With the popularity of English learning, English learner's dictionary, which aims to help learners, especially those who learn English as a second or foreign language improve their English ability, has increasingly become a necessary learning tool. By and large, it is the popularity of English learning that has led to the emergence of various English learner's dictionaries, monolingual or bilingual, physical or electronic. Accordingly, an objective and comprehensive understanding of English learner's dictionary is crucial in selecting an appropriate dictionary. To analyze an English learner's dictionary, this paper focuses on one of the most highly recognized English learner's dictionary, the 5th edition of Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (hereinafter referred to as LDOCE5), mainly focusing on its two aspects, namely semantics and pragmatics. By analyzing the semantic and pragmatic information of LDOCE5, this paper will provide a reasonable basis for English learners to choose a dictionary.


This paper presents an overview of the test program for the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system for the Melbourne City Link. It provides a brief description of the system that was tested and the relevant test methodologies and strategies used. This information and its conclusions will be of interest to anyone involved in the area of testing and acceptance of similar systems around the world.


A pilot project has been implemented in the Pee Dee Health District of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control with the objective of recruiting medically indigent sexually active males between the ages of 15 and 65 in Dillon County into the family planning program. Male helath educators offer services to this target population at places of work in bars poolrooms on street corners at gas stations and wherever the men gather. The men are counseled either individually or in groups. Reasons for using contraceptives are discussed condoms are offered and referrals are made for venereal disease and other problems. Statistics reveal that this county with a population of 28838 has 1 of the highest rates of illegitimate births and venereal disease in the state. Since the program began in October 1972 services have been provided to over 2000 men annualy. The majority of men who have accepted the services are single nonwhite and in the 15 to 19 year old age group. The total illegitimate birthrate has decreased 3.2% in the past 3 calendar years in Dillon County with a decline of 10.3% in the illegitimate birthrate of the non white target population. Cost of the project was $10.18 per male client during the fiscal year 1975 in contrast to the cost of $69.04 per female client.


INTRODUCTION :
Envenoming resulting from snakebites is an important public health problem in many tropical and subtropical countries. Snakebites cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Venomous snakes are found throughout most of the world (including many oceans), except for a few islands, frozen environments, and high altitudes. The highest burden exists in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Populations in these regions experience high morbidity and mortality because of poor access to health services, which are often suboptimal, and, in some instances, a scarcity of antivenom, which is the only specific treatment.
Recent estimates suggest that worldwide, venomous snakes cause "5.4 million bites, about 2.5 million envenomings and over 125,000 deaths annually", "more than 3 million bites per year resulting in more than 150,000 deaths", or "several million bites and envenomings annually with tens of thousands of deaths". Hospital mortality data are well known to underestimate overall mortality due to snakebites.
Of the 3,000 or so snake species that exist in the world, about 600 are venomous. In the country, approximately 95% of the mortality is attributable to bites by the cobra (Naja naja), Russell's viper (Daboia russelii), common krait (Bungarus caeruleus). The principal effects of envenomation with snake toxins are related to neurotoxicity, nephrotoxocity, myotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, coagulopathy, vascular endothelial damage and local reactions.
Snake venom is not a single toxin but a complex mixture of several components, including enzymes, polypeptide toxins, non-toxic proteins, carbohydrates, metals, lipids, free amino acids, nucleotides and bionic amines. Neurotoxins of snake venom seem to affect various sites of neuromuscular system Snake venom neurotoxins that bind to acetylcholine receptor sites on the motor endplate produce effects similar to those of curare and myasthenia gravis. Another group of neurotoxins with phospholipase A2 bind presynaptically, thereby depressing transmitter release, and are completely resistant to anticholinesterases. Respiratory muscle weakness is a potentially fatal manifestation of snake bite.
Because most snakebite victims are young, the economic impact of their disability is considerable. Despite the scale of its effects on populations, snakebite has not received the attention it deserves from national and international health authorities, and may therefore be appropriately categorized as a neglected tropical disease.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
1. To define the snakes causing neurotoxicity,
2. To analyse the demographic data of the patients admitted with neurotoxic snake bite
3. To study the spectrum of neurological manifestations following envenomation,
4. To identify the variations in the clinical presentation in patients with associated hemotoxicity and local cellulitis.
5. To study the pattern of electrophysiologic changes in the Nerve conduction studies and the correlation with outcome.
6. To study the disease course and outcome among patients admitted with neurotoxic snake bite.
Setting : PCTRC, Government General Hospital & Madras Medical College, 009 to June 2009.
Design of study : Descriptive study.
Duration of study : January 2009 to June 2009.
Materials : Consecutive patients admitted to PCTRC with one or other Manifestation commencing from January 2009 formed the materials for the study.
Exclusion :
Non venomous snakebites and venomous snakebites with non neurological manifestations were not included in the study. Pregnant women and persons with any co-existing illness were excluded.
Methods : All patients admitted with neurological manifestations due to snakebite were studied . The study was carried out over a six-month-period beginning January 2009 up to June 2009. The offending snakes were identified either by direct examination (when the snake was killed and brought to the hospital) or on the basis of eye-witness account. This evidence was further be verified by showing photographs of snakes to the eye witness. Detailed history was obtained and patients were subjected to neurological examination soon after admission. They were regularly assessed hourly for the first six hours, 12 hourly for next 72 hours, and then daily until complete recovery. Information regarding progression, onset of recovery and results of biochemical investigations were entered in a pre-designed proforma. All patients underwent intravenous neostigmine challenge test, whose results were also noted. All patients were treated with lyophilised polyvalent enzyme refined equine immunoglobulins (antivenom serum; Haffkine Institute, Mumbai, India).
CONCLUSION:
• Early recognition and timely administration of Anti snake venom reduces the neurological complications.
• There was no evidence of delayed motor or sensory neuropathy in any of the patients. Neostigmine responsive patients had shorter duration of stay in the hospital.
• The development of neurological complications is influenced by the nature and quantity of envenomation, susceptibility of the individual, post- synaptic status, and delay in administration of anti-venin.
• In view of the responses on NCS obtained in the current study, further laboratory studies are necessary to isolate and characterise the neurotoxic components of snake venom.
• An understanding of the molecular basis will facilitate our understanding of snake venom neurotoxin and its therapeutic implications, both in treatment of snake bites and in the development of a novel neuromuscular blocking agent.
• Further, community based intervention programmes will reduce the occurrence of snake bite, morbidity and mortality, and length of stay in hospital.


ABS TRACT Objective: To evaluate the results of accelerated (9 mW/cm2) corneal crosslinking (CXL) in progressive keratoconus according to age groups. Material and Methods: Patients undergoing accelerated corneal CXL with hypo-osmolar riboflavin solution were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (<18 years, 41 eyes of 37 patients) and Group 2 (≥18 years, 47 eyes of 44 patients). Uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA, CDVA), refraction, topographic values and higher-order aberrations were evaluated in the preoperative period and postoperatively at months 1, 3 and 6. Results: In Group 1, a significant increase was detected in UDVA [0.25 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), p=0.035] and CDVA (0.19 logMAR, p=0.029), whereas there was no significant increase in Group 2 [UDVA (0.08 logMAR, p=0.375) and CDVA (0.12 logMAR, p=0.087)]. The maximum keratometry (Kmax) reduction was not significant [1.33 Diopter (D), p=0.141] in Group 1, whereas it was significant in Group 2 (1.48 D, p=0.002). The Kmax change between the two groups was similar (p=0.728). In both groups, refraction, elevations, astigmatism, spherical aberration (except Group 1), and trefoil reduction were insignificant and similar (p>0.05). Significant coma reduction was detected in the groups (p<0.05). However, the reduction in Group 2 was more apparent (p=0.025). Higher-Order Root Mean Square (HO-RMS) and total RMS reduction were significant and similar in both groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: VA improvement is better in the pediatric group than the adult group, while refraction, topographic and aberration (except coma) changes are similar after accelerated corneal CXL.


Bob Hale has defended a new conception of properties that is broadly Fregean in two key respects. First, like Frege, Hale insists that every property can be defined by an open formula. Second, like Frege, but unlike later definabilists, Hale seeks to justify full impredicative property comprehension. The most innovative part of his defense, we think, is a "definability constraint" that can serve as an implicit definition of the domain of properties. We make this constraint formally precise and prove that it fails to characterize the domain uniquely. Thus, we conclude, there is no easy road to impredicative definabilism.


The article provides an analysis of the issues relating to corruption problems – the social conditionality of corruption, the definition of this phenomenon, and types of corruption. The problems relating to the definition of corruption are analyzed through the prism of criminal law, with the provision of a list of criminal offences and account taken of the requirements of international instruments. Corruption is analyzed as a social problem, while exploring the causes of this phenomenon. It is stated in the article that corruption is still more becoming a modern topic, the causes of this phenomenon may be explained by the provisions of various theories. The term of corruption does not coincide with the terms used for bribery and bribe. Bribery means separate cases that consist of bribe giving, receiving or soliciting, whereas corruption means the condition related to those phenomena, which is negatively assessed in a certain environment or the entire society. The limits of the term of corruption encompass the whole syndrome of this phenomenon. Therefore for efficient prevention of corruption the complex of civil, financial, banking, tax, customs, inheritance, housing, trade, family, ecological, etc. legal norms and only then administrative, criminal proceedings, and criminal law is necessary. However, in terms of human rights the criminal law should be one of the most important guarantees against the criminal encroaching on them and against self-will of the state authorities and officials. Criminal offences of corruptive nature are divided into corruptive criminal offences sensu stricto and sensu largo. Corruptive criminal offences sensu largo are committed committing corruptive criminal offences sensu stricto. A close interaction exists between them in respect of the subject and object, since in many cases a bribe may be a stimulus to another crime, encouragement, reason. Taking into account the provisions of international instruments, corruptive criminal offences sensu stricto would include taking of a bribe (passive corruption), giving of a bribe (active corruption), intermediary bribery (trade in influence) as well as criminal offences of corruptive nature in the private sector. Corruptive criminal offences sensu largo would include, for example, abuse, registration of illicit rights to the item, disclosure of the state secret, disclosure of the secret of office, abuse of power, criminal offences in the field of political corruption, disclosure of commercial secret, etc. This list is incomplete, taking into consideration the complicated nature of corruptive crimes. In terms of corruption prevention it is necessary to stress that social legal control of corruptive activity is not possible without the active cooperation of state anticorruption structures and the civil society. It is possible to seek for formation of the anticorruptive opinion of the society, the role of which is, though slowly, increasing. Therefore it is necessary to prepare the ways and measures.


We study how investor sentiment affects the speed with which prices reflect information. Price discovery is more timely for firms with greater sensitivity to sentiment, as measured by a sentiment beta. Our research improves our understanding of the price formation process when sentiment is not assumed to be constant. Our research design is novel as it considers a sentiment beta as well as economy-wide sentiment. This provides more comprehensive evidence on the impact of differing types of sentiment on the price formation process.


Gold trade is flourishing business venture in Kerala. The yellow metal play an important role in our sociological institutions and rituals as a solid and reliable form of wealth and the quantity of the metal is decided by the affordability of the party. Irrespective of religion or community, every keralite father and mother want their daughter to tie the knot, bedecked in gold. The primary objective of this paper is to study gold and consumer behavior in Kerala. It also studies the consumer behavior of how people choose to buy gold, when they do and the various factors influencing the purchasing decision with respect to gold. Self-prepared questionnaire is administered among them to assess their buying pattern. From the study it is found out that the keralite consider gold as an all-time investment. Apart from the investment angle, people mainly keep gold with them as jewellery to fulfill their emotional needs.
Key words: Gold Jwellery, Consumer behavior, Tradition, Investment


Statistical methods based on ranked set sampling (RSS) often lead to
marked improvement over analogous methods based on simple random sampling
(SRS). Entropy has been influential in the development of measures of
fit of parametric models to the data. This article develops goodness-of-fit
tests of the Laplace distribution based on sample entropy when data are collected
according to some RSS-based schemes. For each design, critical values
of the corresponding test statistic are estimated, by means of simulation, for
some sample sizes. A Monte Carlo study on the power of the new tests is
performed for several alternative distributions and sample sizes in order to
compare our proposal with available method in SRS. Simulation results show
that RSS and its variations lead to tests giving higher power than the test
based on SRS.


The Nixiong orefield is located in northern Longgeer-Nanmulin magmatic belt along the central part of western Gangdise metallogenic belt.The Ri'a copper deposit is in southeast Nixiong ore field.The ore bodies mainly occur in the skarn and skarnized marble,which lie between the intrusive rock and Xiala Formation.The main skarn minerals are garnet,diopside,serpentine,phlogopite,actinolite,humite,tremolite,epidote,chlorite,sericite and so on.Electron microprobe analyses show that the garnet is composed mainly of grossularite(62.08%) and andradite(35.08%).Almost all the pyroxenes belong to diopside.Phlogopites are rich in iron and poor in magnesium,also with features of high F.The amphiboles show characteristics of calc-amphibole.The chlorites are rich in magnesium and poor in iron.According to the above data,the authors infer that the ore-forming fluid might have experienced the following five evolutionary stages:① dry skarn stage of high temperature(450℃),low pH,oxidation-weak oxidation;② wet skarn stage of lower temperature,with gradual increasing pH value and oxygen fugacity;③ oxide stage of further reducing temperature,increasing pH value(alkaline) and decreasing oxygen fugacity;④ quartz sulfide stage with temperature down to 200~300℃,high pH(alkaline),low oxygen fugacity;⑤ carbonate stage of low temperature(160~203℃),low pH and low oxygen fugacity.In addition,there probably exists more metal mineralization in the Ri'a copper deposit.


This study examines the performance consequences of aligning the competitive strategy of quality differentiation with each of the four fundamental industry life cycle stages: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. Reports results from a questionnaire survey of CEOs in a mid‐western state in the USA. The findings suggest that small manufacturing firms can achieve a sustainable competitive advantage vis‐a‐vis quality differentiation across three stages of industry evolution: introduction, growth, and maturity.


Databases and software tools for electric power distribution systems have not been integrated, and this leads to extra costs and restrictions imposed on utilities and other stakeholders. For example, distributed resource integration studies and modern grid technology assessments are more difficult and costly. New vendors face high market entry barriers, because it's necessary to interface with large and customized data systems at each potential utility customer. This project promotes data and software tool integration, through a set of data translators based on a common object model. The data translators are delivered as open-source software, using appropriate Web software technologies. The parties who benefit include electric utilities (and their ratepayers), researchers at government laboratories and universities, small software companies wishing to enter the electric utility market, and parties wishing to interconnect distributed generation to a utility system.


Exploring the relationships, which are strictly influenced by water resource conditions, between oasis landscape pattern and hydro-ecological process in arid area, becomes the hot topic and difficult challenge in arid landscape ecology and one of the most important issues in arid areas ecological protection and reconstruction. The Heihe river basin, as the nd longest inland river basin, is located in the northwest arid regions of China. During the past few decades before 2001, increasing local population and social-economic development in the upper reaches of Heihe river basin have consumed surface water resource enormously. Consequently, a lot of serious ecological and environmental problems were occurred in the Ejina natural oasis, which is in lower reaches of Heihe river basin. Especially, the Ejina natural oasis was in face of disappearing in the world with no surface water provided from the upper reaches for continuous several years around 2001. From the beginning of 2001, appropriate amount of surface water has been allotted to Ejina oasis from the upper reaches by the Chinese government every year to prevent the rigorously ecological crisis continuing and retrieve the environment restoring. Based on field investigation, remote sensing, and GIS technologies, Ejina natural oasis landscape spatial pattern and its dynamic change in different temporal and spatial scale before and after surface water allotted (1987~2001~2009) were analyzed in this paper. Three Landsat TM/ETM+ images in 1987, 2001 and 2009 were collected to analysis the characteristics of oasis landscape spatial pattern dynamics over the past few decades. The main results show that: before and after water resource allocated, the area of oasis classes decreased during 1987-2001 and increased during 2001-2009, but simultaneously the desert classes changed to an inverse direction; the landscape diversity and ecological stability for Ejina oasis after water allocated was much higher than before water allocated. Key words—Landscape spatial pattern change, APACK, surface water allotting, Ejina natural oasis, Northwestern China.


The joint effect of space and time correlation on the underwater acoustic Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) channel capacity is studied using the multipath space-time correlation model with a moving transmit array and a stationary receive array. The space-time correlation function of the uniform liner array is generated, which can be expressed as the production of the space correlation function and the time correlation function, so the space-time joint correlated complex Gaussian variates can be generated by firstly generating n/sub T/*n/sub R/ independent random variates with the desired autocorrelation function, and then multiplied by the square root of their cross-correlation matrix. Using Monte Carlo simulations, the effect of space and time correlation on the underwater acoustic MIMO capacity is studied by the parameters of transmitter velocity, array element spacing, and elevation angle spread. It is shown from the simulation results that in the case of a poor scattering environment and not sufficiently large element spacing, when n transmitter elements and n receiver elements are employed, the outage capacity will not increase linearly with the increasing of n, and large capacity gains can only be obtained in a rich scattering environment and with sufficiently large element spacing, and the effect of transmitter velocity on the capacity depends on the block length T, when T/spl Gt/T/sub coh/, capacities with different transmitter velocity will be the same.


63 Cu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been applied to a study of the precipitation process in an Al-3wt% Cu alloy. Structural changes of the precipitate through ageing are reflected in the line shape of the NMR spectra. An intense narrow resonance line appears in the spin-echo spectrum from the solid solution, while the NMR spectrum from the CuAl 2 phase of C16-type structure exhibits a characteristic resonance line broadened owing to second-order quadrupolar effects. The spectra from the Al-3 wt% Cu alloys which contain dispersed precipitates can be fitted by a superposition of the sharp line for the solid solution and a broad line for the precipitate. The breadth of the broad line differs for various precipitates, reflecting the difference in the local environment around the probe atoms. From the intensity ratio of the broad line to the sharp line, the proportion of Cu atoms dissolved in the precipitates is determined. The NMR parameters, such as the Knight shift K and the quadrupolar coupling constant e 2 qQ/h, are evaluated for the θ' and θ precipitates.


Assistance in socializing the use of cow urine as liquid organic fertilizer can be used for agricultural cost efficiency and also has its own socio-economic value for the community. In this service activity, counseling assistance and socialization assistance were carried out for residents, especially members of the Pangudi Makmur farmer group in Dalangan Hamlet. The benefits of using cow urine can reduce agricultural costs and reduce pollution caused by the urine. Liquid organic fertilizer if used on plants will reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers so that the quality of the plants is better. The implementation of service is carried out by students with residents who are expected to be able to develop the economic capacity of the community. The method used in the approach uses participatory, action, and research (PAR) methods. From making cow urine as organic liquid fertilizer, it can generate business ideas and solutions to save agricultural costs (efficient).


5619 Background: Randomized trials have reported improved outcome by adding chemotherapy to radiation, but none have examined concurrent chemoradiation with and without adjuvant chemotherapy. This retrospective analysis seeks to review our experience.

METHODS
Records of 29 consecutively treated patients from 1997 to 2002 were reviewed; these included stage IIII(n=8) and stage IV(n=21) patients with a median age of 49years. All patients received concurrent chemoradiation with the majority (82.8%) receiving at least three courses of cisplatin(100mg/m2;days1,22,43). Seventeen patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin(80mg/m2;day1) and fluorouracil(1000mg/m2/d;days1-4) every 4 weeks, with a majority(82.4%) receiving at least three courses. Twelve patients did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. All patients received radiotherapy in 1.8-2.0 Gy/d fractions to 7020Gy median total dose.

RESULTS
After a median follow-up of 39.6 months, seven of 29 patients had recurrent(n=6)/persistent disease(n=1). At last follow-up, six patients had died (four of disease, one treatment related, one of intercurrent death). Four patients developed distant metastases: three had no other sites of relapse and one had recurred locally first. Three of the four patients with distant metastases had adjuvant chemotherapy. The median time to relapse was 15.4 months. The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) for the 29 patients were 77% and 83% respectively. The 3-year DFS for those with and without adjuvant chemotherapy was 78% and 82%(p=0.5), while OS was 85% and 92%(p=0.8), respectively. Patients with adjuvant chemotherapy more frequently had significant weight loss and xerostomia.

CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggests that concurrent chemoradiation with or without adjuvant chemotherapy provide similar outcomes. However patients with adjuvant chemotherapy are more likely to develop significant weight loss and xerostomia, and they may be at increased risk of treatment-related deaths. Randomized trials are needed to confirm these findings. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Banking industry in its attempt to attract more customers, hence capital offer various forms of benefits. These benefits basically take two form; direct and indirect. The first type of benefits are represented by provision of dividend to depositors whereas, the second type of benefits are represented by offering of insurance, sale on discount rate when using the debit card, annual gift and lucky draw. such entitlement is dependent on having saving account in the bank. Without having saving account one would not have access to such facilities and offer. This research focuses mainly on the issue of indirect benefits and their status from Shari'ah perspective. Library research research method is used in this research due to the nature of its subject. The hypothesis of the research revolves around the status of indirect benefits offered by banks from Shari'ah perspective and the distinctive of such benefits offered by Islamic banking. The finding of the research shows that the benefit direct or indirect received by customer in Islamic banking have various features. All theses benefits are received through depositing in the bank.


This investigation aimed to report University practitioners' critical reflections generated from Gosling's third POT model to raise awareness of institutional authorities and educationalists on the importance of consolidating POT programs on a regular basis. This qualitative case study was conducted with a sample of fourteen instructors currently working in a Public University situated in the Ecuadorian highlands. This group of academic practitioners was divided into pairs so that seven subgroups resulted from this division. Each subgroup worked firstly on the collaborative model process, which contemplated observation forms; then, they executed critical reflections; this data was gathered in collaborative expository essays and encapsulated in this manuscript. The obtained results disclose a high proclivity towards ongoing professional development, said differently; there is a considerable desire on the part of our participants to cultivate a teaching evaluation philosophy on a rolling basis. In general, this study had a positive repercussion on those involved due to its substantial interchangeable reflections.


This study aims to describe the process of making montage work SDN 74 Bengkulu City. Types and methods used in this study are qualitative research with descriptive methods. The subjects of this study were class IVC totaling 33 students. Data collection techniques in this study in the form of observation and interviews. The results of this study are the process of making montage works starting with the preparation of montage materials, tools, base fields, and supporting materials by each group. The montage material collected has not yet been cut, so it is necessary to cut the montage material. Most groups have difficulty when arranging pieces of the picture. Gluing has been done by each group. Each group has given color to the montage created. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the process of making montage works begins with preparatory steps in the form of collecting montage materials, tools, base fields and supporting materials. Then the work steps in the form of compilation of image pieces, gluing and coloring.


Cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) are the leading cause of death in the industrialised world. There is a growing consensus that these arrhythmias arise because of the formation of spiral waves of electrical activation in cardiac tissue; unbroken spiral waves are associated with VT and broken ones with VF. Several experimental studies have been carried out to determine the effects of inhomogeneities in cardiac tissue on such arrhythmias. We give a brief overview of such experiments, and then an introduction to partial-differential-equation models for ventricular tissue. We show how different types of inhomogeneities can be included in such models, and then discuss various numerical studies, including our own, of the effects of these inhomogeneities on spiral-wave dynamics. The most remarkable qualitative conclusion of our studies is that the spiral-wave dynamics in such systems depends very sensitively on the positions of these inhomogeneities.


Variability-intensive systems are software systems in which variability management is a core activity. Examples of variability-intensive systems are the web content management system Drupal, the Linux kernel, and the Linux Debian distributions. Feature models have been considered valuable tools for modeling variability-intensive systems for more than 30 years, and their automated analysis is a thriving, motivating, and active research area. In 2010, Benavides et al. published the survey results of the first 20 years of Automated Analysis of Feature Model AAFM solutions. At that time, mainly sequential computing solutions exist. The product configuration of feature models represents a relevant operation demanding efficient automated solutions, which are now possible for assisting the feature model product configuration, such as minimal conflict detection, diagnosis, and product completion. The two main goals of this article are the following: First, to review the fundaments of product configuration of feature models. Second, to assess the functionality and computing performance of commonly used AAFM solutions for minimal conflict detection, minimal diagnosis, and the minimal completion of partial product configuration and the approaches. This article summarizes research opportunities for developing new and more efficient solutions for conflict detection, diagnosis, and product completion of large-scale configurations.


Structural links between benzenoid aromatics and graphite as well as saturated hydrocarbons and diamond are seen in high school text books. A similar understanding is only beginning to emerge in the chemistry of boron. Unlike benzenoid aromatics where the condensation is usually by edge-sharing, there are several ways of condensing polyhedral boranes. These include edge-sharing, triangular face sharing, four atom sharing and a single atom sharing. An electron counting mno rule similar to the Huckel 4n + 2 pi electron counting rule will be presented for mono and condensed polyhedral boranes. Application of this rule shows that the structural details of beta-rhombohedral boron, such as the vacancies and extra occupancies in the unit cell are a consequence of the electronic requirements rather than defects in the structure. While this is the beginning of a general understanding, there is a long way to go before the quantitative details emerge in this area, along with the synthesis and chemistry of a variety of condensed boranes. These ideas also provide a relationship between boron and fullerenes. Further, designing stable boron-rich candidates for physiological applications and materials for use in extreme conditions are areas that are waiting to be explored.


Subject
 Impact of Brexit on Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

 Significance
 In addition to the economic exposure to Brexit for Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, Brexit is also influencing public policy, party competition, Euroscepticism and public opinion in those four countries.

 Impacts
 International chambers of commerce will acquire additional importance as channels for UK business interests in Europe.
 Research projects involving UK and European universities face financial uncertainty about the loss of EU funding.
 The four countries may increasingly work with EU-based military contractors in order to decrease friction in trading.
 The growing influence of Germany and France after Brexit will likely strengthen cooperation within European regional groups.


This paper aims to present a process-based model that will help to effectively enhance theEnglish language skills of entry-level engineering students in engineering colleges. The mainobjective of this research study is also to identify an effective method in the Post-Method erawith a purpose to help students acquire a better understanding of functional English that isessential for developing their communicative competence. Method: The proposed PendulumType learning model will make use of learner-generated situational dialogues for creating aprocess that will achieve a desired level of proficiency among learners. Findings: The modelwill make learners understand the basics of Functional English as in use. This gives anexcellent scope for learners develop proficiency through their learning experience that'oscillates' between the cognitive process of understanding language discourse and bycreating it. Application/Improvement: This method can be effectively put to use in the ELTclassroom teaching environment in engineering colleges and based on the specific needs andrequirements of the learners, further improvisations can be made. User-feedback and teacher comments can also be used for improvisation


We propose a model for evaluating e-business performance based on the Resource-Based View(RBV).The model is built on casual relationships among strategy,resources,capabilities and process performance from value-creation process point of view.We validate the model using structure equation modeling(SEM).Our proposed indicators system goes in-depth evaluation of factors influencing value-creation process and their casual relationships.It is proved valid and effective through an evaluation of E-Business performance from a survey of 75 manufacturers in China.


Pediatric colorectal polyps often show various symptoms, depending on their location. In this study, we reviewed the clinical characteristics of colorectal polyps retrospectively. From 1987 to 2007, 26 children with colorectal polyps were consecutively treated at our institute. There were 20 boys and 6 girls, and their mean age was 4.0 yr (range, 1-13). The most common initial presentation was rectal bleeding in 17 of the children. Prolapse of the polyp from the anus was noted in 6 cases with rectal polyps. Among them, 2 cases were at first misdiagnosed with rectal prolapse. All polyps were solitary lesions and juvenile polyps except 3 polyps, and 20 polyps were observed in the rectosigmoid colon. Transanal excision was performed in 6 cases, and en-doscopic polypectomy in 18 cases. Self-amputation was noted in 1 case. One case with a giant polyp in the transverse colon, who presented massive anal bleeding, required open polypectomy. Routine total colonoscopy is mandatory for children with colorectal polyps because of the possibility of multiple lesions. Additionally, children with rectal prolapse should be investigated to detect colorectal polyps.


An engineering study was performed on the rf and neutral beam heating systems implemented for DIII-D, MFTF-B, JET, JT-60 and TFTR. Areas covered include: methodology used to implement the systems, technology, cost, schedule, performance, problems encountered and lessons learned. Systems are compared and contrasted in the areas studied. Summary statements were made on common problems and lessons learned. 3 refs., 6 tabs.


The effect of chronic treatment with amiodarone on hepatic oxidative metabolism using an in‐vivo [14aminopyrine breath test and on hepatic cytochrome P450 was examined in Wistar rats. Aminopyrine demethylation was significantly impaired but returned to pretreatment values following amiodarone for 4 weeks. In contrast the levels of cytochrome P450 were significantly depressed during treatment and at 4 weeks following treatment. While an inhibitory effect on oxidative metabolism may explain the reported drug interactions with amiodarone, the discrepancy between its in‐vivo effects and cytochrome P450 levels may suggest the development of 'compensatory' extra‐hepatic site of drug metabolism.


Summary Voluntary dry feed intake and dry matter digestibility were determined in 114 trials with lactating dairy cows. The rations ranged between 52 and 80% in digestibility and cow weights ranged between 625 and 1,457lb. In a multiple regression analysis digestibility (D), fecal dry matter per 1,000lb body weight per day (F) and body weight (W) accounted for the variation in feed intake between 52 and 66% digestibility, provided the rations were mostly roughage. R=0.997 (P 0.99 , D 1.53 , and F 1.01 expressing these relationships were essentially those predicted empirically if capacity limited feed intake. With high-roughage rations between 67 and 80% dry matter digestibility, intake decreased with increasing digestibility after adjusting for body weight and productive energy. In this region, intake was directly related to the 0.73 power of the body weight at peak lactation. It was concluded that physical and physiological factors regulating feed intake change in importance with increasing digestibility. At low digestibility they were: Body weight (reflecting roughage capacity), undigested residue per unit body weight per day (reflecting rate of passage), and dry matter digestibility. At higher digestibilities intake appeared to be dependent on metabolic size, production, and digestibility.


CHARLES TAYLOR'S Multiculturalism and "The Politics of Recognition"* is a meditation on the rise of the modern demand for recognition, which he suggests is at the root of contemporary calls for the protection and elevation of specific minority cultures in majority societies. He connects the rise of this demand to the collapse of social hierarchies and the persistence of the desire for honor that such hierarchies once fulfilled. In a democratic era, we seek equal recognition and equal dignity. Both of these quests are fundamentally associated with the intensification of a desire to achieve individual identity and the ideal of authenticity to which it has given rise. For Taylor, the difficulty with authenticity as an ideal is that it undermines the realization that a "crucial feature of human life is its fundamentally dialogical character" (p. 32). Relying on the insights of Bakhtin, he contrasts the dialogical character of life with what he calls the monological ideal. The monological ideal seeks to limit the role of dialogue to the genesis of identity in language and self-understanding and not give dialogue a role in the rest of social life. In his reading, the monological ideal is expressed, not as an overt denial of the dialogical character of identity formation and its continued expression throughout life, but, paradoxically, as a response to the lack of recognition accorded individuals in modern life, a consequence of the persistence of the demand for dignity in a democratic age. Taylor writes, "The politics of difference grows organically out of the politics of universal dignity through one of those shifts with which we are long familiar, where a new understanding of the human social condition imparts a radically new meaning to an old principle" (p. 39). The issue of


The authors present preliminary measurements of the CP asymmetry parameters in B{sup 0} {yields} K{sub S}{sup 0}K{sub S}{sup 0}K{sub S}{sup 0} decays, reconstructing two of the K{sub S}{sup 0} into {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} and one into {pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0}. In a sample of 227 M B{bar B} pairs collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B Factory at SLAC, they find the CP parameters to be S = -0.25{sub -0.61}{sup +0.68}(stat) {+-} 0.05(syst) and C = 0.56{sub -0.43}{sup +0.34}(stat) {+-} 004(syst). Combining this result with the previous BABAR measurement, obtained from events with three K{sub S}{sup 0} decaying into {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}, they get S = -0.63{sub -0.28}{sup +0.32}(stat) {+-} 0.04(syst); C = -0.10 {+-} 0.25(stat) {+-} 0.05, (syst).


KNox, J. S. (Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA 24450). A nine year demographic study of Helenium virginicum (Asteraceae), a narrow endemic seasonal wetland plant. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 124:236-245. 1997-I carried out a nine year demographic study of Helenium virginicum Blake using permanent quadrats at one sinkhole pond in the eastern United States to gain insight into factors controlling the distribution and abundance of this plant. I monitored recruitment and mortality of genets, their stage classes, and their distribution in relation to water depth and overstory cover. The occurrence and distribution of a seed bank was studied as well as the survival and demography of transplants. Comparisons of soil chemistry and general patterns of distribution and abundance within sites were made between the study site and other populations. The annual hydroperiod at the sinkhole pond varied from 4-16 months of continuous inundation during winter and summer with plants growing at sites with low overstory cover and at maximum water depths of from 49-59 cm. After 16 months of continuous inundation and heavy accumulation of floating aquatic vegetation, all H. virginicum plants had died at the study site. At the same time, other neighboring populations with inundation as long and deep did not accumulate a cover of floating vegetation and their populations did not decline noticeably. These data suggest that H. virginicum is intolerant of shade. Following death of all H. virginicum plants at the study site, soil sampling and a large pulse of recruitment gave evidence of a seed bank which was at least two years old. Annual recruitment and the proportion of plants in stage classes was highly variable; survival of the early stage plants was low. A highly variable population size suggests a high probability of local extinction of the population at the study site if future investment in the seed bank should fail to occur. Chemical analyses of soils from 19 of the 21 sites in which H. virginicum grows, revealed a low pH, high levels of Al and As, and low levels of B, Ca, K, Mg, and P. Endemism of this plant may result from it being limited to refugia where competition is reduced by a stressful soil and a variable hydroperiod, and where the variable hydroperiod leads to high rates of local extinction.


In this study, the storability of Oriental beechnuts after the prechilling treatment were researched. The beechnuts from three provenances were stored at -6 °C for one year. Significant germination decrease observed in the stored beechnuts after the prechilling treatment. Lengthening of prechilling duration before the storage made the beechnuts more sensitive to desiccation and germination ability of beechnuts dropped greatly. Therefore, the beechnuts to be stored after the prechilling treatment should be prechilled 3-4 weeks less (7-9 weeks) than necessary prehilling duration (10-12 weeks, depending on the provenances). Remaining prechilling duration (3-4 weeks) should be applied after the storage. The moisture content of beechnuts during the storage after the prechilling treatment shouldn't be less than 8 % since the stored beechnuts with 6 % moisture content after the prechilling treatment demonstrated large decrease in the germination percentage.
Keywords: Fagus orientalis, beechnut, prechilling, storage


Chinese legal system is very complex. Understanding Chinese characteristics requires becoming acquainted with Chinese culture and philosophy. Starting from the third generation of leaders we can observe convergence of governance models postulated by Confucianism and Legalism, but in a modern version. From time immemorial, the idea of harmony played a decisive role in Chinese social and political thought. Currently, concepts such as 'One Belt, One Road', or the search for economic stabilization as part of the 'New Normal' still correspond with striving for harmony in all aspects of life, rooted for centuries in the minds of Chinese citizens. At the current stage of development, to achieve harmony it is necessary to develop a social and political consensus around a new stage of reform and openness policy, social harmony, scientific approach to development and, above all, recognition of the Chinese characteristics.


Are identifying miscues and cueing systems during running records as MSV stupid. Yes, might as well throw darts at the wall....useless...but so is much


By designing the basic exciter circuit of an alternator to make the machine as self-regulating as possible, and using the remaining deviations of output voltage to provide a correction signal to the exciter, the steady-state alternator voltage can easily be kept within ±0.6 per cent. No antihunt means are needed, transient response is rapid, and a short circuit will not cause loss of excitation.


This master thesis describes a final project, where two different grid-based features using different classification settings are compared, in an off-line
supervised human action detection and recognition task. The task consists of the detecting and recognizing �tness moves performed in an exercise video, using limited training data acquired from the same video.


Given the backdrop of pressing infrastructure needs, this paper argues that higher German public investment would not only stimulate domestic demand in the near term and reduce the current account surplus, but would also raise output over the longer-run as well as generate beneficial regional spillovers. While time-to-build delays can weaken the impact of the stimulus in the short-run, the expansionary effects of higher public investment are substantially strengthened with an accommodative monetary policy stance - as is typical during periods of economic slack. The current low-interest rate environment presents a window of opportunity to finance higher public investment at historically favorable rates.


The structural correlation between the BaO-TiO2-SiO2 (BTS) glass and the corresponding (BTS) glass-ceramic is examined by 29Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) analysis along with Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. From the deconvoluted spectrum of each Si unit, denoted by Qn, in both the BTS glasses and the BTS glass-ceramics, it is found that structural rearrangement of Si occurs from the Q2 and Q3 units to Ba2TiSi2O8 and the residual amorphous region, respectively. These results of 29Si MAS NMR analysis and Raman spectroscopy, together with XRD measurements, show that the local structure of the BTS mother glass reflects that of the corresponding crystals. This finding is expected to be valuable for tailoring the structure of functional glass-ceramics.


Lateral acceleration is a key aspect of the vehicle response perceived by the driver. Assistance systems such as Active Rear Steering (ARS) or Torque Vectoring (TV) are developed to modify the lateral acceleration response such that the vehicle has an improved stability and an extended linear handling region. With this extended linear handling region the vehicle abruptly reaches tyre friction limitations (representing an entry into the vehicle handling limits (VHL)), this can potentially lead to dangerous situations. This thesis aims to quantify driver behaviour when being forced to drive near the VHL, in terms of how often the VHL is entered and what happens after entry. To assess this, a human factors experiment (N = 18) in a fixed base driving simulator was performed. In this experiment three different vehicle configurations were compared: (1) a conventional vehicle (Passive) (2) a vehicle with an extended linear handling region (Active) (3) a vehicle with an extended linear handling region and increased yaw response (Active Sport). In these configurations, the drivers need to drive with a fixed velocity on an oval track with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) switched off. It was expected that a conventional vehicle enters the VHL more often compared to the vehicles with an extended linear handling region. However, when entering the VHL, the vehicle with an extended linear handling region was expected to be more difficult to control due to the abrupt change in vehicle dynamics and corresponding steering feel. The results indicate that the Passive vehicle entered the VHL more frequently compared to the Active and Active Sport configurations. However, when the Active Sport configuration entered the VHL, significantly more road departures and an increased steering reversal rate compared to the Passive configuration resulted. Therefore, it can be concluded drivers enter the VHL less frequently in a vehicle with an extended linear handling region (caused by systems such as ARS or TV). However when the VHL is entered it is more difficult and dangerous for a driver to control compared to a conventional vehicle.


The invention discloses an information processing method and electronic equipment. The method is applied to the electronic equipment. The method comprises the steps that the electronic equipment obtains the relative distance of an operation body relative to a display unit by a sensing unit; when the relative distance is not equal to 0, determining a first corresponding object mapped onto the display unit by the operation body; changing the display effect of the first object to enable the first object to represent the display effect with the three-dimensional change. A display image with different three-dimensional effects can be represented by changing the display effect according to the features of the suspension touch control operation via the method and the equipment, so the touch control operation can simulate real touch control and provide an interaction reaction mutually responding the fitting suspension touch control features.


In many areas of industry, it is desirable to have fast and reliable systems in order to quickly obtain suitable solid models for computer- aided analyses. Nevertheless it is well known that the data exchange process between CAD modelers and CAE packages can require significative efforts. This paper presents an approach for geometrical data exchange through triangulated boundary models. The proposed framework is founded on the use of STL file specification as neutral format file. This work is principally focused on data exchange among CAD modelers and FEA packages via STL. The proposed approach involves the definition of a topological structure suitable for the STL representation and the development of algorithms for topology and geometry data processing in order to get a solid model suitable for finite element analysis or other computer aided engineering purposes. Different algorithms for model processing are considered and their pros and cons are discussed. As a case study, a prototype modeler which supports an exporting filter for a commercial CAE package has been implemented.


Previously, existence and uniqueness of a class of monotone similarity solutions for a nonlinear differential equation arising in magnetohydrodynamic Falkner–Skan flow were considered in the case of accelerating flows. It was shown that a solution satisfying certain monotonicity properties exists and is unique for the case of accelerated flows and some decelerated flows. In this paper, we show that solutions to the problem can exist for decelerated flows even when the monotonicity conditions do not hold. In particular, these types of solutions have nonmonotone second derivatives and are, hence, a distinct type of solution from those studied previously. By virtue of this result, the present paper demonstrates the existence of an important type of solution for decelerated flows. Importantly, we show that multiple solutions can exist for the case of strongly decelerated flows, and this occurs because of the fact that the solutions do not satisfy the aforementioned monotonicity requirements. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


As Internet of Things (IoT) components are getting multiplied, they generate enormous quantity of data which is to be stored. But such data is not meaningful until it is investigated which needs analytics power. Diverse Big data, IoT, and analytics solutions have empowered individuals to get important understanding into vast information created by IoT objects. But these solutions are still in early stages and the area does not have a exhaustive study. This paper examines research attempts forwarded towards huge IoT data analytics and it also explains relationship between big data Analytics and IoT. Besides, this paper includes esteem by proposing. a new structure for big IoT data analytics. Moreover, types of Big data analytics, strategies, and innovations for mining big data are examined. Various outstanding use cases are additionally exhibited. At long last, open research challenges, for example, security, enormous information mining, representation, and incorporation, are introduced and directed as a future research. Keywords—Intelligent cities, Big data, Internet of Things, data analytics, distributed computing.


This paper investigates electro-optical frequency mapping (EOFM) characteristics of metal insulator semiconductor (MIS) capacitor test structures. The EOFM characteristic describes the EOFM signal intensity dependence to the device under test (DUT) input signal amplitude. We can monitor the gradual increase of charge per voltage in accumulation and in strong inversion. We show that the device parameters flat band voltage and the threshold voltage can be extracted from a series of EOFM measurements. This parameter extraction is linked to a low k dielectric degradation experiment. Changing of the extracted parameters during a degradation process allows contactless monitoring of the device properties and their degradation under electrical stress.


Battelle Columbus Laboratories's ongoing plastic-pipe research program has as its main objectives the development of improving piping compounds that exhibit the high strength and toughness required for decades of trouble-free service and the identification and development of test methods useful in predicting the service-life potential of a gas-piping material. The program entails extensive engineering studies of the environmental stress crack resistance of polyethylene piping materials as well as their behavior under external mechanical loads. Back-up studies focus on the structural and compositional characteristics of polyolefins that dominate the aging or deterioration process. Battelle's program is also concerned with the influence of construction, storage, and maintenance practices on piping performance.


Librarians and publishers around the world deplore the regulations of the US government that seek to limit the ability of US persons to process and publish informational materials from selected countries. Such actions are contradictory to the recognition by democratic societies everywhere that the free flow of information and ideas is vital to citizens of all nations to educate themselves about the world by communicating with peoples of other countries.


A major problem in distributing computer power over a number of processors is to control the flow of the processes in the system by scheduling the processes on the correct processors and providing the interprocess communication needed. An alternative to implementing control functions in software is to micro-program them in the hardware. This alternative becomes even more attractive if a set of standard control functions can be defined without a lot of special cases that must be programmed in a unique way.


The ionization front velocity in a de cylindrical plasma is reported. This parameter has been determined as the ratio between the distance separation of two Langmuir probes, Δz, and the time Δt which is needed for the ionization front to cover the distance Δz.

A theoretical model which allows to obtain the functional relationship of ionization front velocity with the stationary electron density has been developed. A good agreement, both qualitatively and quantitatively, has been obtained.


This article presents the intellectual trajectory of Roman Rosdolsky, highlighting his contributions to the interpretation of Marx's works and to the historical studies.


Efforts to demonstrate the effective arrest and control of fungi growth in southern pine poles (by the application of the fumigants Vapam and chloropicrin) are described. Agreement percentages and confidence limits are determined for electrical resistance, torque changes during drilling, x-ray radiographs, culturing of decay fungi, and impact energy absorption. Based on cultural and dissection studies, this report describes seven decay patterns in the poles and the associated fungi indicated and speculates when some fungi invade the poles.


This study aimed to examine the effect of the diversification strategy decisions on capital structure and financial performance and to examine the role of the ownership structure (institutional ownership and managerial ownership) on the effect of the diversification strategy on capital structure and company's financial performance. Type of this research is quantitative research. The sample used is a non-financial company in accordance with the criteria and is registered as a public company in Indonesia Stock Exchange 2009-2014 period. This study classifies into four variables, are independent variables (exogeneous variable): related diversification strategy (X_1) and unrelated diversification strategies (X_2), moderating variables: institutional ownership (Z_1) and managerial ownership (Z_2), intervening variables: capital structure (Y_1), and the dependent variable (endogeneous variable): the company's International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, United Kingdom Licensed under Creative Common Page 345 financial performance (Y_2). Technical analysis was done using path analysis and moderated regression analysis (MRA). The results indicate that related diversification strategies shows positive influence and significant impact on the structure of capital, unrelated diversification strategy to negative and significant impact on capital structure. Related diversification strategies to positive and significant impact on the company's financial performance. Unrelated diversification strategy shows negative effect and significant impact on the company's financial performance. Capital structure as measured by DER was also negative effect and significant impact to any changes in company's financial performance as measured by ROE. Institutional ownership role of strengthening the influence of related diversification strategies and unrelated diversification strategies to capital structure. Managerial ownership strengthen the role of influence related diversification strategy also unrelated diversification strategy to capital structure. Institutional ownership and managerial ownership does not contribute to the effects of capital structure on a company's financial performance because it is an independent variable that directly affect to the capital structure and company's financial performance.


In order to meet the strong demand of unmanned combat system for small inertial devices, the miniaturization of optical path of fiber optic gyroscope is studied in this paper. In this paper, the way to realize the miniaturization of optical path of fiber optic gyroscope is introduced, and then a small optical path is designed under the condition of discrete devices. Through MATLAB simulation, the objective function and constraint conditions of coil optimization are set, and the MOPSO algorithm is used to solve the problem, and the actual parameters of fiber optic coil are determined. The size of the discrete device FOG is only 35mm×50mm×37mm, which is about 20% smaller than the smallest commercial F50 FOG in the market, and its cost and accuracy are better than those of F50 FOG. Finally, the calculation and simulation are carried out. The simulation and experiment show that the design can realize the miniaturization of optical path, and the precision can meet the requirements of tactical gyro. This design provides a certain reference value for the miniaturization of optical path of fiber optic gyroscope.


Abstract Objectives Antibiotic resistance is rising, prompting innovative strategies for eradicating the epidemic. This study investigated the antibacterial properties of the leaves of a widely used medicinal plant, Adhatoda vasica. Methods The plant's polar (water, methanol) and non-polar (hexane) extracts were tested against several different bacterial strains using the disc diffusion technique. Results In a study, it was found that the water extract had the greatest inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus simulans and Staphylococcus aureus, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 16.444 and 19.315 g/mL, respectively. Gram-negative strains were more susceptible to plant extracts than Gram-positive strains. The phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, and steroids, where absorbance was recorded at 415 nm. The water extract had the highest amount of phenolics, with a total phenolic content of 53.92 0.47 mg and a total flavonoid content of 7.25 0.08 mg. Results suggest that the extract may have potential therapeutic applications for antimicrobial properties. Conclusions The study concluded that the extract's phenolic group of secondary metabolites were responsible for its antibacterial activity. The study highlights A. vasica as a promising source for discovering new and effective antibacterial compounds.


We base on a newr class of equivalent condition of convex programming problems, which was first presented by Fischer, give a continuation method and prove its global convergence.


Histotripsy is an extracorporeal ablative technology that utilizes microsecond pulses of intense ultrasound (< 1% duty cycle) to produce nonthermal, mechanical fractionation of targeted tissue. We have previously demonstrated the feasibility of histotripsy prostate ablation. In this study we sought to assess the chronic tissue response, tolerability and safety of histotripsy in a chronic in vivo canine model. Five acute and thirteen chronic canine subjects were anesthetized and treated with histotripsy targeting the prostate. Pulses consisted of 3 cycle bursts of 750 kHz ultrasound at a repetition rate of 300 Hz delivered transabdominally from a highly focused 15 cm aperture array. Transrectal ultrasound imaging provided accurate targeting and real-time monitoring of histotripsy treatment. Prostates were harvested at 0, 7, 28, or 56 days after treatment. Consistent mechanical tissue fractionation and debulking of prostate tissue was seen acutely and at delayed time points without collateral injury. Urothelialization of the treatment cavity was apparent 28 days after treatment. Canine subjects tolerated histotripsy with minimal hematuria or discomfort. Only mild transient lab abnormalities were noted. Histotripsy is a promising non-invasive therapy for prostate tissue fractionation and debulking that appears safe and well tolerated without systemic side effects in the canine model.


This paper reviews the creation and operation of a clinical geriatric program designed to provide dental services to approximately 200 family units in a retirement community center. One unique aspect of the program was the use of dental students for administrative and leadership functions and the community representatives' active participation. In order for students to achieve this leadership role, the participating faculty had to assume a subordinate role, participating only to the degree that was necessary to assure overall quality of care; to safeguard clinical effectiveness; and to assure that medical, legal, and ethical guidelines were being followed.


Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) known as common green lacewing, its adult feeds only on plant nectars and larva is the voracious feed er of aphids and hence used in biological control of insect pests. In present study, the effective storage temperatures at optimum durations for the developmental stages of C. carnea under laboratory conditions was carried out. The consequence of storage duration and low temperatures on the different developmental stages of C. carnea at egg, larval, pre-pupal and pupal stages revealed that the storage of eggs at temperatures of 6, 12, 14 and 16 o C gave short term storage up to 15-20 days with minimum detrimental effects to the developing embryo. Whereas, 8 and 10 o C conditions of storage suited for both short and long term storage for 40 days. It is inferred from the results that w henever, needed to conserve strains of C. carnea in laboratories for experimentation or field releases, the storage at low temperatures of 8 o C proved effective for both short and long term durations.


The most interesting developments during 1953 have been the improvement in properties of silicone rubber and their more widespread use for electrical insulation. Silicone and other synthetic rubbers are becoming important in the field of dielectrics. Aging, oxidation, and cracking are the major problems with rubber insulation which were studied in 1953. Fundamental and practical solutions to many phases of these problems may be forthcoming which will bring about in the future rubber insulation of high quality, good aging characteristics, which is adaptable for use at 300°F or higher.


Lead chalcogenide colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have the potential to be a new generation of high-performance gas-sensing materials for its high chemical activity, facile solution processability, and size tunability. However, the high chemical activity of CQDs also leads the CQDs to be easily oxidized, which would reduce the long-term stability of CQDs-based gas sensors. Here, we try to introduce halogen ligands in the synthesis of PbS CQDs by using lead halide as precursor. These halogen ligands play a passivate role and are beneficial in improving the long-term stability of PbS CQDs-based gas sensors. Results show that although the PbS CQDs synthesized using lead halide as precursor exhibit relatively low sensor response than that synthesized using traditional lead oxide as precursor, it exhibits faster response and recovery times. More importantly, the sensors employing halogen-passivated PbS CQDs exhibit superior long-term stability, in which more than 80% of their original NO2-sensing performance are still presented after 30 days. It could be attributed to the surface halogen derived from the lead precursor, which prevent CQDs from reacting with the atmosphere and, thus, maintain the oxidative stability of CQDs. This research will pave the way for improving the long-term stability of lead chalcogenide CQDs-based gas sensors.


This paper describes and illustrates early to middle Eocene benthic foraminifers from northwest Atlantic Site 605, on the continental rise off New Jersey. Benthic foraminiferal faunas are dominated by Bulitnina spp., Nuttallides truempyi, Lβnticulina spp., and Cibicidoides spp. Other common taxa include Oridorsalis spp., Gyroidinoides spp., uniserial taxa, arenaceous taxa, and Globocassidulina subglobosa. Together, these taxa usually make up 70% or more of the total fauna. The assemblages are interpreted as indicating a lower bathyal environment of deposition during the Eocene at Site 605. This is corroborated by an independent water depth estimate through backstripping, indicating a water depth for the beginning of the Eocene to late middle Eocene of approximately 2300 to 2000 m.


We study the codimension-one totally geodesic foliation perpendicular to a non-singular Killing field of a Lorentzian manifold. We determine the structure of the totally geodesic foliation perpendicular to a non-singular Killing field of a two-dimensional Lorentzian torus containing at least two kinds of leaves.


Objective:To explore the insufficiency mechanism of the cord blood lymphocytes of the neonates Methods: 3H Thymidine incorporation was used to analyze the proliferative response; Western blot technique was performed to assess PLCγ1 expression between cord and adult lymphocytes Results:The proliferative response of cord blood lymphocytes to anti CD3 mAb was significantly reduced compared to that of the adult's The proliferative response of cord blood lymphocytes to PMA+IM was significantly higher than the response to anti CD3 mAb The PLCγ1 expression was markedly lower than that of the adult's Conclusion:The lymphocytes dysfunction of the neonatal cord blood probably related to the signal transduction in the early stage lymphocytes activation


The solid-state X-ray structure of Tp'PtMe2H has been determined. This platinum(IV) hydride derivative is stable at room temperature and crystallizes in an orthorhombic cell (space group Pcmn, Z = 4, a = 8.1292(8) A, b = 13.3862(9) A, and c = 17.9670(16) A). The hydride ligand was not located. The complex was synthesized as one of a series of organometallic platinum(IV) derivatives with Tp' (Tp' = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) in the coordination sphere. These octahedral platinum(IV) Tp'PtMe2X and Tp'PtPh2X complexes were prepared by formal oxidation of platinum(II) intermediates ([K][Tp'PtMe2] and [K][Tp'PtPh2]) with electrophiles (HX, MeI, I2). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to determine the solid-state decomposition temperatures for these platinum(IV) organometallic complexes.


In the recent years, mankind has actually formed a concept of development that including the economic one up to 2030. As the base model adopted was the sustainable development, as the new type of economy the economy with clear environmental priorities. At the heart of these provisions are the decisions of the UN conferences, associated with the adoption of sustainable development goals (SDGs) (2015), the approval of a new plan to combat global climate change (2015), the implementation of the green economy model as the basis for the transition to sustainable development (2012). The article analyzes the UN Millennium Development Goals, which are the precursors of the SDGs, showing the possibility of their adaptation and use in Russia.The authors argue that to overcome the crisis and to implement the long-term problems in Russia the priority objectives should be the following: the transition to sustainable development; the change of raw materials export model to a model with a «green» features; the development of human capital.


Nowadays, most of our daily activities can be performed indoors; according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on average, an American spends 90 percent of their life indoors. Although multiple efforts have been made to improve the various aspects of sustainability in living spaces, indoor comfort and efficiency nonetheless require improvement. Therefore, more studies and advancements in efficient building design are vital to improve user comfort, while also addressing the aspects of sustainability. This will help achieve the principles of sustainability without altering user activities and avoiding a resulting negative impact on the environment. The green building evaluation and certification rating system, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, LEED ® , developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), has been working to change the way that professionals design buildings, develop construction methods, and apply different technologies to positively affect how users perceive and interact with the built environment. This paper presents the importance of exposing undergraduate engineering students to assistive technologies. This has been achieved through the implementation of a project-based learning environment with technology development and the integration of multidisciplinary learning experiences. Engineering technology students collaborate with computer systems engineering students to solve real problems in building automation and assistive technology based on the Internet of Things.


This article discusses the two main royal palaces constructed in Kalḫu during the ninth century: Ashurnasirpal II's Northwest Palace and Shalmaneser III's Military Palace. Through a re-examination of the architecture of both palaces, it will be argued that the two were more alike than has been commonly assumed. The military nature of the Military Palace did not preclude the presence of most types of spaces that were already present in the Northwest Palace. By discussing the differences and similarities between the kinds of spaces, decoration and spatial organisation found in each palace this article tries to offer a new analysis of both, and of the nature of Late Assyrian royal palaces more broadly.


We show that the Gottfried and the Bjorken integrals have the same nonperturbative evolution, which is related to the gluon polarization in the proton.


..................................................................................................................................... 1 1  Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.1  Structure of this report ......................................................................................... 2 1.2  Atmospheric Nuclear Weapons Tests .................................................................. 3 1.2.1  Potential health risk due to explosions radioecology ................................. 6 1.3  Atmospheric transport of radionuclides............................................................... 8 1.4  Previous estimates of global fallout ................................................................... 10 1.4.1  Early Sr based estimates of global fallout................................................ 10 1.4.2  The UNSCEAR compilation of global fallout data.................................... 10 1.4.3  Relevance for this study ............................................................................. 11 1.5  Nordic studies on or using precipitation based deposition estimates ................ 11 2  Modelling nuclear weapons fallout .................................................................................. 12 2.1  Expressing the relationship between precipitation and deposition – traditional approach........................................................................................................................ 12 2.2  Initial studies within NKS-B EcoDoses............................................................. 12 3  New model for estimating global fallout.......................................................................... 16 3.1  Assessing global fallout ..................................................................................... 16 3.1.1  Source or receptor based estimation........................................................... 16 3.1.2  Selection of radionuclide for study............................................................. 16 3.1.3  Potential explanatory variables................................................................... 17 3.1.4  Significance versus importance .................................................................. 17 3.1.5  Statistical modelling ................................................................................... 17 3.1.6  Analysis of Covariance............................................................................... 17 3.1.7  Comparison of models using ANOVA or AIC .......................................... 18 3.1.8  Comparison of models using adjusted R................................................... 18 3.1.9  Using GAM to identify potential explanatory variables ............................ 18 3.1.10  Basic structure of models used ................................................................... 19 3.1.11  Network specific bias ................................................................................. 19 3.1.12  Modelling time dependency of the data ..................................................... 20 3.1.13  Time series vs. cumulative estimates of deposition ................................... 20 3.1.14  Latitude dependency of models .................................................................. 20 3.1.15  Precipitation rate: introduction of a bias r0 ................................................. 22 3.1.16  Testing the explanatory power of candidate variables in simple additive models 23 3.1.17  Site specific models .................................................................................... 23 3.1.18  Parameter based models ............................................................................. 24 3.1.19  Altitude ....................................................................................................... 25 3.1.20  Longitude.................................................................................................... 26 3.1.21  Distance from test site ................................................................................ 26 3.1.22  The temporal component of the models, f(tm) ............................................ 26 3.1.23  Effect of precipitation exponent not being 1 .............................................. 27 3.2  Results: model parameters ................................................................................. 28 3.3  Comparison of new and traditional model for making deposition estimates – Case study: Iceland ....................................................................................................... 31 3.3.1  Estimation of global fallout Cs in Iceland .............................................. 32 3.3.2  Alternative representation (not assuming b=1) .......................................... 32 4  Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... 34 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 35 Disclaimer................................................................................................................................ 35 References ............................................................................................................................... 35 Appendix – Recent Nordic studies on precipitation based deposition estimates .................... 38 Calculations of the deposition of Cs from nuclear bomb tests and from the Chernobyl accident over the province of Skåne in the southern part of Sweden based on precipitation (Isaksson, Erlandsson et al. 2000) ...................................................... 38 A 10-year study of the Cs distribution in soil and a comparison of Cs soil inventory with precipitation-determined deposition (Isaksson, Erlandsson et al. 2001) .............. 38 Radioactive fallout in Norway from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests (Bergan, 2002) ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Regional distribution of Chernobyl-derived plutonium deposition in Finland (Paatero, Jaakkola et al. 2002) ..................................................................................................... 39 Americium and curium deposition in Finland from the Chernobyl accident (Salminen, Paatero et al. 2005) ....................................................................................................... 40 GIS supported calculations of Cs deposition in Sweden based on precipitation data (Almgren, Nilsson et al. 2006)...................................................................................... 40 Radiocaesium fallout behaviour in volcanic soils in Iceland (Sigurgeirsson, Arnalds et al. 2005) ........................................................................................................................ 41 Prediction of spatial variation in global fallout of Cs using precipitation (Pálsson, Howard et al. 2006)....................................................................................................... 41 Deposition of Sb-125, Ru-106, Ce-144, Cs-134 and Cs-137 in Finland after the Chernobyl accident (Paatero, Kulmala et al. 2007) ...................................................... 42 Overview of strontium-89,90 deposition measurements in Finland 1963–2005 (Paatero, Saxen et al. 2010) .......................................................................................... 42 A simple model to estimate deposition based on a statistical reassessment of global fallout data (Pálsson, Howard et al. 2012).................................................................... 43


Severe Combined Immunodeficiencies (SCID) are defined by a complete absence of T lymphocytes in the blood and lymphoid organs, with variable defects in other WBC subsets depending on the gene defect. From a clinical perspective SCIDs are characterized by early development of life-threatening infections accounting for early death if untreated. The treatment of choice is allogeneic HSCT with very high success rates if a HLA identical sibling (MRD) or unrelated donor (MUD) is used. However, due to the scarcity of matched-related donors, SCID can benefit from haploidentical HSCT. In contrast to the continuous improvement of HLA compatible donor transplantations, no significant improvements have been obtained over the last twenty years for haploidentical HSCT. The profound immunodeficiency during the first months following haploidentical HSCT exposes patients to opportunistic viral, bacterial and fungal infections, which account for approximately 30-40% of the transplant related mortality (TRM). The rapid restoration of the T-cell compartment is the main aim of stem cell therapy in this setting. To this end we have recently set up a phase I/II clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03879876) aiming to accelerate the immune reconstitution by injection of ex vivo generated Human T lymphoid progenitors (ProTcell TM) following haploidentical HSCT. T cell progenitors in this trial are generated in vitro within 7 days from mobilized peripheral blood (mPB) CD34 + hematopoietic stem and precursor cells (HSPCs) using our Notch ligand Delta-like 4 GMP culture platform so called SMART Immune's SMART101 product.
 This open-label, non-randomized study evaluates safety and efficacy of the SMART101 injection following CD34 + selected, haploidentical HSCT in SCID patients and is designed as a dose-escalation study comprising 6 doses of the SMART101 product obtained from the patient's haploidentical stem cell graft. The aim of this protocol is to define the highest efficacy dose without any toxicity.
 The conditioning regimen is based on Busulfan and Fludarabine according to IE-WP/EBMT guidelines with upfront administration of ATG to prevent graft rejection. Tight monitoring of ATG serum levels is applied in order to assure injection of SMART101 when ATG is below the lymphotoxicity threshold.
 Here we report the results of the first two SCID patients. P1 presented a homozygous Artemis deficiency. At diagnosis he had an ALC of 341/µl, with complete absence of T cells (CD3 + < 4/µl, CD4 + < 1/µl, CD8 + < 2/µl) and B cells (CD19 + 0/µl). NK cells were present in the normal range for age (CD16 +CD56 + 331/µl).
 In the absence of an HLA compatible donor, the patient`s father was chosen as haploidentical stem cell donor.
 P1 received upfront ATG (5 mg /kg total dose), Busulfan (AUC of 16058 microM.min) and Fludarabine (160 mg/m²). He received Defibrotide prophylaxis from D0 until D+21, as well as Ursodeoxycholic acid until D+80. The CD34 + immunoselected graft contained 1.04 x 10 8 nucleated cells/kg with 24.15 x10 6 CD34 + cells/kg and 4000 CD3 + cells/kg on D0. After ATG monitoring 0.12x10 6 Smart101 cells were administered at D+14 post- HSCT.
 In the follow-up P1 didn't develop any acute or chronic SAEs, no acute or chronic GVHD, and no infection. He was discharged at D+121 post HSCT.
 The day +100 post transplantation CD4 + cell count/microliter exceeded 10 times the CD4 + count of our historical cohort of RAG1/2 or Artemis deficient patients transplanted with haploidentical HSCT alone following the same conditioning regimen.
 At 6 months post HSCT this difference remains important (851 versus 300 CD4 + cells/µl); Ig replacement therapy could be stopped as early as 9 months post transplantation and vaccinations have been started. At last follow up; almost 14 months post HSCT P1 is alive and well.
 P2 had an undefined molecular SCID diagnosis. She has been treated with the same conditioning regimen and received the second dose of 0.2x10 6 CD7 + cells, but unfortunately died from severe VOD emphasizing the need to replace chemotherapy with less toxic myeloablative agents.
 The preliminary results obtained after injection of Human T lymphoid progenitors in P1 are encouraging. While deserving confirmation in larger numbers of patients they could represent an important step forward in improving the outcome of haploidentical HSCT for SCID.

 Cavazzana: Smart Immune: Other: co-founder.


Over a year ago, I announced in this column the upcoming change in format for School Libraries Worldwide. Many have said "Change is the only constant," but the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus (540-480 BC) may have said it first when e declared "Nothing endures but change."


The robust design of a natural laminar flow wingbody for a supersonic business jet is here described. The pursued goal is to obtain a wing shape whose performance is influenced as least as possible by geometrical uncertainties. The starting point is a supersonic business jet wing-body that was already optimized for natural laminar flow using a deterministic objective function formulation. The definition of the optimization goal is based on special risk functions, namely Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR), that are widely used in financial engineering community and that offer interesting advantages with respect to more classical approaches based on expectation or variance risk functions. VaR and CVaR are used in conjunction with two different stochastic optimization algorithms, namely the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy (CMA-ES) and the Surrogate-based Local Optimization (SBLO). These risk functions are computed using a very coarse sample set and their confidence intervals are computed using the bootstrap computational statistics technique. The results illustrate the feasibility of such a robust optimization approach for the application to industrial class robust design optimization problems in aerospace.


BACKGROUND
Fiscal constraints, an aging populations, and the increasing burden of chronic conditions are stressing health systems internationally. Nurses are the linchpin of effective health care delivery and their success is dependent on adequate staffing models, which must align knowledge, skills, and competencies with workload.

OBJECTIVES
To compare measures of nursing workload in adult inpatient settings.

DESIGN, DATA SOURCES AND REVIEW METHOD
A review of published studies characterizing nursing workload measures was undertaken. Databases-PubMed and CINHAL-were used to identify published studies. A description of the psychometric properties of each measure and its use in an inpatient setting was required for inclusion. The PRISMA statement was used to guide and report the review.

RESULTS
Of the 1,422 studies identified, 15 met the inclusion criteria. Nursing workload was measured in the intermediate care unit (n=6), overall hospital (n=7), emergency department (n=1), and burn unit (n=1) settings and also by mailed survey (n=1). Eleven different workload measures were identified. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) (n=3), Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS) (n=3), and Nursing Activities Score (NAS) (n=2) were the most common nursing workload measures identified with reported psychometric properties.

CONCLUSION
Researchers, clinicians and hospital administrators should carefully identify and assess the psychometric properties of nursing workload measures before using these in routine practice. Relevance to clinical practice Gaining a consensus on effective nursing workload measures is a crucial step in designing appropriate staffing models and policies, improving nurse productivity and wellbeing, as well as enhancing patient health outcomes in inpatient settings.


The clinker of which main component was calcium-chloroaluminate (ㆍ), was synthesized with the bottom ash of municipal solid waste incinerator ash. The hydration mechanism and synthesis temperature of calcium-chloro-aluminate were investigated. The synthesized clinker was blended with a cement. It was substituted with 3~13 wt.% for clinker and of ordinary portland cement. The compressive strength and the content of leached heavy metals of its mortar were measured. Calcium-chloroaluminate was synthesized above and its main hydrate was ettringite (ㆍㆍO). The calcium-chloroaluminate was also synthesized above with the bottom ash of which size fraction was below 30 mesh mainly. The compressive strength of the blended cement mortar was increased as the additive content of the clinker synthesized from the bottom ash was increased by 11 wt.%. The concentration of heavy metals leached from each mortar was satisfied with the value of the environmental standards and regulations.


The invention discloses a transmission method and a receiving device of a frame synchronizing signal. The transmission method comprises the following steps: (A) a main control board generates a synchronizing clock and a frame synchronizing signal to be sent to each single board; (B) after each single board receives the synchronizing clock and the frame synchronizing signal, the synchronizing clock is used as a work clock, at least one sampling head is realized, and the sampling head for most stable sampling for the frame synchronizing signal is selected; and (C) each single board samples the frame synchronizing signal according to the selected sampling head and tracks the sampling head. The invention keeps the external synchronous transmission mode and the topological structure of the synchronizing clock and the frame synchronizing signal to realize the simplicity of the system, does not depend on hardware wiring and the individual performance of each apparatus to reduce the design difficulty and the cost of the hardware, can quickly track frame synchronizing signals of various change periods to automatically adapt different frame period time and synchronizing time, and has the advantages of higher flexibility and universality, easy realization and high reliability.


In this paper, finite-time fault-tolerant attitude tracking control is investigated for rigid spacecraft system with external disturbances, inertia uncertainties and actuator faults. A novel finite-time disturbance observer combined with a nonsingular terminal sliding mode controller is developed. Using an equivalent output error injection approach, a finite-time disturbance observer with simple structure is firstly designed to estimate lumped uncertainty. Then, to remove the requirement of prior knowledge about lumped uncertainty and reduce chattering, an adaptive finite-time disturbance observer is further proposed, and the estimations converge to the neighborhood of the true values. Based on the designed observer, a unified finite-time attitude controller is obtained automatically. Finally, both additive and multiplicative faults are considered for simulations and the results illustrate the great fault-tolerant capability of the proposed scheme.


Infants and children with disabilities are at increased risk for problems with nutrition, feeding, and growth. Such problems are particularly acute in the US. Pacific jurisdictions where the overall health status is poor in comparison to US. national standards. As with many rural areas in the US., the US. Pacific jurisdictions lack adequate numbers of trained personnel to meet the feeding and nutrition needs of children with disabilities and their families. In order to address this need, a "nutrition mentoring" program was developed to train local health and education personnel in the US. Pacific region to provide nutrition andfeeding supports to children with disabilities and their families. This article describes the training model and its implementation, as well as the benefits and challenges of implementing a similar program in rural areas of the US.


Currently, there are two main theoretical approaches to understanding of the ultimate causes of human senescence. These are deterministic views and stochastic models. Proximate theories of aging constitute a distinct group of conceptions, and they involve mechanistic causes of aging. However, recent experimental studies carried out on evolutionarily distant model organisms have shown that aging can be a consequence of evolutionarily programmed and conserved signaling pathways, including insulin/IGF-1 pathway and MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin), and does not result primarily from random accumulation of molecular damage. Based on this, an alternative and interesting theory of hyperfunction has been recently formulated, including the important "quasi-program" described by the "MTOR-centric" model of aging, rival to the disposable soma theory, and offering a completely different approach to numerous problems and paradoxes in current biogerontology, as well as allowing the prediction of entirely new relationships. The aim of the article is to present and compare the views of both parties in the dispute, based on the results of recent experimental biogerontological studies and the contemporary knowledge of selected major aspects of human aging and longevity, including findings on the relationship between body size and lifespan.


The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of their characteristics on life satisfaction among elderly people who use customized elderly care services, which introduced the concept of self-care for the first time in Korea. For this purpose, awareness of self-care was included in the characteristics of users of customized elderly care services, and a survey was conducted on 298 elderly people who use customized elderly care services. The main analysis results are as follows. First, the higher the self-care awareness of customized elderly care service users, the higher their life satisfaction. Second, the better the subjective health status of individual service users, the higher their life satisfaction. Third, it was found that as the user's depression decreased, life satisfaction increased. Fourth, among the social factors of users, it was found that the better the support from friends, the higher the level of life satisfaction. The results of this study showed that among the various characteristics of users of customized elderly care services, self-care seemed to have the greatest impact on life satisfaction. Based on these research results, practical and policy implications were presented to improve the life satisfaction of users of customized elderly care services.