Background: Breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors (AIs) can develop endothelial dysfunction, a measure of increased CV risk. Stress modifying techniques such as MBSR may improve CV function and quality of life (QOL). We present data of a pilot study assessing the impact of MBSR on endothelial dysfunction and psychosocial outcomes. Methods: 31 women with locally advanced breast cancer and taking an AI were randomized 1:1 to 8 weekly MBSR classes or wait-list control. Subjects with tobacco use, known hypertension or hyperlipidemia were excluded. Participants completed surveys and vascular testing at baseline and 10 weeks. With the COVID 19 pandemic, MBSR classes were held on a virtual platform. Endothelial function was measured using the Endo-PAT2000 system;reductions in EndoPAT ratio (<1.6) are indicative of worsening endothelial function and increased CV risk. Questionnaires included the CDC's 4-item Healthy Days Core Module (HRQOL), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-8 for depression, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Functional test markers were compared between groups using t-tests. Results: Baseline mean age was 59 years, body mass index was 28.4 kg/m2, mean systolic blood pressure was 128.1 mmHg and cholesterol was 226.9 mg/dL. These measures did not differ between groups. Baseline EndoPAT ratio (0.60) and follow up (0.52) were low in all participants. As statewide COVID- 19 cases spiked, 3/31 participants did not return for a second assessment, and for another 5 participants, one EndoPAT ratio measurement was not interpretable. Both groups showed a decline in EndoPat ratio pre-to-post, but the decline among MBSR participants (all of whom completed the intervention) was five times less than that observed among controls [Table]. Groups did not differ on QOL or psychosocial outcomes. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors on AIs have endothelial dysfunction, a measure of increased CV risk. Stress reduction techniques, using virtual platforms, are feasible and acceptable to this patient population, and may help improve endothelial function. Further research and longer follow up is warranted in understanding the longterm impact of these interventions on CV risk and psychosocial well-being. Mean difference scores between pre- and postintervention values, participants with complete EndoPat Ratio value pairs only, N=23.


Protected areas of the Eastern Plains Landscape, eastern Cambodia have been identified as critical for the conservation of wild Asian elephant Elephas maximus in Indochina. A 2006 study in Seima Protected Forest, using fecal-DNA samples and capture-mark-recapture analysis, estimated an Asian elephant population of between 101 and 139 individuals. We conducted a similar fecal-DNA based capture-mark-recapture study in order to establish a monitoring baseline for Asian elephant in two additional protected areas, Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary (PPWS) and Mondulkiri Protected Forest (MPF), in the Eastern Plains Landscape. Five field sampling sessions between February and May 2009 collected 270 fecal samples from the core areas of PPWS (226 samples) and MPF (44 samples). Samples were sent to the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India for genotyping. Amplification rates varied between survey teams and sampling sessions but overall were 68%. A total of 98 wild Asian elephant individuals were identified; 78 in PPWS and 21 in MPF. Using model-averaging of biologically plausible closed capture-mark-recapture models in software MARK the Asian elephant population in PPWS was estimated at 136 ± SE 18 individuals. Using continuousoccasion capture-mark-recapture models in software CAPWIRE the PPWS population was estimated at between 101 and 175 (mean estimate 154) individuals. No individual Asian elephants were recaptured between sampling sessions within MPF and thus the number of individuals recorded, 21, must be regarded as a minimum population estimate for the protected area. Recaptures of elephants within PPWS provided evidence of movements within the protected area particularly in, and around, the Kranchilok semi-evergreen forest block. This area appears to support the majority of the PPWS Asian elephant population during the dry-season and requires the highest level of protection. One individual Asian elephant was recorded in both PPWS and MPF, suggesting that at least some elephants use both protected areas, thus highlighting that landscape scale management across protected area boundaries is essential for the persistence of a viable Asian elephant population in the landscape. GPS or satellite collaring is recommended to further understand Asian elephant movements across the Eastern Plains Landscape. As part of the WWF Greater Mekong 2011-2015 strategic plan Asian elephant population monitoring, using the same methodologies as in this study, will be repeated every 3-4 years.


Reports based on experimental work concerning the effect of the salts of theobromine and caffeine, and later of theophylline, on the volume flow in the coronary arteries, began to appear shortly after the clinical report of Askanazy 1 in 1895. Taken as a whole, the collective evidence points definitely to a vasodilator action of these drugs on the coronary vessels. The work has been done almost entirely on preparations of the isolated heart, and with suspension preparations of arterial strips. While, for the most part, the results of such experiments can safely be taken as evidence of the actual pharmacologic effect of the drug clinically, there are certain objections. Especially is this true when there is a possibility that the action is a direct one on the vessel wall. In perfusion experiments a constant supply of the drug is reaching the tissues in a fixed dilution, permitting any amount to be


Humans have lived on earth for millions of years, yet the study of population history only began to be established in the mid-twentieth century. Henry's method of family reconstitution, which relies on parish registers, has resulted in considerable progress in the study of historical demography in Europe and other areas. But because data are lacking, there were hardly any detailed studies of fertility and mortality before the sixteenth century, and very little is known about demographic changes in early human history. This paper consists of an analysis of a set of Chinese genealogies to examine long-term mortality patterns in a selected clan population over a period of more than 1,000 years. By using these data, as well as findings reported by other scholars, we shall present some tentative suggestions about long-term mortality change in Chinese history.


It is known that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected several sectors, several individuals, in a potentiating way, including the elderly, who have been the focus of worrying news, victims of this virus, because they are part of the risk zone, because of their comorbidities involved. In this work, the main object of study is to investigate the impact of social isolation among Brazilians during the COVID-19 pandemic period. To this end, we discuss the repercussions on socio-emotional feelings and the lifting of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. The study was qualitative, based on an exploratory qualitative theoretical perspective. Initially, we had the literature review, bringing authors on the theme presented here. The results showed that social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated problems that affect people's mental health, such as anxiety, depression, insecurity, insomnia. It is concluded, therefore, that the subjects deserve attention, even after the end of isolation, since the damages are real.


Descartes' Philosophy of Nature. By James Collins. Oxford: Blackwell, 1971, Pp. viii, 99, $6.00. Materialism and Sensations. By James W. Cornman. New Haven: Yale University Press; Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1971, Pp. xiii, 352, $11.00. Return from Enlightenment. By Forest K. Davis. Adamant, Vt.: Adamant. Press, 1971, Pp. xi, 160, Paper $4.95, Cloth $6.95. The Justification of Scientific Change. By Carl R. Kordig. New York: Humanities Press, 1971, Pp. xiv, 119, $11.00. Philosophy in the Age of Crisis. By Eleanor Kuykendall (ed.). New York: Harper & Row, 1970, Pp. xi, 498. History, Man, and Reason. By Maurice Mandelbaum. Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins Press; Toronto: Copp Clark, 1971, Pp. xi, 553, $16.50. Progress and Regress in Philosophy, Vol. II. By Leonard Nelson, trans. by Humphrey Palmer. Oxford: Basil Blackwell; Toronto: Copp Clark, 1971, Pp. xiii, 305, $14.25. Humanism and Marx's Thought. By Howard L. Parsons. Springfield, 111.: Charles C. Thomas; Scarborough, Ont.: McGraw-Hill, 1971, Pp. xiii, 421, $22.50. Jose Ortegay Gasset: Philosopher of European Unity. By Harold C. Raley. University, Ala.: University of Alabama Press, 1971, Pp. xiii, 247, $8.75. A Theory of Reasons for Action. By David A. J. Richards. London & Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 1971, Pp. xiv, 370, $15.50. The Realm of Perception. By Zohra Saiyidain. Simla, India: Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 1970, Pp. xi, 238, $8.00. Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance. By Wesley C. Salmon. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1971, Pp. ix, 117,


We present the induced probabilistic ordered weighted averaging distance (IPOWAD) operator. It is a new distance measure that uses probabilistic information and induced aggregation operators. Thus, this model is able to assess problems where we have some kind of objective information and the attitudinal character of the decision-maker is very complex and can be assessed with order-inducing variables that represent this attitude. We study some of it main properties and a wide range of particular cases including the arithmetic probabilistic distance, the arithmetic induced OWAD, the probabilistic distance, the normalized probabilistic distance, the probabilistic OWAD and many others. We also develop an application of the IPOWAD in a decision-making model regarding investment selection.


In the present study, the effects of thermal and velocity slip on steady boundary layer magnetohydrodynamic flow, heat and mass transfer of an incompressible upper convected Maxwell fluid over a permeable stretching sheet are analyzed. Similarity transformation technique is adopted to obtain the self-similar coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations and then the self-similar equations are solved numerically using Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg integration technique with shooting method. The velocity and temperature fields are enhanced by increasing values of velocity and thermal slip parameters respectively. The wall shear stress, rates of heat and mass transfer are enhanced by the increments in the values of thermal and velocity slip parameters. The presence of thermal and velocity slip on the flow fields is found to be of great significance to the investigation.


It is increasingly recognised that there are challenges affecting the current delivery of dementia diagnoses. Steps are required to address this. Current good practice guidelines provide insufficient direction and interventions from other healthcare settings do not appear to fully translate to dementia care settings. This project has taken a sequential two-phase design to developing a tool specific to dementia diagnostic delivery. Interviews with 14 participants explored good diagnostic delivery. Thematic analysis produced key themes (overcoming barriers, navigation of multiple journeys and completing overt and covert tasks) that were used to inform the design of a tool for use by clinicians, patients and companions. The tool was evaluated for acceptability in focused group discussions with 13 participants, which indicated a desire to use the tool and that it could encourage good practice. Adaptations were highlighted and incorporated to improve acceptability. Future research is now required to further evaluate the tool.


Objective A pulsed electromagnetic fields(PEMF) device with adjustable parameters designed for bone cell culture was designed according to the principle of pulsed electromagnetic fields as an effective physical factor to regulate the growth of bone cells. Functions of hardware and software were introduced as well as the design of the stimulating board. Method Based on previous research result, the device was designed to generate electromag- netic pulse with intensity of 4-6 mT and frequency of 8 Hz. The stimulating board was designed according to the size of cell culture plate. Up to six plates are allowed to be placed on the board simultaneously. Magnetic material was in- troduced to assure the uniform magnetic field. Results Functions of the device were tested and designed parameters were proved to be accomplished. The electromagnetic field generated on the surface of the stimulating board was uni- form. Conclusion All parameters designed are accomplished and the magnetic field detected on the surface of the board is uniform and ready be used as a physical factor in the up-coming experiment of bone cell culture.

Key words:
Pulsed electromagnetic fields;  .Physical factor; Bone cell


Objective: Nasal extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma is a rare aggressive lesion, characterized by a destructive process of the upper respiratory tract that has an unusual and rapid evolution. Diagnosis is often difficult and requires expert clinical examination and analysis of biopsies using immunohistochemistry. Case report: 34 years-old man with no relevant medical history, presented with an asymptomatic necrotizing lesion on palate and nasal obstruction. Two biopsies were performed with no conclusive results. By the third time, atypical lymphoid tissue was found surrounded by intense necrosis. The diagnosis was conf irmed by immunohistochemistry. Chemotherapy was the treatment of choice follow by radiotherapy. The patient presented satisfactory evolution but one year after treatment a recidive was detected and patient died 5 months later from lung metastasis. Conclusion:Suspicious ulcerative lesions in the midline head and neck region must have extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma as differential diagnosis and repeated biopsies should be taken to confirm diagnosis.


Objective The objective of this paper was to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and serum triiodothyronine (T3) in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods 156 cases of CHF patients and 75 cases of cardiac function I patients hospitalized over the same period were utilized in this study. On admission, the patient's BNP and T3 plasma concentrations were measured. The correlation analysis of plasma BNP and T3 in CHF patients with cardiac function classification was conducted. Results According to the NYHA grading systems, the plasma BNP levels in patients with II, III, and IV grade CHF were significantly higher than those with cardiac function I (P < 0.05); BNP levels and NYHA grading of cardiac function correlated positively. The BNP concentrations increased with CHF progression (P < 0.01). The T3 level and NYHA grading of cardiac function correlated negatively. The T3 level decreased as the degree of heart failure increased. Using CHF in combination with BNP to predict the occurrence of CHF had a sensitivity value of 90.8% with 95.5% specificity, 86.3% accuracy, and a negative predictive value of 87.7%. Conclusions Plasma BNP was more sensitive than T3 in the diagnosis of CHF. The T3 was more meaningful than the BNP in the prognosis of CHF. The BNP and T3 combination detection was more valuable in determining the severity of CHF and prognosis.


Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease which is caused by the dengue virus. Dengue infection is one of the most significant mosquito-transmitted infections which is common in >100 tropical and subtropical countries. Dengue fever is becoming a serious health risk these days and it shortly needs treatment against the increasing problems around the globe and the existence of resisting mutants of dengue virus. In this study the problem of designing an anti-dengue drug with more effectiveness has been solved by using computer aided drug designing. Computer-aided drug design (CADD) entails the use of biochemical information of ligand- receptor interaction sequentially to hypothesize the drugs refinements. Docking of selected ligands, having anti- dengue activity with the active-site of protein 2FOM, was done to find the biochemical information. Docking interactions were interpreted in the form of hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and ionic interactions. On the basis of this interaction analysis and IC50 value, one of the ligand was recognized as 'lead compound'. Seven analogues of the lead compound were designed and docked with the active site of protein. Interactions of the analogues with the active site of 2FOM protein were analyzed. On the basis of activity and high binding interactions these compounds will be suggested for clinical testing and synthesis in laboratory as a future plan. Keywords: Anti-Dengue Agents; Lead Compound; Computer Aided Drug Design(CADD); IC50; Ligand- Receptor Interactions; Analogs; DENV-proteases like NS3/NS2B protease receptor (2FOM); Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR). Abbreviations: DENV=Dengue Virus; ADE=Antibody-Dependent Enhancement; CADD= Computer Aided Drug Design; QSAR= Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship; IC50= The half maximal inhibitory concentration.


Across the Middle Ages, Continental French texts satirised the French spoken by Englishmen, with particular comic value attached to their alleged tendency unwittingly to use foutre and other obscene terms. Since the Anglophones' jargon relies on grotesque parody of attested morpho-syntactical and phonological features of Insular French, this article assesses whether there may also be a lexical kernel of truth underlying the satire by exploring the frequency and context of occurrence of specific items of sexual vocabulary in Anglo-Norman texts, including fabliaux, comic monologues and dialogues, courtly narratives, manieres de langage, word-lists and glosses, legal records, and medical writing.


Abstract Statistical surveillance for autocorrelated Poisson counts has drawn considerable attention recently. These works are usually based on a first-order integer-valued autoregressive model and focus on monitoring separately either the marginal mean or the autocorrelation coefficient. Inspired by multivariate statistical process control, this article transforms autocorrelated Poisson counts into a bivariate representation and proposes an efficient control chart. By borrowing the power of the likelihood ratio test, albeit surprisingly, this chart demonstrates almost uniformly stronger power than the existing alternatives in simultaneously detecting shifts in both the marginal mean and the autocorrelation coefficient. In addition, the robustness of the proposed chart against overdispersion encountered often in counts is also verified. It is shown that this chart also has superiority in monitoring autocorrelated overdispersed counts.


We propose a parallel interference cancellation technique for two-dimensional optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) system. In the proposed system, we estimate the multiple access interference (MAI) by group information codes. This new interference cancellation technique can be realized with simple structures. Performance analysis shows that it can improve the bit error rate (BER) performance, and increases the number of simultaneous users in the system.


Personal information as a strategic resource of the most valuable in the 20th century, the importance of it does not have words to say. However, our country has no a "Personal Information Protection Law "to regulate the collection, processing and use of information, often resulting in an embarrassing situation in reality. Because of the many types of liability act in violation of the personal information , and civil law contact our daily lives most closely , so this passage introduce personal information through a clear connotation and extension as well as its constituent elements , focuses on civil liability for acts of violation of personal information in the tort liability and breach of contract , combined with the recently revised "Consumer Protection Law" briefly introduce special areas of personal information protection issues.


Nano-sized Al2O3/polyimide composite films based on Pyromellitic dianhydride(PMDA) and 4,4'-Oxydianiline(ODA) were synthesized by addition with different contents of nano-sized Al2O3 via in situ polymerization. Before addition, nano-Al2O3 particles were firstly modified by coupling agent DB550. The morphology, structure and properties including the mechanical and electrical properties were investigated. SEM microstructures analysis result indicated that the inorganic particles were homogenously dispersed in the polyimide matrix by means of the ultrasonic-mechanical method and the treatment of coupling agent DB550. XRD analysis showed that the addition of nano Al2O3 particles destroyed the molecular order of the PI matrix. Moreover, with the increased in Al2O3 content, the weaken effect on the molecular order also increased. The mechanical property decreased with the increase of Al2O3 content. Better electric breakdown strength could be achieved if the pure polyimide films were incorporated with nano-Al2O3 particles.


Abstract This paper takes a firm-level perspective to analyze foreign direct investment (FDI) in the European Union (EU). Our data rely on the global company database Orbis and allow the introduction of an original definition of FDI that accounts for the FDI direction – inward vs. outward – and the FDI margin – extensive vs. intensive. Based on the available information, we ask two questions. First, how deep is the FDI involvement of European enterprises? Second, is there any systematic relationship between FDI involvement and firm-level performance? To answer these questions, we adopt an empirical methodology consisting of descriptive statistics and econometric regressions (Probit, Bivariate Probit, and Poisson models). Concerning the depth of FDI involvement, our descriptive statistics reveal that the number of firms involved in inward/outward FDI is quite notable. However, firms' actual involvement is rather low, meaning that FDI involvement in the EU is widespread, but not deep. Concerning the relationship between FDI involvement and firm-level performance, our econometric regressions show that better enterprises experience some inward/outward FDI rather than none. Moreover, the deeper the FDI involvement, the wider is the gap with domestic firms. This suggests that performance differentials are related to both the extensive and intensive margins of both inward and outward FDI.


A key aim of developing environmental models and software is to provide decision and information support to environmental policy and management. In developing such technologies we, as a community of scientists and computer specialists, hope to provide tools which exert a positive impact on policy and management processes, actions and outcomes. We want to contribute to a diverse range of objectives from better managing scarce resources, through mediating and avoiding conflict, to maintaining adaptivity and promoting sustainable development. As ever greater numbers of decision and information support tools (DISTs) are developed to support environmental decision making it is therefore important that we develop a clear understanding of the impacts we intend these technologies to exert, compared to the impacts they actually exert. So what impacts do environmental DISTs have on policy and management organisations and activities? The IS literature distinguishes between impacts based on scale (HCI - task - organisational) and life cycle stage. Within these categories internal (organisational) vs. external (action outcome) impacts, and perceived (e.g. perceived usefulness) vs. objective (e.g. reduction in task time) can be discerned. Environmental DIST developers tend to focus on external impacts to the neglect of internal impacts and the fact that organisations are typically the main means of policy and management action and therefore critical elements in the chain between information and outcome. Taking desertification as a case study area of environmental policy and management a questionnaire based study has shown that DISTs are viewed on the whole as yielding positive internal (efficiency) and external (effectiveness) benefits but that a range of negative internal impacts are of concern including training, cost and the need for organisational change. These are discussed.


Southwark Council is aware of a number of false allegations being made regarding the current situation on the Aylesbury estate.


Dynamic crushing of quasi-isotropic composite tubes made of IM7/8552 CFRP is simulated using two intra-laminar continuum damage models that have been implemented in LS-DYNA and ABAQUS/Explicit codes.
The predictions using the CODAM2 model in LS-DYNA (MAT219) is compared to a Ladeveze-based damage model implemented as a user material subroutine (VUMAT) in ABAQUS/Explicit.
The results demonstrate capabilities, effects of various parameters and limitations of both damage models, thus contributing to the further understanding and improvement of the structural analysis of composites under dynamic loading conditions such as crash or high velocity impact events.


COPD accounts for approximately 26 million prescriptions per year in the United States. According to an analysis by Novartis R&D, the U.S. market for COPD drugs was running at $11.8 billion in 2012, 70% of that fi gure being almost equally divided between a LAMA, namely tiotropium, and the 2 ICS/LABA combinations. Th eir estimate is that the COPD drug market will increase by 24.4% to $14.8 billion on 2017. Almost all of that increase will be due to the entry of LABA/LAMA combinations such as Novartis's QVA149, their indacaterol/glycopyrronium combination. Th e absolute dollar amounts of each of our present COPD drug classes would remain essentially unchanged. Th ey project that in the next 5 years, growth throughout the pharmaceutical industry will be mainly based on drugs already in the market. If all this turns out to be accurate there will be no new classes of COPD treatments such as anti-infl ammatory drugs or anti-smoking drugs whatsoever in the foreseeable future. Th e source of these depressing predictions is http://www.novartis.com/cs/www.novartis.com-v4/downloads/ investors/event-calendar/2012/9-turning-rd-excellence-into-commercialsuccess.pdf


The present paper attempts to explore the evidence for shared innovations in Cape York Peninsula systematically: is there any such evidence that sheds light on subgrouping, particularly at levels where groupings are not otherwise obvious? After presenting general background, the paper first moves from north to southwest to review evidence on languages that have been grouped as Northern, Middle and Southwest Paman, and then it moves east to cover additional "initial dropping" languages and more conservative languages along the east coast. Much of this evidence is from past comparative work, but occasionally supplemented by new material. This review leads to a conclusion that the occasionally more convincing evidence for shared innovations either relates to such obvious groupings as dialects of the same language or else tends to be swamped by changes that appear to have occurred independently in differently languages and/or tend to provide conflicting evidence for subgrouping.


In this text we try to provide an analysis of the complicated phenomenon of nietzschean nihilism in Der wille zur macht. In this study we describe how it arises from the distrust of the conventional interpretations accepted by tradition. Furthermore, we analyse the difference between active and passive nihilism and how these types are present in the phases of the development of this phenomenon. Finally, this study will help us to understand the meaning of this concept, as well as the character of the nihilist man, the illness present in Europe and how it can be overcome as a result of the transmutation of traditional values.


Ramachandra, Manasa . M.S., Purdue University, August 2016. Catalytic Conversion of Chlorite to Chlorine dioxide by Non-heme Complexes. Major Professor: Mahdi AbuOmar. The oxyanions of chlorine (ClOx, x=1-4) have diverse applications and are used in a variety of commercial products. They are very stable in an aqueous environment leading to water contamination, thereby posing a concern for the environment and human health. At the microbial level, the enzyme perchlorate reductase catalyzes the reduction of perchlorate (ClO4) to chlorite (ClO2) and chlorite dismutase further reduces chlorite to innocuous chloride (Cl-) and dioxygen (O2). Two non-heme complexes [FeIII-TAML](Tetraamido Macrocyclic Ligand), and [MnII-(BnTPEN)] in the presence of peracetic acid (PAA) have been studied as catalysts for chlorite dismutation under ambient conditions. Kinetic and mechanistic studies were carried out to study the reactivity of FeIII-TAML and MnII-BnTPEN in the presence of PAA with sodium chlorite in acetate buffer (pH=5.0) at ambient temperatures. The TAML complex has been proposed to catalyze the one-electron oxidation of chlorite to chlorine dioxide (ClO2), as well as the dismutation of chlorite to chloride and dioxygen, after an induction period. The [MnII-BnTPEN] + PAA reaction displayed non-linear characteristics in the form of a long quiescent induction period, followed by the sudden and rapid production of ClO2 in the presence of excess ClO2. Herein, reaction characteristics of the two non-heme systems have been described, and a reaction mechanism has been proposed. Chlorine dioxide, a pulp bleaching agent and a


BACKGROUND
Each year, schools across Scotland send their students on exchange programmes to Malawi. Between 2005 and 2009, 22.8% of Scotland's new cases of schistosomiasis were from freshwater exposure in Malawi, with 41.5% diagnosed in 15-24 year olds. In January 2011, a 17-year-old male presented to our urology department with visible haematuria following freshwater exposure during a school trip to Malawi. He was subsequently diagnosed with urinary schistosomiasis.

METHODS
The potential involvement of other individuals from the trip prompted further public health enquiry. The school, public health department and education authorities were notified promptly and all individuals potentially exposed to Schistosoma haematobium were invited for screening.

RESULTS
All 21 participants of the exchange programme underwent serological screening. Thirteen tested positive for Schistosoma infection. Only two individuals displayed symptoms of schistosomiasis; the other 11 were asymptomatic.

CONCLUSIONS
Infection rates, even following a limited exposure to S. haematobium, are high. The majority of seropositive cases may never have symptoms. Therefore, a history of foreign travel to endemic schistosomiasis areas should be sought from any young person presenting with visible heamaturia and appropriate tests instigated. Schools should adopt policies forbidding activities involving freshwater exposure in Malawi. Effective public health measures must be set in place to trace and treat any other possible cases of exposure.


This profile provides an overview of the characteristics of borrowers under the CSBF program and compares financing activity between CSBF program borrowers and the Canadian SME population.


The oscillatory behaviour of long-span stranded transmission lines is outlined qualitatively, and the consequences of the inevitable presence of corresponding lateral and in-plane modes of oscillation with nearly equal frequencies are discussed. The desirability of designing to eliminate as many of these modal pairs as possible is emphasised.The principle of virtual work is employed to set up approximate equations of motion of a single-span transmission line under steady aerodynamic forcing in a yawed wind. (Matrix terminology is used to afford immediate extension of these equations to the multispan case.) Routh's method is applied to the equations of motion to obtain a set of criteria for incipiently unstable oscillation of the line. These criteria may be used to assess the regions of likely instability of any long-span transmission line if the aerodynamic properties of the conductor are known.It is shown that (in the absence of ice) the interphase-clashing phenomena experienced on certain stranded transmission lines, notably the CEGB Severn—Wye crossing, may be ascribed to a combined oscillation involving lateral and in-phase antisymmetric motions in the offending span.


Diagnosis of mechanical faults in rotating structures is a challenging and complex task, especially in the presence of multiple interacting components like gearboxes in machines, and huge background noise. In this paper, a novel gearbox fault diagnosis algorithm based on particle swarm optimization and band pass filtering is presented. Vibration signal acquired from gearbox is adaptively filtered through a band pass filter optimized by particle swarm optimization for extraction of faulty pulses buried in huge background noise. The effectiveness, feasibility and robustness of the proposed method are demonstrated on experimental data. The proposed method has successfully achieved reasonable speed up factor required for real-time applications and at the same time, the quality of the results is preserved.


A layer-by-layer nanoassembly (LbL) allows production of ultrathin films with a precision of 1-2 nm and needed composition across the multilayer. It was used in combination with traditional lithography to develop micropatterns in ordered nanoparticle multilayers. A selective nanoparticle film growth was also demonstrated for microchannel silicon chips. Microfluidic properties of nanoorganized polymer microcapsules were studied with the microchannel device. Nanoorganized microcapsules production: A LbL-assembly of 20-nm thick poly(styrenesulfonate) / poly(allylamine) shell on microtemplates and loading such hollow polyion shells with enzymes allowed fabrication of catalytic "bioreactors," as it was demonstrated for glucose oxidase, hemoglobin, and myoglobin ensembles.


. The number of the solitons of the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation is considered when the initial value of the solution is given. Upper and lower bounds for the number of solitons of this equation are obtained under some conditions on the initial value of the solution.


This chapter examines what is involved in creating effective teams first by differentiating between work units and teams, examining team processes, understanding how and when teams can contribute to a more effective organization, and discussing how to select and develop the best team members, develop effective team leadership, and motivate team performance. It examines some of the latest developments and challenges in teams, including virtual and global teams. The group process model says that the sum of the individuals' potential plus process gain minus process loss equals group effectiveness. The chapter describes the situations in which teams can be productive and those in which they cannot. It is important for employees to understand how their tasks contribute to the success of others' tasks and what the successful performance of these tasks means to the organization. Team members should be selected based on either possessing technical skills, problem-solving and decision-making skills or interpersonal skills, or having a strong aptitude for their development. The chapter explains the importance of training with respect to teams, distinguishes between task-related training and team-related training, and helps the reader to understand the concept of team building. Successful team leaders know that team performance comes from collective effort and action. Goal-setting theories suggest that goals can improve performance because they generate, direct, and sustain effort. The chapter explains how to evaluate team and team member performance, and emphasizes individual performance in terms of contribution to the team.


According to the American College of Physicians Ethics Manual, the physician's primary commitment must always be to the patient's welfare and best interests.1 This tenet gains a particular poignancy in caring for people who have dementia, because of their extreme vulnerability and dependence on others.2

The covert administration of medications is widely practiced in the care of people with dementia, occurring in 79% of a sample of long-stay care settings for the elderly.3 The question of its ethical basis arises usually in the context of a cognitively impaired patient who refuses to take medication. Ideally, before a new medication regimen is started, we obtain informed consent from the patient. However, patients with advanced dementia lack the capacity to consent to and, by the same token, refuse treatment. What should we do when a patient who lacks the capacity to refuse treatment physically rejects an important medication?

The key to all interactions in the care of people with dementia is sensitivity. We need to think about what their rejection represents. Occasionally patients may harbor deeply rooted wishes to die, and instead of taking medication, they would rather "let nature take its course." More often, refusal is due to the pill being too difficult to swallow or causing an unpleasant taste in their mouth, or to a delirium caused by an underlying illness, such as an infection. In these situations, health care professionals have usefully and effectively camouflaged medications in patients' food, which is akin to using bubble-gum or cherry-flavored antibiotics in children. Camouflaging medicines is arguably a kind way of giving them to distressed elderly patients.

Because our cognitively impaired patients are incapable of making decisions, we sometimes have to make them on their behalf. Ideally, this should be done on the basis of their advanced directives or by appointed health care proxies, but many patients with dementia have neither. In these situations, we must act in the best interests of the patient. If we do not give important medication to such patients, we could cause them harm. This must be balanced against the breech of patient autonomy that covert medication entails and the medication's side effects. Our inclination to treat a patient should be proportionate to the potential seriousness of the condition and inversely related to the risks of treatment.

How can we helpfully think about the autonomy of a patient with dementia? Autonomy involves the ability to direct one's own actions, and this is obviously limited by severe cognitive impairment. We should respect patients' autonomy, but we may need to breech it if they are in danger. I find it helpful to think of a "sliding scale" of risk versus benefit, analogous to that proposed by Drane for assessing patients' mental capacity.4(p155) For instance, if a cognitively impaired patient objects to being moved from a television lounge, we are likely to just let the patient be. Suppose, however, that the room is on fire. This alters the risk-benefit balance dramatically, and now we would remove the patient from that room regardless of how much he objects and would even use force if necessary. Here, it is ethically acceptable—indeed, imperative—to breech the patient's autonomy.

So is it ever ethical to give drugs covertly to people with dementia? Yes it is, provided that we remain sensitive and respectful of our patients and act truly with their best interests at heart.


Abstract Polymeric benzenetricarbonylchromium complexes were synthesized by radical copolymerization of benzyl acrylatetricarbonylchromium with styrene and by reaction of (dimethylaminobenzene)tricarbonylchromium with poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid). The polymeric chromium complexes give transparent films and on UV irradiation under nitrogen lead to dinitrogen complexes of the corresponding polymeric dicarbonylchromium. The reversible coordination of dinitrogen was confirmed by IR and visible absorption spectroscopy. A predominant feature of the polymeric dinitrogen complexes is their extraordinarily high stability in air compared with the corresponding low molecular analogs. The effect of polymer matrices on dinitrogen coordination is discussed.


— We obtain Gaussian lower bounds for the fundamental solution of a class of hypoelliptic equations, by using repeatedly an invariant Harnack inequality. Our main result is given in terms of the value function of a suitable optimal control problem.


1. A method of identifying a patient at risk of developing thyroid disorders as a result of treatment in a mode that depletes lymphocytes, comprising determining whether antibodies are directed against thyroid peroxidase or thyroid microsomes in a patient, wherein if the patient has antibodies, said patient has a risk of disorders of the thyroid gland as a result of lecheniya.2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the patient has multiple sclerosis (PC) .3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mode depleting lymphocytes, comprising administering an agent that depletes CD52-positive kletki.4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the agent depleting CD52-positive cells is an antibody that specifically binds to CD52.5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the antibody is alemtuzumabom.6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the antibody comprises one or more CDR regions, having an amino acid sequence identical to the amino acid sequence of CDR in the antibody Campath-1H.7. A method according to 2, wherein multiple sclerosis (PC) is temporarily relapsing multiple sklerozom.8 sagging. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein prior to treatment mode, causing depletion of lymphocytes, it is determined whether the antibodies are directed against thyroid peroxidase or thyroid microsomes, y individuuma.9. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, after at least one treatment mode, causing depletion of lymphocytes is determined whether there are antibodies directed against thyroid peroxidase or thyroid microsomes, y individuuma.10. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thyroid disorder is selected


This article focuses on bi-normalized response spectra for recorded strong ground motions with various frequency contents. The bi-normalized response spectrum introduced in Xu and Xie [2004] is obtained by dividing the spectral response by the corresponding peak parameter and by dividing the vibration period of the SDOF by a frequency content-related parameter. More than 100 seismic motions recorded in 17 countries in the past 70 years are analyzed. The ground motions are classified into several categories according to: (a) the peak ground acceleration PGA and (b) the control period TC of the response spectra or the mean period, TM. The analyses performed on bi-normalized response spectra aim at highlighting the differences between the various categories of strong ground motions. The influence of the peak ground acceleration and of the frequency content on the bi-normalized response spectra is emphasized. This article also compares the computed spectra with the elastic response spectra given in EN 1998-1. It can be concluded that the bi-normalized response spectra could be used in seismic design codes and that the design spectra from EN 1998-1 should be re-shaped for the near-field region (due to the limited database).


The authors claim that e-learning courses can have a significant impact on English language for specific purposes (ESP) proficiency of biology students at undergraduate level. We are looking at the effectiveness of ESP Moodle-based "English for Biology" course and reveal the results of the approbation. For our purpose we have applied the survey research which confirmed the greatest demand for Moodle courses among our students. The experiment has shown that language skills integrated in the domain of specific professional knowledge have a beneficial effect on students' communicative competencies and provide self-development of biology students. The findings of this study have a number of practical implications in ESP online courses development.


A novel circuit topology of a spintronic stateful implication (IMP) logic gate based on a spin transfer torqueoperated magnetic tunnel junction (STT-MTJ) is proposed and analyzed. It is demonstrated that the proposed topology reduces the IMP error and also the energy consumption by about 60% as compared to the conventional one. Stateful IMP-based logic uses the nonvolatile memory unit (MTJ device) as the main computing element (logic gate) unlike the previously proposed MTJ-based logic-in-memory circuits, where MTJs are only ancillary devices in logical computations. Since the MTJ devices are CMOS compatible, the generalization of the spintronic IMP gate to a large-scale nonvolatile logic-in-memory system is compulsory. As an example we consider an IMP-based implementation of a full adder. In contrast to an earlier proposed IMP-based full adder with 37 operations, our design involves only 27 subsequent FALSE and IMP operations. Keywordsimplication (IMP) logic; nonvolatile logic-inmemory; magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ); spin transfer torque (STT)


Abstract in Undetermined Contrary to the notion that altering our ordinary state of consciousness necessarily produces delusional beliefs and is generally deleterious, various findings in psychology and other disciplines suggest that 1) the ordinary state of consciousness does not provide an accurate mapping of reality and 2) alterations of consciousness can have various positive functions. Among the most important ones are to: a) mildly alter our consciousness to be more effective at our tasks, b) obtain greater pleasure than we can achieve ordinarily, 3) explore nonfactual possibilities that may be actualized through creative ways, 4) enhance the sense of meaningfulness in life and enhance psychological and medical healing, and 5) obtain valid knowledge to comprehend better ourselves and perhaps the universe at large. (Less)


Although there have been a number of studies on pragmatic acquisition in the literature of L2 acquisition, only a few case studies have focused on the effects of pedagogical intervention in Korean language classroom in terms of maximizing the growth of L2 competence. Therefore, it still remains as a worthwhile to ask how beneficial it is to teach the targeted pragmatic features in language labs. Many scholars have emphasized the necessity of pragmatic education with their research results showing pragmatic errors become a more serious barrier in communication than phonological or lexical ones. This has also been supported by the well-known study outcome that grammatical competence does not guarantee pragmatic competence. Then, are pragmatic features teachable? And, if they are, what is the most effective pedagogy? This paper claims that L2 pragmatics as well as its grammar should be taught explicitly. Furthermore, it argues that explicit teaching should be implemented in classroom as explicit learning is more effective than implicit acquisition, which happens when exposed to the L2 speech community. To do so, it carefully examines whether classroom technique has been studied in related research literature as it enables instructors to explicitly teach the targeted pragmatic features. It also closely analyzes whether recently published university textbooks have employed explicit instructional techniques. The result shows that implicit teaching techniques are more exploited in the textbooks which are also in short of various classroom activities. What is encouraging, however, is that some of the textbooks are now presenting explicit instruction for pragmatic education.


Summary form only given. A survey was conducted on the 'Strategic Management of Technology' and senior R&D/ technology officers from 209 of the world's most technology-intensive companies from western Europe, North America and Japan were asked about their global R&D strategies and the instruments they use to assure effective implementation. The survey was sent to all companies in North America, Japan and western Europe whose R&D expenditure topped $100 million. The analyses presented here show the following main results: First, there is a growing tendency to acquire technology from external sources throughout our sample. The high reliance on external sources for technology of all companies investigated is a very important change in the strategic management of technology over the past decade and for the future. Second, the internationalization of R&D plays, a very important role in the strategies of the large companies investigated and the data show that this will gain further momentum in the future. Japanese companies still lag behind the overall trend of R&D internationalization.


We derive thermal QCD sum rules for the correlation function of two vector currents in the rho-meson channel. It takes into account the leading non-perturbative corrections from the additional operators, which appear due to the breakdown of Lorentz invariance at finite temperature. The mixing of the new operators has a drastic effect on their coefficients. The thermal average of all the operators can be related to that of the quark condensate and the energy density. The sum rules then yield the temperature dependence of the parameters of the \ensuremath{\rho} meson, namely its mass and coupling to the vector current. Our result is that these parameters are practically independent of temperature at least up to a temperature of 125 MeV.


The following new species of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Costa Rica are described: Ateuchus earthorum sp. nov. (Ateuchini) and Canthidium (Eucanthidium) darwini sp. nov. (Coprini). Illustrations of the dorsal habitus of the new species and a distribution map are provided, as well as a drawing of the internal sac of Ateuchus earthorum sp. nov.


This article aims to analyze the characteristics of interpersonal and technical management provided by health professionals interacting with patients in a coma. To reach this goal, participants were fourteen (14) professionals of an occupational health team working in an intensive care unit for a minimum period of one year and who have had contact during professional interventions in patients in a coma. The work is classified as exploratory and qualitative research and data collection used a questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions. At the end of this process 14 actions of health professionals were identified which refer to the interaction with patients in a coma through technical management only. Interpersonal management was present in three actions of interaction with patients in a coma. Ciencias & Cognicao 2012; Vol 17 (2): 014-027 © Ciencias & Cognicao Submetido em 28/05/2012 | Aceito em 18/09/2012 | ISSN 1806-5821 – Publicado on line em 30 de setembro de 2012


This article aims to weave the fields of performativity, sound and urban living through philosophical itineraries that follow two motifs: mourning and vulnerability. Through Bonnie Honig's rereading of Antigone, we will trace the characters of a performative Antigone, who hybridises the fields of phoné and logos in her lament. We will then consider the example of contemporary mourning as well as the problem of urban soundscape spread by an ubiquitous technophony. We will address the motif of vulnerability starting from the work and research of Brandon Labelle, who will accompany us on sound walks where listening will emerge as a performative practice. Listening to urban space confronts us with a global and generalised vulnerability. By combining mourning and vulnerability, we will finally express the need for a performativity of fragility in our global condition.


Through the lens of Julia Kristeva's and Barbara Creed's theories of the horror genre and abjection, this article investigates how the Manetti Brothers' science fiction horror movie L'Arrivo di Wan...


A Vector-Sum Excited Linear Predictive Coding (VSELP) speech coder provides improved quality and reduced complexity over a typical speech coder. VSELP uses a codebook which has a predefined structure such that the computations required for the codebook search process can be significantly reduced. This VSELP speech coder uses single or multi-segment vector quantizer of the reflection coefficients based on a Fixed-Point-Lattice-Technique (FLAT). Additionally, this speech coder uses a pre-quantizer to reduce the vector codebook search complexity and a high-resolution scalar quantizer to reduce the amount of memory needed to store the reflection coefficient vector codebooks. Resulting in a high quality speech coder with reduced computations and storage requirements.


This paper investigates the output-feedback tracking control problem of stochastic high-order nonlinear systems perturbed by second-order moment process. Compared with most of the existing results where only wiener process is considered, a high-gain homogeneous domination approach is used to construct the output-feedback controller. This controller ensures that the expectation of tracking error can be adjusted to be arbitrarily small and all the states of the closedloop system are bounded in probability. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the feasibility of the control scheme.


William Osler was the first to be credited with taking medical students out of the lecture theatre and to the bedside Could VRS provide a meaningful learning opportunity during the first wave? Could we elicit the strengths and weaknesses of virtual simulation in medical learning?We used the Oxford Medical Simulation (oxfordmedicalsimulation.com) VRS platform where the learner manages an acutely unwell patient with specified learning objectives (opting for the 2-D to make it accessible to students at home). Scenarios were grouped, accompanied by didactic learning resources and released on a weekly schedule. Data were collected with consent on the number of scenarios accessed, performance score and student feedback.The VRS course ran for 5 weeks (access extended to 11 weeks). In total, 224 students expressed an interest in accessing the VRS platform. Of the 224 students, 64 accessed the scenarios (50% first-year students). The students accessed 821 scenarios. The average score on all first attempts of scenarios was 75%; second attempts 78% and third attempts 90% (The high initial response rate suggested student interest and engagement. The low (21%) conversion rate to accessing the VRS platform may be explained by initial technical issues and the voluntary nature of the project. The quantitative data show the importance of repetition in improving learning. Participation over time may improve with incorporation into the medical school curriculum. Lower usage among the final-year medical students may be explained by volunteering and early commencement of clinical duties. This innovation reveals some strengths of VRS: basic equipment; learner-directed; improved performance and student interest. Overall, the VRS platform allowed the delivery of a rapid response to fill a gap in clinical education. The next phase of this project will be to provide live tutor-supported debrief.


Cryogenic propulsion is a ver y good option for ELV but is considered as more costly than semi cryogenic (LOX – HC) or bipropellant. On the other hand, a number of new low thrust upper stage concepts have been proposed recently, among them the Low Cost Cryogenic Propulsion (LCCP). LCCP is compared to some other low thrust techniques like Solar Thermal Propulsion and electrically heated hydrogen chemical thrusters. A bipropellant LEO / GTO stage and a high thrust cryogenic upper stage are used for comparison. LCCP provides the best combi nation of mass gain and short transfer time.


Although the Vatican Film Library at Saint Louis University has been described recently in such diverse publications as the London Times, Osservatore Romano, Time, The American Historical Review, the Saturday Review and the National Geographic, it has never been explored fully by the scholarly world. The object of this article is to describe the extent of the microfilm collection at Saint Louis University, to provide some guides to the use of the manuscripts, and to indicate some possible areas of fruitful research in business and economic history.


From October 23 to 25 in 2010,"the First International Conference on Modernization of Chinese Language and the Ninth Conference of the Chinese Language Modernization Association" was held in Wuhan University.Its main topic was "memorizing the issue of Law of the People's Republic of China on the Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language and promoting the standardization,informationalization and internationalization of modern Chinese language.In the conference,hot discussions on focused on the following points: promotion of internalization of Chinese language,improvement of Chinese pinyin,Chinese character reform,modernization of Chinese language proficiency test,information process of Chinese language,theory and practice of Chinese language corpus,natural language resource construction,etc.it promoted the standardization,informationalization and internationalization of modern Chinese language.


There has always been a problem of time consuming and low efficiency in the teaching of Intensive English Reading course for students' lack of motivation and learning ability.Therefore,it is highly significant to implement inquiry learning in the teaching for English majors.Through analyzing the applicability of implementing inquiry learning in the teaching of Intensive English Reading course and combining interactive teaching method,cooperative and autonomous learning,this paper has made an attempt to optimize the effect of Intensive English Reading course to improve the quality of English intensive reading teaching.


Objective:To study anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of triptolide loaded in microemulsion-based gel(TP-MG).Methods:The anti-inflammatory activities were tested using various inflammatory animal models including xylene-induced ear edema in mice,carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats,cotton pellet granuloma test and adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.The analgesic effects were investigated using pain models caused by hot plate and acetic acid in mice.Results:TP-MG(20~120 μg·kg-1)significantly inhibited xylene-induced mouse ear edema,carrageenan-induced rat paw edema,weight of cotton-induced granuloma,adjuvant-induced rat arthritis,and obviously decreased twisting number induced by acetic acid,and increased the pain threshold in the hot plate test.Conclusions:TP-GM has good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.


ABSTRACT The biogeochemical effect of birds can influence the paedogenic processes in the Antarctica soils. The content of nutrients (phosphorus, potassium, nitrate and ammonium) and the total carbon and nitrogen contents in soils were determined at the nesting and feeding sites of flying and non-flying birds in the Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, West Antarctica). The results showed that the difference between soils affected by birds (both flying and non-flying) and the background soils was observed with the higher content of biogenic elements (e.g. C, N, P, K) and fine-earth content, variable soil pH values, more expressed soil structure and specific morphology of the uppermost organogenic and organo-mineral horizons. Additional chemical indices are suggested for diagnostics of current and recent effect of birds on paedoenvironments.


Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine how perceived fit between a line/brand extension and its parent brand moderates the evaluation of two economically identical promotions, i.e. buy one get one free (BOGOF) and 50 per cent off. A travel-sized painkiller is the product in this study. Design/methodology/approach – A 2 (perceived fit: high or low) × 2 (promotion type: BOGOF or 50 per cent off) between-subjects design is used in this study. Participants, who are college students, are randomly assigned to the four experimental conditions. Findings – The results indicate that parent brand attitude is more closely associated with line-extension attitude than with brand-extension attitude, line extension leads to lower perceived performance risk and higher stockpiling tendency than brand extension and BOGOF is preferred over 50 per cent off for line extension but 50 per cent off is preferred over BOGOF for brand extension. Research limitations/implications – For a low-price, non-conspicuous and stoc...


This paper studies the classification problem on electroencephalogram (EEG) data of mental tasks, using standard architecture of three-layer CNN, stacked LSTM, stacked GRU. We further propose a novel classifier - a mixed LSTM model with a CNN decoder. A hyperparameter optimization on CNN shows validation accuracy of 72% and testing accuracy of 62%. The stacked LSTM and GRU models with FFT preprocessing and downsampling on data achieve 55% and 51% testing accuracy respectively. As for the mixed LSTM model with CNN decoder, validation accuracy of 75% and testing accuracy of 70% are obtained. We believe the mixed model is more robust and accurate than both CNN and LSTM individually, by using the CNN layer as a decoder for following LSTM layers. The code is completed in the framework of Pytorch and Keras. Results and code can be found at this https URL.


Toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce and are associated with poor semen quality and prostate cancer, among other long-term health problems, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.


ABSTRACT The seed beetles, Acanthoscelides quadridentatus and Acanthoscelides winderi are here recorded for the first time feeding on seeds of Mimosa setosa var. paludosa in the Brazilian Cerrado. Our main aims were to describe the temporal distribution, seed damage, and notes on the natural history of these two species on their host plant. We hypothesised that: (a) healthy seeds from infested fruits would have worse germination rate than healthy seeds from noninfested fruits, and (b) females of seed beetles would lay more eggs on large fruits. We made field observations and an experimental field study with the presence of seed beetles versus their exclusion on plants. Results revealed that seed beetles are synchronised with fruiting, with a temporal partitioning in occurrence. Attacked seeds did not germinate, whereas healthy seeds from infested fruits had worse germination rate than healthy seeds from noninfested fruits. Females of seed beetles laid more eggs on large fruits. These results suggest that seed beetles avoid competition through a temporal partitioning curcial for their coexistence, and select large fruits to oviposit as these fruits probably provide more food resource for their offspring. Furthermore, plants might perceive seed beetles' damage and then reduce resource allocation on infested fruits.


When Booth moved his finger, thereby firing a gun, thereby killing Lincoln, did he perform three discrete actions, or were there relations of identity or inclusion among them? Most treatments of this problem have tended to assume there is but one sort of entity properly to be called an action, and hence that one answer to this question must be established to the exclusion of all others. And the favored answer has been that Booth's actions are not discrete, or indeed even overlapping, but identical. It is possible, however, to adopt a more conciliatory spirit, in which a place is sought for talk of discrete or fine-grained actions in cases like this, as well as for entities of the coarser sort most have favored.


The authors present the mechanism of post-traumatic lesions of the bones of the cranio-facial mass, during attention to the possibility of radiographic detection 6 or 9 days after traumatism.


application to the type of situations in which it was developed. The wide adoption of high-speed motors and group clinical procedures would alter some of the data presented. The methods developed for these and similar studies, the experience gained in conducting them, and the data collected should be useful as guides in developing the protocols for pilot-studies. To get the maxiinum from the proposed studies, therefore, full use should be made of past experience; caution should be exercised in the selection of the communities; sufficient uniformity should be adopted to permit evaluation of the variables under study; and as rigorous a design as practicable should be developed.


An eecient nite element method for driven time-harmonic wave propagation problems is proposed. The special properties of tangentially continuous vector nite elements (TVFEMs) are utilized to formulate an ungauged vector potential scheme in terms of the eld method plus one very sparse \gradient matrix" with two non-zero integer or pointer entries per row. The suggested formalism is intended for use with iterative solvers. It combines the simplicity and modest memory requirements of the eld formulation with the superior numerical convergence of the ungauged vector potential scheme.


[Objective]To identify the main source of uncertainty in determination of arsenic in MSG by silver salt method,so as to improve the method accuracy.[Methods]The evaluation of uncertainty was based on thee national standards of GB/T 5009.11-2003.[Results]The main uncertainty parts of arsenic were type A uncertainty,uncertainty caused by standard solution and uncertainty caused by standard curve verification.[Conclusion]The control enforcement of above 3 parts of uncertainty can improve the accuracy of determination.


Wind power is a clean and sustainable energy resource to meet the growing electricity needs in the next 20-30 years. However operation and maintenance (O&M) of wind power systems counts for as much as 25-30% of the total energy production cost, which creates intensive interests in lowering the lifecycle costs. This paper reviews the maintenance methodologies recently developed for wind power industry. The review aims at surveying recent reliability analysis and maintenance models underpinning the decision on equipment inspection, repair and replacement. We also discuss the applications and limitations of these models. Based on the review some future research areas are proposed.


Still's disease is an arthritis of adult onset, rare in general population, even rarer in pregnancy, and often associated with flare-up and relapses during pregnancy and postpartum period. The following is a rare case of pregnancy in Still's disease with uneventfull outcome.


Thermal power dissipation from vacuum pressure impregnated stator coils to the stator core in turbine generators is a topic of technical importance. In order to increase turbine generator MVA output by increasing current through the coil wire strands, there must be improved thermal conductivity in the stator slot to improve thermal power dissipation capability. A benchmark study of vacuum pressure impregnation (VPI) and global vacuum pressure impregnation (GVPI) stator coil groundwall insulation has been investigated in a previous paper (1997). This paper builds on the model showing a relationship between the stator coil groundwall insulation composition and thermal conductivity. This paper looks at improving the stator slot thermal conductivity by increasing the thermal conductivity of the stator coil groundwall insulation and the region between the stator coil and the core. The models generated provide a design tool which can estimate the thermal conductivity in the stator slot, from the coil wire strands to the core.


Extended-release once-nightly sodium oxybate (ON-SXB; FT218) is in development for adults with narcolepsy. In REST-ON, significant improvements on the Maintenance of Wakefulness test, Clinical Global Impression of Improvement rating, and number of weekly cataplexy episodes occurred with all analyzed ON-SXB doses vs placebo (week 3, 6-g dose; week 8, 7.5-g dose; week 13, 9-g dose; all P<0.001). ON-SXB was superior to placebo on Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score and sleep quality and refreshing nature of sleep using visual analog scales (VAS; all P<0.001). ON-SXB 4.5 g significantly reduced cataplexy episodes vs placebo at week 1 (P<0.05). Post hoc analyses investigated ON-SXB efficacy on ESS score, VAS sleep quality, and VAS refreshing nature of sleep at weeks 1 and 2.

 Participants in the double-blind, phase 3 REST-ON (NCT02720744) trial were ≥16 years old, had narcolepsy type 1 or 2, and were randomized 1:1 to ON-SXB (4.5 g, 1 week; 6 g, 2 weeks; 7.5 g, 5 weeks; 9 g, 5 weeks) or placebo. Participants recorded ESS scores and VAS for sleep quality and refreshing nature of sleep (1-100; 1=poor quality/unrefreshing sleep; 100=good quality/refreshing sleep) using electronic diaries. P-values were calculated using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population (ie, participants receiving ≥1 dose of study drug having ≥1 efficacy assessment at week 3).

 In the mITT population (n=190; ON-SXB, n=97; placebo, n=93), baseline ESS scores were 16.6 and 17.5 with ON-SXB and placebo, respectively. At week 2, ESS score was significantly improved with ON-SXB vs placebo (P<0.02) with numerical improvement seen at week 1. At baseline, sleep quality was 53.8 and 55.9 on VAS in the ON-SXB and placebo groups, respectively, and baseline refreshing nature of sleep was 46.5 and 49.9. At weeks 1 and 2, sleep quality (P<0.01; P<0.001) and refreshing nature of sleep (P<0.05; P=0.001) were significantly improved for ON-SXB vs placebo.

 Improvement in daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and refreshing nature of sleep occurred with ON-SXB beginning the first week of treatment. Some patients may experience early narcolepsy symptom relief with ON-SXB.

 Avadel Pharmaceuticals


A cathodically electrodepositable coating compsn. comprises an aq. dispersion of self-crosslinkable resin with amine and epoxide functionalities and is prepd. by reacting: (A) an epoxy resin having on ave. 1-2 epoxide gps., and an epoxide equiv. wt. of 400-4000 (pref. 450-2000); and (B) a fatty amidopolyamine contg. amide functionality and at least 2 reaction amine gps. together having at least 3 active amine hydrogens and no other gps. capable of reaction with epoxide gps. and a 12-36 (12-18)C fatty portion. The compsn. is prepd. in a reaction mixt. comprising (i) 70-25 wt.% of reactants (A) and (B) and (ii) 30-75 wt.% org. solvent for the reactants in an amt. to provide 0.25-1.0 (0.5-1.0) reactive amine gps. of (B) for each epoxide gp. of (A) at 18-33 (21-27) deg.C for a period of time to react 20-50% of the epoxide gps. with the active hydrogens to form an amine and epoxide functional partially crosslinked resin having a wt. ave. mol. wt. (Mw) of 1300-12000 (2400-6500). The amine gps. are neutralised with a water soluble acid in an amt. to neutralise at least 50% of them. and the resin is dispersed in water.


In this study, we performed linear and nonlinear FE (Finite Element) analyses to compute J-integrals for a centrally perforated star-shaped disc, which is made of an elastomeric material, under crack surface pressures and isothermal loads. Deformations of the disc were constrained by a circular steel ring enclosing the disc. Different crack sizes were assumed to exist in the front of the star-shaped notches. For linear the analysis, material compressibility was modeled with Poisson's varying form 0.48 to 0.4999. In addition, with the presence of the crack surface pressure, the J-integral needs to be modified by including an additional line integral. Numerical studies showed that the value of the J-integral increases with the increase of the crack length, reaches a maximum value at 1in of crack length, and then decreases gradually. Both linear and nonlinear analyses agree qualitatively but differ quantitatively. It was also found that values of the J-integral strongly depend upon the material compressibility.Copyright © 2004 by ASME


The concept of human oriented geographic information systems(GIS) is introduced in terms of the relationship theory of human-land. The fundamental framework of current GIS is mainly designed from the land/landscape centered perspective.Human-oriented GIS aims to study the representation, computation,simulation and analysis of human distribution in time and space,and of the spatiotemporal characteristics and laws of social and economic organizations and activity behavior within geographic environments.Here,human is defined,in a broader context,as individuals,groups,or organizations within the natural and social environments.Major characteristics,(agent-based) modeling,data model of spatiotemporal behavior,and visualization in human(oriented) GIS are discussed.


This paper presents our investigations on automatic emotional state recognition from speech signals using ensemble based methods based on different acoustic representations/feature measures. In our work, we employ various types of acoustic feature measures where none of the feature measures is optimal for emotional state classification. It is observed that different feature measures may be complementary and used simultaneously to yield a robust classification performance. Therefore, we employ a probabilistic method of combining classifiers based on different feature measures. The combination method that uses different feature measures simultaneously yields high recognition rates on various emotional speech corpora for both full feature set and language-independent feature subset. The ensemble method also outperforms a composite-feature representation and two other methods reported in literature. In addition, the classification accuracies achieved by our combination method are competitive with those mentioned in literature for different emotional speech corpora.


Abstract:As an ideology, a movement, and a state, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) failed to endure over time. Though outwardly unified by a messianic calling and sophisticated proto-state institutions, ISIL contained the seeds of its own destruction. More explicitly, its demise can be understood as a consequence of its overreliance on short-term coalitions that were unsustainable on the one hand, and the persistence of significant constraints such as states, borders, and territory on the other. Additionally, the brand of Islam that ISIL presented to local Muslims failed to earn popular support. Beyond these underlying coalitional breakdowns, this article describes the long-term ramifications of ISIL's downfall. It has become increasingly clear that the Middle East after ISIL will continue to be mired in instability. As the Caliphate disintegrates, old and familiar tensions – along sectarian and security lines – will once again come to the fore. These longstanding divisions and rivalries are likely to dominate the region's political landscape in the coming years. The changing face of the post-caliphate period ultimately raises profound questions for key global actors and their respective foreign policies toward the Middle East.


The choice of high frequency fields in dynamic stabilization schemes is often limited, because the stabilizing field may serve as a pump for driving parametric instabilities in the plasma. We investigate the dependence of the parametric instability growth rate on electron‐ion collisions in a plasma. Sharp enhancement of the complex plasma conductivity near ohgr; ≈ ohgr;p, in the presence of ion correlations, is shown to have dramatic effects on this growth rate.


ABSTRACT The between-within split of total sum of squares in one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is intuitively appealing and computationally simple, whether balanced or not. In the balanced two-factor setting, the same heuristic and computations apply to analyse treatment sum of squares into main effects and interaction effects sums of squares. Accomplishing the same in unbalanced settings is more difficult, requiring development of tests of general linear hypotheses. However, textbooks treat unbalanced settings with proportional subclasss numbers (psn) as essentially equivalent to balanced settings. It is shown here that, while psn permit an ANOVA-like partition of sums of squares, test statistics for main effects of the two factors generally test the wrong hypotheses when the model includes interaction effects.


This study addresses the privacy problems of data provided by multiple data owners for range query processing on the cloud. Although existing methods preserve data privacy against the cloud or data analysts who receive query responses, protecting data privacy from both remains a challenge. Combining differential privacy (DP) and homomorphic encryption (HE) to construct differentially private outputs over encrypted raw data is a promising way to avoid data privacy leakage to the cloud with encryption while protecting data privacy from data analysts with DP. Although DP adopts several partitioning algorithms to achieve small noise, partitioning cannot be executed once the data is encrypted. In this paper, we propose a new HE-friendly privacy-preserving partitioning algorithm satisfying DP. Although HE enables operations over encrypted data, the execution time of such primitive arithmetic operations is approximately 109 times slower than without encryption. Therefore, it is mandatory to reduce the calculation complexity. The proposed partitioning method, which only compares every next-to-each-other data to merge, achieves $\mathcal{O}\left( n \right)$ calculation complexity, where n is the domain size of the input histograms, whereas the greedy algorithm requires $\mathcal{O}\left( {{2^n}} \right)$. The experimental evaluation showed that the execution time of the proposed algorithm for 4,096-domain-size data was approximately 4 h and 35 min, which was acceptable when creating a data summary for the range query processing system and not targeting on-the-fly adoption of DP. Additionally, we confirmed that the accuracy of the proposed algorithm was equivalent to that of the state-of-the-art partitioning algorithm.


The effect of buoyancy orientation on turbulent channel flow has been investigated using DNS (direct numerical simulation). Grashof number is kept at 9.6 while changing the orientation of the buoyancy vector to be parallel or perpendicular to the channel walls. Four study cases can be distinguished during this research namely; streamwise, wall-normal unstable stratification, wall-normal stable stratification and spanwise oriented buoyancy. The driving mean pressure gradient used in all cases is adjusted to keep mass flow rate constant while friction Reynolds number is around 150. At this Grashof number, the skin friction shows decrement in the unstable and stable stratification and increment in the other two cases. Analyses of the changes of flow structure for the four cases are presented highlighting on the mean quantities and second order statistics.


The focus of this paper is the demonstration and evaluation of a multifunctional self-assembly process driven by the intermagnetic forces between permanent (hard) magnets on 1 mm × 1 mm × 0.5 mm Si parts. Composite bonded-powder micromagnets are embedded in silicon components using back-end low-temperature wafer-level microfabrication techniques. Part-to-part assembly is demonstrated by batch assembly of free-floating parts in a liquid environment with the assembly yield of different magnetic patterns varying from 88% to 90% in 20 s. Part-to-substrate assembly is demonstrated by assembling an ordered array onto a fixed substrate in a dry environment with assembly yield up to 99% in just 20 s. In both cases, diverse magnetic shapes/patterns are used to control the alignment and angular orientation of the components. Experimental analysis of many different magnetic patterns shows that patterns with more planes of rotational symmetry result in faster assembly speeds.


The cuticle of dung beetle is a layered composite material in micro- or nano-scale. Dung beetle can fly, walk and dig. It can shovel and compact dung of mammals into balls. It use foreleg to walk, midleg and hindleg to hold and impel dung ball. Its two foreleges as digging legs are developed. The factors impacting the nanoindentation testing results of the femur cuticle of forelegs of dung beetle Copris ochus Motschulsky were examined. The nanomechanical test instrument used for the tests was Hysitron nanomechanical system. The results shown that the holding time and loading time are important factors im- pacting the accuracy of such indentation properties as reduced modulus (Er) and the harness ( H ) of the femur cuticle of the forelegs of dung beetle Copris ochus Motschulsky in nanoscale. There exists a threshold holding time of 20 s for the reduced modulus of the femur cuticle. The tests of nanoindentation creep property and the regression analysis of relationship between the depth increment at the maximum load and the time further confirmed the correction of the above threshold holding time. There exist visco-elastic-plastic behaviour and creep phenomenon in the femur cuticle during indenting. Its creep property during the holding procedure at maximum load can be regressed by a general logarithmic equation. The equation fitted by the testing data is ? h = 54.83452 ln(0.00723t +1.00486), where, ? h is the depth increment at the maximum load and t is the time.


Over the last six decades, significant progress has been made in studying poverty. Poverty research is an important issue for ensuring the sustainable development and governance of the world, especially the lower-income regions. More attention from multiple dimensions shall be paid to poverty research. However, apart from a few research publications, less research has investigated their citations using the most widely used approach for citation mapping—Scientometric analysis. Therefore, this research utilized 319 published papers on poverty research from 1964 to 20 February 2022, from the Scopus database to conduct bibliometric and social network analysis. The bibliometrix package in R and the VOSviewer program were used to perform data analysis and visualization. Theme mapping, trend themes, bibliometric coupling, and co-occurrence networks were utilized to discover potential study areas for existing and future trends. The findings reveal that poverty research has increased by 10.18% each year since 2006. Additionally, the results indicate the most influential sections of the research based on the most often mentioned subjects, papers, authors, and keywords. The findings indicate that future studies should focus on the poverty line, social policies, and living standards. The contributions of the paper may provide a reference to the understanding of poverty research through bibliometric analysis and promote poverty research in theory and practice.


The righting moment of a ship in waves is computed with the consideration of the incident and diffracted waves around the ship, and the steady waves due to the ship advancing at a constant speed. The three-dimensional panel method is employed for the wave field and the righting moment computation. The influence of wave length, heading, frequency and amplitude of the incident wave as well as the effects of the ship's forward speed and the ship motion are studies. It has been found that the righting moment of a ship in waves is related to all these factors. It cannot be adequate if the righting moment is only computed in calm water or with the consideration of the incident waves. Results for various conditions are presented and discussed.


Abstract Inspired by the papers [2, 10] we will study, on 2-divisible groups that need not be abelian, the alienation problem between Drygas' and the exponential Cauchy functional equations, which is expressed by the equation f(x+y)+g(x+y)g(x-y)=f(x)f(y)+2g(x)+g(y)+g(-y).f\left( {x + y} \right) + g\left( {x + y} \right)g\left( {x - y} \right) = f\left( x \right)f\left( y \right) + 2g\left( x \right) + g\left( y \right) + g\left( { - y} \right). We also consider an analogous problem for Drygas' and the additive Cauchy functional equations as well as for Drygas' and the logarithmic Cauchy functional equations. Interesting consequences of these results are presented.


Realistic mathematics education (RME) has developed almost 20 years in Indonesia, yet has not taken place in the curriculum of mathematics education, while teachers and researchers have been using this method in learning. It is needed to develop RME for further achievement. The purpose of the present research is studying the effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) assisted based RME on Students' Mathematical Problem Solving Ability. This research also develops the instrument of mathematical problem solving ability to improve students' mathematical problem solving ability


Students need to be skilled writers to get involved in a literate society. Providing learners with effective and appropriate teaching approach can lead to an easier and better mastery of skills. One of these approaches may be co-teaching. This study investigates the effect of co-teaching for Iranian advanced EFL learners' ability to write. The co-teaching approach was taken as a treatment through which two teachers were cooperating simultaneously during the teaching writing process in the same class with the experimental group. The participants of the control group were taught traditionally by a single teacher during all class sessions. According to the data analyses after comparing the two groups, co-teachers have been more successful in improving the overall writing ability of the treatment group. The underlying rationale is one in which teaching a class with two teachers may first add to the variety of teaching styles, feedback giving, consultation and reviewing the teaching process that can lead to better teaching practice and also doubling the class time by increasing teacher-student interaction time. © 2020 JLLS and the Authors Published by JLLS.


This article provides an analysis of China's policies concerning Afghanistan's development and modernization programs prior to the Soviet invasion of the country in December 1979. It also examines China's position toward the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (December 1979-February 1989), and its policies supporting the resistance movement in the country.


For many of us with affection for the machinery of conventional campus-based education, this is the worst of times. From Melbourne to Manchester, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the disruption of ...


It is impossible to overestimate value of poultry farming in providing the population with quickly reproduced protein resources in the form of eggs and meat. One of the major tasks facing now this branch is increase of production efficiency, quality of production and its safety. In this regard, paramount are problems of providing a bird with the diet balanced on macro and to micronutrients. The results of the industrial experience with multifunctional feed additive «Tetra +», containing a complex of biologically active substances, held at the Poultry Breeding Plant «Labinskii» Krasnodar Territory on livestock hens to investigate the impact on the quality, safety and efficiency of the production of chicken meat and eggs. It is found that the test group of carcasses of chickens have a higher nutritional value as compared to the control group of hens carcasses. The test group of chicken carcasses toxic element content is lower than in the control group of carcasses of chickens. Other parameters also safety have lower values. This indicates that the feed additive «Tetra +» through increased detoxification of the liver is an active factor in the safety of products. Experience has shown a high content in eggs of hens fed feed additive «Tetra +», jS-carotene, vitamins A and E. Thus it can be noted that the use of polyfunctional feed additive «Tetra +» when feeding laying hens to enhance the quality, safety, and lower production costs.


ABSTRACT Because of France's unique role in Quebec's international relations, any study of Quebec's emergence on the international scene necessarily involves an analysis of this relationship. This article proposes an examination of Canada–France–Quebec relations in the decades following de Gaulle's resignation in 1969. Several scholars focus on France's implicit support for Quebec independence, considering that to be the essential ingredient of their "special relationship," whereas I demonstrate that the foregoing interpretation overlooks the fact that France began to withdraw from the Canadian internal debate soon after de Gaulle's resignation. During the last forty years, France's abstention from interfering in Canadian internal affairs enabled both the flourishing of Quebec diplomacy and the deepening of the France–Quebec relationship.


A fluorescent substance and a light emitting device comprising the same are disclosed in embodiments. The fluorescent substance disclosed in an embodiment comprises a fluorescent substance composition having a structure of M 4 D 1-x O y F:A x comprising a divalent metal (M), an element (A) of an activator, fluorine (F) and oxygen (O), wherein: x satisfies 0.001 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, y satisfies 1 ≤ y ≤ 5; M is at least one of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn; D is at least one of Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr and Hf; F is fluorine; A comprises at least one of Mn, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb; the composition of the fluorescent substance emits red light at an excitation wavelength having a peak wavelength of 400-470 nm; and the red light has a peak wavelength of 655-670 nm and a half-width of 20 nm or less.


For metal matrix composites,assume that the strong cohesion between the inclusion and the matrix enables crack to produce and extend in the matrix under loading.First,the three-phases model is used to determine the external strains of two-phases element.Then micromechanical stress field in the matrix is obtained.Based on the generalized thermodynamic force in damage process,the damage equivalent stress can be computed.As the damage equivalent stress is equal to the ultimate stress of the matrix,the failure stress of matrix in composites is given.


"You're No Cripple"—advice to those who have suffered amputation, issued by Prosthetic Services, Department of Veterans' Affairs, obtainable from their headquarters at 55 York Street, Toronto. This booklet contains practical advice written in concise form under the following headings: preliminary adjustment, physical preparation for a limb, artificial limb fitting, care of artificial limb, stump socks, care of the stump.


District heating (OH) systems need to be improved  regarding integration  of decentralised  heat generation. Micro production, prosumers and smart grids are terms becoming more and more common  in ...


The volume transition induced by the addition of calcium into lightly cross-linked fully neutralized sodium polyacrylate hydrogels, swollen in 40 mM NaCl solutions, is investigated by osmotic swelling pressure and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements. In this reversible transition, the polymer volume fraction φ changes by more than an order of magnitude. The longitudinal osmotic modulus Mos deduced from macroscopic measurements shows an abrupt increase at the transition. The intensity of the scattered radiation can be decomposed into a static and a dynamic component. The former exhibits Porod scattering behavior, while the latter obeys an Ornstein−Zernike relation. The observed intensity of the dynamic part has a maximum at the transition and exhibits a functional dependence on the calcium concentration, which is similar to that of the osmotic susceptibility φ2/Mos, determined from direct osmotic measurements.


Objective: The study aimed to evaluate how performance on the TOMM was related to age, race, and level of education. Methods, 160 NFL former players (Mage= 48.9, 71% African American, 29% Caucasian) were evaluated for possible CTE. The sample consisted of 124 African American (Mage= 46.3, SD= 7.94) and 36 Whites (Mage= 43.3, SD= 8.66).
 Results: Age (b = .143, p = .033) and ethnicity (b = -3.740, p = .036) were significant predictor of the TOMM trial 1, F(2, 153) = 2.587, p = .079, R2 = .033 but were not significant predictors for TOMM trial 2 and 3. Independent-sample t-tests were conducted to compare participants performance on all TOMM trials between both ethnic groups. There was a significant difference in mean scores for T1 t(155) = 2.81, p = .006, d=.540, T2 t(158) = 1.762, p= .04, d= .33 and T3 t(158) = 2.187, p .015, d= .41 with African Americans performing relatively lower than Whites.
 Discussion: Ethnicity and age were significant predictor of performance only on TOMM trial 1. The TOMM was not resistant to the effect of ethnicity thus supporting evidence from previous studies. Differences may be due to cultural influences such as lack of prior exposure to some TOMM pictures. Moreover, consistent with the literature, there is a negative correlation between test outcome and age. Though the TOMM is a reputable measure for suboptimal effort, its content may not be appropriate for various ethnic background. Therefore, it is essential to employ culturally appropriate measures to detect insufficient effort.


Effort Estimation process is one the most important process in software project management. The importance of software in our daily lives is increasing with every passing day which has resulted in increase in the complexity of softwares. In order to manage software development projects with varying levels of complexity accurate software effort estimations play a pivotal role. This research work is an attempt to analyze the performance of Re-UCP method of software effort estimation based on the inputs from software industry and academia from India and abroad. This research work is an effort to find out the relevance of modifications made in Re-UCP model of software effort estimation from industrial perspective. This paper gives an insight into the responses received from consultants, cost- estimators, software engineers and researchers from academia after implementing Re-UCP effort estimation method in the their respective domains. KeywordsEffort Estimation, Software effort validation, Re- UCP, E-UCP, UCP, iUCP.


to make new meanings, which criticize the sharp divisions between beast and human and call into question the primacy of the word. It is these discussions of contemporary work which left me not quite satisfied. Harries covers such a wide field that individual analysis by necessity remains quite short and the perceptive insights that she provides left me wishing that she had had the space for a more detailed study in which she also could have established the commonalities between the strategies of the early and contemporary women writers of fairy tales more sharply. But this is a minor concern: this is a highly readable work which engages with important questions in feminist literary criticism and fairy-tale research and offers a valuable and well-argued rereading of the history of the fairy tale. Karen Seago University of North London


Increasing both product yields and quantum yields can be accomplished throuth the use of sterically encumbered photosensitizers. The anti-Markovnikov lactonization of 5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid, a photoinduced SET reaction was chosen as the model reaction for the evaluation of a series of sensitizers.


Correlation was detected between the thermal treatment parameters of the AuGe–GaAs system and surface fractal structure. Structural entropic calculations were used to confirm the results obtained by fractal calculations.


Replicated research on transplanting mature trees (trunk diameter >750 mm) is not practical. Instead, we must apply the knowledge we have gained from studying smaller trees to maximise success at this larger scale. This article summarises our understanding of tree biology and horticulture contributing to the successful transplanting of trees, e.g. root loss and regrowth, water stress, carbohydrate status, root ball size, preparatory root and canopy pruning, timing of operations. The specific detail of the transplanting operations undertaken on four mature trees in Hong Kong in the last 15 years is then evaluated to examine the extent to which the arboricultural factors may have contributed to the outcome of each operation.


The districts/cities  sources of revenue  in Central Java consists of Natural Revenue District (PAD), the equalization fund (DAPER), and other local income. PAD consists of four variables namely local tax (X1) , retribution (X2) , the results of regional company and wealth management that is separated (X3) , and other legal PAD (X4). DAPER consists of four variables namely sharing of tax revenue (X5) , sharing of non-tax revenue (X6) , the general allocation fund (X7) , and the special allocation fund (X8). Other region revenues (X9) is a source of local income that is not included in the PAD or DAPER. Sources of local revenue variables are mutually correlated multivariate data and have spatial effect. Therefore Geographically Weighted Principal Components Analysis (GWPCA) is suitable for analyzing sources of local revenue variables. GWPCA is a multivariate analysis method that is used to eliminate multicolliniearity in the multivariate data that have spatial effect. The result of this study is that the variables of revenue sources on each location can be replaced by three new variables called PC1, PC2, and PC3 which is independent each other. Variance Cumulative Proportion that can be explained by those new variables is approximately 80%. Based on the first principal component (PC1) that have variance proportion approximately 50%, there are three groups which has different carracteristics. The first group is the region that the revenue have influenced by variables X9 followed by X1. The second group is the region that the revenue have influenced by variables X9 followed by X2. The third group is the region that the revenue have influenced by variables X9 followed by X5. It is also seen that Kudus District has the most distinct characteristics which the revenue are influenced by variables X5 followed by X9.


Venous compliance is lower in older adults compared to younger adults. It is possible that alterations in venous smooth muscle tone may contribute to the age‐related differences in venous compliance.