BS, patients had a 76±18% of excess weight loss with an overall lung function and systemic and airway inflammation improvement (p 0.01). Elderly and low FEV 1 were associated with low PaO 2 (r 2 , 0.28, p 0.01). In SO subjects low PaO 2 values continue to be common, mostly in those with OSA. However, central obesity can be influential on arterial deoxygenation before BS. Supported by FIS PI080311, CIBERES and Almirall.


Lack of knowledge on how to properly use resistance training equipment and the confidence to perform exercises correctly are major barriers to beginning an exercise program. Creating fitness instructional videos for use on an MPEG 4 (mp4) player provides visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning opportunities in a real world setting. Exercise equipment demonstrations and short exercise routines are presented in their natural settings with the incorporation of Techy Trainer videos on mp4 player technology. This article discusses how to develop, edit, and post self-guided video training, download to mp4 players, and evaluate client confidence and learning.


This compilation lists abstracts of papers, internal reports, and talks presented during 1975 at national and international meetings by members of the Geoscience and Engineering Section, Inorganic Materials Division, Chemistry and Materials Science Department, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Titles of talks at university and local meetings are also listed when available. The subjects range from the in situ retorting of coal to the temperature profile of the moon. A subject classification is included.


Abstract In many Native American and Canadian First Nations communities, indigenous languages are important for the linguistic construction of ethnic identity. But because many younger speakers have limited access to their heritage languages, English may have an even more important role in identity construction than Native languages do. Prior literature shows distinctive local English features in particular tribes. Our study builds on this knowledge but takes a wider perspective: We hypothesize that certain features are shared across much larger distances, particularly prosody. Native cultural insiders (the first two co-authors) had a central role in this project. Our recordings of seventy-five speakers in three deliberately diverse locations (Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North/South Dakota; Northwest Territories, Canada; and diverse tribes represented at Dartmouth College) show that speakers are heteroglossically performing prosodic features to index Native ethnic identity. They have taken a 'foreign' language (English) and enregistered these prosodic features, creatively producing and reproducing a shared ethnic identity across great distances. (Native Americans, prosody, ethnicity, ethnic identity, English, dialects)*


The invention discloses a medical information management system based on a computer network, which can transfer information to a user terminal through a communication network. The medical information management system comprises a center end server and a plurality of medical servers which are communicated with the center end server, wherein each medical server is used for realizing communication with a plurality of user terminals, and each medical server and the center end server both store at least partly same medical information. Because a clinical path method is implemented through a computer network system and clinical path execution steps are managed through the medical information management system, great convenience is provided for daily work of clinical doctors and nurses, the efficiency of clinical path execution is increased, and the reliability of clinical path execution is ensured.


The new technique of local electrolytic polishing (Ellopol) already used with great success for the majority of metallic surfaces is remarkably suitable for uranium, uranium alloys, zirconium and its alloys, thorium, and vanadium. In addition to the micrographs it gives, this technique presents substantial advantages over traditional electrolytic procedures (ease of operation and very low consumption of electrolyte whose composition does not change). Finally, it can be applied to samples of any shape and size, which is valuable for nondestructive control. When the surface can not be observed directly, a plastic replica method, which is not described, can be used. (tr-auth)


PurposeThis study investigates factors in consumer trust and purchase intention through omnichannel retailing. The theoretical framework is an extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model, with additional factors including time-saving and trust as explanatory variables.Design/methodology/approachThe study drew on a sample of Thai consumers aged 18 and over (n = 408), with data collected through an online survey. Analysis was based on a structural equation modelling (SEM) approach, employing confirmatory factor analysis.FindingsThe analysis showed that attitudes towards omnichannel retailing had the strongest effect on purchase intention, followed by subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and information search. All variables except attitudes to omnichannel retailing had moderate effect sizes. Analysis also showed that attitudes towards omnichannel retailing had a significant (though only moderately strong) effect on consumer trust towards omnichannel retailing. Subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and time-saving also had significant effects on consumer trust, although these effects were all weaker than the effect of attitudes. Finally, time-saving had a significant and strong effect on perceived behavioural control.Originality/valueThese findings show that both personal attitudes towards omnichannel retailing and technology characteristics can influence user acceptance. Its practical implication is that retailers need to consider the psychological needs and attitudes of their customers before implementing omnichannel tools. Theoretically, there is a need for more empirical research into the consumer decision for omnichannel retailing. This is particularly true since omnichannel retailing is a relatively new retail strategy which consumers may not yet fully understand.


The invention discloses a production process of a light guide plate. The production process comprises the following steps: embossing two or more than two optical patterns on a soft mold; horizontally suspending the soft mold on an embossing roller machine; cutting an acrylic board; sucking the acrylic board on a coating platform and coating with coating resin; after the coating operation is finished, carrying out air drying on the acrylic board coated with the coating resin by a deionized air drying machine; transferring the patterns from the soft mold to the acrylic board in a rolling way; irradiating the acrylic board with UV ray; cutting the acrylic board into a light guide plate with a specific size according to required specification; and packaging. The production process has the advantages of high coating speed, high production efficiency and the like.


This paper analyzes four groups of children's images in the poetry of Robert Frost,namely children in the industrial world,children in broken families,lonely children in the wasteland and playful growing-up children.Through the analysis,the author tries to explore the cultural and ethical implications embodied in these poems that modern industrial development,while producing conveniences and rising of living standard,bring with it negative impact on human,including children,that is,cold human relation,an inability of feelings,loneliness in spiritual wasteland.These poems also reveals that for children,a healthy and caring family is of vital importance,while children in broken and cold family can only ill-develop in the shadow.


Periphrasable-metaphorical tombstone inscriptions from the polish cemetery in Adampol (Turkey) The subject of this study is a cultural and poetical analysis of the periphrasable – metaphorical tombstone inscriptions from a Polish cemetery in Adampol (Turkey). Adampol is a Polish village in Turkey. It has been created in 1842. The Polish cemetery located there is a source of interesting information regarding the local Polish society. The tombstone inscriptions show the culture and interference mainly between two different cultures – Polish, closely tied with Christianity, and Turkish, tied with Islam. One of the tombstones analysed shows elements of Hindu culture which makes it a very interesting research material. This paper focuses only on the inscriptions that use figurative language. The material from this cemetery includes only seven tombstones with this kind of epitaphs.


Structural frequency-response testing, also known as "modal analysis", is becoming an integral part of the development and testing of a wide range of industrial and consumer products. It is an essential tool for the definition and solution of many types of structural dynamics problems, such as fatigue, vibration, and noise. The Authors discuss one of the most useful techniques for experimental frequency-response testing, based upon excitation of the structure with an impulsive force. Although simple and fast, the nature of the excitation and response signals in the impulse process requires special signal-processing techniques if accurate frequency-response measurements are to be obtained. The application of the impulse technique is discussed and the special problems encountered and methods of dealing with them are reviewed.


Abstract New surfactant ruthenium complexes, [Ru(X)(Y)(L8 or 12)]n+, were synthesized by the reaction of [RuCl2(η6-p-cymene)]2 with L8 or 12 in methanol or DMSO, where L8 or 12 stands for tetradentate 6,6′-bis(N-octyl-or laurylbenzimidazolyl)-2,2′-bipyridine. The complexes formed stable monolayer films on the Langmuir trough at the air-water interface and were transferred to a glass plate. The π-A isotherms indicate the phase transition between expanded liquid state and the solid state at around 14 mNm−1, and monolayer collapses at a pressure of 45 mNm−1. This phase transition may be interpreted in terms of a change of molecular orientation. The structure of the LB films on glass were discussed.


The OPERA neutrino detector built in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory is designed to detect muon-neutrino to tau-neutrino oscillations in direct appearance mode. The hybrid apparatus consists of an emulsion/lead target complemented by electronic detectors. It is placed in the long-baseline CERN to Gran Sasso neutrino beam (CNGS) 730 km away from the source. OPERA is taking data since 2008 and a first ντ interaction candidate was published in 2010 base on a subsample of the data recorded in the first two year.


ABSTRACT "Being Muslim" is a complex identity formation process that involves negotiating what is considered "Islamic" or "non-Islamic" selves in various localized and globalized contexts. At the crossroad of Islam and popular culture, divergent Muslim cultural producers influence how contemporary Muslim cultures and identities are produced and negotiated in both normative and disruptive ways. Using "celebrity" as a cultural formation with a social function, this article examines shifting dynamics, contradictions, tensions, and negotiation processes within the Muslim cultural production fields (both physical and virtual) that involve "dominant" popular Islamic preachers in northern Nigeria and "emerging" Muslim superstars in the Kannywood entertainment industry. By examining how some popular Islamic preachers (who are opposed to Kannywood celebrity culture) have transformed into religious celebrities themselves, and how Kannywood superstars crafted their identities as Muslim celebrities, the article shows that an assertion of one's Muslim identity in a cultural setting dominated by Islamist movements does not necessarily indicate an endorsement of those movements' reform agendas. Instead, it can challenge those movements' interpretations of Islam through alternative ways of being Muslim in subtle ways – a dynamic that reveals processes at work in the reconstruction of "being Muslim" in the contemporary world.


Purchaser loyalty reward system in which a single member to introduce an additional member to the program. Members do business with distributors to participate in (to purchase), the seller will be sent to the processing center the details of the transaction. Merchant also transfer funds equal to a percentage of the amount of the transaction to the processing center. Processing center, compares the amount of the membership of the transaction of the seller of the program, to determine the reward amount. Attributed award amount for a given member, (a) the average amount of the transaction given a predetermined ratio of the amount of members of the transaction with the merchant, and (b) members that are introduced into the program by a given member , it is preferably not smaller of. Processing center, pay the award amount for a given member. System, it is possible to use a different proportion as the reward amount, it can also be included in the limit on the number of introduction member.


The terms multiliteracies, multimodal literacy, digital literacies, and technology integration are often confused with one another. In this column, the author argues that understanding the differences between the concepts can help build clarity when designing instruction. Position statements by the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association are examined as representative of how the four concepts are often used interchangeably. Key aspects of each concept as well as the limitations of each concept are identified. The author argues that despite its limitations, a pedagogy of multiliteracies offers a comprehensive approach to supporting literacy learning in order to address the demands of a global, diverse information and technology based society.


1 Ishii S, Streim JE, Saliba D. A conceptual framework for rejection of care behaviors: review of literature and analysis of role of dementia severity. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2012; 13: 11–23. 2 Valentijn SA, van Boxtel MP, van Hooren SA et al. Change in sensory functioning predicts change in cognitive functioning: results from a 6-year follow-up in the Maastricht aging study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2005; 53: 374–380. 3 Gopinath B, Wang JJ, Schneider J et al. Depressive symptoms in older adults with hearing impairments: the Blue Mountains Study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2009; 57: 1306–1308. 4 Sindhusake D, Mitchell P, Smith W et al. Validation of selfreported hearing loss. The Blue Mountains Hearing Study. Int J Epidemiol 2001; 30: 1371–1378. 5 Valete-Rosalino CM, Rozenfeld S. Auditory screening in the elderly: comparison between self-report and audiometry. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2005; 71: 193–200.


The study investigated Senior High School (SHS) Social Studies Teachers' Formative Assessment Conceptions and Beliefs. A sample of sixty (60) SHS Social Studies teachers from eleven (11) Senior High Schools from the Tamale and Cape Coast Metropolis and West Mamprusi and Senya districts. Using explanatory sequential mixed methods design under the mixed methods research approach, questionnaire and semi-structured interview were adopted for data collection on the teachers' conception and beliefs of formative assessment. Analysing the data sequentially, the quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics generated through the use of SPSS with correlation analysis conducted. The semi-structured interview data, was analysed through detailed narrative description. Drawing largely on data from both instruments, the results from the questionnaire phase revealed generally that SHS Social Studies teachers have adequate understanding of what formative assessment is and for that matter perceive and used it appropriately for its ideal purpose.  A correlation analysis of the variables (conceptions and beliefs of formative assessment) revealed that there is a statistically, positive correlation between the SHS Social Studies teachers' conceptions and beliefs of formative assessment. The study among others revealed that SHS Social Studies teachers theoretically understand what formative assessment is especially in the questionnaire data. The questionnaire data was to a large extent, inconsistent with the interview findings. Based on the findings, the study recommends among others that efforts need to be taken to help improve SHS Social Studies teachers' formative assessment knowledge and understanding of formative assessment for purposes of improving both teaching and learning. Keywords: Success criteria, Formative feedback, Descriptive feedback, Self-assessment, Peer-assessment. DOI : 10.7176/RHSS/9-16-01 Publication date : August 31 st 2019