In Contos do Gin-Tonic and Novos Contos do Gin (1973), the narrative tension shapes the structure and the reading act of the short short story, which are in fact mutually dependent. It is precisely in the short story's cohesive miniature that Mario-Henrique Leiria finds the most powerful and sarcastic means of subverting power.

Key-words: short short story; narrative tension; nonsense; black humour.


Direct observation of adsorbed species relating to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on cathode catalyst surfaces is very important for an elucidation of the ORR and finding a clue of higher-performance catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. We first identified quantitatively oxygen-containing species adsorbed on electrodes of pure Pt and a Pt skin layer formed on a Pt−Fe alloy surface in N2- and O2-saturated 0.1 M HF solution by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with an electrochemical cell (EC−XPS). Three types of species were distinguished with binding energies at 529.6, 530.5, 531.1, and 532.4 eV, the first two of which were assigned to atomic oxygen (Oad), hydroxyl (OHad), and the others were water molecules (H2Oad), respectively. We found distinctive potential dependences of their coverage in the solution with/without O2 between both catalysts. The Pt skin layer exhibited a higher affinity to Oad but less to H2O compared to pure Pt, particularly in the O2-saturated solution. The hig...


Abstract Editor's Note: The following article has been developed from a presentation made by Dr. Alfonso Holliday and his wife, Iris, before the Academy of Neurological Communications and Sciences meeting on November 12, 2003.


The estimation of propulsive performance and propeller-induced vibratory force of a ship are extremely important in stern form design. For this purpose, it is necessary to estimate the viscous resistance, thrust deduction fraction, wake pattern at propeller position and effective wake fraction, all of which are strongly influenced by the stern form. It is also indispensable for the improvement and development of hull form to understand how to change the flow field around the stern and pressure distribution on the hull with the modification of the stern form. This Paper describes the design method of a stern form that makes it possible to estimate reasonably and accurately ship performance utilising theoretical calculations and experimental data and explains the features of Bulbous Open Stern.


Because of the geographic location of Costa Rica, the Country is subjected to one of the highest levels of precipitation in the world. As such, it is to be expected that moisture damage is the most common type of pavement failure in the Country. However, despite the previous fact, little research has been performed in quantifying the affinity of the asphalt binder and aggregates that are used. Consequently, the present study consists of an effort to characterize the strength in the bond between the asphalt binder that is used locally (PG64-22) and several types of aggregates from different parts of the Country (1 limestone and 4 distinct river gravels from several locations). Additionally, the neat asphalt binder was also modified with a commercial SBR, a modifier commonly used in Costa Rica since it is supposed to promote adhesion. To evaluate the strength of the bond between the asphalt binder and the various aggregate combinations, the Bitumen Bond Strength (BBS) test was used. The results were checked by means of a goniometer that measures the contact angle between the asphalt binder and the aggregate surface, which corresponds to a measure of wettability. Finally, a subset of the analyzed asphalt binder and aggregate combinations were used to prepare an hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixture and evaluate it under the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device (HWTD). The BBS results showed differences in behavior due to the effect of moisture on bond strength when changing the aggregate source. Additionally, depending on the aggregate type, different types of failure were observed: cohesive vs. adhesive. A decrease was identified in the bond strength when the SBR was used. However, when using the modifier, the effect of moisture on bond strength was reduced. The BBS results were consistent with the contact angle measurements and with the HWTD results, showing that the test can eventually be implemented as a screening tool.


Although there is extensive literature present on transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), there is limited data on TAVR patients with a concomitant aortic aneurysm.

 In this study, we investigate the short-term, in-hospital outcomes of patients undergoing TAVR with and without an aortic aneurysm.

 This was a retrospective cohort study comparing adult patients undergoing TAVR with and without an aortic aneurysm from 2016 to 2018. We queried the National Inpatient Sample database to identify patients admitted for a principal procedure of TAVR, principal diagnosis of aortic stenosis and secondary diagnosis of aortic aneurysm. We analyzed the categorical and continuous variables by Pearson's chi-squared and Student t-test respectively. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for age, gender and comorbidities, was used to compare mortality. The comorbidities adjusted for included coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

 109,170 patients met our inclusion criteria. Patients undergoing TAVR with an aortic aneurysm had 1.97 times higher odds of suffering in-hospital mortality compared to TAVR patients without an aortic aneurysm (aOR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.05–3.73; p=0.036). When separated by race, patients with an aortic aneurysm had higher mortality rates amongst White (3.4% vs 1.7%, p<0.001) and Hispanic (5.2% vs 2.6%, p=0.11, Figure 1) patients. TAVR patients with an aortic aneurysm were predominantly male and had higher average Charlson Comorbidity Index scores (Table 1). Furthermore, these patients also had higher rates of comorbidities such as coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and prior myocardial infarction, but decreased rates of chronic kidney disease, hypertension, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (Table 1). In terms of operative complications, TAVR patients with an aortic aneurysm were more likely to have intraoperative cardiac arrest (1.1% vs 0.4%, p<0.001, Table 1). There was no significant difference between our two cohorts in postoperative cardiac arrest and postoperative cerebral infarction.

 Patients undergoing TAVR with an aortic aneurysm had higher odds of suffering in-hospital mortality compared to patients undergoing TAVR without an aortic aneurysm. These patients are also at an increased risk of intraoperative cardiac arrest. Surgical intervention with a concomitant aortic aneurysm poses its own unique set of clinical challenges. Our findings emphasize the importance of risk-benefit analysis and collaborative discussion amongst the medical team prior to choosing the appropriate treatment modality. Additional studies should explore if certain races are at increased risk of operative complications and mortality.

 Type of funding sources: None.


n-symplectic geometry, a generalization of symplectic geometry on the cotangent bundle T ∗M of a manifold M , is formulated on the bundle of linear frames LM using the Rn-valued soldering 1-form as the generalized n-symplectic potential. In this paper we use n-symplectic geometry on LRn to formulate a quantization scheme for a single particle moving in Rn. By retaining the essence of the standard axioms for quantization on T ∗Rn, but adapting them to LRn, we show it is possible to construct a full polynomial quantization that is consistent with the Schrödinger representation on a 2n-dimensional subbundle of LRn. Mathematics Subject Classications. Primary: 81S99; secondary: 53D99:


In the construction of the Suheli River Bridge on Pallia-Dhudhwa Chandan Chauki Road in Uttar Pradesh State, India, the 3-span 80 M long section has been completed in 6 1/2 months by applying cpm techniques instead of normal completion period of 2 years. It also describes the salient features and problems encountered. Cpm chart, square network and daily programme and progress for substructure and superstructure are also appended. Better planning and management resulted in economy as well as optimum utilization of labour. (TRRL)


This work deals with comparison of Plato's parable of the cave and abscissa. The first part is devoted to the issue of dialogue, familiar with the The Republic and the context in which the dialogue occurs in both parables. Other sections are devoted to the analysis of the parable of the cave and abscissa. At the end of the work I compare the two parables. There are in addition to the original text of Plato analyzed and assessed secondary reasoned articles relating to those passage of Plato.


Background: Monalysin is a β-barrel pore-forming toxin secreted by Pseudomonas entomophila. Results: Monalysin structure belongs to the Aerolysin fold family but is devoid of receptor-binding domain; pro-Monalysin forms a stable 18-mer complex. Conclusion: The delivery of 18 subunits may bypass the requirement of receptor-dependent concentration. Significance: The functional mechanism of Monalysin differs from that of described Aerolysin family members. β-Barrel pore-forming toxins (β-PFT), a large family of bacterial toxins, are generally secreted as water-soluble monomers and can form oligomeric pores in membranes following proteolytic cleavage and interaction with cell surface receptors. Monalysin has been recently identified as a β-PFT that contributes to the virulence of Pseudomonas entomophila against Drosophila. It is secreted as a pro-protein that becomes active upon cleavage. Here we report the crystal and cryo-electron microscopy structure of the pro-form of Monalysin as well as the crystal structures of the cleaved form and of an inactive mutant lacking the membrane-spanning region. The overall structure of Monalysin displays an elongated shape, which resembles those of β-pore-forming toxins, such as Aerolysin, but is devoid of a receptor-binding domain. X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and light-scattering studies show that pro-Monalysin forms a stable doughnut-like 18-mer complex composed of two disk-shaped nonamers held together by N-terminal swapping of the pro-peptides. This observation is in contrast with the monomeric pro-form of the other β-PFTs that are receptor-dependent for membrane interaction. The membrane-spanning region of pro-Monalysin is fully buried in the center of the doughnut, suggesting that upon cleavage of pro-peptides, the two disk-shaped nonamers can, and have to, dissociate to leave the transmembrane segments free to deploy and lead to pore formation. In contrast with other toxins, the delivery of 18 subunits at once, nearby the cell surface, may be used to bypass the requirement of receptor-dependent concentration to reach the threshold for oligomerization into the pore-forming complex.


4595 Background: For stage I-II testicular seminoma, RT is highly effective at eradicating disease in the abdominopelvic lymph nodes, but results in unnecessary exposure to normal tissues including the GI tract. The purpose of this study was to define the incidence and risk factors for late GI complications in this patient population. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 251 patients with stage I-II testicular seminoma treated with curative intent RT at our institution from 1974-2009. All patients underwent orchiectomy and postoperative external beam RT to the involved and/or at-risk nodal basins. Potential late GI complications that were assessed included endoscopically-confirmed gastric or duodenal ulceration, small bowel obstruction (SBO), and biopsy-confirmed malignancy of the GI tract. Risks were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) technique and univariate/multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 36 years (range ...


This introductory essay charts the analytic potential of a concept of commensuration that goes beyond issues of metrics per se, but without diffusing itself into a general metaphor for cultural difference. Commensuration, we argue, is not just a basic psychosocial process, but has also emerged, in the context of "globalization" with its multifarious and wide-ranging flows, as an ideological value in its own right. Explicit negotiations of commensuration, then, have become increasingly fraught, increasingly pivotal practices as group boundaries of all sorts—separating ethnic groups, socioeconomic classes, nations, or "civilizations"—are relentlessly re-erected and re-arranged on the miniscule ethnographic scale of everyday engagements with semiotic forms marked as coming from beyond those boundaries. After laying out the nuts and bolts of our approach, we explore commensuration (and introduce the subsequent collection of essays) via three topical foci: commensuration's role in securing movement as a semiotic effect; how sovereign power authorizes commensuration and thus comes to be at stake in it; and, finally, the destabilizing and yet productive ways in which failure haunts commensurative projects.


The determination of bromate was discussed in flour products by amino acid analyzer.Bromate was separated by ion-exchange colum,The color reaction was ouccured in the bromate and dianisidine dihydrochloride,and measured the content of bromate by UV detector.The detection range of the method is 1~10μg/mL,the detection limits is 0.1μg/mL,the recovery is 96.2%.


Pulsed laser desorption is used as a means of volatilizing nonvolatile and thermally labile molecules for entrainment into a supersonic jet expansion. The jet expansion provides ultracold molecules whose sharp spectral features are probed by resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Such jet-cooled spectra are demonstrated for tyrosine and related structural analogs. Despite the similarity between these tyrosine-based compounds, electronic spectroscopy is shown to be a sensitive probe of small structural changes in these related biological compounds.


We present a general relativistic approach to quantum mechanics of a spinless charged particle, subject to external classical gravitational and electromagnetic fields in a curved space-time with absolute time. The scheme is also extended in order to treat the n-body quantum mechanics. First, we study the Galilei general relativistic space-time, as classical background; then, we develop the quantum theory. The formulation is fully based on geometrical ideas and methods and is explicitly covariant. In the special relativistic case, our theory agrees with the standard one referred to a given frame of reference. Our approach takes into account several classical ideas and results of Galilei general relativity and geometric quantisation (see E. Cartan, C. Duval, K. Kucha®, H. P. Kunzle, E. Prugovecki, A. Trautman, N. Woodhouse and several others). However, we present original ideas and results as well.


Sediment quality criteria (SQC) can be used for sediment quality assessment by comparing environmental concentrations of the target substances with the corresponding quality criteria. The derivation of SQC is largely based on the EU Technical Guidance for Deriving Environmental Quality Standards (TGD), published by the European Commission in 2018 (EC 2018) [1]. The derivation process includes the following steps (Figure 1):


Abstract Radiosonde data are a valuable resource in the detection of climate change in the upper atmosphere. Long time series of stratospheric temperature data, carefully screened and corrected to remove errors, are available for this purpose. Normal reporting practice usually ascribes a fixed time and position (the station location) to all data reported in the ascent. In reality, the ascent may take around 90 min to complete and the spatial drift of the radiosonde may exceed 200 km. This note examines the magnitude of the errors associated with this practice using simulated radiosonde data generated from the ECMWF reanalysis archive. The results suggest that the temperature errors, while generally small in the troposphere, are locally significant in the stratosphere, particularly in the jet stream areas. However, the impact of the drift errors on global climate statistics is very small. Errors in the wind and humidity data are also examined.


An analytical study of the generation of even and odd harmonics by the propagation of two color circularly polarized laser beams through homogeneous, underdense plasma has been presented. The two laser beams are considered to be either co-rotating (co-polarized) or counter-rotating (counter-polarized). Considering the mildly relativistic regime of laser plasma interaction, a perturbative technique is used to evaluate the amplitude of various harmonic frequencies. It is shown that the even and odd harmonics of the fundamental laser frequency arise due to counter- as well as co-polarized laser fields. The generated harmonics are seen to be circularly polarized.An analytical study of the generation of even and odd harmonics by the propagation of two color circularly polarized laser beams through homogeneous, underdense plasma has been presented. The two laser beams are considered to be either co-rotating (co-polarized) or counter-rotating (counter-polarized). Considering the mildly relativistic regime of laser plasma interaction, a perturbative technique is used to evaluate the amplitude of various harmonic frequencies. It is shown that the even and odd harmonics of the fundamental laser frequency arise due to counter- as well as co-polarized laser fields. The generated harmonics are seen to be circularly polarized.


The role of advanced front-ends including spatial diversity, has been considered as an independent part of peak-distortion equalizers, Wiener and Viterbi equalizers. This involves that the optimum processing to remove point or distributed sources, together with inner and outer intersymbol interference is analyzed independently at the beamformer and at the equalizer stages. Recently, based on extensions of the works performed with forward equalizers and optimal combining in communications systems with spatial diversity, several solutions to the joint design of sequence detectors and spatial combiners have been reported. All these solutions have in common the principle that the optimum design holds the constraint of matching the spatial response of the combiner to the DIR (Desired Impulse Response) of the sequence detector. This work enhances the matched DIR concept with the Generalized Sidelobe Canceller architecture; proving that, for stationary Intersymbol Interference (ISI) for the desired user, the GLSC represents a suitable spatial processing. The GSLC allows continuous updating of the combiner either in order to reject late arrivals and co-channel interferers, without requiring the presence of training sequence or to maximize the effective SNR.


Sludge volume index(SVI),a key sludge sedimentation performance evaluation index,is difficult to be obtained accurately online and the conventional approaches are time-consuming,tedious and complicated.A new recurrent fuzzy neural network(HRFNN)method is proposed in this paper to predict the evolution of the sludge volume index(SVI).HRFNN is constructed by adding feedback connections with the internal variable in the third layer of the fuzzy neural network,so it achieves output information feedback.Finally,the results of simulation indicate the efficiency of the modeling method.And compared with other fuzzy neural networks,the scale of network can be simplified and its capability of dealing with dynamic information can be strengthened,it also has better accuracy.


Patients with retinoblastoma (RB) are primarily treated by the ophthalmologist. Usually the pediatric oncologist only gets involved once chemotherapy is indicated. This article reviews the indications for chemotherapy, its current role including the recent changes, and remaining challenges. A wide variety of treatment modalities is available for RB: surgical enucleation of the eye [1,2], external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) [3–5], plaque radiotherapy [6,7], intraocular therapy. laser-, cryoor thermocoagulation performed by the ophthalmologist [8,9] and many different chemotherapy regimens [10–22]. The individual treatment strategy depends on many different parameters: tumor volume and localization, intraocular tumor extension (including Reese–Ellsworth (RE) classification, see Table I), extraocular stage of the disease (Grabowski– Abramson (GA) staging, see Table I), involvement of one or both eyes, heredity of the disease, and the age of the patient [23,24]. In reaching a decision on a specific treatment strategy all advantages and disadvantages must be taken into account. The major aim in RB treatment is to cure the patient with preservation of vision. The second aim in treatment is to reduce the diverse late complications of treatment like facial malformations [25,26] and even more important a reduction of second malignant neoplasms (SMN), which often emerge in the radiation field [27–35]. Chemotherapy is one of the possible treatment modalities to achieve these goals. Different strategies have been explored in combination with different local therapeutic interventions aiming at the most effective and least harmful treatment. This manuscript provides a literature review of clinical studies on chemotherapeutic treatment options in RB.


Abstract : An analysis of the human factors design and related considerations of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) was conducted in conjunction with the MLRS Operational Test III. Eighty probable or confirmed human factors, training and organizational deficiencies are identified. Twenty-three of these are considered serious enough to result in significant reductions in operational effectiveness if left uncorrected. The methods used to obtain the human factors data are described, and summarized data and analyses are presented. Results of the evaluation are discussed and their implications are considered. This report provides the Army with data that identify needed design changes in succeeding production models of the MLRS Self Propelled Launcher Loader and Ammunition Resupply Vehicle. The data also provide a basis for the development of design criteria for future similar systems.


Abstract Purpose: Many farmers remain hesitant to implement structured management plans and strategies tailored to address soil health, irrespective of mounting scientific evidence for the credibility of certain soil health indicators, an increase in the reporting of program benefits and progress in communicating these benefits. Hence, the purpose of this research is to better understand the impediments associated with the adoption of such programs. Design: Non-parametric analysis of a mail-based survey supported with content analysis of landholder comments was used. Findings: This research highlights that impediments to the adoption of soil health programs are affected by region and that this is likely influenced by the availability, enthusiasm and motivation of surrounding environmental service providers. While the initial investment in soil health management is perceived as an impediment, landholders indicate that production longevity and long-term financial gain are achievable. Education is not viewed as an impediment by landholders, but cannot be ruled out as an impediment due to the increasing complexities of farming and the displayed knowledge of landholders. Practical implications: Impediments and incentives to the adoption of soil health management plans have been identified. This provides for strategic planning in promotion and adoption of such plans, as well as identifying priority issues of concern. Originality/Value: In investigating the impediments and incentives associated with adoption of soil health management plans, strategies for adoption can be formulated and pressing areas of concern are identified.


We propose numerically an approach to narrow the plasmon linewidth and enhance the magnetic near field intensity at a magnetic hot spot in a hybridized metal–insulator–metal (MIM) structure. First, we insert in part of the dielectric layer of the MIM, at its center, another dielectric material of a high refractive index (HRI). This results in an increase in the magnetic near field enhancement of the magnetic plasmon (MP) resonance by 82% compared with the MIM without the HRI material. We then couple this enhanced MP resonance to a propagating surface plasmon polariton (SPP) to achieve a further enhancement of 438%. The strong coupling between the MP and the SPP is demonstrated by the large anti-crossing in the reflection spectra. The resulting maximum magnetic field enhancement at the gap is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sim \left |{ {H / {H_{i} }} }\right |^{2}=3555$ </tex-math></inline-formula>.


Many governments have perceived the rural moneylender as usurious. This article takes a first step toward directly testing the validity of this view. In a study of services, costs, and charges of fourteen informal market moneylenders and their clients in Chambar, Pakistan, the article examines whether the high implicit interest rates charged reflect the actual costs of operating in that market. Estimates of the resource costs incurred by informal lenders for screening, pursuing delinquent loans, overhead, and cost of capital (including unrecoverable loans) suggest that lenders' charges are equal to their average cost of lending but exceed their marginal cost. This finding is consistent with the view that the informal credit market is characterized by excess capacity and monopolistic competition in the presence of imperfect information.


Strong particle acceleration in neutron-star environments may result in the upscattering of soft photons to gamma-ray energies. Sheared Alfven waves, which may be generated by several plausible disturbances in the stellar crust, can energize the charges to Lorentz factors in excess of 10 exp 5. However, a full understanding of the physics of these MHD waves is lacking due to the complications arising from the charge separation within the sheared region. Here, we present a detailed study of this mechanism, with particular attention to a comparison of the nonrelativistic and relativistic domains. We find that the charge separation is consistent with our previous classical MHD solutions and that it provides a natural description of the sheared current via a relativistic flow. These waves can apparently produce the particle distributions that are necessary to produce the gamma-ray fluxes observed in gamma-ray bursts, regardless of whether the sources are Galactic or extragalactic.


This paper presents a single-phase grid voltage pa-rameter estimation approach based on the double demodulation principle. The proposed solution corroborates better dynamic performance while enjoying the properties of demodulation based filtering. A notch-filter based demodulation filtering stage is proposed which rapidly rejects the DC-offset component with-out affecting the usual operating principle yielding a "double demodulation type" of pre-filtering approach. Note that the proposed method depicts an open-loop architecture and doesn't require any tuning parameter compared to well-known phase locked-loop techniques. Moreover, because of the feedback-less nature of the scheme, it requires correction in amplitude and phase information which is achieved by employing a simple mathematical regression approach. Consequently, a simple and dynamically faster synchronization scheme is achievable with the proposed solution whose performance is validated through numerous test cases.


The Cigeo industrial-scale geological disposal centre is designed for the disposal of the most highly-radioactive French waste. It will be built in an argillite formation of the Callovo-Oxfordian dating back 160 million years. The Cigeo project is located near the Bure village in the Paris Basin. The argillite formation was studied since 1974, and from the Meuse/Haute-Marne underground research laboratory since end of 1999. Most of the waste to be disposed of in the Cigeo repository comes from nuclear power plants and from reprocessing of their spent fuel. (authors)


The development of a refuse-to-energy facility in the Los Angeles urban area is discussed. The Commerce Refuse-to-Energy Facility, under construction since March 1985, represents the application of the most advanced air emission control equipment consistent with "Best Available Control Technology" for control of particulates, acid gases, and NO".


In this manuscript, we introduce a BCK-algebra, and show that this BCK-algebra is commutative, with the relative cancellation property, lower semi lattice and also it's with condition (S) but it's not positive implicative in some cases. Also we give two examples for this BCKalgebra and introduce a BCK-algebra on fuzzy set, and we show that this BCK-algebra is bounded, commutative and also it is a lattice but it is not an implicative BCK-algebra.


Abstract : This report is a portion of a larger investigation addressing current and historical sediment loads in the Mississippi River. In this report, we address four primary tasks: 1) quantify sediment discharges from the Mississippi River at existing diversions; 2) assemble estimates of sediment quantiles and sediment sizes available for diversions planned to promote coastal marsh restoration; 3) develop estimates of sediment loads required for restorations and estimates of uncertainty; and 4) identify seasonal timing for diverting sediment from the river for marsh and wetland restoration.


Behavior simulation is an important issue in the field of virtual reality,chasing is a common behavior of animal and human,and modeling chasing behavior is an interesting topic.A chasing behavior between chaser and escaper was analyzed,the parameters of human physiology and emotion were introduced,and the formulas among emotion,energy and velocity were set up.The behavior decision model was proposed based on non-cooperative dynamic game.A simulation test on a computer was designed.The result shows that the method can well simulate some physiological features and psychological characteristics of human's chasing behavior.


The purpose of this work was to develop a simple and robustmethod that would allow a stable gelatin layer to form on PDMS that is suitable for cell culturing. Treating the cured PDMS layer with (3-(2-aminoethylamino) propyl) trimethoxysilane and then casting 2 layers of 2% (w/v) gelatin on the surface created a stable layer. The water contact angle of the formed layer system is in close agreement with reported water contact angle values for standard gelatin layers. The pH of water on the gelatincoated PDMS was within physiological pH range but slightly basic. A relative hardness test showed that the hardness of the film was unchanged after silanization, allowing the PDMS to retain its mechanical properties. A fluorescence test for soluble gelatin indicated that less than 8% of gelatin was released from the surface after a 24 hour period of PBS soaking at 37° C, which is nearly identical to the amount of gelatin that came off a standard gelatin coated coverslip. MOVAS-1 cells were grown for 96 hours on the modified surfaces in a manner identical to control coverslips coated with gelatin. These results validate the use of a silanizing agent, such as (3-(2-aminoethylamino) propyl) trimethoxysilane, as an interfacing method between PDMS and gelatin, and allows appropriate films that are robust to be formed,thereby allow for cell growth and proliferation on a PDMS base material.


Terrestrial climate-carbon feedbacks are the leading-order uncertainties in climate projections, hindering the full assessment of climate mitigation scenarios. Since year-to-year variations of atmospheric carbon dioxide growth rate (CGR) are mostly driven by fluctuations of tropical land carbon fluxes, it provides a “natural experiment” to explore the climate drivers of terrestrial carbon cycle. Recently, direct observations of terrestrial water storage confirmed the tight coupling between the water and carbon cycles, in addition to the well-documented temperature effects. Here we show that the strength of this relationship between CGR and the interannual variability of tropical water has increased substantially from 1960 to 2018 and has even recently become stronger than CGR-temperature correlations. We find that this increment may be relevant to local drying trends in a warming climate and that above-ground carbon uptake might be a critical underlying ecological process. We also demonstrate that most state-of-the-art Earth System models and land surface models do not capture this increasing carbon-water coupling over time. Our results suggest that tropical water availability could increasingly dominates the interannual variability of the terrestrial carbon cycle in the future and that current models may not be able to capture this feature.


This paper summarizes the definition, principle and developed status of the flowing- media technology. And based on the application example of using RealMedia, the paper introduces how to implement the transmit of audio, video information in the Web by using flowing-media technology.


British Aviation. The Pioneer Years 1903-14. Harald Penrose. Putnam, London. 1967. 607 pp. Illustrations. Index. 84s. Mr. Penrose is well known in the Aircraft Industry. As Chief Test Pilot of Westlands for 22 years, he did an important job during a period when Britain still had a leading role in World Aviation. In his time, Westlands were particularly active in advanced research and development work so that their chief test pilot had an unusually interesting and varied, not to say eventful, career. His time with Westlands culminated as Sales Manager, a position from which he has only recently retired, so that he completed well over forty years in the Industry. Some years ago, Harald Penrose started to write a history of the British Aircraft Industry using material which he had been collecting for a long time, often throughpersonal contacts with the pioneers and other key figures in the Industry. This book is the first volume of this ambitious project and is a notable addition to Putnam's well-established series of aviation titles. Covering the formative years of the Industry up to the outbreak of the First World War, it gives an unrivalled perspective of the period when the great, and often forgotten, pioneers were solving the initial problems of practical flight and the original aircraft manufacturing firms—most of whose names have now, alas, quite unnecessarily sunk into oblivion—were gradually getting themselves organised. This first instalment has been completed while the author was still employed full-time in the Industry and it is, indeed, a remarkable job to have been completed in anybody's spare time. Now that he has retired, Mr. Penrose should be able to devote even more of his time to the subsequent volumes. He is going to need it, if he is to maintain the high standards of thoroughness and accuracy which he has set himself, as he describes the activities of an Industry which grew to many times its size and complexity in 1914. Mr. Penrose is an experienced and competent writer who has previously published several books on flying. His "I Flew with the Birds" and "No Echo in the Sky" are fine examples of evocative descriptive writing giving a pilot's impressions of flight. Also remembered are his fascinating articles in Country Life, of twenty years and more ago, in which he gave the results of observations from the air of bird life—in which subject he is also an expert. Soon after the last War, in one of the short-lived aviation journals which appeared at that time, he wrote anonymously a series of piloting impressions of famous aeroplanes which were notable examples of their kind. This proven writing skill has been turned to good account in the rather different historical field. Indeed, some will prefer him in this role. His new book is unusually readable. The style is natural and less contrived than previously. The reader's interest is maintained by a nice balance of technical matters and of general historical background, of quoted firsthand accounts and of lucid explanation and interpretation. Everybody with even the slightest interest in aviation history will respond to his commentary which admirably brings alive events of fifty to sixty years ago. Although he was not himself active in aviation during the period covered by this first volume, the author has convincingly recreated the atmosphere of the time. Through an absolute mass of obviously accurate and knowledgable technical detail, he steers his way with confidence and a practical "feel" of events which is wholely satisfying, while being apparently completely authentic —so far as anyone can judge who himself lacks firsthand memories of the period. What is more—and this may surprise those who do not know Mr. Penrose—even the most fastidious critic of written aeronautical history will find little with which to find fault. Even where, in a few cases, some may disagree with the author over an interpretation or an emphasis, they will be quite unable to be contentious about judgments made with such urbanity and wit. Of actual errors, this reviewer noticed only one or


1 State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, Sichuan, China 2 Institute of Safety, Environment Protection and Technical Supervision, PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Company, Chengdu, China 3 Central Sichuan Oil and Gas Field, PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Company, Suining, Sichuan, China * E-mail: email@example.com


This article explores ways in which the Revision Theory of Truth can be expressed in the object language. In particular, we investigate the extent to which semantic deficiency, stable truth, and nearly stable truth can be so expressed. 1 New questions for the Revision Theory of Truth The Revision Theory of Truth is a class of models for the language of truth (LT). This language of truth is intended to be a toy model for a natural language such as English. It is intended to contain all the features that are relevant for the logical properties of the notion of truth, and no more than that. LT contains the first-order language of arithmetic (LPA), so as to enable sentences to talk about themselves relative to some coding scheme. ∗Versions of this article have presented at the Truth Be Told conference in Amsterdam (March 2011), at the Truth At Work conference in Paris (June 2011), at the workshop on Set Theory and Higher-Order Logic in London (August 2011), and a seminar in München (April 2011). The authors are grateful to the audiences at these conferences, as well as to an anonymous referee, for helpful comments and suggestions. The work of the second author was supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Council UK grant AH/H039791/1. The work of the third author was supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.


Contents: All tracks    Poetry reading [complete]
 Track 01
    To Be Of Use
 Track 02
    High Frequency
 Track 03
    The Daily Life of the Worker Bee
 Track 04
    The Market Economy
 Track 05
    Living in the Open
 Track 06
    Seedlings in the Mail
 Track 07
    For the Young Who Want To
 Track 08
    Martha as the Angel Gabrielle
 Track 09
    Rape Poem
 Track 10
    Looking at Quilts
 Track 11
    The Attack of the Squash People
 Track 12
    Memo To: ... Subject:
 Track 13
    Unclench Yourself
 Track 14
    Snow in May
 Track 15
    Another Country
 Track 16
    The Great Horned Owl
 Track 17
    Crescent Moon Like a Canoe
 Track 18
    Cats Like Angels
 Track 19
    The Total Influence or Outcome of the Matter: The Sun


In this paper, a novel new pulse power generator based on IGBT stacks is proposed for pulse power application. The proposed scheme consists of series connected 9 power stages to generate maximum 60 kV output pulse and one series resonant power inverter to charge DC capacitor voltage. Each power stage is configured as 8 series connected power cells and each power cell generates up to 850 V DC pulse. Finally pulse output voltage is applied using a total of 72 series connected IGBTs. The synchronization of gating signal is important for series operation of IGBTs. For gating signal synchronization, a full bridge inverter and a pulse transformer generates on-off signals of IGBT gating and specially designed gate power circuit was used. The proposed scheme has lots of advantages such as long lifecyle, compact size, flat topped pulse forming, small weight, protection for arc, high efficiency, and flexibility to generate various kinds of pulse output. The operation of proposed pulse power supply was tested for PSII application and is confirmed that the proposed scheme can effectively be used for wide pulse power applications


Theoretical methods were developed for predicting the large-deflection elastic-plastic transient structural responses of metal containment or deflector (C/D) structures to cope with rotor burst fragment impact attack. For two-dimensional C/D structures both, finite element and finite difference analysis methods were employed to analyze structural response produced by either prescribed transient loads or fragment impact. For the latter category, two time-wise step-by-step analysis procedures were devised to predict the structural responses resulting from a succession of fragment impacts: the collision force method (CFM) which utilizes an approximate prediction of the force applied to the attacked structure during fragment impact, and the collision imparted velocity method (CIVM) in which the impact-induced velocity increment acquired by a region of the impacted structure near the impact point is computed. The merits and limitations of these approaches are discussed. For the analysis of 3-d responses of C/D structures, only the CIVM approach was investigated.


The rainfall response characteristic of observation data in Jinxian Xiao xinzhuang station is analyzed.Then the non-tide data is preprocessed using normal anomaly method to eliminate the annual period,using K-L line curve fitting method to eliminate the line zero point drift.Finally,the preprocessed data is recomputed to eliminate rainfall interfere using the method of dynamic system.


This essay explores the influence of W. B. Yeats on the later fiction of Philip Roth. Tracing Roth's engagement with Yeats from Portnoy's Complaint (1969) right up to Nemesis (2010), I argue that Roth has throughout his career been fascinated with Yeats's various aspirations to escape into aesthetic disinterest. I contend that Yeats's absorption of this struggle between life and art into a poetics of bodily agony in his later poems has a decisive influence on Roth. Yeats not only helps to shape the focus of powerful novellas such as The Dying Animal (2001) but also forms a crucial touchstone for the reckless abandon and sublime style of Roth's major novel Sabbath's Theater (1995). Roth's attentive reading of Yeats's later poems might alert us to trace wider investments in modernist epistemological tensions across Roth's fiction.


Cognitive networks rapidly proliferating into all aspects of computing and communication. Some of them are specially designed for the people with specific ability. However, very few are designed with assistance of the people with disability and elderly who need help during networking. The goal of this project is to study network accessibility issues and their impact in such cognitive network design. The study also proposed the effective-network-access-time (ENAT) as a measure to universal cognitive network to benefit people with disabilities and elderly ages.


Laboratory triaxial compression tests are performed to determine the static stress‐strain response of sands reinforced with discrete, randomly distributed fibers, and to observe the influence of various fiber properties, soil properties, and test variables on soil behavior. In addition to the experimental program, a model is developed, based on a statistical theory of strength for composites, to predict the fiber contribution to strength under static loads. Randomly distributed fiber inclusions significantly increase the ultimate strength and stiffness of sands. The increase in strength and stiffness is a function of sand granulometry (i.e., gradation and particle size and shape) and fiber properties (i.e., weight fraction, aspect ratio, and modulus). The sand‐fiber composites have either a curved linear or a bilinear failure envelope, with the break occurring at a threshold confining stress called the "critical confining stress." The magnitude of the critical confining stress decreases with an increase i...


The automatic selection and composition of Web services rely strongly on the manner to deal with ambiguity inherent to the description of functionalities of these services and the client's requests. Quality of Service (QoS) criteria become crucial in Web services selection and the problem of checking that a web service satisfies a given level of QOS is considered in recent research works. This paper presents a QoS based automatic classification method of web services. These services give generally similar functionalities and are offered by different providers. The main feature of our Web service selection model is to take advantage of the neuro-fuzzy logic for coping with the imprecision of QoS constraints values.


A procedure to compare N fertilizers based on comparing complete response curves simultaneously represented by a quadratic multifertilizer response model (MRM) is discussed. A modified version of the MRM, called fertilizer testing model (FTM), is used to test differences among response curves. The FTM describes the response curve to a fertilizer selected as a standard as well as the additional effect of test fertilizers over the response to the standard. In case of different response curves, an approximate test to decide whether the curves have equal limiting yield is introduced. Finally, a procedure to estimate the availability coefficient from quadratic response curves having equal limiting yield is derived. These procedures were employed to analyze six field experiments conducted over a period of 3 years in Korea using three varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L. 'Tongil,' 'Jinheung,' and 'Milyang 23') and three fertilizers (urea and two sulfur-coated ureas, or SCU) applied at four or five levels of N. Two out of six experiments showed a significant effect from SCU-A (25% release/7 days) beyond that of split-applied urea, whereas SCU-B (14% release/7 days) showed significant additional effects in three out of five experiments. However, in four of these six experiments, the limiting yield of the response curves of SCU was significantly higher than that of urea, precluding a valid estimation of the availability coefficient. Possibly, the proper combination of N dose and timed release of N from SCU in these experiments translated into grain yields unmatched by split applications of urea.


In 1939 the Smithsonian Paleontological Expedition discovered the fragmentary skeletal remains of a small reptile in the Upper Cretaceous of the North Horn Mountain area in central Utah. The diminutive size of this individual, its amphicoelous vertebrae, and a dermal armor form a combination of features previously unknown among the extinct Reptilia of the Upper Cretaceous, and although the skeletal remains are meager this unique specimen is described as a new species of a new genus and referred provisionally to the Crocodilia.


Abstract This article presents the process of extrusion shape of complex geometry cross-sectional 7039 aluminum alloy for use in aerospace industry. This study aims to characterize the properties of aluminum alloy as structural material and to determine the technological parameters of the indirect extrusion press and their influence on mechanical properties and the microstructure of the final product. It has been proved that the proper choice of parameters in the case of a specific profile extruded from 7039 aluminum alloy allows the manufacturing of products of complex cross-sections and the quality required in aerospace industry.


Global financial crises have demonstrated that monetary policy is not the only approach for stabilisation and robust microprudential regulation and supervision are not sufficient to mitigate risks to financial system stability. These lessons imply that policymakers, especially financial authorities including the central bank, have to continually focus on strengthening financial system stability. Although all out efforts to avoid a crisis will not assure zero financial crisis in the future, the preparation for crisis prevention and resolution are absolute necessities. The central bank should be accountable for implementing procedures for maintaining and promoting financial system stability. Macroprudential surveillance and microprudential supervision for financial system stability are very difficult tasks and require collaboration among authorities, not only within the economy but also among countries. Given the variances in financial system infrastructures and levels of financial development among SEACEN economies, the availability of diverse sets of macro and micro-prudential indicators is indeed vital. This study provides a survey of how the SEACEN economies promote financial system stability. It assesses the policies, tools and indicators that are available to financial authorities in SEACEN economies and provides suggestions for their improvement. The nine participating economies provide an analysis of their current situations and macroprudential approaches for financial system stability strengthening. Their efforts in maintaining financial system stability and resilience are commendable. However, having said that, many improvements can still be made due to the continuous innovation and development of the financial system.


The model of 2-D unstable light field during the interaction between laser and skin-tissue was established,and the transient light distribution of tissue by Gauss and flat-top laser was calculated with diffusion approximation technique and Green′s function technique.Taking skin-tissue irradiated by He-Ne laser as an example,the skin light distribution was calculated and analyzed.The calculation shows that the light distribution in the radial direction was similar to light intensity distribution of the incident laser;light effect of skin-tissue irradiated by laser depend on laser parameters to a great extent,and power and beam size are more important.


Current interconnection standards providing hardware support for quality of service (QoS) consider up to 16 virtual channels (VCs) for this purpose. However, most implementations do not offer so many because VCs increase the complexity of the switch and the scheduling delays. We have shown that this number of VCs can be significantly reduced, because it is enough to use two VCs for QoS purposes at each switch port. In this paper, we explore two alternative switch designs that take advantage of this reduction


expression [Pantic and Rothkrantz 2000], speech [Cowie and Douglas-Cowie 1996], movement [Bianchi-Berthouze and Kleinsmith 2003, Camurri et al. 2003], text [Wu et al. 2006], and physiological signals [Picard et al. 2001]. In the early days of affective computing research, unimodal data were used for recognizing affect; however, recently, multimodal data have been used in affective computing [Pantic et al. 2005a, Sebe et al. 2005, Caridakis et al. 2007, D'Mello and Kory 2015, Poria et al. 2017, Siddharth et al. 2018]. In this chapter, we will introduce methods and techniques to collect and process multimodal data for affective recognition by reviewing previous research. Multimodal Data Collection and Processing for Applied Affective Computing


In the following project two possible extensions of the Copenhagen Ring Metro are
 evaluated, with one branch line from Norrebro station covering the Bronshoj-area and one
 branch line from the Copenhagen central station covering the Southharbour. The best
 alternative to serve as many passengers as possible are evaluated for each selected branch
 line. In the initial evaluation the construction costs are taken into consideration, to ensure
 that the different projects don't get to expensive. In order to calculate the traffic impacts,
 the timetable and bus line adjustments must be planned. Based on the traffic impacts
 calculations the branch lines are investigated both individually and together to determine
 which alternative gives the best economic and traffic improvement of the public transport
 system in Copenhagen.
 Both branch lines are constructed in a tunnel connected to S-train stations, for the
 Bronshoj-line at Husum station and for the Southharbour-line at Dybbolsbro and Ny
 Ellebjerg station. The table below illustrates the definitive stations at the two branch lines.
 Branch line Starting point
 for the branch
 line
 Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4
 (final
 destination for
 the branch line)
 Bronshoj Norrebro
 station
 Nordvest
 station (at
 Magevej)
 Hulgards Plads
 station
 Bronshoj Torv
 station
 Husum Torv
 station
 Southharbour Copenhagen
 Central station
 Fisketorvet
 station
 Teglholmen
 station
 Mozarts Plads
 station
 Ny Ellebjerg
 station
 Table 0.1 Definitive pattern for the stations at the two branch lines.
 The frequency for the metro trains is high. At the branch lines the trains are running with
 200 sec. intervals in the rush hours in consistency with the already scheduled Copenhagen
 Ring Metro. On the east side of the Copenhagen Ring Metro the trains will run with 100
 sec. interval, while on the west side the trains will run with 200 sec. interval.
 The only changes of the existing bus lines are conducted at bus 350S. For the Ring Metro
 the 350S are shut down between Norreport and Norrebro station. In the alternative with the
 Bronshoj branch line, the 350S is furthermore shut down between Norrebro station and
 Husum Torv. In practice multiple bus changes should be made for a public infrastructure
 of this scale, although this is a very demanding task. Further bus changes would cause
 savings on the maintenance and operational cost for busses. Furthermore the high service
 level for busses will "compete" with the Copenhagen Ring Metro and possible extensions.
 This would probably mean an increase in the total number of travellers in case several bus
 changes are made.
 For the public assignment the following alternatives are examined due to the traffic and
 economic impact:
 • A Bronshoj branch line
 • A Southharbour branch line
 • Both a Bronshoj and a Southharbour branch line
 Bachelorprojekt Ringmetroen i Kobenhavn –
 F07 vurdering af mulige udvidelser
 6
 Due to the traffic impacts, the best alternative is the one with both branch lines, due to the
 fact that both of them will generate more passengers and higher service than one of them
 unit-wise. For all the examined alternatives the mobility and accessibility are improved
 along the branch lines as an effect of a decrease in travel time. To summarize; the total
 time saved is high for each of the examined alternative. The Bronshoj branch line is
 slightly better units-wise.
 The construction cost of the alternative which includes both of the branch lines is fairly
 higher than one branch line unit-wise, which means that the socio-economics for this
 alternative will be the poorest. Due to the high construction cost of a metro line the
 alternatives in this project will not be socio-economic viable, although the total time
 benefits are rather high. The Southharbour branch line is the slightly better branch lines
 units-wise from a socio-economic point of view.
 The alternative which includes the Bronshoj Branch line is the only one that has a positive
 operation economy, which means that the fare incomes are greater than the maintenance
 and operation cost. All of the examined alternatives have a positive operation economy if
 they are evaluated together with the Ring Metro. The surplus from the operation economy
 can be used to fund the project.


The results are presented of the experimental study of the influence of the temperature of a crystal on the characteristics of the ..gamma.. radiation of electrons with energy E = 900 MeV. On cooling of silicon (the axis , and the thickness t = 0.4 mm) and tungsten (the axis , and the thickness t = 0.29 mm) crystals from 293 to 90 K a decrease was observed of the noncoherent contribution of radiation in accordance with the theory of coherent bremsstrahlung, practically at any orientation angle of the crystal. The spectrum of coherent bremsstrahlung changes with cooling weakly, whereas at the axial orientation of the silicon crystal an increase of intensity by a factor 1.6 is observed in the soft part of the radiation spectrum ..omega..<100 MeV. Some increase of the radiation loss is observed at all collimation angles. Cooling of the crystal, apparently, leads to an enhancement of the scattering of electrons moving at small angles with respect to the axis (psiless than or equal to10 mrad).


This paper proposes an EV battery charger with a fixed frequency operated series loaded resonant converter(SRC). Due to the proposed fixed frequency operation the SRC is operated under ZCS turn on and turn off regardless of load condition, and the magnetic components and the EMI filters can be optimized. The proposed battery charger has minimum component count, which makes it possible to achieve low cost and high reliability. Also, it is insensitive to resonant component tolerances and therefore suitable for high volume manufacturing. Experimental results are provided from a 3.3kW prototype which was built for 2011 Future Energy Challenge Competition.


The analysis presented here makes use of agreement speech errors to address the question of which syntactic representations of relative clause structures are appropriate for the psycholinguistic production of the local dependency between subjects and verbs. If agreement is a strictly syntactic process, and such errors only occur as a result of interference between the copying of syntactic number from the subject to the verb, a Government and Binding representation is plausible. Such a theoretical representation suggests specific feature-copying relationships between head nominals, relative pronouns and traces. If, however, agreement in the cases of these errors is semantic, then a Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar representation of relative clauses may be more appropriate for psycholinguistic accounts. Directions for future research are suggested.


. Fraud in financial statements can cause financial losses and decrease the level of trust of external parties in company performance. This study aims to determine the effect of variable financial stability, financial targets, industrial conditions, ineffective supervision and auditor turnover on fraudulent financial statements of state-owned companies listed on the IDX for the 2014-2018 period. This research is a type of quantitative research with the object of research on 11 state-owned companies listed on the IDX and publishing financial reports for 5 years of observation. The determination of the number of samples is based on the purposive sampling method. The data analysis method used was descriptive statistical test, classical assumption test, multiple linear regression test, t test, F test and determination test. The results showed that financial stability and ineffective supervision proved to have a significant effect on fraudulent financial statements with a significance value of 0.000 and 0.000, respectively. Meanwhile, for financial targets, industrial conditions and auditor turnover, the significance values are 0.051, 0.088 and 0.637, respectively, so it cannot prove that there is a significant effect on fraudulent financial statements. The simultaneous test results show a significance value of 0.000, so there is a simultaneous influence on financial stability. The test of determination produces an R square value of 0.547, this shows that fraudulent financial statements can be explained by financial targets, industrial conditions, ineffective supervision and auditor turnover, while 45.3% is explained by other variables not in this study.


Abstract The use of cyber operations during armed conflicts and the question of how international humanitarian law (IHL) applies to such operations have developed significantly over the past two decades. In their different roles in the Legal Division of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the authors of this article have followed these developments closely and have engaged in governmental and non-governmental expert discussions on the subject. In this article, we analyze pertinent humanitarian, legal and policy questions. We first show that the use of cyber operations during armed conflict has become a reality of armed conflicts and is likely to be more prominent in the future. This development raises a number of concerns in today's increasingly cyber-reliant societies, in which malicious cyber operations risk causing significant disruption and harm to humans. Secondly, we present a brief overview of multilateral discussions on the legal and normative framework regulating cyber operations during armed conflicts, looking in particular at various arguments around the applicability of IHL to cyber operations during armed conflict and the relationship between IHL and the UN Charter. We emphasize that in our view, there is no question that cyber operations during armed conflicts, or cyber warfare, are regulated by IHL – just as is any weapon, means or methods of warfare used by a belligerent in a conflict, whether new or old. Thirdly, we focus the main part of this article on how IHL applies to cyber operations. Analyzing the most recent legal positions of States and experts, we revisit some of the most salient debates of the past decade, such as which cyber operations amount to an "attack" as defined in IHL and whether civilian data enjoys similar protection to "civilian objects". We also explore the IHL rules applicable to cyber operations other than attacks and the special protection regimes for certain actors and infrastructure, such as medical facilities and humanitarian organizations.


Microplastics (MP) are emerging pollutants in the marine environment with potential ecotoxicological effects on littoral and coastal ecosystems. A dominate contributing source of microplastic particles is the fragmentation of macroplastics from manufactured goods, alongside laundered synthetic material, abrasion of vehicle tyres and personal care products. The indiscriminate use of plastic and poor management of plastic waste pose serious threat to ecosystem functionality and resilience. Understanding the key underlying transport and mixing mechanisms which influence the behavior of microplastics and their environmental fate are crucial for identify potential microplastic fate-transport pathways from source to sink. This is fundamental for evaluating microplastic interactions and impact on ecosystems. This paper presents laboratory-based tracer measurements for solute and polyethylene (PE) microplastics in the presence of waves. The tests were undertaken in a wave tank equipped with an active absorption paddle-type wave-maker. Fluorescent dye was used to stain the PE particles using a novel staining technique. Rhodamine dye was used as a proxy for the transport of solute pollutants. The temporal and spatial behavior of both microplastics and solute across the nearshore zone was measured using submersible fiber optic fluorometers. Hydrodynamic conditions were designed to create monochromatic waves with a range of wave steepness Sop = 2 – 5 %. Tracer measurements were conducted at three locations, seaward of the breaker region, breaker region and inner surf zone to provide a comprehensive understanding of mixing across the nearshore. The dispersion coefficients were determined for both solute and PE particles. The results indicate the dominant role of surface and bed generated turbulence in determining mixing and dispersion influenced by wave breaker type and width of the surf zone. The comparison of tracer data suggests that PE particles, with similar density to water, and the solute tracer have a similar transport and mixing behavior under the influence of waves.


To develop a new traditional liquor by using chamomile, the condition of alcohol fermentation was investigated by the addition of 5%, 10%, 15% nuruk, and 20% chamomile into mash. The maximum amount of ethanol was produced when 20% chamomile and 15% nuruk were added to cooked rice and fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae at for 10 days. The acceptability and physiological functionalities of chamomile liquors with different concentrations of chamomile were compared. The C-5 chamomile liquor which was prepared by adding 5% chamomile into mash showed the best acceptability in the sensory evaluation test and color test, and its fibrinolytic activity, tyrosinase inhibitory activity, and nitrite scavenging activity were good.


The natural radiative lifetimes of some excited Bi I levels belonging to the 6 p 2 7 s and the 6 p 2 6 d configurations have been determined by analyzing Hanle depolarization curves obtained in an atomic beam experiment on the 100% abundant isotope Bi 209 ( I =9/2). Taking the exciting light spectral distribution into account the following values for the lifetimes have been obtained: ##IMG## [http://ej.iop.org/images/1402-4896/5/1-2/012/img1.gif] {values for lifetimes}


This study was undertaken in the hope of obtaining somlle know-ledge of excretion and absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestinal tract beyond that afforded by balance experimenits and examination of the foeces. The material investigated was obtainied from thirty-four post-mortem examinations of the intestinal tract of children. It was out of the question to make much selection of cases for study. They were obtained over a period of thirteen months and represent as regards the intestinal tract both normal and pathological conditions. According


Finance students at the undergraduate and MBA levels are increasingly in possession of significant mathematical skills, corresponding with the rise in cross-listings of courses between mathematics and finance departments. This increase in mathematical skill has opened the door for the Black Scholes model to be presented to advanced undergraduate and MBA students. However, although these students can grasp the weaknesses of the Black Scholes model, they are often not mathematically advanced enough to handle more realistic option pricing models. We demonstrate how Monte Carlo simulation may be employed to open the field of advanced option pricing to students without requiring any more mathematical knowledge than basic calculus and intermediate statistics. As an example, we demonstrate how to simulate option values when the underlying process follows Heston's stochastic volatility process, and motivate the example by demonstrating the significant improvement of a properly specified stochastic volatility model over the Black Scholes model.


Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a debilitating disease where 1 in 4 patients will die within five years of diagnosis. Pathologic changes of endothelial cell function, together with smooth muscle and adventitial hyperplasia increase pulmonary vascular resistance. Consequent elevation in right ventricular pressure ultimately causes right heart failure. Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs), FGFR1 and FGFR2, are elevated in lung samples from PH patients; however, the impact of these receptors on endothelial cell function, and endothelial to smooth muscle interaction is poorly understood. We hypothesize that activation of endothelial FGFR1 and FGFR2 promotes endothelial cell survival, elaborating signals that protect against pulmonary hypertension via inhibition of smooth muscle cell recruitment. We used the Tie2-Cre transgene to conditionally inactivate Fgfr1 and Fgfr2 in endothelial cells. Experimental mice with genotype Tie2-Cre; Fgfr1 f/f ; Fgfr2 f/f (DCKO) and control Fgfr1 f/f ; Fgfr2 f/f (DFF) were challenged with 10% hypoxia for 2 weeks. At the end, right ventricular pressure (RVp) was measured by cardiac catheterization. Compared to mice in normoxia, control littermates in hypoxia demonstrated significant increases in RVp, and RV to left ventricle + septum (LV+S) weight ratio, consistent with development of PH. DCKO mice demonstrate further elevation in RVp and an increase in the RV to LV+S weight ratio, demonstrating worsening PH. We also observed formation of plexiform lesions in DCKO mice, suggestive of a severe pathology. We found a previously unreported involvement of FGF10 in pulmonary hypertension. FGF10 expression was decreased in hypoxia-challenged DCKO mice as compared to both DCKO littermates on room air, and to hypoxia challenged DFF control mice. Our data suggests that endothelial FGFR1 and FGFR2 activation may protect against pulmonary hypertension. Further studies are underway to elucidate the role of FGF10 and its mechanism in the pathology. We will also further identify associated FGF ligands, associated signaling mechanisms, and endothelial to smooth muscle interactions.


By surface reactions on finely divided silica (aerosil) and porous silica the following functional groups were attached on the surface: TMS, TPS, BS, and SBS. Surface modification of aerosil has no significant influence on the adsorption of nitrogen with one exception: the adsorption capacity decreases slightly by replacement of polar hydroxyls by nonpolar TMS groups. A distinct splitting of the isotherms of benzene on aerosil and its derivatives was observed. The isotherms of methanol are most widely separated with adsorption capacity in the sequence sample with SBS groups > original sample > sample with BS groups > sample with TPS groups > sample with TMS groups. The same variation of the adsorption behavior was obtained for porous silica and its modified products. The effect is more pronounced due to the pore structure.


K. Echlin (1997) published her main research findings on infrasonic communication between elephants in the form of a novel, called "Elephant Winter". Echlin was then invited to address the 1998 IPCC conference because of the "juxtaposition of both literary and extraordinarily effective technical writing evident in her book". (T. Malkinson, 1998). Echlin reported that until the conference committee contacted her and invited her to address the IPCC, she had not known that she had created "technical writing", and still did not know how she'd done it. Echlin's book exemplifies both the benefits and the risks of creative improvisation. The risk consists in not knowing how a new aesthetic or technical effect is created or how to reproduce it. In this paper, I analyze Echlin's novel, together with other novels constructed to help explain technical topics: R. Persig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" (1974) and A. Manning's "Supposition Error" (1996). The analysis indicates principles governing the successful incorporation of storytelling in technical explanation. These principles relate to concepts of minimalist documentation (J. Carroll, 1998), as well as rules of textual clarity developed by K. Riley and F. Parker (1998).


Spectra and attenuation profiles of neutrons and gamma rays transmitted through graphite piles were measured by an organic scintillator with an n-..gamma.. discrimination technique. The neutrons and gamma rays were produced in a graphite target placed in front of the piles, which were bombarded by 52-MeV protons. The piles were 54 cm high, 90 cm wide, and 11.7, 23.5, and 44.9 cm thick. The energy spectra of neutrons and gamma rays were obtained after unfolding by the FERDO code, from pulse-height distributions. Spectra calculated by use of a Monte Carlo neutron transport code developed for neutrons of energy up to 50 MeV show good agreement with the measured spectra. 9 figures, 1 table.


Abstract The pitting corrosion of aluminum bronze (Cu-6%Al) has been investigated in sodium chloride (NaCl) solution of different concentrations. Potentiodynamic anodic polarization and galvanic cu...


We demonstrate the growth of highly textured VO2 nanocrystals via annealing of e-beam deposited amorphous metallic V. Temperature dependent ellipsometry results reveal the pronounced reflection near the IR spectrum above the transition and an almost temperature independent weak reflection in the visible spectrum. The IR reflection displays a strong hysteresis during heating and cooling near the transition temperature at 68°C, indicating a first order transition and a strain-free structure. Our work demonstrates the feasibility to obtain high quality phase change nanostructures that transmit the visible spectrum but reflect IR and is suitable for large scale fabrication.


Wild felids all over the world are threatened by extinction. As a part of the preservation task concerning those species, in zoos as well as in situ in their wild habitat, the use of assisted reproduction technology (ART) is explored, e. g. artificial insemination (AI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). For practical use there is a need for feasible and reliable methods for collecting, evaluating, storing and eventually using gametes for fertilizing embryos, and hopefully establishing and maintaining pregnancy. It is impractical to use wild felids for extensive research because of the scant numbers of individuals, accessibility etcetera. Therefore the domestic cat frequently serves as a model animal for research. This student work focus on evaluating a certain method for measuring DNA fragmentation in cat spermatozoa, Halomax®. We thawed epididymal sperm from 12 cats, one from corpus epididymidis and one from cauda epididymidis for each cat except one. The measurements were compared to results in a PhD-project, showcasing the DNA fragmentation index (%DFI); Acridine orange using both epi-fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry. It resulted in a significant difference in the DFI between spermatozoa from corpus or cauda using Halomax® but no significant correlations between methods were found. The discrepancy between these methods has been noted in earlier studies and one of the theories states that the methods could be measuring different kinds of strand breaks in the DNA. The difference between epididymal regions has also been seen in previous studies, and is believed to be due to the maturing process of spermatozoa or some kind of phagocytosis of defective spermatozoa.


In predictive simulation-based building systems control, candidate control options (i.e., various combinations of the control device states) for future time instances are proactively simulated and evaluated with regard to control objectives. Thus, preferable control actions are identified and instantiated. A number of virtual and prototypical implementations of this concept have been introduced in the past, especially in the field of lighting and shading controls. Further studies augmented the simulation-based predictive building systems strategy with agent-based technologies and machine-learning methods. More recently, we have explored applications in natural ventilation and passive cooling. Using content from previous publications, this keynote addresses simulation-supported predictive building systems control, focusing on its application toward passive cooling in buildings.


Incorporation of young people, including tertiary graduates, into the labour market is facing stagnation in Slovenia. Besides external factors that are beyond the control of an individual, good employability also depends on personal characteristics of the employment seeker. Awareness of the importance of good employability means empowering and strengthening individuals through process of lifelong learning, thus enabling them to find and retain sustainable employment within the labour market. This consequently enables them to fulfil their career goals and creatively contribute to their own personal satisfaction and success, as well as that of society as a whole. Universities in Slovenia have established careers centres. The University of Ljubljana opened its first careers centre years ago (in 2008), and we are now beginning to see the results, which are similar to those achieved by careers centres of other European universities. This confirms that promotion and facilitation of good employability is more effective when careers centres are closely involved in the study process.


Abstract The effects of isothermal crystallization temperature/time on mechanical properties of bio-based polyester poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) were investigated. The intrinsic viscosity, crystallization properties, thermal properties, and microstructure of PEF were characterized using ubbelohde viscometer, X-ray diffraction, polarizing optical microscope, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The PEF sample isothermal crystallized at various temperatures for various times was denoted as PEF-T-t. The results showed that the isothermal crystallization temperature affected the mechanical properties of PEF-T-30 by simultaneously affecting its crystallization properties and intrinsic viscosity. The isothermal crystallization time only affected the crystallization properties of PEF-110-t. The crystallinity of PEF-110-40 was 17.1%. With small crystal size, poor regularity, and α′-crystal, PEF-110-40 can absorb the energy generated in the tensile process to the maximum extent. Therefore, the best mechanical properties can be obtained for PEF-110-40 with the tensile strength of 43.55 MPa, the tensile modulus of 1,296 MPa, and the elongation at a break of 13.36%. Graphical abstract The crystallization temperature/time and mechanical properties of PEF are investigated. The mechanical properties of PEF are effectively improved only by controlling the crystallization parameters without adding a modifier.


This paper reports the fabrication of a GaAs weight-summation IC for neural network applications. The chip was fabricated using a 0.8 μm GaAs SAG MESFET process and would support 16 binary inputs (expandable to 27) and analogue weights over a dynamic range of roughly ±0.5 V. The circuit was found to operate at a signal frequency of 100 MHz and was also tested as part of an associative memory IC.


This paper presents a novel dual-mode dual-wideband bandpass filter (BPF) structure. The proposed structure exhibits two resonant modes in each passband and two transmission zeros located at the lower side of the first passband and the upper side of the second passband. There is a transmission zero between two passbands, which can improve the band-to-band isolation. As an example, a dual-mode dual-wideband BPF centered at 1.59/3.51 GHz with 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 32%/16% is designed and fabricated. The fabricated filter has the compact size of 0.07λg × 0.17λg. Good agreement can be observed between the simulation and the measurement.


Doris Lessing is a well-studied writer,but her bildungsroman is not studied much enough.Bildungsroman is an essential part of Doris Lessing's works,in which she is concerned about the growth of the youth.In the present paper,it explores the chief characteristics of Doris Lessing's bildungsroman by analysing her short stories as The Old Chief Mshlanga,A Sunrise on the Veld,Through the Tunnel,and so on.


To improve the performance of the single-phase nine-level active neutral-point-clamped (ANPC) inverter, a simplified model predictive control (MPC) scheme is presented in this paper. Firstly, the operation principle of the adopted inverter is analyzed and the mathematical model of the system is deduced. Then, a simplified MPC algorithm based on double vectors (DV-SMPC) is proposed to reduce the computational burden of conventional MPC scheme. The proposed algorithm simplifies the procedure of selecting optimal sector without the rolling assessment of the cost function, and can achieve the balance control of floating capacitor voltages. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed strategy is sufficiently verified by a comprehensive simulation comparison with conventional MPC scheme.


This article deals with the exclusion of deaf, hearingand speech-impaired people from our modern communication society, as they are unable to use the phone. This situation leads to discrimination and disadvantages in their everyday lives. One solution to this problem is the implementation of so-called relay centers which act as go-betweens; with the aid of communications assistants and interpreters, a direct conversation with a hearing person becomes possible. The Center for Sign Language and Deaf Communication has developed a concept of such a relay center for Austria. The main innovations are the integrative technological approach (trying to integrate all possible communication devices) and the embedding into an Internet portal, including additional services for the target groups. An overview of the activities carried out during the 6-month preparatory project is given, and the results are described. Keywords— telecommunications, communication society, integration, inclusion, deaf, hearing-impaired, speech-impaired.


The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty establishes a network of monitoring stations to detect radioactive xenon in the atmosphere from nuclear weapons testing. One such monitoring system is the Automated Radioxenon Sampler/Analyzer (ARSA) developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which uses a complex arrangement of separate beta and gamma detectors to detect beta-gamma coincidences from the xenon isotopes of interest. The coincidence measurement is very sensitive, but the large number of detectors and photomultiplier tubes requires careful calibration. Simplifying this coincidence measurement system while maintaining its performance is the objective of the research described here. It has been suggested that beta-gamma coincidences could be detected with only a single photomultiplier tube and electronics channel by using a phoswich detector consisting of optically coupled beta and gamma detectors (Ely, 2003). In that work, rise time analysis of signals from a phoswich detector was explored as a method to determine if interactions occurred in either the beta or the gamma detector or in both simultaneously. However, this approach was not able to detect coincidences with the required sensitivity or to measure the beta and gamma energies with sufficient precision for radioxenon monitoring. In this paper, we present a new algorithm to detect coincidences by pulse shape analysis of the signals from a BC404/CsI(Tl) phoswich detector. Implemented on fast digital readout electronics, the algorithm achieves clear separation of beta only, gamma only and coincidence events, accurate measurement of both beta and gamma energies, and has an error rate for detecting coincidences of less than 0.1%. Monte Carlo simulations of radiation transport and light collection were performed to optimize design parameters for a replacement detector module for the ARSA system, obtaining an estimated coincidence detection efficiency of 82-92% and a background rejection rate better than 99%. The new phoswich/pulse shape analysis method is thus suitable to simplify the existing ARSA detector system to the level of a single detector per sample chamber while maintaining the required sensitivity and precision to detect radioxenon in the atmosphere.


What are credit accumulation and transfer schemes (CATS)? '1'0 emphasize the points already made today, I will repeat that CATS are strategies that have opened up the capacity to receive credits for successful learning Lvhether it is achieved at home, in the work place, at college, or some combination of all of these. There are schemes available that give flexibility of place of study, some examples of which enable ;I student to obtain a degree by accumulating credits obtained at universities in different European countries; others involve R combination of credits obtained in the work place and at college. Additionally most of these schemes allow the combination of subject areas that more specifically, than is possible in conventional schemes. meet the needs of the individual. Finally there is the addition of the extra degree of freedom provided by flexibility of the time and pace of study. The key word in all these examples is flexibility; tlexibility in response to meeting the legitimate needs of the individual; but not flexibility of standards of achievement which are at least as high, and some would say higher, than those obtained in other modes of study.


Background: Child sexual abuse incidents are a highly prevalent phenomenon. About 120 million children under the age of 20 have experienced forced sexual initiation or other initiation actions. This incident is mostly performed by the closest people such as family and neighbors. The perspective of parents and teachers views attention is needed to sexual abuse incidents of children, its causes, and preventive efforts. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the perspective of teachers and parents regarding the incidence, causes, and efforts to prevent sexual abuse in children. Method: The method used was qualitative with a case study approach. Results: The perspective of teachers and parents is that the sexual abuse incident towards children in Sidrap Regency is mostly experienced by children aged between 6 to 10 years.


The key question confronting us is whether information-for-development is another round of business as usual, now sheltered under the new umbrella of digital capitalism, or whether it holds a potential for a breakthrough in development. To this question, there are two main approaches. One is to take information-for-development in a light sense (ICT4D lite). Then, it is about recycling old computers by donating them to developing countries. It is about Microsoft offering software discounts to Indonesia on condition that the Indonesian government takes measures against software piracy. It is about UNDP teaming up with Cisco Systems to set up training courses in developing countries. This kind of approach often comes with ideas of IT as a techno-fix that makes it possible to leapfrog development, and at times with an extraterrestrial optimism about the potential of ICT and development. Media reports discuss, for instance, 'Ethiopia's Digital Dream' and the enthusiasm about applying IT in egovernment, education and telecommunications across the country, an aim that is pursued with great zeal despite poverty and in the hope that digital solutions can make up for the lack of infrastructure (Cross, 2005). Yet, if we look at the fine print, we find that to implement this, the Ethiopian government and Telecommunications Corporation teamed up with Cisco Systems and Business Connexion of South Africa, and the


This article argues that research on teacher preparation over the last 100 years can be understood in terms of the major questions that researchers examined. The analysis is guided by the framework of "research as historically situated social practice," which emphasizes that researchers' interests, commitments, and social experiences guide the research questions they pursue and the theories and perspectives they adopt. Past research on initial teacher education is described in terms of the emergence of three broad questions: "the curriculum question," "the effectiveness question," and "the knowledge question." Present research focuses on two broad animating questions: "the policy question" and "the learning question." We recommend that future research address questions that link teacher learning with student learning and teacher candidates' beliefs and practices as well as questions that examine the relationships between research practices and social, economic and institutional power.


y induced currentavailable tobecontacted bymaintenance personnel Recommendations ofalternative technically suitable steady- statemitigations were madeconsidering theanalysis and testing results along withindustry accepted safety criteria. Thelarge unbalance created bya single phase toground fault can result inan extremely high longitudinal electric field atthelocation ofparallel conductors thatsharethecorridor. Theresultant currentandvoltage induced intotheseparallel¬ ingservices can becorrespondingly high. Two dominant problems associated withthefaultinduction havebeen investigated andquantitative predictions havebeenmadefor theArizona corridor. Oneproblem isassociated withequip¬ mentprotection, andtheotheriswithpersonnel safety. Electrical andelectronic equipment suchas railroad signal track orlinerelays orpipeline cathodic protection equipment are protected fromlightning bysurgeprotectors. These protectors will alsoprotect theequipment fromfault-induced effects iftheenergydissipation limit oftheprotectors isnot exceeded. Theanalysis hasconsidered theinfluence ofthe fault currentinduction on therail protectors, thesignal line protectors andthepipeline cathodic protection rectifier lightning protectors. Safety concerns formaintenance personnel areprincipally aresult ofthevoltage that can beinduced ontotheparalleling conductors during afault. Theconductor voltage can bequite high relative tothepotential oflocal earth. Thus, theconcern iswithrespect totheaccessible touchpotential thatmay occur atequipment housings on therail system or various exposed testpoints, valves, etc., on thepipeline. Theeffects offault currentinduction were analyzed byusing values of fault current as a function offault location along thecorridor that were provided bythepowercompany.Thefault current coupling analysis enabled theidentification ofsuitable rail protector currentrequirements as wellas theground poten¬ tial riseatsignal equipment housings. Suitable grounding grids forpersonnel protection were identified.


Objective To evaluate the effects of multimodal analgesia and patient control analgesia on the early rehabilitation of patients after total knee arthroplasty.Methods Eighty-four patients after total knee arthroplasty were randomly divided into two groups.Patient controlled analgesia and multimodal analgesia were provided for the patients in the control group and experimental group,respectively.All the patients performed postoperative functional exercises.The postoperative pain rated by visual analog scales (VAS) at different time-points,the completion of the rehabilitation plan,the function of the knee and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results The VAS scores for postoperative pain at rest at 2h,4h,6h,8h,10h,12h,18h,24h after the operation,and pain during passive activity at 24h,48h,72h after the operation were all significantly lower in experimental group than those of control group (P0.01).The range of motion of knee joint at 24h,48h,72h,1w,2w,4w after the operation was higher in the experimental group than those of control group(P0.01).The completion of the rehabilitation plan was better and patient satisfaction was higher in the experimental group than that of control group (P0.05).Conclusion The multimodal analgesia is more effective than routine analgesia method in the control of postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty.Moreover,it can promote the completion of postoperative rehabilitation plan.


1. The calcium salts are the most active of the salts found in sea water in inhibiting fertilization. They are also the most active salts in precipitating colloids. Hence there is probably a causal relation between the precipitation of colloids and the inhibition of feftilization.2. The seven salts CaCl2, BaCl2, SrCl2, MgCl2, LiCl, NaCl, and KCl inhibit fertilization in the order of their tension coefficients. Thus the egg is acted upon as if it were a colloidal system.3. Supposing the egg to be a colloidal system with a membrane negatively charged it should be possible to precipitate or coagulate this membrane by salts of high positive tension coefficents, such as CaC12, and to redissolve this precipitate or coagulum by the use of salts of high negative tension coefficients, such as Na2So4. This was done successfully, fertilization being inhibited by CaCl2, and restored by Na2SO4.4. This alteration in the character of the membrane must involve an alteration in the surface tension that controls the entran...


Citation: Baliga V, Ganapathy S, Pandey P (2020) Dura Based Rhabdoid Glioblastoma Masquerading as Meningioma: A Rare Case Report. Neurosurg Cases Rev 3:035. doi.org/10.23937/26434474/1710035 Accepted: May 14, 2020; Published: May 16, 2020 Copyright: © 2020 Baliga V, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Open Access Neurosurgery Cases and Reviews


The effect of superheat on characteristics of melt iron and microstructure of chilled iron camshaft was studied in a 1 t intermediate frequency induction furnace. The results show that with the prolongation of superheating time, the reduction of carbon content of melt iron is considerable, while the changes of the other elements are negligible, and the chill tendency of melt iron increases remarkably; the mounts of D-style graphite and E-style graphite in the castings increase significantly, and the mounts of carbide in camshaft castings also increase. The results indicate that the reasonable superheating temperature should be under 1 550 ℃and superheating time should be controlled in 1 hr in the production. If the superheating time is more than 1 h it is necessary to reduce chill tendency by adding pig iron or carburizing agent.


THE pr-ocess of stimulation is recognized as the responise of the cell to an impulse. This process forms the basis of all vital activity. It is recognized that the organs of the body are constantly assailed by impulses from without or from within the body, the impulses being generated by the functionial activity of the organs. While this description indicates the nature of stimulation, there is still much that is obscure about the manner in which it is carried on in the maintenance of life. When, for instance, the physiologist applies an electric stimulation to the cut end of a sympathetic nerve, and produces an increase in the contraction of the heart, the experiment is spoken of as a 'stimulation of the heart. But this is an end-result, and the' physiologist cannot explain what took place between the cut nerve and the muscle contraction.Many symptoms of disease are the results of increasbd activity of or'gans which are said to be stimulated, but here again the symhptom is but an end-result, and it is not known how it was brought about. In our investigations into symptoms it was imlanifest that little progress would be made until we had an understanding of the processes which led up to the end-result.In our search for this fuller knowledge we had occasion to investigate the functions -of the conducting system of the heart. It may be pointed out that until the part played by the conlducting system in the heart beat is understood it will be impossible to interpret ftully and correctly any action of the heart, experimental or clinical.


Researchers and practitioners have recently identified gaps that exist in passenger transport data collection in South Africa. The main concern is the current methodology used to collect passenger data as part of the requirements of the Current Public Transport Record (CPTR), as set out in the National Land Transport Transition Act (NLTTA) promulgated in 2000. Based on practical experience and observations regarding the data collection process for the formulation of CPTRs, a number of critical issues are often raised regarding the extent and quality of the information provided in the CPTR. For this reason, the research and investigation undertaken within this paper presents an overall review of the current data collection methodology for developing and updating the CPTR for municipal cities. The main focus is placed on the data collection for minibus taxi operations. The main objective of the paper is to review the current CPTR data collection methodology, with specific reference to the data collection of taxi operations, and to compare the results of the CPTR with the data recorded from on-board taxi surveys. The objective is not to replace the current methodology, but to investigate if the information in the CPTR represents the current operations and demand in the taxi industry by using an alternative method to collect taxi data.