In this paper, new textile-based shielding materials are presented. The woven textile mesh grids (2 × 2 and 4 × 4 mm2) are made with the use of three different types of conductive threads based on polyester yarn twisted together with steel filaments, silver-plated polyamide filaments, and silver-plated copper filaments. The conductive threads are characterized by SEM images. The transmission and reflection coefficients over the wide frequency range from 2.6 to 18 GHz are measured and analyzed using a rectangular waveguide method in a TE10 mode. The measurement results are verified and validated by two types of model analysis: theoretical analysis based on the metal-grid approach and filter model analysis based on the equivalent circuit theory. The unknown model parameters in the two cases are determined with the use of an optimization procedure that is specially designed for the scalar measurement data.


In this paper, heatsink design for high powei converter is presented There are many ways of designing heatsink, but air cooling is by far the most used and much more practical than any of the other methods In this paper, the practical methods of cooling which include the method to reduce a noise and a Vibration due to a fan and the method to design a gap resistance and a contact resistance due to mounting force between thyristor and heatsink is proposed Finally, simulation and experimental results are described to verify validity of the proposed method


Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) continue to be one of the most desirable materials for numerous nanotechnology applications due to their unique combination of quantum confinement and large surface area-to-volume ratio. Despite this, only limited numbers of SWCNT-based technologies have come to the market because of the difficulty in generating sufficient quantities of SWNCTs with uniform electronic properties. This is because the electronic properties of SWCNTs vary with their diameter, defect density and, most importantly, with their chirality. Although a few reports indicate that a degree of chirality control is possible with specific nanoparticle (NP) catalyst-support system [1,2], there is a fundamental lack of knowledge about what processes determine SWCNT chirality, particularly concerning the NT nucleation process on the catalyst, which precludes the design of efficient experimental approaches and rational catalyst design. We have employed an Environmental Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (ESTEM) [3], operated at 300 kV with an aberration corrector, which permits us to record real-time atomic resolution videos (6 frames s -1 ) to capture nanotube cap nucleation, lift-off, and growth in C2 H2 flowing over the Co-Mo/MgO system at synthesis temperatures. Detailed observations at this relatively slow frame rate are made possible by using lowpressure (0.005 Pa of C2H2) growth conditions (at 650 °C) to slow down the NT nucleation and growth rate.


Green Building Practices (GBPs) are gradually receiving worldwide recognition and uptake. It is argued that facilities built according to the GBPs, called green buildings are not only environmentally friendly, but also, economically more productive than other comparable ordinary ones. In the latter regard thus, green buildings' periodical rental premiums, finished property values and energy efficiencies, amongst others, are higher. Much as these studies fare well in portraying GBPs as being environmentally sustainable, very little research has been undertaken to ascertain their economic sustainability especially in the context of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This paper explores the latter, going through the perspectives of public awareness and access to construction finance, political will, construction industry sizes to green building materials' sources and argues that GBPs may not be economically sustainable in the LDCs.

 Key words: Green building practices, economic sustainability, climate change, environmental pollution, least developed countries.


—WLANs have become increasingly popular and widely deployed. The MAC protocol is one of the important technology of the WLAN and affects communication efficiency directly. In this paper, focusing on MAC protocol, we propose a novel protocol that network nodes dynamically optimize their backoff process to achieve high throughput while supporting satisfied QoS. The total throughput decreases heavily and cannot guarantee QoS under a high traffic load, which needs to be improved. Through theoretical analysis, we find that the average idle interval can represent current network traffic load and can be used together with estimated number of nodes for setting optimal CW . Since necessary indexes can be obtained through direct measurement from channel, our scheme will not increase any added load to networks. Through simulation comparison with conventional method, we show that our scheme can greatly enhance the throughput and the QoS no matter the network is in saturated or non-saturated case, while maintaining good fairness.


This study reports an attempt to predict the voice of reference using the information from the input sentences or previous input/output sentences. Our previous study presented a voice controlling method to generate sentences for neural machine translation, wherein it was demonstrated that the BLEU score improved when the voice of generated sentence was controlled relative to that of the reference. However, it is impractical to use the reference information because we cannot discern the voice of the correct translation in advance. Thus, this study presents a voice prediction method for generated sentences for neural machine translation. While evaluating on Japanese-to-English translation, we obtain a 0.70-improvement in the BLEU using the predicted voice.


The purpose of this study was to distinguish histopathological changes in carp fish (Carassius auratus) infected by Aeromonas hydrophila with different densities. Five treatments were used in the survey for this research method. The treatments used were bacterial infusion of A. hydrophila in the test fish through intramuscular injection with various densities, namely: A. without infection, B: 10 CFU/mL, C: 10 CFU/mL, D: 10 CFU/mL, and E: 10 CFU/mL. The parameters observed were histopathological changes in gill organs, kidneys and hearts of carp fish (gold fish). Data from histopathological observations were analyzed descriptively. The results present gill organs, liver and kidneys of carp fish infected with the bacteria A. hydrophila at various densities experiencing histopathological changes in the form of hemorrhages, necrosis and congestion and hyperplasia of the renal tubules. Other changes that occur were in the kidney organ experiencing a melanomacrophage center (MC). Tubules were coated with connective tissue and lymphocyte infiltration. The most severe organ damage that occurs in carp fish infected with the bacteria A. hydrophila at a density of 10 CFU/mL (treatment E) is shown by a low survival of 5%. Keyword: histopathology, clinical symptoms, Aeromonas hydrophila, Carassius auratus World Scientific News 142 (2020) 150-168


Globalization, consolidation, increased competition, innovation, electronic technolo gies, heightened attention to safety and sound ness-these are the important trends that have recently characterized the U.S. financial ser vices sector and will surely continue to do so in the first decade of the twenty-first century. To understand why these trends will continue to be important, this article first will consider the special characteristics of finance as an activity and then the causes and characteris tics of the regulatory regimes that have en compassed financial services in the United States. The article next provides an overview of the institutional structure of the financial services sector and then explores in greater detail the trends themselves.


Following an application from Lallemand Health Solutions, submitted pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of France, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Bifidobacterium bifidum CNCM I-3426 and defence against pathogens in the upper respiratory tract. The food constituent that is the subject of the claim is B. bifidum CNCM I-3426. The Panel considers that B. bifidum CNCM I-3426 is sufficiently characterised. The Panel considers that defence against pathogens in the upper respiratory tract is a beneficial physiological effect. The applicant provided one published human intervention study, one unpublished human intervention study (which was published during the evaluation of the claim) and one in vitro study as pertinent to the claimed effect. The Panel considers that no conclusions can be drawn from either of the human studies for the scientific substantiation of the claim. In the absence of evidence of an effect of B. bifidum CNCM I3426 on defence against pathogens in the upper respiratory tract in humans, the results of the in vitro study submitted cannot be used as a source of data for the scientific substantiation of the claim. The Panel concludes that a cause and effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of B. bifidum CNCM I-3426 and defence against pathogens in the upper respiratory tract.


Home automation system has grown in popularity in recent years as technology has made day-to-day life easier. Almost everything has been auto-mated and digitalized. This paper has developed an automated system that inter-connects different sensors such as passive infrared (PIR), smoke, gas, and flame, and different onboard sources such as camera, many different home appliances, or user commands. The main focus of this work is to control appliances remotely through the internet of things (IoT). Different sensors and sources provide signals to the ATmega2560 microcontroller. After processing, signals are sent to control various connected devices and appliances through relays. Finally, the devices are being controlled through the Blynk app, which is an IoT-based mobile app. The proposed home automation system incorporates face detection system, keypad security system, and doctor calling feature. Load (Volt) Voltages (Volt) (Exp.) Current (Amp) (Exp.) Power (WH) (Exp.) Cost (Taka) (Exp.) Cost (Taka) (Theory) Cost Differences (Taka) 0.12 3.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 1.5 1.81 17.11 0.52 0.77 0.78 0.01 1.5 1.82 16.62 0.06 0.09 0.09 0.0 3 3.60 26.25 0.71 1.06 1.065 0.005 3 3.60 27.04 0.03 0.04 0.045 0.005 5 4.99 30.63 1.10 1.66 1.65 0.01 5 5.00 30.63 0.08 0.13 0.12 0.01 9 5.49 61.58 3.38 5.08 5.07 0.01


Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 (PZT) thin films have been grown on Si/SiO2 and Si/SiO2/Ti/Pt substrates by rf magnetron sputtering and the effects of PbTiO3 (PT) buffer layers to the structural and electrical properties of PZT films were studied. The PT buffer layers were grown in situ (without postannealing) with thicknesses ranging from 100 to 1200 A. The PT layer orientation can be adjusted by the deposition temperature. The PZT films with a composition near the morphotropic phase (54/46) were deposited at room temperature followed by a conventional postannealing treatment. The disappearance of cracks in PZT films deposited on Si/SiO2/PT substrates indicates the role of the buffer layer as a stress absorber. By using a PT buffer layer it was possible to control the PZT films' orientation. Polycrystalline PZT films without a buffer layer changed to highly (100) or (111) oriented films, depending on the preferred orientation of the buffer layer. The influence of the buffer layer thickness and the PZT films' orientation on...


This paper discusses the issues regarding the soft skills needful for a future career. Therefore, a deep analysis of the best soft skills training practices both Russian and foreign was made. The paper shows scientific and innovative methods and mechanisms developed for the improvement of soft skills within the framework of modern educational technologies.


Embryonic development, lengthening, and repair of most bones proceed by endochondral ossification, namely through formation of a cartilage intermediate. It was previously demonstrated that adult human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells(hMSCs) can execute an endochondral program and ectopically generate mature bone. In this thesis, we hypothesized that hMSCs pushed through endochondral ossification can engineer a scaled-up ossicle with features of a "bone organ," including physiologically remodeled bone, mature vasculature, and a fully functional hematopoietic compartment. Engineered hypertrophic cartilage required IL-1β to be efficiently remodeled into bone and bone marrow upon subcutaneous implantation. This model allowed distinguishing, by analogy with bone development and repair, an outer, cortical-like perichondral bone, generated mainly by host cells and laid over a premineralized area, and an inner, trabecular-like, endochondral bone, generated mainly by the human cells and formed over the cartilaginous template. Hypertrophic cartilage remodeling was paralleled by ingrowth of blood vessels, displaying sinusoid-like structures and stabilized by pericytic cells. Marrow cavities of the ossicles contained phenotypically defined hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells at similar frequencies as native bones, and marrow from ossicles reconstituted multilineage long-term hematopoiesis in lethally irradiated mice. This study, by invoking a "developmental engineering" paradigm, reports the generation by appropriately instructed hMSC of an ectopic "bone organ" with a size, structure, and functionality comparable to native bones. The work thus provides a model useful for fundamental and translational studies of bone morphogenesis and regeneration, as well as for the controlled manipulation of hematopoietic stem cell niches in physiology and pathology.
In the last part of this thesis, we describe a strategy to generate customized ECM, designed to activate endogenous regenerative programs by recapitulating tissue-specific developmental processes. The paradigm was exemplified in the context of the skeletal system by testing the osteoinductive capacity of engineered and devitalized hypertrophic cartilage, which is the primordial template for the development of most bones. ECM was engineered by inducing chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stromal cells and devitalized by the implementation of a death-inducible genetic device, leading to cell apoptosis on activation and matrix protein preservation. The resulting hypertrophic cartilage ECM, tested in a stringent ectopic implantation model, efficiently remodeled to form de novo bone tissue of host origin, including mature vasculature and a hematopoietic compartment. Importantly, cartilage ECM could not generate frank bone tissue if devitalized by standard "freeze & thaw" (F&T) cycles, associated with a significant loss of glycosaminoglycans, mineral content, and ECM-bound cytokines critically involved in inflammatory, vascularization, and remodeling processes. These results support the utility of engineered ECM-based devices as off-the-shelf regenerative niches capable of recruiting and instructing resident cells toward the formation of a specific tissue.


To realise the significant non-Gaussian features of the wind pressure acting on structures, such as high-rise buildings and roof structures, a new simulation approach is proposed for generating sample functions of multivariate stationary non-Gaussian processes. A standard cubic polynomial is proposed to represent the translation of a Gaussian process to a non-Gaussian wind pressure process. Then a set of non-linear equations is derived to determine the parameters of the polynomial. The relation for translation of correlation functions is obtained based on the properties of the Gaussian stochastic vector. Also, the weighted amplitude wave superposition method is employed to generate the underlying Gaussian processes. Further, the proposed new approach is demonstrated by simulation of the non-Gaussian wind pressure field acting on a large-span stadium roof. The numerical results show that the proposed approach is quite accurate and efficient. Hence the method is advantageous for wind pressure field simulati...


Uses a new approach, called the "Combination of multiple experts", to the problem of recognition of handwritten numerals. This thesis focuses on methodologies which leads to effective decision combination schemes.


Observed charge states of solar energetic ions by Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer and Advanced Composition Explorer from recent large solar events in 1992 and 1997 show an energy-dependent feature that apparently has not been seen in earlier events, e.g., in 1978-1979. The mean charge state of iron, and to a lesser extent other heavy ions, was observed to increase with energy from ~0.5 to ~50 MeV nucleon-1. We present a possible explanation for this new feature and discuss potential implications for models of particle acceleration. Our calculation suggests that this energy-dependent feature is a result of the charge-changing and energy-changing processes taking place concurrently and can be absent when the processes act over different timescales.


Abstract 5099 Background: Elevated ferritin level before stem cell transplantation was documented an adverse prognostic factor for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies. Until now, there have been reported few studies which suggested high serum ferritin level were associated with worse outcomes for lymphoma. The purpose of this study was to find the significance of high levels of serum ferritin for predicting survival outcome in patients with non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma (NHL). Methods: A total of 267 patients who newly diagnosed and received an chemotherapy at the Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Busan, South Korea between September 1999 and April 2012 were enrolled retrospectively in the current study. Pretreatment serum ferritin was measured within 2 weeks before the beginning of first line chemotherapy. The enrolled diseases included diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBL, n=163, 61. 0%), T cell lymphoma (TCL, n=48, 18. 0%) and other lymphoma (n=56, 21. 0%) including mantle cell lymphoma, marzinal zone B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma and burkitt9s lymphoma. In this study, patients with Hodgkin9s disease and with undergoing chemotherapy 3 cycles or less than 3 cycles were excluded. Results: The median age of patients was 56 years (range, 14–84 years) and the mean level of serum ferritin at pre-treatment was 257. 79 ng/ml (range: 1. 70–6562. 00). In univariate anaylsis, factors associated with prolonged progression free survival (PFS) were LDH (p vs 30. 0% in more than normal limit), ECOG performance status (p vs 41. 9% in 2 scores or more than), stage(p=0. 005, 63. 4% in less than stage III vs 42. 1% in stage III or more than), Bulky mass (p = 0. 001, 57. 4% in tumor diameter less than 10cm vs 33. 5% in 10cm or more than), CRP (p = 0. 001, 60. 4% in less than 5mg/dL vs 27. 0% in 5mg/dL or more than), beta2-microglobulin (p 3 /uL vs 59. 2% in 1. 0 × 10 3 /uL or more than) and serum ferritin (p Conclusions: High serum ferritin level of 500 ng/ml or more than 500 ng/ml may prognostic factor for survival outcomes including high LDH level, poor performance status, and high level of beta2-microglobulin in NHL. However, further studies are needed to confirm prognostic value of serum ferritn. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The historical landslide data in GIS (Geographic Information System) environment is valuable to estimate pattern in landslides distribution and frequency, which are useful for landslide hazard analysis and mitigation. By using the landslide reports released officially by The National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), those non-spatial data need to be converted into the spatial ones. The reports primarily contain location, date of event, impact and triggering factor. This study is exploring Google Maps which is a web mapping service to process the historical landslide data of Indonesia. By preparing historical landslide data in the form of spreadsheet, Google Maps directly can change the whole data into a custom map 'landslide distribution map'. The attribute can be edited, the map can change interactively, and vice versa. The appearance of the custom map can be styled by a certain column so its statistical information comes up. A landslide distribution map produced in Google Maps can be shared to others and can be exported as a GIS layer for further analysis. This article shows the utilization of facilities provided by Google Maps to prepare and analyse the landslide inventory map.


Authors' Note: We are grateful for generous financial support from the Department of Political Science at the University of California at San Diego, the Government Department at Georgetown University, the University of California's Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, and the Project on Managing the Atom and the International Security Program both at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. Journal of Conflict Resolution Volume 53 Number 2 April 2009 151-160 © 2009 SAGe Publications 10.1177/0022002708330039 http://jcr.sagepub.com hosted at http://online.sagepub.com A Strategic Approach to Nuclear Proliferation


Quality characteristics of Cheongbukjangs with desalted and dried sea tangle powder were investigated after fermentation for 48 hr at . Addition of sea tangle, irrespective of concentration, did not affect pH and slime content of Cheongbukjang. Color L* and a* values were generally decreased with increasing sea tangle concentration. There were no significant differences in total microbe, amino nitrogen content, and protease and amylase activity between control and Cheongbukjangs with up to sea tangle. However, addition of sea tangle resulted in decreased total microbe, amino nitrogen content, and enzyme activity compared with those of control. Fiber content increased with increasing sea tangle concentration and hardness increased by 1.5 times at sea tangle and by 2.6 times at sea tangle compared with that of control. Results for sensory evaluation revealed that addition of sea tangle was the optimum concentration in view of reducing bitter taste and odor, and improving overall acceptability.


A framework recently developed for understanding and classifying ontology applications provides opportunities to review the state of the art, and to provide guidelines for application developers from different communities [1]. The framework identifies four main categories of ontology applications: neutral authoring, ontology as specification, common access to information, and ontology-based search. Specific scenarios are described for each category and a number of features have been identified to highlight the similarities and differences between them. In this paper we identify additional scenarios, describing the use of a linguistic ontology in an application. We populate the scenarios with a number of prominent research and industrial applications from diverse communities such as knowledge-based machine translation, medical databases, heterogenous information systems integration, multilingual text generation, Web-based applications, and information retrieval. Population of the framework should allow different communities to discover applications that fulfil specific purposes and benefits, to discover what roles the ontology plays, who the principle actors are and what they do, and what supporting technologies are used for these applications. Potential application developers can examine the descriptions in the populated framework to inspire them to use existing linguistic ontologies for their specific applications.


Blood pressure monitoring is routinely required in many mobile health applications, but the present cuff based measuring system (Finapres) is often unsuitable due to being too big and uncomfortable. An alternative method is to measure the digital volume pulse, which can be non-invasively recorded using the photoplethysmography (PPG), and predict the blood pressure waveform from that of PPG. The benefit is that the PPG components are easy to embed in many portable and wearable devices. In this study, we predicted the peripheral blood pressure waveform of young healthy adults after exercise from that of the PPG pulse using a General Transfer Function (GTF) method, which had been proved effective for this prediction task at steady state before. To this end, we measured the simultaneous blood pressure and PPG pulses of twelve subjects at steady state and immediately after exercise. Three tests were performed to verify the GTF method. Results showed that a single best-fit GTF (GTFb) derived from all subjects and all measurement phases could predict the blood pressure waveform precisely, both at steady state and after exercise. The prediction performance was further improved when phase dependant GTFs were applied.


Knowledge Management practices in this present knowledge era has found such related to environmental working condition which can enhance the employees' job satisfaction. This paper was embarked with the purpose to identify the relationship between knowledge management practices and job satisfaction among employees. This study was carried out among employees of one academic Library in prominent higher learning institution in Malaysia. The data are collected through a survey by using questionnaire and online survey which has been distributed among 100 employees. Regression analysis was run by using SPSS in order to examine and test the relationship between the variables. Based on the findings, among four knowledge management practices, knowledge sharing was found to be more influential to job satisfaction of the employees.


"FDA established the conditions under which TiO[subscript]2 can safely be used, which are laid out in the authorising regulation. FDA isn't aware of new studies assessing the safety of TiO[subscript]2 for use in foods in conformance with the regulation that would cause FDA to reconsider its safety determination," the administration told IM.

"The FDA has not issued regulations for nanomaterials in food, therefore regulations governing TiO[subscript]2 in its normal size are not applicable to TiO[subscript]2 containing intentionally manufactured nanoparticles. Nor has any petition involving TiO[subscript]2 with nanomaterials been approved," a spokesperson for the organisation told IM.

"The ingredient used in our powdered doughnuts does not meet the definition of 'nanomaterial' as outlined under FDA guidance," [Dunkin]'s [Karen Raskopf] said. "Nevertheless, we began testing alternative formulations for this product in 2014 and we are in the process of rolling out a solution to the system that does not contain TiO[subscript]2."


Objective: To understand the family experience of kidney transplantation process of a living donor. Methods: Qualitative study conducted with four families of patients undergoing kidney transplantation of living donor. The research instrument used was a semi-structured interview conducted at the homes of families and recorded audio. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and from the saturation of data, categories emerged. Results: The following categories were observed: impact of chronic kidney disease and dialysis treatment in the family; family experience at different stages facing kidney transplant of a living donor; family interaction with the healthcare team; Resignifying the family system in the process of chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant; and support from social networking and spirituality as coping strategies. Conclusion: Kidney transplantation from a living donor involves aspects of physical and emotional care of everyone involved in the process, considering the potential and experienced adaptations where spirituality is seen as a contributing factor.


Objective
To investigate the role of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ in severe Mycoplasma pneumonia among children.

Methods
One hundred and forty children with M. pneumoniae pneumonia(65 severe and 75 non-severe)who were hospitalized were enrolled along with forty other children as controls.X-ray was assessed.The proportions of peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ cells were determined by flow cytometry.

Results
Both severe and non-severe children had decreased CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ cells as compared with control subjects in acute phase(0.87±0.66% vs.3.88±2.00%, P<0.01 and 1.17±0.70% vs.3.88±2.00%, P<0.01, respectively). The levels of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ cells in severe children were lower than those in non-severe children in acute phase and recovery phase(0.87±0.66% vs.1.17±0.70%, P<0.05 and 1.66±0.85% vs.3.61±1.45%, P<0.01, respectively). Both severe children and non-severe children expressed higher CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ cells in recovery phase than in acute phase(1.66±0.85% vs.0.87±0.66%, P<0.01 and 3.61±1.45% vs.1.17±0.70%, P<0.01, respectively).

Conclusion
The expression of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs may play a role in the onset of severity of mycoplasma pneumonia and the low express of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs in children infected with M. pneumonia may increase the susceptibility to severe mycoplasma pneumonia.

Key words:
T regular cell; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Severe; Immuno-pathogenesis


Though the transport of charge carriers across a metal-semiconductor ohmic interface is a complex process in the realm of electron wave mechanics, such an interface is practically characterised by its specific contact resistance. Error correction has been a major concern in regard to specific contact resistance test structures and investigations by finite element modeling demonstrate that test structures utilising circular contacts can be more reliable than those designed to have square shaped contacts as test contacts become necessarily smaller. Finite element modeling software NASTRAN can be used effectively for designing and modeling ohmic contact test structures and can be used to show that circular contacts are efficient in minimising error in determining specific contact resistance from such test structures. Full semiconductor modeling software is expensive and for ohmic contact investigations is not required when the approach used is to investigate test structures considering the ohmic interface as effectively resistive.


To understand the mechanism of inter-leaf friction in leaf springs, the author tried the vibration test for three kinds of springs.By these tests it has become clear that damping factors and natural frequencies are variable with amplitude. It is considered that variation of damping factor shows complex of friction mechanisms, and variation of natural frequency is due to hysteresis characteristics.Now, the author intends to investigate variation of forced vibration characteristics by amplitude and relation of vibration test to static test and, moreover, influence of nip, lubrication and liner between leaves on vibration characteristics of leaf spring.


The purpose of this paper is to give some properties of the modified 𝑞-Bernoulli numbers and polynomials of higher order with weight. In particular, by using the bosonic 𝑝-adic 𝑞-integral on ℤ𝑝, we derive new identities of 𝑞-Bernoulli numbers and polynomials with weight.


The trend towards high-speed cargo ships has resulted in vessels of fine underwater form and considerable flare. Certain of these ships have experienced structural damage to the deck and side shell early in their service life. The author examines the mechanism producing the damage and indicates the basis for Lloyd's Register of Shipping's interim proposals (which are now being applied) for signalling the likelihood of such damage at the design stage and taking remedial measures at that stage. Further investigation is required to arrive at a rigorous solution of the problems of fluid dynamics at the fore end of these ships. The phenomenon is also a function of ship handling.


Since the beginning of this century, the centralized payment system has been implemented in China's colleges and universities. After years of promotion, it has been a kind of rigid system arrangement of our country's finance. Although it has been for many years, the financial management system of colleges and universities has generally lacked systematic design and construction. Based on the basic theory of treasury centralized payment system and the theory of centralized payment of treasury in colleges and universities, this paper expounds the present situation and operation mechanism of financial management system after the implementation of treasury centralized payment system in colleges and universities, and brings the centralized payment system to the university The paper analyzes the main problems existing in the financial management of colleges and universities after the implementation of the centralized treasury payment system in colleges and universities, and puts forward a package of systematic construction of the new financial management system of the university.


The linguistic history of the Italian, French, and Occitan Jewish communities may be reconstructed thanks to the survival of both written records and modern dialects. The situation of the three groups, however, sharply diverges in terms of quality and quantity of the available sources and retention of their linguistic identity after the medieval period. For the Jewish communities of the Italo-Romance area, there is a corpus of medieval and modern texts, mostly in Hebrew script, and with several dialectological inquiries for modern and contemporary dialects. As for the Jewish communities of Northern France, only a limited corpus of medieval written sources exists, because the French-speaking Jews were linguistically assimilated to their respective environments after the 1394 expulsion from the kingdom of France. On the other hand, the records of the Occitan-speaking Jews are scanty for both the medieval and the modern periods, when they apparently maintained a certain amount of linguistic distinctiveness.


This paper extends the thne delay and spatial signature estimation algorithms proposed by Swindlehurst which are applied in the single-input multiple-output (SIMO) single carrier system to the mUltiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system by virtue of the specific pilot sequences with cyclic struc ture for the different tr-ansmitters. The receive spa tial correl ation matrix of the vector channel impulse response (CIR) is formulated as the function of the spatial signature, time delay and the pulse shaping fil ter. By taking the spatial correlation into account, the joint spatial-temporal (JST) filtering MMSE channel estimator is derived. Their performance is illustrated baaed On the analysis and computer simulations.


Typical aerodynamic shape optimization and multidisciplinary optimization algorithms omit high-fidelity flutter predictions due to the associated computational costs. This paper presents a model order reduction framework as a step towards flutter-constrained aircraft optimization. The Euler equations linearized about a steady-state solution of the nonlinear Euler equations are used as the governing unsteady flow equations. Using a proper orthogonal decomposition approach, a reduced basis is constructed onto which the governing equations are projected. The result is a linear reduced-order model (ROM) with significantly fewer degrees of freedom capable of rapidly approximating aerodynamic forces. This ROM is coupled to a linear structural model to create a single monolithic aeroelastic system. The eigenvalues of the resulting system are analyzed for various flow conditions to determine the onset of flutter in the system. To ensure the stability of the ROM, the use of a stabilizing inner product is demonstrated. The flutter boundaries obtained for both a two degree of freedom airfoil structure and the AGARD 445.6 wing model show good agreement with the full-order model and with the literature.


The recent recognition of a specific organic food factor 1 2 necessary for the maintenance of the black fur of black or piebald rats has raised the question as to whether the phenomenon of graying noted by older workers 3 4 5 6 particularly in rats on an exclusive milk diet is due to this cause or is due to a specific mineral deficiency. Jukes and Richardson 7 have pointed out that milk is not a good source of filtrate fraction vitamins. The black fur of young piebald rats fed an exclusive diet of either powdered whole milk or of fresh certified milk rapidly and uniformly became gray. Addition of a supplement of 0.25 mg of iron, 0.05 mg of copper and 0.05 mg of manganese cured the grayness if it had developed or prevented any change in the color of the fur of rats which were fed milk with the above mineral supplements from the time of weaning. Attempts to ascertain which of the 3 metals is responsible have not at present yielded entirely conclusive results. Rats developing a nutritional anemia show a marked diminution of appetite and the possibility exists that the graying of rats may be due to a diminished intake of vitamin accompanying the reduced intake of the vitamin-poor milk. This has been disproven since in 2 groups of rats fed isocaloric amounts of milk, those supplemented with iron, copper and manganese did not develop grayness whereas those fed milk alone became quite gray. It has also been found that rats that have developed grayness will become black when supplement-ed with the above minerals whereas the isocaloric controls without minerals remain gray. Rats, following the production of gray hair by a milk diet, when supplemented with a rice bran extract∗ rich in the factors of the B complex very slowly regained their black color. However, control rats fed equal quantities of the ashed rice bran extract likewise slowly became black.


A rectangular thin elastic sheet is deformed by forcing a contact between two points at the middle of its length. A transition to buckling with stress focusing is reported for the sheets sufficiently narrow with a critical width proportional to the sheet length with an exponent 2/3 for the limit of small thicknesses. Additionally, a spring network model is solved to explore the thick sheets limit and to validate the scaling behaviour of the transition for the thin sheets limit. The numerical results reveal that buckling does not exist for the thickest sheets and a stability criteria is established for the buckling of a curved sheet.


The magnitude of the split-interval illusion was measured by the method of constant stimuli, with variable intervals between 700 and 1300 msec, and a 1000-msec. standard. All intervals were bounded by 20-msec.—1-kHz pulses and contained a single 20-msec.—2-kHz pulse which either split the interval in a 25:75 ratio or a 75:25 ratio. Intervals split early were overestimated relative to equivalent intervals split late by an average of 8.4% of the 1000-msec. standard.


In this article, effects of electrochemical oxidation and sizing treatment of PAN-based carbon fibers (CFs) on the tensile properties, surface characteristics, and bonding to epoxy were investigated. As found, the electrochemical oxidation improves the tensile strength of single CF by 16.0%, due to weakening the surface stress concentration and smoothing the surface structure. Further sizing treatment shows a negligible effect on the tensile strength. Both oxidation and sizing treatments significantly improve the wettability and surface energies of CFs by introducing oxygencontaining functional groups. Microbond test was conducted to characterize the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between a single fiber and an epoxy droplet. The oxidation treatment increases IFSS slightly, which is due to the contradictory effects of the formation of chemical bonds between the resin and CFs, and the reduced mechanical interlocking. Further sizing treatment significantly enhances IFSS from 73.6 to 81.0 MPa, due to the formation of vast chemical bonds. Furthermore, the oxidation and sizing treatment can effectively reduce the degradation of IFSS to the hygrothermal ageing for the CF/epoxy system. POLYM. COMPOS., 00:000–000, 2015. V C 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers


We have conducted a s series of field research campaigns (ILEWG EuroMoonMars) in the extreme environment of the Utah desert relevant to habitability and astrobiology in Mars environments in order to help in the interpretation of Mars missions measurements from orbit (MEX, MRO) or from the surface (MER, MSL). We describe the field operations and the comparison between remote sensing and in-situ data.


The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the strengths-based intervention based on character strengths and temperament in the clinical population of adolescents with externalizing maladjustment behaviors. Changes of the dependent variables from the clinical population of adolescents were measured and compared at three different time points to examine the efficacy of the strength-based writing intervention using the corresponding strengths and the balancing strengths of Novelty Seeking (NS). The results of 43 clinical participants showed that the writing intervention using the strengths (creativity, curiosity, humor) corresponding to NS increased the subjective happiness scores and the writing intervention using the strengths (modesty, prudence, self-regulation) balancing NS decreased the externalizing problem scores. Based on the overall findings, the author discussed the implications on the understanding of adolescent externalizing maladjustment behaviors in theoretical and clinical manners. Finally, the limitations of this study were discussed along with suggestions for future research.


As a preeminent enduring regime in the world today, Mexico provides a compelling case study regarding the nature and locus of power. Since the 1970s, accounts of politics in postrevolutionary Mexico have assumed that ongoing domination has resulted from centralized, relatively homogeneous power transmitted outward through corporatist mechanisms. The process of transmission replicated the dynamics of the center through a combination of skillful management and efficient coercion. Even now, as researchers are emphasizing the breakdown of corporatism and the complexity and nuance of current Mexican politics, they continue to codify the past according to the terms of the 1970s analysis and view the present through this lens. But while social scientists in the 1970s were right to characterize the postrevolutionary Mexican regime as authoritarian and hegemonic, they were wrong about the nature of hegemony. In constructing a state-centered and center-centered understanding of politics, social scientists then and now have misunderstood the nature of power and domination in Mexico and the reasons for the endurance of the Mexican regime.


Abstract Background Boosted protease inhibitor regimens (bPIs) are effective and often used in HIV-infected individuals with difficulties with adherence, but they can have drug–drug interactions and GI adverse effects. Bictegravir (B), a novel, potent integrase strand transfer inhibitor with a high barrier to resistance and low potential for drug–drug interactions, was coformulated with the recommended nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor backbone emtricitabine (FTC)/tenofovir alafenamide (F/TAF) and demonstrated high efficacy and tolerability in randomized studies in treatment-naïve adults. This randomized Phase 3 study assesses efficacy and safety of switching to B/F/TAF from a multi-tablet regimen containing a bPI. Methods HIV-infected adults suppressed on regimens of boosted atazanavir (ATV) or darunavir (DRV) + abacavir/lamivudine (ABC/3TC) or FTC/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) were randomized 1:1 to continue their current bPI regimen or switch to open-label coformulated B/F/TAF (50/200/25 mg) once daily. Primary endpoint was proportion with HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL (c/mL) at W48 (FDA snapshot). Noninferiority was assessed through 95.002% confidence intervals (CI) using a margin of 4%. Secondary endpoints included proportion with HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL and safety measures at W48. Results A total of 577 participants were randomized and treated with B/F/TAF (n = 290) or current bPI regimens (n = 287): 17% women, 26% Black, median age 48 years. Most were receiving a bPI with FTC/TDF (85%) at screening. At W48, switching to B/F/TAF was noninferior to continuing bPI with 1.7% in each group having HIV-1 RNA ≥50 c/mL (difference −0.0%; 95.002% CI −2.5% to 2.5%, P = 1.00); the proportion with HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL was 92.1% in B/F/TAF vs. 88.9% in bPI. No participant on B/F/TAF developed resistance to study drugs. One participant on DRV/ritonavir + ABC/3TC developed a treatment-emergent L74V mutation. Incidence of grade 3 or 4 AEs was similar (B/F/TAF 4%, bPI regimens 6%). No renal discontinuations or tubulopathy cases occurred with B/F/TAF. Conclusion Adults switching to B/F/TAF from a boosted PI maintained high rates of virologic suppression without resistance. B/F/TAF was safe and well tolerated. Disclosures E. Daar, Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultant, Consulting fee. Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee and Research support. Janssen: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee and Research support. Merck: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee and Research support. Teva Pharmaceuticals: Consultant and Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee. ViiV: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee and Research support. E. DeJesus, Abbott Laboratories; Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Avexa, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffmann LaRoche, Idenix, Janssen, Merck, Pfizer, Sangamo, Taimed, Tobira, and Vertex: Grant Investigator, Research grant. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Merck, and Vertex: Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee. P. Ruane, Gilead: Investigator, Scientific Advisor and Shareholder, Consulting fee and Research support. Merck: Speaker's Bureau, Speaker honorarium. Boehringer: Investigator, Scientific Advisor and Speaker's Bureau, Consulting fee, Research support and Speaker honorarium. Janssen: Investigator, Scientific Advisor and Speaker's Bureau, Consulting fee, Research support and Speaker honorarium. Abbott: Investigator, Scientific Advisor and Speaker's Bureau, Research support and Speaker honorarium. Idenix: Investigator, Research support. ViiV: Scientific Advisor and Speaker's Bureau, Consulting fee and Speaker honorarium. BMS: Consultant, Investigator and Speaker's Bureau, Consulting fee, Research support and Speaker honorarium. G. Crofoot, Gilead: Investigator and Scientific Advisor, Advisory honorarium and Research grant. ViiV: Investigator and Scientific Advisor, Advisory honorarium, Research grant and Research support. C. Creticos, Thera Technologies and ViiV Healthcare: Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee. Gilead sciences, Merck, and ViiV Healthcare: Investigator, Research support. Pfizer: Speaker's Bureau, Speaker honorarium. J. K. Rockstroh, Abbvie: Consultant and Investigator, Consulting fee and Speaker honorarium. Gilead: Consultant, Investigator and Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee and Speaker honorarium. ViiV: Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee. Janssen: Investigator and Speaker at educational event, Speaker honorarium. J. M. Molina, Gilead, ViiV, Merck, Janssen, BMS and TEVA: Scientific Advisor, Speaker honorarium. Y. P. Liu, Gilead: Employee and Shareholder, Salary and Shareholder. K. Andreatta, Gilead: Employee and Shareholder, Salary and Shareholder. H. Graham, Gilead Sciences: Employee and Shareholder, Salary. A. Cheng, Gilead: Employee and Shareholder, Salary. H. Martin, Gilead Sciences: Employee, Salary. E. Quirk, Gilead: Employee and Shareholder, Salary


The strength of the social safety net matters most when the risk to individuals is highest. Acute illnesses and injuries requiring hospital-level care are some of the greatest health risks that children and adults face. In the United States, 2 of the oldest social safety net programs are Medicare and Medicaid, which together now constitute 37% of national health expenditures compared with 34% for private health insurance.1 Medicare and Medicaid have endured for more than 50 years, despite political efforts to constrain growth in government spending, in large part because they cover the costs of hospital care that can be economically catastrophic for individuals and families. Medicare and Medicaid also function as a safety net for hospitals by reimbursing institutions for the expenses of hospitalizations not paid by patients themselves. In the case of children's hospitals that provide care to large numbers of patients with Medicaid coverage, such reimbursement often falls short of covering the hospitals' care-delivery costs.2 This shortfall is the rationale for the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payment policy, which enables states to work with the federal government to provide payments to hospitals to offset the costs of uncompensated and undercompensated inpatient care. Even accounting for DSH payments, the costs of providing inpatient care for children on Medicaid often exceed reimbursement, creating a chronic strain for hospitals with a mission to care for the underserved.3 Moreover, hospitals are increasingly aware that children who rely on Medicaid also often experience a myriad of socioeconomic challenges that compound their health care needs. Youth with unstable housing, food insecurity, and/or poor access to timely primary care may present with more severe acute illnesses than patients with more resources and better access to care. Inpatients whose home circumstances are fragile may also require more time and support for their care teams to make postdischarge arrangements, such as home nurse visits, to assure a smooth transition to home. Differences in socioenvironmental circumstances and their effects on inpatient care are the focus of the study by Michel et al.4 The investigators analyzed administrative data from hospitals across France for children aged 28 days to 17 years during a 3-year period (2012-2014).4 They characterized each hospitalized child according to the social disadvantage they experienced in their neighborhoods, using an indicator based on the 4 following factors: median household income, unemployment rate, proportion of blue-collar workers in the employed population, and proportion of high school graduates 15 years or older in the population.5 Among the more than 4.1 million hospitalizations in the study, children who lived in areas with the greatest socioeconomic disadvantage were significantly more likely to have conditions characterized as intermediate or severe, and their lengths of stay were significantly longer.4 Controlling for patient factors, illness characteristics (including severity), and hospital characteristics, overall length of stay was 3% longer for children from the most disadvantaged quintile.4 Michel et al4 also found that hospitals that had a patient mix with 20% to 60% of patients from the 2 most disadvantaged quintiles were more likely to have a negative financial balance compared with hospitals that served smaller proportions of children from the most disadvantaged quintiles. These findings, and similar results in analyses of hospitalizations for disadvantaged children receiving Medicaid in the United States,2 raise fundamental questions about how better to address the broader social needs of children who require hospitalization. Literature is rapidly emerging about how to address social determinants of health for children through a wide variety of clinical + Related article


GUARANTEE THE RIGHT TO FLEE For the first time since the end of the Second World War, the number of refugees, asylum seekers and people experiencing internal displacement all over the world has passed the 50 million mark. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' annual report, this figure is the highest one ever recorded after the mass escape, during the first half of the past century, from the Nazi Fascist‐dominated Europe. "Ours was a generation of refugees that moved around the world like had never happened before", stated Ruth Klüger, a writer and Germanist who survived Auschwitz, "I am just one of those countless refugees. Flight became the expression of my world and of the period in which I lived. I am entirely a person of the twentieth century. And in the twenty‐first [century], we will continue to have masses of refugees, entire generations of refugees".


Major concerns have been raised regarding the state of living resources and the ecosystem they live in (Halpern et al., 2008). Ecosystems are affected by a variety of human activities. Management and conservation of species in this changing environment requires a profound understanding of spatial ecosystem properties and trends. However, most sampling programs measuring biological processes have either a good coverage in space, or a good coverage in time. Examples are marine mammal or fish surveys that occur only annually or even less frequently, and single spot continuous monitoring such as the 'Helgoland Roads' time series (Wiltshire et al., 2010). If we are to understand the dynamic and spatiotemporally heterogeneous processes, intensive sampling in both space and time is required, especially in the marine environment where biological survey sampling is generally a logistically complex, expensive, and time consuming operation (e.g. see Schiermeier, 2008). As a result, regular monitoring of relevant components in the marine environment is often lacking. Complementary to the use of research vessels, sampling on board commercial vessels of opportunity can be a powerful strategy to monitor the distribution of species. Our objective is to estimate population distribution in space and time using such opportunistic data. In particular we use data on North Sea plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) caught and subsequently discarded on commercial fishing vessels (Catchpole et al., 2005), estimated from discard sampling programs of the Dutch and Belgian fisheries. The limitations of these opportunistic data can be accounted for by employing spatial interpolation methods. Within-vessel or small scale residual spatial autocorrelation is accounted for by including a random effect of the intercept and incorporating a spatial correlation function into the error structure. This statistical method successfully reconstructs the spatio-temporal distribution based on opportunistic spatially non-uniform sampling. Our results indicate that the discarded plaice are small juveniles, representing crude spatial abundance indices. Although the haul-specific observations of juvenile plaice appear highly variable in space and time, our results show a simple pattern of the gradual offshore movement of recruits from the nursery areas, corroborating earlier observations in the nursery areas (Bailey 1997). The spatial distribution of the different age groups in our results clearly differs from that observed in the first half of the previous century (Beverton and Holt, 1957). The causes for the changes in migration patterns of juvenile plaice are unknown, but likely linked to changes in temperature, food availability, competition, or predation (Teal et al., 2008). The statistical model presented here could be used to combine data coming from annual research vessel surveys and vessels sampling opportunistically, covering a large part of the coastal waters in the eastern North Sea. Combining such data could lead to further insight into the seasonal spatial distribution of marine species.


The Master's thesis discusses risk and profitability in residential investments in different
Slovenian regions. In today's modern and dynamic business world, the question how to find
risk and profitability in residential investments is becoming a burning issue. The financial
theory about risk and profitability was developed in the late 1950s out of institutional
investors' needs. In the thesis, that theory was upgraded by using different investment criteria
and elementary tools to value risk and profitability in residential investments. Special attention
is paid to the characteristics of real estate investment, profitability of residential investments
and previous residential offer in Slovenia, because the hypothesis is that the profitability and
risk in a portfolio composed only of different residential types, is higher in central Slovenian
region than in other regions. A questionnaire carried out among randomly selected landlords
gave us all the necessary data for risk analysis and profitability in residential investments in
different Slovenian regions and data about residential offer in Slovenia. The analysis showed
which residential real estates are the most profitable. Expected profitability and risk index in
several regions according to a simulation scenario was also defined. In the following chapters,
upgraded investment possibilities into residential real estate through residential portfolios are
presented. Some combinations offer an optimal ratio between profitability and risk. Data about risk and profitability are needed when making investments in real estate (portfolio composed
of real estate) as well as mixed investments (portfolio composed of real estate, stocks and
debenture shares). To assure high profitability of investment in real estate, a choice of optimal
real estate portfolios is suggested. Residential real estate in central Slovenian region has
negative profitability. Therefore, our hypothesis that the profitability and risk in a portfolio
composed only of different residential types is higher in central Slovenian region than in other
regions can be rejected.


For a concatenated coding system, the effect of interleaving depth on interleaved frame-error rate is compiled by simulation. Comparisons are made for three different inner convolutional codes; all three systems have a (255,223) 8-bit Reed-Solomon code as an outer code. For all the inner convolutional codes tested, an interleaving depth smaller that 4 causes substantial loss.


In the article from the perspective of the new methodology explores social reproduction in the social sphere. Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that the main function of social work is the social reproduction of various layers and population groups as subjects of a historical process, as well as their full life support. This function is one of the most important for the life of the society. At that it should be borne in mind that society is a living organism, internal elements of which are updated continuously, cyclically changing each other, developing and improving.In the process of social activity arise are social relations which are considered by us as communications and contacts between the social groups taking unequal part in economic, political and spiritual life of society concerning their social standing, a way of life, eventually – for development of the personality, social group or social self-reproduction.


In recent years, the number of cyber attacks has grown rapidly. An effective way to reduce the attack surface and protect software is adoption of methodologies that apply security at each step of the software development lifecycle. While different methodologies have been proposed to address software security, recent research shows an increase in the number of vulnerabilities in software and data breaches. Therefore, the security practices incorporated in secure software development methodologies require investigation. This paper provides an overview of security practices involved in 28 secure software development methodologies from industry, government, and academia. To achieve this goal, we distributed the security practices among the software development lifecycle stages. We also investigated auxiliary (non-technical) practices, such as organizational, behavioral, legal, policy, and governance aspects that are incorporated in the secure software development methodologies. Furthermore, we explored methods used to provide evidence of the effectiveness of the methodologies. Finally, we present the gaps that require attention in the scientific community. The results of our survey may assist researchers and organizations to better understand the existing security practices integrated into the secure software development methodologies. In addition, our bridge between"technical"and"non-technical"worlds may be useful for non-technical specialists who investigate software security. Moreover, exploring the gaps that we found in current research may help improve security in software development and produce software with fewer number of vulnerabilities.


It is obvious that heavy metals toxicity to humans is as a result of long term or extreme level exposure to pollutants common in the environment including the air, water, food and many consumer products like the cosmetics and toiletries .In this study, we measured the levels of toxic metals in different hair dye products sold at local shops in Baghdad, Iraq. The hair dyes included twelve samples .These items were buying from diverse shops in different locations include Baghdad markets and from different companies and several brands. The samples of heavy metals were analyzed (lead, cadmium, iron, and copper). The selected toxic of heavy metals concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. the samples analyzed contained a detectable amount of all the metals of interest. The concentration of the heavy metals in the samples ranged ( 0.41 _0.91 ppm) from lead,(0.26_0.31ppm)from copper, (0.64_1.36ppm)from iron ,and (0.11_0.16ppm) from cadmium. Obviously, the present study the use of some hair dyes exposes users to low concentrations of toxic heavy metals which could put up potential health damage to users since it has been known that heavy metals can increase in the biological system by the time and are known to generate skin problems or diseases such as cancer. Further research to better understand the various sources of heavy metals in cosmetic products and tortillas is recommended


This is one of a series of practical guides for business travellers designed to combine important language reference with a directory of contact addresses and up-to-date facts and statistics. This guide is designed for the business traveller in Spain.


With their high electrochemical efficiency, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and solid oxide electrolyzers (SOEs) offer viable means of reducing energy sector greenhouse gas emissions and storing surplus renewably‐generated power. At present, these systems have operating temperatures of over 600 °C. During start‐up, following cooling or in an emergency shut‐off situation, a premixed safety gas is necessary which prevents damage to the cell's anode substrate. To date, safety gas has been industrially produced and stored in compressed gas cylinders. Given an SOFC system's size, these cylinders must be transported and stored in close proximity and replaced following gas expenditure. The storage space required, as well as the continuous replacement of gas cylinders, increases system size and costs. This paper presents a solution to this problem in the form of a specially developed safety gas generator that generates an on‐demand synthetic safety gas via the system's infrastructure. The functionality of this component is experimentally validated in tests conducted with a 4‐cell stack.


The boundary conditions at the surface of a small bubble rising in a liquid are examined theoretically, and it is shown by order-of-magnitude arguments, which are confirmed by detailed calculation in a special case, that although surfacetension gradients must always exist around the bubble, they are too small to affect the motion appreciably unless surface-active substances are present. This is because gradients of surface tension imply gradients of temperature in a pure liquid, and these turn out to be always small near the bubble if they tend to zero at large distances from it. The same is true for drops of one fluid in another.


Current treatments for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM; Type 2 diabetes) remain far from ideal. The presence of both hyperinsulinaemia and resistance to insulin action challenges the rationale of treatments that primarily boost insulin secretion. Novel therapeutic strategies focus mainly on increasing peripheral sensitivity to endogenous insulin, an approach that has the potential not only to treat but also to prevent Type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals. Until recently, the most promising new class of agents appeared to be the thiazolidinedione derivatives. These agents are ligands for a specific subtype of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) and decrease plasma glucose levels while reducing circulating insulin and free fatty acid levels. At the time of writing (March 1998), the one approved thiazolidinedione had been withdrawn from the market in the UK after only nine weeks because of cases of hepatic dysfunction and failure occurring in patients in Japan and the USA. It...


As my own country, China has shown, strong growth in the manufacturing industry is a key driver of sustainable development. It has a significant impact on economic and social well-being, as a recent report by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) demonstrates. The report looks at data across all countries and plots manufacturing value-added per capita, along with competitiveness, against indicators on poverty, inequality, health, education, employment, and human development. The results provide clear statistical evidence on how closely the process of industrialization is connected to improvements in people's living conditions and their quality of life.


Abstract Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager and precipitation radar measurements are examined for strong convective systems. Storms having similar values of minimum 37-GHz polarization-corrected temperature (PCT) are grouped together, and their vertical profiles of maximum radar reflectivity are composited. Lower 37-GHz PCT corresponds to stronger radar profiles (high reflectivity through a deep layer), but characteristic profiles for a given 37-GHz PCT are different for deep tropical ocean, deep tropical land, subtropical ocean, and subtropical land regions. Tropical oceanic storms have a sharper decrease of reflectivity just above the freezing level than storms from other regions with the same brightness temperature. Storms from subtropical land regions have the slowest decrease of reflectivity with height and the greatest mixed-phase-layer ice water content (IWC). Linear fits of 37-GHz PCT versus IWC for each region are used to scale the brightness temperatures. Counts of storm...


The results of researching of content and accumulation of mercury in the fish organs (heart, muscles, liver, gill) of seven species of fishes: common bream, crucian carp, white fish, roach, perch, pike, pike-perch carried out Ob river in 2001-2002 are presented in this article. The paper is said about specific of metal's accumulation depended on species of fish ecological conditions and other parameters of environmental.


NeoLatin tragedy experienced an efflorescence in the early seventeenthcentury Low Countries. Playwrights on both sides of the religious and geopolitical divide, invigorated by the contemporary vogue for Senecan tragedy and the philosophical and political writings of Justus Lipsius, recast the biblical repertoire of sixteenthcentury comedy into sacred tragedy and staged historical topics from the GrecoRoman, medieval and recent past. Among the canon of Netherlandic NeoLatin dramatists, Jacob Zevecotius or Jacob van Zevecote (1596– 1642) occupies an unusual place. Like his distant relative Daniel Heinsius, he was equally gifted in poetry and drama, widely admired for both his NeoLatin and Dutch writing, and wrote learned scholarly commentaries on Roman history. His early amours and subsequent entry into the Augustinians in his native Ghent followed by his eventual flight from the cloister to the Protestant North and courageous stand against the Spanish at the siege of Harderwijk in 1629 distinguish him from the more sedate lives of his fellow humanists. Jacob Zevecotius matured as a poet and dramatist during the early decades of the Dutch Golden Age, and as a bilingual writer he has been accorded a


Bridge is an indispensable infrastructure since ancient times, and the structure types of bridge are divided into beam type, arch type, cable-stayed bridge and suspension bridge. Bridges need to be safe and strong for a long time. Architects are always looking for ways to make Bridges last longer. This paper analyzes the sustainability of bridges. The way to extend the service life of the bridge will be discussed.


The son of well-known restauranteur Toshi Kaneshiro discusses his family background and relationship with his father. He remembers his father's business philosophy and public relations talent. He also describes Columbia Inn's origins in Chinatown, move to Kakaako due to urban renewal, expansion to Waimalu, and sale to Kyotaru. The effects of the restaurant business on family life is also explored.


This study was carried out to analyze the differences in p-hydroxylbenzyl alcohol (HBA) content, antitumor and anti-obesity activities and tyrosinase inhibitory activity between non-fermented G. elata (NFGP) and fermented G. elata powder. The HBA content, which is an index-component of G. elata decreased from 1.58 mg/g before fermentation to 1.07, 0.32, and 0.13 mg/g after the 1 st fermentation (1 st FGP), 2 nd fermentation (2 nd FGP) and 3 rd fermentation (3 rd FGP), respectively. The anti-proliferation effects on the cell lines HT29 and AGS were significantly higher for the fermented G. elata than the NFGP. The antitumor activity was also increased in a fermentation number-dependent manner. During adipocyte differentiation, the ethanol extract of the 3 rd FGP inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells significantly better than NFGP and the 1 st FGP, treated at the concentration of 10 μg/mL. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the 2 nd FGP at 600 μg/mL over was higher than that of kojic acid. At the concentration of 1,000 μg/mL, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity was increased in a fermentation number-dependent manner. From these results, the fermented G. elata, especially the 3 rd FGP, is expected to be good candidate


Objectives. This article describes the telemedical activities in the Arkhangelsk region of north-west Russia from 1996 to 2004, and some of the outcomes of introducing telemedicine in health care. Study Design. The study acquired statistical data between 1996 and 2004 from the telemedical network in the Arkhangelsk region. The network was intended to be low cost and to function using existing communication systems. We tried to answer several questions such as: How were teleconsultations organized between the sender and recipient? What information was transferred and in which cases? How would the system develop over time? Methods. Medical data such as still images of patients, test results and medical documentation were transferred from the rural areas to two regional health institutions. The general information, the medical and the technical parts of consultations were recorded, summarized annually and analysed. Results. After only one year, to the project resulted in an expansion of the network and in a greater number of stations. Teleconsultations contributed to better and closer cooperation between health care institutions and to better levels of health care in the region. A total of 1,092 consultations were performed. Conclusions. Our experience shows that regional telemedical networking can be successfully established in methodology and communication where no dedicated infrastructure has previously existed. At the same time, we demonstrate that telemedicine can be introduced in areas lacking a highly developed infrastructure.


In 1887 Dr. Keith sent a patient with cervical cancer to the author. The diagnosis was out of doubt. The possible high amputation of the cervix, suggested by Keith, was resolved. To this operation, the author added energetic cauterization with a red-hot iron.


Method for checking a sensitive indicator over time and / or temperature (12) for marking perishable products, characterized - by a mechanically coupled to the indicator (12) code is read or stored instant consults the activating the indicator (12); - the time interval between the stored activation time and time of the check is computed; and - it is checked whether the change of the indicator (12) that has occurred in the time interval calculated exceeds or falls below a nominal value depending on the time interval calculated.


Based on a series of tests that simulated the consolidating and freezing processes of foundation and then shearing under loading and unloading, it is found that the yielding strength under unloading is obviously less than that under loading and the difference of the yielding strength between these two stress paths increases with the confining pressure, but the failure strains under the two stress paths do not differ greatly. With the decrease of temperature, the yielding strength and failure strain increase, but the yielding strength and failure strain under unloading are obviously less than that under loading and their differences also increase with a decreasing temperature.


A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Masters of Arts in Social Sector Planning and Management of Makerere University.


By studying the statistics of recurrence intervals, τ, between volatilities of Internet traffic rate changes exceeding a certain threshold q, we find that the probability distribution functions, Pq(τ), for both byte and packet flows, show scaling property as . The scaling functions for both byte and packet flows obey the same stretching exponential form, f(x)=Aexp (-Bxβ), with β≈0.45. In addition, we detect a strong memory effect that a short (or long) recurrence interval tends to be followed by another short (or long) one. The detrended fluctuation analysis further demonstrates the presence of long-term correlation in recurrence intervals.


This research paper aims to provide an overview of the application of MATLAB in mathematics. MATLAB is a widely used software tool in the field of mathematics, providing a user-friendly environment for numerical computations and visualization of data. The paper covers various areas of mathematics in which MATLAB can be applied, including linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, and statistics. The paper also highlights the advantages of using MATLAB in mathematical research, such as its ability to handle large data sets and its ability to perform complex numerical computations efficiently. The paper concludes with a discussion on the future of MATLAB in mathematical research and its potential to revolutionize the field.


The exact Lagrange function of a constant electromagnetic field is considered as a competitor for the photon propagator in the investigation of questions of principle in quantum electrodynamics. A condensed gauge-invariant method is proposed for the calculation of radiative contributions to the Lagrange function, based on a closed functional expression. For extremely strong fields all radiative effects are concentrated in a scale multiplier of the field variable which is universal for quantum electrodynamics (or the Callan-Symanzik ..beta.. function). In addition to the expansion terms of the ..beta.. function in spinor electrodynamics which were determined before, we have obtained the first two terms in its expansion for scalar electrodynamics. A comparison is carried out between the renormalization-invariant charges determined by the photon propagator and the Lagrange function and the bare charge determined by the Z/sub 3/-factor. It is proved that their Gell-Mann--Low functions are different, the latter containing ..cap alpha../sup 3/ terms which makes the appearance of a common zero in these functions possible; this corresponds to a finite limit charge. Integral transformations of the renormalization-invariant charges are considered, which do not change their boundary and limit values, but subject their Gell-Mann--Low function to a transformation.


We extend the weak Bruhat order of a finite Coxeter group to the set of its coclasses, modulo parabolic standard subgroups. We use this order to describe associative algebra structures on the vector spaces spanned by the faces of permutahedra on one side, and on the vector space spanned by the planar rooted trees, on the other one.


The modern pollen spectra for Eucalyptus forest and rainforest communities were investigated from 19 sites in the Robertson area on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. Cluster and discriminant analyses were applied to analyse pollen distribution from within and from outside warm temperate rainforest stands and tall open eucalypt forest stands. Pollen abundance is compared with a number of plant abundance estimates of taxa within forests to study pollen representation at the forest scale. Pollen of Doryphora, Polyosma, Pittosporum, Hymenanthera, Tasmannia, Asclepiadaceae and most rainforest taxa investigated are poorly represented, while sclerophyll and open-ground taxa, particularly Eucalyptus, are better represented. The pollen of many native taxa do not appear to be well dispersed, and local pollen is commonly outweighed by pollen from regional sources. Pollen representation varied between taxa and sites, with factors such as vegetation structure, plant distribution, topography and disturbance influencing pollen representation.


s: Aim\ To study the fixed point of decreasing operator with convexity or concavity in ordered space. Methods\ By using the cone and partial order in nonlinear functional analysis and monotone iterative technology. Results\ Existence and uniqueness are proved and iteration formula for the fixed point of decreasing operator is obtained. Conclusions\ The same results as \ are obtained under different conditions. They are interesting and can be applied to certain integral equations.


10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid(10-HDA) is the special unstaturated fatty acid in royal jelly,which content is ruled in its quality.The lecithin as the main wall material,the 10-HDA nanoliposome was prepared by the ethanol injection-sonication method.Furthermore,five kinds of royal jelly product as the material,the content of 10-HDA was measured by HPLC,and then the 3 month-long stability experiment was carried out.Results showed that the envelope rate of 10-HDA may reach 98.3 % using nanocapsule technology to prepare 10-HDA nanoliposome;simultaneously its content stability could be improved.While the 10-HDA content of other four kind of royal jelly production was unstable,the content became lower along with the time.


Amyloid aggregates have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and prion disease. Recently determined microcrystal structures of several short peptide segments derived from fibril‐forming proteins revealed coexistence of alternative aggregation modes (amyloid polymorphism) formed by the same segment. This polymorphism may help in understanding the influence of the side chain packing on the amyloid stability. Here we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to analyze the stability of five pairs of polar and nonpolar polymorphic oligomers. MD simulation shows polymorphs with steric zipper interface containing large polar and/or aromatic side chains (GNNQQNY, and NNQNTF) are more stable than steric zipper interfaces made of small or hydrophobic residues (SSTNGVG, VQIVYK, and MVGGVV). Several geometric analyses revealed that larger sheet to sheet interface of the dry steric zipper through polar Q/N rich side chains holds the sheets together. Mutant simulations (Q/N→G) show substitutions with glycine disrupt the steric zipper, leading to unstable oligomers. Stability of Q/N rich oligomers was found to result from the large average number of hydrogen bonds. The molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) method reports the nonpolar component of free energy to be favorable, while electrostatic solvation is unfavorable for β‐sheet association. Knowledge of structural properties of these fibrils might be useful for developing therapeutic agents against amyloidoses as well as for developing biomaterials. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 98: 131–144, 2012.


A method for representing the contents of data transmission, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving data in the first device, the data comprising at least one anti-copy protection system identifier; (b) a first inspection means It is connected via the digital data bus and the recording means; and in case of a positive verification: (c) testing whether the apparatus comprising a first embodiment of anti-copy protection system modules, the system identifier is contained in the data, and in the case of a positive verification: (d) providing user access to data in accordance with a first mode of access authorization data record (PPVR); and in the case of step (b) or step (c) is a negative test :( e) providing user access to data according to the second mode of recording data from unauthorized access (PPV).


A 66-year-old man presented hyperpigmentation and stiffness of lower extremities more than one year. Physical examination showed xerosis and pigmentation on his low extremities, and the skin touched hard. The histopathological examination showed hyperplasia of fibroblasts and collagen in the whole dermis and septal panniculus. The patient had diabetes for 11 years and diabetic nephropathy for 2 years. Based on the clinical and pathological data, the nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy combined with diabetic nephropathy was diagnosed.


In march and june of 2010 a characterization the amphibian and reptile faunas was carried out in the wetlands of Charco de Oro and La Bolsa in the municipality of Andalucia, Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia. In the study were recorded nine species of amphibians and seven of reptiles. In addition were recorded two other reptiles species in vicinities near to the wetlands. The richness of amphibians was higher during the dry season and the reptiles were equal but its composition changed.


Background: Calcium hydroxide is a dental material used as a gold standard for pulp capping materials. However, calcium hydroxide has several weaknesses which cause many researchers to look for alternative ingredients that come from nature. Propolis in the field of dentistry has long been used because of its ability as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and can cure scars. The combination of calcium hydroxide and propolis is proven to have good biocompatibility and anti-bacterial properties. One of the requirements of pulp capping material is to have sufficient compressive strength. Therefore, a research to test the compressive strength value of the combination of calcium hydroxide with propolis is needed. Purpose: To find out the difference in compressive strength of the combination of calcium hydroxide-propolis with a ratio of 1: 1, 1: 1.5, and 1: 2. Methods: The study used 4 treatment groups with each group consisting of 6 replications. Group 1 is a combination of calcium hydroxide-propolis with a ratio of 1: 1, group 2 with a ratio of 1: 1.5, group 3 with a ratio of 1: 2, and a positive control group using calcium hydroxide - sterile aquadest. Calcium hydroxide powder and propolis extract liquid is mixed according to comparison and printed on a cylindrical mold with the size of 4 mm x 6 mm. Then, the compressive strength was tested using an Autograph test instrument. Result: Compressive strength was smaller in group 3 compared to group 2, group 2 compared to group 1, and group 1 compared to the control group. Conclusion: In calcium hydroxide-propolis combination, the more propolis extract used in the combination the lower the compressive strength of the combination will be.


This paper first applies economics theories to study on characters of ready-mixed concrete industry. Then the market structure of the industry and the results of malignant competition are deeply studied. At last the policy implication is summarized. The analysis suggests that ready-mixed concrete industry tends to fall in malignant competition, which may cause many serious problems. Therefore, in order to maintain the healthy development of ready-mixed concrete industry in China, it is required that the government should put the development of ready-mixed concrete industry under macro-control.


Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixtures have shown good resistance to rutting for hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavement. Mixtures with polymer-modified binders such as styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) have also shown good performance against rutting and cracking. This paper presents the laboratory evaluations used to determine the rutting and cracking performance of the RAP mixtures with SBS polymer-modified binders as virgin binders. The asphalt pavement analyzer (APA) test and indirect tensile (IDT) test were conducted for the laboratory evaluation. The properties of SBS polymer-modified binders blended with recovered RAP binders were also investigated. The binder tests included G*/sinδ as the rutting parameter and G*sinδ as the cracking parameter of the Super-pave® PG grade system. The multiple stress creep and recovery test, which has recently received attention as an indicator of the rutting potential of polymer-modified asphalt binders, was also performed. RAP mixtures with SBS polymer-modified binders were fabricated containing different amounts of RAP materials: 0%, 15%, 25%, and 35%. From the APA and Superpave IDT tests, RAP mixtures with modified binders showed good performance regardless of the amounts of RAP materials in HMA. Even though the parameters, G*/sinδ and G*sinδ, and the percentage of recovery indicated the different amounts of RAP binders in polymer-modified binders, the relationship between these parameters and mixture performance was not clearly identified.


Phenomena associated with pulsed and cw laser annealing of semiconductors have generated intense interest among scientists in both fundamental and applied areas of solid-state physics and materials science. A coherent picture of the physical processes involved, at least on a macroscopic basis, is beginning to emerge. In the first two papers of this series, the results of heat and mass (dopant) transport calculations based on the melting model of pulsed-laser annealing were described in considerable detail. It was shown that dopant profiles observed after pulsed-laser annealing could not be fit when values of the interface segregation coefficient k/sup o//sub i/ appropriate for solidification under nearly thermodynamic equilibrium conditions were used in the dopant redistribution calculations. In this paper, a model is developed which relates the nonequilibrium interface segregation coefficient k/sub i/ to k/sup o//sub i/ and to the velocity of the liquid-solid interface during recrystallization of the molten region created by the laser radiation. The functional dependence of k/sub i/ on the interface velocity cannot be calculated exactly, but simple approximate expressions for this dependence yield results which are in accord with the experimental data presently available. With the use of the velocity dependence of k/sub i/, it is shownmore » that the model gives satisfactory agreement with the maximum nonequilibrium dopant concentrations which have been observed for an interface velocity of approx.4 m/sec. The relationship of the model to the general concept of ''solute trapping'' introduced by Baker and Cahn is discussed and it is shown that the model satisfies the criterion for solute trapping.« less


The history of joining with the metals lead (Pb) and tin (Sn) as well as their alloys dates back several thousand years [1]. Unfortunately, archeological evidence of the use of Pb and Sn is lacking for largely two reasons. First, these elements are degraded by corrosion under long-term exposure to groundwater and soil. Therefore, actual artifacts are rare. Second, there is an absence of written records of Pb and Sn use because such practices were generally performed by slaves and the lower-class artisans. Therefore, istorians or upper-class individuals having the ability to read and write had very little interest in these materials and associated processes [1]. The first of these elements used for joining was Pb. Lead was used to join copper (Cu) by the Mesopotamians around 3000 BC because of its availability in the region as well as its low melting temperature (327jC) that was compatible with wood-fired stoves and kilns. Tin was exploited around 1900 BC by the Celtic and Gaul cultures of Northern Europe where ore deposits were plentiful. It was not long before alloys of Sn and Pb, that is, the soft solders* were used by these cultures to join Cu or Cu-alloy tools and cooking utensils. The Romans, whose empire extended into Northern Europe, learned of Sn and Pb–Sn alloys and subsequently used them to seal the Pb liners of their aqueducts. It was not until the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century did the use of soft solders extend beyond light tool and jewelry-making applications. The availability of portable heat sources that used combustible gases or electricity enabled soldering to be performed at remote sites. Soon, Pb–Sn soldering found use in the plumbing of water and gas conduit; the construction of heat exchangers; the sealing of food containers; and the assembly of light-duty tools as well as sheet metal construction [2].


Quality in agriculture statistics at the international level is very important to all countries in the world. We investigate international organizations which produce worldwide agricultural statistics. The UN-FAO is one of the most important organization in agricultural statistics fields. We first introduce the Statistics division in FAO and present some considerations like production, reliability, quality of the agriculture data from my own experience as a consultant in FAO and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Korea.


The reactions of some geminal phenylchlorocyclotriphosphazatrienes, N3P3Ph2Cl4 and N3P3Ph4Cl2, with alkoxide ions have been investigated. The expected geminal alkoxy-derivatives, N3P3Ph2(OR)4 and N3P3Ph4(OR)2, have been isolated together with variable yields of by-products in which one alkoxy-group of the alkoxyphenylcyclo-triphosphazatriene has been replaced by the elements of a hydroxy group to yield "cyclotriphosphazadienes". Treatment of the geminal diethoxytetraphenyl- and of hexamethoxy-cyclotriphosphazatriene with anhydrous hydrogen chloride led to a "cyclotriphosphazadiene" and a "cyclotriphosphazene," respectively. 2,4,6-Tribenzyloxy-1,3,5-tribenzyl-2,4,6-trioxocyclotriphosphazane has been O-debenzylated by treatment with sodium iodide in acetone. Structures for these partially "hydrolysed" products are suggested on the evidence of their infrared and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and their mode of formation is discussed, comparisons being drawn with the products of hydrolysis of chloro- and alkoxy-phosphazenes.


Laplace transform, L(s)f)h, is meant a linear functional of ƒ with the fundamental property tfiatL(s;fc/)fc-sL(s;/)*^ f?<>t-°~nlf(t)dt, EJJ/(*)(l+s)-* < " are generalized L.T.'s for d/dt, E, td/dt, and A respectively. I t may be verified tha t the appropriate expression is in every case given formally by \imt^wF(t} s, 0;f)F(t, s} 1 ; 0)~ l . Tables of transform pairs may be set up for practical use precisely like those of the usual Laplace transform. Regions of convergence must be determined for each different operator; however, in practice it is often possible to get the correct answer by proper "interpretation" even when convergence fails. (Received January 15, 1947.)


A new species of Main from the Cl'ntral wheatbelt of Western Australia is described. Natural historv notes are presented and recognition stated of ,1 wider geographic distribution of the genus than previouslv recorded.


The series JSIR350 sources are MEMS based infrared emitters. These IR sources are characterized by a high radiation output. Thus, they are excellent for NDIR gas analysis and are ideally suited for using with our pyro-electric or thermopile detectors. The MEMS chips used in Micro-Hybrid's infrared emitters consist of nano-amorphous carbon (NAC). The MEMS chips are produced in the USA. All Micro-Hybrid Emitter are designed and specified to operate up to 850°C. The improvements we have made in the source's packaging enable us to provide IR sources with the best performance on the market. This new technology enables us to seal the housings of infrared radiation sources with soldered infrared filters or windows and thus cause the parts to be impenetrable to gases. Micro-Hybrid provide various ways of adapting our MEMS based infrared emitter JSIR350 to customer specifications, like specific burn-in parameters/characteristic, different industrial standard housings, producible with customized cap, reflector or pin-out.


In this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Sievert et al. [1] provide clinical and epidemiologic details of 7 cases of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) infection. They present a scenario of the "perfect storm" in Michigan the right patients, the right organisms, and the right selective pressure resulting in 5 of the 7 reported cases of VRSA infection emerging in that state. In many ways, this scenario is a reflection of the broader issue of antimicrobial resistance, in which local evolution of bacterial strains progresses until a particularly fit strain emerges and then has the possibility of spreading broadly. Some evolutionary steps are more successful than others. For example, the first /3-lactamaseproducing strain of S. aureus was reported in 1941 and eventually spread around the world [2]. Now, >90% of all S. aureus iso-


The utility model relates to a table automatic cutting-out machine, which is suitable for the cutting of the flimsy material like webbed papers, plastic membranes, P V C materials, the utility model can be used with blueprinting machine,and also can be used for the paper cutting in the paper mill, the structure and the working order are: the part of installing paper,the part of straightening,the part of drawing cutting, the part of longitudinal cutting, the part of horizontal cutting, the economy, the part of electrics, the utility model is characterized in that the increasing of the part of drawing cutting can satisfied the require of any size, both in drawing and longitudinal direction can finish the cutting simultaneous and automatically, the utility model is bijou, portable, fast, computer controlling, material saving, convenient installation and attendance, and long service life.


Decision making process proved to be the "corner stone " ofany management action. The iniial scope of this process is the identification of possible variants of action and the choice of that onewhich, through scientific documentation, is indicated to be the most feasible. Using this model, there have been analyzed some possible errors occurred in the process, that may affect the quality of decision course. The State Authorities in their activity are making many and various acts that may be classified depending on state's functions in legislation, administrative and judicial acts. Some authors have argued in the literature, that "executive work is done by legal acts of general and impersonal or personal, legal material facts, materialtechnical operations, non-producer of legal effects as well as for purely political acts without consequences in terms of rights and obligations, and therefore no legal effect (messages, statements by the Government) ". Other authors are speaking about legal facts, as unilateral manifestation of the will that the law must recognize the juridical relevancel (legal documents, legal material commission facts, omission and commission-omission, material-technical operations). There are authors who retain that specific forms of activity of government, legal documents, administrative operations "that have a specific legal meaning" and material facts, but they are not covered judiciary "only in the measure of incidence with rules of law". The forms exposed above, whether or not producing legal effects, generically named as administrative acts, in their entirety constitute specific forms of activity of public administration bodies. Administrative fact is between the political value to be made and a physical implementation of these values. Administrative work is not an end in itself but a means to achieve an end that it proposes a corporate and social collectivity, taken into discussion.


We report an interview we conducted with Professor Ocke-Schwen Bohn, from Aarhus University (Denmark). Professor Bohn is worldwide famous for his work on L2 Phonetic Learning, and has written and organized many important articles, books and book chapters in the field. Professor Bohn is also organizing the next edition of the International Symposium on the Acquisition of Second Language Speech (New Sounds), which is going to take place in June 2016, at Arrhus University. In what follows, Professor Bohn talks about his career, his views on the area of L2 Phonetic-Phonological Acquisition and what we may expect in the next New Sounds convention.