The Bachelor's Work demonstrates the actual stand of the integrated marketing communication of the Co. PAPCEL, a.s. The theoretical part of the work acts about individual forms of the marketing communication and their practical utilization. The factual information from the Co. Papcel concerning the internal so as the external surroundings of the Co. Papcel is already a content of the practical part. Here is evaluated the actual condition of the marketing communication of the Co. Papcel. On the basic of experience acquired in the Co. PAPCEL, a.s. I drew the system of the integrated marketing communication which has been using used in the company already for a long time whereat this one is remitted regularly for a costs and risk analysis.


People who are highly intolerant of uncertainty have a propensity to fear the unknown, which influences perceptions and desires for control and predictability (Carleton, 2016). Processes related to searching for and maintaining meaning might deviate based on intolerance of uncertainty as meaning-making can be spurred by breakdowns in one's sense of understanding or predictability (Park, 2010). The current study was designed to examine within-person relationships between daily search for and presence of meaning, while investigating how people's intolerance of uncertainty (IU) influences the search-presence relationship. During a three-week daily diary study, results showed that daily search significantly predicted same-day presence and presence the following day. IU significantly moderated the effects of search on presence such that people who were highly intolerant of uncertainty experienced less presence when they engaged in searching than low IU participants. Results suggest researchers should consider the potential consequences of IU in limiting the development of a vital well-being resource, presence of meaning.


An isolated double-hole indentation, with concentric rings, in a metal film was used to obtain highly localized surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) from regions much smaller than the optical wavelength. The structure was created by a focused ion beam (FIB) milling partially through the 100 nm thick gold film to a depth of 50 nm. Significant SERS enhancement was observed for both oxazine 720 and rhodamine 6G. The SERS was polarization-dependent because of the biaxial symmetry of the double-hole at the apexes where the indentations overlap; these apexes were responsible for the strong subwavelength focusing. The finite-difference time-domain method was used to calculate the electromagnetic field of the nanostructure, and it showed strong polarization-dependent focusing, in agreement with the experimentally observed SERS enhancement. On the basis of these calculations, it is estimated that the 60% polarization-dependent SERS enhancement is the result of only ∼1300 molecules in the region of the apexes, ...


The bachelor theses "Bilingualism and the development of the lexicon in preschool children: a case study" deals with the problems of bilingualism in the context of language acquisition, especially with problems of the development of the lexicon. The main question under consideration is, if there is a negative impact of a child's bilingualism on the size of his or her vocabulary in preschool age. In the first part of the thesis, relevant facts discussed in the literature on bilingual acquisition are presented, preparing the theoretical ground for an empirical study presented in the main part of the thesis. The empirical study was conducted with several preschool-age children, one of them growing up bilingual, two of them monolingual. The tests used in this study were taken from the pedagogical literature and are widely used in the Czech Republic to assess children's school readiness. They are specially designed to assess the development of the child's vocabulary in Czech. In the last chapter, the test results are evaluated and confronted with claims made in the literature.


A wide range of iron oxides is used for the production of toners for copiers and laser printers. However, the properties of the toner have to be tailored to the needs of each particular printing system. The precipitation process allows control of particle size, shape and particle size distribution of magnetic iron oxides. The influence of these parameters on magnetic and other data of the magnetite and the toner is discussed.


Background: Cytogenetic abnormalities are ubiquitous in plasma cell myeloma representing the hallmark of the disease. These abnormalities have been used as the foundation to establish prognostic factors for accurate risk stratification in plasma cell myeloma. The present study aimed to detect the incidence 14q32 IgH rearrangements, t(11;14), t(4;14), 13q del and 17p del by Interphase Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (iFISH) and their relation to the standard prognostic factors and patients' outcome . Method: Thirty one newly diagnosed Egyptian myeloma patients were tested for the expression of 14q32 IgH rearrangements by using the locus specific identifier (LSI) IGH Dual Color FISH break apart rearrangement probe, we also used the LSI IGH/CCND1 Dual Color Dual Fusion Probe for detection of t(11;14)(q13;q32), LSI IGH/FGFR3 Dual Fusion Probe for detection of t(4;14)(p16;q32), LSI D13S319 (13q14.3) probe for detection of 13q del and LSI TP53 Probe for detection of 17p del on bone marrow samples collected from the patients at diagnosis. Results: Abnormal iFISH results were found in 21 patients (67.7%) of the 31 examined patients. Ten patients (32.3%) exhibited 14q IgH rearrangement. Both t(11;14) and t(4;14) were found in 4 patients (12.9%). 17p13 del was detected in 3 patients (9.7%) while 8 patients (25.8%) showed positive results for 13q del. There were statistical significant decrease in mean total leucocytic count (P= 0.030) and mean serum albumin level (P= 0.008) in patients showing positive genetic abnormalities detected by iFISH whereas a significant increase in β2-microglobulin level (>5.5mg/dL) (P= 0.052) and kappa light chain (P= 0.015) were found in those patients. A statistically significant lower serum calcium ( 300 IU/L) (P= 0.003). Patients with positive t(4;14) had significantly older age (over 60 years) (P= 0.018) and lower platelet counts ( 4x10 9 /L) (P= 0.002). Patients with positive 13q del had significantly lower mean


Implementation of the pure-vibrational Raman spectra lidar method for simultaneous measurements of atmospheric water-vapour, aerosol extinction and backscatter coefficients is reported. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser provides the three elastic wavelengths of 1064, 532 and 355 nm while the return signal is collected by a 40-cm aperture telescope. A spot-to-spot fiber bundle conveys the light from the telescope focal plane to a specific polychromator especially simulated and designed with care on minimizing optical losses and physical dimensions. The reception field of view, which is limited by the fiber bundle characteristics, is the same for all wavelengths. By means of four customised dichroic filters and beam splitters, light is separated into the three elastic wavelengths (355, 532, 1064 nm) as well as the 386.7- and 607.4-nm N2-Raman-shifted wavelengths, and the 407.5-nm H2O-Raman-shifted wavelength. Signal detection is achieved by using avalanche photodiodes at 1064 and 532 nm and analog acquisition while photomultiplier tubes and fast photon counting acquisition at the rest of the wavelengths. A specific design of the optoelectronics of the receiving channels is controlled by a distributed CPU thanks to a user-friendly LabViewTM interface. User-configurable scanning tools are built-in, but can also be customized. In this work an overview of the system though particularly geared to the polychromator unit is presented as well as a power link-budget assessment, which is to include simulation of end-to-end transmissivities, will be discussed for the main channels involved. The first measurements have already been made at 1064, 532, and 607.4 nm.


A high-precision, low-coherence Fizeau interferometer system using a pulsed laser diode has been developed for the measurement of the flatness of transparent plates. A pulsed laser diode with a wavelength of around 633 nm was used as the low-coherence light source. A Twyman–Green interferometer with the pulsed laser diode was connected to the Fizeau interferometer. By adjusting the optical path differences in both interferometers, the interference fringe pattern due only to the reference and measurement surfaces could be observed. The accuracy of the measurements was found to be similar to that of a conventional Fizeau interferometer.


The invention provides a preparation method of difenoconazole technical material. 4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-chloroacetophenone performs cyclization reaction with 1,2-propylene glycol to generate cis/trans-3-chloro-4-(2,4-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)phenyl-4'-chlorphenyl ether, then carries out bromination reaction with bromine to generate cis,/trans-3-chloro-4-(4-methyl-2-bromomethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)phenyl-4'-chlorphenyl ether, and carries out condensation reaction with 1, 2, 4-triazole potassium to prepare a crude product; a product is obtained after the crude product suffers from refining, desolvation, reduced pressure distillation , crystallization and centrifugation, bromine is added at twice while carrying out bromination reaction after cyclization reaction is over, bromine accounting for 3%-10% of total mass is added to reaction system for initiation reaction, remanent bromine is added after 10-30 minutes for reacting for 2-3 hours. Benzyl bromide accounting for 0.5%-5% of the quality of the crude product is added into the prepared crude product while refining the crude product, and heat is preserved for 1-3 hours at 200-300 DEG C.


This research aimed to identify the floristic composition of spontaneous community in upland rice in Maranhao State. The experiment was carried out from January to May in the experimental area at the Maranhao State University Campus in Sao Luis, Maranhao State. The rice cultivar used was BRS Sertaneja. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and four replications. Spontaneous plants survey was done by means of a an open metal device with 0,5 m x 0,3 m which was randomly placed four times in each plot. The spontaneous plants were cut at ground level, identified, dried and placed in a forced air circulation oven at temperature of 70° C for dry mass evaluation. The phytosociological parameters assessed were relative density, relative frequency, relative dominance and index of importance value. The highest spontaneous plants species richness in upland rice crop was observed in Cyperaceae and Poaceae families. The dominant species based in the importance value index, were Hediotys corymbosa and Alternanthera tenella.


Generally In Automobile industries the role of inlet pressure is significant for Engines. Inlet pressure is propositional to Engine's power. Generally whenever we inlet high pressurized air in the inlet valve the pressure is decreased due to impact of valve under head. To resolve this problem we have created the new design of swirl Inlet valve. Pressure of inlet air will be 15-20% more efficient due to impact of air on helix teeth. This will help to increase the pressure of combustion chamber as well as power of engine (hp).


In the context of a business school career coaching program, we consider the role of job seeker personality in the choice to seek a coaching relationship. Drawing from both the mentoring and the jo...


The operating principle and energy-saving principle are introduced based on the analysis of applied example of high-voltage frequency conversion of 300 MW unit condensate pump.Some problems in current operating mode are put forward.It is proved that the application of high-voltage frequency conversion technology gets good economical,social,and promoting value by the comparison of different parameters in different loading circumstances.


The intent of this study is to investigate contextual compatibility in architecture from a psychological perspective. More specifically, the study examines contextual compatibility as an aspect of environmental meaning. Within the framework of this research, the term contextual compatibility is defined as the degree of fit between a new infill building and the immediately adjacent buildings within an urban or campus setting. As such, contextual compatibility is clearly a very specific and narrowly defined phenomenon: yet it nevertheless represents one of the most publicly debated and architecturaly significant manifestations of environmental meaning. For example, the emergence of increasing numbers of design review commissions, the often vociferous public debates on the appropriateness of particular design proposals, and the increasing willingness of architects to employ non-Modernist vocabularies all suggest the importance of contextual compatibility in people's experience of architecture. Because this study represents one of the first empirical investigations of contextual compatibility at the architectural scale, the research is focused on three of the most fundamental aspects of the topics: 1) what meaning does contextual compatibility have for people? 2) what kind of contextual design strategies are most consistently preferred? and 3) what types of physical features are most commonly seen as contributing to or detracting from contextual compatibility? In addition, a further goal of the research is to offer an account of the psychological processes that are implicit in these questions. These questions are considered in the light of three major sets of literatures 1) general discussions of environmental cognition and meaning in the psychological literature, 2) specific substantive research studies on contextual compatibility, primarily drawn from the environmental psychology literature, and 3) critical and theoretical analyses of design strategies for contextual fit, drawn from the architectural literature. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).


According to the constitution,there are 27 rights for the government departments in autonomous region,the law of minority autonomous region states.Among them,there are two right of adaptations,one is the adaptation to the law and administrative regulations.The other is the adaptation to the policy.These two right of adaptations have both relation and differences.Understanding their relation and differences will help the government officials carry out their right of adaptations.


Recently, nanoparticles have supplied diverse challenges in the area of science. The nanoparticles suspended in several conventional fluids can convert the fluids flow and heat transmission features. In this investigation, the mathematical approach is utilized to explore the magnetohydrodynamics micropolar-nanofluid flow through a truncated porous cone. In this mathematical model, non-linear radiation and suction/injection phenomena are also scrutinized with the Tiwari-Das nanoliquid pattern. The designed system of the mathematical model of the boundary value problem is converted to a set of dimensionless non-similar equations applying convenient transformations. In this study, kerosene oil is selected as the base fluid, while the nanoparticles of Fe3O4 are utilized to promote the heat transmission rate. The problem is solved numerically using the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method (RKF45). It is demonstrated that an enhancement in the pertinent parameters improves the heat transmission rate.


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Economics for Fisheries Management, by R. Quentin Grafton, James Kirkley, Tom Kompas and Dale Squires. Ashgate, 2006. 161pp. ISBN 0-7546-3249-0


Design and construction of a 3DoF reluctance motor with an ultra-light steel wool runner using 3D printing technology is presented. The motor was made in 3D printing technology. Experimental studies were carried out, confirming the possibility of performing a wide range of different "segmental", "diagonal" and "complex closed" trajectories in the cubic-shaped workspace.


We present a systematic process control procedure that enables an integrated process optimization of wet chemical cleaning and subsequent thermal oxidation processes. Our approach uses distinct experiments to reveal the impact of individual parameters on the effective minority carrier lifetime. Special focus is put on an application in a production line. Therefore, both wet-chemical processing and thermal oxidation take place in industry-size equipment. On 1 Ωcm p-type floatzone (FZ) wafers with saw-damage etched surfaces, surface recombination velocities as low as (26±3) cm/s directly after oxidation and (13±1) cm/s after annealing in forming gas are achieved for an optimized process sequence.


— Ambient Computing or Ambient Intelligence (AmI) is emerging area in computer science aiming to create intelligently connected environments and Internet of Things. In this paper, we propose communication middleware architecture for AmI. This middleware architecture addresses problems of communication, networking, and abstraction of applications, although there are other aspects (e.g. HCI and Security) within general AmI framework. Within this middleware architecture, any application developer might address HCI and Security issues with extensibility features of this platform.


Symbiosis between Frankia,VA mycorrhizal fungi and Hippophae rhamnoides was conducted in pot cultures.The results indicated the correlation of VA mycorrhizae and Frankia.In treatment inoculated VAH and HR16, height, diameter, fresh weight,chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rate increased by 42.25%,33.52%,198.56%,43.33%,and 17.44% respectively.


Protocols to ensure that messages are delivered in causal order are a ubiquitous building block of distributed systems. For instance, distributed data storage systems can use causally ordered message delivery to ensure causal consistency, and CRDTs can rely on the existence of an underlying causally-ordered messaging layer to simplify their implementation. A causal delivery protocol ensures that when a message is delivered to a process, any causally preceding messages sent to the same process have already been delivered to it. While causal delivery protocols are widely used, verification of their correctness is less common, much less machine-checked proofs about executable implementations. We implemented a standard causal broadcast protocol in Haskell and used the Liquid Haskell solver-aided verification system to express and mechanically prove that messages will never be delivered to a process in an order that violates causality. We express this property using refinement types and prove that it holds of our implementation, taking advantage of Liquid Haskell's underlying SMT solver to automate parts of the proof and using its manual theorem-proving features for the rest. We then put our verified causal broadcast implementation to work as the foundation of a distributed key-value store.


Effect of urethane based bonding agent on the cure characteristics and mechanical properties of natural rubber/whole tyre reclaim–short nylon fiber composite have been studied. Tensile strength, tear strength, elongation at break, and heat build-up were studied in both orientations of the fibers. The processability as indicated by the minimum torque of the composite was affected adversely by the presence of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate/polyethylene glycol resin. Tensile strength and tear strength showed an improvement at a higher isocynate concentration. Compression set showed a reduction with increase in the isocyanate concentration. Heat build-up showed a reduction in presence of a bonding agent.


Background: Non–islet cell tumor-induced hypoglycemia (NICTH), a major cause of fasting hypoglycemia, is caused by the overproduction of incompletely processed, high molecular-weight insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), termed "big" IGF-II. To the best of our knowledge, only two cases of thyroid carcinoma associated with NICTH have been documented. Patient Findings: We report the case of a 72-year-old woman who was brought to the emergency department with impaired consciousness. The patient had a history of pulmonary metastases from poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC), spanning 12 years since initial treatment. Laboratory tests showed decreased plasma glucose levels even though immunoreactive insulin, IGF-I, and growth hormone (GH) were undetectable. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed macronodular pulmonary metastases the estimated volume of which was 456 mL. Both the biochemical data and imaging results suggested NICTH. The results of Western blot analysis performed on a fractionated se...


It is evident that male and female icons were created by the Sanatana patriarchal hierarchical Hindu Society. Our fiction writers, generally have been subscribing to this myth and exploiting its possible variants and in doing so have been keeping the myth alive. The woman is mother, taking care of her children, patient, self-sacrificing, abundant in her gifts like the mother earth: the woman is Grihalaksmi, symbolising the prosperity of Home: she is Sahadharmini identifying herself with the dharma of her husband, her master: she is Sati, her life begins and ends with her husband's: she is Kshetra, and open field for her master's use; she is Sakti, the primal source of energy. The moment the woman is seen to lead her own life, to act in conformity with her own nature and not according to the specifications of the role assigned to her, she loses favour with us, she is damned.


Since two decades LAPAN has launched many kinds of ballistic and guided rockets known as RX and RKX serials. In designing of rockets (flight vehicles), there are two factors must be watched: the structure is lighter and stronger. Base of the factors, this paper describes an analysis of weight of
rocket RX100 power supply with low thrust approach. The result shows that for 289 kgf thrust the ideal mass of power supply ranges between 3.2 - 32.9 kgs. Meanwhile, the weight of the power supply rocket RX 100 is 25.3 kg. Therefore, it is concluded that the weight design of rocket RX100 is good
enough.


Successful antiviral treatment of decompensated hepatitis B with HBV polymerase inhibitors is associated with improvement of liver function. To what extent liver function also improves in cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving novel interferon‐free (IFN‐free) therapies is unknown.


The 25th annual Santa Fe Symposium attracted a record attendance of 165, with delegates from 11 countries worldwide, confi rming the more opti-mistic outlook by the US jewellery industry noted last year. Held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, from 15th–18th May 2011, the Symposium had a very strong programme of presentations covering a wide range of topics (1). Platinum featured and, as usual, attracted much interest. The major sponsors were given the opportunity to have a display table in the lobby area, as last year, and thus both Johnson Matthey New York and Platinum Guild International USA had a strong presence.Platinum AlloysThe soldering of platinum received attention this year with Jurgen Maerz (Platinum Guild Interna-tional, USA) reviewing the topic in his presentation, 'Platinum Solders: Proper Use and Application of Plati-num Solders in Jewelry Making'. Maerz fi rst addressed the types of solder used in soldering platinum jewel-lery: this categorised platinum solders into those con-taining up to 95% platinum and those which contained no platinum, perhaps better classed as plumb and tra-ditional solders respectively. Traditional solders con-tain no or very little platinum and come in a range of soldering or fl ow temperatures in grades from extra easy 1000 to extra hard 1400 with additional grades of platinum welding 1500, platinum special welding 1600, platinum seamless 1700 and platinum weld 1773, where the number refers to the approximate fl ow tem-perature in oC.In contrast, plumb platinum solders have a high platinum content and fl ow temperatures in the range 1300oC for the easy fl ow grade (contains 90% plati-num) to 1500oC for the hard fl ow grade that contains 95% platinum. Maerz makes the point that these sol-ders enable soldering without fear of under-carating of the platinum jewellery in the USA where there is a zero tolerance on assay. To ensure compliance with this standard, he noted, platinum alloys are often 'sweetened' to 952 fi neness to allow use of non-plat-


The intravascular changes of the in vivo molecular weight of HES 70/0.5 were investigated on healthy volunteers. A repeated daily infusion of 835 ml of 6% HES solution (50 g HES 70/0,5; Rheohes) during four hours on five consecutive days was performed. The analysis of the distribution of the molecular masses in serum and urine was performed by SEC-HPLC with MALLS/RI detection. The in vivo average molecular weight (Mw) of HES was found to be 58000 Da at the end of the infusion. This was lower than the Mw of 66000 Da as measured initially in the HES solution. In the time following the infusion Mw increased steadily up to 64000 Da because of renal elimination of low molecular HES. However, in the morning before the start of the next infusion of HES, the average molecular weight Mw of HES was even higher up to 71000 Da. In the first collected portion of urine (i. e. up to 8 h after beginning the infusion) the average molecular weight of HES was as low as 17000Da. During the next hours (i.e. in the second collection period lasting from 8 up to 24 h after start of the HES infusion) Mw of HES increased up to 28000 Da. The top fraction of the first period showed molecular masses of 27000Da, in the second collection period top fraction of molecular masses measured 40000 Da. According to the presented data it is concluded that the renal threshold for medium substituted HES is independent of the initial Mw and related primarily to the molar substitution of the HES used. This renal threshold for medium substituted HES is determined to be at 40 000 Da. The in vivo Mw of HES is variable and related to the sampling time and predicted predominantly by the molar substitution of the HES used. The in vivo Mw, therefore, is not suited for characterisation of HES.


Memorial culture has undergone fundamental changes since the II World War. In place of bombastic victors' monuments, sites arose in honor of heroically fallen soldiers. Recent memorials have in common an architecture that avoids emotional pathos of any sort by means of restraint and simple design. They possess a moral and ethical educational mission. The article is devoted to the study of the problem of the formation of new approaches to the architectural and planning organization of war memorials. The topic is revealed on the example of the military memorial cemetery "Rossoshki" near Volgograd City (former Stalingrad), consisting of two parts — the Soviet cemetery and German burial grounds. The authors examine the symbolic, architectural, planning and landscape aspects of the concepts of memorial. Particular attention is paid to the Chapel of Peace, which linked together the composition of the complex.


Changes in membrane lipid composition play important roles in plant adaptation to and survival after freezing. Plant response to cold and freezing involves three distinct phases: cold acclimation, freezing, and post-freezing recovery. Considerable progress has been made toward understanding lipid changes during cold acclimation and freezing, but little is known about lipid alteration during post-freezing recovery. We previously showed that phospholipase D (PLD) is involved in lipid hydrolysis and Arabidopsis thaliana freezing tolerance. This study was undertaken to determine how lipid species change during post-freezing recovery and to determine the effect of two PLDs, PLDα1 and PLDδ, on lipid changes during post-freezing recovery. During post-freezing recovery, hydrolysis of plastidic lipids, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and plastidic phosphatidylglycerol, is the most prominent change. In contrast, during freezing, hydrolysis of extraplastidic phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, occurs. Suppression of PLDα1 decreased phospholipid hydrolysis and phosphatidic acid production in both the freezing and post-freezing phases, whereas ablation of PLDδ increased lipid hydrolysis and phosphatidic acid production during post-freezing recovery. Thus, distinctly different changes in lipid hydrolysis occur in freezing and post-freezing recovery. The presence of PLDα1 correlates with phospholipid hydrolysis in both freezing and post-freezing phases, whereas the presence of PLDδ correlates with reduced lipid hydrolysis during post-freezing recovery. These data suggest a negative role for PLDα1 and a positive role for PLDδ in freezing tolerance.


Provided an apparatus for generating an encoded frame or part of the set of transform coefficients in a block and a variety of methods wherein, the apparatus comprising: a media encoder, coupled to the interface for receiving the data frame or a part of, the media encoder configured to: mask from a plurality of rotationally symmetrical rotational symmetry selected for the block mask, the mask defines a plurality of rotational symmetry multidimensional space having a size and shape as the block in a plurality of different rotational symmetry; based on the rotational symmetry of the block mask is split into two complementary parts; generating a rotational symmetric block pairs, each block having a rotationally symmetrical two complementary portions; calculating for said rotational symmetry of block of at least one member of at least one transform coefficient.


Delay and lag deteriorate path tracking accuracy and system stability. If not properly compensated, they can cause instability or limit the driving speed of autonomous vehicles. This paper presents a preview steering control design considering both communication delay and steering lag to achieve accurate, smooth, and computationally efficient path tracking for highly automated vehicles. Two strategies are adopted for the delay: forward state predictor and delay augmentation. The steering lag is approximated by a first-order lag system. The path tracking problem with delay and lag is solved by the preview control theory. The resulted controller is in an analytical form and is computationally efficient for online implementation. We also analyze the system stability and closed-loop responses in both the time and frequency domain. The control is implemented on an automated vehicle platform and tested inside Mcity and on open roads. Experimental results showed lower tracking errors and significantly improved stability margin compared to the controls ignoring delay and lag.


Consortia can use television to serve the educational needs of the community and at the same time form strategic alliances with other agencies to enhance their efforts to meet the demands of their clientele.


This work proposes a method of connectivity determination between malicious pages on the Internet. We have developed a method which allows to find linkage between pages and to determine malicious links. The method was tested with actual malware URLs.


In our study, we made an effort to combine the Extended Local Binary Pattern(ELBP) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to weigh out the robust facial features of a person from an image. We set our goal as to develop and perform a low-computational approach on two most widely used databases - JAFFE and Cohn-Kanade based on the differences in the feature vectors to classify the human expressions shown in the images into seven basic emotions-anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and neutral. Moreover, we have also proposed a completely unique idea of feature vector generation based on differential method. Our approach yielded test accuracies of 88.29% and 81.04% on the mentioned databases respectively. Furthermore, we have also trained and tested our model on a custom database by mixing up both of these databases and it held an accuracy of 86.89%.


A comparative study was made of the mechanical behavior of the different zones in a welded joint of hypoeutectoid steel, using the uniaxial tension test supported by other conventional techniques. Applying the optoelectronic method to recording and analyzing the results of a tension test gives the distribution of the deformations produced in a test-piece and shows the plastic properties of each zone in one sole experiment.


With the A-share non-state-owned listed companies during the years from 2008 to 2011 as research samples,based on the thinking model of Systematic Theory to construct the analytical framework,this study is made on the difference between cash dividend plan announcement and unexpected market reaction in the circumstances of different agency risks.The empirical results show that the stronger the tunneling ability of final controller,the more the incentive to tunneling,the better the tunneling opportunity,the bigger the unexpected market reaction to cash dividend plan announcement.However,the more perfect the supervision mechanism,the smaller the unexpected market reaction to cash dividend plan announcement.This paper gives a deepening understanding on dividend agency cost and provides a good reference for "New Policy on Dividends" of A-share market.


Through borrowing the concept of bed management and making it as the breakthrough point,medical safeguard comprehensive intervention is explored from five aspects,including organization,time,staff,information and performance to enhance medical safeguard and represent the concept of"taking patients as the center".


The invention discloses a composite pulse generation circuit, comprising a direct current source, wherein the anode of the direct current source is connected with the collector of a switching tube S1 and the cathode of a diode D1, the cathode of the direct current source is connected with the anode of a diode D2 and the emitter of a switching tube S2, the emitter of the switching tube S1 is respectively connected with the cathode of the diode D2 and the a end of a coupling inductor Lm at the same time, the anode of the diode D1 is respectively connected with the collector of the switching tube S2 and the b end of the coupling inductor Lm at the same time, the collector of the switching tube S1 and the cathode of the diode D1 are connected with the positive lead wire of a load, and the c end of the coupling inductor Lm is connected wit the negative lead wire of the load. According to the composite pulse generation circuit provided by the invention, multiple kinds of waveform output, such as bidirectional multi-level asymmetrical pulse, bipolar asymmetrical pulse, unipolar pulse and direct current, are achieved by controlling the on-off of the switching tubes S1 and S2.


Experimental data got in TUCSR show that out-of-diagonal elements of BSM measured sequentially are not equal. It is the evidence of errors and proves the necessity to measure all BSM elements simultaneously. Possibility of such measurements show experimental data got in IRCTR TUDelft, that show good isolation of orthogonal receiving channels in case of suitable radar signal bases


The invention relates to a light emitting diode array and a forming method thereof. The light emitting diode array includes a first light emitting diode with a first electrode and a second light emitting diode with a second electrode. A first dielectric layer is positioned between the light emitting diodes. A first portion of the first dielectric layer at least partially covers the first light emitting diode and a second portion of the first dielectric layer at least partially covers the second light emitting diode. An interconnect is located at least partially on the first dielectric layer. The interconnect connects the first electrode to the second electrode. A reflective layer is formed over at least the first and second portions of the first dielectric layer. A permanent substrate is coupled to a side of the light emitting diodes having the reflective layer.


Matters related to time, academia and science are increasingly on the agenda. The current moment of pandemic crisis demonstrates the relevance and attention that needs to be paid to gender inequalities that present themselves in several dimensions of social life and that affect people's social trajectories. The preparation of this issue of BRAJETS journal was motivated by this attempt to give voice to studies carried out on the theme of gender and academia, which, along with the empirical demonstration, present ideas and policy recommendations that promote reflexivity on gender inequalities and alert for some specific intervention measures in the context of higher education and research institutions worldwide. The texts reunited in this issue have elucidate more concretely what is the reality in different political and social settings, including European and Latin American countries and allowing comparisons at an international and, somehow, global level.


The evolution of the Last Interglacial climate and its sensitivity to melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, an investigation through model inter-comparison and model-data comparison. door Pepijn Bakker geboren te Rotterdam


Background: Dermatophytosis has changed its facets. The prevalence, clinical features, and causative organisms are changing leading to recurrent, recalcitrant, and chronic dermatophytosis. The misuse of potent topical steroids is further aggravating the problem. The risk factors, clinical features, and mycological nature of recurrent dermatophytosis are sparsely documented. Objectives: To know the epidemiological and clinical features, and to identify the organisms causing recurrent dermatophytosis. Materials and Methods: Patients attending to our OPD with dermatophytic infections from December 2017 to June 2019 were scrutinized and those, who had recurrence within 6 weeks after treating with 4 weeks of systemic antifungal treatment were recruited into our study. Demographic data and clinical patterns were documented after informed consent. KOH smears were taken, and the scrapings were cultured in Sabouraud's dextrose agar with 0.05% chloramphenicol and 0.5% cycloheximide. Results: Ninety-six patients were recruited to the study after following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most common age group was 21–30 years, and males were slightly more. A total of 66.7% (64/96) had used topical corticosteroids or steroid combinations. KOH positivity was seen in 67.7%, and the culture was positive in 58.3% of cases. The most common organism isolated in culture was the Trichophyton rubrum (27.1%), followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (22.9%). Recurrences were early in those who used topical potent corticosteroids like clobetasol. Limitation: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) levels of the antifungal drugs were not done to know the relation between MIC levels and recurrence. Conclusion: Recurrent dermatophytosis is increasing and presenting with modified clinical patterns. Topical steroid use, mainly with potent clobetasol or its combinations, seems to be the main culprit for recurrences.


Tumor extension: endophytic growth at the cervix involving both lips right parametrium involved up to lateral pelvic wall; left parametrium not involved; extensive tumor necrosis vagina involved: posterior 4 cm; anterior and right lateral fornix ,0.5 cm. Estimated size: 6 5 cm (width thickness); maximum width from the cervical canal: left: 2 cm; right: 4 cm Biopsy result: poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma


We study the propagation of two optical pulses through silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides, using an extended finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model, which allows for linear dispersion and stimulated Raman scattering.


The article traces, from a literary perspective, John Galsworthy's (1867–1933) conscience in his fictional depictions and non-fictional discussions of those damaged and disabled by World War One. I...


Statistical techniques provide the design engineer with a powerful tool for the analysis of failure data. By means of an actual case study, steps required to design a test yielding statistically meaningful data and procedures used in graphical analysis of results are presented. The Weibull distribution is the statistical model used as a basis for these techniques. This method of failure analysis provides the engineer with clear, positive design direction.


This three year project, aimed to test the efficacy of nodulised stack dust (NSD), as a cost effective alternative to lime and potassium sulphate (SOP) on grapes. As NSD contains traces of thallium (Tl), intensive monitoring of soil, plant and fermented juice (must) was necessary to ensure the product was safe for the wine industry, and whether any guidelines were needed for its use. This study was undertaken in Brightwater, Nelson using two grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. There were seven replicated treatments; a nil control, along with two rates of NSD, their two equivalents as a lime + SOP blend and two rates of SOP alone. In both varieties, and in all years, the higher rate of NSD and lime + SOP significantly increased soil pH over the control, and for NSD over the SOP alone treatments. NSD was slightly more effective in raising soil pH than lime + SOP. In contrast, in both varieties, SOP alone was more effective at initially increasing soil potassium (K) levels. By year 3, differences between NSD and lime + SOP were not significant. The higher K rate was more effective in increasing soil K levels. Potassium levels were not significantly different in leaf petioles between the main treatments. However in year 3, in both varieties, the higher K rates resulted in significantly higher K levels than the lower rate. From year 2, in both varieties, all K treatments gave darker foliage than the control. Yield estimates showed a similar trend. In year 3, bunch weights for the control treatment were significantly lower than in all K treatments, (16% lower in Pinot Noir, 20% lower in Sauvignon Blanc). Only small differences were noted in juice quality before and after primary fermentation. However, liming treatments often gave small increases in pH and lower titratable acidities (TA), than SOP alone. NSD increased the soil Tl levels as the trial progressed, particularly when used at the higher rate. However soil Tl levels remained low, and it would take many years of continuous use, for this to reach the suggested maximum permissible levels for New Zealand soils. There was limited uptake of Tl by leaf petioles, and present in fermented juice, with results often barely above analytical detection levels. This work shows that NSD is a suitable alternative to lime and SOP for grapes. Thallium would not be an issue in the short to medium term and should be monitored every 3-5 years. Grapes on these soils would benefit from 40-80 kg K/ha/annum with no detriment to juice quality. Additional keywords: potassium sulphate, cement kiln dust, must pH, thallium


This chapter takes a look at the impact of accessibility barriers to today's digital libraries on disabled students' ability to succeed and considers the wider institutional implications of such barriers in light of disability laws in the United States. It analyzes the implications of these barriers from the broader institutional policy perspective in improving the access to higher education for users with print disabilities. The author concludes by reiterating that achieving technical accessibility through adherence to industry or legal standards alone is not adequate for making usable research and teaching libraries available to students and scholars with print disabilities. The author also emphasizes that engaging actual disabled users both in the design and development stages of the platforms, user interfaces, and content presentation schemas for these knowledge repositories is of utmost importance.


, group of children were interviewed. This report briefly summarizes the original findings and relates them to the follow-up results. Aggression was defined as an &dquo;act which injures or irritates another person.&dquo; This signifies hostile, interpersonal aggression without any judgment of intent. It does not refer to the more positive connotations of the term aggression, which imply striving and achievement, although the two aspects are not unrelated. The measure of aggression was a peer rating on ten items of aggressive behavior. Sample items are: &dquo;Who pushes or shoves children?&dquo; &dquo;Who says mean things?&dquo; &dquo;Who takes other children's things without asking?&dquo; The reliability and validity of this measure have been demonstrated in numerous studies.


This work presents a new model for future hydrological inflow forecast. Instead of trying to repeat the past, the proposed approach targets the future prediction based on climatological information able to explain hydrological behavior of the desired variables. A neural network, customized to extract sensitive data information, "translates" climatological forecasts into future hydrological scenarios.


The land supply in China is limited,and the existing cultivated land sharply decreases owing to various occupations of land.Accordingly,it is urgent to raise the cultivated land so as to guarantee the dynamic balance between occupation and supplement.The coastal tidal flats are unique land resources.The reclamation development is an effective way to raise the cultivated land in Jiangsu Province,and it will play an important role in relieving the contradiction of its increasing shortage of land and promoting the development of the coastal economy.The social benefit analysis of Tiaozini reclamation project is performed by means of the fuzzy theory.The overall social benefits of this project are analyzed from the aspects of income from farming and agricultural ecological returns and so on.The influences of various factors on Tiaozini reclamation project are quantitatively investigated.The enormous impacts of constructing Tiaozini reclamation project on Dongtai City are theoretically analyzed.A conclusion is drawn that the social benefits for the construction of Tiaozini reclamation project are great,and furthermore,it will be helpful for the development of reclamation of tidal flats in the coastal areas of China.


Poster: "ECR 2012 / C-1210 / Use of 80kV, 100kV and 120kV in coronary CT angiography with prospectively electrocardiogram (ECG)-triggered spiral acquisition by dual-source CT: image quality and radiation dose" by: "S. Li, Y. Wang, L. Kong, Z. Jin; Beijing/CN"


Agglomerated and sintered Cr3C2-25%NiCr powders possess excellent flow ability and appearance that have been extensively applied to resist abrase and erosion in high temperature applications such as power boiler and turbine blade. Microstructure of Cr3C2-25%NiCr coatings were observed through scanning electronic microscope (SEM), and bond strength and microhardness of coatings were measured by tensile shearing test and Vickers hardness test. It is indicated that ultrafine Cr3C2-25%NiCr coatings have some outstanding properties to traditional Cr3C2- 25%NiCr coatings by plasma sprayed.


Mobile healthcare appliances' bulk interconnection is beneficial both on individual and on population level resulting in enhanced healthcare prognosis models. The flawless mobile healthcare information-exchange on a larger scale calls for improved healthcare data interchange standards and also for suitable architectural design. The difficulties of healthcare interoperability standards are already discussed thoroughly in previous articles. Therefore, this article focuses on the mathematical methodology for e-Health service architecture optimization. In general, this research program aims to establish the scientific basis for the global cloud-based e-Health bio-sensory devices interconnection. In particular, this paper focuses on the underlying cloud service architecture's optimization. The contextual basis of this service architecture optimization methodology relies upon the Open System Interconnection model. During this procedure the service architecture solution candidates are described in diagrams with numbered subcomponents. These diagrams representing the architectural solution including the referenced subcomponents are mapped into directed graphs and later into adjacency matrices. The corresponding availability matrices derive from the adjacency matrices after the associated matrix operations, such as matrix multiplication, signum and sum functions. Finally, the comparison of these availability matrices results in the identification of the optimal architecture design. This technique offers the appropriate mathematical methodology for the e-Health service architecture optimization. Statistical optimization methodologies already existed for service architecture optimization. However, this presented optimization procedure delivers a comprehensive solution that is applicable also on a system-level, guiding to establish the prerequisites for the systematical interconnection of e-Health smart devices.


After experiencing continued difficulties with anti-embolism stocking application in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis, registered nurse Neomi Bennett invented Neo-slip. Here she describes the journey and what led her to develop this solution


As electronics become more and more miniaturised, there is much interest in increasing knowledge about the electronic and transport properties of nano-systems. In particular, there has been some focus on understanding the physics of nanowires with prescribed properties. Two different groups of systems have been considered that of 1D organic molecular nanowires and 2D interconnects based on graphene. In order to develop a
deeper insight of the factors that determine the electronic structure and consequently the electrical transport properties, it is desirable to carry out computer simulation studies of these systems.
The work reported in this thesis has focused on studying the porphyrin and DNA molecules as well as investigating the consequences of engineered 2D graphene interconnect. The latter class of systems has included graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), graphene sheets with grain boundaries (GGBs) and graphene nanomeshes (GNMs).
The methodology was to use self-consistent extended Huckel theory (SC-EHT) and density functional theory (DFT) in combination with non-equilibrium Green functions (NEGFs) formalism to investigate the electronic and transport properties of these systems. The SC-EHT calculations were performed using an in-house developed C++ code named EHTransport. While the SIESTA package was employed for the DFT.
It was found that the SC-EHT approach produced comparable results with that obtained by DFT. This supports the idea that the semi-empirical methods can be as valid as ab-initio approaches. The findings demonstrated that porphyrin, DNA, and graphene
based systems are very promising candidates to incorporate in future electronics.


Nutritional components in the muscle of Oxyeleotris marmoratus Bleeker were tested and analyzed with routine methods.Samples of 5 wild individuals were collected from Vietnam in September of 2004.The results showed that contents of crude protein,crude fat,moisture and crude ash of fresh muscles were(17.83±0.09) %,(0.25±0.02) %,(78.12±0.11) % and(1.07±0.01)% respectively.18 common amino acids and 8 essential amino acids for human needs were found in the muscle.In dry sample,the total content of amino acids was 74.02±2.68 %,the content of essential amino acids was(29.34±1.17) %,which accounted for 39.63 %.The essential amino acids index(EAAI) was 61.66.It was apparent that the content of the different amino acids was stable and the constitutional rate of the essential amino acids accorded with the FAO/WHO Standard,In dry sample,the content of four kinds delicious amino acids was(26.12±0.84) %.The contents of EPA and DHA in fatty acids were 2.24 %,4.74 %,which were higher than some other economic fishes.The composition of trace elements in the muscle of O.marmoratus Bleeker was reasonable.It was indicated that O.marmoratus Bleeker is one of freshwater fishes with better nutritive value and raising value,deserving of exploitation and utilization.


Brushed DC motor has simple speed control techniques. In brushed DC motor, commutation is done by the rotating part which is placed on the rotor and brushes known as commutator. The amount of losses in brushed DC motors is high because of the presence of mechanical parts. But the commutation in brushless DC motors (BLDC) is achieved with the aid of solidstate switches (Electronic commutation). As there is reduction in the losses, the motor's performance is improved. Hence, brushed motors are being replaced by BLDC motors as they are used in many applications due to its high mechanical and electrical properties. The advantages of BLDC motors are low maintenance, electronic control and high speed therefore finds application in computer peripherals, portable power tools and vehicles such as model planes to automotive. The regulation of a BLDC motor using a bidirectional DC-DC converter is demonstrated in this research work. The output of the DC-DC converter is supplied into the three-phase voltage source inverter (VSI), that powers the motor. PI and Fuzzy controllers are used to regulate the speed of a BLDC motor. The simulation is performed with help of MATLAB R2019b version software and the results are verified. Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) for controlling BLDC motors with bidirectional converters offers several benefits, including improved accuracy, speed, and reliability of motor control, as well as reduced energy consumption and maintenance costs


Prostate cancer is the most frequent diagnosed cancers among men. When prostate cancer occurs, the cancer does not result in only one or few localized malignant tumor, but is generally spread within the whole prostate. In order to counteract the very high level of heterogeneities exhibited by prostate tissues, we developed a method for high-resolution co-registration of Raman spectroscopy with prostate cancer diagnosis. Raman spectra were acquired on fresh ex vivo prostate within 2 hours after radical prostatectomy using a multi-wavelength hand-held contact probe. After the measurements, the prostate was reintegrated to the usual pathological workflow: formalin fixated and paraffin embedded (FFPE), and prepared for microscope histopathological analyses. The precise reconstruction of the prostate slice with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) tissue allows the spatial correlation of the measured area (0.2 mm2) with the correspondent histopathological information, for point-by-point diagnosis determination. The tissue was classified into groups (normal/cancer) and subgroups according to the percentage of benign glands, stroma or cancer. Different machine learning algorithms were tested to classify the spectra with increasing levels of categorization. Preliminary results showed that Raman spectroscopy is capable of detecting prostate cancer with an accuracy >90%. In addition, high percentages of stroma (vs. glands) have been correlated with spectral signature of collagen, which is the main constituent of extracellular matrix.


This paper addresses the routing problem in degree-constrained free-space optical (FSO) mesh networks. FSO mesh networks are emerging as broadband communication networks because of their high bandwidth (up to Gbps), low cost, and easy installation. Physical layer topology design of degree-constrained FSO mesh networks has been studied in a recent communication [1]. In this paper, we propose four different routing algorithms, and evaluate their performances through simulations for a number of FSO mesh networks with different topologies and nodal degrees. The performance parameter against which we evaluate these algorithms is the mean end-to-end delay. Our proposed least cost path (LCP) routing algorithm, which is based on minimizing the end-to-end delay, is considered as the bench mark. The performance of each of other three proposed algorithms is evaluated against the bench mark. Our proposed minimum hop count with load-balancing (MHLB) routing algorithm is based on the number of hops between the source and the destination node to route the traffic. Simulations show that the MHLB routing algorithm performs best in most cases compared with the other two. It results in minimum average delay and least blocked traffic.


pirituality is recognized globally as an important aspect to respond to many questions associated with health and happiness. The World Health Organization is also interested in pursuing the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of health (1). There are several challenges regarding the definition of spiritual health and the advancement of research in this regard (2). In addition, due to the controversies, it is difficult to achieve a common definition of spirituality (3, 4). However, it seems that the current definitions (5) on the concepts and indicators of spiritual health do not provide comprehensive coverage of all factors in societies; therefore, the results obtained from spiritual health research in one society are not generalizable to different societies. Furthermore, due to the differences in people's attitudes towards religion and spirituality, it is difficult to evaluate these concepts independently or in combination. As we know, the cognition, actions, emotions, and personal effects of individuals are important indicators of spirituality. Here, a new definition of spirituality is proposed which is more comprehensive and can resolve the disagreements to a certain extent. To this end, spiritual health is defined as satisfactions, as well as inner feelings and beliefs accompanied by constructive relationships with self, others, a higher power, or God within the specific cultural framework of each society, which results in the meaningfulness of life and death. Accordingly, this newly defined concept of spiritual health can be utilized in different cultures and societies since the term "culture" is added to this definition and the concept of spiritual health is studied in cultural contexts. Moreover, all aspects of culture and cultural indicators are considered in this proposed concept. Therefore, more valuable results can be achieved by developing tools and standard questionnaires that incorporate cultural indicators into the future of spiritual health research.


Solar photovoltaic (PV) is an integrated set of PV module and its co-components, used primarily in grid-connected electricity to supply sufficient power to the consumers. To operate a PV system in the optimal condition, the study regarding the climatic situation of the site is useful. Considering stochastic nature of climatic parameters like temperature and radiation, employment of suitable methods to predict the energy output of a plant-to-be installed becomes effective. The present paper uses three methods for the PV potential analysis of grid connected crystalline PV system on the campus of NIT Rourkela. The first method implements the use of online tools to estimate the energy yield while the second and third method utilize in-house build model and software for the analysis. Analysis of the climate and input for the above methods uses the data regarding the meteorological parameters, collected from the database of NASA, PVGIS, PVWatts, and SolarGIS. The prediction of annual energy yield is compared with all the methods to check the range of PV energy potential and size of a solar power plant that is realizable within the campus meeting the energy demand.


In this paper, we explore resource discovery and scheduling issues that arise in unstructured peer-to-peer (P2P) desktop grids. We examine the use of a super-peer based approach to address these issues. The super-peers form a resource information tracking and exchange overlay to enable users to rapidly locate resources for remote execution of jobs. Resource availability information is exchanged among the super-peers using a light-weight threshold-driven gossip protocol with the aim of minimizing the resource discovery overhead. We conduct detailed simulation experiments to illustrate the comparative results. Our results indicate that this approach offers a lightweight and scalable method for managing resources in a desktop grid.


Selective Infrared Sintering (SIS) is a new additive manufacturing process, in which the polymer powder particles are fused by IR irradiation. Carbon black is mixed with the polymer in order to enhance IR absorbance. An instrumented IR-sintering machine was designed and constructed in the lab, which allows to vary freely the main process parameters of SIS. This permits to analyze finely their influence on the properties of the sintered parts. The basic principles of SIS are the same as those of rapid prototyping techniques dealing with polymer powders: the object is built layer by layer in the vertical direction by fusing particles over appropriate areas. The difference lies in the irradiation mode. Here, a mask, i.e. the negative image of the section to be sintered, is placed above the build tank surface. The whole area delimited by the mask is then irradiated by a single flash of the infrared source, so that all powder particles in the section are (partially or totally) melted simultaneously.. This research was aimed at determining the effects of variations of process parameters on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of parts produced by SIS. First, the main process variables (preheating temperature, source power, flash duration and layer thickness) were systematically varied, and tensile and impact test samples were sintered with these different sets of variables. Then, microstructures were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The characterisation of the thermal properties was carried out by DSC. Densities, tensile and impact properties were measured. Beyond the analysis of the influence of any single process parameter, the cumulative energy received by a material element in the sintered part has to be taken into account to explain the morphologies, the physico-chemical and mechanical properties.


Phosphoribosylaminoimidazole-succinocarboxamide synthase (SAICAR synthase) plays an essential role in the de novo biosynthesis of purine nucleotides. In this study, the SAICAR synthase from Streptococcus suis was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The subsequent product was purified and crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals diffracted to 2.8 A resolution and belonged to space group P2, with unit-cell parameters a=70.2, b=52.2, c=153.9 A, beta=102.8 degrees.


One of the topics of greatest interest in information technology is information security, it is for this reason that security in VoIP communication systems assumes a fundamental role in the possible mitigation and inhibition of certain vulnerabilities.

In this research work a systematic review of literature on the topic of safety in communication systems based on the VoIP protocol has been carried out, for which we have made use of a base methodology proposed by Barbara Kitchenham, with some modifications proposed by the Department of Informatics of the University Castilla-La Mancha, for systematic reviews in end-of-career assignments in the computer field.

A careful selection of scientific articles on VoIP security has been made, according to established parameters such as year of publication, relevance of the topic, among others; a comparative analysis was then carried out and the most outstanding conclusions were drawn from each of them, in order to obtain a detailed synthesis of the selected articles.

Finally, the results of the analysis have been presented, indicating the most recurrent vulnerabilities existing in VoIP systems, as well as the different types of threats and most frequent attacks.


Penicillin acylase immobilized on triethylaminetetramine intercalacated α ZrP was prepared and characterized by the techniques of X ray powder diffraction and infrared spectrophotometry.Immobilization of the enzyme led to a decrease in crystallinity of the host solid whether there was glutaraldehyde. The activity of the immobilized enzyme was 139 5 nmol/s, and decreased by only 24% after reusing 10 times.


This paper investigated by questionnaires and interviews how local residents at landslide prone areas of Wudu District in southern Gansu understood landslide hazards, including causes of landslide, mitigation measures, injuries, fatalism, and so on. Personal mitigation behavior is investigated as well, and the factors influencing personal mitigation behavior is analyzed by using multivariable regression method. It is found that the respondents considered natural factors as the main causes for the occurrence of landslides; engineering measures and planting trees are preferred to minimize landslide risk; landslides have different harms to houses, farmland, physical and mental health of the respondents; only a small part of them take action to mitigate it; multiple regression analysis showed that personal mitigation behavior is influenced by education, damage to agriculture and fatalism. Finally, policy implications are discussed.


Surveys of 87 sites within nine locations on Scottish agricultural land, during 1995–1997, recorded 335 species of vascular plants and 95 bryophyte species, within 31 recognisable plant communities. Multivariate analysis placed the vegetation into five main vegetation types, with differing plant species richness ( S: number of species per 100 m 2). These were upland grassland (mean S = 37); mesotrophic semi-improved grassland (mean S = 25); mire/heath vegetation (mean S = 22); intensive grassland (mean S = 12); and arable land and weed communities, including set-aside (mean S = 9). Management intensity was a good predictor ( R2 = 0.729) of vegetation type, with low intensity being typical of upland grassland, and high intensity typical of arable vegetation. The data were used to develop and test a set of minimal linear models of plant diversity response to land-use changes, operating at field scale, under the agro-geo-climatic conditions of mainland Scotland. The models utilised predictor variables drawn from a suite of functional vegetation attributes, environmental data, and management information. All-plant-species Swas well predicted at quadrat level (i.e. within field, excluding margins) by three models with highR2 values (0.82–0.93) utilising management variables such as crop-type, livestock density, time since last cultivation; vegetation state variables such as bryophyte cover, sward height, litter cover; and environmental variables such as soil P content. Bryophyte Swas well predicted by four models with high R2 values (0.83–0.92). Bryophyte percentage cover was the most important predictor variable in these models. Vascular plant species Swas less well predicted than either all-plant-species or bryophytes-only models. The models can be used to assess the implications of land-use change scenarios, and to aid management decisions to help to maintain plant diversity within the Scottish agricultural landscape. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.


The defect degree of MoS2 ultrathin nanoplates are tailored easily via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The defect-rich MoS2 ultrathin nanoplates show excellent promotion of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over CdS; 5.4 times as much as that of the CdS/Pt (1%), which arises from the dual-functional effect of the unique defect-decorated MoS2 ultrathin nanoplates.


Academic papers with high quality are the lifeline of a medical journal,and soliciting contributions is an important sector of editing work.So,editors' efforts of calling on the authors to write papers on given topics in accordance with the characteristics of the journal,increasing the amount of manuscripts,improving the quality of papers and extending the journal's academic influence are key points of how to make a good medical journal.


Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and most prevents disease, affecting millions of people worldwide and causes a great burden to the society. Besides hyperphosphorylated tau and neurofibrillary tangles, various other mechanisms like oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, Aβ production, neurofibrillary tangle accumulation, calcium mishandling, and hormonal imbalance also play a role in causing the neuronal loss and the disease process. Various studies have shown a beneficial role of ginkgo biloba in Alzheimer's disease, although some have refuted its role in AD. In the absence of effective therapy in dementia particularly in AD, Ginkgo biloba seems to have a therapeutic value in dementia and it needs further clinical trial to recommend it as an effective drug in AD. In this review various studies pertaining to the role of ginkgo biloba on memory and various mechanism of action of ginkgo biloba in improving memory function have been discussed.


During an earthquake, many construction damage for columns, not for the beam. This does not meet the standard design.This paper, we will study the phenomenon such as any and construction joint. There nine specimens, divided into three groups. Every group has three specimens, the first no construction seam, the second simple processing In construction joints, the third has good processing construction three groups will be loaded axial compression coupling than 0.23, 0.34, 0.46. This paper will study the differece of different processing construction joint limit bearing capacity, energy consumption and stiffness degradation.


ABSTRACT Survival analysis is a method of analysis used to study event occurrence. Missing periods in discrete-time survival analyses are problematic, since whether an event occurs determines whether the subject is followed up upon. Seven strategies that can be used when missingness occurs (case deletion, deletion upon missing, single imputation, multiple imputation, remembrance, the Non-Event-Strategy and the Event-Strategy) are evaluated using four criteria: effect size bias, standard error bias, power and coverage rate of confidence intervals. Single imputation, multiple imputation and the Non-Event Strategy show good results. Single imputation performs slightly better, yet the Non-Event Strategy is easier to implement. Keywords Simulation study, discrete-time survival analysis, event occurrence, missing data, single imputation, multiple Imputation


Functional overlap between homologous genes in plants is considered a substantial limitation for identifying gene functions. A large online searchable collection of gene families targeting artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) and 10 functionally pooled amiRNA libraries for large and targeted small scale screens are resources developed here as tools to explore novel overlapping gene functions. Traditional forward genetic screens are limited in the identification of homologous genes with overlapping functions. Here, we report the analyses and assembly of genome-wide protein family definitions that comprise the largest estimate for the potentially redundant gene space in Arabidopsis thaliana. On this basis, a computational design of genome-wide family-specific artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) was performed using high-performance computing resources. The amiRNA designs are searchable online (http://phantomdb.ucsd.edu). A computationally derived library of 22,000 amiRNAs was synthesized in 10 sublibraries of 1505 to 4082 amiRNAs, each targeting defined functional protein classes. For example, 2964 amiRNAs target annotated DNA and RNA binding protein families and 1777 target transporter proteins, and another sublibrary targets proteins of unknown function. To evaluate the potential of an amiRNA-based screen, we tested 122 amiRNAs targeting transcription factor, protein kinase, and protein phosphatase families. Several amiRNA lines showed morphological phenotypes, either comparable to known phenotypes of single and double/triple mutants or caused by overexpression of microRNAs. Moreover, novel morphological and abscisic acid–insensitive seed germination mutants were identified for amiRNAs targeting zinc finger homeodomain transcription factors and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases, respectively. These resources provide an approach for genome-wide genetic screens of the functionally redundant gene space in Arabidopsis.


The year 2001 was named the Year of Dialogue Among Civilisations by the United Nations. That came in the wake of the former Iranian President, Mohammad Khatami, calling for a rapprochement between the Islamic and Western Cultures. This essay will attempt to outline the context and analyze the contents of the Iranian President's approach to the precept of civilizational dialogue. In so doing it will aim to assess the philosophical arguments advanced by him and will briefly refer to the political factors at the time, both domestically and internationally. In conclusion, it will be stated that notwithstanding the allure and the timeliness of the call, the absence of substantive dialogue may have been the prime factor responsible for the gradual fading away of the dialogue of civilizations.


This article delves into the foreign policy maneuvers of Casimir and his successor
Boleslaw II, prominent rulers of Poland, as they influenced the formation of Knyaz power
within the realm of Kyivan Rus'. Anchored in a meticulous analysis of contemporary chronicle sources, this study underscores the intricate interplay of political strategies enacted by these Polish monarchs vis-à-vis their relations with Kyivan Rus'.
Of particular interest is the intricate web of Polish-Rus' interactions, elucidating the motivations behind the intensification of dynastic unions between the Piast and Rurik ruling families. The research sheds light on several pivotal questions that underpin the nuanced interplay between the Piasts and the Ruriks: To what extent did the tenure of Iziaslav Volodymyrovych as Knyaz of Kyiv rely upon the support and machinations of Boleslaw II, and how instrumental was Poland in shaping the landscape of potential contenders for the Kyivan throne? Furthermore, what catalyzed Boleslaw II's abstention from aiding Iziaslav Sviatoslavich in his adversarial struggle against his sibling, Sviatoslav Yaroslavich? The study also probes into the origins of discord between Rus' and Poland during their joint military campaign against the Czechs, while simultaneously analyzing Poland's role in mediating the reconciliation between Iziaslav and Vsevolod. A pertinent investigation delves into the interplay of Rome's geopolitical strategies and its contribution to bolstering papal influence within Kyivan Rus'. Meticulously examining chronicle sources, this article evaluates the efficacy of Casimir and Boleslaw II's foreign policy initiatives directed at Kyivan Rus'. Central to this investigation is the assessment of the role that dynastic alliances between the rulers of Rus' and Poland played in shaping these policies. The outcomes of this rigorous analysis converge upon the conclusion that Casimir engineered a comprehensive policy framework aimed at fostering amicable and collaborative relations with the Ruriks. This objective was substantiated by the reinforcement of kinship ties between the ruling families, underscored by matrimonial bonds. Notably, both Casimir and his heir, Boleslaw II, entered into marriages with members of the Rurik lineage, thereby forging familial bonds that transcended mere blood relations. The significance of these alliances is further exemplified by the marriage of Iziaslav Yaroslavich, Knyaz of Kyiv, to Casimir's sister, a union that granted Iziaslav a lifeline to reclaim his Kyivan throne after his expulsion.
Furthermore, the article examines Boleslaw II's cautious restraint during the internal power struggle between his maternal uncle, Iziaslav, and his father-in-law, Sviatoslav, deliberately refraining from intervening. The outcome of Boleslaw II's neutrality led Iziaslav to seek assistance from the German Kaiser, an endeavor that proved fruitless, compelling Iziaslav to subsequently turn to the Pope for support. A comprehensive scrutiny of the mishaps within Boleslaw II's joint military campaign with Oleg Sviatoslavich and Volodymyr Vsevolodovych highlights the root cause as a deficiency in strategic coordination, which failed to encompass the entire spectrum of potential military scenarios. Moreover, the role of Boleslaw II as a peacemaker, instrumental in the reconciliation between Iziaslav and his brother Vsevolod following Sviatoslav's demise, is underscored. Taking a panoramic view of Poland's overtures towards Kyivan Rus', a consistent and purposeful policy trajectory emerges, initiated by Casimir and subsequently upheld by Boleslaw II. This policy pursued amicable relations, buttressed by dynastic concord, aiming to preclude the formation of an alliance between Germany and Rus' and to mitigate the joint adversarial stance of the latter against Poland. To this end, Poland stood ready to extend military assistance to the Grand Knyaz of Kyiv, thereby bolstering his standing. In summation, despite certain instances of deviation, the pursued policy demonstrated a commendable degree of success.


In the previous report, a method of three-dimensional numerical calculation for obtaining the performance of a finned-tube- type latent heat storage unit was proposed, and the validity of the calculations was cheked by comparing the calculated values with experimental ones. In the present report, calculations have been carried out to examine the effects of various parameters in the governing equations on the heat transfer of the solidification process, and the range of these parameter in which the fin effects are large has been shown.


In online auction marketplaces, item misrepresentation is one of the most common forms of seller deception. The impact of coarse-grained incentive manipulations on deceptive seller behavior in online markets had not been studied. We demonstrate experimental control over seller honesty, quantify this behavior relative to ground truth, and link it to personality. We recruited 62 experienced online auction sellers to handle seven jewelry items (some flawed) and generate auction advertisements. Independent variables included demographics, personality, and an incentive manipulation: maximize returns, avoid negative reputation, or a Control condition. Dependent variables involved the inclusion or exclusion of honest information. Reputation incentives led to significantly more reported flaws (30%) than other conditions (17%), all 'hiding' flaws in the middle of descriptions. More experience in selling items significantly predicted honesty, while extraversion and neuroticism predicted dishonesty. Design features can reduce seller deception and enhance buyer detection of deception: reputation systems should be highly salient to sellers, while buyers should consider images over text, and descriptions could be shuffled to expose honest information.


Abstract Ecological Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) applied in the assessment of the impact of products on the environment is a technique that allows for the evaluation of the environmental impact of polymeric flocculants used in industrial wastewater treatment. The possibility of conducting a full life cycle and thus manufacturing process analysis allows for reliable and accurate identification of the sources of environmental hazards and the impact of new products on the environment. Newly synthesized waste-based polymers are water soluble and possess the properties of flocculants, while reducing the parameters in industrial wastewater. In the paper, there are presented the results of the analysis conducted using LCA technique for the assessment of the impact of modified waste phenol formaldehyde resin (Novolak) on the environment. LCA technique was used to assess the impact of the new flocculant applied in the process of metallurgical wastewater treatment taking into account the environmental impact of the flocculant manufacturing process.


Recently, the ratio of renewable energy in the grid has increased globally due to climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. In Korea, renewable energy will account for 30~45% of the nation's power generation by 2040. [1] However, renewable energy has unpredictable intermittency in power generation. This issue can be alleviated by load-following operation of a nuclear power plant (NPP). However, it is not economical to control power output of the reactor in an NPP and can have a problem in nuclear fuel integrity. Energy Storage System (ESS) attached to the power cycle can solve this issue. Various ESS types (e.g., Thermal Energy Storage (TES), Li battery) can be considered and they are shown in Figure 1.


Rapid advances in portable communication and computing systems are creating an increasing demand for nonvolatile random access memory that is both high-density and highspeed. Existing solid-state technologies are unable to provide all of the needed attributes in a single memory solution. Therefore, a number of different memories are currently being used to achieve the multiple functionality requirements, often compromising performance and adding cost to the system. A new technology, magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) based on magnetoresistive tunneling, has the potential to replace these memories in various systems with a single, universal solution. The key attributes of MRAM are nonvolatility, high-speed operation. and unlimited read and write endurance. This technology is enabled by the ability to deposit high-quality, nanometer scale tunneling barriers that display enhanced magnetoresistive response. In this article we describe several fundamental technical and scientific aspects of MRAM with emphasis on recent accomplishments that enabled our successful demonstration of a 256-Kb memory chip.


Regarding the Brazilian textile industry, part of the northeast region stands out as the second-largest textile manufacturing hub in the country. Despite its importance, this industrial activity has been bringing relevant environmental concerns regarding the disposal of textile effluents, especially from industrial laundries. This waste contains many chemicals and among them are various types of heavy metals. To assess environmental risks associated with heavy metals, pollutant transfer needs to be investigated. This study evaluated the retention and mobility of heavy metals Cd and Cu in alluvial soil, through soil column tests. The up-flow column percolation tests were performed using a nonreactive tracer (KBr) at a concentration of 0.3 mol L
 -1
 and injecting a metallic solution containing Cu and Cd at 100 and 60 mg L
 -1
 , respectively. The injection flow rate was 0.75 mL min
 -1
 . The hydro-dispersive parameters were obtained by modeling the observed breakthrough curves with the convection-dispersion equation (CDE) and the two-region model, also referred to as the MIM (Mobile-IMmobile waters) model. The transport parameters were obtained from the two-site model (TSS). All elution curves were fitted to the models with the CXTFIT 2.0 program. The Two-Site Sorption Model was the best for the case studied, with R
 2
 of 0.985 and 0.995 for Cu and Cd, respectively. The values of R were considerably higher than the unit, presenting an average of 2.138 for Cu and 1.907 for Cd. This indicates a delay of these contaminants when leaving the column, which is caused by the interaction of these chemical compounds with the soil. The values obtained for parameter D were 3.469 for Cu and 5.205 for Cd. Thus, the metals in this study present a risk of groundwater contamination for the local alluvial aquifers. The main reason for that is the physicochemical features of the soil, such as high sand content (85 %) and low OM content (2.1 %). The results also indicated greater retention and less mobility for Cu than for Cd, pointing to a greater risk for Cd.


ABSTRACT Pickled and dried mustard (PDM; Brassica juncea, Coss) is a traditional fermented vegetable product that is widely consumed as a food ingredient with aromatic flavour in China. Here, we aimed to determine the volatile compounds in PDM by headspace solid-phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). The results showed that a total of 41 volatile compounds were identified and quantified in PDM by optimized HS-SPME-GC-MS. Approximately 15 compounds were considered to be the dominant volatile compounds in PDM with relatively high concentrations. These findings make the volatile composition characteristics in PDM clear for the first time.


ABSTRACT This study tested the learning of a new bimanual coordination in teenagers with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Both groups improved accuracy of the new coordination. No difference was found on stability. But DCD teenagers exhibited an overall higher number of additional taps, suggesting a persistent lack of motor inhibition during learning. Moreover, teenagers with the lowest scores of motor abilities present the highest number of additional taps. All these results suggest that this number of additional taps (rather than traditional measures of accuracy and stability) could be a good marker of perceptual-motor learning deficit in DCD.


In thermodynamics the sign convention normally used is energy added to a system in the form of heat is taken as positive and that added in the form of work is taken as negative – HIP to WIN (heat in positive – work in negative). This is a common sign convention although some texts specify that all forms of energy added to a system as heat or work are positive. However, regardless of the sign convention adopted for heat and work interactions, later in the same text the specified convention is abandoned in favor of magnitudes or absolute values. This occurs particularly in relation to cycle analyses in which the absolute value is used for energy transfers. Generally for reversible cycles there is no proof as to why the ratio of energy added/rejected via heat transfer equals the ratio of the absolute temperatures of the thermal reservoirs. To promote sign convention consistency, this paper develops the appropriate relationship between energy transfers and thermal reservoir temperatures for reversible cycles and applies the result to power producing and power consuming engineering devices.Copyright © 2003 by ASME


The respiratory distress is a very common condition both in term and in preterm neonates and the most frequent reason for admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The aetiology greatly depends on the maturation of neonate's organs and perinatal events. The clinical picture is sometimes scarce and very nonspecific for the etiologic determination. Treatment of neonatal RD begins first with the application of a mixture of oxygen and air, then with different modes of non-invasive respiratory support methods. Non-invasive respiratory support can be sustained with nasal continuous positive airway pressure, bi-level positive airway pressure and high-flow nasal cannula ventilation. Non-invasive ventilation with high-frequency oscillations through nasal cannula or masks is also possible with some respiratory devices. Non-invasive ventilation is usually combined with the application of natural surfactant and other therapeutic means, like methylxanthine therapy, prevention and closure of patent ductus arteriosus, and control of infection. In the case of non-invasive ventilation failure, different kinds of invasive ventilation methods are available and being practiced in NICUs. The invasive respiratory support can be maintained by controlled or intermittent mandatory ventilation combined with different supportive synchronous positive inspiratory ventilation, offered by modern respirators.


When two periodic disturbing forces with frequencies Ω1 and Ω2 respectively excite the nonlinear vibratory system, the combination tones having frequency Ω=Ω1+Ω2 appear. In the present paper, the combination tones are discussed analytically and experimentally. For small value of frequency ratio K=Ω2/Ω1(Ω2≥Ω1, K≥1), the response curves of combination tones are curves of hard spring or soft spring type, and the magnitudes of amplitude increase with the value K and the magnitude of unsymmetrical nonlinearity. When the value K is somewhat large, the peculiar response curves take place, and the amplitude of harmonics becomes larger than that of combination tones. By introducing the conception of apparent external force, the back bone curves and the phase angles can be obtained, and further, the effect of unsymmetrical nonlinearity can be explained clearly. Generally, the amplitude of combination tones is comparable to that of ultraharmonics.


Electrostatically actuated microstructures are inherently nonlinear and can become unstable. Pull-in instability is encountered as a basic instability mechanism. We demonstrate that the parametric excitation of a microstructure by periodic (ac) voltages may have a stabilizing effect and permits an increase of the steady (dc) component of the actuation voltage beyond the pull-in value. An elastic string as well as a cantilever beam are considered in order to illustrate the influence of fast-scale excitation on the slow-scale behavior. The main conclusions about the stability are drawn using the simplest model of a parametrically excited system described by Mathieu and Hill's equations. Theoretical results are verified by numerical analysis of microstructure subject to nonlinear electrostatic forces and performed by using Galerkin decomposition with undamped linear modes as base functions. The parametric stabilization of a cantilever beam is demonstrated experimentally.


Is education business, or is business education? Can either one be the other, or is there any calling, trade, or profession that can be both? There is a deal of confusion just now Education vs. in the public mind upon this point. There are those Business interested in the educative side of business, and those interested in the business side of education, who do say that business and education are one and the same thing. Last year I received a neat circular from a business house of world-wide fame, in which the "Idea" of the firm was tersely set forth in a paragraph as follows: "To do the right A Business thing at the right time, in the right way; to do some things better than they were ever done before; to eliminate errors; to know both sides of a question; to be courteous; to be an example; to work for the love of work; to anticipate requirements; to develop resources; to recognize no impediments; to master circumstances; to act from reason rather than from rule; to be satisfied with nothing short of perfection." I read this paragraph one day to the entire school, carefully explaining the big words, so that the younger pupils could understand them; and then I asked them to make a guess The Children Are Deceived as to what kind of institution it was. They said it must be a very fine school. I then read further: "It is the purpose of the house to develop its organization of employees to be thinking men and women, capable of taking more and more responsibility, and each year becoming a greater credit to themselves and the house. To this end the rules . . . . are made with a view to utilizing as far as possible the individual judgment . . . . on a given piece of business rather than casting all his actions in one mold by making regulations which arbitrarily undertake to govern the minute details of his work. This business is noted for the enthusiasm, harmony, and effectiveness of its


The phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence of vapor-deposited naphthalene films have been studied as functions of time. The decays are analyzed in terms of two distinct domain types: slightly perturbed crystalline domains and highly perturbed domains (domain boundaries). The latter regions exhibit a high degree of energetic disorder and a low-dimensional effective topology. The annihilation kinetics is shown to be fractal-like, with a time-dependent reaction rate coefficient whose power (h) is found to be on the order of 0.5 (rather than the classical value of 0). Kinetic formulations are given for homofusion, heterofusion, and linear combinations thereof. Analytic expressions are derived for the time dependence of both phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence intensities.


This paper describes portions of an ongoing investigation into the relationship between conceptual knowledge and problem-solving ability in physics. To what degree do students apply conceptual knowledge to the solution of traditional examination and end-of-chapter physics problems? Are there instructional strategies that can facilitate this application? Finally, does an increased emphasis on developing conceptual understanding of the material underlying these problems have any impact on subsequent coursework?


A 34-year-old woman was brought in post high speed T-bone collision which resulted in a car rollover and significant intrusion of the vehicle. On presentation, she was alert but haemodynamically unstable. There was clinical suspicion of a right-sided haemothorax due to reduced oxygen saturations and air entry over her right hemithorax. A chest X-ray (CXR) showed a dense opacity in the right hemithorax with collapsed lung in the right middle zone (Fig. 1). An intercostal catheter (ICC) was inserted and computed tomography (CT) scan revealed that the liver was extensively lacerated and was in a high intrathoracic position with the superior part at the level of T4, consistent with a right diaphragmatic rupture (Fig. 2). The ICC appeared to be in close proximity to the hepatothorax, raising the question of further iatrogenic injury to the liver; however, the tip was directed towards the apex and did not penetrate the liver. The patient underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperative findings confirmed that the liver was in the right hemithorax through a large diaphragmatic defect with coronary ligaments avulsed off the diaphragm. The posterior liver surface was lacerated in multiple areas with bleeding from the parenchyma and bare area of the liver. The liver was reduced back into the abdomen and the large diaphragmatic defect was repaired with 0-Prolene sutures (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA). Her bleeding injuries were repaired and haemostasis was achieved. The abdomen was packed and the patient transferred to the intensive care unit. She returned for a re-look laparotomy the following day and the packs were removed. A repeat CT scan 6 days postoperative showed successful reduction of the hepatothorax with healing liver lacerations (Fig. 3). She was discharged home 2 weeks later. Acute diaphragmatic ruptures are rare and its reported incidence after blunt trauma ranges from 0.8 to 7%. The true incidence however, is unknown as they are underdiagnosed in approximately 7–66% of trauma victims. This delayed diagnosis leads to an increase in morbidity and can manifest later as obstruction, strangulation and rupture of abdominal viscera. Thus, prompt diagnosis and treatment is necessary. Right-sided ruptures were reported to be far less common than left-sided ruptures with an incidence of around 22.5–32%. This discrepancy in incidence is thought to be attributed to the cushioning effect of the liver, increased strength of the right hemidiaphragm, under diagnosis of right-sided ruptures and congenital weakness of the left hemidiaphragm. The extent of organ herniation varies depending on the size of the rupture. This can range from a small portion of the liver to the entire liver in addition to other abdominal viscera. Small herniations are typically asymptomatic and diagnosis can be delayed. These asymptomatic herniations are often found 10 years (average) post trauma. Large liver herniations require early diagnosis and prompt intervention as congestion due to venous outflow obstruction may cause difficulty in reduction if surgery is delayed. Signs and symptoms of hepatothorax may vary depending on severity. Patients may present with dyspnoea, upper abdominal pain, cyanosis, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory distress and hypotension. Intrathoracic bowel sounds and unilateral reduction in breath sounds may also be found on examination. Preoperative diagnosis is best made by helical CT. CT findings in an acute diaphragmatic rupture include hemidiaphragmatic discontinuity, intrathoracic herniation, collar sign and the dependent viscera sign. Other modes of imaging may include upper gastrointestinal studies, plain CXR, ultrasonography and gastroscopy although not as sensitive when compared with CT. The management of a hepatothorax secondary to diaphragmatic rupture is highly individualized. A laparotomy is recommended for herniation at the time of injury as it allows identification of potential associated intra-abdominal injuries. In contrast, a thoracotomy is utilized in isolated diaphragmatic ruptures and delayed cases as this allows safe separation of organ adhesions off the thoracic wall. Repair of the diaphragm with non-absorbable simple sutures is adequate in most cases and the use of mesh should be reserved for chronic and large defects. In conclusion, acute hepatothorax secondary to diaphragmatic rupture is a rare condition. Nonetheless, general and trauma surgeons should always be aware of the possibility as early diagnosis and treatment is essential to reduce long-term morbidity.Awareness of the Fig. 1. Chest X-ray showing a dense opacity in the right hemithorax with some collapsed lung in the right middle zone (arrow). IMAGES FOR SURGEONS


Positive stabilization of a positive nonlinear system means feedback stabilization that preserves positivity of the system. It is shown that a positive nonlinear system on a time scale with bounded graininess function is positively stabilizable if its linearization is positively stabilizable with a feedback that preserves positivity of the nonlinear system. It is also proved that linearization preserves positivity of control systems. Positive stabilization of a linear positive system is a much easier task than positive stabilization of a nonlinear system, so the result presented in the paper may be used to positively stabilize nonlinear systems.